I couldn't care less. I am unable to work out why the issue is being pursued so much by the media, even when they admit that the public couldn't care less. In fact, I personally think that what the AWB did was rather neat. Bribing someone with his own money, with not a cent being paid to any Australian person or company was pretty smart. As far as the United Nations is concerned, it has my complete contempt. The massive scandals that have surrounded the whole oil-for-food business, some of which involved the Kofi Annan's son, demonstrate how corrupt the whole organisation has become.

There is one aspect of this affair, however, that could be of benefit, and that is how we can eliminate media bias. The method is simple: legislate that all media personnel must be paid only in wheat. It would be a criminal offence for the wheat to be sold in Australia, it would have to be exported. Exposure to the real world of commerce, rather than the highly moral ivory towers in which they appear to live at present, would make them realise how nasty, brutish, corrupt and violent the real world is, and how that will never change. It's due to something called human nature.

DFAT had the duty to scrutinise the AWB contracts under the Customs Act, not just ask AWB "are these contracts OK" then rubber stamp them.

They had 30+ reasons to think something was not OK but of course big agri-business has freinds in high places.

Its the wheat farmers I feel sorry for, they have lost the Iraq market to the USA, now have to face a national v liberal political stoush, as if the drought wasn't enough.

No our Govt. did not do anything criminal, but they certainly were deliberately incompetent. Heads should roll, but of course ministerial responsibility went out the window years ago.

Yes heads should roll but wont happen until change as with one of my policys its pretty tuff.

email:swulrich@bigpond.net.au
Australian Peoples Party

It is everyones choice that makes change

what is your's

S.Carney got it right in The Age today - the Howard government is complicit with the (heavily weeded) public service and business in breaking the law, blocking investigation, and evading responsibility.

This has been common knowledge for years among many working in or closely watching government, now they're giving up the even the public pretending.. hopefully this will at least save on the useless efforts to resuscitate the rule of law (which applied to government, once upon a time).

RightThinkers given prominence across the MSM see no problem with Australia/AWB funding supposed terrorist supposed WMD builder Saddam ($290mil, far and away his largest source of pre-Invasion funds) and then invading on the fabricated threat - i thank them for proving to me that Australia is beyond lost, possibly beyond saving.

Only reason to follow the news now is to see what pre-fascist pig will Howard get T.Cole to apply lipstick to next. My office has a sweepstake going, i'm in with a chance on Compulsory Religion.

What a great revelation the author has come up with 'I also know Canberra is stacked with their doppelgangers, men and women who ruthlessly prioritise promotion, posting and patronage,

Have you worked in factories or universities or on mine sites or anywhere for that matter to find out peoples motives are not always pure. Plenty of women have slept their way to the top and plenty of blokes have crawled their way to the top. Why should DFAT be any different? Face it human nature is corrupt so why pick on Mr Howard as if Mr Beazley or Mr Brown would somehow do things differently. If you hate Howard that is fine but to imply he is worse than others shows your ignorance.

DFAT is different because they are a Government Dept. We used to have a thing called "Ministerial Responsibility" where the Minister was responsible for his Dept.

It is ONLY under Howard that the defence of "I was not told" is valid.

Why have ministers if they are not aware of what is happening in their Depts. Would a manager in any other industry have this excuse?

If you don't understand how important this is you must be brain dead.