Webdiary - Founded and Inspired by Margo Kingston

Two years after South Australia and Victoria "competed" to win the job of constructing Australia's (and perhaps other country's) contribution to the Bush Administration's Missile Shield, we finally know what we're going to be building. Surprisingly, its a Spanish ship instead of an American one.  Victoria has also had a win, with the same company helping out Tenix in building two amphibious ships.

"I really appreciated your Not Happy, John! campaign and like many Australians felt crushed and helpless at Howard's 2004 victory. Nevertheless, obsessed with his success, I determined to write a book targeting those Australians who don't normally read books about politics; a difficult if not impossible task. I told myself that if the book were well enough written, it might be possible to break through. I worked on this for almost a year." Mike Clancy

No. I will not be voting for the Liberals or Nationals in the next election. I cannot abide cruelty to animals. It would take courage to act against the big interests that run this abominable trade and this Government does not have what it takes. But does Labor? Probably not, so I probably won’t be voting for them either.

I joined the Labor Party some time after Howard’s election wins in 1998 and 2001 because of his obvious plans to divide our Nation into Haves and Have Nots. My Wife has her own values, but nevertheless, also joined the Labor Party as the only organised opposition left to an expanding dictatorship that I call Howard’s “New Order”. Older Australians and Veterans will know what I mean.  (pics added)

In 2002 when I turned 55, I retired and again we moved north in a caravan this time we settled in Cairns. I completed a certificate 3 in aged care and have been an aged care worker with RSLCARE for about 4 years. I retire next week as I am about to have my 60th birthday.

The cost of cancelling Iraq's debts to Australia has been paid from Australia's foreign aid budget, a new report has claimed.

Joint press conference by Condoleezza Rice and Alexander Downer earlier this week.

Former Greens leader Bob Brown says: “While I welcome Mr Turnbull to the party, I am concerned over these branch stacks by unruly mobs of disgruntled former Liberals.”

Pauline's story is of a naive, uneducated woman who was taken on rather than took a roller coaster political ride, got unjustly jailed and was set free to become a darling of the popular media. Do I recommend this book? Yes, for all its faults.

Peter Costello's speech and Q&A with journos in the pre-Budget lock-up

John Howard's 'vision for 2020' seems from the news reports to have been more about what the future isn't (it isn't about climate change, it isn't about workers rights) than what it will be. Here's the full text for your comments.

By way of introduction to the speech Petro Georgiou gave in Melbourne last Wednesday, I'd like to share something of my own recent experience of the effort taken by people set on becoming part of our society, citizens of our country, to study and learn the English language.

"Upon coming to power in March 1996 the Coalition removed reference to Australia being a “good international citizen” as an objective of Australian foreign policy. Examination of the Coalition’s 11 years in office confirms that omission was deliberate." Robert McClelland MP.

There's been a big effort by the Member for Bennelong and his boys to beat up this Brian Burke business into a bigger deal this past week. We'll see if it will all blow over in a news cycle, but beyond all the bluster about anyone and everyone who's been within a bull's roar of this bloke, there is a much bigger issue.

As long as it continues to hold and abuse prisoners without giving them a fair trial, America’s professed ideals will continue to sound to the rest of the world like the deepest hypocrisy.

I reckon what Brown's tried to do is put a cat among the pigeons. He's trying to put a bomb under the unspoken underlying issues here, the collective delusion that's seeing us destroy the planet's capacity to sustain us as a species. No one mainstream is game. Brown has thrown up a real radical one, in the hope that we might finally get to some of those issues.

"Because of my angle of vision, I see the flag as symbolising the war on Iraq, the war on refugees and Howard's war on the rule of law, once fundamental to our British Heritage, and on human rights for all Australians. But that's just me. I don't have a problem with other people wearing the flag. I do have a problem with the attitude that because it's not my thing, there's something unAustralian about me. Like the message some wore on the Big Day Out, 'Support or fuck off'. And I do have a problem with groups being told to fly the flag or else." Margo Kingston

"It seems to me that the role played by Australian MP's and Senators, in government particularly, is almost the opposite of what is needed." Ross Chippendale

Malcolm's rewrite of CS Lewis moves on to a new adventure for Johnnie, Peter, Alexander, and Amanda ...

"We set out the basics of the Firepower story for those who want to play catch up and try to make some sense out of the machinations of the men with the magic mystery pill." Craig Rowley and Richard Tonkin.

A pre-Christmas finale to this long-running saga ...

"Compassion is not a dirty word. Compassion is not a sign of weakness. In my view, compassion in politics and in public policy is in fact a hallmark of great strength. It is a hallmark of a society which has about it a decency which speaks for itself.": Kevin Rudd

"It is now possible that the outcome of Scott Parkin's Federal Court case will become a Federal election issue. Spook-squad ASIO have been granted leave to appeal the verdict. Should their appeal fail the Howard Government's only option will be to censor the issue on grounds of national security. Given the timespans involved this would probably occur just before the next Australian elections.": Richard Tonkin

"The amoral practices of AWB in effect armed the enemy as the price of doing business in Iraq. This cost came out of funds set aside for humanitarian needs; and added to the humiliation of the Iraqi people. They will not find justice unless someone lifts the lid on the full, wider extent of the AWB web of deceit. Senior officials should not be allowed to hide behind the paper-thin walls of Cole’s terms of reference.": Stephen Smith

"Nick the Knife who was the Minister for Administrative Affairs and his sidekick, Andrews the Sleek, were still puzzled by the reaction of the working party they had tried to form to design and implement an immediate move to AWA’s throughout the public service which would reduce all salaries and entitlements by two thirds. The public servants said it couldn’t be done and the White Paper (which had been produced in record time – a true tribute to the efficiency, skill, and dedication of the public service) ran to 3,000 pages. Apparently, it hadn’t occurred to the Ministers that asking a group of people to design a system which reduced their take-home pay and accrued entitlements by 66.6% might not be a task they would embrace with enthusiasm." From Chapter XI of the Chronicles of Nadir, as told from the grave by Tom Lewis.

"Last weekend, thousands of people indulged in one of our Prime Minister's favourite pastimes – walking – in response to an issue that still has our glorious leader ducking and weaving – global climate meltdown. ... Whereas 'the mob', as Howard would undoubtedly call us, clearly have an appetite for immediate action, the pollies have made it clear that, when it comes to the tough calls, they don't plan to budge for the next few decades.": Justin Tutty

"To mark this moment of triumph over tyranny, I've set the Story of Scott Parkin's Federal Court win to verse.  Click along on the links as you sing.  I picked this particular tune as it's the Australian song that the Texans know best.": Richard Tonkin

"Financial donations to political parties and candidates are potentially one of the most corrupting forces in our political system. The Local Government and Shires Association calls upon the Federal Government to convene a National Summit to develop a national strategy to fundamentally reform, in a coordinated manner, all the financial donations legislation for all 3 levels of Australian government; ie: federal, all state governments and all local councils."

"Our reputation as a successful multicultural society is now threatened. ... The new security laws diminish the rights of all Australians. I do not know of any other democracy that has legislated for the secret detention of people the authorities know to be innocent.": Malcolm Fraser
Text updated to transcript of speech as delivered

"They’d sent out about 3,000 black spots in the last week and Blind Pugh had worn his white cane down to the size of a pencil stub. It was looking increasingly like they had found a bloke who knew a chap who had a friend who had had a conversation once with someone who actually knew what was going on. There was a real and present danger that the truth would out." From Chapter X of the Chronicles of Nadir, as told from the grave by Tom Lewis.