The Labor Party is considering a different type of consumption tax to that being flagged by the Coalition Government.

The so-called "expenditure tax" would also apply to the holy grail of inheritances according to the proposal being circulated yesterday by front bencher Lindsay Tanner.

It was revealed that former tax commissioner Trevor Boucher and former Reserve Bank chief, Bernie Fraser, will head a five-person tax task force for the Evatt Foundation, a Left-wing think tank.

In the meantime the pressure groups are out in force with National leader and Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer started pushing a15% Goods and Services Tax (GST) which will see an end to the fuel excise for farmers - costing all Australian tax payers the equivalent of 4% GST to make up the shortfall.

Howard in the meantime would not be drawn into quoting figures saying, "I am not going to talk figures. I don't want to be unhelpful but it is much too early for me to be talking precise figures or to be hypothesising".

You say:

Subject: ACT Heroin Trials

Dear Sir,

You will note that today's press carries the story that it is unlikely that the ACT Heroin Trial will go ahead. Apparently several members of the Federal Parliament have indicated that they will refuse to sign the bills allowing the importation of the heroin needed for the trial. There has also been considerable pressure from various church groups about the impending trial.

So we have a situation where a fairly well-thought-out trial that may (or may not) have had some long term impact on the future of the illicit drug situation in this country is unlikely to go ahead.

As mentioned in my last note I suspect that there were just too many entrenched vested interests around for the trial to be allowed to take place.

I think its a pity. Any trial that may have resulted in even a partial solution to the drug problems (including associated crime) in this country should be allowed to run its course,

JK

Subject: Comments on Australian News of the Day

My name is Tony Maw and for most of my life I have lived and worked in Brisbane and although temporarily living in the UK where I see all the mistakes that Australia is about to make if it doesn't shake off the influences of both America and d the UK we will end up as third world countries as the UK now is.

I compliment you on your stand and the way you are reporting what is happening in Australia and I wish Ms Hansen all the success she will achieve, I hope to return next year to what is the Best Country on Earth. I feel very strongly about the way things are in the world and I am constantly amazed at the lack of plain commonsense by so called politicians who unfortunately I deal with on a business basis.

Surely it is time for true equality not biased in favor of those who because of the color of their skin deserve more pity and financial help than those who are born white, this is not meant as a racist comment just the facts, I have no ill feeling to any other race or creed.

yours sincerely
Tony Maw

Subject: Comments on Left Link's deception

Dear GWB

As the front organisation for Pauline Hanson's One Nation party you are in a good position to comment on deception.

You know fine well that putting a link to another site implies no other connection, its laughable for yourselves and Hanson to suggest this, and I suspect the rest of the internet community is laughing at you all right now.

ACTU Webmaster
From: Paul Stephenson

Actually no Paul, you are wrong because the ACTU have selected LEFT LINK on their links page and listed it (until recently) as a "national organisation"... this implies and confirms a **direct association** between the ACTU and this left wing extremist web site.

If what you say above is true then why don't you add a link to Pauline Hanson's One Nation party?

Editor