I heartily approve of this idea.

Why should it be restricted to payments to foreign governments?

"Publish what you pay" is a principle which should be extended to all areas of public life. It mystifies me that the vaunted free enterprise system relies on price paid for goods or services as the carrier of information in the market place, yet it is seen as some kind of right - "commercial in confidence" - to conceal this information from the rest of the market. It is a favourite of governments to avoid accountability to taxpayers.

Likewise we see in the courts, settlements being made with secrecy clauses. In every free enterprise workplace I have been in, salaries paid are expected to be kept a secret between the employer and the employee. This deprives other employees (new and present) of a key indicator of the value of their own work.

cheers!

This article is delusional.

Businesses and foreign governments have a right to privacy regarding contracts. Thats the capitalist system. Thats what give competitive players the edge.

The obvious inability of the ALP to significantly embarrass the government over AWB's massive bribery of a dictator strongly suggests that the publish payments cause is boring for the public and not supported by business. The few comments on this OLO article (only 2 after 6 hours) is symptomatic of the lack of interest now in the bribery/payments issue.

If Australian companies are to compete with clever international rivals they cannot be hamstrung by yet more bureaucratic accountability.

Note that Howard is in India (on an apparently emergency visit) to sell Australian uranium. Take heed "Publish What You Pay" rapid amoral business dealings are the way of the REAL world.

OOps Planet,

Looks like you may just have missed the plot with the AWB scandal and typed a bit too soon.

The Labor parties tactic (an obvious one) was to get as many ministers as possible parroting the same line "we knew nothing" about the kickbacks so that when (see link)

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18364955-37435,00.html

this came out they may all be accused of allegedly misleading parliament. OOps!

Oh Oh .... Looks like the preverbial is about to hit the fan with this article....

The fact that the world is a corrupt place doesn't mean that we have to be corrupt as well.

As can be seen... weeze been a caught out... and guess what...

Don't walk behind the fan... it's getting yucky!

Johnny is in India selling Uranium and the AWB enquiry is creating a bomb...lol

Oppy 2

The article you quote is LIES all damned LIES, manufactured to frustrate the inherent infallibility of my timely observations.

If I were to tell you that (according to a document provided to the Cole Inquiry) Mr Anderson sold a parcel of AWB shares in October 2006 (before the Volcker report came out) - possibly on the basis of confidential AWB briefings (thus possibly constituting insider trading) would you be a bit surprised? For info see http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1585253.

Now - to predict the Government's damage control measure note:

- it seems AWB did not get to speak to the actual politicians (who must have been on other crucial business).
- AWB only spoke to staff members
- staff members are traditionally exempted/banned from talking - especially talking to to Inquiries and Commissions.
- unless staffers talk we might never know what they said to Anderson etc ie we won't know how much the pollies know.
- staff communications to Ministers on important matters are verbal, thus deniable. Written evidence carries more weight.
- Anderson has been in poor health, preoccupied, and now not a Minister. If he were to resign his MP posi this is no great victory for Labor.

and

- Howard is on crucial statesmanlike business that is involving most of his time. He is not around to face the music and he’s already said that today’s evidence is nothing new (truth be that Howard is frantically communicating with all players involved to devise a better story).

It'll con em all. That’s showbiz.

That’s my story and I’m (temporarily) sticking to it.

Planta

As a farmer, I support the "publish what you pay" style of transparency and farmers have wanted AWB to provide more transparency for years.
We need a summary of the pool costs and the pool price at the completion of that pool as it is extremely difficult for farmers to work it out, or near impossible if you have different grades etc as the final pool payment is a bulk amount.
Even though the inquiry has been going for some time, it has not centred on what farmers have paid extra over these deals. The deal was supposedly revenue neutral for AWB (eg. ramp up price to UN by 10% and pay this as "inland transport" to Iraq) but not so for farmers.
It seems obvious that farmers have paid higher costs (interests etc) but the more complicated questions are not being answered. For example, have farmers paid a 20% bonus on the entire Iraq ramp-up scheme to AWBL because the "bonus incentive scheme" was based on a calculation done after the rampup but before the payment?
AWB are not keen on giving answers but surely we have a right to know?

Come on its just another lie, do you really expect Howard to let the real truth out?
That in an effort to beat America in selling wheat to Iraq we knew bribes had to be paid?
That Australia valued trade more than honesty?
Well America always has always will, Howard is safe yet again Australia does not care about lies.
We do however care ,me too about our wheat farmers pitty however this goverment lies to harm our workers not defend them.

I was going to make some sort of point about this business, but I find it so boring that I've forgotten what I was going to say.

