I think its a waste of time and money to teach kids how to speak Asian at school

I always did disagree with the labour party trying to portray Australia as part of Asia. One of the Asian leaders to our north assessed it with more common sense when he said Australia is not Asian and will never be Asian until they have a 60% Asian population.

obviously he could see the truth because he wasnt brainwashed by the stupid political correctness that pretends that what is true isnt true so nobody will be offended.

Ruawake, an Americas-wide trade pact with Australia as an associate member would be ideal from our point of view. It would foster and formalize trade links with our traditional friends such as the United States and Canada, but also open up access to the emerging economies of Latin America, in particular Brazil, Argentina and Chile.

As opposed to Asia, Latin America is one of the few potential markets for Australian manufactured exports. Of course, the brain-dead dolts in DFAT don't get it. The longer Australia waits, the greater the risk groupings such as Mercosur will establish preferential trade ties with the EU, effectively locking Australia out of markets within its own hemisphere. As the South American markets continue to grow and require the products and expertise that Australia is capable of supplying, then regional preferences and wider trade agreements with Mercosur will form and Australia will not be able to compete.

Our government talks alot about the benefits of globalisation, but Australia's trade focus remains disturbingly narrow.

If the ALP wins the election (which looks likely) then the focus will be even narrower than before. Rudd has his sights firmly set on China. He almost seems to believe that the world begins and ends in Asia. He has apparently been heard to say privately that "we don't need to do business with the EU".
We have already lost too many opportunities to the narrow Asian focus and noone is ready to believe that China is on the brink of economic collapse (it is already recycling workers' savings to pay the workers). It is likely to be propped up by countries like Australia - in their own economic interest.
It is impossible to get letters into the media about these issues - editors take the line that "it's a good point and an important one but we dare not print that point of view".

"He has apparently been heard to say privately that "we don't need to do business with the EU"."

Do you have a link?

If those comments are legitimate, it demonstrates that Rudd's obsession with Asia is not only irrational, but a threat to our national interests.

Australia has a special historical bond with the nations of Europe and we should be looking for ways to expand upon those ties. The EU collectively constitutes the second largest economy in the world and the largest single trading bloc. In terms of GDP, the EU trumps China. As for the Australia-EU economic relationship, the EU is the largest source of foreign investment in Australia and the second major destination for Australian investments abroad. It is also a vital trade partner for Australia.

In the age of global transport and instantaneous communication, there could be nothing more narrow-minded and anachronistic than ignoring our natural affinity with Europe purely based on the tyranny of geography. Obviously we need to be on good terms with our Asian neighbours, but it is absurd to advocate that Asia should ever be the sole focus of our world-view.

John Howard has apparently been heard to say privately that "we should invade New Zealand".

Rumour? or just plain lies?

"it is absurd to advocate that Asia should ever be the sole focus of our world-view."

no one says it should be the sole focus... but whether you like it or not, it will become a lot more important. You don't seem to understand basic economics.