LETTER FROM CANBERRA Saving you time. A monthly newsletter distilling public policy and government decisions which affect business opportunities in Australia and beyond.

16 MARCH to 14 april 2010 Issue No. 23: Pre-Budget Edition Letter From Canberra is a sister publication of Letter From Melbourne, which was established 16 years ago

INSIDE Boatpeople New School buildings Affordable Worm turns, Ironman Abbott, Telstra and Turnbull and continue to Population program lining housing Rudd ‘wins’ finishes triathalon, NBN Co still at Minchin resigning. land. But. Minister pockets rushed/hidden health debate sells speedos, each other Barnaby/Robb slips in polls shuffle.

Gary Morgan says: “Change is needed by all” – see page 11 16 MARCH to 14 april 2010

14 Collins Street Melbourne, 3000 Victoria, Australia EDITORIAL P 03 9654 1300 F 03 9654 1165 If you want a warm up to the federal election, head to abbottfacts.com.au. It’s a website registered by [email protected] the ALP which details the history of Work Choices and points to a divided Liberal Party out of touch with www.letterfromcanberra.com.au mainstream Australia. Nasty politically-written tone to it, short on (any) outcomes. Have heard that the Liberals are planning something similar.

Moving into the final straight, a full term for the Government would see a November election perhaps, Editor Alistair Urquhart but taking in footy finals, school holidays, state election dates and the possibility of a double dissolution, Associate Editor Hamish Brooks we may be looking at August (11 August is the last day on which a double dissolution election could be Subscription Manager Juliette Biegler called), with a Jon Faine (radio) listener saying that July could be the date. (11 February 2011 ends the Advertising Manager Eddie Mior current term of the House of Representatives. 16 April is the last day for the election to be held under Editorial Consultant Rick Brown the normal electoral cycle). Design Steph Dang Ray Zhang This almost feels like the calm before the storm, with election issues simmering away and likely to overshadow the coming budget, to the extent that the budget (on May 11) may only be a blip on the radar. WELCOME New tax on fags and booze on that menu. Although, no doubt the opposition will draw any perceived flaws to the attention of voters. Letter from Canberra is focused on the interface of business and government, with enough politics and bureaucracy to understand This month has seen the continuation of the big health push and debate continuing in education over the the, or any, relevant business opportunities. My School website and the schools building program. There has been fence mending over infrastructure spending, with one fence costing $900,000 to construct. There is an independent (Gilbert) report into We have been publishing Letter from Canberra’s infrastructure spending due out in six months time. Victorian Premier John Brumby went to Canberra on sister publication Letter From Melbourne, a 14 April to address the National Press Club about the Health System. STOP PRESS. Deeble who advised public policy digest, for 16 years. Commencing former Labour governments on health has come out against the proposed Commonwealth health plan. with the Kennett era corporatisation and privatisation of energy and other utilities and The Tasmanian election result provided a challenge to the democratic process as it translates into govern- the other fresh broom approach of a new ment which is understandable and acceptable. government, where we focused on business opportunities. Increasingly, we included matters in the other states and adopted a more federal About the Editor ALISTAIR URQUHART focus.

The recent change in federal government opens Alistair Urquhart graduated from the Australian National up new business opportunities, particularly the University in Canberra, in Law, History and Politics, was government’s new emphasis on climate change, admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of carbon trading, water, industrial relations, Victoria, and remains a (non-practicing) member of the Law education, information technology and the Institute of Victoria. Before that, he graduated from high school traditional sectors. in Bethesda, Maryland, and had many opportunities to become aware of the workings of Washington DC. For 30 years, he For many years, our other publications have included the well-known federal government listened every Sunday evening to the late Alistair Cooke and Departmental Wall Chart. (NOW AVAILABLE at 03 his Letter From America. 96541300 or letterfrommelbourne.com.au)) We conduct seminars and informal luncheons and His early career was mostly in the coal industry, where he meetings in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney. became involved with energy, environmental and water issues, Most people have their clipping services and a and later in the SME finance sector. range of email products/newsletters/etc. At the end of the month, Letter From Canberra gives a His public affairs firm works with many engineering and broad overview of what has been going on, not information technology firms, other professional association just in one industry but across all industries and and industry groups, on a wide range of issues, in Victoria, Canberra and overseas. the world of business and government generally. Objective. Independent. Read it on the plane. Or Urquhart visits Canberra regularly. He may hold the record for miles rowed on Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin. at a coffee shop in New York. And then give it to a friend who is interested in Australia. INDEX In approximate order of interest over the past month Published by A.B Urquhart & Company Pty Ltd trading as Affairs of State. Disclaimer: Material in this publication is general IMMIGRATION. OUR POPULATION 3 BUSINESS. ECONOMY. TAX 16 comment and not intended as advice on any particular matter. Professional advice should be sought before action is taken. FOREIGN AFFAIRS 4 MEDIA 18 Material is complied from various sources including newspaper EDUCATION 4 DEFENCE 19 articles, press releases, government publications, Hansard, trade journals, etc. © This newsletter is copyright. No part may be HEALTH 6 JUSTICE 19 reproduced, stored\ in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, INFRASTRUCTURE 7 AGRICULTURE. WATER 20 photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written GOVERNANCE 8 COALITION DOINGS 21 permission from the publisher. Affairs of State respects your privacy. While we do believe that the information contained in INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS. EMPLOYMENT 9 SOCIETY 21 Letter from Canberra will be useful to you, please advise us if CLIMATE CHANGE. ENVIRONMENT. ENERGY 10 APPOINTMENTS. JOBS. TENDERS 22 you do not wish to receive any further communications from us. BROADBAND. ICT 15

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He’ll sink them if he has to 1,140 came, allowing China for the first time Immigration. Population Tony Abbott has declared he will do whatever to displace our near neighbour as our biggest it takes to stop illegal boat arrivals if he wins source of migrants, The Age reported. A challenge office. Another 70 boats carrying asylum The number of refugees seeking asylum in seekers are tipped to arrive before the federal Australia is above average Australia rose by almost 30 per cent last election, expected later this year. The Australian reported that the nation’s 2.1 year despite global numbers remaining per cent population growth rate is almost steady, challenging Kevin Rudd’s claim Firmer hand twice the world average of 1.1 per cent that instability abroad is behind the surge Since this declaration, the Government has and faster than Asian neighbours. Canada, in refugee boats, The Australian reported. said it will not process any applications which has similar immigration policies to Nearby, authorities are preparing another for asylum from Afghanistan or Sri Lanka. Australia, grew by just .8 per cent according mass transfer of asylum seekers from In The Age, Michelle Grattan wrote that to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures. Christmas Island, as Australia’s intelligence the Government is sending strong signals Demographer Bernard Salt, of KPMG, said watchdog warned that ASIO is struggling to internationally and to the home audience with the high net migration numbers were a cope with the deluge of security assessments its attempt to stop the escalating numbers temporary spike due, in part, to Australians on boat people. The Age reported that the of boat people. The Rudd Government returning home in the wake of the GFC. Government has denied it has broken a key (especially Immigration Minister Chris Evans) Where does this leave the debate? election pledge and begun processing asylum arrived in office full of hope and confidence The Government has been told that a long- seekers on the mainland, despite the second that Labor could run a more humane policy term net migration intake of 180,000 people mass transfer of detainees to Australia from that kept people detained for a minimum a year will produce the best outcome for the the overcrowded Christmas Island centre. time, without spurring the boat trade. It hasn’t economy and that the current higher inflow of been like that. Nearby about 300,000 people will fall to this level from 2012. The confidential advice was delivered The Herald Sun reported that the 100th boat As opposed to stereotypes with currency to arrive in Australian waters brought the People smugglers caught in Indonesia will as part of a plan to establish a new long- term framework for the migration program, number of asylum seeker arrivals under the face five years jail, The Australian reported. Rudd Government to 4,386. At $80,000 each, The measures were unveiled by Indonesian which is being incorporated into budget according to official figures, boat people President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in deliberations this year for the first time, the have cost taxpayers an estimated $350m to his speech to the Australian Parliament, which Financial Review reported. Meanwhile, Tony Abbott’s Coalition will cut net migration levels process on Christmas Island. The Australian’s editor-at-large Paul Kelly said confronted the obsolete stereotypes that it wins Government, in a bid to stop Australia’s The ton and then some darken the future of Australian-Indonesian population reaching its predicted size almost The 101st illegal vessel to arrive under Kevin ties. He came as a symbol of democracy and 36 million by 2050, The Australian reported. Rudd’s prime ministership sailed within Opposition immigration spokesman Scott 1.5 kilometres of Christmas Island at the got the balance right between realism and optimism. He spoke with a frankness only Morrison said the Coalition would not allow beginning of April. Someone on board called the average net overseas migration of more 000 on a mobile phone with global roaming possible as a friend. The President warned both sides must ‘expunge these preposterous than 300,000 a year that had occurred since and was connected to the WA Police. The the Rudd Government took power to continue. police notified the Australian Maritime Safety mental caricatures’. He meant Australians who still see Indonesia as an authoritarian The Australian reported that Business Council Authority, who called Border Protection of Australia president Graham Bradley said Command, who ordered the Navy patrol boat country, a military dictatorship or a hotbed of Islamic extremism, and ‘Australia-phobic’ big business would resist any attempt to cut HMAS Broome to intercept the vessel, the Indonesians. Sadly, such categories still immigrant numbers. An editorial in the same Herald Sun reported. include many people. paper, under the headline of ‘Planning for Pettiness revisited prosperity and a bigger Australia’, said new oil A bit sheepish In its often humorous Cut & Paste section, The and gas discoveries promise unprecedented After a lapse during the global financial crisis, Australian reported that just over a week after growth. In The Age, Michelle Grattan wrote New Zealand migrants returned to be our top Kevin Rudd goaded the Opposition by saying that politicians and the public are in danger of the Howard government held the record for source of new settlers, with 2,200 travelling misplaced panic over population. Immigration the most illegal boat arrivals in one month, here in January. In the worst month of last year and population are issues on which farsighted the Rudd government took the title with 15 politicians should lead, and not be swayed by in March, one more than the 14 recorded in or exploit, public fears and uncertainties. November 1999. Encouraging similar Lobbying 101 Workshop The Australian reported that the UN’s refugee Become the expert on lobbying and communication. agency has warned that the Government’s decision to allow dozens of Sri Lankan boat people in Indonesia to jump the immigration queue will encourage others to try similar tactics. UN High Commission for Refugees’ +LZPNULKZWLJPÄJHSS`MVY`V\HUK`V\Y[LHT[OPZVULKH`M\SS`PU[LYHJ[P]L representatives met in Colombo last month ^VYRZOVW^PSSOLSW`V\NL[^OH[`V\^HU[MYVTNV]LYUTLU[HUKVY`V\Y to discuss the effect of the decision to strike a stakeholders. deal with 78 Sri Lankan asylum seekers. 5V[MVYWYVÄ[Z)\ZPULZZLZ 0UKP]PK\HSZ 0U[LYLZ[NYV\WZ Presented by Alistair Urquhart Affairs of State 14 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 03 9654 1300 [email protected] www.affairs.com.au

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Population Minister It gives Americans close to universal health city apartment towers. The Foreign Investment Australia’s first Minister for Population, insurance for the first time. Passage of the Review Board outlaws the exclusive marketing Tony Burke, appointed on April 3, says it is health bill was so crucial to Obama that he of property offshore. And the Australian impossible to stop the nation’s population delayed his planned departure for Indonesia Competition and Consumer Commission has growth. Less than a week into his job and and Australia so he could personally lobby long warned about the dangers of two-tiered facing calls for big cuts in migration, Burke wavering members of his party for the vote. property pricing. Bidders from China are a said that Australia’s population would He is now expected to make the trip in June. relatively new force at Australian auctions, continue to expand even if the Government due to changes to foreign investment laws ended all migration, The Age reported. The We don’t have any last year. Foreigners who hold a temporary Kevin Rudd has rejected a special invitation Herald Sun reported that he said Treasury’s Australian visa for more than a year, and from Barack Obama to take part in a nuclear projected 36 million population for 2050 was those holding a bridging visa while they weapons summit in Washington in April, not government policy, despite the Prime The apply for permanent residence, can now buy reported. He has since been urged to Minister’s repeated use of the figure. And he Age established as well as new homes. Overseas join a growing global push to safeguard the said his 12-month population inquiry, to investors are not allowed to buy established world’s nuclear supplies and stop nuclear report after the federal election, would not homes, but they can buy new dwellings weapons falling into the hands of terrorists. make findings on how many people should and those off the plan, the Financial Review Rudd’s decision has caused diplomatic live in Australia. reported. tensions between Australia and Japan to spread beyond the issue of whale hunting An intriguing idea Foreign affairs in the Antarctic. The Australian reported that Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Kissinger it better Japanese resentment is growing at Rudd’s Yudhoyono told Kevin Rudd that Indonesia Australian Rio Tinto executive Stern Hu decision not to attend the disarmament is unlikely to support his push for a new pleaded guilty, at a politically charged trial meeting in Washington. Asia-Pacific community as Jakarta sees the in Shanghai, to taking bribes, the Herald Sun existing ASEAN bloc as its priority. Yudhoyono Ordinary economic forces told Rudd the community was an intriguing reported. He was given a 10-year jail term A Chinese government post-mortem into the idea to explore but Jakarta’s foreign policy which Australia has condemned as ‘very collapse of the $21.3b Chinalco-Rio Tinto priority lay in strengthening the Association harsh’. Rio Tinto has engaged the services of investment deal has exonerated the Australian of Southeast Asian Nations, The Australian 86-year-old Henry Kissinger to help rebuild Government and the Anglo-Australian miner. reported. the company’s relationship to China in the Instead, it accepts the prevailing view in wake of the Hu affair. Kevin Rudd said that Australia that ordinary economic forces Noooooo!!! Beijing’s lack of transparency was unbefitting killed what would have been China’s biggest The Financial Review reported that moves are an emerging global power. The Australian foreign investment deal, The Age reported. afoot to admit overseas lawyers. Currently, reported that China expressed serious Nearby, The Australian reported that China’s countries are reluctant to open their borders to concern about Australia’s ‘irresponsible’ Premier, Wen Jiabao, has warned the world Australian lawyers while their lawyers cannot criticism of the jail sentences handed out to risks sliding back into recession and says his work here. India and China are particularly Hu and his three colleagues. country faces a difficult year trying to maintain in the profession’s sites. Wider reforms are Clear view economic growth and spur development. expected to create a national standard. Former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser The sheep of the ocean Different focus has urged the Government to expel Israeli Green groups and the Australian Government Peter Woolcott replaces Caroline Millar diplomats over the use of forged Australian have expressed dismay at the decision by as Australia’s Ambassador and Permanent passports in the alleged assassination of New Zealand to back an international move to Representative to the United Nations in Geneva Hamas operative in Dubai, The Age reported. legalise whaling and allow Japan to conduct and to the Conference on Disarmament, None have yet been expelled. a limited hunt, The Age reported. Foreign Minister Stephen Smith announced. His place in history Woolcott is currently the Department of Down here Foreign Affairs and Trade’s ambassador for Barrack Obama’s health-care reform Chinese interest in Australian property is people-smuggling issues. package was passed by the House of rising – the impact can be seen at top end Representatives in mid-March and is likely suburbs, at auctions conducted in Mandarin to pass through the Senate along party lines. as well as English, and in ownership of inner-

