International:

The link gives a very interesting first hand perspective of the day with images. (See also responses under You Say below).

Interesting letter in today's Courier Mail:

Asian party "divisive":
"I refer to the Queensland Chinese Forum president Michael Yau's statement (Courier Mail 30th October) to the effect that now Asian people should become involved in politics and that there is the possibility of a future political party being supported by people of Asian descent. It is this type of activity that will divide Australia.

I always feared Australia will be divided on a racial basis due to political aspirants working for their own political gain. I hope no person of Asian descent would ever be so stupid as to start a political party supported by people of Asian descent - Redcliffe.

A massive great white shark is terrifying the beachgoers in Perth, Western Australia. The shark is estimated to be about 5 metres in length or about the size of a Holden Commodore motor vehicle.

In late October the shark attacked a surf-skier's surf ski off Cottesloe Beach and was seen off Mullaloo beach a few kilometres north on Sunday.

After a few weeks of holding his lip Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has once again lashed out at currency speculators calling for "fair rules for the marketplace" when he opened a meeting of leaders of the Group of 15 developing countries yesterday.

"Devaluation impoverishes as it reduces the purchasing power of the country concerned as well as the incomes of the people, rich and poor alike," he said. "It leads to inflation and economic regression. It negates many years of hard work and sacrifice.

"We face the threat of unilateral action, the denial of developing status and virtually little liberalisation in the trade in textiles, garments and commodities.

"We may also be caught in the emergence of new restraints, dubious anti-dumping actions and imbalances in services and trade."

Meanwhile the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have warned Thai Prime Minister Chevalit Yongchaiyudh to speed up financial sector reforms as worries grow that the Au$24 billion rescue package that the IMF put together won't be enough to save the Thai economy.

The Bank of Thailand has revealed that it has already used Au$5 billion since the package was provided just weeks ago to shore up the failing Thai economy.

You Say:

Subject: Comments on the Day of Reckoning

The potential rift between One Nation & Australia First needs to be fixed up ASAP. These parties and their supporters have much in common, and are generally working toward the same goals. As a member of both parties, I know this is true. (I'm not white-anting either party, I just want one or both to succeed.)

Graeme Campbell gave Pauline Hanson a lot of support in Parliament, why can't they sort this out, and jointly concentrate on the real enemies? If they don't sort this out quickly, they will both lose grassroots support.

I'd hoped that the leadership of the two best political parties could put the future of the country above personal egos. I would like to see the parties merge, but I suppose that they never will because there can only be one leader, and neither looks like backing down. How about a One Nation/Australia First coalition, or at the very least a preference swapping deal?

Please don't get carried away criticising Australia First, even if they also have their share of "bad apples". The majority of members support Pauline Hanson's views, and don't care who the leader is, as long as the country gets back on track.

It wouldn't surprise me to find out that the major parties have planted a few troublemakers in both parties to cause division and infighting. Now more than ever we need solidarity.

Gweilo

PS How about this for an election slogan:

"One Nation. Now your vote CAN make a difference"

Gweilo,

I reported the events as they happened. The healing process between One Nation and Australia First should be based on trust and I hope that Graeme Campbell can resolve the problem that he has with his "bad apples".

Editor

Subject: Comments on the Day of Reckoning

Dear Sir,

The GWB journalistic coverage, both by text and photo, of One Nation's Day of Reckoning, was another world class product.

The Nov. 2, 1997 events at Gympie and Hervey Bay as chronicled by GWB, will have worldwide significance not only for Australians, but for all of those among us who have seen our people-governed democracies turned into tyrannical oligarchies governed by and for the benefit of our elected leaders!

Congratulations, but
Keep your powder dry!

john hamilton

Subject: Where are their heads?

Dear Sir,

As a concerned Australian, I threw my hat into the ring in and got behind Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party. I am a middle aged married man with three children and a lot of responsibilities and the decision to get involved with One Nation was not taken lightly. I fully realised that I could likely suffer severe consequences because of the stance I was taking. I decided that I would not hold back and if something needed to be said then I would be prepared to say it regardless of the outcome. The future of our Australia means that much to me and against that the risks appear tolerable. The enemies that we face hide behind what would appear to be honest and decent facades and like white ants they are everywhere.

