Poetic justice to be served?

Finally finished an overseas stint with work, back home and back in touch with Australia once again. I was reading the Latham Diaries as I struggled to sleep somewhere over the Indian ocean early this morning. Latham serves up many damning observations about Beazley, particularly in the way he is a leader the 'machine men' can control (hence IR policy taking Australia back to the bad old days when the unions governed the nation through proxy). He also provides plenty of examples of how Beazley is not the 'all round nice bloke' that his image consultants have crafted over the years. Despite being a Liberal supporter, I could still appreciate the betrayl of Crean by Beazley as one of the true gutter moments of political power plays in the 21st century.

Wouldn't it be sweet poetic justice to see Beazley turfed out of the leadership before he gets the chance to contest his 3rd election? It would also be wonderful to see a premature run by 'Heavy Kevvie' that burns him out as a leader too early - a great thing for both the Labor party and Australia as a whole to see those two on parliamentary pensions. Latham's personal views on Rudd agree with my own and growing numbers in the electorate. He is a media tart, uninspiring leadership material that would sell his own mother to get ahead in the political game. It would not surprise me one iota to find out that his 'christian convictions' were nothing but a ruse to comment on a wide range of issues without being seen to overtly undermine his leader....

For the record I think Beazley will survive to be defeated for a third (and please God, final) time and further delay the necessary reformation that Labor must undergo to stay relevant to a decreasingly de-unionised electorate. Rudd is a good point scorer in parliament, but as a leader / manager myself, doesn't strike me as a potential leader.

Fair Pay Commission lives up to its name...

The first wage case judged by the Fair Pay Commission has seen a sizeable increase in the minimum wage for Australia. While business groups might be licking their wounds, the Coalition is celebrating what will surely be yet another valuable weapon in their arsenal to combat Labor in the Industrial Relations battlefield.

I personally believe that we should fix the minimum wage as it currently stands, and then adjust for inflation annually. The Government should then focus on programs that enable minimum wage workers to up skill and improve their earning capabilities - the minimum wage should be a stepping stone, not a plateau. Full time workers on the minimum wage with a family to support should be particularly focused upon - especially if they are the primary wage earner. A low minimum wage would allow business to create jobs easily, providing young Australians and students the unskilled casual and part time employment that suits their life style and commitment. Full time minimum wage earners should be provided with added incentive to move beyond the initial stepping stone of minimum wage unskilled labour.

What is most interesting about this development is that it further degrades the Labor and Union scare campaign about Industrial Relations. The election is still at least six months away, and if jobs continue increasing the average Australian is going to be a lot more sceptical about buying the Labor scare campaign. It is difficult to convince the electorate that this legislation is so bad when all the signs are so good. No mass sackings, no decreased wages - instead increasing wages, increasing job opportunities and few legitimate scandals. Labor may even find itself defending its scare campaign in the light of nothing but positive results from Work Choices.

Death comes calling for the Democrats...

Today Natasha Stott Despoja announced that she would not stand for re-election in the next election. With this development, it appears extrememly unlikely that the Democrats will return a single senator to the federal parliament after the next election. There will be many theories as to why the Democrat demise occured - most would stem from backing the GST and leadership battles. One I believe to be the most accurate is the fact that the Democrats have slowly but surely traveled from the centre of spectrum to the left, to the point where they resemble more closely the Greens and Labor's Left. Once their new 'identity' was assumed, it became very clear that voters prefered the Greens as an alternate Left wing voice. The rise in votes gained by the Greens mirrored a slow but steady decline in the Democrats. When policy mistakes (such as the GST) and cut throat leadership battles raged, the Democrats began to resemble some of the worst aspects of the bastards that they had pledged to keep honest.

The new political stage is an interesting one - an increasingly powerful and popular far left Green Party, and a supposed far right Family First Party. Somehow I think that both Labor and the Coalition will be much more inclined to work with Family First - and this fledgling 'pentecostal christian' party will find itself increasingly powerful in the Senate.

