Tuesday 16th June 1998

This on-line paper is now archived for perpetuity in the National Library of Australia

Subscriber's password check (have your subscription number handy)
Subscribers get free access to the monthly "The Strategy" on-line from April 1998.

Recent stories exclusive to  (how to) subscribe/rs of the Australian National News of the Day now at the bottom of this page.


Current topical links (available to all readers):
[Links to the MAI]
[Queensland One Nation State Election website] [One Nation Federal Web Site]
Archive of weekly features (available to all readers):
[The Canberra Column] [Economic Rationalism]


Today's Headlines
an Aussie's viewpoint on Australia's first daily Internet newspaper.
Since October 1995

Hansonism is here to stay

The support for Pauline Hanson's One Nation party has exploded across Australia with the party now attracting 11% support - up from 4% just a month ago. In Queensland the support at the voting booth topped 25% - yet the party only secured 10 seats out of 89 because of the gerrymander aspect assisting the major parties.

As of yesterday the confirmed seats were as follows:
Party Seats
ALP 43
Coalition 31
One Nation 10
Independent 2

Undecided: Indooroopilly, Mansfield and Whitsunday

As the Federal Coalition wondered around in a daze - with the Labor party also stunned, two outspoken National Party (Coalition) MPs, De-Anne Kelly and Bob Katter (seen right) spoke out against Prime Minister John Howard saying that the party was crazy to think of introducing the "twin albatross'" of a GST and the sale of Telstra.

Howard remained unmoved saying, "You don't react by panicking. If you really want that steamroller to roll over you don't let it divert you."

Meanwhile One Nation's state director, Peter James, told me last night, "They (One Nation MP's) are now members of a party but each of them will have their own views. When we vote in blocs it will be a matter of getting consensus among individual members."

Bill Feldman agreed with James saying, "I can tell you right now that each person who's a member of One Nation is an independent and we will be basing our decisions on what's best for our electorates. There are no stringent hard party lines."

The new MPs will be gathering on June 27th at an undisclosed location... I will be there to cover the event.

Multinational representative's appeal to GWB

I was sickened by the following email which totally misses the point of what the Hanson phenomenon is all about.

Subject: Pauline Hanson Home page

Manager

Last night I saw a videotape of an interview with Pauline Hanson on CCTV1 (Central China Television No. 1 Station). She was saying how her mother had always warned her about "the yellow peril" etc. The overvoice interpreter gave her the voice of a crazy person. I am a member of the Austalian Chamber of Commerce in Beijing and I am aware of how hard Australians are working here in China to sell Australian produce, products and tourist services. The racist statements of Pauline Hanson can only harm the image of Australia abroad and damage our trading relationships. I should add that some of the most effective company representatives in China are ethnic Chinese Australians who speak the language and can adjust easily to the Chinese business culture. Your company's support for Pauline Hanson can only damage Australia's trading interests.

John Elfick

Quite simply Elfick, to me, represents one of the fat cats who carry enormous power in little committees plying their will against the wishes of the majority.

What hypocrisy! Why doesn't he challenge the Chinese over their human rights record?

See the next article:

The Elite's day of reckoning comes to pass

The email below highlights how out of touch the major party politicians are with the Australian population:

Subject: KENNET

SCOTT,

Did you see and here Mr Kennet tonight (15th June) What arrogance! He suggested the Victorians would have more sense than the Queenslanders to vote for ONE NATION. I am a Victorian domiciled in QLD. I admire the intelligence of the people in this state and did so when I lived in other states. The only silly thing you did (In my opinion) was to kick out Sir Joe. But as every local I have talked to here admires him It only leaves our out of contact (or frightened) politicians. God bless and retaliate to Mr Kennett if you can PLEASE.

KRP.

The elites and their  pack of wealthy mates have not, as yet, realised that the political landscape in Australia is forever changed. The Queensland state election has become a bright beacon of hope for common sense politics where the mainstream Australians can now be represented and fight back against the gross misuse of power that follows every step of the road in Australian politics over the last 20 years.

Quite simply the Australian population has had enough.

The feedback received on the Queensland State Election live site is a blindingly clear mirror of the mood of the Australian people.

Blindingly clear. Here one can look at feedback before, during and after the state election. There is a clear, perhaps simplistic, message (if you believe the elites wallowing in their political isolation).

