Howard promised me a handover:
Costello .....

Treasurer Peter Costello says
John Howard told him 12 years ago that he would only serve one-and-a-half terms
as Liberal leader.

Mr Costello's comments confirm
former defence minister Ian McLachlan's recollection of a meeting in 1994.

Mr McLachlan says he witnessed Mr
Howard tell Mr Costello that if he won
office he would hand over the leadership after two terms.

"I have a message for the people of Australia who are
enjoying the enhanced benefits of AWAs - the leader of the opposition is after
your aspirational prosperity."

John Howard

Howard dismisses 'fluctuating'
polls …

Prime Minister John Howard has dismissed an opinion poll that shows
a surge in support for the Federal Opposition.

The Newspoll, which has been
published in today's The Australian newspaper, shows Labor has a six-point
advantage over the Coalition on a two-party preferred basis.

Labor has 53 per cent support
compared to 47 per cent for the Coalition.

From the ABC …..

Labor takes 6-point lead over Coalition: poll

A new opinion poll shows the
Federal Opposition has a six-point lead over the Coalition.

The Newspoll published in The
Australian newspaper reveals Labor has 53 per cent support compared to 47
per cent for the Coalition on a two-party preferred basis.

The survey also finds
satisfaction with John Howard's performance as Prime Minister has slumped
seven points to its lowest level in eight months - 43 per cent.

 
From letters in The Sydney
Morning Herald

Lawyers: uphold the law .....

Adele Horin, what a case you
presented against the lawyers in John Howard's cabinet ("So many
lawyers, so little responsibility", July 1).

I have a dream that the lawyers
of Australia will unite and declare their outrage at the Government's
denial of justice to David Hicks. 

From the New York Times .....

Israel Steps Up Confrontation in Gaza Strip

By GREG MYRE and IAN FISHER
Published: June 29, 2006

GAZA, June 30 — With the
detention of dozens of senior Hamas officials and its military hunkered
down, Israel appeared to delay any ground incursion into northern Gaza on
Thursday, but it continued to pound Palestinian territory with artillery
fire. 

 
Supreme Court Blocks Guantánamo
Tribunals .....

By John
O'Neil & Scott Shane

Published:
June 29, 2006

The Supreme
Court today delivered a sweeping rebuke to the Bush administration, ruling
that it exceeded its authority by creating tribunals for terror suspects
that fell short of the legal protections that Congress has traditionally
required in military courts.

As a result, the court said in a 5-to-3 ruling, the tribunals violated
both American military law and the military's obligations under the Geneva
Conventions.

Coonan rejects Murdoch's media
policy criticisms …..

Communications Minister Helen Coonan
has brushed aside Rupert Murdoch's criticism of the Federal Government's
plans for changes to media laws. 

The News Corporation chairman and
chief executive has suggested the Government should throw out its package
of changes or leave things the way they are until someone with the
political will to make more drastic change emerges.

 
Howard says IR protests threaten
resources trade ….

Prime Minister John Howard says
today's national day of protest and the Opposition's policy to abolish
workplace agreements (AWAs) jeopardises resources trade with China. 

Mr Howard and the Premier of China
today attended a ceremony in southern China, marking the start of multi-billion-dollar
Australian liquid natural gas exports.

ADF 'deeply
regrets' Iraqi shooting

The
Australian Defence Force (ADF) says it deeply regrets an incident where
Australian soldiers in Baghdad opened fire on the bodyguards of Iraq's
Trade Minister, Abdel Falah al-Sudany.

One of the
guards was killed and three others wounded when their convoy followed the
Australians' convoy from Mr Sudany's compound.

Israeli Air Strike Again Kills
Palestinian Civilian

By Ian Fisher & Steven Erlanger

Published: June 21, 2006

JERUSALEM, June 21 - A
Palestinian woman was killed today in Gaza after a pair of Israeli
missiles veered off target, one of them slamming into a house. It was the
latest in a series of botched air strikes that have killed a dozen Palestinian
civilians in the last eight days.