Fairfax's bias against Hillsong...

A short article today reminded me of a campaign by several media outlets in Australia to make Hillsong out to be some sort of cult. Alex Mitchell could bairly disguise his bias against Australia's largest church in his article in today's Sydney Morning Herald. He tried very hard to remove the christianity from the story - no where in the article did he let the reader know that Hillsong was in fact a church - and with the reference to Hillsong's church buildings as 'stadiums', you would be forgiven to come away from the article thinking Hillsong was some sort of sporting team. Many left leaning commentators have their sites trained on this church - in the past few years, I have noticed an increasing tendency to attempt to liken it to a cult or a far right dangerous fundamentalist organisation.

Heavens forbid that Australia's largest church should actually want to build churches that can cater for the several thousand christians that attend each week. $23 million might seem like a lot for a church to own in property and facilities... until you take a look at our older denominations. The catholic, anglican and uniting church organisations hold hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars worth of property and facilites throughout Australia. Hillsong, a church of some 15,000 christians, should expect to be able build churches that can accomodate and cater for its worshippers without cheap criticism from the likes of Mitchell.

Mitchell is yet another journalist that also ignores the fact that Hillsong is but one church of the Assemblies of God (AOG) - an Australian born and bred pentecostal denomination. This isn't a 'lone cult', but the largest of thousands of AOG churches that are in every corner of our nation. Pentecostal churches have more worshippers each Sunday than any other denomination bar the Catholics.

It really is another case of the left being so keen to paint pentecostal and evangelical christians in Australia as a religious right. Family First has been branded a far right political party, despite its support for refugee rights and disapproval of Howard's industrial relations reforms. The left is keen on beating up on a religious right that just does not exist. Hillsong, AOG and Family First all adhere to christian values and beliefs - a belief structure that can neither be pigeon holed in either the right, centre or left areas of politics.

North Korea joins the Nuclear Club

Confirmation today that one of the world's most dangerous rogue states has joined the nuclear club. Despite depending on world aid several times in the last decade to save its people from starvation, North Korea has found the resources to develop a nuclear capability. Unfortunately it also shows the inability of the international community to control nuclear ambitions of sovereign states. Do we really expect to succeed in Iran where we have failed in North Korea? Is it a realistic expecation that further tightening the sanctions against this rouge state won't see their new found nuclear capability on the market for other states and even non-state actors?

Today's development delivers a raft of questions - questions that have seen markets tumble in both Japan and South Korea. For the first time, a true rogue state has attained nuclear capability. North Korea is ruled by a regime that is happy to put its own interests above the lives and welfare of their own people - the road to nuclear capability was carved on the backs of millions that died of starvation and disease. These commoners paid the ultimate price for Kim Jong Il's nuclear ambitions.

We will soon see a international strategic situation where 'Pax Americana' is no more. The days are numbered where powerful nations can influence middle and small powers without fear of ramification. Middle and small powers who are nuclear capable will command a disproportionate influence, one that will encourage many other nations to also pursue this freedom of action in the form of nuclear capability.

Rudd's real reason for speaking out...

In the analysis of 'Faith in Politics' - Rudd's essay in the Monthly calling for more christian support of Labor, a few things have become clear. One of the best reviews of the essay came from the Australian's Christopher Pearson in his article 'Play for God and Country'. This quote, in particular the section in bold sums up best what worries me about Rudd:

There are other matters on which Rudd should be taken to task. I'd have thought it incumbent on his party's spokesman on foreign affairs, when deploring Australia's record on foreign aid, at least to have the grace to mention in passing that its forward funding commitment has more than doubled during the past four years. But that would be to misread Faith in Politics as a serious invitation to debate. Instead, I think it has to be seen as a vehicle for its author to assume a range of positions outside his portfolio in the arena of domestic politics, when his leader is registering a net disapproval rating of 16 percentage points and seems to be the main obstacle to a Labor victory at the next federal election.

