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Issue No. 135 10 May 2002  
E D I T O R I A L

The Costs of War
John Howard's chickens will come home to roost in the next week when Peter Costello delivers a dog of a federal budget.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: Squaring Off
NSW Industrial Relations Minister John Della Bosca looks beyond last year's WorkCover dispute to rebuild relations between the wings of the labour movement.

Industrial: Heroes Betrayed
Seafaring veterans joining the protest against the CSL Yarra sell-out this week were fighting for their heritage, reports Jim Marr

History: At The Coalface
An oral history of working life on the NSW coalfields has been brought to life by ABC Radio.

International: Wobblies With Chinese Characters?
Workers in China's industrial heartland have started killing their bosses as a form of labour protest., writes Andrew Casey

Politics: Dancing with Trotsky
John Passant re-reads an old political favourite and argues that as fascism in Europe grows the Left must learn the lessons of history.

Economics: You Are What You Eat
Something's eating at Neale Towart, all those Aussie food brands in foreign hands.

Poetry: Alexander's Bragtime Band
When the foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, announced this week that �Australia, internationally, has never been better regarded,� the leaders of the world sagely nodded their heads.

Satire: Stott Despoja Celebrates Engagement With Minor Party
Australian Democrats leader Natasha Stott Despoja says she will celebrate her engagement to public relations consultant Ian Smith in typical Democrat style, with a minor party.

Review: Painting Paradise
NSW Upper House MLC Ian West meets Currawong's artist in residence Sophie Haythornthwaite.

N E W S

 Gun-Runners Threaten Aussie Coast

 Kings Cross Date For Commissioner Cole

 Sunbeam Irons Out Sydney Grand Mother

 Low-Paid Gridlock Melbourne

 NSW Libs Open to Abbott Takeover

 Ten Points for IT Workers

 Low Paid Target Rose Bay Toff

 Terror Bill Needs More Work, ACTU

 Wage Clerks Duck For Cover

 Burma Release Fails to Blunt Campaign

 East Timorese MPs oppose Timor Sea Arrangement

 Airport Screeners Face Men in Jocks

 Black Label Roots For Hessian

 Back Chat for Child Laws

 Barking The Wrong Way In NSW

 Unions Push into Regional Queensland

 Activists Notebook

C O L U M N S

The Soapbox
Live a Little!
MEAA state secretary Michel Hryce tells Young Labor the party needs to get funky.

The Locker Room
Something To Chew On...
Peter Filandia gave sports commentators something to chew on with the recent revelations regarding his activities with the old choppers, writes Phil Doyle.

Postcard
Slow Train Coming
Union Aid Abroad's Phil Hazelton sends another missive from South-East Asia where union money is helping the people of Lao.

Bosswatch
A Share of the Action
Big half-yearly results for the banks, a kick-along for a bomb-maker and a debate about executive options at the 'Woodstock for Capitalists'.

Week in Review
Too Much Telly
That little box in the corner takes top billing as the cypher through which the comings and goings of an eventful week are best relayed, as Jim Marr finds out �

Tool Shed
The Speculator
Labor frontbencher Mark Latham has taken out a controlling stake in this week's Tool Shed with his whacky idea that Labor should be underwriting speculation on the stock exchange.

L E T T E R S
 Heaps and Heaps of Hate Mail
 No Choice
 Who Rules Australia?
 No Wrap for Song Comp
 Abbott's Contempt
WHAT YOU CAN DO
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Satire

Stott Despoja Celebrates Engagement With Minor Party

Extracted from The Chaser

Australian Democrats leader Natasha Stott Despoja says she will celebrate her engagement to public relations consultant Ian Smith in typical Democrat style, with a minor party.
 

"I was planning something a little bit bigger", Ms Stott Despoja admitted to The Glass House, "but now it's looking like it will be quite small. In fact it's getting smaller by the day."

Ms Stott Despoja's engagement is the most noteworthy announcement of her leadership and has caused a sensation in political circles. Labor leader Simon Crean congratulated Stott Despoja, but Prime Minister Howard criticised the Democrats leader for "making another questionable preference deal."

But it is understood that fianc� Ian Smith is already concerned about the future of the relationship after Cheryl Kernot endorsed the match as "another dream team."

The Senator acknowledges that the prospect of marriage is a significant change. "Democrats leaders don't usually say 'till death do us part' for one thing," admitted Stott Despoja. "That's one thing I learned from Cheryl." At this stage Ms Stott Despoja has refused to make any commitments beyond the term of the next parliament.

Stott Despoja admits there is a lot of organising to do for the engagement. "I'm more used to being on a guest list than drawing one up" she said yesterday. It is understood that the Senator has invited her closest advisors to the engagement party, although neither Rove, Paul McDermott nor The Panel have confirmed their availability yet. No more than three of Stott Despoja's Democrat colleagues from the Senate will attend the engagement party however as the remaining five (including Deputy Aden Ridgeway) no longer support her leadership. Stott Despoja has also confirmed she intends to have a white wedding "so that I don't have to invite Aden."

The possible wedding has led to speculation about the Democrats leader becoming a mother, but Stott Despoja has denied suggestions she and Mr Smith became engaged "to keep the bastards honest."


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