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Issue No. 295 17 February 2006  
E D I T O R I A L

Please Explain
It may become the defining irony of the Howard Era that a government that rode to power on the skirt of One Nation and hung there on the bridge of the Tampa is now opening our borders to hordes of low paid guest workers.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: Court's in Session
As the silks line up to challenge WorkChoices, Jeff Shaw is fighting for his own legacy - the NSW IR system.

Industrial: Whose Choices?
The Howard Government's WorkChoices legislation has been dissected by lawyers and the commentariat; now it's the turn of political economists.

Politics: Peter's Principles
Forget John Howard. The force behind WorkChoices is Peter Costello. The Prime Minister-in-waiting has devoted a lifetime to undermining the security and living standards of Australian families, Jim Marr reports.

Environment: TINA or Greener?
What does the greenhouse effect and legislation to control workers have in common, asks Neale Towart

History: Its Not Just Handshakes and Aprons
Power. They have it, we want it. Friendly societies tried to keep it for working people, writes Neale Towart

International: US Locks out Jose' Bove
The US Government has refused to allow France's most famous farmer Jose Bove into the country to address a conference

Education: No AWA - No Job
The Howard Government has given the Australian community its first view of the future by forcing new staff at Ballarat University to sign an Australian Workplace Agreement if they want a job, writes Jenny Macklin.

Culture: Jesus was a Long-Grass Man
The writings of a Middle Eastern theologian may provide guidance to those grappling with indigenous issues, writes Graham Ring

Review: Charlie the Serf
Nathan Brown takes the sledgehammer (and sickle) to Mr Wonka's Chocolate Factory.

N E W S

 Local Jockey Odds Shorten

 Conscience II - RU4 Aussie Jobs?

 Online Porkies Spark Class Action

 Captain Cook Discovers WorkChoices

 Skippy's Escape Breaks Law

 PM's Pay Day

 STOP PRESS - 262 Day Strike Set To Finish

 Strike Sticks it to Glue Boss

 Fair Pay Chief Wages War

 Millionaires Score Tax Break

 Memo Costa: Remember Your Roots

 Gate Crashing Gourmet

 Australia Mum On Basic Rights

 Filipinos Pay for Packed House

 Son of Wal-Mart Pinged $2M

 Trust Me, I�m a Unionist

 Activist's Whats On!

C O L U M N S

The Soapbox
Hitler in Bowral
Political censorship has made its wasy to the sleepy Southern Highlands, wrties Rowan Cahill.

The Locker Room
No Laughing Matter
Phil Doyle tries to take Australian sportspeople seriously, and fails.

Parliament
The Westie Wing
Ian West is mistakenly sent an advance copy of John Winston Howard�s Little Blue Book of Australian History�

L E T T E R S
 AWB Kickbacks to Iraq
 The Black GST
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Letters to the Editor

AWB Kickbacks to Iraq


Were the allegations of 'kickbacks' dismissed because ministers believed they were an attempt by U.S. wheat growers to take over our wheat markets prior to the Iraq invasion? Quite possibly.

In spite of numerous warnings that wheat 'kickbacks' were being paid prior to the Iraqi invasion, Mr Howard says:

"I do not disguise for a moment the fact that the Government has sought the involvement of Mr Flugge in post-Saddam Iraq," "It was because our principal concern at that time was to stop American wheat growers from getting our markets."

So concerned with U.S. competition (post invasion) did our Government reject repeated claims of corruption prior to the Iraq invasion? Well, no serious investigations were launched into reviewing the allegations, were they?

Were the allegations of 'kickbacks' dismissed because ministers believed they were an attempt by U.S. wheat growers to take over our wheat markets prior to the Iraq invasion? Quite possibly.

Combine a complete failure by our Government to investigate more thoroughly allegations prior to the invasion with comments relating to post invasion views such as ',It was because our principal concern at that time was to stop American wheat growers from getting our markets' along with constant denials that our Government knew nothing of 'kickbacks prior to the invasion',wears a little thin, in my opinion. Continue to protect our wheat contracts at all costs, seems to have been the Howard Government's stance (pre and post invasion)

Among other concerns that seem to run counter to Mr Howard's constant denials of having any knowledge, is the fact that " an AWB document released yesterday by the Cole inquiry into the UN oil-for-food scandal revealed that an AWB manager, Michael Long, boasted he had secured a position for the former head of the Iraqi Grain Board, Yusef Abdul Rahman, "to top post in the Ministry of Trade and ensured his survival through the de-Baathification of upper levels of Iraqi civil service"

AND nobody in the Howard Government was aware of the direct and long standing arrangements between AWB executives and the Iraqi government prior to the invasion?...INCREDIBLE BUT TRUE, if we are to believe the PM.

Kind regards

John McPhilbin


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