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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
WHAT YOU CAN DO
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Letters to the Editor

The Black GST


The paternalism of Australian governments results in racism that is all pervasive in the lives of every single Indigenous person.

As an LHMU member, the article " Capital Punishment on the Menu" made clear that it is the calm before the storm. The vulnerability of Filipino guest workers are a sharp example of Federal government IR policy to return Australia back to the regime of individual contracts under the Masters and Servants Act of the 19th century.

Its not just foreign workers. Indigenous people were put on

Work-For-The-Dole labour programs ten years before non-Indigenous workers. They have always been underpaid, treated like slaves and racially vilified. Indigenous public servants are leaving the government bureaucracy running Aboriginal affairs in droves because of the taken position they play.

The paternalism of Australian governments results in racism that is all pervasive in the lives of every single Indigenous person. For 218 years there has been rampant land theft, stolen wages and children, and the decimation of entire Aboriginal nations. This has been, and continues to be an ongoing genocidal war.

The Stolenwealth Games in Melbourne, and the spin congratulating our so-called multiculturalism hides a dark history, and the present reality of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australia. The Black GST, which stands for Genocide to be stopped. Sovereignty to be restored. Treaty to be made has an Indigenous leadership bringing together Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. We will be opposing the Games as part of our convergence in Melbourne from all over Australia.

There is unfinished business between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australia, and that is the reason to support the Black GST.

Craig R Hall

Indigenous Social Justice Association

( Melbourne Supporter's Group )


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