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Catching the 48 tram pocket site allowances estimated to total at Campaigning against school website The Government will contribute $3m to safety least $8m. The Master Builders Association of The Australian reported that three-quarters works along the Kokoda Track in Papua Victoria’s executive director Brian Welch said of school principals believe the information New Guinea, improving air strips, roads, the allowances – supposed to account for about their school presented on the My bridges and communications, to make it less harsh conditions on large buildings – were an School website is incorrect and nine in 10 dangerous for tourists to walk. ‘abomination’ and should never have applied believe it fails to present an accurate picture to most education revolution projects, The of school performance. A survey of almost How do you like your coffee? 1,200 primary and high school principals Yudhoyono presented Rudd and his wife Australian reported. has found half believe the index of social Therese Rein with some rare luwak coffee Shade structure and educational advantage assigned to their as a gift. Australian officials took possession The Australian reported that the New South school was inaccurate; about 90 per cent said of it from their Indonesian counterparts at Wales Government made the first official the schools with which they were grouped Canberra’s exclusive Hyatt Hotel during the admission that the Federal Government’s were not similar. The survey was conducted bilateral visit. Such imports under Australian $16b school building program is failing to by the Australian Education Union and was quarantine regulations normally require formal deliver value for money after State Education part of its campaign against the My School clearance from the Australian Quarantine Minister Verity Firth reversed a decision to website. Inspection Service, The Age reported. build an overpriced $1m shade structure instead of a new classrooms. A follow-up Troubles report in the same paper said that most New The Victorian Government could be forced to South Wales Catholic primary schools are hire more than 6,000 independent supervisors Education spending between $70,000 and $500,000 at a cost of $5m if the Australian Education Union votes to boycott national literacy and Where it’s at on outdoor covered areas, called COLAs, A breakdown of costs for individual projects while 42 state schools are spending more numeracy exams, The Age reported. The Law in New South Wales under the Federal than $800,000 on COLAs under the schools Institute of Victoria has advised parents not to Government’s $16.2b school infrastructure stimulus package: 21 state school COLAs act as strike breakers, at Education Minister program, the only government school sector have price tags of more than $954,000. The Julia Gillard’s behest, and supervise the to provide information, shows initial estimates New South Wales government is reviewing tests as they could be legally liable if students for school buildings do not include the the cost of the structures. were injured under the watch. associated construction costs, and reveals the In defence Slurs extent of fees and charges paid to managing Julia Gillard said she is open to tightening The Australian Education Union is seeking contractors and builders, meaning that the the guidelines of the $16b school building advice over whether teachers can take legal cost of projects more than doubles from initial program but has defended its role in sparing action if derided online, after several students estimates by the time builders start work, The Australia from a recession. And while the were suspended across the country for Australian reported. Nearby, a handful of the Deputy Prime Minister has called for vigilance posting slurs on Facebook. Cyberbullying is nation’s major construction companies will from states rolling out the program to avoid a growing problem for teachers, with parents share in profits of more than $130m in New waste, she stressed that blowouts have and students able to post vicious – often South Wales under the scheme. Analysis by been rare and denied the existence of price anonymous – comments on social networking The Australian shows managing contractors in gouging, The Australian reported. Dismissing sites, The Age reported. New South Wales will earn $134m in profits opposition attempts to liken the scheme to Bureaucratic demands and be paid an estimated further $80m in the government’s abandoned home insulation The Australian reported that non-government ‘project management’ fees to oversee the program, Gillard said the BER would come work. The New South Wales government has schools say education agreements between to be seen as a textbook example of how the commonwealth and the states designed to appointed managing contractors to oversee governments could act to protect jobs from building projects in different regions. lift school performance have become bogged recessions. She eventually capitulated to down by excessive amounts of paperwork and Nearby criticisms to criticisms that the building an onerous and expensive evaluation process. Unions have exploited a loophole to have program is being rorted, establishing a The National Catholic Education Commission almost all school stimulus upgrades in taskforce to investigate allegations. It will and the Independent Schools Council of report publicly every six months, with an Victoria declared ‘major projects’ in order to Australia wrote to Education Minister Julia interim report after three months.

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Andrew Pesce said more needed to be longer than four hours for treatment. The

done to properly fund medical training, The money, to be spread over four years, will U P AG A I N S T I T? Australian reported. only be delivered if state premiers agree to Rudd’s new funding model at the Council of Need a report or memo written K-10 Australian Governments meeting on April 19. The draft curriculum K-10 for English, In all, Rudd has put a total of $3b over four last week and haven’t found the mathematics, science and history is available years of funding on the table, including a final words or time for it? for public comment until 23 May 2010, www. sweetener of $650m to cut waiting times for acara.edu.au. elective surgery. We provide a full prompt service – we are professionals A list of problems Health Kevin Rudd delayed the crucial meeting on in public affairs with health reform with premiers until April 19, with international experience. Just Handicapped In the nationally televised health debate his office insisting the change was not due to call anytime and we are at your between Tony Abbott and Kevin Rudd, the uncertainty in the South Australian and service. Abbott had the equivalent of one foot in a Tasmanian election results. The new survey plaster cast, and accordingly lost the debate, shows that one fifth of voters are prepared to WriteRight The Age’s Michelle Grattan reported. The change their vote over health, The Australian reported. Nearby, the states have compiled Contact Anthony Opposition Leader came out worse on substance and style. The Australian’s Paul a list of more than 40 problems with the 0412 281 388 Kelly wrote Rudd won the Great Health proposed hospital takeover. Debate with a reminder that he is a smooth, What about this? persuasive and formidable Prime Minister Victorian Premier John Brumby is promoting Gillard in December expressing their concerns who skates over his weaknesses and projects an alternative health plan where the states about the overly bureaucratic demands of the as a constructive leader. Abbott performed retain their power to control and direct National Partnership agreements. capably with a bad hand. The Opposition had hospital funding. In a clear sign that Victoria no hospital policy and this proved a crippling is fundamentally opposed to the Federal Bush scholarships defect. The Financial Review’s Laura Tingle Government’s proposed hospital takeover, The 150,000 university students living in limbo wrote that the health debate has given the Brumby model rejects the notion of over changes to youth allowance have been Labor the chance to slow down a resurgent the Commonwealth directly funding the given some certainty after the Government opposition. local networks that run hospitals, and Opposition struck a deal set to be pushed The Age reported. through the Senate. Education Minister At the mercy of the worm Julia Gillard and Opposition counterpart The Age reported that Opposition Leader Tony The pen is mightier than the sword Christopher Pyne said they had reached a Abbott has shifted towards a conciliatory Senior fellow of the Grattan Institute, and compromise that meant scholarship funds position on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s former University of Melbourne vice- will start flowing shortly. Under the deal, hospitals policy as he tries to counter poll chancellor and medical doctor, David students in rural and regional areas will find damage apparently caused by his negativity Pennington wrote in The Age that the state it easier to claim youth allowance than the in the first debate. At the end of March, the should be collaborating rather than holding Government had initially proposed, but to Prime Minister’s personal support was shown back when it comes to Rudd’s reforms for keep the changes budget-neutral the value of to be clearly rising for the first time after the ailing health system. There is much to the government funded start-up scholarships months of decline. be done, but the Prime Minister has taken have been reduced. Some nationals MPs Artful linkage important steps. were understood to be unhappy that the deal In an address to the ADC Cities Summit in still left students in country areas worse off Episode 1 Melbourne, Kevin Rudd linked his health Productivity Commission chairman Gary than the current rules, The Age reported. reform package to Australia’s future economic Banks told a conference in New Zealand that Train them prosperity, arguing an extra 175,000 people the lack of a nationally consistent approach Speaking on the ABC Insiders program, John could be in the workforce in 20 years if to measuring the cost of hospital episodes Roskam, head of the Institute of Public Affairs, chronic diseases are effectively tackled, The meant a huge amount of work needed said the national curriculum will only be okay Australian reported. to be done before Rudd’s plan could be if more teachers are trained. Making the stick out of carrot implemented, Financial Review reported. Shonky foundations The Government has committed $632m over Before the worm turned Colleges assessed to be at the greatest risk four years to train thousands more doctors, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has of collapse would have to pay higher levies as it throws out carrots to woo the states to challenged Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to under a proposed overhaul of Australia’s back its hospital reform package. Victoria is immediately announced 3,500 extra beds for $17b international education sector, The Age still holding out for more incentives, amid Australia’s public hospitals, The Age reported. reported. warnings from doctors that the state stands to lose much more form the deal than previously Not good economics Inadequacies estimated. Harry Hemley, Victorian president More than a quarter of Australia’s hospitals Medical students are emerging from the of the Australian Medical Association, says could go broke under Kevin Rudd’s activity- nation’s universities feeling inadequately Premier John Brumby should demand $1.5b based funding model, according to research prepared to deal with crucial tasks such for a new hospital or other infrastructure commissioned by the New South Wales as calculating safe drug doses and writing upgrades before agreeing to the plan, The Government. The research, by University prescriptions, according to Education Age reported. More incentives are on the of Wollongong academic Kathy Eagar, Department commissioned research. way, including $500m towards ensuring suggests hundreds of hospitals across rural Australian Medical Association president emergency department patients wait no and regional Australia that have 10 or fewer beds and unpredictable workloads would

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have to close if they were funded purely on Easy for some Local Government Association has accused the basis of the efficient cost of each service The Government has spent $48m propping Canberra of overreaching on town planning, they provided, The Australian reported. up the troubled Medicare Easyclaim system, and of being captured by property developers. intended to allow patients to lodge claims for The councillors agreed last year to suspend Not perfect but something a rebate direct from the doctor’s office. So town-planning procedures to fast track $5.6b On the opinion pages of the , Financial Review far, only 25 per cent of all patient claims for in Commonwealth spending on public housing Andrew Podger, the national president of the a rebate are handled electronically, half of all as part of the Prime Minister’s $42b economic Institute of Public Administration in Australia, claims are still dealt with face-to-face in a stimulus package. But ALGA president Geoff wrote that the gaps and weaknesses in Rudd’s Medicare office and a quarter lodged by phone Lake said the Commonwealth was driving an health proposals are by no means trivial, but or post, The Australian reported. Meanwhile, attempt by the states to permanently sideline rejection of his proposals runs the risk of both Medicare Australia will pay IBM $189m for councils on social housing and other major parties avoiding serious reform for a decade a one-year extension to its long-standing projects, a move he said left him feeling or more. technology infrastructure services contract, cheated, The Australian reported. Community Behaving like a bank and an insurance along with a disengagement arrangement for anger over the rushing of these affordable company up to 24 months. housing projects threatens a number of Labor reported that MPs in marginal seats, not the least-of-whom The Age Medibank Private A clearer view has cut benefits available to hundreds of Nurses and pathologists have warned a is Maxine McKew. Her northern Sydney seat thousands of its members, leaving them Senate committee that privacy concerns of Bennelong, formerly held by John Howard, uninsured for a range of common operations surrounding the proposed introduction of a is the second most marginal Labor-held seat unless they agree to pay up to 50 per cent new unique national electronic health-care in New South Wales and has been peppered more in premiums. In a controversial move identify system should not be put ahead with about a dozen social housing projects to which the Government has made no of eliminating clinical mistakes caused by under the stimulus package. objection, Australia’s biggest health fund misidentifications that kill patients. Mixing Nearby has told 340,000 members on its basic ‘First up patient identities can cause fatalities. The The Age reported that bank lending to investors Choice Savers’ package that they will lose Opposition is not saying if it will support the to build new housing in 2009 shrank to the even restricted cover for several common but new laws, the Financial Review reported. lowest share of new finance on record. The costly procedures – such as heart operations number of new homes started in 2009 fell to and hip replacements – which people seek the lowest level in 13 years. cover for to avoid long delays in the public Infrastructure system. Other procedures totally withdrawn Only in NSW are: assisted reproductive services, knee Cutting through red tape The Age reported that Australia’s reputation joint replacement surgery, obstetrics, plastic The Financial Review reported that more than among global infrastructure investors has and reconstructive surgery and renal dialysis. 2,000 stimulus projects nationwide have taken a battering following the New South Services that will still be covered on the First been exempted from normal development Wales government’s decision to shelve the Choice Savers, which is no longer open to assessments in a new approach to $5b Sydney metro project, just days before new members, include palliative care, wisdom construction that the Government will urge the tender process for the rail link ended. teeth extraction, and knee and shoulder state and territory treasurers to extend. The One of the consortiums vying for the project reconstruction surgery. To reinstate coverage reform is being strongly backed by Treasury warned its late scrapping would mean taken away from them, members will have to secretary Ken Henry and developers, but the the New South Wales government would upgrade to a higher level of insurance than Opposition is gearing up to take advantage find it tough to generate interest in future they had before. This will involve about a 40 at the looming election of community infrastructure projects until it had proven per cent jump in family premiums to $85.52 a discontent about the fast tracking of stimulus itself to the market. fortnight in Victoria, and a jump of more than projects. Meanwhile, The Age reported that 50 per cent to $70.70 in New South Wales. new opposition finance spokesman Andrew More stimulus It will cost $50m to strip foil insulation from A Medibank spokeswoman said the fund had Robb said business sees Henry as a de facto up to 50,000 houses or install electrical given the Government notice of the proposed treasurer dictating government decisions. safety switches to help correct faults in the benefit cuts, which take effect from June 1. Too much pepper Government’s $2.45b home insulation scheme. Premiums rise in April. Medibank remains The nation’s local councils say they feel cheated After being linked to 105 house fires and four in government ownership but has recently by Kevin Rudd and the states because of a deaths (STOP PRESS: another two deaths, of switched from being a non-profit fund to a bid to prevent them holding town planning a man and his grandson in a house fire, have for-profit company! powers over public housing. The Australian been linked to the scheme), the new minister

