
Issue No 54		19 May 2000

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Letters to the Editor

Practical Reconcilliation

Sir or Madam,

Mr Beazley's response to the latest Budjet was very well received and most informative. However his responses to other pressing issues i.e.Reconcilliation, leave a lot to be desired. The present Government is on the ropes and even the most die hard Conservatives amoungst them must be wondering where did we go wrong?.

But the Howard Government has an Ace up its sleeve, that may indeed see the Labor Party in opposition again. Reconcilliation!I t is a very sad but true fact, that the Aboriginal community have had a past that would have made General Custer proud, and I believe most of the present day Conservative Elites. However the Labor Party is falling for the present debate on this issue hook line and sinker.

Howard for all of his faults which are many is well aware of the fact that most Anglo Saxon Australians couldn't care less about Aboriginal problems and mainly hope the issue would just go away.(I am not one of them).As an ex serving law enforcement officer I have front line experience on the perceptions of other officers and many members of the Public. It is not a good one. Most Politicians wouldn't know an Aboriginal if they fell over one in a flood lit football oval, and much less about there culture and customs.

The only way Reconcilliation can take place in any meaningful application is with a Labor Government, and this can only be achieved by dropping this debate until after the next election. Howard will not apologise as he is well aware the main stream Public is behind him on this issue.

If the opposition keeps this debate on the boil they will give the next election to Howard on a platter.

Regards Phill

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Issue 54 contents

Interview: South of the Border
Victorian Trades Hall chief Leigh Hubbard on life under Bracks, militant unionism and why more people march in Melbourne.

Politics: Jeff Shaw's Second Wave
The full text of the NSW Industrial Relations Minister's speech to Labor Council announcing the Carr Government's IR reform agenda.

Unions: Reith's Laws: Just Say NO
The ACTU has called on Labor and the Democrats to reject Workplace Relations Minister Peter Reith's anti-industry bargaining Workplace Relations 2000 Bill out right.

History: A Breed Of Their Own
Labour historian Greg Patmore explains what makes his fraternity tick - and why they're still going strong and making history.

International: Sony's Asian Showdown
The Japanese electronic giant Sony is threatening to shutdown production facilities in Indonesia - where a prolonged strike has cost it US$200milliom - and move to next door Malaysia where electronic workers are banned from forming a union.

Human Rights: Good Guys, Bad Guys
Everywhere we look -in our newspapers, on the television, in reports by business leaders, academics and politicians - advocacy of human rights seems to be on a collision course with governmental and business interests.

Review: New Workers, New Challenges
A new wave of thought is arguing that working life is changing - but this doesn't necessarily deal unions out the action.

Satire: Rain Man Withdraws Endorsement of Qantas
After the third major safety incident in the space of a year, Qantas has lost the confidence of the most famous public supporter of its once unblemished safety record, the autistic star of Rain Man, Raymond.

» Carr Moves on Casuals

» Democrats Wavering on Reith Bill

» Exit Visas for Child Care Workers

» GST Pay Claims to Target Allowances

» Tide Turns On Competitive Tendering

» Joy Takes Message To The World

» Mines Out as Rio Tinto Torps Talks

» Political Economy for Activists, 2000

» Unions March for Reconciliation

» STOP PRESS: AK-47s used in coup against union-aligned Fiji Labour Government