Planta,

You are having a bad few moments you didn't even get the Anderson link right...lol

It's http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1585253.htm

You are right that article was written just to get you - it's a right wing conspiracy...lol I already knew about the article... but thanks for redirecting me to it.

But it didn't happen you are correct... Mr Anderson said so, he didn't write it in his diary...lol Why would Mr Rudd have the nerve to question that?...lol

I wish I was a QC.... I'd know what questions to ask then....lol

See : http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,18370700%255E1702,00.html

Watching this play out is like watching Gilligan's Island all over again except this is really happening. Will they ever get off the island?

Have you read this thread there are heaps of belly laughs contained in here http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=4169

Non GM Farmer makes some interesting points also that are worthy of some answers.

plerdsus - how can you be bored... the funs just starting...lol

And I'm sticking to that also (for now)...lol

Congratulations to the AWB on selling $1.4 million worth of Aussie farmers wheat to 4 countries.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1585867.htm

It proves that even working under adverse conditions the staff at the AWB are still working hard for the farmers of Australia. Good on you guys!

Good news also that Mr Anderson's position has been vindicated also. The questions still had to be asked especially when he hadn't reported it to parliament like the rules state.

Does wheat have an effect on people's memories?

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,18378411%255E1702,00.html

Catch up with the latest info on the Cole Enquiry at the good old ABC... OUR ABC!

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1585978.htm

It's nearly a good news day....lol

And just when you thought the AWB scandal had become boring out jumps some more news showing that the Govt intelligence organisations knew more than we have been told.

I saw tonight on lateline where in a clip from a few weeks back Mr Downer actually stated otherwise.

Kevin Rudd has laid the AWM fiasco plainly at John Howard's door by calling him "a liar" based on documents our intelligence services have provided to the Cole enquiry.

John Howard's team are a special breed of people - from what they say they seem to have the skill to only read briefs and other documents that aren't going to be a political problem.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1593843.htm

If Govt officials ignore "intelligence" so easily what other "intelligence" will they ignore today and in the future? Our poor intelligence services must be shaking their heads in utter disbelief. "I know nothing Johnny" is our PM for heavens sake ... he must have known or he is asleep at the wheel!

In this unstable world "created by the selective use of intelligence" is our Government and it's Ministers and staff on top of things and at any given moment might they ignore intelligence for political ends?

If this is the case - Is this how our national security should be run? It is time for all opposition parties and all Australians to now demand that Government ministers be called before the Cole enquiry so we can get to the truth once and for all!

The inquiry also heard from former DFAT official Jane Drake-Brockman.

She said although cables from Australian diplomat Bronte Moules were opened in her name six times, they may have been opened by her personal secretary - she cannot remember.

The cables warned DFAT about allegations of illegal payments.

Ms Drake-Brockman said it was the job of DFAT's Robert Bowker to act on the cables, and he described them to her as a 'storm in a teacup'.

Ms Drake-Brockman was also questioned about a letter she sent to AWB advising that their arrangements with trucking company Alia were not in breach of UN sanctions.

She said that was the advice of DFAT's legal experts and she had no reason to doubt it.

In other evidence before the inquiry, a former federal government employee says she heard of the connection between AWB and trucking company Alia as early as the year 2000.

Former Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) employee Jill Courtney says when she read newspaper reports of the sanction-busting payments she immediately recognised the name Alia.

She says she had heard or read of Alia as a Jordanian trucking company being used by AWB.

She says she could have found out as early as April 2000, but she could not remember exactly how or when, whether it was from someone within AWB, DFAT or otherwise.

Evidence to the Cole inquiry yesterday showed Australian intelligence agencies knew in 1998 that Alia was connected to the Iraqi regime.

Meanwhile, Cole inquiry hearings have been briefly interrupted by serial pest Peter Hoare.

He entered the hearing room and declared himself as a candidate for prime minister.

Commissioner Cole swiftly adjourned proceedings while the man was escorted from the room

BORING...

Congratulations Plantagenet... gee you find the transcript of an enquiry boring... go figure...lol

As with everything the devil is in the detail... what could be going on in that enquiry?

Go read this little article and ask yourself what it could mean to our democracy?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1594202.htm

Are the things being stated by the QC's correct? Is the AWB employees QC right? What could this all mean?

Even though people like yourself can't see what this is doing to our democracy others can. Who protects a democracy more... the "Yes" men, the always vote the same way lobby or the pollies and people who ask questions and continue to question?

Do you reckon that Johnny Howard would sue Mr Rudd for calling him a liar in public? I bet he won't ... our Johnny knows that in a court where he is sworn to tell the truth (unlike in parliament it seems) the QC's would have a field day questioning his version of "the truth".

If he chose to lie there you might even see the spectacle of a PM jailed for perjury... wouldn't that be a sight?

