
Issue No 74		20 October 2000

LaborNET	Ask Neale	Tool of the Week

News

Time To Come Clean

The Labor Council has called for an inquiry into the Reith Affair (as even the Prime Minister now calls it) and for his resignation following the damaging disclosures by Ingrid Odgers that contradict the Reiths' versions of events.

Michael Costa says Labor Council will be writing to the Prime Minister urging an inquiry to get to the bottom of the whole Reith telecard fiasco.

'It's extraordinary this story. It's full of contradictions and failures to disclose. The whole story hasn't come out. We want Reith to resign. He has to be brought to account for something that has its genesis in his own activities not someone else's activities,' he says.

ASU Clerical Branch Secretary Michael Want says a judicial inquiry should occur with some degree of urgency following revelations by the so called Miss X in the affair, Ingrid Odgers.

'Ms Rodger's claims are in direct conflict with Mr Paul Reith's account of events. Solicitor-General David Bennett has not cross examined Peter Reith, Paul Reith, or Ms Odgers. Mr Reith claimed he gave the card for emergency use only and Reith continued to use it for other than emergencies. This should be thoroughly examined,' he says.

'Finally there are the implications of the Prime Minister in this whole Reith Rort. How much did he know, when did he know it and why did he endeavour to keep it from the Australian people

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Issue 74 contents

Interview: Politics Italian Style
Italian journalist's union official Rodolfo Falvo talks to Peter Lewis about Italy's Rupert Murdoch and why Italian politics is so crazy.

Unions: A Partnership That Works
Students at Williamstown High in Victoria are benefiting from a creative partnership with TAFE and the Electrical Trades Union. Kevin Peoples reports.

International: Fiji Paymasters Fill Their Own Pockets
The Interim Administration imposed on the people of Fiji, as a result of the coup-makers, have voted themselves a hefty pay increase at the same time as they demand public sector workers take a twelve per cent pay cut.

Politics: USA Campaign 2000 - On the Road
Michael Gadiel reports on the thrills, spills, highs and lows of the US Presidential Election.

Women: Party Girl
'You can take the girl out of the Port, but you can't take the Port out of the girl' - Stephanie Key recounts her life as a feminist in a male bastion, the Transport Workers Union.

Satire: Telstra to issue $50,000 Reith Phonecard
CANBERRA, Monday: Telstra have announced Peter Reith-themed phonecard. The phonecard allows friends and family to make $50,000 worth of phone calls on it before you receive a bill. Plus, you only have to pay the bill in total if there is sufficient public outrage, otherwise the card costs just $950.

Review: Health, Wealth and Mutual Obligations
Mutual obligation for the poor only, increasing income inequality and a widening health gap. Welcome to the 21st century -or is it the 19th?

» Bitter Dispute Ends With Joyful Tidings

» Bodgy Telemarketers Face Union Wrath

» Another Bastard Bank On Rampage

» Employers Reject Individual Contracts

» Time To Come Clean

» Child Care Workers Tell Kim How Howard Nicked Their Money

» Reith Must Apologise Say Hotel Workers

» Telstra Too Smart On Casuals

» Primed To Win

» Payday Nightmare Follows AFFA Outsourcing

» Palestinian Community Seeks Union Support

» Trade Union Choir Rocks Town Hall

» WorkCover Goes For Gold In Paralympics