Rudd most definitely seems to be seizing the 'Labor's Christian' mantle in order to establish himself in the media and allow leeway to comment on a wide array of issues without being seen as undermining Beazley's leadership. If I was Kim Beazley, Kevin Rudd is one man I would never turn my back to - Christian or not, he seems to be waiting in the shadows for his moment of opportunity.

Rudd's approach to 'Christian' politics

Kevin Rudd has for some time now been actively establishing himself as Labor's Christian spokesman. His essay has called for Christians to avoid becoming like the religious right in the US - seen as staunch Republicans, and therefore powerless to truly influence either party. A short quote from his essay below;

What, for example, is a Christian view on the impact of the Americanisation of our industrial relations system on family living standards and family life? What is a Christian view of global climate change, given Christian teachings on the proper stewardship of creation? And what is a Christian view of asylum seekers in the tradition of the parable of the Good Samaritan?

Rudd has raised some good points here - but unfortunately has ignored some other points that interest christian voters greatly - what is for example, the Christian view on abortion? what is a Christian view on Gay Marriage? What is a Christian view on Theraputic Cloning and Stem Cell Research? It is all well and good for a Christian politician to take a stand on social justice issues, but Christian voters expect people like Rudd to also take a stance on the issues I have just metioned, despite the political cost. Tony Abbott would no doubt be aware that his Catholic values cost him dearly, perhaps even to the point of missing a potential leadership opportunity. He still spoke up from a Christian perspective in the RU486 debate, despite the ridicule in attracted from both sides of parliament. Rudd seems ruthlessly opportunistic in his forays into the realm of Christian politics.

Rudd also has to examine his own party's approach to dealing with Christians, particularly Pentecostal Christians. Hillsong Church, the largest of the Assemblies of God churches ( An Australian born Pentecostal Denomination ) has been the target of several assaults from Labor politicians, most notibly Ian West in NSW. Penetecostal Christians are taunted as 'fundamentalists' - comparing them to extremist Muslims. Victorian Labor's Victorian Racial & Religious Tolerance Act has seen two Pentecostal pastors treated as criminals for 'daring' to criticise Islam (whilst Christianity seems to be fair game from all sides). This has forced the two pastors to fight a very costly legal battle in higher courts that is continuing to this day. Labor's close links with both the Greens and Democrats is also of a concern, given the anti-christian platforms that both parties represent. Much is to be done by the ALP to build themselves as a credible alternative to Christians, and Pentecostal Christians in particular (the fastest growing denominations in Australia, and second only to the Catholics in Church attendance).

The welfare trap...

Noel Pearson wrote an excellent op-ed piece in the Australian about the dangers of absolving those on welfare of their resonsibilities, both to their children and the community as a whole. While Pearson focuses primarily on the damage being done to Aboriginals because of the welfare trap , this is an issue that is just as much of a concern to Australians as a whole. We are lucky enough to live in a nation that provides welfare and services to the poor and disadvantaged, but as Noel points out, the method in which we currently do that may well be counter - productive.

Providing welfare that creates a situation where parents feel absolved from their parental responsibilities is something that we must correct. Welfare payments should definetly be linked to issues such as school attendance, school readiness (which Pearson describes as children being fed, clean and well rested for the school day), maintenance of the condition of government housing and other such issues.

This is most definetly not just an Aboriginal issue - a break down in a sense of responsibility also gives rise to a sense of entitlement and decrease in motivation ('why do it for yourself when you can have it done for you' mentality). Pearson continues to prove to be one of the most significant leaders in the Aboriginal community. He offers more hope and drive towards a better life for Aboriginal Australians, and offers solutions to the problems - not just criticism.

Turnbull continues to rise...

