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Issue No. 125 | 22 February 2002 |
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Unfair and Dismal
Interview: If Not Now, When? Activists: Fighting Back Industrial: Croon And Divide Politics: Politics of Extinction History: Harry Bridges: International Labour Hero International: Rats in the Ranks Review: Follow The Fence, Find The Truth Satire: Howard Screws Refugee Kids: G-G Turns Blind Eye Poetry: Let It Be
The Soapbox The Locker Room Week in Review
 Dirty Politics Won't WashTom's FooleryGive Us a Spray!
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Week in Review Tories in Turmoil
**************** The week opens with gathering doubts over John Howard's integrity. The PM ducks and weaves as senior public servants, military officers and members of his own department admit knowing his "children overboard" election stunt was untrue. Howard clings, increasingly desperately, to the three-monkey defence but looks more like a fourth with each passing hour. Questions are raised over partner-in-porkies Peter Reith's decision to become a hired gun for defence industry giant, Tenix. It is revealed that Reith took up the lucrative consultancy exactly one day after formally handing in his Defence Minister's badge. The Finance Sector Union considers the implications of NSW banks opening their doors on Saturdays for the first time in 40 years. Under the Bank and Bank Holidays Act it is currently illegal but Premier Bob Carr says he wants change, on condition that bank workers are not adversely affected. Back in Canberra, the government earmarks $60 million for Tony Abbott's pet project - The Royal Commission Into Stuffing The Building Workers - more than double the funds put aside for investigating the HIH collapse, and approximately $60 million more than the Government devoted to Ansett's survival. The figure, $53 million up on the amount budgeted in 2001, is contained in additional estimates. Jeez, John says, the bastard won't go away. Norway's King knights MV Tampa skipper, Arne Rinnan, who had previously been awarded the title Shipmaster of the Year by Lloyds List and the Nautical Institute in recognition of his rescue of 438 men, women and children, none of whom had been thrown overboard by parents or close family members The Governor General remains centre storm as protest levels rise over his insensitivity to sexual abuse victims. Under pressure, he meets the PM and wins a thumbs-up from the man who appointed him. Other party leaders, with the notable exception of Queensland's Mad Katter, are loathe to back a man who has shown himself so clearly out of touch with community values. Howard, attempting to manouevre his way out of the "children overboard" war zone is mercilessly strafed by Air Marshall Angus Houston's evidence to a Senate Inquiry. Houston sinks Reith's ignorance plea and severely damages Howard with categorical testimony that, in the presence of another Air Force officer, he told Reith, prior to the election, there was no evidence to support r claims asylum seekers had thrown children overboard. In a first, Reith comes half-clean, finally admitting he had been informed evidence for his election stunt didn't exist. With key pillars of state - the governor general and armed forces - severely undermined, Howard apologists continue to argue their man hadn't technically lied. What is no longer up for debate, however, is the Prime Minister's willingness to vilify people from a racial minority, with cavalier disregard for truth, in order to enhance his electoral prospects.
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