This morning Kennett on Channel 9's Today show was still trying to avoid the truth referring to One Nation creating "fortress Australia" and "stemming the tide".

Kennett, "Mrs Hanson does not have the capacity to change. Therefore I have no doubt that One Nation will disappear from the political landscape."

Mick Dodson spits the dummy following One Nation's success:

Former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Dodson has called on the Prime Minister to start taking action against racism.

Mr Dodson, who now directs the Indigenous Law Centre at the University of New South Wales, says the success of the One Nation party in Queensland shows at least a quarter of that State's population support fundamentally racist policies.

He says instead of trying to appease One Nation supporters and take up One Nation policies, the country's leaders should address racially discriminatory attitudes among Australians.

"I mean these are all Labor, Liberal and National Party supporters who now support a party that has as its fundamental platform a racist view of immigrants and Aborigines," he said.

"Now that says something about the major parties that within their ranks they need to have a closer look at themselves because they have got people or former people who supported them who now support a party that has a fundamentally racist agenda."

Of course Mick Dodson is the one who is pursuing Aboriginal independence in Australia


Making the news" -
an indepth exposé of media and political collusion at the highest possible levels in Australia.


Political:

The amazing growth in One Nation support nationally, continues:
Percentage Support for major parties
Party June 12-14 May 29-31 May 15-17 May 1-3 Apr17-19M Mar 22-29 Mar 13-15 Feb 27-Mar 1 Feb 13-15 Jan 30-Feb1
Coalition 37 43 46 43 41 41 40 40 40 44
ALP 40 40 39 41 41 41 44 45 43 40
One Nation 11 7 4 4 4 4 2 3 3 4
Democrats 3 3 3 3 4 2 3 3 3 4
Greens 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 4 1
Others 7 6 6 7 8 10 9 7 7 7

I look forward to the day when Jeff Kennett is kicked out by a One Nation candidate.

email the editor

You say:

Subject: Distorted Democracy in Qld

Over the past twenty years or so (as long as my political memory), the political journalists in South Australia have always complained about Coalition victories in Qld state elections, the disgraceful gerrymander, distortion of democracy, unrepresentative farce etc. etc.

I can't really say that I was surprised, but there has been no mention of distorted democracy in last Saturday's Qld election.

One Nation won over 23% of the primary vote, but will get only 10-12 seats. A truly democratic system would have resulted in 20 - 22 seats on the basis of that vote.

Labour gets around 44 seats with only 39% of the primary vote, which is about 10 seats over-representation.

What would the media be saying if this result was reversed? No doubt that there would be calls for electoral reform!

Of course, the accepted journalistic wisdom specifies that Labor never unfairly benefits from an unrepresentative electoral system. Whenever they do, the "in depth analysis" identifies 'an intelligent strategy of targeting of the marginals'.

As good as Saturday's result was for One Nation, it should have been even better!

Gweilo

PS When is One Nation going to start employing a defamation lawyer, to address all these unfounded, ignorant and untruthful criticisms?

Subject: Your Sponsorship of 60 Minutes

I write to express my utter contempt at the way in which 60 Minutes conducts its ideologically and politically biased program.

Sadly, last night I saw an inept interview conducted with a judge who was badgered and insulted by 60 Minutes. To a learned eye, the judge was obviously a sufferer of a medical condition called PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) with 'delayed onset'.

I also felt disgust as the attempted interview by Lineham in which he sought to make his subject look like an absolute idiot - however, I was glad that he exposed the real idiot - himself!

How can such a reputable company such as yours sponsor such a program. I don't watch for the reasons quoted, but I did to see how the two interviews were conducted. 60 Minutes also conducted a deception on] their website, even before the Hanson interview! Toyota is no longer an option on my shopping list for a new car! I expect your response to inform me that you are an unwilling partner in gutter journalism and have withdrawn your sponsorship.

Sadly,
Fred Grigg

Subject: Corporate Sponsorship

The Chairman
Toyota Australia

Sir

I write to express my absolute disgust at the fact that a major programme your corporation sponsor, has in recent weeks, shown a complete lack of journalistic ethics and honesty. Not the sort of standards I would have thought you would want to associate with your products.

1. On 60 Minutes last week, there was a very inaccurate report on Pauline Hanson, which may have had the affect of limiting her success in the Queensland elections. I am sure it was no mistake that this segment went to air the week immediately prior to that election. It may have been the case that this programme, which currently has a wide audience, could have limited her success and been a factor in not winning more seats.