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Tim Beresford, a former corporate lawyer and Westpac executive with over 15 years’ experience in banking and mergers and acquisitions, has taken on a senior role in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet that will focus on implementing the proposed national hospitals network. As part of the recruiting drive James Flintoff, from the ANZ Banking Group, where he was head of Private Bank (Victoria), has been appointed to the key position in Prime Minister and in charge, Greg Combet, revealed further Burning up the house prices Cabinet of executive coordinator responsible problems in the program, including fraud and The Australian reported that Asian buyers are for the Cabinet Implementation Unit; former job losses, The Australian reported. He also putting a fire under the country’s housing deputy chief executive officer and director said he had no idea how many of the 10,000 market, with capital city sales – particularly of strategy at World Vision Australia, Paul companies that delivered the insulation were to Chinese buyers – doubling in the past 12 Ronalds, has been appointed executive dodgy. Nearby, names and contact details of months, according to real estate group Ray coordinator, domestic policy; while Paul homeowners who installed roof insulation White. Schreier, who has experience working for under the program are being bought and the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom as well Big dollars as McKinsey & Company is also joining the sold for up to $100 each by entrepreneurs. Queensland’s emerging coal seam gas Queensland entrepreneur Luke Cleeve saw Prime Minister’s Department after a stint in industry has received a $60b boost from China Defence. The management and consulting an opportunity in the insulation scheme with the official signing of Australia’s largest and has since turned his sights on the drive has attracted over 1000 applications liquefied natural gas deal. Britain’s BG Group including many from the private sector and is Government’s safety inspection program. The and China National Offshore Oil Corp sealed 30-year-old said he made a $40,000 loss being overseen by a small but powerful group the deal, announced last May, to supply 3.6 of departmental secretaries – Terry Moran, after the scheme was suspended, leaving million tonnes of LNG per annum to CNOOC him with $180,000 of products. He said he Treasury head Ken Henry and finance for 20 years, The Australian reported. Some department head David Tune. hoped to recoup some of the losses by acting fear that the deal could push up domestic gas as a middleman for electricians working to fix prices on Australia’s east coast. Key word ‘consider’ issues caused by inexperienced installers. The Government will review its lobbyists’ Foiled Governance register and code of conduct, and will consider The Financial Review reported that the tightening the ban on former ministers Government has blocked the release of Debates lobbying Government while extending the information about the unravelling of the A series of three debates between Kevin register to government relations practitioners insulation program, fuelling Coalition Rudd and Tony Abbott, the first focusing and law and accountancy firms, theFinancial claims that it is hiding details about how on health (see that section), will be held Review reported. it managed problems with the troubled in the lead up to election day, which is not expected for about six months, the Herald Twisted scheme. The Opposition accused Kevin In the Government Business section of the of suppressing documents relating to Sun reported. Rudd Financial Review, Verona Burgess wrote the program, after key parts of the material Distorting the significance of God that the Government’s capacity to play provided by his department to the Senate The Australian’s editor-at-large, Paul Kelly, ‘Twister’ with public service structures to committee were blacked out. observed that the media is overly obsessed suit political exigencies has reached a new Brainstorming with Tony Abbott’s Catholicism. He cited level of absurdity. It would be a pity if they A national design policy and a federal a recent example on the ABC Four Corners were contorted even more by whatever office of urban affairs are urgently needed program. The unifying theme was Abbott’s Commonwealth administrative arrangements in Australia, VicUrban chief executive Pru religion to an extent that would have been were put in place for the proposed health Sanderson says. Her call for the federal inconceivable in any comparable program reforms. First, the move of the Environment office complimented VicUrban director on Rudd. This program magnified out of staff involved in running the Home Insulation Meredith Sussex’s suggestion that ‘national proportion and distorted the policy significance Program to the Department of Climate Change cities centres’ should be established in each of Abbott’s religion as distinct from Abbott’s is nonsense on several fronts. It is disruptive big city to encourage thinking about how views on economics, finance, foreign policy, administratively and physically and is also welfare, education, health, parental leave, Australian urban centres should develop, The costly. Administrative structures can make a industrial relations and so on, that will bear Age reported. big difference. directly on an Abbott prime ministership. It Wrong again would be a serious lack of judgement if the She’s a natural Speaking at the Urban Development Institute media invested Abbott’s religion with more Labor insiders have predicted the New South of Australia’s National Congress in Sydney, weight than it deserves. It would be an equal Wales Right would block Julia Gillard’s former prime minister Paul Keating said lack of judgement if the media, in depicting ascension to leader of the party and prime Australian cities, and particularly Sydney, the political meaning of Abbot’s Christianity, minister, as the Coalition sought to exploit are getting urban planning and high-density offered a series of sustained distortions. the speculation over the top job. While one residential development all wrong. And backbencher said the Deputy Prime Minister Sydney’s inability to meet rising housing Private government was ‘naturally’ in line to take the leadership, demand meant our children can not afford The Financial Review reported that the others said the talk was getting out of hand Government has turned to a management to house themselves, the Financial Review and her position on the Left would prevent reported. consultant to implement its centrepiece health her rise, the Financial Review reported. reform as part of a broader strategy to recruit private sector talent into the bureaucracy.

8 9 Good (top) dogs from being victimised at work. They will not be of power. Bartlett went to the polls saying he Canberra’s top bureaucrats have offered protected for general leaking or complaining had no level of trust in Greens leader Nick their frank and fearless assessments of the about policy decisions. There is no coverage McKim, and pledging that Labour would challenges of getting along with their political if they blow the whistle on intelligence related under no circumstances make any deal with masters in a series of interviews with the information or pass information to a foreign the Greens, The Age reported. remuneration tribunal, The Age reported. government official. Public service mandarins said that secretaries In his slippers of federal government departments often had Up she goes Mobile phone cameras could be banned to manage illegal and inappropriate directions Future secretaries of federal government from the floor of Federal Parliament after from ministers. The private interviews were departments can look forward to higher pay Liberal Queensland MP Peter Slipper was conducted in 2008 and a summary of their after the remuneration tribunal declared caught on camera apparently dozing off. content by remuneration consultant John their responsibilities compared with those Slipper demanded the mystery photographer Egan was released at the end of March this of private sector chief executives. The total (obviously one of his colleagues) be hunted year. annual remuneration of the secretaries of the down. He also asked that the rules of Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, parliamentary privilege be hardened. Labor’s Integrity barometer drops Treasury and Defence is more than $503,000, Anthony Albanese moved that the privileges The Government has dumped one of its key while other secretaries get nearly $471,000. committee should study whether rules should integrity reforms, sidelining the Auditor-General The tribunal recommends that the number of be adopted to ensure the use of mobile from policing taxpayer funded advertising secretaries on the top rate be expanded, The devices did not interfere with Parliament ‘or campaigns. The Government revealed it Age reported. with the free performance by a member of would undo a policy change from 2008 that his or her duties,’ The Age reported. required the Auditor to clear campaigns with Carney comment budgets of more than $250,000. In the lead On the opinion pages of The Age, that papers Presidential ambitions up to the election, big budget campaigns will associate editor Shaun Carney wrote that Former Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull now be monitored by a committee comprised when five Cabinet ministers came out to laid out a process for achieving a republic, of former senior public servants. Auditor- condemn Tony Abbott at a press conference saying the first step should be a non-binding General Ian McPhee’s role will be restricted the Government’s intentions became clearer: plebiscite asking people how a president to auditing campaigns once they have been a double dissolution election will be held should be chosen, The Age reported. Turnbull, broadcast – not reviewing them beforehand. within six months. But it could, of course, opt 56, has since announced he will not run for McPhee criticised the decision, saying it will for a conventional election of the lower house his seat of Wentworth at the next election, not deliver the same level of integrity for and half the Senate, but what would be the opting to resign from parliament and reignite point? In a different article, Carney observed his business career. taxpayers, The Age reported. An editorial in the same paper asserted that in sidelining that a lack of emotion marked Kevin Rudd’s rise, and he has failed to win voters hearts Strengthening democracy the Auditor-General, the very person who reported that the Government will because of it. The Age exemplifies independence and transparency, introduce laws strengthening compulsory the Government is in effect illustrating Rudd’s Symbolism only gets you so far voting and making the voter registration original fears about undermining democracy. The Government has provided a ‘pittance’ to system less cumbersome. The changes will On its opinion pages, national affairs the stolen generations and has failed to do allow voters to update their details on the correspondent Katherine Murphy wrote that anything practical to help Aboriginal people electoral roll online, and would eliminate dumping McPhee is more than a bad look; it removed from their families, says the former identity requirements for provisional voters. At is a spectacular backflip when you consider head of the intervention task force Dr Sue present, identity checks are required before Labor’s pre-election posturing. Gordon. provisional votes are counted in elections. More than 27,000 votes were not counted in Protecting the whistler The palette the last federal poll because the identity tests Public servants who go to the media to blow The Greens are preparing an image makeover were not met. the whistle about public health and safety in a bid to dispel stereotypes of the party. concerns, corruption, misconduct and the With only months to go before the Victorian They prefer the surname waste of taxpayers money will be protected and federal elections – in which the Greens New South Wales Labor MP Belinda Neal from prosecution by proposed new laws, have a strong chance of winning key Labor has lost a preselection vote to contest her the Herald Sun reported. A whistleblower seats – the party is working on a new seat of Robertson on the New South Wales who has an honest and reasonable belief strategy to broaden their appeal and counter central coast at the next federal election. about a wrongdoing will also keep the negative attacks from the major parties, The Newcastle University lecturer and local protection even if they are wrong. The Age reported. resident Deborah O’Neill won the vote 98 to proposed changes unveiled by Special 67, The Age reported. Her departure will put a Minister for State Joe Ludwig go further Upside down down there new slant on Labor’s attempt to hold the seat, Labor Premier David Bartlett was told by the than the protection suggested last year by Australia’s most marginal. The party would Tasmanian Governor, Peter Underwood, to a parliamentary committee report. Ludwig lose the seat with a 0.1 per cent swing. said the whistleblower’s motive will not be test his strength in Parliament, resolving an relevant, the law’s purpose is to protect them election that returned at 10-10tie for Labor and the Liberals, and five Greens in a balance

