Australian National
(anotd)
Saturday
12th September 1998
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Today's
Headlines
an Aussie's viewpoint on Australia's
first daily Internet newspaper.
Since
October 1995
Between the One Nation lines
Pauline Hanson was in Longreach yesterday and while presenting
her speech
on ATSIC and Wik she gave the media a blast for being the real cause
of division in Australia by misreporting her. Of course even this blast was
presented in a negative, and selectively cut format to create maximum damage
to One Nation.
However when John Howard had a go at the ABC for alleged biased reporting
the comment landed up as the headline in today's Courier Mail :"Howard accuses ABC of bias". Howard
said yesterday that the election campaign coverage of the Liberal Party by
the ABC had been "quite uneven".
Welcome to a glimpse of the real world Mr Howard where people power is
downtrodden in lies and deception by the mainstream media - but you would
know all about that wouldn't you? Deals behind backroom doors, deals with
the rich which result in this response when questioned about the subsidising
of healthcare for Kerry Packer, "There are very few Kerry Packers".
About sums up your stand on your major benefactors - big, big business.
A story below about "The difference is all in the political alliance" is quite revealing in the blatant bias shown by the media against One Nation.
One Nation snippets:
anotd readers will recall that The Anglican Church's Focus
newspaper in September
carried an
article in which it was clearly implied that I and One Nation were
posting racist comments on the Internet.
Today I received an apology from the Editor.
Focus editor's
letter.
In part it says, "I am aware now that the posts did
not originate from... One Nation."
Yesterday the politically correct party "The Unity Party" placed
its web site on the Internet. It's
wallpaper - says it all - (it is in Chinese)
The difference is all in the political alliance
One thing that all One Nation members face at some time or other is the fact
that they are openly abused and ostracised by the media. I have, personally,
had several contacts with the media - and very few, since I started work
on the One Nation pages, have been intended to provide commentary on a positive
story. (The Focus article referred to above - brought to my attention
by The Sunday Mail is but one example).
Today it is the turn of One Nation state leader Bill Feldman's long time
colleague and friend in the Police force - Merv Bainbridge, the Police
Union General Secretary, gets singled out by The Courier Mail for
special treatment. His sin is work as a strategist for Feldman in the lead
up to the June 13 election.
The headline, "Police Union Official on One Nation's
polling team" implies that he is to be made a public spectacle
because he is carrying out his democratic right to support who he wants.
In the article Bainbridge says, "I'm not a member of the (One Nation) Party.
Bill knew that many years ago I was a member of the Labor Party and then
I used to assist at polling booths and he requested my advice and I gave
him that."
Quite clearly it is okay to work on behalf of the Labor Party but offering
assistance to One Nation results in being made a public spectacle in Queensland's
top selling (Murdoch owned) newspaper.
Is it any surprise that there are so many closet One nation supporters who
refuse to let people know where they are going to vote? The real surprise
is that despite the vilification by News Limited One Nation's support has
grown as it has.
Police Union president Gary Wilkinson yesterday defended Bainbridge's role
saying, "When the time comes when a private citizen cannot help a friend
during a democratic process of an election simply because he holds a position
with the Police Union then the state of Queensland has gone down the toilet.
"The general secretary of the Police Union is a man of the highest integrity.
He did not use any influence from his position to assist Mr Feldman even
though Mr Feldman was a member of this union at the time and a union official.
"He (Bainbridge) simply used his expertise, gained from assisting (Police
Minister) Tom Barton and Molly Robinson in their campaigns in previous years,
to help an old friend.
"I find it extraordinary that The Courier Mail never writes about the
assistance given to the Labor Party from all the unions around the state
during the election time and yet Merv Bainbridge in his capacity as an average
and ordinary citizen makes it because he is associated with Bill
Feldman."
Final word from Bill Feldman, "He's (Bainbridge) been a mate of mine. Is
it wrong to help a mate? I think it's getting pretty bad when these things
come up."
Clinton's Starr report now on-line
Here is a link to CNN's copy of
the report.
Oldfield on One Nation
Extracts from an article by Shanahan in the Sydney Morning Herald
David Oldfield, Pauline Hanson's chief strategist and Senate candidate, leaves
no doubt that he believes the public's increasingly jaundiced view of the
media is a key element in the election campaign and in One Nation's survival:
"I'm absolutely certain that the majority of people in Australia hate the
media with a passion," he told the Herald.
"In this election, anything more than Pauline in Parliament will be a big
win for us because we are up against such tremendous opposition, non-stop
attacks, much more opposition than has ever been put up against the Democrats.
"Right now, News Ltd journalists are doorknocking the street where Pauline
lives when she is in Canberra. I know what sort of questions they are asking.
It is clearly not a story about the election. They are looking for dirt."
Whatever one may think of Oldfield, he is a compulsively plain-spoken political
player and, before the last big election - Queensland - he got it right and
the media got it wrong.