Malcolm Turnbull has chosen an excellent issue to rise through the ranks with in water. Given the serious problems around the nation with water usage, Howard created the Office of Water Resources this week and an expected new Junior Minister position that Turnbull will fill. It gives Turnbull the opportunity to gain further press coverage on a national stage - the issue of water usage will increase as the drought continues. Turnbull continues in his role as Parliamentary Secretary to Howard, and arrangement that seems to suit both men well. There has been speculation in both the Fairfax and News press that Turnbull is being used by Howard as a pawn in his chess game with Peter Costello. The longer Howard stays as Prime Minister, and Turnbull continues rising through the ranks, the more the whispers will grow of his potential as an alternate leader to Costello...

An unfortunate turn of events

Being overseas at the moment, I'd missed the fact that Lawrence Springborg had resigned at QLD Coalition and Nationals leader. This has to be one of the biggest steps backwards for conservative forces in the state in recent times. Springborg was a good leader - he was well respected and trusted throughout QLD, and was a premier in waiting - waiting for his Liberal Party counterparts to finally get it right. In Springborg, the Nationals had their last chance of another Nationals Premier of Queensland. They will never have a better chance than they did with Springborg. The status quo in Queensland will remain until the Liberal Party puts aside factional fighting and puts forwards some talented and promising politicians. A credible alternative premier will now need to be sourced from the Liberal Party - and none is forthcoming until the next election.

My prediction is that Anna Bligh will now claim succession to the role of Premier within the next term, and Beattie will retire as one of the most popular, but incompetent Premiers of all time. His legacy is not one that Anna Bligh should be looking forwards to inheriting, by any means! Unless a saviour figure emerges from the Coalition within the next term, will we see another 5 - 6 years of Labor government in Queensland.

Now if only Springborg had the will to fight it out as Opposition leader for another term....

Religion by the sword....

I have had several arguments lately with non-christian co-workers who do not believe Christians have the right to point fingers over violence and war justified by religious doctrine. The Pope's use of a medievel quote criticising spreading Islam by the sword has been the catalyst for violence and demonstrating by fundamentalist Muslims around the world. In a way, the violent rhetoric and actions by these fundamentalists strengthened the Pope's arguement that war and violence is not justified by God. Not having studied the Koran and Islamic texts enough to form a decisive opinion, I had until now been reduced to defending Christian theology. The New Testament sets a new covenant and Jesus Christ clearly outlines God's expectations of Christians - non violence is a key component.

I came across an excellent piece by Mark Durie, Creed of the sword,In the Weekend Australian. This article raises several questions that the Islamic world needs to ask itself. Muslims are taught that Mohammed is the last in the line of prophets that extend from Abraham to Jesus. Jesus is reduced to just a prophet, and not the son of God. Mohammed and the Koran is the last 'definitive guide' - much as Christians consider the New Testament as the definitive text over the Old Testament, or Torah. To me a lot of the Islamic teaching seems to be closer to Old Testament convenants, stepping away from the personal, non violent message of Jesus Christ. Read the article and see what you think...

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20460114-601,00.html

Another excellent piece on the failure of Australian Islamic leaders to address the key issues raised in the recent debate, this time by Paul Kelly....

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20460113-601,00.html

Turnbull's views on Hezbollah

"Hezbollah, like all effective terrorist organisations, embeds itself in the community, their fighters seeking to be, in Mao’s words, fish swimming in the sea of the people.
Civilian casualties are a terrorist objective. When Hezbollah fires missiles from a Lebanese village or locates its headquarters in a crowded suburb it does so in the expectation that retaliation will likely result in civilian casualties and pictures of wounded women and children on the evening news. Their calculation is that these civilian casualties will inflame global opinion against Israel and reinforce the local population’s hatred for Israel and support for Hezbollah."

Malcolm Turnbull has a well written arguement on the subject of the recent Lebanese conflict - see the full post at the url below...

http://www.malcolmturnbull.com.au/news/article.aspx?ID=521

Goward gets her ticket

After a sometimes bitter campaign to parachute into the blue ribbon Sydney seat of Epping (despite living in Yass), it appears that Pru Goward will finally get her ticket. Greg Smith (who lives in the seat), a highly credentialed candidate, was dogged throughout the campaign because he was the Right's choice - and everyone knows the NSW Liberal Right is evil (well according to Fairfax and the ABC anyway). Despite being a model candidate for preselection, his ties to David Smith doomed him to weeks of bad press and a grubby attack on his record as the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions in NSW upon winning preselection.