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Fielding told them a thing or two clauses already struck in workplaces. Under A hard harmony The 11th annual Science meets Parliament the Fair Work Act, a flexibility clause, known The Financial Review reported that the event brought 160 scientists to Canberra for as an individual flexibility arrangement, must model act released by Safe Work Australia face-to-face time with the country’s ministers, be included in all new enterprise agreements. aims to implement a uniform approach to MPs and senators. It ran for two days in the Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard occupational health and safety laws across middle of March. committed the Government to the clauses the country. But structural differences among after business leaders expressed concern state regimes threaten to derail the Federal Industrial RElations. that the abolition of Australian Workplace Government’s proposed harmonisation. Agreements would result in a loss of flexibility. employment Gillard said she had decided to seek a review Climate change, of an aspect of the decision by Commissioner It begins again John Ryan, The Australian reported. environment, Energy The ACTU has begun its political campaign ahead of the federal election with television Correct pay Correct information advertisements that target the pledge by The workplace ombudsman will target big The CSIRO and the weather bureau released Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to make employers and franchisors in a crackdown on the State of the Climate document, a snapshot changes to workplace laws if the Coalition breaches of the Government’s new industrial of Australia’s climate data, observations is returned to power. The advertisements relations regime to ensure staff are getting and predictions. The traditionally apolitical recycle the worried working mother, ‘Tracy’, their correct pay and entitlements. A new organisations have weighed into the debate who made a big public impact before the branch is being established within the Fair on the basis that Australians are not being 2007 election, followed by a recording of Work Ombudsman’s office to investigate given correct information about temperatures, Abbott saying that ‘the phrase Work Choices suspected breaches of the Fair Work Act rainfall, ocean levels and atmospheric is dead’. ACTU president Sharan Burrow among the nation’s biggest employers, the changes. They have recently been attacked by argued that Abbott, a Minister for Workplace Financial Review reported. The Australian climate change sceptics. State of the Climate Relations in the Howard government, was reported the Fair Work Ombudsman Nicholas strongly suggests climate change is the result a key figure in the development of Work Wilson announced he intends to write to of human activity, the Herald Sun reported. Choices, the Financial Review reported. On almost 50,000 retailers across the country CSIRO chief executive Dr Megan Clark said the opinion pages of the same paper, Pamela to check they are paying workers correct that both organisations felt the point had now Williams wrote that Deputy Prime Minister minimum rates of pay, penalty rates, loadings been reached to give Australians ‘the facts Julia Gillard’s challenge is to ensure union and allowances. Fair Work inspectors will and information they are looking for and to issues don’t disrupt the Government’s re- randomly select 1,500 retail outlets which do so in a way that is very transparent and election campaign. The Age reported that the will be asked to supply employment records available’. ACTU’s most senior strategist, Cath Bowtel, for audit. who was instrumental in the Your Rights at An independent review Women’s pay The UN has launched an independent review Work campaign that helped the 2007 election The Australian Services Union pushed for an of its Intergovernmental Panel on Climate of the Labor government, announced her average 30 per cent pay rise as part of the Change in the wake of controversies, including resignation. Bowtell had been the ACTU’s most significant test case for women’s pay a series of incorrect claims in its landmark favoured candidate to take over from in decades. They asked for a variety of wage 2007 report and doubts about the scientific President Sharan Burrow, who is likely to rises across Australia, but their assistant rigour the panel applied to reach some of step down this year to take on the top job with national secretary Linda White said claims its conclusions. UN Secretary-General Ban the International Trade Union Confederation would not exceed 30 per cent, The Age Ki-moon and IPCC chairman Rajendra in Brussels. But incoming president Ged reported. Pachauri said they had formally asked the Kearney, the head of the Australian Nursing Inter-Academy Council – an umbrella group Federation, gained greater support from Rough stuff of 15 leading science academies, including left-wing unions, which traditionally decide The Age reported that two senior building the Australian Academy of Science – to the incumbent, after a divisive nomination union officials face court after being charged conduct an independent review of the IPCC’s campaign. with assault and other offences following an alleged incident at a Carlton (in Melbourne’s procedures, The Australian reported. Ironing out the chinks inner-north) building site a year ago. The The Government will seek to overturn a Fair Makes an interesting point charges are being strongly denied by the union The Director of the Copenhagen Consensus Work Australia ruling that employers fear will but are the latest blow to the Construction, Centre, Bjorn Lomborg, wrote that for the give unions unrestricted access to workplaces. Forestry, Mining and Energy Union’s campaign better part of a decade he has upset many Julia Gillard announced that the Government to have the building industry watchdog climate activists by pointing out that there would back an appeal by the Australian abolished. Police confirmed that CFMEU are far better ways to stop global warming Industry Group against the tribunal’s decision assistant secretary John Setka, widely than trying to persuade governments to force that would allow powerful unions to largely tipped to be the next secretary of the union, or bribe citizens into cutting their reliance on take right-of-entry provisions in the Fair Work faces five charges including two of assault fuels that emit carbon dioxide. We are not Act ‘out of play’, The Australian reported. and two of obstructing and intimidating a facing Armageddon and fixing climate change Done a hamstring Commonwealth public official. should not cost the earth, he writes in The The Government and employers will seek to . He cites After farmers Australian biofuel requirements overturn a Fair Work Australia decision that The Government has been urged to spend as a salutary lesson about panicking and found flexibility provisions in Labor’s federal $240m by Skills Australia, its advisory making the wrong choices in response to workplace laws cannot be used to vary body on skills and workforce, on a six-year global warming. Rather than helping reduce the terms of an enterprise agreement. The workforce renewal strategy for the tertiary emissions, the artificially inflated demand Australian Industry Group warned that the education sector, which has the nation’s for ethanol, and for the corn to manufacture decision created a great deal of uncertainty second oldest workforce after the farming it, wound up driving up food prices (which and threatened the validity of flexibility pushed about 30 million poor people into sector, the Financial Review reported.

10 11 LETTER FROM CANBERRA Glen Eira Council Australia Day Breakfast ‘Change is needed by all’ by Gary Morgan Executive Chairman Roy Morgan Research Originally presented January 22, 2010 Governor Arthur Phillip and British military ZDV GHVSLWH ¿QH 0HULQR ZRRO WKHQ EHLQJ$XVWUDOLD¶V  RI¿FHUV DQG  PDULQHV  ZLWK FRQYLFWV  major export and about 2 million sheep in Australia. LQFOXGLQJ  ZRPHQ  IRXQGHG $XVWUDOLD RQ In 1831 NSW’s population was about 51,000 of whom -DQXDU\. 21,000 were convicts. In 1837, the population had http://members.iinet.net.au/~perthdps/ increased to about 97,000 with 32,000 convicts. Most FRQYLFWVVWÀHHWKWPO RIWKHIUHHVHWWOHUVZHUHHLWKHULQWKHPLOLWDU\RU From 1788 there were over 3,000 convict sites established had been in the military or been convicts. in Australia – nothing to be proud of! :LWKWKH%ULWLVKDEROLWLRQRIVODYHVLQDOOFRORQLHV It took more than 100 years for Australia’s convict many countries such as the United States and Jamaica LQYROYHPHQWWR¿QDOO\HQGZLWKWKHFORVXUHRIWKH became less attractive to English farmers. Australia’s Fremantle convict prison. So why are we celebrating DFFHVVWRFKHDSODERXUZLWKDVWHDG\ÀRZRIUHOHDVHG Australia Day today? If we need a day to celebrate convicts, made the Australian Colonies a more attractive our ‘foundation’ as a nation then it would be better to destination than the United States for farmers wanting celebrate Eureka Day, December 3, 1854. to make a new life on their own land. ,Q-XQH-RKQ0DFDUWKXU  D/LHXWHQDQW 9LFWRULDZDV¿UVWVHWWOHGRQ1RYHPEHUZKHQ in the New South Wales Corps, and his wife, Elizabeth (GZDUG+HQW\ DJHG\HDUV DUULYHGDW3RUWODQG%D\  DQGVLFNO\FKLOGDUULYHGLQWKH&RORQ\RI 2I¿FLDOO\0HOERXUQHIRXQGHGE\-RKQ%DWPDQ Port Jackson aboard the Second Fleet after a journey and the Port Phillip Association, was not a convict RIPRQWKV VHWWOHPHQW  ,Q 1RYHPEHU  WKH 'LVWULFW RI 3RUW John Macarthur’s life was full of controversy involving Phillip’s European population was 324, by 1839 the major disagreements with the Governors of the Colony. District’s population numbered 5,822 (Melbourne’s He was involved in forcing the departures of Governors DERXW   DQG E\   ± D VLJQL¿FDQW $UWKXU3KLOOLS 'HFHPEHU -RKQ+XQWHU  LQFUHDVH SDUWO\ DVVLVWHG E\ µ%RXQW\¶ LPPLJUDQWV D  3KLOLS.LQJ  :LOOLDP%OLJK  scheme abandoned in 1841. At the March 22, 1841  DQG/DFKODQ0DFTXDULH   FHQVXV 0HOERXUQH¶V SRSXODWLRQ ZDV  ±  males and 1,803 females. John Macarthur spent many years in England involved in two English court martials. He spent 4 years 1RYHPEHU   FRQWHVWLQJ KLV RZQ FRXUW martial; then leaving the Colony in March 1809 for 8 years in England initially supporting Major George Johnston at his court martial for his role in the 5XP 5HEHOOLRQ ZKLFK UHVXOWHG LQ *RYHUQRU %OLJK¶V deposition. %\ EUHHGLQJ SXUH PHULQR VKHHS -RKQ 0DFDUWKXU ZDV UHVSRQVLEOHIRUWKHLQLWLDOJURZWKLQWKH&RORQ\¶V¿QH ZRRO LQGXVWU\  %HFDXVH RI KLV SXUH PHULQR VKHHS monopoly he was despised by many other wool growers. John Macarthur’s fellow pastoralists judged him much OHVVÀDWWHULQJO\WKDQSRSXODUKLVWRU\KDVGRQH$IWHU John Macarthur’s death in April 1834 there was scarcely 10 11 a notice in the Sydney papers and no memorials. This 11 During the 1840s the Port Philip District accepted many It was the Victoria’s gold discovery at Clunes in June H[FRQYLFWVIURP9DQ'LHPDQ¶V/DQGDQGVKLSPHQWVRI 1851 which changed forever Australia and the small FRQYLFWVZLWKFRQGLWLRQDOSDUGRQVIURP%ULWDLQ7KH\ rural Victorian community, with thousands of young laboured on public works, in spite of opposition from SHRSOH PDLQO\ PHQ DQG PDQ\ H[FRQYLFWV ÀRFNLQJ the new Melbourne Town Council (founded December WRWKHJROG¿HOGVDURXQGFHQWUDO9LFWRULDIURPDOOSDUWV 0D\RU+HQU\&RQGHOO RWKHUVZHUHVHQWWRZRUN of the world. Victoria was a male dominated society on pastoral properties beyond Melbourne. with employment opportunities for women limited to domestic services, shops, schools and hospitals. %\  DSDUW IURP WKH VTXDWWHUV PRVW VHWWOHUV involved in the Port Phillip District commerce and The First Ninety Years describes 1850’s Victoria as trade were strongly opposed to accepting convicts. follows: 'HVSLWHWKLVWKH%ULWLVK+RPH*RYHUQPHQWZDQWHGWR KWWSZZZUR\PRUJDQFRPUHVRXUFHVSGI still ‘foist a semi diluted felony upon the district, in SDSHUVSGI the form of conditionally pardoned convicts from the SHQDO GHS{WV LQ (QJODQG¶ *DUU\RZQ 3DJH   ,Q “The roads were anything but safe for solitary DGGLWLRQ*DUU\RZQ 3DJH µH[SODLQV¶WKDWE\ travellers…and crimes against persons and property the English dominated administration in Sydney had ZHUHIUHTXHQWHQRXJKDWWKHJROG¿HOGVEXWZKHQ imposed property taxes in and about Melbourne which RQHUHPHPEHUVWKHYDVWLQÀX[RILPPLJUDQWVWKH caused great concern. LQHI¿FLHQF\RIWKHSROLFHIRUFHWKHIHHOLQJRIXQUHVW developed when a large number of people abandon %\  ZLWKLQ  \HDUV RI VHWWOHPHQW DERXW RQH WKHLUXVXDOSXUVXLWVIRUVXFKDQRFFXSDWLRQDVJROG TXDUWHURIWKHPHQLQ3RUW3KLOOLSZHUHH[FRQYLFWV VHHNLQJDQGWKHFURZGVRIH[FRQYLFWVZKRPDGH Since Melbourne was founded in 1835 there have their way from Tasmania and New South Wales, been three major political events which have shaped one is struck with admiration and astonishment the State of Victoria and Australia to make it what it is at the peaceable manner in which most of the today: cosmopolitan arrivals settled down as colonists.” 1. Separation of the Port Phillip District )ROORZLQJ9LFWRULD¶VJROGUXVKDQGWKHVXEVHTXHQW 9LFWRULD IURP 1HZ 6RXWK :DOHV – July 1, ‘Not Guilty’ Eureka verdicts in the Victorian Supreme 1851 – the Separation Association (formed Court, Melbourne boomed with a large, in some -XQH ZDVVWURQJO\RSSRVHGWRFRQYLFW instance trained, labour pool eager and willing to create labour and convict settlement, and English real wealth – some would say a very different Australia military administration from Sydney, and Victoria than we have today! 2. The Eureka uprising in the Victorian Melbourne, with New York and Paris, in a short number JROG¿HOGV 'HFHPEHU   DQG VXEVHTXHQW of years was created as one of the great cities of the 19th 15 ‘Not Guilty’ verdicts involving the Melbourne century. Melbourne’s population in 1850 was 20,500 legal establishment many of whom had been by 1880 it was 281,000. vocal supporters of the Separation of the Port Today we are not one of the world’s great cities, 3KLOOLS 'LVWULFW 9LFWRULD and opposed to the although a great place to live and visit for a holiday! So oppressive English military administration, and where does Melbourne and Australia go today? 3. Federation of Australia, January 1, 1901 – making it possible for Australian’s democracy Yesterday we released our weekly Roy Morgan which is today run from Canberra – Australia’s &RQVXPHU &RQ¿GHQFH UDWLQJ LQ D ZHHN LW LV XS  JUHDWHVWVHOIPDGHGLVDVWHU ,¿UVWZHQWSXEOLFRQ points to 130.0 the highest since February 2005. the issue of Canberra as the Federal Capital on KWWSZZZUR\PRUJDQFRPQHZVSROOV March 3, 1998 at The Melbourne Convention - We also released our latest Morgan Poll showing the Federation: into the Future in my paper: Rudd Government leading well in our latest Morgan 7KH $VLDQ &ULVLV PHDQV ZH QHHG PDMRU 3ROO ± $/3  /13  DQ $/3 ODQGVOLGH FKDQJH IRU $XVWUDOLD  LI QRW ZH QHHG WR KWWSZZZUR\PRUJDQFRPQHZVSROOV destroy the Federal System of Government as ZHQRZNQRZLWDQGVWDUWDJDLQ KWWSZZZ Australia is booming thanks to China’s demand for our UR\PRUJDQFRPQHZVSDSHUV minerals, in particular iron ore and coal. But all is not – I am pleased former Prime Minister Paul ZHOOZKLOHWKH$XVWUDOLDQ%XUHDXRI6WDWLVWLFV $%6  .HDWLQJ QRZ DJUHHV ZLWK PH ± LW WRRN KLP D VD\VZHKDYHXQHPSOR\HGRoy Morgan says the ¿JXUHLV±WKDWLVQRWDOO 12 while, however better late than never! DUH XQGHUHPSOR\HG ± VR WKH µOXFN\¶ FRXQWU\ KDV are abolished – it is essential to create more jobs,  PLOOLRQ $XVWUDOLDQVLQWKHZRUNIRUFH We need to change ‘work practices’, XQHPSOR\HG RU XQGHUHPSOR\HG ± IDU WRR PDQ\ ‘Fair Work’ needs to be ‘Fair Choice’, KWWSZZZUR\PRUJDQFRPQHZVSROOV We need to stop the cash society, We need to stop corporate rorts, A fact ignored by Prime Minister Rudd and Deputy We need massive infrastructure expenditure on ports, Prime Minister Gillard. We are a ‘stupid’ country to roads and railways, tolerate such a high unemployed and underemployed :HQHHG WR H[SRUW ¿QLVKHG JRRGV ± IURP PDQ\ QHZ number while our mineral exports are ‘booming’. industries, etc On Monday January 18, 2010, a special Roy Morgan 7KH%+3%LOOLWRQ5LR7LQWRPHUJHUPXVWnot go ahead VXUYH\ZDVSXEOLVKHGZKLFKVKRZHG$XVWUDOLDQVDUH unless their duopolistic control of the railways and evenly divided on the BHP Billiton/Rio Tinto iron ports in the Pilbara is made an independent authority – RUHPHUJHULQWKH:$3LOEDUD5HJLRQ WKHQDOO$XVWUDOLDQVZLOOEHQH¿WIURPWKHPHUJHUQRWMXVW KWWSZZZUR\PRUJDQFRPQHZVSROOV WKH %+3 %LOOLWRQ5LR 7LQWR VKDUHKROGHUV HPSOR\HHV 6OLJKWO\PRUH$XVWUDOLDQVDJUHH  WKDQGLVDJUHH concerned and higher taxes.  WKDW%+3%LOOLWRQDQG5LR7LQWRVKRXOGEH DEOHWRPHUJHWKHLU,URQ2UHRSHUDWLRQVLQ:HVWHUQ And at the same time the Federal Government needs to $XVWUDOLD ZKLOH  FDQ¶W VD\ 7KHVH UHVXOWV FXWRXWWKHXQLRQVXSSRUWHGODERXUPDUNHW ,5 µURUWV¶ are according to a special Roy Morgan telephone which keep holding Australia back – if not unemployed VXUYH\ZLWKDQ$XVWUDOLDQZLGHFURVVVHFWLRQRI DQGXQGHUHPSOR\HGLQ$XVWUDOLDZLOOVRRQEHPLOOLRQ UHVSRQGHQWV DJHG  FRQGXFWHG RQ WKH QLJKWV RI If neither is done Australia’s boom will soon be over, -DQXDU\ like the initial boom in merino wool which began The Roy Morgan survey asked: “In recent months more than 200 years ago and today is an industry Australia’s largest mining companies, BHP Billiton which makes only a relatively small contribution to and Rio Tinto, have proposed merging their iron ore Australia’s economy! mining operations in Western Australia to create a References (Available on 5R\0RUJDQZHEVLWH joint venture covering all current and future Australian ZZZUR\PRUJDQFRP iron ore mining assets of the two companies. In your opinion should BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto be allowed 1. Women, the Media, and People from Other Countries to merge their iron ore mining operations in Western who have made Victoria – 1851 to Today and Foreword by Gary Morgan, prepared Aug, 2008 to Dec, 23 2008 & May Australia?” 2009. The political ‘sleeper’ for those wanting this merger KWWSZZZUR\PRUJDQFRPUHVRXUFHVSGI papers/20080810.pdf Victoria Day Council Address, to go ahead is ‘foreign ownership’ and the sheer size SUHVHQWHGE\*DU\0RUJDQ-XO\ of the combined entity and associated reduction in competition. The following are examples of some of 2. Separation Tree Ceremony Oration by Gary Morgan, Nov 14, 2009. KWWSZZZUR\PRUJDQFRP the comments. documents/Separation Tree Ceremony Oration by Gary “It would become a monopoly, creating a lack of 0RUJDQ1RYWK competition.” Other References: “Because of the virtual monopoly they will have.” “It will become too much of a monopoly and that makes 3. %RQZLFN-DPHV)5*6-RKQ%DWPDQWKH)RXQGHURI 9LFWRULD:UHQ3XEOLVKLQJ3W\/WG  ¿UVWSXEOLVKHGE\ me worried.” 6DPXHO0XOOHQ0HOERXUQH “I don’t like things being joined together as one. I think there needs to be competition for things to be fair.” 4. %UDNH $QQH Trust News, Australia, (National Trust “I don’t like things being in just a few hands.” Newsletter), Vol 1. No 10. November 2009 “It will become more of a monopoly and it wouldn’t be 5. %URDGEHQW -DPHV Elizabeth Farm Parramatta – A good for the economy.” History and a Guide, Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales, 1984 Change is needed by all – Local Government, ‘yes’  Campbell, R. 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PRINCIPAL SPONSORS: ROY MORGAN RESEARCH · THE IAN POTTER FOUNDATION · · THE ROBERT SALZER FOUNDATION · THE ANGIOR FAMILY FOUNDATION · HENKELL BROTHERS · · LINDENDERRY · LINDENWARRAH · DR. DOUGLAS MITCHELL · DR. ALISTAIR JACKSON · 14 14 MAUREEN WHEELER, CO-FOUNDER OF LONELY PLANET PUBLICATIONS · MONASH UNIVERSITY 15 LETTER FROM CANBERRA

