Hi all
PALE, I'd suggest that you should have documentary evidence of any personal involvement by Mark Vaile and association with the Kuwaiti Government. BTW, Kevin Rudd was never Opposition Spokesperson for Trade, he has always been (shadow) Foreign Affairs.

Also, any assistance to the live export industry should be extended in equal terms to local meat processing - not specifically to the Muslim community. It should be a fair and equitable process and it should also address the issue of state taxes and expenses which the live export trade does not attract (such as payroll tax, untoward local/state occupational health and safety costs etc etc). The live export industry really provides very little in terms of domestic employment, especially when you remove the jobs claimed that would continue to exist without the export factor (Heilbron assessed it at 3,000 in 2000, and the number of people employed an agriculture generally and live exports in particular has declined) New ABS statistics have been posted at www.liveexportshame.com.

Just as I support what other groups do, I support the RSPCA on a case by case/merit basis. If they do their job, I have no problems saying so. I was not the person who started the "veggie" attacks.

Cheers
Nicky

Nicky
Tonight - either A Current Affair or Today tonight food imports. I will look at your link= Thanks

Well Aware of Kevin Rudd’s position at the time had ongoing contact over AWB Enquiry.
He had a duty to inform the public.
Especially given 60 minutes had only days earlier done another report on live exports and he knew there was enormous public interest on both live animal exports and the AWB Enquiry.

It was a missed opportunity. There was a lot of work and investigations carried out. Senior journalist spent some six weeks following on information given.

Kevin Rudd’s office stated they were very short staffed and only had one person covering the whole of the AWB Enquiry.


The Gold coast Bulletin stories the link below and of course sent the information to other animal groups and senators major newspapers etc.

It was not long after this you must remember that Kevin Rudd came out publicly saying he would not be banning live exports- He understood the Industry (unquote)

http://www.livexports.com/cowgun.html

AWB ENQUIRY COWS WITH GUNS
Wendy Lewthwaite a Director of the Halal Kind Meats was born Kempsey. ... cows, with, guns, live, exports, AWB, enquiry, cows, with, guns, animals, ...
www.livexports.com/cowgun.html - 4k - Cached - Similar pages

The person I referred to called frpm ME where he is incharge on MLA.
That is why I refered to Muslims and Halal.

Re Mark Vaile-. I only give what information I am willing to on a public forum and I am sure you will understand that. I sit back and and let people dig their own hole. It’s easier but it never failed me yet.

Re your comments on MLA. There is nothing fair about the MLA Nicky.
I am going to Give Burke a chance to look at a sensible alterative to be made policy.

The eternal optimist I suppose but hope to have support from Muslim Leaders. We can only but try.

Although we know that Landmark is involved with live exports, the media release from Wesfarmers is only specific about fertilizers and grains(?), from my reading. Were your claims disputed at the time about live animals? And it's really all too long ago to be successfully exploited now. The public didn't bother too much with the Cole enquiry - or the Keniry enquiry either, for that matter. That's how the Howard government got away with not implementing half the recommendations. It just had to be seen to be doing something. The MoUs with the various countries (apart from Egypt) only provide for unloading the animals off the ships, but the public doesn't know that - nor the fact that they are in no way binding. It's all about never having another "Cormo Express".

Rudd didn't really have a role or duty to inform the public, but whoever was Minister for Trade, if there was some mileage to be got out of it, probably did. Foreign Affairs is only peripheral to the Trade portfolio, and that's the line that Rudd would take. It was really some time afterwards that he said he supported live exports too.

As for Burke, he is obviously clueless, and will do as he's told. It's a pity that a whole lot of people probably voted Labor on the back of Kerry O'Brien's comments. Kerry will be lucky to get pre-selection at the next election, I'm told.

Nicky

Nick asked

Were your claims disputed at the time about live animals?

Pale Replies
I will answer your questions honestly in the hope you realize I`m Not taking a shot at ANYBODY.

If you mean Wes farmers NO ‘certainly not. They had failed to disclose their interests to share holders which were why we went that way. They were given a certain period of time to disclose their interests in the live trade or their share holders would have been informed by authorities
They dumped their interest and sold to AWB within three weeks.

Naturally we have correspondence.

You need not question anything we post Nicky

Nicky said
The public didn't bother too much with the Cole enquiry
Pale Relies
As was reported- The people may not have been too worried about old Saddam being paid for terrorism but it would have been a different story if live exports were “ever” linked to AWB.

That would have been like lambs to the slaughter and John Howard knew it.

Even 60 minutes didn’t know of the connection...

They were very upset that the information had not been passed on to them because we tried to do the right thing( we thought) by sending it to Animals Australia, Mark Pearson and Andrew.)

This is the problem with people refusing to work united. RSPCA has always tried to point that out. However that’s been done to death so lets not you and I go there again – ok.

Few other media outlets would touch it for obvious reasons however a very senior Journalist put out a story after spending six full weeks checking on information supplied.

It was directly after the 60 minutes report and Downer Vaile Howard and so forth were desperate to keep that information away from the public.

* Then Shadow Trade Minister Rudd had a good idea of the grip and control of the industry because although it would have been a landslide for him and although ALP was floundering desperately to expose the Howard Government he chose to do a Howard .

Nick Said
Rudd didn't really have a role or duty to inform the public, but whoever was Minister for Trade, if there was some mileage to be got out of it, probably did.
Pale replies.
No Nicky he 'was' Shadow Minister for trade at the time and floundering to get Vaile.
We had ongoing contact with his office.

He was probably tempted given 60 minutes had just ran their story but clearly for whatever reason chose not to step on 'some' toes.
"So did the others"

Nick Said
As for Burke, he is obviously clueless, and will do as he's told.

Umm, well he’s fresh and without a complete mind set. Let’s give the man a chance. Nicky Governments look for sensible alternative projects. We need to walk in their united with RSPCA Muslim Leaders AMIEU, Aboriginal Elders, Red meat and Abattoir Association, Farmers {Not all! farmers supportive Exports!)Humane Society AVA AA united.

We need to have a biz plan and feasibility study and it probably would hurt to have a few resps from Saudi Malaysia and China.

Nick Said
It's a pity that a whole lot of people probably voted Labor on the back of Kerry O'Brien's comments. Kerry will be lucky to get pre-selection at the next election, I'm told.
Pale replies
Oh well he might have a great future as a Independent or Party leader down the track.
I think I mentioned to you I received an unexpected call two weeks out of the elections from Kerry’s Advisor. We spoke several times and I haven’t made up my mind yet as to what really was behind it?
I would like to give Kevin Rudd and Tony Burke a fair go.

They understand at least its very much something we have to work united with our trading partners.

That said, whether or not Kevin Rudd has the balls to stand up the the bullying within the Industry that has huge influence over many parties support, donations votes is a different question.

If he 'does' then he will be not make 'a very good Prime Minister' but Christian Leader.

Nicky
Apology

If He does he will not only make 'a very good Prime Minister' but Christian leader.

You Can Judge A Nation by the Way it treats Its Animals

Ghandi