Monday 21st July 1997
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The six include the games organisers, the contractors and the engineer who gave the bridge his seal of approval.
The Australian government document carelessly left on a table in Cairns which made derogatory comments about South Pacific leaders has publicly annoyed many of the 15 partners in Australia's South Pacific Forum.
On a more personal level things appear to be less tense with Nauru's President Kinza Clodumar saying yesterday, "Every country has its dossier on others... the difference is they usually don't leave the papers behind for people to pick up.
"If you saw mine (dossier), you'd be surprised! It is quite a normal thing to compile them, even though I think the men who compiled this one are quite out of touch with reality." The Australian document described Nauru as in imminent danger of financial collapse and the Cook and Solomon Islands on the brink of insolvency while a financial crisis loomed in Papua New Guinea.
Most leaders dismissed the report as being compiled by "ignorant bureaucrats".
A report slamming the Gold Coast as being "too Asian" was compiled by tourism industry market researcher Brian Sweeney. Mr Sweeney made the comments at the Queensland Tourism Awards on Friday in Cairns telling delegates that Australian travellers were now travelling less, staying for shorter periods of time and looking for a greater diversity of things to see and do.
There are reports today that controversial Aboriginal leader Patricia Thompson has been approached by a major political party (probably Labor) to challenge Pauline Hanson for the seat of Oxley.
The list of ALP candidates is now approaching the size of a rugby union team and includes: front-runner Anne Scott, Wayne Goss, Bob Hawke, Bill Hayden, Jim Soorley, a local doctor, Cr Paul Pisasale, Les Scott, etc...
Pauline Hanson jump station.
The Editor
Dear sir,
The issues that Ms Hanson raise do not cause hatred. It is uninformed comments and the violent tendencies of extremist politically-motivated protesters who gain strong support through their affiliation with the Australian Council of Trade Unions.
It has taken the Australian media weeks to turn their attention on just WHO the protesters are and WHAT they represent.
We now know that a large portion of those protesting at One Nation launches are simply using the events to get their violent message across.
Have you noticed how the Liberal and Labor party have not come to the defence of democracy in Australia in the face of comments by groups like the International Socialist Organisation whose spokesman, Ian Rintoul, said, "We don't condone individual vigilant acts against Hanson supporters, but we are for militant protests and mass action to close meetings down."
How considerate of Mr Rintoul not to 'condone violence'.
Or how about the protesters from Militant Australia whose leader Stephen Jolly has policies that include nationalising everything from BHP to the home that you own to the toilet paper that you use! Militant Australia is the Australian 'branch' of the Committee for a Workers International - based in Ireland!
Are these extremist views? It would appear that Mrs Anne Scott (ALP candidate for the seat of Oxley) does not think so even though Militant's education policy primarily involves education our children on Marxist theories. The Militant group is promoted on the Internet by the ALP's ACTU! The ACTU web page of links on the Internet lists the Militant site as a bonafide political party in Australia through one of its national organisations called Left Link. This is but one example.
I would love to know what Anne Scott's views are on Left Link as I believe that she bases her support and success in representing the ALP in Ipswich on her contacts within the ACTU. I can tell you that it would make the majority of ALP voters skin crawl if they knew what else was promoted and given credibility on the Internet through the ACTU.
It's about time the ALP stopped it's double speak when it comes to using fringe and extremist minority groups to shore up its vote even if this includes undermining the Australian way of life - our freedom of speech - the backbone of any true democracy.
Yours faithfully,
Queensland Times
Scott Balson
Karana Downs
Dear Sir
It is ironic that people who are seen as "narrow and racist" need to have police protection to avail themselves of their constitutional right to free assembly.
Tolerance and the acceptance of others, is the crux of what the One Nation protesters are standing against . The protesters disgraceful behaviour demonstrates that they are more narrow and have more hate in their hearts than those who attend One Nation meetings.
Perhaps a separate protest should stand against their attempts to stifle peoples rights and freedoms that need to exist in a democracy. If there is no change in attitude Australia will merely turn into politically correct democracy, where differing views are met with paranoia and hatred, rather than debate and exchange of ideas.
I believe in Australia everybody should have right, provided it is within the law, to believe what they want, have freedom of speech and the right of assembly, without fear of attack.
What we are sadly seeing is the beginning of the end of true democracy in Australia. If people don t wake up to themselves, Australia is going to become a dictatorship of popular (or organised) opinion.
John White
Subject: Launch of One Nation at Geelong
First - Well done! Keep up the good work!
I haven't heard any intelligent argument to your views. eg Has anyone said that Aborigines don't get more benefits, has anyone proved any one of your comments wrong???
NO They haven't, all they've done is turned to violence and name calling.
eg - "My view : F*** off you fascist Aussie scum.
My prediction : Pauline won't last the year. Her "earthly container" will be leaving us soon!
Jay McFarland"
Now is that an intelligent response??? NO
One Nation will have my vote
Tim Clifton - Geelong, Victoria
Have a good one!
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