The report was not based on fact, but journalistic, inaccurate hyperbole, which gave a completely wrong impression of the stance of Pauline Hanson and One Nation.

On this weeks 60 Minutes, 2 segments have shown the same inaccurate and misleading reporting standards.

1. The fact that the Pauline Hanson interview conducted by Paul Lyneham was to be shown on 60 Minutes, was never advised to Pauline or One Nation, and this smacks of underhand, unethical if not dishonest journalism. It was not credit to Paul Lyneham, 60 Minutes, or your corporation.

2. The segment dealing with the activities of Benny Hinn was even worse. This man has proved to be a powerful man of God over many years. He does not claim - and could not claim - to have miracle working powers. Those powers belong to God, who uses him to show the world the mighty power of God. This segment contains blasphemous and callous suggestions about the very nature of God. Around the world, including in Japan, there are many people being used by God to heal people every day, in order that the world is aware of the fact that not only does God exist, He is the only God to be revered, respected and obeyed.

Sir, with respect, I believe that you have a responsibility on behalf of all those Christians who know about the truth of Benny Hinn - which numbers tens of thousands in Australia, and the (at least) 25% of the Australian population who not only agree with the intentions and views of Pauline Hanson but have demonstrated it categorically through the Queensland election, to seriously consider your continued relationship with such a despicable programme as 60 Minutes.

This whole thing smacks of an attempt to control the thoughts and actions of people through the dissemination of wrong and misleading information. I can't imagine any major corporation such as yours wishing to continue to associate with such standards.

Finally, the greatest danger you face is that increasingly your corporation is being tied to the reporting standards and opinions expressed in 60 Minutes, and you need to address that matter urgently.

I for one, seriously considered whether to choose Toyota after the first Pauline Hanson programme, and chose Landrover instead. I have owned Toyota previously. I am sure you will find thousands throughout this great country feel the same way - disgusted.

Yours sincerely
Graham Thomson.
Greetings.

Subject: 60 minutes programme bias

To Toyota Management:

I would like to convey my discomfort with the manner in which the 60 minutes programme is treating the current issues concerning the 'One Nation' party and in particular unethical trickery with Pauline Hanson. I well understand that 'Toyota' cannot be held responsible for the editorial content of '60 minutes' but possibly the Toyota management may also be feeling unease with this blatantly biased situation.

Irrespective of individual or collective political viewpoints the reality is that many of the supporters of 'One Nation' also drive Toyotas.

Respectfully,
Angus Mackintosh

Sixty Minutes

As a One Nation supporter outside Australia, I am concerned that Channel 9 on its 60 Minutes program on 14 June should have shown an interview featuring Pauline Hanson, after she had previously stated that she did not want to appear on their program.

This apparent duplicity on the part of Channel 9 is indicative of the manipulation of the media by powerful business and political interests hostile to Ms Hanson's policies, and the willingness of producers and editors to willingly pander to their demands.

I trust that as a major sponsor of Channel 9, that the respected Toyota company will deliver a strong public criticism to Channel 9's unethical action, and ensure that this type of misplaced action does not occur again.

K.McLeod

Sixty Minutes

I don't know if you have noticed, but they found a way to wiggle out of the mail segment of their program. It would have been embarrassing for 60 Minutes to show some of the feedback they received after the "call to arms" Once in a while, 60 Minutes need to hit the bottom to make sure the corpse is still floating.

JG

Subject: Pauline Hanson & 60 minutes.

It seems fairly obvious that "60 minutes" is an unethical "infotainment" program of the worst kind, as portrayed by the satire "Frontline" on the ABC.

It is appalling how these people have treated Pauline Hanson, and it has been obvious from the start that there is bias by the Channel 9 management against Pauline Hanson, as well as many other issues.

As a supplier of superb vehicles, it is a pity that you should sponsor such an unethical program. You should be aware that your sponsorship of the 60 minutes program is known, and that it may adversely affect your future sales

yours faithfully

Marshall Thornton

Subject: 60 Minutes programme

Sirs,

Once again I feel that I must register my protest against the '60 Minutes' programme that you sponsor on the WIN Television station. I am advised that the segment shown last night was not recorded as a segment for that programme, but it was portrayed in a fashion which indicated that this was in fact so. As Pauline Hanson has publicly stated her refusal to be interviewed for '60 Minutes', to deliberately misrepresent her position is a highly disreputable tactic.