He believes the tremendous amount of attention and hostility Hanson receives
from the media continues to shore up her status as an honest battler with
her largely blue-collar and single-issue supporters.
"One thing that helps us tremendously is the inability of most of the media
to read what the population believes ...
"Even two days before the Queensland election they were still in denial.
They were saying we would win only four seats."
Unlike the Queensland campaign, where One Nation won 11 seats, Oldfield is
not making any bold predictions.
"Having both Labor and the Liberals putting us last on their preferences
makes it incredibly difficult for us. In NSW, I wouldn't be surprised if
I lost, and I wouldn't be surprised if I won."
But he will be surprised if Pauline Hanson does not win the seat of Blair,
or cattleman Graeme Wicks the Queensland seat of Wide Bay, or Heather Hill
a Senate seat from Queensland, or John Fisher a Senate seat from Western
Australia. This would leave One Nation with two members in both the Senate
and the House, a vastly improved position.
"The media is trumpeting that our national polling went from 10 per cent
to 7 per cent last week," he said. "But three weeks ago we were 7 per cent.
They want to believe we are failing. It's Queensland all over again."
Hanson - the obsession of the Laboral factions
Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley has seized on a letter from a Liberal
MP urging local party members to keep their doubts about Government policy
to themselves during the election campaign.
The letter from the campaign director for Therese Gambaro, the member for
the Queensland seat of Petrie, asks party members not to view the Government's
tax package from a purely personal point of view, but to view it positively
as the best thing for Australia.
Mr Beazley says the letter shows even Liberal MPs see the dangers of the
proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST).
"Pauline Hanson might think she's the mum of the nation, but when it comes
to the Liberal Party and the GST, mum's the word," he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Beazley has dismissed One Nation Party Leader Pauline Hanson's
statement that she wants to be the mother of the Australian nation.
Mr Beazley says Pauline Hanson's policies have little to do with the concept
of motherhood.
"If you look at your average, typical Australian mum, they love everybody,
but they're very concerned about those who are vulnerable. That's Australian
motherhood - motherhood Oz style," Mr Beazley said.
"That's not Pauline Hanson."
Prime Minister John Howard says Labor's economic policies are startlingly
similar to those of Pauline Hanson's One Nation party.
Mr Howard says like One Nation, the Opposition is advocating policies which
would take Australia backwards.
"Both of them are against taxation reform, serious tax reform, both of them
essentially are opting for the present system - the second is both of them
are in favour of going backwards as far as protection policies are concerned,"
Mr Howard said. "Their view is that you solve our problems by prohibiting,
or having a more restrictive approach to imports - I think those two similarities
are very stark indeed."
Frail Asian Economies Watch Hong Kong, Malaysian
Ploys
Here
is an extract from the Washington Post article:
"The free-market system has failed," Mahathir said in a television address.
"The only way we can manage the economy," he said, "is to insulate us from
the activities of currency traders and share-market speculators." And he
found a precedent in his decision to try to buck the market -- Hong Kong's
costly intervention to prop up stock prices.
So what ever happened to all that talk about the new global financial
marketplace?
"I think the intervention we saw in Hong Kong is going to become the rule,
not the exception," said a longtime economic strategist in Hong Kong, who
asked not to be named. With the world possibly entering a new era of deflation,
he said, "governments will try to do what they can to prevent it [and] try
to slow down the movement of capital."
"What you saw in Hong Kong was the tip of the iceberg," he said.
Making the
news" -
an indepth exposé of media and political collusion at the highest
possible levels in Australia.
You say:
Murdoch and Co
You may be aware that Rupert Murdoch is trying to buy
the Manchester United football club. This tendency to accumulate media, sports
club and whatever else he can lay his hands on is something that Murdoch
modelled on Silvio Berlusconi, a man he admired and envied. Berlusconi owned
an Italian store with 400 outlets, over 300 movie theatres, a television
network only behind ABC,CBS and NBC in size, and the A.C Milan football club.
Ever since they met in the late 80's, Murdoch seems to have espoused the
corporate philosophies of his "hero".
The Murdoch "push" continues today, aided by a very
strong media ownership which he uses to further his commercial ventures.
There are many examples of Murdoch using his newspapers to hammer the opposition.
The one classic example is when he promoted Sky at the expense of its competitor
for the British PAY TV market, BSB. According to Murdoch himself, his media
ownership is unhealthy for society. And for good reason. Ted Turner once
described Murdoch's view of a better world as "a world that is better for
Murdoch." To me, he is the cane toad of the corporate landscape (not to be
confused with the goanna, but that's another story).
The influence that people like Murdoch have over
governments is very unhealthy indeed. You may have noticed how Lachlan Murdoch
went shopping for Mushroom Records shares lately. This is the kind of shopping
people who have governments by the balls can do. They buy a stock that is
going out of favour (in this case, because government regulations allow
competition from imports), soon enough their media start a campaign to have
the law reversed and two or three years later, they sell the shares, multiplying
their money. The reason why this happens is because there is no Australian
political party or coalition that can govern without the tacit approval of
the tycoons. Being elected means making a deal (expressed or implied) with
the Packers and Murdochs. Anyone who says otherwise has been living in East
Mongolia for the past 20 years.