NSW definetly seems to be a little different to the other Eastern states at the moment - high profile candidates are fighting for pre-selection at a state level. This is a very positive sign for the future of the NSW Liberal Party, one that is not being seen in either Queensland or Victoria. Where as the majority of talent is still flowing to Federal seats in all other states, the fortunes of NSW Liberals definetly seem to be improving.

Hezbollah - the party of God ?

Hezbollah - the 'freedom fighting' organisation that so many from the left have championed and called for removal from Australia's terrorist organisation list. Hezbollah - also the same organisation that according to Forbes magazine is involved in international criminal operations to build its funds for the ultimate destruction of Israel.

"Like the Mafia of old, Hezbollah also gets its hands dirty with drug trafficking, some of it here in the U.S. The Drug Enforcement Administration busted a pseudoephedrine ring in 2002, claiming that it funneled cash to Hezbollah... Last year Rady Zaiter, a Lebanese citizen, was arrested in Colombia for allegedly heading a cocaine smuggling outfit in Ecuador that sent most of its profits to Hezbollah. The Party of God gets $10 million a year from the area where Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina meet, says a U.S. Naval War College report...

One lucky nab: Assad Barakat, a Hezbollah treasurer known for extracting protection money from Lebanese shopkeepers in South America hoping to keep their relatives back home safe from harm. Barakat was sentenced to six and a half years in a Paraguay jail." -Hezbollah's Hoard Nathan Vardi, Forbes Magazine 08.14.06

Drug trafficking, smuggling, extortion and standover tactics - oh but they are giving $15,000 to each Lebanese family whose house was destroyed by the conflict with Israel (instigated after Hezbollah attacked a border station in Israel, killed several soldiers and kidnapped two others). Just a shame that $15,000 is being funded by the $100 million (also from Forbes) the Iranian regime contributes to Hezbollah. Hezbollah has a win win situation - increased funding from extemists after instigating conflict with Israel, coming off as the good guy (rather than the parasite they are) when they give the homeless money (homes destroyed as a result of Hezbollah's actions and insistence on using houses as 'shields for military infrastructure and bases) and getting the Left to attack Israel and the US, supporting Hezbollah instead.

Just if you didn't know, Hezbollah was formed as an Iranian proxy in Lebanon in 1982. Its three aims were the eradication of Western imperialism in Lebanon, the transformation of Lebanon's multi-faith state into an Islamic state (Hezbollah has since distanced itself from this policy, which is a relief im sure to the sizeable minority of Lebanese Christians), and the complete destruction of the state of Israel. The final aim hasn't changed... it is a little hard to claim to be a legitimate resistance movement whilst maintaining a goal that is inherrently offensive (do you think Israel will just capitulate because Hezbollah defends Lebanon? Offensive action by Hezbollah against Israel is clearly required)....

I find little to justify an organisation that uses criminal activites, drug trafficking, extortion and promotes the killing of innocent Israeli civilians (women and children included) being called a party of God.

Election fallout continues...

"Queensland goes to the polls tomorrow with voters facing a clear choice. They can vote for more of a Beattie Labor government with proven failings, or a stumbling Coalition that has failed to prove anything" - Editorial, The Australian 08 Sept 2006

Rob Borbidge emerged from the land of political failures to heap praise upon the QLD Labor party, labelling it as the most effective political machine in the country. Nothing could be further from the truth - as the quote from the The Australian states, this victory had more to do with the lack of a credible alternative than brilliant performance and campaigning from Labor. The QLD Coalition went into this election with heavy media coverage of two major issues: the failure of a National - Liberal merger, and the Liberal party dumping its leader Bob Quinn days before the next election was to be called. Springborg and Flegg once again failed to demonstrate credibility and capability in the form of an alternative government. When there is no alternative, you stick with what you've got - it is as simple as that. The small changes in vote percentages could be attributed with the capitulation of the One Nation vote and redistribution of its former supporters to the other parties. Without this change, the percentages would have been almost exactly the same as the last election.