Your continued sponsorship of '60 Minutes under these circumstances' reflects adversely upon the reputation of TOYOTA.

Perhaps the fact that some 25% of Queensland voters gave their vote in support of the ONE NATION Party has not yet registered. I, like many of those voters, am not a member of the Party however, I, and I am sure this also applies to many others, are quite disturbed to see the Media use such manipulative and patently dishonest tactics. This concern must eventually impact on the reputation (and sales) of the firm which sponsors such tactics. Please be assured that your continuation of unrestrained support for '60 Minutes' will definitely impact upon my future vehicle purchasing policy.

Alan Turton

Subject: Big Brother

Dear Scott,

Thank you for a really good, and down to earth paper I distribute it at work daily and you are making a significant impression on the political awareness of all who read it.

A like minded friend recently told me of a speech made by Sen. Nic Bolkus and hearsay has it that we should worry about the sentiments expressed. I have been searching the alp and relevant sites but have been unsuccessful to date. Perhaps you will have more luck, you may waste a little time but from what I have heard, as they say "you'll be glad you did". I will continue to look for it and if I find it will send you a copy.

Keep up the good work
Paul Wildish

Subject: Comments on Australian News of the Day

Dear sir,

Congratulations first of all. Sadly, I don't know about the Queensland media, but, if anything, the levels of disinformation being spread by the media in NSW and the ACT after the message just delivered by Queensland voters is even greater than before. I think it is really important for ON, especially those elected to the Qld parliament to be aware that they will continue to get very little, if any, positive media coverage. Quotes follow from an article by Crispin Hull, the Canberra Times' political analyst, carried on the front page of yesterday's paper under the headline - SEEDS OF DEMISE IN SUCCESS:

"Prime Minister John Howard should be quietly hoping that One Nation is seen to be an active element of the new Borbidge Government.

The more active One Nation is in the new Queensland Government, the more likely the people who voted for it will see its half-dozen MPs as just another bunch of politicians.

It will take six to 12 months. They will inevitably get caught breaking some promise, double-dealing, or one of another of them will be caught doing something stupid or immoral. That is politics. The quicker it happens the better.

Time is on Howard's side. Perhaps he'll wait and have an ordinary election when it falls next March....It is perhaps fortunate that One Nation got more than a token one or two Members, but must now play a crucial role in government forming - and, ultimately, blame taking. One Nation is no longer one unaccountable MP whose simplistic, ignorant ideas are not put to the test...the major parties federally can be pleased that One Nation, hitherto with one MP with one uncontradicted (???!!!) set of simplistic solutions, now has six or seven MPs to provide six or seven sets of inevitably contradicting simplistic solutions.

One Nation, without the discipline that comes from education and thought, will be undermined by its own success"

--------------------------------

Let no one mistake that the media will be worse than any pack of awaiting vicious vultures or ravenous wolves ever was. They will live in the hope of finding some mud to throw. The tiniest little thing will be trumpeted around the nation with the most distorted, destructive, denigrating spin that can possibly be put on it. And the ONLY way to counter and confound this is for the new members to realise they are in this tinderbox situation. They need to be perceived as independent as possible, whilst being scrupulously and immaculately principled. As well, they will need to make sure they have either done their own research and collected together the facts on anything they speak about, or, if the research has come from someone else, make sure they understand it thoroughly before they speak. Because, Crispin Hull (an analyst by the way whose output has unswervingly supported the left to extreme left) has written an article that gives a clear insight as to the tactics that can be expected from an almost completely hostile media. After all, the Queensland electorate has, to a very large degree, just invalidated THEM! So, while the additional MPs will take some of the heat off Pauline, there must be no doubt that that they will be denigrated and demonised at every opportunity, or made to look stupid, inadequate, ill informed and, where possible, dishonest. Where the media is concerned, they need to take a leaf from the X Files Mulder and - TRUST NO ONE! One small battle may have been won, but the war is just beginning.

Congratulation and best wishes to everyone involved in the campaign.

