Tuesday 10th March 1998

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Yesterday Pauline Hanson tackled the issue of the (multilateral agreement on investment) MAI head on in Federal Parliament with a speech which left the major parties sitting like stunned mullets as she raised a number of issues relating to this until-recently secret treaty.

Her speech is available on-line, and conclusively reveals how uninformed and ignorant the ministers in John Howard's cabinet are.

Some of the issues raised by Pauline Hanson in her speech included the aspect of the secrecy behind the international treaty, the rorting by multinationals who pay little or no tax, the FACT that a foreign buy-over of an Australian company is ALWAYS followed by massive retrenchments in that business, the ability of multinationals to sue the Australian government in an international court, the unfettered immigration of staff by multinationals, family and friends who can then exploit our social security services like Medicare while paying little or no tax....

Those who follow these pages would know that it was Pauline Hanson who blew the whistle on MAI in late January in a much publicised speech (press release here) - her press conference led the editor of the Queensland Times to note, "What is interesting is that this big issue has been virtually overlooked by the media. Even those who disagree with Ms Hanson’s politics must acknowledge that it took her media clout to get it recognised, even if the media portrayal of her stance on Wednesday gave her all the credit for “unearthing” what had already been unearthed... and what was researched by some Internet enthusiasts who also happen to be Hanson supporters."

Which leads us to Fairfax's The Sydney Morning Herald which has a well founded reputation for bagging everything that Pauline Hanson or One Nation do.

Earlier this month this paper re-wrote history about the MAI issue.

Here are some extracts from that article “Veil of secrecy” warning over global treaty by Paul Cleary (4th March 1998):

"The Opposition Foreign Affairs spokesman, Mr Laurie Brereton, called on Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee for Treaties to conduct an inquiry into the implications of the MAI. The Australian Democrats made a similar call. Both parties expect the Government’s support to review the MAI following assurances yesterday from the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Fischer."

Remember it was the ALP's Peter Cook, then Minister for Trade, who bought us into the MAI in May 1995 - now all of a sudden the ALP are jumping on the glory-wagon of public opinion calling for an inquiry. An inquiry which Pauline Hanson ridicules in her speech yesterday in Parliament, with the following observation:

"Also, the decision to examine the MAI through the Joint Standing Committee on treaties, is but part of the cover up, and will not result in the concerns of ordinary Australians even getting a hearing, let alone being taken into account.

"15 of the 16 members of the Joint Committee will be appointed by the Government or the Opposition, and we all know the Labor Party started the negotiations on the MAI in May 1995. Both the Coalition and the Labor Party have demonstrated their commitment to sign this treaty."

Here is another uninformed extract from The Sydney Morning Herald's article:

“In other words nothing will be signed, nothing will be bound in any way, shape or form until it is tabled on the floor of the Australian Parliament, made public...”

See Graham Strachan's comments on this issue.

Now let us remember that it was Pauline Hanson who brought the MAI issue out into the open in January - yet neither she nor One Nation rates a mention in the above article - with the "veil of secrecy" being the ommission of the party who was the main reason the MAI issue now being debated in Australia. Even Alan Jones on Channel 9's Today Show picked up on the issue this morning as concern about the international treaty now spreads like wildfire throughout Australia.

It goes without saying that Pauline Hanson's speech in parliament on MAI has been totally ignored by the mainstream media as history continues to be re-written. The most classic case of rewriting history that we have archived is that famous parroting by Prime Minister John Howard of the views expressed by Pauline Hanson in her letter of 6th January 1996. The letter which led to her disendorsement by the Liberal Party at the last Federal election as she was, as a result of the letter, seen as a "racist" by the unethical mainstream media.

Since writing that letter Hanson has been referred to as a "racist" by the media yet Howard, somehow, has escaped that tag.

This is our Australian media at work re-writing history to suit their own agendas.

Native Title Uncertainty costing Australia $30 billion

The Federal Government says uncertainty over native title has cost the mining industry $30 billion in lost investment and revenue.

Resources Minister Warwick Parer says new figures show exploration discoveries in oil and gas reached record levels last year, and expenditure on petroleum exploration reached $1 billion.

But he says a survey by Australia's Mining Monthly magazine shows uncertainty over native title is having a disastrous impact on the industry, and that Australia has the world's worst rating in relation to land claims. Senator Parer says the Australian economy is yet to feel the full impact of the native title impasse.

"Simply because of the Native Title Act, it is riskier to explore in Australia than in countries like Peru, Ghana or India," he said.

"It's hardly surprising the Australian resource companies are directing their exploration dollars overseas."

Suharto denounces IMF and digs in over economy

PRESIDENT SUHARTO yesterday denounced International Monetary Fund reforms for Indonesia - despite having signed an agreement that would bring more than $40 billion (£24 billion) in assistance.

The IMF has already delayed the next $3 billion aid tranche, saying it wants to review further the country's economy. Last night the President, 76, left little room for manoeuvre as he told members of the National People's Assembly, at his suburban home to nominate him again for the presidency, that the IMF's requirements violated the constitution.

The article he cited provides that the economy be run collectively for the benefit of the whole nation. At the heart of the IMF prescription are concerns that it is currently run too much for the benefit of the Suharto family and cronies. The authorities appear to fear that the IMF does not understand the need to move slowly to untangle decades of economic practice. When students tackled a senior military man last week, he said Indonesia did not want to become another Russia.

The fund delayed its economic reassessment in the hope that the President's attitude might change after interventions by the United States and the European Union, and a further slide in the rupiah's value.

Regional experts are concerned that the standoff will do severe damage to the Indonesian economy and prolong the lack of confidence in the area and its economic future. Already thousands of Indonesians are voting with their feet as the country waits to see who will be in the Cabinet after President Suharto's acclamation for a seventh term of office tomorrow. Any doubts about the President's determination were put aside at the weekend when it was revealed that he would be given extra powers - including the possible suspension of parliament - to ensure stability.

In Singapore and Malaysia, there is something approaching panic over the possible arrival of hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants.

Political:

Wik Bill progresses through the lower house:

The Federal Government introduced their amendments to the Wik bill again yesterday, confident that it will progress through the Senate this time.

Attorney-General Daryl Williams yesterday warned that the Government is preparing to go to the polls if the Native Title Amendment Bill 1997 was rejected in the Senate.

ALPs State Secretary Gary Gray pessimistic about party's chances

The state secretary of the Australian Labor Party Gary Gray is pessimistic about the party's chances at the next Federal Eclection claiming that their own polling shows that they would lose.

"If there were an (federal) election this Saturday... I think you'd see some recovery in the ALP vote. But it wouldn't be massive... just a couple of points, Mr Gray said, "Governments usually pick up 4 to 6% during the campaign."

Speaking at a state level Mr Gray claimed that when Wayne Goss was nearly defeated in the Queensland State elections in 1995 the voters had wanted to send him a message not destroy the party.

Gray also challenged the Liberal Party to put Pauline Hanson's One Nation last on their How to Vote cards after Beazley had made this commitment earlier.

You say:

Subject: Paulne Hanson's speech on MAI in the Australian parliament

Please accept a yank's Three cheers for Pauline Hanson and One Nation!

It must be very satisfying for Aussies to know that Australia now has a political party that owes nothing to anyone, except the people of Australia, with a leader who speaks the unadorned truth.

You are the envy of all the world's people who still believe only in, GOVERNMENT BY THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED.

john hamilton
USA

Thanks John,

Your views are always most welcome.

Ed.

Personal trivia, from the global office:

Another perfect day in paradise.

Have a good one.

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