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Since
October 1995
Queensland to go to the polls on June 13
Rob Borbidge will today announce the worst kept secret in the state with a 10am announcement confirming that Queensland will go to the polls on June the 13th.
Last night Borbidge was trying to turn the "preference game" to his own advantage when he said that voters who vote for One Nation must put the Nationals second unless they want an ALP state government. This is the first time that he has publicly acknowledged the immense support that One Nation has and the comment flies in the face of the trash journalism that has spewed out of News Limited's Courier Mail as the intellectual prostitutes working there do their master's bidding.
The recent flurry of pre-meditated articles by the Courier Mail on Liberal preferences is a prime example of highly politicised trash journalism.
"If the people turn to One Nation but do not allocate preferences to the conservatives, we lose again," Borbidge said, when talking about the release of One Nation's latest gun policy. "It is fundamental. We have to increase our two-party preferred vote and the only way to do that is for people to allocate preferences."
"Those very things like gun laws and Wik that are anathema to them may come back to haunt them if Peter Beattie becomes premier. Gun owners in particular would shoot themselves in the foot and One Nation would win nothing."
Pauline Hanson told me yesterday that she did not believe that her gun policy contradicted her own personal predicament with the large number of death threats that she had received since being elected to the Federal seat of Oxley.
Yesterday David Oldfield said, "It must be understood that the outlawing of guns will mean only outlaws have them, because outlaws don't turn in their guns. What we're doing is putting forward a legitimate policy to allow access to different firearms types for legitimate purposes by responsible users."
"There is no evidence to sustain that firearm ownership has anything to do
with homicide. In fact the statistics clearly show that over the last 20
years both suicide and homicide with the use of firearms have continued to
decline despite the
proliferation and ease of access
to firearms of all types throughout the same period."
On Thursday the state parliamentary leader and deputy leader will be announced at a special meeting being held in Ipswich. Peter James, seen here right at the birthday party, was announced state director last week.
Last Sunday I joined, Heather Hill, one of One Nation's state candidates at a bar-b-cue at her home.
Below are some pictures taken at the event. Heather is expected to do extremely well in a seat normally dominated by the Labor party. Picture on the right Heather with husband Ken. Other pictures show some of the guests who gathered to discuss manning polling booths on voting day, June 13th.
Courier Mail scoop the pools in biased reporting once again.
The Australian Press Council Annual Report, No 21, (30 June 1997) tells us some interesting things about News Limited's Courier Mail. These include being part of Queensland Press Limited whose:
Major Owners are:
Cruden Investments Pty Ltd 58% (Murdoch family company)
The News Corporation Limited 42% (Largely Murdoch owned)
Company Directors are:
L K Murdoch - Chairman
J T Cowley - Managing Director
K H Murdoch
K R Murdoch
L G Brindle
F J Lunn
R M Richards
The vote winning gun policy released by Pauline Hanson's One Nation last Saturday came under the editorial blow torch today with the epitome of an intellectual prostitute being revealed under the headline: "Hanson gun policy a threat to public order".
Now before reading the extract below or going to the full copy of the editorial consider the total lack of coverage given by the Courier Mail to Pauline Hanson's One Nation law and order policy which would stop the rise in crime in its tracks in this state. Of course in the paper's tradition of political bias, shonky editorials and blatant misuse of ethics in reporting this policy does not rate a mention.
Pauline Hanson has less to fear from a proliferation of guns than most people. The controversial Independent Queensland politicians enjoys full time, tax-payer-funded security from the Australian Federal Police that is at least the equal of that provided to Prime Minister John Howard. she acknowledged her vulnerability to attack in a bizarre “video from the grave” screened last year. Therefore, her advocacy of virtually unregulated gun laws is made from a position of unique privilege.
As the first salvo in what is likely to be an opportunistic push for disaffected National Party voters in the looming state election, it is a policy certain to attract support in rural and regional Queensland. At the same time, many conservative voters in south east Queensland will find the prospect of unravelling the national consensus of gun control reached in the wake of the Port Arthur massacre a frightening thought.
Suharto Losing Support Within Governing Elite
Here is an extract from the Washington Post article:
AKARTA, Indonesia, May 17—Indonesia's ravaged capital began struggling back to normality today following last week's outburst of violence, but embattled President Suharto faced growing calls for his resignation and threats of continued turmoil with more anti-government rallies planned in the coming days.
A senior member of Suharto's ruling Golkar party joined the chorus of those demanding that the president step aside, confirming that he is losing support from within the nation's governing elite.
Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, who until March served as environment minister in Suharto's cabinet, said today in a published interview that the president, 76, "has gone past his usefulness" and should resign in favor of a new ruling council led by the armed forces chief, Gen. Wiranto.
and...
yesterday students and people rose up in a mass battle in Jabotabek [Jakarta-Bogor-Tengerang-Bekasi, the greater Jakarta industrial zone], while students throughout the country held demonstrations in different cities. The people's battle in Jakarta is widespread, breaking out simultaneously everywhere and has paralysed the city.
Hungry people are taking goods from the supermarkets and setting fire to buildings and vehicles. The battle has continued through to this morning and has spread to attacks on [wealthy] housing complexes.
The authorities have not been able to confront the people's resistance. Everywhere, the masses cannot be prevented from carrying out the attacks. Many in the armed forces are demoralised.
President Suharto has said that he is prepared to step down if the people do not support him. This indicates that they are cornered by the continued launch of attacks on the dictatorship.
Quotable facts:
*The staff budget of the IMF could provide a basic health care package for more than 14 million people in the poorest countries.
*Rupert Murdoch's wealth is estimated at $4 billion, the same as the debt of Lebanon.
* Infant mortality in Zambia in 1970 was 106 per 1,000 live births. In 1996 it had worsened to 112 per 1,000. Since 1990 the country has paid a total of $4.8 billion in debt service, about one and a half times its total economic output in one year.
* US investment bank Goldman Sachs is valued at $20 billion, which is $100 million for each partner. The debt of South Africa is $23 billion, which is $550 for each South African.
* In the developing world maternal mortality is still the leading cause of death among women of childbearing age, claiming 600,000 lives globally each year, with 30 times that number left disabled.
* The world's most heavily indebted countries, by size of debt are: 1. Brazil $179 billion 2. Mexico: $157 billion 3. Indonesia $129 billion
*The world's most heavily indebted countries, by debt as a percentage of national output are: 1. Sao Tome and Principe 647 per cent 2. Mozambique 432 per cent 3. Somalia 406 per cent
*Britain's contribution to HIPC will be around £2.5 billion - less than has been spent on National Lottery scratchcards and around one-fifth of Britain's annual cigarette bill.
*Britain spends £579 per person each year on health and £355 on the military; Jamaica spends £30 per person on health, £7 on the military, and £165 on debt service; Malawi spends £2 per person on health, £1 on the military, and £6 on debt service. Neither Malawi nor Jamaica are eligible for relief under HIPC as their debts are not big enough.
*Voting in the World Bank is based on financial contributions. The US has 15.29 per cent of votes, Britain 5 per cent, China 2.02 per cent, Brazil 1.63 per cent, India 3.14 per cent, South Africa 0.28 per cent, Libya 0.07 per cent, and Zimbabwe 0.10 per cent.
Making the
news" -
| Party | May 15-17 | May 1-3 | Apr17-19M | Mar 22-29 | Mar 13-15 | Feb 27-Mar 1 | Feb 13-15 | Jan 30-Feb1 |
| Coalition | 46 | 43 | 41 | 41 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 44 |
| ALP | 39 | 41 | 41 | 41 | 44 | 45 | 43 | 40 |
| One Nation | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Democrats | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Greens | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| Others | 6 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
Subject: Economic "Refugees" set to invade Australia
It looks like Australia's reputation for being a 'soft touch' in immigration issues is well known in Indonesia. It will be interesting to see how the government reacts to this. Do they maintain Australia's interests or do they take the money with the strings attached from the Chinese lobby.
There would be no doubt which course of action if One Nation wasn't around, and voters did not have the opportunity to respond to any decision at the ballot box.
Gweilo
Subject: A 'Letter to the editor' of NOTD
Re: Melbourne Herald-Sun Survey
On 18 May, 1998, the front page headline reads "Teens tell it all".
The first paragraph says "A majority of Victorian teenagers believe too many immigrants are entering Australia".
The third paragraph states "It shows they (13-19 year olds) admire One Nation leader Pauline Hanson more than Prime Minister John Howard." Thereafter it gives details of the percentages of the feelings of the teenagers on immigration.
However, tucked away on the second page it states "While independent MP Pauline Hanson was rated marginally above Mr Howard on the admiration scale, she topped the list of most hated personalities." It is curious that it is tucked away like this. In former issues of this newspaper (can't put my hand on them for dates at the moment), the editorials usually disregarded their own telephone Opinion Polls or misrepresented them on the subject of PHON. Furthermore, usually their telephone poll responses number in the hundreds only, but on the subject of PHON and its policies, invariably the calls number over a thousand. And the responses are up to and over 90% in favor of PHON and its policies. One wonders at the reason for this apparent change in direction. Could it be that the people who run this newspaper have realised at last that the majority of its readers support PHON and that they could be "killing the goose that lays the golden eggs" to rubbish it so openly now?
