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Issue No. 174 11 April 2003  
E D I T O R I A L

Might Does Not Mean Right
So the Americans have removed the dictator Hussein, the right wing press are firing more pot-shots than the Republican Guard and George W. Bush can ride into the sunset having liberated the Middle East. Game over � or is it?

F E A T U R E S

Interview: Picking Up The Peaces
Walk Against the War Coalition convenor Bruce Childs outlines the challenge for the peace movement in the lead up to Palm Sunday.

Unions: The Royal Con
Jim Marr argues the Cole Commission can only be taken seriously by people kept ignorant of the way it actually operated.

National Focus: Around the Grounds
Unions maintain the pressure for peace as the upcoming organising conference takes on added significance, reports Noel Hester.

Economics: The Secret War on Trade
Overseas-based multi-nationals are coming after our film industry, electricity, water, pharmaceutical benefits and even childcare. Or are they? Nobody knows, as Jim Marr reports.

International: United Front
Workers and their unions around the world have possibly never been as united in their commitment to campaign together against the War in Iraq, writes Andrew Casey

History: Confessions of a Badge Collector
Bill Pirie has one of the largest collections of trade union badges in the world. After 20 years the collection now numbers some 6,000 badges.

Politics: Stalin�s Legacy
Fifty years ago last month Josef Stalin died. How could it be that a democratic and socialist revolution produced one of the monsters of the twentieth century, asks Leonie Bronstein.

Review: Such Was Not Ned�s Life
The life of Ned Kelly is what we in the world of journalism term a �ball tearing yarn� so why have writers of the movie adaptation felt so impelled to dress it up with fiction, asks Tara de Boehmler.

Poetry: Osama's Top Recruiter
Through our extensive intelligence networks, we have managed to track down the top recruiter for the global terror network of Osama bin Laden.

Satire: Woolworths CEO Denied Bonus After Company Posts Profit
Woolworths chief executive Roger Corbett was devastated today to report an 18.3% rise in profit under his management over the last year.

N E W S

 Carr: Workers Won It For Me

 Nursing Crisis Bites Elderly

 Judge Puts �Predator� Before Workers

 WA Court Undermines Cole

 Mexican Chain Gangs Win NSW Work

 Della Muscles Up to Abbott

 STOP PRESS - Brewery Goes Flat

 ACCC Urged to Consider Jobs

 Unions Stats Track Armageddon

 Cameron: Feds More Interested in Iraq

 SARS Lays Jobs Low

 Working Hours Benefit Millions

 Journos Urge War Crimes Prosecutions

 Unions Support Displaced in Iraq

C O L U M N S

The Soapbox
Factional Free-For-All
Chris Christodoulou looks at the fallout from the selection of the new Carr Ministry and what it means to the factional warlords.

The Locker Room
The Best Season Since Last Year
Phil Doyle goes trudging through the mud in search of the heart of the matter beneath the corporate biffo

Culture
Books on Bombs
In times like these, reading inevitably turns to America and war. Chris White wades through Pilger, Chomsky, Eco, Moore and Vidal.

Postcard
Postcard from Harvard
Labor Council's Michael Gadiel was elected to give the valedictory speech to this year's Harvard Trade Union Program.

L E T T E R S
 Taking Stalin's Crimes Seriously
 Unfair Dismissals
 More Angry Trots
 Tom's Tirade
WHAT YOU CAN DO
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Letters to the Editor

Tom's Tirade


Dear Sir,

With the recent allegations of a cover up in relation to the exposure of City Rail users, and to possible fatalities caused by the continued use of the condemned bridge over the Nepean River at Menagle , should we the citizens of New South Wales resign ourselves to another 4 years of Ministerial musical chairs while singing "Nearer My God To Thee".

Only days into the Historical Third term and chaos reigns supreme in our Capital City, we have a collapsing infrastructure, a police force unable to provide basic safety for the population as seditious Australians run amok, attacking our Navy, vandalizing our Opera House and disrupting our lives, and all the while we are being treated by state politicians with contemptuous ignorance.

This continual use of "musical chairs" as a tactic in avoidance of responsibility, is not only immoral, it is illegal , and these Ministers must be made aware that they are subject to and responsible through continuing succession, and are therefore still retrospectively accountable and without statute of limitations. They should also, like company directors,be held accountable for any losses accumulated through their incompetence, negligence, ignorance and or lack of due diligence during their tenure with no statutory time limit for the prosecution of offences. For too long, these voracious consumers of the public purse posing as altruistic servants, have dined extravagantly without commensurate accountability covering up mistakes with taxpayer funded spin doctoring. Then when one gets too close to the truth that hoary old chestnut, Ministerial Prerogative, this is like the proverbial rabbit pulled out of the Hat with a poof of smoke, to cover up any incompetence and or in!

appropriate activities...

The leader of the opposition, John Brogden , should give no quarter when pursuing any that refuse to accept responsibility for their actions.

If nothing is done to curb this arrogance then this so called historical third term, will gain its fame from ignominy rather than length of tenure?

I like many others look forward in 2003-7, to seeing those familiar signs displaying the numerous allegations of corruption, and the accommodation of corrupt behaviors by political parties, and so prominently displayed out side the New South Wales Parliament, by the Gosford Foghorn Mr. Edward James , from Umina , and it is our hope that we and a proliferation of other determined individuals will without harrassment through a misuse of the guardians of law and order , join with him by promulgating our own visions for transparent public accountability from those who should not be permitted to within a coo'ee of the parliamentary piss boys' bucket , never mind be provided with a safe a seat.

As is our Democratic Right!

On the Federal political scene, and in response to the call by Simon Creans' only potential replacement, I support the member for Werriwa Mark Lathams' call to get behind Simon Crean, conditional on the use of his whetstone.

I will also as an open and public supporter of Simon Crean ,his leadership and the Australian Labor Party , in an attempt to assist the current free fall of public support , will make to Mr. John Howard , the Prime Minister of Australia , representations for Refugee status visas for Saddam Hussein and the remnants of his Ba'ath Party, this just might give Simon and Federal ALP some credibility , in that they will , we hope , come in below the ALP in the in opinion polls .

Tom Collins


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