The incredible achievements of the human race An organisation, founded by prominent Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi, promoted an anti-Earth Hour event, and urged people to turn on the lights in defiance of the climate awareness movement. Organisers of the ‘Human Achievement Hour’ encouraged households to go about their normal business ‘Charles Kovess is Australia's Passion Provocateur.’ during Earth Hour (from 8:30pm on Saturday, www.kovess.com He has helped many large corporations and many March 27) to recognise the incredible p 03 9562 2248 achievements of the human race, The Age m 0412 317 404 Government Departments to reported. PO Box 1412 improve leadership behaviours build better teams Central Park Brownouts East Malvern, Vic 3145 unleash passion and build world-class performance. The Government has shelved its plans for a Mention this ad when you contact us and we'll send you a FREE one-hour audio CD valued at $25.00" national energy policy blueprint for Australia’s energy needs because of uncertainty about the emissions trading scheme and the cost the ranks of the malnourished). It also ate up Change Minister Penny Wong has indicated to electricity generators of cutting carbon more arable land, which led to the destruction the Government will look outside the United emissions. The delay adds to uncertainty about of rainforest and created a situation that will Nations negotiating group to find effective the required $100b in investment necessary result in more CO2 emissions over the next ways to tackle climate change. As diplomats to avoid electricity brownouts. Electricity 100 years. gathered in Germany for the first UN climate generators and the Coalition demanded the meeting since the Copenhagen conference Government abandoned its proposed Carbon They’ll chip in a tenner in December, she said the Government reported that the $100m global Pollution Reduction Scheme and produce The Australian remained committed to the 192-nation talks Carbon Capture and Storage Institute, charged a national energy plan as promised, The and the Copenhagen Accord. with speeding development and take up of Australian reported. clean coal technology, has attracted more More detail Big work than 200 of the world’s biggest economies Scientists have found camels to be the third Australia will conduct the world’s first continent and companies as members. But to date their highest carbon-emitting animal per head on wide environmental survey, following only financial commitment is to guarantee $10 the planet, behind only cattle and buffalo. But Environment Minister Peter Garrett’s launch if the institute goes broke. A spokeswoman Climate Change Minister Penny Wong said of a $10m scientific program near Coffs for Kevin Rudd said it was anticipated CCS there was little point doing anything about Harbour. The program, which will take three technology would be discussed during the Australia’s feral camels as only the CO2 of years to complete, aims to identify hundreds US President’s mid-year visit to Australia. the domesticated variety is counted under of native species and will be used to help Dale Seymour, the institute’s senior vice- the Kyoto protocol. set national targets to halt the extinction of president of strategy, said the fact that 30- plants and animals, The Age reported. odd national governments and some sub- Getting rid of the humps The Opposition is considering declaring war national governments are members is a great Accelerator science on camels as part of its climate change policy, indication of support for the institute. The Financial Review reported the Federal arguing that the desert pest is responsible for Parliament’s public works committee is Newman more emissions than the exhaust of 300,000 holding an inquiry into proposed extensions The chairman of the Australian Broadcasting cars. When the Government earmarked to the Australian Nuclear Science and Corporation, Maurice Newman, has told $19m for a camel cull in July, it sparked Technology Organisation facility at Lucas some of his most senior staff that they had international curiosity, but the Coalition wants Heights in Sydney’s south. The $62.5m project succumbed to ‘groupthink’ in their reporting to take it up a notch and decimate the million would include a building for the Centre for of climate change. In what is being read by strong camel population in the name of the Accelerator Science to enhance research into ABC staff as an attack on them, Newman said environment, the Financial Review reported. climate and environmental science, nuclear the media had accepted issues at face value Nearby, the Management of Feral Camels safety and forensics. and had suppressed the voices of climate Project seeks a national project director, change sceptics. It is not the first time that www.hender.com.au. Newman, who describes himself as a climate Broadband. IT. innovation change agnostic, has provoked controversy. Comparing feral flatulence The most comprehensive analysis of His most scathing criticism, at the ABC’s At last greenhouse emissions of livestock and annual leadership conference, was reserved The Australian reported Communications Australian feral and native animals has shown for his own organisation, which he believes Minister Stephen Conroy finally agreed to kangaroos to be the most benign emitters, had failed to let climate change sceptics have release the implementation study on the while emus do considerable climate warming their say, The Age reported. national broadband network, and claims the and camels (see above) are among the worst 500-page report will back his claim that the Small, pragmatic steps offenders. The study by veterinarian scientist Government can build the multi-billion-dollar In The Age, environment reporter Adam George Wilson, who heads the Canberra project without Telstra. Conroy responded to Morton wrote that after the disappointment of consultancy Australian Wildlife Services, political pressure from Coalition and Greens Copenhagen there is a growing mood it was collated and analysed data from several senators by announcing he would make the not the total disaster it first seemed. The next sources to produce the most wide-ranging entire study by McKinsey and KPMG public big climate meeting, in Mexico, is expected table of animal gas emissions, The Australian before the Budget in May. to focus on small, pragmatic steps rather reported. than grand gestures. Nevertheless, Climate