Carol

My congratulations to Pauline and the One Nation Party. They have given conservatives a well deserved kick up their backsides. They don't like it. But One Nation needs to recognise that now it has substantial parliamentary representation it has to deliver the goods. I'd suggest that it doesn't become part of Borbridge's ministry but sits on the cross benches and "keeps the bastards honest" as the Democrats purport to do but thus far have done little to do in real terms. In today's political environment it is a little difficult to do much other than prevent things getting worse. I'd suggest that One Nation should get the best economic advice so that it can deal with economic questions intelligently and effectively. Australia needs a flexible labour market and a genuinely federal system of government. State Premiers get their money a bit too easily from the Commonwealth. This has led to very burdensome taxation.

Subject: Well done

Scott I know you are very busy ,but I must congratulate you on the presentation of the page and all that it has done.

For what it is worth in the Sutherland shire there is a beaut opportunity for a representative from One Nation as no doubt you are aware of the dissent in the Liberal party concerning Stephen Mutch.

Once again well done and it was gratifying to hear the results from Queensland and also the grumbles from the "other parties" who bagged Pauline from day one, and that includes the media.

Cheers for now,

Noel Spratt.

Subject: Re: EAST TIMOR

Hey - congratulations - and yes - we voted Peter Starr. I want to help One Nation here prepare for the 2001 election. Also - now is the time to use issues such as East-TIMOR to highlight how previous Aus gov relations with Indonesia have just ignored the human rights of the poorer peoples over there. Think about it.

Rub it in, and make a point that we are not racist.

Get Pauline making points such as these, she could highlight how previous Governments just licked up to Suharto and ignored the rights of the East-timorese. i HAVE A POINT.

DANIEL COLLINS

Subject: Native Title Compensation

Could someone enlighten me as to how 100 or so aborigines received $90 million compensation for the Century Zinc Mine when the Native Title Claim has not been granted? Why are aborigines given compensation anyway. If someone stakes a mining claim on your land, you wont get any compensation.

To the best of my knowledge only one native title claim has been granted, and that was for small claim of a few hectares on the mid north coast of NSW.

My research has shown that most "urban" native title claims will not be granted because part aboriginals that do not know their tribal law are not included in the High Court's Mabo decision. The political correct crew are deliberately misleading these people and that is not right.

Alan Esson.

Subject: Weekend Australian.

Scott,

while reading the Focus section of the Weekend Australian, June 13-14, I came across a quote from John Howard as written by Dennis Shanahan in his article titled Fightback. The quote is as follows:

"I want to use examples as to how her solutions don't work. Take her offer of 2 percent loans, for instance. Your back is against the wall, you are seduced by the good part of the offer and ignore the bad part. If you are lending at 2 percent you have to find some mugs who will lend to the bank at 1 percent and I don't know many Australians who will do that, and that is plainly ridiculous."

Well I guess he would be calling a large percentage of Australians, who bank with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, mugs.

Steve Rolleston

Subject: One Nation email

After the event, it still seems that most politicians and the media have not got the message. For aprox. 30 years I have been a conservative voter, but this time I voted One Nation and will continue to do so until the major parties start listening to us, the people. But it may then be too late, One Nation may not have all the answers, yet! but give them time and seats in parliament and they will learn.

Isn't it amazing how the simple views are mocked by the self-opinionated. If the major parties took Bob Kater on as their adviser they would do well. The many people I've spoken to since the election night coverage think he was great!!!!! He would probably make a good Prime Minister. He made the well spoken, well groomed, politically correct federal member that he debated (whoever he was) look like a jackass. Apart from One Nation and in particular Pauline Hanson, Bob Kater (Killan to a lesser degree) was the only one who really spoke for the majority of voters.

Don't think for a moment that the 25% One Nation vote is all there is. Now that people can see a little more clearly the mud thrown by the media and the other parties, just watch what happens at the Federal elections.

Keep rubbishing One Nation and you'll help them romp in. When their policies are rubbished and misrepresented, my friends and I are being rubbished and misrepresented and there are a lot like us.

It would be good for Australia if politicians had to live in the real world like the rest of us.

Phil Packer

Subject: Pauline Hanson

Hi there,

We used to provide a link to your site until we realised that your service hosts the Pauline Hanson site.

This is the first time we have ever censored something on our site. We are somewhat uncomfortable about censoring but in this particular case, we feel it is necessary.

We have removed the link to your site.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

With best regards,
Sandra Davey

Subject: Re: Live coverage of Qld State Elections

Good morning One Nation

Congratulations to you all. I think it really has surprised the Howard government how popular you are.