"What I think went wrong is that the Opposition parties, the Coalition parties, made themselves the issue...what has happened here is that we took the focus off the Labor Party and made ourselves the issue, and of course the people of Queensland reacted accordingly."

- QLD Senator Santo Santoro

Several papers, including the Sunday Mail, are feeding speculation that Springborg may be dumped as Nationals and Coalition leader. Bruce Flegg is only safe because leadership aspirant Michael Caltabiano was given his marching orders after an ingloriously short time in Parliament. The problem for future campaigns for the Coaliton is now the fact that they have failed to captialse on such bad performance by the Beattie Government - a lot of soul searching and reinstigating confidence in both Coalition parties is needed.

QLD 2006 - the fall out begins...

We always knew that Catalbiano had a fight on his hands with a well known former channel nine identity up against him. Chris Bombalas has sent one of the key powerbrokers in the Queensland Liberals back to the private sector, and has sured up Bruce Flegg's leadership at the same time. Beattie's crulest blow has most definetly been robbing the Liberals of one of their future hopes - unless Flegg blossoms with experience, the Liberal resurgence has been put back several years.

Gaven just showed how stupid it is to install National Party candidates as coalition choices in metropolitan seats. The Liberal party is the key to metropolitan seats in South East Queensland - I cannot see a time where the National Party will ever hold more than 20 seats in Queensland again (particularly if compulsory preferencing was introduced).

So in the wash up, has this been another spectacular Beattie victory, driven by a high performing incumbent government? In my view, this could not be further from the truth. This election campaign highlighted how bad the current Queensland Government is, and what is worse, what a poor alternative the voters have been presented in the Springborg - Flegg coalition. Voters are waiting to dump Beattie in a landslide - and given a credible alternative government, the 'baseball bats' will come out....

QLD 2006: Predictions

Much to my disgust, I have been disenfranchised for the 2006 QLD State Election - ahhh the price of being on Operations! The cut off for postal votes was Tuesday - right about the time I was happily handing excess water bottles out to Iraqi kids in a nice little rural desert town, Busayyah (See my Iraqi Letters link for that side of my life).

I've had little time to analyse the campaigns for both sides, but here goes. Labor will be returned - it might drop a seat or two, but it will be returned comfortably. The protest vote against some of the worst Governance Queensland has ever seen will be almost completely cancelled out by a protest vote against one of the most ordinary Coalitions Queensland has ever seen. Bruce Flegg has sustained some deep wounds throughout the campaign - his inexperience has been used by media and Labor alike. I am understanding now my Michael Caltabiano was so ready to seemingly leave his leadership aspirations alone and support Bruce Flegg as the new Liberal leader - the timing was not at all right.

It is my opinion that the next Coalition government of QLD will have to be one of a Liberal majority. The Coalition will stay in opposition as long as the Nationals maintain the balance of power, simply because this will mean that the vast majority of metropolitan seats will be in Labor's hands.

I'll be keenly crunching the numbers and fall out after the Labor victory tomorrow....

Increases to the Army: Movement in the right direction

So 3 RAR is now moving to Townsville, giving a 3rd infantry battalion to the city! This will increase employment and deliver flow on effects to the local economy, a welcome plus for North Queensland. 8/9 RAR will be re-raised in Brisbane, allowing 7 Brigade to become more than the toothless tiger it has become. 5/7 RAR will be split, with 7 RAR remaining in Darwin, and 5 RAR moving to Adelaide - again increasing employment and delivering flow on effects to the SA economy (much needed given its manufacturing sector woes).