14 15 16 MARCH to 14 april 2010

Ducts and pipes the telco and the government continued. But, In The Age, Ian Verrender wrote that behind under questioning from shareholders, he all the politicking, the threats, the arguments declined to say what his position would be if about ‘complexity’, Telstra’s future gets down talks broke down, the Herald Sun reported. to a single issue: how much? How much would it accept for handing over its existing fixed Adieu line infrastructure to the national broadband The head of Telstra’s BigPond, Justin Milne, network? The most valuable components the executive charged with driving its media from the NBN point of view are the ducts expansion and broadband content delivery, and pipes that will make it easier to lay the quit at the end of March. His departure new fibre-optic cable through to households. sparked concerns of deeper unrest within the The Australian Competition and Consumer telecommunications company. His departure Commission valuation of those pipes was is a big blow to the company because he big thinkers $3.9b, while the copper line itself was valued represented the new-media face of Telstra – at $2.7b. On Telstra’s analysis, its ducts and the very part of the company that will drive (think tanks, pipes alone are worth $15b. There is an its future, either against or with the national knowledge bro- argument Communications Minister Stephen broadband network, The Australian reported. Conroy would do better to go it alone at that Nothing but a pamphlet kers, networks & figure. STOP PRESS: An end to the tussle The Financial Review reported that senators between the Government and Telstra over dismissed a seven-page CSIRO report into the opinion shapers) the value of Telstra’s telecommunications national broadband network as a pamphlet infrastructure is in sight, with Conroy saying The 2009 edition of Affairs of State’s that failed to make a convincing case for the the parties will soon reach a conclusion or nation’s biggest infrastructure project and latest publication Big Thinkers break of negotiations. raised questions about the quality of the (thing tanks, knowledge brokers, evidence used to decide on the policy. The They should do it over the phone networks & opinion shapers) has Senate delayed a vote on the broadband The Australian reported that as the Conroy and just been launched by historian reform. Geoffrey Blainey. Telstra discussions continue to dominate the public focus on the $43b national broadband Can’t scramble them either network, behind the scenes, relations between NBN Co has been banned from actively Big Thinkers is the only compre- Conroy’s department and the project’s poaching key executives from its ‘potential hensive and accurate guide to think operating body NBN Co, are believed to have customers’, including Telstra and Optus. In tanks, thinking/ideas organisations deteriorated, particularly over the future an unprecedented move, the NBN Co has also and opinion shapers in Australia. delivery of broadband services via satellite. pledged to voluntarily inform an applicant’s This is understood to have resulted from a employer should they want to jump ship, It assembles a list of more than 300 move by NBN to take over, on an interim basis, The Australian reported. Australia may need think tanks, think/ideas organisa- the supply of satellite capacity for delivering to look overseas for expertise for its huge tions and opinion shapers from a broadband services to about 90,000 infrastructure project. Nearby, enterprise cross section of disciplines to help customers in remote areas. This service is system vendors should not expect a you understand the new financial currently subsidised by the Government under multibillion-dollar bounty from NBN Co as the the Australian Broadband Guarantee, but and policy environment. national fibre network wholesaler acquires under the NBN proposal it would become the its technology systems. After announcing the sole provider of wholesale satellite capacity company’s $23m contract for human resource With easy-to-read summaries, Big for these remote areas, which it would then systems with Accenture, chief operating Thinkers provides up-to-date infor- on-sell to retail service providers. officer Kevin Brown said the company had mation including: estimated the cost of its enterprise systems Academic think tanks Nearby Telstra’s second largest shareholder, the in the hundreds of millions, rather than the Government think tanks Australian Foundation Investment Company, billions often spent by tier-one retail telcos. Contract research think tanks has positioned itself to lead an investor revolt NBN has the luxury of starting from scratch for Policy advocacy think tanks against the Government’s national broadband its enterprise IT and doesn’t have the burden No-for-profit policy centres network. It warned Telstra shareholders of integrating hoary old legacy systems. As a University public policy and not to be shortchanged by selling the wholesale-only operation, it also doesn’t have research centres telecommunications company’s fixed line to track and bill millions of retail customers, as the major telcos do. Opinion editors, columnists business to the government’s network at and writers a knockdown price, The Age reported. The Their own chairman Greens look set to oppose legislation to force The new chairman of NBN Co is dual American the split of Telstra, winning the telco valuable and Australian citizen Harrison Young, 65. It breathing space in its negotiations as is a role that will earn him $185,350 a year. Parliament deferred a split of the company’s The appointment came as Communications To order your copy contact: operations. And now Optus is supporting Minister Stephen Conroy announced the Affairs of State Telstra against NBN Co. network implementation study would be Level 2, 14 Collins Street, made public before the budget on May 11. Green Fields disagreement Melbourne VIC 3000 Family First Senator Steve Fielding told about Young’s background is in finance, serving as Telephone: +61 3 9654 1300 100 Telstra shareholders in Melbourne he a director of the Commonwealth Bank and Facsimilie: +61 3 9654 1165 would not support forcing Telstra to split into previously serving as the chairman of Morgan Email: [email protected] wholesale and retail arms while talks between Stanley in Australia. He is also chairman of the local subsidiary of Better Place, the global

16 17 LETTER FROM CANBERRA

electric vehicle services provider. He moved Seems logical inside the apartment-building sized detector, to Melbourne permanently in 2003, The Age The Australian Communications Consumer The Age reported. Geoffrey Taylor, from reported. Action Network has urged the Government Melbourne University, coordinates Australia’s to allow people to remain on the Do Not Call participation in the colliders ATLAS detector, Surprise Register permanently rather than having to one of four detectors located around the ring. Telstra has told developers that it has apply every three years. More than 1 million Professor Taylor has been part of the project immediately stopped installing copper phone people signed up to the list when it started for 20 years. connections in greenfields developments in May 2007, meaning their three-year because of a Government requirement for listing will expire this year. Similar registers On the way. NBN jobs fibre-optic cable in new housing from July in Britain, the United States, Spain and India NBN Co Limited seeks a General Manager 1. Stephen Albin, the head of the Urban allow permanent registration. The three-year Construction, General Manager Programs Development Institute of Australia, New expiry period for numbers on the register was Construction, General Manager Commercial South Wales, the largest group representing introduced because of the volume of people Construction, www.jobs.nbnco.com.au. developers of new housing projects, said the who move house, obtaining a new number decision caught many developers by surprise, and letting new occupants inherit theirs. Business. Economy. Tax The Age reported. The Financial Review According to figures from the Australian reported that the property industry has urged Direct Marketing Association, about 10 per If the Government to delay the proposed laws cent of phone numbers are disconnected Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has promised that that could add $500m to annual housing costs each year, The Age reported. The Financial state premiers will be no worse off from any by forcing new developments to install the Review reported that a proposed amendment reforms that flow from the Henry tax review cables that can be connected to the national to the Do Not Call Register Act will extend as he battles to overcome major objections to broadband network. Communications Minister the register to include all Australian his $90b health system reform, the Financial Stephen Conroy said Telstra was obliged business phone and fax numbers. Under the Review reported. The Australian reported by law to connect new homes to standard amendment, small companies will not be a moment which, in the annals of political telephone services, but the company stood able to call a business to promote, advertise incivility, will rank alongside Mark Latham’s by its decision to force property developers to or propose to supply goods, services, land power handshake with John Howard in 2004. switch to more expensive fibre-optic cable. and business or investment opportunities if During a picture opportunity before talks Intelligent works that business’s number is on the register and with Kristina Keneally at her Sydney office, The Financial Review reported that the where there is no prior consent or ongoing Kevin Rudd pointedly refused to look at the general manager for intelligent networks at relationship. The Herald Sun reported that New South Wales Premier as she offered him Energy Australia, Adrian Clark, criticised the the Council of Small Business Organisations a warm welcome. As Keneally spoke, Rudd approach taken by NBN Co to try and gain use of Australia, COSBOA, believes having small stared down at his folder. He then looked up of his utility’s infrastructure when installing businesses on the register would damage and, without meeting her gaze, said curtly: the NBN. He told the National Smart Grids their profitability. ‘Let’s get on with some health reform.’ ‘Right,’ Forum that rather than attempting to extort said Keneally, clearly abashed. Elementary my dear Watson co-operation from providers, NBN Co should Kim Carr warned the Australian book industry Nearby be working with them. it must embrace the e-publishing revolution On March 16, The Australian reported that Philosophically open that is changing the way consumers read and Rudd’s personal approval rating was at its The Government will go it alone to implement buy books, The Australian reported. worst since he became opposition leader in a radically centralised data centre purchasing December 2006. Little bang plan to save up to $1b from projected computer The Large Hadron Collider is finally up and International money markets rule infrastructure hosting costs over the next 15 running successfully, with the world’s largest Westpac Banking Corp’s chairman and former years. The opposition says the target is farcical. physics machine finally managing to smash head of Treasury, Ted Evans, cautioned that The new regime will force Commonwealth some subatomic particles together. Colliding Australia might have witnessed a permanent agencies to buy core infrastructure from an head-on travelling at the speed of light around shift in the driver of interest rates on loans approved panel of suppliers. The decision the 27 kilometre ring, located 100 metres and deposits from the Reserve Bank’s by Canberra to restrict the extension of its underground on the France-Switzerland cash rate to international wholesale money technology purchasing power in effect has border, two pairs of protons shattered silently markets, the Financial Review reported. buried plans to counter nationwide savings from government infrastructure sharing. Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner previously “Installation of the most powerful technology, “Invisible Miracle!” had indicated the Commonwealth is keen to without the implementation of the most sound work with the states to reduce the duplication ELPedium™ methodology; leads to mind-boggling apoplexy!” Speech Recognition of expensive computing infrastructure assets

that could be shared to reduce the overall WordScribe®/Dataworxs and ELPedium “Auto Updating” Speech Recognition burden to taxpayers. Tanner said that while integrations installed by the soundest methods, produce incredible increases in the Government remained philosophically productivities. open about the business of infrastructure Clients for our digital voice technologies include the legal and medical professions as well as government agencies including the Victorian Government Solicitor’s sharing projects with the states, the scale Office and the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine. of reform to federal data centre purchasing meant the Commonwealth had to put its own needs first. He said ‘we want to satisfy 1 2 3 Nearing 50 years of “Supplying Choices; Delivering Solutions!” with practical advice “Supplying Choices; Delivering Solutions!” REW / RECORD PLAY ourselves that everything is in robust shape PLAY 4 5 6 SEND FOR and on track within our own backyard before SPEECH RECOGNITION AUSTRALIA PTY LTD PAUS E T YPING PRIORITY Inc with: 7 8 9

infrastructure sharing becomes a feasibility’, GRUNDIG DICTATION MACHINES PTY LTD REWIND F F FF/PL AY * 0 # 656 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne Vic 3000 Australia CANCEL PAUS E END JOB the Financial Review reported. T +61 3 9347 5555 F: +61 3 9347 7706 [email protected]

16 17

16 MARCH to 14 april 2010

Keep stimulating funds from the laws but Senator Sherry has As preparations for the May 11 budget Engineering, now indicated others, too, are likely to win C intensified, the Australian Industry Group exemptions, the Financial Review reported. social science has urged the government to resist calls and business to speed up the withdrawal of its fiscal A super month services stimulus. In addition, the Ai Group’s budget Superannuation service providers have G submission says the Government should accused the government of failing to heed S undo controversial changes to restrict access industry warnings that it is underestimating to research and development tax concessions, the technological complexity of setting up a The experts for free superannuation clearinghouse service for the Financial Review reported. business connections, small businesses and runs the risk of a cost strategic planning, Phoenix free of debts blowout. The Government initially consulted research, industry The Australian reported that thousands of small superannuation service providers, but in a businesses could be forced to put up a security surprise announcement last November it said development and deposit to the tax office under government its superannuation clearinghouse service for public policy advice. draft laws meant to target foreign taxpayers small businesses would be delivered through and shonky operators of Australian ‘phoenix’ Medicare, the Financial Review reported. The Strategic Connections companies. Giving the tax office the power to Government had committed $16.1m to the Group demand a security deposit from businesses project in the 2008-9 budget, fulfilling one will force many operators to borrow funds, of the Labor Party’s election commitments. Lawrie Groom cutting their working capital, and creating an But the private sector’s experience in additional financial burden. The Government establishing a superannuation management [email protected] estimates phoenix activity – deliberate and system showed the final cost was likely to be 0407 533 282 systematic liquidation of a company to avoid about five times the government allocation, the payment of liabilities, and the phoenix- said Craig Osborne, managing director of a MELBOURNE CANBERRA SYDNEY like rising of the business through another payroll and workforce management software company free of debts – cost the tax system supplier Sage MicrOpay. Opening the vault up to $600m a year. The new provisions in the Reserve Bank boss Glenn Stevens is a Tax Laws Amendment (Transfer of Provisions) Super sector guitar playing churchgoer and pilot whose Bill 2010 will give the tax office powers to Superannuation funds would lend out part of wife collects bank notes with his signature demand security deposits from legitimate their members’ money as bank loans to fund on them, The Australian reported. Australia’s businesses and expand coverage to all taxes, major infrastructure developments under central banker opened up about his strong including superannuation guarantees and GST controversial proposals being worked on by Christian faith and said that the global payments. The size of the security deposit, in National Australia Bank and super industry financial crisis was the result of human greed the form of cash, a bond, a mortgage over heavyweight Industry Funds Management. and fear. Nearby, the Reserve Bank raised the property or a guarantee – or any other means NAB is in talks with about 25 super funds and interest rate .25 per cent to 4.25 per cent. deemed reasonably appropriate by the tax their fund managers about how to structure Many economists are predicting a few more office – has not been specified. the loans to make them suitable for the super rate rises this year, the Herald Sun reported. sector, the Financial Review reported. Dawks happy Top heavy Former Treasurer John Dawkins has backed More super, and less The Financial Review reported that Future Fund the Government’s move to impose more The latest report on the superannuation chairman David Murray has raised concerns detailed conditions on recent approvals industry, commissioned by the Industry Super about the risks to the national economy of of Chinese investment, saying they had Network – the umbrella group for non-profit Australia’s top-heavy banking system, which super funds – and conducted by actuaries at improved the business climate, the Financial has become even more concentrated as a Rice Warner, finds the commissions on super Review reported. result of the bank guarantee that ended at funds could ultimately slice half a per cent the close of March. ‘Ideally, there should be Prices and profits from the nation’s economic output by 2024 a large number of smaller banks who are still In The Australian, Sarah Jane Tasker wrote and cost national savings $117b. The report sizeable enough to perform sophisticated that Australia’s competition regulator has comes ahead of a top-level government intermediation of credit through the economy,’ significantly widened the scope of its probe review into the retirement savings industry, he said. into the proposed $127b merger of BHP The Age reported. Billiton and Rio Tinto’s Pilbara iron ore assets, Have you heard the good news raising concerns the miners may manipulate Another super item The economy created a record number the supply of iron ore to increase prices and The Government inquiry into the $1.2 trillion of jobs in December and signs grew that profits. superannuation industry is facing mounting unemployment may have peaked, handing criticism from senior industry figures, who the Government good news in an election A broader range of professionals fear it will recommend introducing tough year. The total number of people in work grew Financial planners, company accountants laws that will significantly add to costs and by 35,200, three times more than economists and fund managers have lobbied Assistant increase complexity. There is speculation that had expected, the Financial Review reported. Treasurer Nick Sherry for exemptions from the chairman of the Super System Review, new laws that impose higher professional Jeremy Cooper, will recommend substantial Out of town standards and tough penalties on tax advisers. legislative changes as a means to drive down Two top executives at the Reserve Bank’s They claim the new rules catch a broader member fees and improve returns. He is note printing business are under police range of professionals than intended. The expected to propose a universal default super investigation over its dealings with foreign government had previously excluded in-house fund be made available to people who do not officials left the company on the same day tax advisers of wholly owned corporate groups make a specific choice about their retirement a report highly critical of their conduct was and auditors of self managed superannuation savings, the Financial Review reported. released, The Age reported.