But if our beloved little Johnny has nothing to hide, let's see him take Mr Rudd to court... let's see him challenge the term "liar" in an Aussie court.

Gee imagine calling former members and other members of the PM's staff to testify in a court. Would we uncover a nest of worms?

Little Johnny is brave enough to send our soldiers into harms way, whilst the AWB was allegedly paying kickbacks to the guy we are against, but is he brave enough to face an Aussie court?

Let's wait and see shall we? My money he would never take that risk... he knows what he knew...lol

Dear lol2

To those who are misguided enough to trust Inquiries and the ability of Labor to make a dent in the permanent Coalition Government be reminded that the Commonwealth Games is captivating the public NOT Cole.

In the end lawyers will grow rich and make careers for themselves - this is the principle aim of inquiries - in addition to delay and diversion of issues. Note that Parliament is full of lawyers - coincidence? I think not - hence the following of 17/3/06:

The lawyer for former AWB chairman Trevor Flugge says the Federal Government is using national security as an excuse to withhold relevant documents from him.

Ian Barker QC has told the oil-for-food inquiry's Commissioner, Terrence Cole, he wants to see evidence from the Office of National Assessment in full.

Only a summary of the documents was publicly released yesterday.

It showed Australian spies knew eight years ago that a trucking company called Alia was part-owned by Saddam Hussein's regime and some payments to it breached United Nations sanctions.

Mr Barker says it is unfair that council assisting the inquiry has information that is kept from him.

He says he is willing to view the evidence in a locked room, surrounded by security guards, if national security is concerned.

In another submission this morning, lawyers for four AWB employees who have appeared at the inquiry claim there has a deal made with the Government to not disclose certain documents to them.

Go Barker

Still BORING.

Planetagenet,

Congratulations for realising that the Commonwealth Games are on...lol I still have more hope in inquiries than you although I do have my doubts also. I hope that Mr Cole will prove you wrong.

As to the legal beavers in parliament I agree with you... we should ban lawyers becoming politicians as they seem to look for ways to get around the laws, or write laws that have loopholes galore for their mates. The first rule a lawyer learns is the truth is a very flexible thing!

Now what could an opportunistic politician, in power, from either side of the fence, do during this time? Stop scratching your head I'll tell you...lol

Read my post here if you haven't already:

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=4268

I even awarded Johnny a gold medal so the games enthusiasts could think on two things at the same time...lol

So everything that is happening at the moment is pointing me to the belief that we can't allow a Govt to have control of the senate...

Therefore we really only have two main options. Either strengthen the Dems or continue strengthening the Greens.

But these parties have to do much more than be Senate sitters they need to fight to get in the House of Reps where they can make a bigger difference.

I now go to their pages and at least read their media releases because the media aren't giving them coverage :

The Democrats http://www.democrats.org.au/news/

and

The Greens http://greens.org.au/mediacentre/

It's enlightening to read what the smaller parties are saying.

Dearest "lol"2

Firstly may I say that I was shocked, then a little unnerved, that your last post was almost civil...

I fear that the Cole inquiry is now entering a phase of complex, drawn out and delayed legal argument that will bore the pants off even the most excitable conspiracy theorist.

I agree with your observations on lawyers and parliamentary law making. Nope I hadn't read your "media" post on that issue - obviously great minds think alike.

On the Senate - the revolt by Coalition Senators and Barnaby are adding an unexpected degree of democracy (eg. RU486... ) which is foiling SOME of the authoritarian tendencies of Howards crowd.

I must admit I often vote Green not because I think they could effectively govern but because they're usually the best opposition party with the most searching questions. They also seem to self-destruct less than Labor or the Democrats.

There is nothing better than wildcard or minority senators with original ideas to keep a Government "honest". Well nothing except a large number of marginal seats with minor parties or independents on the point of seizing them.

plantagenet,

Sorry if I seemed uncivil in previous posts... when you had pasted some of the Cole commission and then said BORING I thought you were trying to divert my argument. There are so many people here with fixed biases here and I wasn't sure where you were taking the debate.

We are entering a very worrysome time in some ways where even Liberals like Malcolm Fraser are arguing that the Liberal Party is no longer Liberal but conservative.

Up until Howard we hadn't seen a level of conservatism like this. But Johnny has the bad habit of telling porky pies which at least some are willing to expose.

The Family First party is a typical example. He promised that his Govt would run "family impact studies" on "all" critical legislation to get their preferences. Whether one agrees with family first or not... John Howard promised a Christian based party who then handed him their preferences.

Once he had control of the Senate he no longer needed their vote and so the Telstra legislation was pushed through without the "family impact statement". This is a blatant proof of Howard not honouring his promise to even a Christian party.

