Saturday 26th October 1996
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Earlier this month I predicted that Pauline Hanson's outspoken views on immigration could lead to an assassination attempt on her life by the criminal Asian elements that have infiltrated our society.Links between the execution style murder of New South Wales MP for Cabramatta, John Newman, and death threats received by Pauline Hanson are now being investigated by Federal Police.
The investigation follows a contract worth thousands of dollars which has been placed on Ms Hanson's head - which is apparently linked to Mr Newman's killers.
Early yesterday a team of federal and state police raided six Vietnamese homes as well as a video store in Brisbane's western suburbs. Police say a small quantity on ecstasy, heroin and cannabis was seized. Several arrests have been made in relation to the drug haul. There have been no arrests for the murder of John Newman but Vietnamese gangs involved in heroin trafficking were among prime suspects.
Like the murdered MP John Newman, Ms Hanson's electorate encompasses a large Vietnamese community - where members of the Vietnamese 5T gangs based in Sydney often flee to hide when the heat is on.
Defying National Party Leader, Tim Fischer, the Bribie Island branch of the National Party invited Ms Hanson over for morning tea yesterday. The organiser, and branch president, Dorothy Parr, said that she would like to see the Nationals recruit Ms Hanson and said that Tim Fischer was trying to intimidate the Independent MP by criticising her remarks on immigration.
"National Party members have contacted me and told me to ignore Mr Fischer... that they are not very happy with his leadership," she said.
Ms Hanson, talking to a packed crowd of 180, spoke about everything from smacking children to the Au$30 billion Aboriginal industry. 20 people stood outside the room in the belated hope that there would be late cancellations. After her speech Ms Hanson got a standing ovation with cheers and cries of "we love you".
Her ongoing confrontation with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) continues with Ms Hanson saying that she would refuse to address the group if they were allowed inside. The ABC were barred from the meeting.... (wonder if they interviewed each other again...)
A handful of Aboriginal protestors, one wearing a Ku Klux Klan outfit, waved banners outside.
In replying to a question, Ms Hanson said, "Eight months ago behind the counter of my fish and chip shop, I thought, "Oh yeah I'd like to give that politics a go". I never thought that I would have the whole nation on its toes... the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister and the Democrats and a good part of the nations of the world."
The support from both Liberal and National members at the meeting was overwhelming with her views being strongly supported and cheered.
Summing up the general feeling at the meeting Alisa Higham of Moolooaba said, "They've (Aboriginese) got disease because of the way they live.
"I'm not a racist, I believe everyone should be treated equally and that there is good and bad in everyone. But why do they sit down and drink? Why don't they clean up their communities?"
I found an excellent and balanced report on Pauline Hanson's comments on Sarah's page while surfing the net... here is an extract:
"In all the years I have lived in Australia, genuinely believing us to be "The Lucky Country", the luck seemed to me to spring from the great Australian acceptance of individuals on their own merits, with a remarkable tolerance for difference - even encouragement of it. Compared to other places I have lived
and visited, this nation seemed to have used the convict days and historical hard times to learn something
very deep and true about human beings -- that we are different, and that difference is better than
sameness. We cannot learn anything from anything that is not new. If we don't learn, we will not survive.
Not as Australia... and not as a species.
If that struck a chord, visit the page (part of the Action for Aboriginal Rights web site) - it will be worth the trip.
The two mortgage originators were quickly followed by Westpac which reduced several specialist variable home rates.
The lenders are gambling that this week's financial indicators will lead to a cut in official interest rates.
Most banks are still charging at least 9% for a variable rate mortgage.
The political battle to claim the cuedos for the interest rate cut continued yesterday with Opposition Labor leader Kim Beazley arguing that the climate for a cut had been set by the previous Labor Government.
"There should have been an interest rate cut three months ago. The previous government got inflation under control," Beazley told the ABC in Perth.
The major banks are following the line put out by the Commonwealth Bank which is saying that it "wants hard evidence that rates are going to come down" before they consider any interest rate cuts on home lending.
How many people who agree that they want independant news reporting subscribe to publications such as The Journal of Independent Studies (out of UTS Journalism school) or the magazine - The Internationalist? Both of these carry the 'truth' behind the stories.
(see full response below)...
One of the greatest drawbacks to the Independent newspaper in the past has been getting their news in front of people. Thus the very low circulation... you can bet your bottom dollar that the transporters of papers for the mainstream media would not jeopardise their main cash flow by carrying such minows in the media world.
However, having said that, the Internet cuts right through those problems of delivery and accessability. We would welcome carrying the Australian news behind the news from either of the publications referred to above (The Journalist of Independent Studies or The Internationalist.)
Are people interested in the "news behind the news":
Australian (only) feedback as at 4am AEST:
| A strong, independent, investigative media should be established in Australia: | Agree: 181 | Disagree: 3 |
| This independent force should exclude companies or influence from parties involved in the current media empires: | Agree: 175 | Disagree: 4 |
I think that many people, even those of us who espouse radical positions on this, don't *really* put our money where our mouth is.
How many people who agree that they want independant news reporting subscribe to publications such as The Journal of Independent Studies (out of UTS Journalism school) or the magazine - The Internationalist? Both of these carry the 'truth' behind the stories. Both have incredibly small subscriber bases (even though there are masses of us who say they want independence in media).
AS an employee of News Ltd, I am very aware that our papers are focussed on what we see as the main market. A survey of Victorians, for example, showed that on the whole their values were conservative, while interested in other opinions, that they were slightly racist, not highbrow, wanted something light-ish for their news and were more interested in the skim of the stories (and barely interested in international issues). So, what paper fits this profile - the Herald Sun (an incredibly fast growing paper). and what about the Age - the perceived 'high brow' level of the age and the coverage of international issues is not relevant to Victorians, and they are departing the paper for the Herald Sun.
I don't want to support News, but the while I recognise that the *stories* which make it are in line with **some** editorial control, the papers attempt to fit the niche required by the people in their geographical area.
In terms of independence withint News, look to the editorials across the group over the last election. All Liberal? No, In fact quite mixed. The Daily Telegraph had the strongest Pro-Labor stance of any Australian Paper, while The Australian came out for Liberal - so the slant is, to a degree, independent - but it is true - stories which promote or meet interests within the group are covered slightly different (in some cases, but not all).
BHP tumbled 42 cents to Au$17.10, National Australia Bank fell 27 cents to Au$13.49 and the Commonwealth Bank 18 cents to Au$11.76.
The dollar firmed marginally as currency investors celebrated a lack of interest rate action by the Reserve bank of Australia.
The arrest was leaked in Canberra yesterday three days after Polish officials picked up Oates who had been managing a brewery in Gdansk on behalf of Australian investors.
It appears that the arrest is related to an extradition order being sought by Australian officials.
The Australian cricket team has lost 6 international matches in a row and Mark Taylor's role as captain must be under some threat following this latest defeat. Australia were all out on 215. The South African team responded with 218 for 8 with David Cullinan once again starring for the South African's with 71 not out and Alan Donald starring in their bowling line up with 4 wickets... three of the wickets taking place over four balls... nearly a hat-trick!
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