In England, it is with horror that some football fans
now realise that the megalomaniac corporate greedos can directly touch their
lives, and closer than they would ever have believed. If only had they done
something about it before. if only they had not been so apathetic when the
big boys were carving up the media. If only... Maybe there is a lesson for
us here. It may be very obvious when a corporation takes control of a business.
It is more subtle when they take over governments.
JG Estiot Editor
Media-Watch Interactive
Howard's bread
The Courier Mail, August 14th on page 22 reported the
cost of a sliced white loaf at $1.94 and Howard's GST price at $2.13 - an
increase of 19 cents, all GST tax.
In John McRobert's book, the present tax take on the
loaf of bread is 47.5% or 92 cents.
Howard's GST loaf becomes -
Present tax take 92 cents
Howard's GST take 19 cents
total $1.11
(or 52% of the new sale price of $2.13)
The significant point is that the 19 cents is a 20%
increase in the present tax take of 92 cents.
The electorate would expect Howard's 10% GST to increase
the tax take by 10%, but it is double at 20%.
Howard's 10% GST tax reform does this to the humble
loaf of bread and other essentials for life. It fails the basic test and
does not deserve further consideration.
Howard brought down by a loaf of bread.
(even if the economists say the existing tax take is
only 30% on a loaf of bread, they dig a bigger hole for Howard as 58/19 =
33% !!)
Brett Hocking, Pauline Hanson's Researcher
Jobs
Why do we still import skilled labour (eg toolmakers)
when we have a 28% youth unemployment rate.
When ever there is a shortage of a particular skill
,companies can easily import people to fill the vacancies...why not make
them train our youth. Where is the voice of the unions on this ,where do
our priorities lay.
ANY ANSWERS?
Wayne.
Good Luck
I wish all the best in the election. This Nation really
needs to start from scratch, unfortunately our political arena has been dominated
by the usual parties for as long as I can remember and now it's time to try
another avenue of approach. I've been paying taxes for 14 years and I'm sick
of seeing my taxes being pored down the drain for worthless causes. It's
human nature to become spoilt from being given hand outs hand over fist until
the time comes when they expect it all the time resulting with no return
to the community. Unfortunately we have bred a welfare Nation and I believe
it's an irreversible process. Unemployment will alway exist as there are
people out there who have no incentive to work or you just wouldn't employ
them for there undesirable appearances. I just wish our Politicians would
stop sucking off the tit of society getting fat dumb and happy, because while
they have a high paying job they don't care which way the decision goes as
long as the minority get their way to shut them up. Pauline I know you aren't
racist it's just that the media always takes you out of context, Australians
know this country is being out bred by foreign races and are fed up of being
second best in there own country. For you to be successful, you and your
party need to be squeaky clean and honest with the people of Australia and
lead by example. I support you but I don't believe in a couple of your polices,
I will have to deal with that. I hope this email goes to the proper location
and not an illegitimate organisation. Would you please put my concerns to
rest and email me back.
GOOD LUCK
Anthony Collins
Laborals unite
I take comfort in the knowledge that the old days where
people slavishly followed the party line in allocating preferences are
gone.
The Liberal and National bosses no longer have the
power over, or respect of the party Faithful to dictate how they should allocate
preferences. Most Liberal and National party voters can not stomach the idea
of "sleeping with the enemy". I think as long as Pauline gets at least 30%
of the primary vote, preferences from Liberal, National and Labor voters
will get her home.
Pauline just has to tell her Blair voters how important
it is to mark every square.
Good luck Pauline!!
Sandy Beard
Tax
I think the only solution to our tax problem is reduce
government expenditure. Most things like health, education and welfare have
to become state responsibilities funded from state taxes so that the kudos
of expenditure is balanced by the odium of raising taxes. It doesn't matter
how brilliantly taxation is reformed so long as governments spend forty per
cent of the GDP the average family will pay half its income in taxes. This
has to be the starting point for reducing taxes. If you don't believe me
talk to John Stone.
There isn't a lot of difference between Labor and Liberal
on tax beacause both are strapped into the welfare state.
Wayne
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:
A brief lunch time
controntation with Jeff Kennett- 8th September 1998
One Nation's
Primary Industry Policy- 7th September 1998
One Nation's Tax Policy-
4th September 1998
One Nation "Media
Adviser" shows true colours- 1st September 1998
One Nation
Federal Fund Raiser - 21st August 1998
B'nai B'rith's
discriminatory and un-Australian "Racewatch" - 18th August 1998
Four Corners become
"Flawed" Corners - 11th August 1998
The Nicholas
Street Rally - 4th August 1998
Their first
day in Parliament - 28th July 1998
The 60 Minutes
debate/debacle - 26th July 1998
Return to Australian National
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