E D I T O R I A L

Vale: Rule of Law
As the US attack on Iraq continues, the Howard Government fires a $60 million shot at the CFMEU and bemused onlookers begin to wonder what the �Law� means any more.

F E A T U R E S

Poetry: If I Were a Rich Man
Through a distortion in the time-space continuum, we have found a recording showing how people a few years into the future will deal with health care.

Interview: League of Nations
ICFTU general secretary Guy Ryder on the war, core labour standards and why Australia is an international pariah.

Industrial: 20/20 Hindsight
A retrospective analysis of the Accord is needed to help develop future strategies. Is it worth trying again? And if so, what would need to be different?

Organising: On The Buses
A new rank and file leadership team is standing up for the harried bus driver in the run-up to the NSW State Election

Unions: National Focus
A gaze around the country reveals some inspiring and innovative organising initiatives, a fruitful connection with young workers in South Australia and some typically robust industrial campaigns reports Noel Hester.

History: The Banner Room
On the eve of it�s refurbishment, Jim Marr ventures into one of Trades Hall�s best kept secrets; the room that houses relics of labour�s halcyon days.

International: The Slaughter Continues
Chilling new statistics from Colombia's main trade union confederation CUT: nine trade unionists assassinated in the first two months of this year.

Legal: A Legal Case For War?
Aaron Magner looks at the legal implications of the crusade of the Coalition of the Willing

Culture: Singing For The People
When there�s a struggle for social justice, when a war is brewing or rights are being eroded, the first ones to pen, paper and protest are often the folkwriters.

Review: The Hours
On the eve of International Women�s Day Tara de Boehmler follows the tale of three women who would rather choose death than a life devoid of personal choice.

Poetry: I Wanna Bomb Saddam
Scarier than Star Wars, the latest weapon to be deployed in the battle for Iraq is the Singing Dubya.

Satire: Diuretic Makes Warne's Excuses Look Thin
Australian cricketer Shane Warne today admitted that he was still feeling the after effects of the diuretic he tested positive to.

N E W S

Cole�s Bad Medicine

Unions Condemn Protest Violence

Hospitals Pick Sweatshops Over Chain Gangs

New Faces Part of Labor �Rejuvenation�

Cobar Draws Line in Sand

Test Case � UK 26, Australia 0

Uncle Sam and the Union Busters

Calling All Artists � May Day Poster Comp

Nipping Surveillance in the Bud

Bus Drivers Back Childcare

Forced Labour Prevails Despite Sanctions

Union Gains On Display

Activists Notebook

C O L U M N S

The Soapbox
Workers Friend
Shock jock Alan Jones snubbed his Liberal mates to bucket the Cole Royal Commission and launch Jim Marr's book

The Locker Room
Boer Bore Boring
In the face of oppression Phil Doyle falls asleep in front of the TV

Guest Report
Dead Labor
The Hawke and Keating legacy is John Howard, Leonie Bronstein argues.

Seduction
Hands Off, Tony
John Della Bosca argues the NSW Industrial Relations System gives his State a competitive advantage.

Bosswatch
Groundhog Day
Another year, another round of corporate excess. Bosswatch returns from its summer slumber to find the same old dogs up to the same tricks.

L E T T E R S

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Daft Danna

***

Danna Vale, the Minister for Veterans Affairs, belatedly released a report into the health of veterans from the last Gulf War that is a chilling indictment of the fate that awaits personnel currently serving in the Middle East.

The study found that Gulf War veterans were more likely to report physical symptoms and were at greater risk of developing psychological disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety disorders, and substance abuse.

Despite her attempts to bury the report Daft Danna joined in the general hypocrisy of the current Federal Government by claiming that "Greater emphasis is also being given to educating personnel preparing to deploy about chemical and biological weapons to improve their understanding and minimise the fear of uncertainty".

And it seems the best way to do that is to try and hide a report about the effects of Gulf War I.

We all know war is madness, but just how much that rubs off on the troops became apparent in the report: "The most striking and consistent health finding in the study was that the Gulf War veteran group had developed more psychological disorders than the comparison group in the time since the Gulf War," says the report, which recommended that there should be wide promotion of the study findings to the veteran and service communities, the Departments of Defence and Veterans' Affairs, the Repatriation Commission, ADF Medical Officers, the broader Australian community and the scientific community.

We won't be holding our breath for that to happen in the current climate.

Danna Vale, who should have a retirement home named after her, noted that the study had found no increased cancer or death risk overall among the Gulf veterans compared with their services peers.

But the reports author, Professor Sim, said it would be many more years before any increase would become apparent. "It is very early yet. This is a very young group," he said.

Danna Vale declined to be interviewed on the ABC after the report was released - the release followed pressure from aggrieved vets.

The Minister Veterans' Affairs Minister followed up this ham fisted piece of subterfuge by calling on the Labor Party to support the Government's proposal to increase penalties for defence medal fraud, including people who deface medals.

Labor MP Graham Edwards pinpointed as to why the Feds were moving to politicise the issue: "We understand the Government is embarrassed at the number of veterans who are threatening to burn their medals or return them to the Prime Minister over the war in Iraq. It is worth noting that Prime Minister Howard has called on protesters to address their protests to him, yet he refused to see two Gulf War veterans who wanted to hand their medals back to him.

"Perhaps the Minister should concentrate her efforts on the provision of medals for those National Servicemen who are endeavouring to receive them before Anzac Day. Hundreds of National Servicemen have applied for these medals but find their applications are not being processed because of a lack of resources in this area."

And the reason this ditz is left holding the fate of former service personnel? God made her do it.

According to one supporter she "happily unnerves people when she tells them that she is only in parliament because God told her to stand."

"I always have had the feeling that if the good Lord put me here, he will help - and I'm still trying to work out why he's got me here," she said.

So are we.

Lord help us all.

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Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005