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Issue No. 141 | 21 June 2002 |
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Bitter Pills
Interview: The Fels Guy Solidarity: Life or Death? Unions: Back to Basics International: Global Terror History: Sorry Business Technology: Future Active Satire: Executive Presents PowerPoint Eulogy at Mother�s Funeral Poetry: Santa Claus Was Coming to Oz Review: Dial 'M' For Minority Report
The Soapbox The Locker Room Week in Review Bosswatch
 Tanya IncTom Bites BackRoot Canal Therapy
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Week in Review A Law Unto Themselves
A Bunch of Bankers Let's not mince words here ... those low, mongrel bastards have just nicked $7.1 billion out of our collective kick. That's right, Aussies were forced to turn over that much in bank fees in the last year alone. They call them service fees which, in a different context, would be hilarious, given the magical way they can make services disappear from your suburb and mine. Then there's the small matter of choice. Remember that concept? Well, personally speaking, I would rather keep my modest earnings under a mattress or, better still, in a TAB account. The Jolly Green thing might not exactly be the workers' friend but at least it still has branches. But, like you, I've got no choice. Meanwhile, the Cole Royal Commission, was hearing how employers wanted the choice of by-passing the CFMEU and paying lower rates to building workers. Changing Sides The World Cup is delivering skill and athleticism to our homes on a daily basis but, hey, what about the Federal Government? For backward summersault, with pike, you couldn't go past John Howard's square-off for the perfectly reasonable decision to ratify the International Criminal Court. In a bid to appease the more xenophobic in his ranks, and they are not thin on the ground, Howard goes all gushy about the superiority of Australia's judicial system, insisting on the primacy of Australian Courts. Let's for a minute quote Howard on Australia's judicial process - "the best legal system in the world". No bullshit. Forget Tim Fischer's demand for a right-wing stack; eliminate memories of Coalition rants against Aboriginal legal advantage; Philip Ruddock's running battle with the judiciary; Tony Abbott's denigration of the AIRC; not to mention Bill Heffernan's cowardice. It couldn't last and it didn't. Just hours later Ruddock flies the administration's true colours. The Monster of Immigrants uses Question Time to slate Australian judicial process on refugees, suggesting handing over assessments to the UN. Royal Commissioner Terence Cole says he doesn't have the power to investigate safety at sites employers don't want him to visit. Go get 'em Part of Howard's embarrassment on the International Criminal Court no doubt stems from the opposition to the proposition emanating from Washington. Still, his unconditional support for US first-strikes against pretty much anyone they choose, means his place at the top of the Bush Brown Nosers table remains secure. No doubt the US, and Britain for that matter, are a tad nervous about a Swiss action aimed at winning compensation for victims of apartheid. The American lawyer who won compensation for Holcaust victims is launching his first strikes against Swiss and German banks that continued to prop up the apartheid regime after the civilised world had imposed sanctions. Opposition to sanctions was strongest in Washington and London, with Johnny Howard leading the cheer squad from Canberra's Opposition benches, resulting in British and American corporations continuing to profit handsomely from blatant racism. Meanwhile, the Royal Commission intends investigating CFMEU fund-raising for East Timor and Cuba, natural follow-ups to the union's historic support for the ANC. Bombs Not Hospitals British Prime Minister Tony Blair sidesteps his country's obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty to green-light a new nuclear bomb-making factory in rural Aldermaston. The massive plant will test, design and build a new generation of nuclear bombs for the ageing British arsenal. Blair gives the futuristic 700-acres complex the nod without reference to Parliament but confirmation of the plan comes from Britain's Atomic Weapons Establishment. Meanwhile, in Sydney, Commissioner Cole explodes when he is handed a petition on workplace safety from the father of a teenager killed on a building site. Small Screen Tough Guy Some Gold Coast chancer is in court accused of trying to blackmail actor Russell Crowe with security video footage of his starring role in a lengthy pub brawl. "This is Russell Crowe, he is big time you know, if the Yanks got onto this who knows what they're worth," the accused is alleged to have said. Most interesting, perhaps, was the willingness of both the Daily Telegraph and A Current Affair to hand over money for access to the video. Tough-talking Martin Kingham brings a decidedly Victorian approach to the Cole Commission's Sydney hearings, refusing to hand over a list of union members demanded by the Inquisition. About Time Too Australia isn't the only land beset by fears over public liability. A leading British school plans to ban rugger, partly because of concerns sued over injuries. The principal of Kings School said there had already been examples of pupils suing over injuries sustained in school footy. Kings plans on phasing out the 15-man game and replacing it with hockey, rowing and soccer.
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