It really irritates me the media misinterpretation of your party. They keep calling you racist, but all you want is equality in Australia. Everyone having far go. Also on 60 Minutes last night I totally agree with Pauline Hanson I wish we could be like the 50's and the 60's admittedly we can't but Pauline was right in saying the crime wasn't like we have now. I don't like branding a race who ever they are, but it is noted that everytime there is a drug bust it seems that the Asian persons are always involved and it is the so-called media that report that. Haven't they realised that they (the Asians) are ones who are causing the problem.

All I want is equality for all Australians whatever colour they are but at the moment it seems that if you have 1% aboriginal in you can write your own ticket.

Once again congratulations!!!

Toni Ellis

Subject: Congratulations! Well DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations on performing a Very Difficult Job. WELL DONE!!!!!

I don't know how Pauline has coped with the political and media lies and pressure against her - I'm glad we can get the facts for ourselves!

At last we might get some Representation in Australia and get to the bottom of how they over-ride our Constitution to go Global (with us all suffering for it).

Keep up the good work!

Thank You
Chris Fitzgerald

Subject: Re: Please think.

John Brown (is that really your name?),

Thanks for the history refresher, however factual it was it was also misguided. Let me give you a short refresher:

1) Pauline Hanson and One Nation are not Nazis, nor racist, they demonstrate that in every action, word and thought - we are not after a "racial cleansing" - we are advocating a CONSOLIDATION.

2) We aren't idiots, we aren't bigots, we aren't racists - you are insulting me by inferring it.

3) How many One Nation inspired race hate violent crimes have we committed? - NONE, we are non violent.

4) Read The UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (available in the "plain language" format from ATSIC's homepage) if you want to see a plan for racial cleansing and domination.

5) Stop taking so seriously what others (Packers ch.9 for instance) are poking in "fun" at you.

All the best on your "recovery"
Anthony Mare

Subject: Santamaria the prophet?

Scott

As far as I know the late Bob Santamaria - son of an Italian migrant - was the last Australian intellectual patriot. As late as 1997, when he was an old man in his eighties he wrote the following impassioned paper which started:

'A government which recognised its responsibility to well over one-and-a-half million unemployed Australians and refused to be dragged along by vested interests would simply say to the banks:

"Gentlemen, we have no quarrel with you. You have decided to devote the credit you control - which is made up not only of bank deposits, but of the money multiples you create using bank deposits only as a base - to finance large-scale business and speculative share purchases, as you did in 1933. What you are doing, wittingly or otherwise, is to change what were essentially deposit banks into what are essentially investment banks, whose raison d'etre is not the financing of enterprises essential to community welfare, but to support a high level of speculation. We don't agree with it since it has given us the highest interest rates in the Western world. Nevertheless we accept that you have a banking business to run which you are entitled to conduct according to your judgement in your best interests.

"But while you use the credit at your disposal to finance speculative enterprises at interest rates which you determine, nevertheless the government of Australia has a different interest. We have one-and-a-half million unemployed. Shires and municipalities cannot get funds for public works. Small business cannot expand and employ workers. Farmers cannot finance their operations, let alone develop their properties. For all of these, interest rates of between 13% and 15% are quite impossible. As a result the country is 'closing down' on us. While you are entitled to run your banking business in your own interest, you cannot simultaneously claim a monopoly of the issue of credit which also involves fixing the interest rate payable by sectors of the community you can't - or won't - finance.

"Our Reserve Bank is capable of doing what the Bank of Japan is doing.

"Hence we intend to use the Reserve Bank to issue credit both directly to infrastructure and indirectly through specialised 'parallel' banks, at a rate of interest which is measured by what we believe is right, not by what you can charge for investment and speculation in shares and property, which subjects interest rates to the rule of 'the markets.' In other words we intend to create a parallel structure to that originally intended for the Commonwealth Bank before it was 'gelded' and then sold to private interests.

"Within this framework, since it is obvious that the private banks cannot finance the rural sector or small business at interest rates which they can possibly pay, we propose to use the Reserve Bank credit to establish a National Rural Bank, and a National Industrial Bank which are not under the control of the private banks, to do so.

"The policy we propose to pursue is that of the US in 1933, and of Japan today, a program of public works which are now urgently needed in themselves apart from their capacity to offer immediate employment, a policy of low interest rates to enable small business to expand and offer employment.

