Wednesday 20th November 1996
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Both the Australian Defence Force and Emergency Management Australia (EMA) failed to tell the country's political and military leaders that the potential danger was approaching Australia.
Both of these groups heard about the danger at 6am but did not contact Howard until after Bill Clinton had informed the Australian Prime Minister about 2 hours later.
In a touch of irony the EMA are to purchase a satellite dish dish so that they can receive CNN news which gives more up to date information that both the US and the Russian authorities!
Howard has now called for an inquiry into the matter.
Last night Channel 7's Today Tonight current affairs program ran a story about the Aboriginal community at Hopevale in Northern Queensland... the story exposed absolutely nothing, jusy confirming the cover-up the media had been running about the manner in which the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) distributes its tax payer sourced funding...
On the programme Federal MP, Warren Entsch, said, "The system has allowed a few people to take advantage of their own people and as a consequence they totally abuse the system, they abuse their own people and they make huge financial rewards out of it. But basically the majority of the people living in the community get nothing."
An Aboriginal in the community talked of three generations living in squalid conditions under one roof without sewerage and running water. Some even not having a roof over their heads.
It was revelaed that of eleven new homes built at Hopevale through ATSIC funding, nine had been allocated to council clerks or the families of councillors.
An Aborigine commented that, "They (the council) were ripping off white Australians. Australian tax payers are paying for his (the council administrator's) wealth."
Another Aborigine said, "I want to shake Pauline Hanson's hand. Pauline has asked questions that we have been asking for the past 10 to 13 years. And why should I get up and say that she is a racist when we have blacks in our own community who are racist."
It was revealed that following the signing of a petition by almost half of the residents of Hopevale requesting the dismissal of the council, ATSIC members visited the community and threatened and intimidated those involved in signing the document.
Bill Clinton arrived in Sydney last night to a welcome befitting a pop star. Not much has been said about his visit so far - except that trade relations and security matters will be discussed.
You mentioned on 7th November that Clinton was now called the "Comeback Kid" ("Beam me up Scotty!").
In fact, Bill has had this label for sometime - I heard it in 1992 when the Democratic Party nominated him. The fact that he was booted out of office as Governor of Arkansas, then ternaciously got back in again, is what gave him the repuation as the "comeback kid"
Cheers,
Martin Landauer
Feedback as at 4am AEST:
| Do you think that ATSIC as we know it today should be disbanded?: | Yes: 91 | No: 7 |
The overwhelming majority of voters attending the AGM voted to have Solomon Lew sacked. However, Mr Lew received 409 million votes from shareholders not attending the meeting while only 84 million absentee proxy votes were recorded against him. Lew was re-elected.
Independent Melbourne lawyer Peter Willcocks who claimed to represent the mums and dads failed in his bid to get elected as the small club of major shareholders consolidated their board positions.
The "cockys" (sulphur crested cockatoos) are making a raucous noise outside the office as they battle for position around the feed table.
Have a great day.
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