Quite simply put, if you are not for us in One Nation then you must be against us and representing some other organisation. Your own group is plainly not able to withstand the effects of One Nation on a head to head basis and therefore you must resort to subterfuge. This does not say a lot for your basic ideals and your code of decency. A very wise man said to me recently that if we couldn't have an Australia that was based on equality for all then what would be left would not be worth fighting for.

To those that would seek to destroy One Nation from within, I say to you, go back to your masters and let them know that their plans to destroy One Nation will necessitate destroying the soul of this nation. The powers that be can legislate to control how we act and what we can say, but they cannot pass legislation to control how we think. Numerous regimes have tried this throughout history and so far none have succeeded. All of your plans forget to factor in one element and that is the human element which is quite a force to be reckoned with.

If the people want One Nation then that will be decided at the ballot box and if not then so be it.

Allan Doak

Subject: Comments on the Day of Reckoning

So are we to assume you are a supporter of Hanson?

Surely you would realise that Pauline has only gained support because people believe there are gross social, economic and political problems in Australia and they have swallowed her suggestion that it is the alleged favourtism towards minority groups that has caused this?

Anthony Haneveer

Subject: From another perspective

Dear Sir,

If one party exerts, or attempts to exert their will over another party on the grounds of race then they are immediately labelled as racist & condemned accordingly.

The cases presented before the Human Rights Commission are based on one race against another and the outcomes are obviously a victory of one race over another.

This being the case, it would not be unreasonable to believe that one race (the victor) in any particular case, with the assistance of the Human Rights Commission has exerted their will over another race ( the loser) solely on the grounds of race.

This surely would qualify the victor to be correctly labelled as racist and the Human Rights Commission to be found guilty by being an accessory to the practice of racism.

Obviously the above does not represent a legal opinion, but just the thoughts of an ordinary indigenous white Australian who never achieved greater qualifications than that of a motor mechanic. Maybe motor mechanics are capable of seeing the world for what it really is.

Allan W. Doak

Subject: Comments on Australian News of the Day

Sir
Re Peter and Alan 2/11/97

It is all part of the great Aus gravy train cobbers you know government by the government for the minor academics and their ideology, making a nice cosy living, boy are we Aussies being taken for a ride, maybe we are all to blame apathy at election time

John

Subject: Comments on the rally against racism

I NOTICED AT THE END OF YOUR STORY YOU POSED THE QUESTION "WAS THIS NOT REVERSED RACISM"?IM SORRY BUT THERE IS NO SUCH THING.BY SAYING THAT YOU IMPLY ONLY WHITES ARE NORMALLY RACIST.THAT IS FAR FROM THE TRUTH AS I THINK YOU CAN SEE.RACISM IS RACISM AND THAT IS THAT.

PAULINE IS NOT RACIST,SHE HAS SCARED MINORITY GROUPS THOUGH WHO SEE US AS A SOFT TOUCH.WIMPS ARE WALKED OVER AND ITS TIME WE STOOD UP FOR OURSELVES AND GOT TOUGH.WE ARE CONTINUALLY EXPLOITED.WE ALLOW DIFFERENT CULTURES TO COME HERE AND HAVE THEIR OWN CLUBS,GROUPS ETC. WHY SHOULD THAT BE?DOES THAT NOT ENCOURAGE A FEELING OF US AND THEM?

IT MUST DO.....CATCHYA

WAYNE

Business:

A float adviser said yesterday, "We're not giving anything out but at the close on Friday there was about 1.2 million (applications). Obviously, the final number is going to eclipse that."

Sport:

• Doreimus one bet of Au$140,000 at 7-1 and another of Au$80,000 at 15-2
• Ebony Grosve one bet of Au$120,000 at 8-1
• Marble Halls one bet of Au$120,000 at 8-1
• Skybeau one bet of Au$50,000 at 20-1
• Count Chivas one bet of Au$20,000 at 50-1
• Arabian Story one bet of Au$20,000 at 25-1

Personal trivia, from the global office:

Have a good one.

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