Or maybe this will change when the senior reporter, who is so strongly against PHON, returns from covering the Indonesian crisis.
Warmest regards,
Barry
Subject: DEBIT TAX
Hi My name is Merv McCullough
I have been following One Nation with keen interest , the point of this email is that I can't understand why the Treasurer will not look into the Debit tax program, maybe it will make to many redundant accountants , and catch up with the wealthy too much . I would like to know what One Nations thoughts are on the matter of the Debit tax. I cant help thinking that It would be a great Vote catcher . because I have not spoken to anyone that does not think It is wonderful scheme, and I belong to three clubs and meet and talk to many people, good on you and keep up the good work
Merv
Subject: Indonesia
Hallo there!
Today we are very surprised of what happened in Indonesia on the last day. It was so terrible that people went out to the street to rob and burn all of the store in Jakarta and Solo.
The military claimed that the riots was connecting with student demonstration. But actually it was not true.
Because until today The military always stops the student to go out from campus. And it's ironic that the military use the gun to stop the student, but they let people rob and burn the store (I have the picture of this). So I think there's an invisible hand behind the riot. I heard an issue from Jakarta that for this situation Prabowo (son in law of president) was promoted as Pangkopkamtip to control the situation.
This position is like Soeharto in 1965. But general Wiranto the chief commander of military rejected that. Many people in indonesia hope Wiranto will do reformation, for the army (ABRI) has the biggest power in the political constellation in Indonesia. But we (our student committee) never believe in the army, because the army will take advantage just like in 1966, when the student movement was the mask of military. We don't want to be leaded by the army.
So I think this situation (riot) was made by military to legitimised the army stopping the student protest, and in other side to promote Prabowo.
What we can do now is just to make people understand that people enemy is not china ethnic but the army and the civil who save status quo. So robbing and burning the store is not the way of reformation.
I would like if you will spread the information that it was not student who made or started the riot but it was political engineering by the army.
Finally I would like to thanks for any help, you and all of over sea student give.
We shall overcome !
M.
Subject: Comments on Australian News of the Day
There was a major pile up in Sydney on the weekend you should know about.
Kerry Packer was walking down George St and stopped suddenly to look into a shop window.
It took the rescue squad 30 minutes to remove Peter Reith from the space between Mr Packers buttocks!
Cheers and keep on fighting the good fight.
Geoff Stanley
This morning the Australian dollar fell below 62 cents to just 61.87 cents... as the Indonesian crisis worsened.
Yesterday Prime Minister John Howard today blamed "poorly informed economically illiterate" market dealers on the other side of the world for the tumbling Australian dollar.
Mr Howard moved to distance Australia's economy from the financial woes of Asia after the Australian dollar fell to a 12-year low of 62.35 US cents last Friday.
"I think some poorly informed economically illiterate money market people in the other side of the world may make that judgment," the Prime Minister told Radio 2GB in Sydney.
"They may say: 'Oh well, all Asia, and Australia as a part of Asia, geographically has got a problem.
"The point I'm simply making is, look at Australia on its own merits.
"And if you do that, you can't have other than a very robust view of the strength of the Australian economy."
Mr Howard said Australia enjoyed low inflation, low interest rates as well as well-regulated, properly-supervised banks.
"Our economy is strong, our economy is growing," he said.
"And what we are really saying to the international financial community is, when you make your judgments about the region in which we are, look at Australia on its own merits and according to its own strengths.
"Don't assume that because many Asian economies are in trouble that the Australian economy is in trouble - because it is not, and our position is completely different."
What a con!
So Packer's right hand stooge, Brian Powers, is to take over running "independent" Fairfax while heir-apparent young James Packer takes over his position as executive chairman at Publishing and Broadcasting Limited....
Media concentration - what more evidence do the public need!
Another perfect day in paradise.
Have a good one.
Recent stories exclusive to (how to) subscribe/rs of the Australian National News of the Day:
Unethical trifecta
expose Courier Mail's intellectual prostitutes - 9th May 1998
MIGA - son of MAI
exposed - 8th May
Just me and Pauline - 5th May
One Nation breakfast
- 4th May
Just who are the
Mont Pelerin
Society - 3rd May
The Internet and
the DEATH of the MAI - 30th April
Launch of Pauline
Hanson's re-election campaign - 29th April
Second One Nation
protest surprises Bob McMullan - 28th April
Sultan
of Brunei buys up big tracks of Australia - then negotiates Indonesian
"settlements" 25th April
Maritime
Union of Australia win in the Federal Court 22nd April
Just
who is behind the dock war? 19th April
One
Nation Birthday Party on Pauline Hanson's farm 10th-12th April
One
Nation state and federal candidates meet in Toowoomba 4th -5th April
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