"For the former, we propose to re-establish the equivalent of the wartime Allied Works Council, to authorise and carry out a massive program of public works - building roads, railways, regenerating agricultural land, developing the northern rivers - a program which will run for years, but which will employ 100,000 unemployed male breadwinners as a start. When major companies 'downsize' their workforce, when they make men and women unemployed, we have a responsibility to take up those thus rendered unemployed either in productive public works, or through the expansion of small business.

"To finance this, we do not propose to raise taxes, or to issue government bonds on which we have to pay between 8% and 10%. We propose to instruct the Reserve Bank to issue the necessary credit at 1%, the investment on each public works project to be repaid by the shire, municipal or other constructional authority concerned over twenty years.

"That was how the Commonwealth Bank financed the building of the Transcontinental Railway from 1913 to 1917, when it advanced 17 million pounds at 1% p.a., and got it back.

"That was how the Commonwealth Bank financed Australia's costs in the First World War, by lending the Australian government 325 million pounds, interest-free.

"This is how the Japanese Ministry of Finance is today regenerating its broken down banks by advancing them credit at a half of 1% [some text is missing here] its companies at 1.6% while running a massive public works program.

"It is noteworthy that until 1984, the Reserve Bank paid only 1% on government working balances and advanced money to the Federal Government at 1% (Campbell Committee Report, p. 29)

"This approach is, therefore, the very opposite of the general policy of deflation - sackings, high interest rates, the continual reduction in the size of the farming community - which has been imposed upon Australia for the last fifteen years, while its general economic situation has deteriorated alarmingly.

"The critical question which remains is how to get from here to there, since it is obvious that neither political party is thinking along these lines. Nevertheless at least one party must be brought to do so if it is to override the opposition of the powerful bureaucrats of the Treasury and the Reserve Bank.

"The fight, since it will be a fight, will be waged on three levels:
* There will be a fight at the level of intellectual argument. This must be carried on by a few, but it is being done and it will continue to be done.

* There will be a second fight with nakedly selfish financial forces. They will fight 'for keeps'.

* There will also be a fight at the political level where it is necessary to change the opinion of at least one - but preferably both - of the parties. That last fight is the one in which all can engage."

Obviously Santamaria didn't foresee the eventual influence of One Nation, but ironically he was one of the handful of Australian commentators who treated Pauline Hanson and the emerging One Nation with respect. His article ends by giving us the advice that only a still-with-it, highly intelligent, politically experienced, wise man old man can give.

R.I.P. Santamaria, Australian patriot. I am sure he would have been proud of the 13/6/98 Queensland election result: the Australian spirit lives. He concludes:

"There also needs to be an echelon of educated people across the country who understand the economic crisis and challenge facing Australia, and who at the electorate level are working to build a critical mass capable of effecting new economic policies that will preserve this country's sovereignty".

As a public dissident, I beg any such hitherto pc-intimidated, gutless but talented people to please start crawling out of the woodwork. Australia needs you. We will forgive you for your cowardice. Once.

Antonia

Subject: Pauline Hanson is misinformed

Dear ONE Nation

Having recently read your webpage I was stunned by your misconceptions and decided to set you straight. Your lack of economic understanding sadly detracts from your otherwise sound arguments. Firstly you had this point on economic decline and how Australia has fallen to compromising 1% of world trade and fallen from the second strongest economy in the world. Now you took these figures from a short period after the World War which means. European powerhouses France, England, Germany, and Austria were all down. On top of that economic activity in Asia was not at all developed. Our trade was still locked in Europe despite the growing strength of the EU. Now we move forward 35 years and we can see why our comparative numbers have slipped. In Asia Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong all have become economic powerhouses. Britain, France, and as you said the Scandinavian countries have established themselves. So Australia only polled very highly because there was little competition after the war. Currently our living standards are higher our production levels are up and when Purchasing power parities are introduced Australia is the second cheapest country to live in according to ‘real wages. Pauline we are not in economic decline possibly a recession (economics is cyclical if you are unaware) and will soon emerge with the Asia Pacific region. Also a short economics lesson is in order if you don’t already know By trading goods we have a comparitve advantage in we can create more jobs and have more goods and services.

Furthermore you spoke of the unemployment problem in Australia I strongly challenge this misconception on your behalf. Firstly unemployment worldwide has risen rapidly not because of international trade but because of economic restructuring. The removal of jobs from manufacturing industries has lad to rapid increase in the employment in the tertiary sector. However, as many people are not qualified to fill this void unemployment is on the rise. This not any fault of the government or migrants but simply economic restructuring. In the United States unemployment is 5.1% with a decline occurring this decade due to the completion of the economic restructuring process Australia is slightly behind.