18 19 LETTER FROM CANBERRA

Big dream and Howes unnecessary rules from stifling economic Honeymoon Australian Workers Union national secretary growth, amid business concerns that Commissioning of Australia’s fourth uranium Paul Howes is keen to revive Paul Keating’s Labor has yet to live up to its promises on mine begins in April. The $138m Honeymoon big superannuation dream. He told the deregulation, the Financial Review reported. project in South Australia is a joint-venture Conference of Major Superannuation Funds in between Canada’s Uranium One (51 per cent Brisbane that almost two-thirds of Australians Release the tension interest) and Japan’s Mitsui & Co (49 per cent). support increasing their superannuation The Australian’s editor-at-large, Paul Kelly, It will be the smallest of Australia’s uranium contributions to 12 per cent and that the joined a growing chorus of commentators mines behind the ERA’s Ranger mine in goal before the federal election should be a when he wrote that the Government has to Kakadu, BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam mine in stop panicking and release the long-awaited plan to lift the super guarantee to 15 per cent SA and Heahtgate’s Beverley mine in SA, The Henry tax review. And it seems that Kevin from the 9 per cent it reached in 2002, The Age reported. Nearby, the Government has Rudd will follow his advice, with the report Australian reported. cleared the way to sell Australian uranium to possibly to be made public before the May Russia – rejecting fears the nuclear material Stick to medicine budget, and the Prime Minister agreeing to could find its way into nuclear weapons. The Financial Review reported that a report leave Wayne Swan to determine the timing. by Rice Warner on behalf of superannuation A choice administrators SuperChoice, warns the Rudd spread a challenge Consumer group Choice is calling for amount of data Medicare will collect from The Financial Review’s international editor, a supermarket ombudsman to tackle employers, in its role as an electronic Tony Walker, wrote that the new head of the competition issues, monitor store behaviour clearinghouse for superannuation Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has and investigate potential abuses of market contributions, is insufficient for many funds moved to reassert a weakened department’s power. In a speech delivered at a consumer to establish records for life insurance cover policymaking role in a series of government conference in Sydney, Choice chief executive that are incorporated into superannuation moves that include the establishment of a Nick Stace urged Canberra to appoint a products. The warning is another headache US-style policy planning branch. Dennis dedicated ombudsman for the sector, which for the Government, which is trying to meet Richardson has also shaken up the higher the group believes is plagued by questionable echelons of his department by creating a an election promise to deliver practical practices, The Age reported. reforms that cut through the red tape and departmental executive of 10 or so senior higher administration costs of superannuation officers in place of the previous executive New Volvo driver Ford has sold Swedish brand Volvo to the systems to help maximise returns to structure that was restricted to a secretary Chinese car maker Geely Holding Group for contributors. and a deputy secretary. Rudd’s tendency to spread himself obsessively across the $US1.8b, The Australian reported. Would you believe it? A red-tape regulator… bureaucracy is a challenge for all department The Government will increase the powers of heads, and none more so than Richardson. its red-tape regulator – the Office of Best Practice Regulation – in a bid to prevent any “Let’s do lunch ... at Morgans at 401”

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18 19 16 MARCH to 14 april 2010

Rudd government’s refusal to allow Australian costs and compromise justice for servicemen media troops to take the fight to the Taliban was and women, the nation’s peak lawyer lobby impairing the US-led war effort, The Age body, the Law Council of Australia, has warned. Getting ahead of themselves? reported. The Herald Sun reported at the They back a permanent return to the courts The Government has outlined a second term beginning of April that 20 Australian soldiers martial system. Speculation is mounting that agenda for sweeping media industry reforms have been wounded in Afghanistan this year. Attorney-General Robert McClelland will walk that will begin with a review of ownership away from a plan to dismantle the Federal limits and local content rules, which major Losing our edge Magistrates’ Court and fold it into the federal Department of Defence chief technology companies in the sector believe should be and family courts. The plan had met with fierce officer Matt Yannopoulos said the Australian relaxed as more content moves online, the resistance from federal magistrates and the armed forces are in danger of losing their Financial Review reported. Opposition. Instead, military and legal sources technological edge over adversaries in believe the Government will retain the FMC Digital missionary Afghanistan and other operational theatres and create a new division of the Federal Court The Australian reported that stage one of because of the outdated and disjointed state and FMC to handle military justice matters. It the national conversion to digital television of Defence’s computer systems, the Financial is understood federal court judges and the is entering the home stretch in Victoria’s Review reported. Mildura-Sunraysia region, which on June 30 Opposition would welcome the move, The will become the first market in Australia to Top speed Australian reported. Five F/A-18F Super Hornets – the first of 24 cut its analog signal. On March 28, the Digital Taking its time – arrived in Australia and will tide the airforce Switchover Task Force launched its second The Defence Department has admitted it over until the fifth generation F-35 joint strike targeted local advertising campaign in the has been five years since it set out to fix the fighter comes on the scene. They are the first area to start the 100-day countdown. At the dysfunctional pay system and it will be months new Royal Australian Air Force jets since 1985 same time it began its first targeted campaign before it goes to market with a $500m tender and will be based at the Amberley airbase, in the next four TV licence areas to switch: to address the system’s failings, the Financial west of Brisbane. The $15m Super Hornet Spencer Gulf, Riverland and Mt Gambier in Review reported. The Australian reported the – which can reach speeds of up to 1900 South Australia and Broken Hill in New South army chief, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie, kilometres an hour – boasts an array of state- Wales. The taskforce’s chief executive Andy admitted he was a victim of ongoing bungles of-the-art weaponry, including Sidewinder air Townend said ‘our campaign is designed first in the payroll system and had to return to air missiles and harpoon ship missiles. The of all to make everyone aware, secondly help $20,000 because of a superannuation Super Hornets will replace the RAAF’s ageing everyone who needs help, and thirdly provide accounting error. information and advice to everyone who F-111 strike bombers, which were ordered wishes to convert’. in 1963 and will be retired this year, The Taking control Australian reported. Federal Police will take control of security at Protect us! major airports within the next three or five Australians may soon have an internet A number of jobs years to end overlaps between state and The Department of Defence wants to add ombudsman to help them remove offensive federal agencies and resolve understaffing. 100 full-time workers to its technology and and obscene material from social networking The move, which follows an independent communications team. The hiring spree websites after Kevin Rudd said he was open review of the Australian Federal Police, came comes as Defence begins work on its data to the idea, The Age reported. as the Government urged travellers to the centre consolidation program under the United States to arrive at airports an hour Counter to the US supervision of consultancy firm KPMG. earlier than normal to allow for body searches The Obama administration has questioned the According to Defence chief technology officer following a bomb scare in the US on Christmas Government’s plan to introduce an internet Matt Yannopoulos, Defence is looking mainly Day, The Age reported. filter, saying it runs contrary to the US’s foreign for project managers and business analysts. policy of encouraging an open internet to IT architects, network engineers and security What’s that bump spread economic growth and global security. specialists are also on the list, The Australian The Australian reported that airport users face Officials from the State Department raised the reported. full body scanners and increased delays under issue with their Australian counterparts as the government plans to put an extra $200m into Needs more time US mounted a diplomatic assault on internet airport security over the next four years. The ‘Junior’ Defence Minister Greg Combet lost censorship by governments worldwide, The Age reported that the body screening will not part of his extensive portfolio as he continued Australian reported. be applied to all passengers. The Government to grapple with the problems with the home has yet to decide whether they will be chosen Cash for comment? insulation scheme. Prime Minister Kevin randomly for tests or profiled as potential Neil Mitchell, of 3AW, has been asked by the Rudd’s ‘Mr Fixit’ will no longer be responsible threats. Transport Minister Anthony Albanese broadcasting watchdog to confirm he is not for Defence Personnel. He will retain Defence said the body scanners would produce stick on the payroll of the Labor Party. The query Materiel and Science. He will also keep his figures rather than naked images. The security is believed to stem from a complaint by a role as ‘junior’ Climate Change and Energy upgrade also includes a doubling of random listener to the Australian Communications Efficiency Minister, where he will continue to explosive testing at the eight main airports, and Media Authority, The Age reported. work on the insulation scheme’s problems. improved passenger screening, extra dogs, The Defence Personnel job, which includes cargo x-ray screening and the introduction recruitment, pay conditions, as well as the Defence of the multi-view x-ray machines and bottle health concerns of 57,000 military personnel, scanners, capable of detecting liquid-based Impairment will be shifted to Veterans Affairs Minister explosives. Australia’s restrictions on the deployment Alan Griffin, the Herald Sun reported. of its troops in Afghanistan have sparked a Home at last rift between military leaders in Washington Chapter 3 The remains of two Australian soldiers who Rudd government plans to transfer the military and Canberra. The Coalition’s top military disappeared while on patrol in Indonesia in justice system from the defence chain of commander in Afghanistan, US General 1966 have been found with the help of the command to a chapter III court will drive up Stanley McChrystal, has warned that the Indonesian Armed Forces, The Age reported.

20 21 LETTER FROM CANBERRA

Widely opposed Peter Garrett that public interest litigation Justice The proposal for a commonwealth charter has been hampered by laws forcing groups of rights looks to be dead, having run into to prove up front they can cover the costs Still waiting widespread opposition within the Federal of legal representation and delays caused A review of the Attorney-General’s Department Government, The Australian reported. This by injunctions to contentious environmental warned last year its legal capacity had been has triggered fears Victoria’s legal system will projects, The Age reported. substantially diminished by a decision to be left isolated, with a state-based charter commercialise and outsource government system that is at odds with mainstream Inadequacies work. The previously confidential review jurisprudence and the rest of the country. A Senate committee concluded governments was conducted by Allen Consulting senior are failing to offer access to justice to associate Roger Beale, whose criticism Racenet many in the community and has called for of the department’s inability to drive Attorney General Robert McClelland increased federal funding for legal assistance policy or strategic work has already led to has ordered the Australian Human Rights programs, opening up legal aid funding significant internal reforms. Beale’s key Commission to conduct a sweeping review of for civil disputes and recommending pay recommendations about the AGD’s legal arrangements for dealing with racist material rises for legal aid lawyers. The committee, capacity have still not been implemented, on the internet, The Age reported. chaired by Tasmanian Liberal Guy Barnett, unanimously concluded that legal aid was The Australian reported. A bit far Retailers will have to tell the government not adequately funded and said there was Hmmm cynicism the Federal Government would The Government is likely to come under every time a customer is badly hurt using one of their products – including tripping over a adequately increase funding, the Financial pressure to change copyright laws after a Review reported. court decided that Telstra’s Yellow Pages and toy or crashing a car – under Australia’s first White Pages directories were not protected national law on product safety. Car and toy Lawler on lawlessness because they were the work of computers makers are furious at the new requirement, Crime gangs are using pensioners and the rather than identifiable authors. Sensis, which is outlined in a ‘regulation impact unemployed to launder millions in dirty Telstra’s directories arm, has confirmed it statement’, The Australian reported. money through casinos, authorities believe. The Australian Crime Commission is closely is appealing against a federal court ruling, Meting it out, leaving it out handed down in February. Compamies such The Government has quietly decided to watching casinos after an 18-month probe. as Tabcorp, Foxtel, Seek, News Limited leave in place a ban preventing judges from ACC chief executive John Lawler said that and Fairfax Media are following it closely considering Aboriginal customary law when it had intelligence indicating organised crime groups were engaged in high-level as the ruling appears to give unscrupulous meting out justice, The Age reported. companies immunity to scrape data off their gaming activity in legal casinos. Its financial classifieds websites, repost it on the internet Emu Field assessment team matched information from and sell ads against it, The Age reported. Cherie Blair QC, wife of former British casino loyalty programs and other databases prime minister Tony Blair, will represent including Centrelink records, the Herald Sun Oops Aborigines seeking compensation from the reported. Maria Silva, a tourist from the Philippines, British government for illnesses allegedly spent six days in the Melbourne Custody resulting from its atomic tests in Australia. Welcome Centre after a drug detection dog reacted Five claims have already been lodged in the Federal Court Chief Justice Michael Black’s positively to the presence of drugs in three British courts by Aborigines from Emu Field, 19-year tenure in the job ended on March packets of Nestea iced tea – a common in South Australia’s northern deserts, where 28. Black became a barrister 46 years ago, grocery item in the Philippines – found in her two atomic tests were conducted in 1953, a Queen’s Counsel in 1980. His successor, Justice Patrick Keane, of Brisbane, was suitcase. Presumptive testing of one packet The Australian reported. indicated a positive result for amphetamines. formally welcomed the following day. It turned out to be what the label said it was. Another option The Australian Federal Police and Customs The Senate Scrutiny of Bills Committee is Agriculture & Water and Border Protection said the incident was preparing itself for an expanded role to regrettable and acted immediately after examine legislation for breaches of human Clandestine engagement full testing to drop the charges, The Age rights, which could present the Government Governments are engaging in a clandestine reported. with an alternative to the controversial campaign to strip property rights from recommendation made by the Human Rights landowners, according to the National Farmers Bill of rights right Consultation Committee last year to introduce Federation. The claims are contained in a In an opinion piece for the Financial Review, a bill of rights. The Scrutiny of Bills Committee submission to a Senate committee looking Phillip Lynch, director of the Human Rights examines all bills before Parliament and at the impact of climate change measures Law Resource Centre, wrote that in mid- reports to the Senate on whether that they and native vegetation laws, The Australian March the Victorian Court of Appeal struck ‘trespass unduly on personal rights and reported. the death knell of the claim that bills of liberties’, the Financial Review reported. rights result in judges rewriting the law, Moving on from tax… subverting legislative intent, or usurping the To court! In a speech on sustainable development, role of Parliament. In a landmark judgement, Urban Task Force Australia said that Treasury boss Ken Henry has railed against the court demonstrated that a bill of rights environmental extremists were the big the disgraceful management of the nation’s (such as the Victorian Charter) can provide winners from a proposal to make it easier for water resources, The Australian reported. evidence-based policy development as grassroots activists to tackle governments in He also took aim at ‘free riders’ who made well as transparency and accountability in the courts. The warnings came after Dr Allan it impossible to get an agreement on global government. Hawke, one of the Government’s key advisers, action to combat climate change. And recommended law changes to reduce he expressed alarm at the plundering of the financial threat posed to community Australia’s natural resources, saying any environment groups entering the legal system. Hawke told Environment Minister

