Dear RObert,

From my understanding this is part of the government's
attempts to provide counselling and support services to
stamp out domestic violence in the Pacific region.
For example in 2009, the government supported the Fiji
Crisis Centre which provided support for 3,700 cases
subjected to violence. The centre also supported men to
raise awareness of the impact of violence and to challenge
attitudes that condone such violence.

Australia has always been involved in the Pacific. It
has supported civil societies and governments to
promote human rights. Australian support has assisted the
governmets of Kiribati and Solomon Islands to endorse
national policies and action plans to address a variety of
issues - including those of domestic violence.

Right or wrong - this is part of what the government feels
is the right thing to do. To assist, a region, of which we're
a part.

"The next step will be to follow obarmas plan and tax the rich to pay the debts. Its coming. The minin tax was just the beginning."

Disgusting! How dare the rich be taxed or super profits. Much better to tax the poor and middle income earners. They are all bludgers anyway who should be working two jobs to make ends meet. Leave us rich people alone. Rich people are people too.

Sheesh....

Banjo
It is all part of the Aid Budget.

It is unfair and disingenuous to use middle class focussed gender politics when referring to cultures we know little about.

There seems to be an underlying assumption that it is business as usual, but we are talking about very different gender, family and class structures and one of the usual culprits - alcohol induced violence. Sure violence is a problem overall but let us not get so politically correct there cannot be an acknowledgment of differences in cultural norms. There is enough evidence of that in the Middle East between the roles of men and women and access to justice etc.

Suddenly everbody is an expert.

Currently reading James Lee Burke's

"The Tin Roof Blowdown"

A crime novel set in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and the disenfranchised people as they battle against both nature, government apathy and man's inhumanity.

A few paragraphs from the novel's protagonist, Dave Robicheaux, applies to our so-called Western civilisation anywhere:

" In Lousiana, as in the rest of the South, the issue was always power. Wealth did not buy it. Wealth came with it. Televangelist preachers and fundamentalist churches sold magic as a way of acquiring it. The measure of one's success was the degree to which he could exploit his fellow man or reward his friends or punish his enemies...

...As a police officer I was not supposed to hate. But in reality I despised those who manipulate and exploit our society, and I'm not talking about the pathetic collection of miscreants we spend most of our time and money locking up...

...I have trouble with collective guilt. But if I had to lay it at anyone's feet, I'd start with the White League, the Knights of the White Camillia, the Saturday-night ni99er-knockers, and all the people who did everything in their power to keep their fellow human beings poor and uneducated and at one another's throats so they would remain a source of cheap labor..."

Our politicians, media magnates ensure we're kept busy arguing over the pathetic lives of boat people. And the ones who feel most threatened by these refugees are always those who fear the most. They fear losing power, money, prestige. Australia is not that different to the USA.

Pelican, where do you think most of th private and coporate jobs come from.

More importantly, do you think it is wise to impose further burdon on these employers?

Just remember, for every job out there, someone has taken a risk to provide that job.

As sad as it is ibusiness is simply a numbers game. reduce the chances of retuns and you increase the risk of businesses going ,elsewhere. Why else do you think the likes of china are booming.

now as for DV in th pacific.

These are nations that have followed their customs for centuries. I dont see it as our roll to change their ways.

Furthermore, this is borrowed money because we are now broke.

Wouldnt it make better sense to reduce debt with his money?

tub'ers quote..""Just remember,..

for every job out there,
someone has taken a risk to provide that job...""

i guess that explains juliars numbers
she has been making plenty of green
public service 'jobs'..[for the boys]

a lot of boys
on the public purse tic

riskey stuff juliar
but heh...green watchdog groupies..

[pub/lick serv-ants]
provide heaps of work
for govt credit card providers..

comm cars anyone?
great pensions..and plenty of flexie time

yeah cant beat them green desk jobs
great money if you can get it

nice clean green/spin...*jobs

darn the beuro rock rats