Furthermore you said that migrants do not create jobs however, I think you will find that ultimately as a country, the larger we get the more of the world trade we can account for just a thought. Or if you want to get into the nitty gritty migrants have little affect on the fluctuations of the economy. Now I will try to help you understand the pros of Asian migration. a) we are cut off from the European Union hence our next best export market is Asia. b) Geographically we are centred near Asia. c) By allowing Asians to immigrate we promote good relations between us and our trading partners. These are just three of the reasons many more can be named. The cons of immigration are simple xenophobic(scared of things foreign) people say ‘I don’t like it’ and form political parties called One Nation. Immigration is a non issue we have far more important things to squabble over in this great country.

Another important issue Pauline seems to be concerned about is the issue of National Defence. Now One Nation do not want to state the blatantly obvious but we have not been threatened at all by any foreign invasion since World War II. I believe this indicates stability in the region. We have close ties with Indonesia (I must admit I am not to fond of them after the Timor incident) and former enemies Japan. Surely evidence of the first two World Wars demonstrates that the building up of national defence merely leads to distrust, poor relations, and ultimately an unstable region. The perfect example is the arms race between Britain and Germany between 1900 - 1914. Britain ultimately joined the Allies because they felt threatened by Germany’s naval superiority not because they cared about poor little Serbia. The rearmament of Australia is an aggressive action one that need not be taken. We have strong Allies in the USA and Britain we do not need to pump money into military.

Finally your theory on a Republic. Sir I can see you are a proud Australian and feel sorry that you cannot understand the national pride we will get out of becoming a independent entity. This long weekend proves why we need a republic. We are currently celebrating a certain persons birthday because she was the first born of a certain family. Is this not completely ludicrous? Would it not be better to celebrate the birthday of a President who has worked hard to achieve greatness? You will also find clauses in the constitutions in need of change. For example citizens in the Northern Territory and the ACT are not entitled to the same rights as people in normal states. How can you regard this document a document printed in 1902 as a modern up to date constitution. Then again you might want to continue being a wing of the mother country with if you don’t know left us for dead in World War II then so be it.

Finally me friend I hope you will rethink you unsubstantiated ideas. You may even see the light and recognised the stupidity of One Nation. I do enjoy a laugh at your magazine with the Aboriginal conspiracy theories and hatred for anyone who is not a redneck anglosaxon Aussie. All well I don’t fear your party seeing as Pauline thinks she has a shot at the lodge we are all sure that she is slightly deranged. You have merely caused a schism in the right wing in Queensland. The hopes of Pauline winning seats in WA, SA, NSW, VIC, and TAS where people are educated on her policies is minute.

Mathew K

IF YOU CAN REALLY UNDERSTAND THIS LETTER AND THE LACK OF BODY BEHIND THEIR POLICIES THEN DON'T HOST THEIR WEBPAGE

Personal trivia, from the global office:

Another perfect day in paradise.

Have a good one.


Recent stories exclusive to  (how to) subscribe/rs of the Australian National News of the Day:

Live coverage of Queensland State Elections - 13th June 1998
Beattie's preference lies exposed - 11th June 1998
Launch of One Nation state policies - 8th June 1998
Sixty Minutes break new barriers in unethical reporting - 6th June 1998
Ray Martin revelas his spots when challenging Pauline Hanson on A Current Affair - 4th June 1998 
The backlash to Ray Martin's unethical behaviour during his interview with Pauline Hanson.- 4th June 1998
Queensland candidates gather in Gympie - 31st May 1998
Political Correctness and "racism" exposed.- 30th May 1998
Taking on News Limited at the Australian Press Council in Sydney.- 23rd May 1998
Launch of One Nation's Queensland leadership.- 22nd May 1998
Protest over closure of National Australia Bank branch in Ipswich - 21st May 1998
Pauline Hanson meets the people of Blair
- 20th May 1998
Unethical trifecta expose Courier Mail's intellectual prostitutes - 9th May 1998



Return to Australian National News of the Day

#



Web development, design, and storage by Global Web Builders - Email: global@gwb.com.au

See GLOBE International for other world news.


anotd