This decision allows the ADF, and the Army in particular, to contribute to the many international security situations that arise, as well as having the ability to respond at short notice to situations in our own region. For too long the Army has been held back due to the percieved need to keep something in reserve for the region. Timor and the Solomon Islands type conflicts require a short term Army presence before a handover to the Australian Federal Police. The Army should not be kept in 'the garage' for low level conflict such as this. As the defence minister said, Australia is a country that likes to play its part in the world - not sit back in our own backyard and shirk responsibility. Australia is affected by international events far from our shores, so we should be prepared to contribute to international security - it is after all, in our best interests.

The Army will be able to maintain the current tempo ( even at its highest, with Iraq, Timor and Afghanistan occuring at once ) easily with this increase to manning. Our Army is becoming combat experienced, and all the more better for it. Australia is playing its part in international security and should continue to do so. I cringe at the thought of returning to a 'defence of mainland Australia' attitude that was so prevelant under the Labor governments.

Will the UN 'peacekeeping' force make a difference in Lebanon?

I'm so very dissapointed by the distance that the international community, particularly Europe, seems to be placing between themselves and the Lebanese issue. The greatest tragedy of the last few weeks of conflict will be if the international community fails to fix the issue of non-state actors within Lebanon for the second time. My feeling is that the best the UN will be able to muster is a half - assed peacekeeping force that will not disarm Hezbollah - once again they operate as a shield from behind which Hezbollah and their allies will regather and prepare for their next assault upon their sworn enemies. Only when Israel no longer exists will you see these parties pleased with the state of affairs within the Middle East.

Hezbollah has played a large sector of the Western media so scarily well that it makes me fear for the future of warfare. How does a terrorist organistation operating with the goal of inflicting maximum casualties upon Israeli civilians and actively abusing and using the Laws of Armed Conflict (Geneva and Hague conventions) come out looking like an oppressed legitimate political party in majority of the Western media? Time and time again the media has printed and screen Hezbollah propaganda of the worst kind - photo and video opportunities choreograhed by Hezbollah for the maximum effect. Damaging false stories and photos that affect public opinion, images that cannot be fixed with a retraction or trying to pass on the truth - negativity sells much better after all.

Only time will tell weather any action of significance is carried out by the UN or its peacekeeping force. Somehow I don't think the same reporters who heavily criticised Israel will be holding the Lebanese government or the UN to their responsibilites of disarming Hezbollah.

Comments from abroad...

Due to hectic work commitments the frequency of my posts may drop off a little. I'm now overseas for work, but am still monitoring Australian politics from afar. Beattie calling the election on the day I flew out will see me vote as a registered overseas voter for the first time - it will be an interesting election. QLD politics is slowly approaching a change of government - I don't think the Coalition will succeed this time around, but in 3 years it should be another story. My tip is for the balance of power within the Coalition to begin to change for the first time. The Liberals will win more seats from Labor than the Nationals will - the next time the Coalition is in power, it will be because the Liberals control Brisbane. The next Coalition leader will be a Liberal, not a National.

This week also saw Howard forced to withdraw his controversial border protection legislation. Steve Fielding did what I hoped he would, and made a decision based on Christian fundamentals that Family First lays claim to standing for. I would have feared to see the reaction if Family First had backed the new laws - this was a decision that Fielding had to make, and he gained good exposure because of the issue. Some commentators on the Left may soon realise that Australia's 'fundamentalist' christians are significantly different to the U.S. religious right that the Fairfax media seems so keen to compare them to. Family First will prove to be a lot more central than right on issues that play on Christian values.

Stem Cell research will be another issue that will dominate the headlines. As a christian, I do not have a problem with allowing stem cell research that does not use a true embryo. What I would like to see is amendments to legislation made to allow this, but at the same time blanket banning research using embryos for good. The ethical line in the sand must be drawn - I find it amazing that some sectors would jump up and down about animal testing for research purposes, but not testing on human embryos. I guess the pro-choice lobby has worked so hard to ensure embryos are not considered to be 'alive', and stem cell research is seeking to take advantage of this viewpoint. Only time will tell if proponents of the amendments can get a movement similar to RU486 occuring in parliament.