So if he will break a promise to a Christian Party... what would he do to the rest.

So much of this will be forgotten unless people on OLO and other sites keep reminding people of such actions.

I don't follow any party... I don't trust politicians ... but when a party like the Lib/Nats attack Barnaby Joyce for actually doing his job and representing his State ... I think bells should be ringing everywhere.

The AWB enquiry could just be a crucial indicator, if the big parties and the media get their way, of how little we will be told in the future.

Opinionated2

No worries mate, my complete distrust of inquies/royal commissions made me dismissive about the Cole one.

4 things are working against this Inquiry, even though a substantial paper trial has been amassed.

1. the Commonwealth Games is of much more interest to the public,

2. Cyclone Larry, likewise,

3. the main "Inquisator" Kevin Rudd (last hope of the ALP) lacks charisma when on the attack (just imagine how a Hawke or Keating whould have sorted Downer out), and

4. this Inquiry has been going so long its a case of "what was the question?".

The Coalition will benefit from the public's short attention span.

The Coalition will also benefit from the enforced "willingness" of public servants (and spooks) to shoulder the blame for not highlighting AWB's bribery scheme.

As key AWB figures are receiving inflated private industry salaries for what is still a government regulated wheat MONOPOLY these gentlemen are receiving the highest level of legal representation at the Inquiry. They can afford it, but I wonder when taxpayers or wheat farmers will ultimately pay for it.

Lawyers are being paid to get AWB off the hook when blind Freddie can see that the AWB leadership are guilty. Will they lose their performance bonuses or large pensions - NOPE.

plantagenet

I hope you are wrong about Govt workers taking the blame but Johnny has a habit wriggling out of trouble.

I agree Cyclone Larry is another huge distraction taking away the importance of the AWB enquiry.

I have a lot more faith in the job that Rudd is doing than you do... so I hope I am right.

As I said earlier in my sarcastic mode (sorry)

The Labor parties tactic was to get as many ministers as possible parroting the same line "we knew nothing" about the kickbacks so that when (a more recent outing happened)

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,18558746%255E2702,00.html

they can prove the Govt is lying and that they have deliberately misled parliament.

Not that under Johnnies code of conduct that means anything. Apparently misleading parliament is acceptable now.

The more it drags out the more Aussies will switch off.... but the report could be quite damning.

I am more concerned that what the QC's are stating might be correct. If I were a Govt employee I wouldn't let anyone tell me what to say... as that could lead to charges to them personally of "obstructing the course of justice" or "perjury" if they gave false evidence.

I still have some faith in this enquiry and the ability of Rudd to keep knocking on the door.

I can't see how Howard will be able to stop Downer and Vaille being called to account at the enquiry. As you can see by this thread the "that's the way it is done" lobby have gone really quiet. Even they know that Howard and his cronies are in big trouble!

What is the punishment for misleading parliament for a Prime Minister?

Opinionated2

No worries cob. Your sarcasm was provoked by my gratitous shots at your opinions.

While the whole AWB/Cole Inquiry may look more damning for the Government I think the sheer complexity and prolongation of the matter is pushing it further from public interest, eg. http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1599396.htm is complex.

Downer is building a case that Labor is drawing things out (when, of course, the requests for information and new disclosures are being generated by the Cole Inquiry as part of its job - and not by Labor).

So this matter is on a political attack vs stonewalling level and a judicial/administrative level (largely of Cole seeking a complete set of relevant DFAT documents).

In the end Downer can criticise DFAT for not having a complete set and because of these gaps in the paper trail he can plausibly state that he wasn't sufficiently briefed to make infallible decisions. The complex and lengthy nature of the inquiry and the subtlety of such a defence would get tired acceptance (I reckon).

Thats as I see it at the moment. After the Games finish and the Cyclone crisis passes we'll see if the Press can stoke up more interest in the Inquiry.

plantagenet

You are correct the info is coming out really slowly and there are heaps of distractions that are diverting our attentions.

Articles like these are going to probably hurt the Govt. but who knows the way Aussies think sometimes.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,18583542%255E601,00.html

news.com has gone to placing a whole thread just to keep people up with the issues that this enquiry raises. People may not be commenting on it but they probably are keeping more up to date with it than we think.

The threads at http://www.news.com.au/index/0,10121,37435,00.html

Also this ABC thread is quite informative

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1599396.htm

There are so many quetions that all this raises about protecting our democracy from inproper actions by Govt (if and when they accur)that
I'd love to be a QC. But alas I am only a little citizen watching this mess unfold.

I want Australia to be able to hold it's head up in the world community as we have a wonderful country and our hard working farmers deserve better than what is coming out