t.u.s. To answer some of your questions,,
Investments.No. Money has and never will mean anything to me.I ran my own business for other reasons.I own my own home have all the capitilist luxuries,and am happy with my lot. I am not on the bones of my arse,but not rich either.I came into this world with nothing,like you I will leave it the same way.
Charity.Yes.To list here who I give to would be absurd,like the above you'll just have to take my word for it.
Gamble.No.I have seen what this poison can do to people, in my opinion worse than being an alcoholic,or heroin user.
Priciples.I try but am only human,I will f@%k up just like anyone.

Now back to Packer.I have not attacked this man on his character,it is the power that he had,and no doubt will continue to have to influence the political discourse of Australia.Now you may say"What's wrong with that"I would say "Nothing"however if what I read in your posts is correct with hard work and diligence we can all own a news paper and t.v. station,and we all get to put our point of view fine,but we don't.There are not enough trees to print the papers or radio frequency's on the planet,patently absurd.

To say it is weak to attack someone when they have left this mortal coil is fine,however, Australia is probably the only place left in the world you can be sued for telling the truth.(Fairfax v Tom Uren)

Now what Packer has done for Australia and its people I will let the historians decide, to say he has done more than anyone who posts here is absurd.(Do you know them all)There are people who this very evening will be wiping some poor bastards arse in a wheel chair,an ambulance driver pulling a mangled corpse out of a car wreck,a fireman rescuing some old grany out of a house fire,a copper trying to sort out some domestic in Redfurn,a soldier potentially getting his arse shot off in one of our phony wars.It is these people I salute,not some office johny who plays polo.

The question of charity and, to a greater extent, altruism, is a complicated one since it is now possible to market such things. Did Kerry Packer give to charity out of the sheer goodness of his heart? Or did he do it to improve his public reputation and with prospect of a later return? Did he do it as a humanitarian or a businessman?

Both? I guess we'll never know. To me, the purist form of charity is to give without anyone ever knowing. That way you know you've done it for sheer good. Personally I have more respect to the low-middle income earner who secretly dumps a fiver in a tin, than the millionaire who gives thousands and tells the world about it.

In the case of Packer, I guess he's the only one who will have known. Can't ask him now in any case.

Packer, good bye and good riddance.Why do i have to pay for it? Me thinks Bullimore may have made a valid point at those Senate hearings,we are not spending it wisely.

Hedgehog. You are correct. He was mean and cruel and enjoyed using others. little JH at least understood him being out of the same [padock .Years ago Packer used to put his sick skinny lame horses in my property when i had a riding school[close to the casino]We Vetted and fed them. He would ring 6 month later and ask[ hows that pony of mine?By the way the staff had to cut through our chain to do this,. He then was not happy when i regected his offer for a partnership . Tough Luck Kerry. Howard gave him the best parting gift. Somebody else to pay fopr his funeral. Kerry would like that.

To Trish bolton. Ok Trish its a start but speaking of media with balls where is yours. After speaking to several of our media giants nobody has the balls to report the link to live exports and the fact that the AWB own the live exports interest. So either you didnt know they brought it from Westfarmers in a mad scramble to keep it out of public knowledge around the Cormo or like everybody else you lack the balls to tell the story.Either way if Andrews saying nothing and your saying nothing we all must ask > Why Would That Be. Umm I wonder.?

It is really sad that Australia has produced so many left wing losers that just want a regieme of higher taxation so they can have a cushy Govt job that involves no risk.

Govts cannot run a competitive businesses;the only thing they can run is monopolies whereby they can charge at will.Remember the Labor affiliated ACTU and the debacle of Solo Service stations?When Govts try to redistribute income via taxation,they kill the work ethic and become the creators of poverty.

Where is the incentive to work really hard in Australia these days?15% of our working age population is being supported full time by the tax payer.

Don't blame the rich for your woes,but look at the weak and feeble minded Govts you elect,that pander to your weakness.

Who's fault is it?Have a look in the mirror.