20 21 16 MARCH to 14 april 2010 development that did not respect conservation of the calicivirus could be imported from parts Adieu was not development at all because it denied of Europe, including Holland, Spain and Italy, National’s MP Kay Hull will retire at this year’s freedoms to future generations… The Age reported. election after 12 years representing the New South Wales federal seat of Riverina. No one could accuse them of being co- ordinated COALITION DOINGS Signed but not worn The Government should adjust its $12.9b A positive out of a negative Tony Abbott has hired drama coach Marcus water policy to put more weight on economic The decision by the Opposition Senate leader West to soften his image. Meanwhile, a pair and social needs rather than science alone, Nick Minchin to quit the frontbench and retire of Speedo’s – signed but not worn by Abbott the Productivity Commission has urged from Parliament at the end of his term, to – have raised $3,400 in an online charity in a report that critiques Canberra’s poor spend more time with his family after a military auction, the Herald Sun reported. coordination, the reported. Financial Review training accident involving his son, prompted Pollie want to pedal? reported that the commission The Australian a mini reshuffle of the opposition frontbench The Pollie Pedal, a charity bike ride Tony has recommended that the commonwealth with Barnaby Joyce dropped as shadow Abbott has organised every year since 1998, drop the tender process for its $3.1b Murray- finance minister. Andrew Robb will take has raised more than $1m. He undertook it Darling Basin water buyback and instead over a renamed ‘finance and debt reduction’ over nine days in early April. While in previous buy entitlements directly through the water portfolio while Joyce becomes spokesman years Labor MPs have joined the pedal, this market. It also argued the best value for money for regional development, infrastructure and year none took part, The Australian reported. came from buying water, rather than funding water. Ian McFarlane, a former resources The Age reported that the 1,000-kilometre infrastructure upgrades. Commissioner Neil minister who was spokesman on infrastructure charity ride from Melbourne to Sydney Byron said the tender process could result and water, takes over Minchin’s resources is expected to raise about $200,000 for in the Commonwealth ‘paying a little over the portfolio, while Nationals leader Warren Truss indigenous health group the Poche Centre. odds, but not very much’. He said the tender loses regional development to Joyce, who will system interfered with the water market. continue to represent the finance portfolio Good work in the Senate. Tony Abbott said it would be Tony Abbott completed the Ironman Australia A bone to pick (and process) Triathlon on the New South Wales mid-North The Australian meat workers union has premature to bring Malcolm Turnbull onto the front bench with the emissions trading Coast. He was among 1540 competitors who formed an unlikely alliance with animal registered and had 17 hours to finish a race welfare groups to fight the live export trade, legislation – on which he crossed the floor – still before Parliament, The Age reported. that began with a dawn swim of 3.8 km, then which they say is crippling the Australian by a 180.2-kilometre bike ride and a 42.2- meat processing industry. The Australian Nearby kilometre run. Abbott addressed the media at Meat Industry Employees Union said five Tony Abbott has ordered his former finance every change of clothing. He finished in 13 abattoirs in regional Australia had shut down spokesman Barnaby Joyce to storm the nation, hours, 57 minutes, The Age reported. in the past six months due to a lack of animals, exposing rip-offs under the Government’s which were instead being sent overseas as $16b school building program. Barnaby risked Kalamata live exports, The Age reported. inflaming tensions with Liberal MPs and his Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has extended an olive branch to the gay and Got a beef leader by saying the priority for water policy must be to guarantee food production, with lesbian community, back-pedalling on recent The US and the European Union have reacted remarks in which he described the lifestyle as with concern and surprise to the Government’s the environment coming second. threatening, The Age reported. decision to delay for at least two years the C’mon Aussie importation of beef from countries exposed to The Age reported that the Nationals, fighting On the contrary mad cow disease, The Australian reported. a long-term erosion of their vote, have used Former Liberal Treasurer Peter Costello the co-creator of C’mon Aussie C’mon to criticised Tony Abbott’s parental leave They just don’t die scheme, saying its new tax impost was Scientists are considering new strains of the craft a new advertising campaign, which they launched in Victoria. The TV ads, with images contrary to the party’s principles, The Age calicivirus to combat rising rabbit numbers, reported. after warnings Australia is on the brink of a of workers, farmers, firefighters, families, rabbit plague. Brian Cooke, of the Invasive towns and rural scenes, have a catchy tune. Animals Co-operative Research Centre at the Listeners are exhorted to ‘Think local, vote University of Canberra, said up to 10 strains National’.

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22 23 LETTER FROM CANBERRA

A Labor politician and a crowbar were Nothing like marketing Australia porn’ material from newsagents, milk bars, spotted nearby Tourism Australia’s newest marketing catch convenience stores, supermarkets and petrol Joe Hockey was knocked unconscious during cry is ‘There’s nothing like Australia’. After stations, The Age reported. a rugby match against Duntroon military the debacle surrounding Lara Bingle’s cadets. He was out for about a minute after a controversial ‘So Where The Bloody Hell Are Harmony Day Sunday, March 21 was Harmony Day, which tackle but recovered quickly, the Herald Sun You?’ ads – which even Kevin Rudd called a reported. ‘rolled-gold disaster’ – the marketing people sought to express people’s support for were looking for a slogan that was simple, Australia’s cultural diversity, www.harmony. Freedom! universally understood and not colloquial or gov.au. In a speech to the Grattan Institute in polarising, the Herald Sun reported. Less than Melbourne, shadow treasurer Joe Hockey 24-hours after the launch of the campaign, launched an attack on the erosion of freedom APPOINTMENTS, JOBS AND a spoof website emerged parodying the saying that Australians should be worried concept. The Financial Review reported that about a future where it is impossible to go TENDERS the new campaign comes at a difficult time anywhere without being filmed by security for the tourism industry, which is coping with Appointments cameras. Hockey also said police powers a lack of international arrivals and aggressive Steve Munchenberg is the new chief to conduct random body searches had gone competition from competitor destinations executive of the Australian Bankers Association. too far and he opposed moves to censor the such as Hawaii and Singapore. Japanese He was former head of government affairs at internet, the reported. Herald Sun tourist arrivals dropped from 814,000 in 1997 National Australia Bank. Graeme Head, from Worth a read to an expected 350,000 this year. the New South Wales Department of Services, The fact that it has taken 27 years for the first Technology and Administration, is a new Discipline required memoirs of former Prime Minister Malcolm deputy secretary of the federal Department Former national servicemen, including retired Fraser to emerge since he retired from of Health. A former deputy secretary of the colonel George McKenzie, Victorian patron Parliament is no accident. Only two months New South Wales Department of Premier of the National Servicemen’s Association of shy of his 80th birthday, he had to be coaxed and Cabinet, he is also a former CEO of the Australia, have called for a modern version of by Melbourne University Publishing head Sydney Catchment Authority. The Department conscription to combat youth street violence, Louise Adler before he gave the project the Of Health and Ageing secretary Jane Halton The Age reported. nod. He believes the 754-page result, co- has also promoted Rosemary Huxtable as written with journalist Margaret Simons, has Every man needs one the second new deputy secretary. Huxtable worked reasonably well. As a 25-year-old, The Australian Men’s Shed Association has has been acting deputy secretary since last Fraser arrived in Canberra as the youngest been operating off $50,000 of government April, responsible for the National Health MP to enter federal parliament. funding but, having quickly snowballed into Reform Taskforce, including the Government’s the biggest men’s organisation in the country, response to the National Health and Hospital The living dead that money has been stretched beyond Reform Commission’s report. General Phillip Ruddock has become the third longest breaking point. There are 416 Men’s Sheds in Motors (Holden) has its fifth boss in three serving MP in Federal Parliament’s history, Australia with more than 35,000 members. It years, British-born, Canadian-raised Mike clocking up 36 years and five months as a has grown by 30 per cent in just eight months. Devereux, 44, an engineer, is the latest sitting member. This service is eclipsed only But because of that growth, the executive chairman and managing director. He has had by Earle Page, who held the seat of Cowper officer of the association, David Helmers, a 26-year career with GM, and will arrive for 42 years, and former prime minister Billy accepts it might all be over. On June 1, he at the Port Melbourne job after heading Hughes, who holds the record, at 51 years will walk away due to a lack of funding. The GM’s Middle East division. He has replaced and seven months, the reported. Herald Sun sheds cater primarily for retired men and Alan Batey who has gone to GM in Detroit. those unable to find work. An Australian idea, Global beverages company Foster’s Group Society they are seen as a key to providing preventive has appointed former Victoria Police chief health care to men who cannot speak about commissioner Christine Nixon to the Board Jibes their well being to others. as a non-executive director. Nixon led the The Herald Sun reported that Kevin Rudd Victorian police force for eight years before has defended Australians over jibes by US Happy birthday retiring in February 2009. Rupert Murdoch turned 79 on March 11, The entertainer Robin Williams that we are Jobs urine-drinking ‘English rednecks’. Williams Age reported. The average age of executive directors in the top 100 Australian companies The Department of Prime Minister and made the comments on popular American Cabinet seeks applications for appointment talk-show The Late Show with David is 54, said RiskMetrics Group analyst Martin Lawrence. to the full-time statutory position of Inspector- Letterman after visiting Australia. Rudd was General of Intelligence and Security www. unimpressed and alluded to America’s racist I can feel a reality TV show coming on pmc.gov.au. history in the deep south. ‘First of all, I think The Herald Sun reported transdermal drug Fair Work Australia seeks an Executive Robin Williams should go and spend a bit of specialist Phosphagenics, which has been Director Strategic Communications and time in Alabama before he frames comments testing insulin patches for companion Solutions, [email protected]. on anyone being particularly redneck,’ he animals, says in Australia about 40 per cent Australian Wool Innovation Limited seeks told Triple M radio. Readers of the Herald Sun of dogs and a third of the nation’s cats are a chief executive officer, karen.newton@ wrote to the paper suggesting Australians overweight, and thereby have an increased wool.com. learn to laugh at themselves a bit more. incidence of diabetes. The Private Health Insurance Administration Williams apologised to Rudd and offered to Next Council seeks part-time board members, take him to a strip club the next time the PM [email protected]. visits the US. More than 30 of Australia’s leading child experts are calling for an unprecedented ComSuper seeks chief executive officer, ban on the sale of adult magazines such [email protected]. as Playboy and Penthouse and other ‘soft

22 23 The Australian Emergency Management arrangements for the ownership, operations, The Department of Families, Housing, Institute seeks an Executive Director, admin@ access obligations and service of the NBN Community Services and Indigenous execintell.com.au. Company, [email protected]. Affairs’ National Disability Conference The Productivity Commission seeks full or The Department of Climate Change and Funding Program 2010-11, which offers help part-time members, www.pc.gov.au. Energy Efficiency is calling for tenders to conference organisers to improve access for three studies to support development for people with disability to attend disability Tenders of Climate Futures Reports, which will be a focused conferences within Australia is open The Department of the Environment, Water, produced every five years to assess how for applications, www.fahscia.gov.au/funding. Heritage and the Arts has announced the Australia is poised to manage climate change second in a series of three tenders to purchase impacts and track progress over time, www. water entitlements in the southern connected tenders.gov.au. system of the Murray Darling Basin and calls for applications, www.environment.gov.au/ waterpurchasing. The Government’s Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator seeks expressions of interest for workshops involving partial exemptions for emissions-intensive trade- Australian Institute of International Affairs exposed activities, www.orer.gov.au/eites/ Promoting understanding of international issues index.html. Fair Work Australia, the national workplace The AIIA provides a forum for discussion and research on subjects relations tribunal, is conducting its first annual of topical and continuing interest through meetings, conferences and review of minimum wages in modern awards seminars addressed by distinguished specialists and public figures. and the national minimum wage order and Events are held regularly at lunchtime and in the early evening. seeks interest in participating in consultations, www.fwa.gov.au. coming up: Greece Today: the Inside Story Wednesday 21 April, 2010 The Productivity Commission released a A special AIIA Victoria 12.15pm for 12.30pm – 2pm report called Developing a Partial Equilibrium lunchtime address by the RACV Club Model of an Urban Water System. And another Ambassador of Greece, Level 17, 501 Bourke St, Melbourne called Strengthening Evidence-based Policy H.E. Mr Alexios Christopoulos A light lunch and refreshments will be served. in the Australian Federation, www.pc.gov.au/ Cost: AIIA members, $50; publications/feedback. non-members, $80. If you plan to attend this function, The Senate Select Committee on the please advise us by MONDAY 19 APRIL National Broadband Network will conduct Ph: (03) 9654 7271 hearings into the progress of the National Broadband Network, including consideration BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL: www.aiia.asn.au of the exposure draft legislation establishing