The 25% fee increase that the Howard goverment has allowed affects every current student at the end of 2008. So those who signed up before the policy was passed on the belief that they had 10 years to complete their degree under full deferred HECS will have to sign an agreement with the government to be able to continue their degree with government assistance next year. This agreement - of which their is no choice but to sign if you want any HECS assistance - then transfers students to the 25% increase rate at the end of 2008.

So if someone signed up for a combined law/arts degree last year, they would have 10 years to complete a 5 year degree. For part-time students, this is important. this would mean they would not have had to complete their degree until end of 2013. Under the new legislation, they are now going to be hit with the 25% increase from the start of 2009.

They did not sign up to this agreement. they signed up to full deferred HECS. There is no choice

The Defeat Howard website has been placing adverts in newspapers in marginal seats around the country.

We have one more Advert to place... targettting the crucial seat of Paramatta... but our donations are exhausted.

So - we need your donation *today* (Tuesday October 5).

Please donate - or pass this message on to someone who might..
Today (Tuesday) is the day for action, not words.

Please visit http://www.defeathoward.com for information
and in particular... http://www.defeathoward.com/letteradvisingbankaccountRe.htm

Thankyou in advance..
David Manning
Volunteer
www.defeathoward.com

I've always thought Australians care very much about how our country is perceived overseas. There was a time that when a visiting foreign dignitary or celebrity would arrive at an Australian airport and be greeted by reporters' questions 'so what do you think of Australia?' In Sydney it was always 'so have you been on the Harbour yet?'. It was so funny because we were so eager to ask a question which couldn't possibly be answered properly.

One dark view of these kinds of questions was that we felt inferior and needed approval. I never thought it was that. We just loved our country and thought we had something to show the world. It was a wonderful place, we had unbridled enthusiasm and we wanted to share it. So much of this has not changed and we should be glad about that.

John Howard said this week 'I think Australia is a more self-confident country now than it was in 1996. I think it has a greater sense of belief in its own separate identity'. We certainly live in an e

Hello! Great News!!!

Parramatta is going down like a lead balloon... the beginning of of HoWARd's end! Even the bookies have labor as favourites in this crucial seat!

The goal is very close, almost at hand and we all need to work very hard to make sure we get there. So let's get busy!

Yet let's also remember: It's a marathon, not a sprint, so let's also pace ourselves!

In times like this we all really need to share the load, and all help is very very needed! If you can, help someone! If you need help, have a question, feel a bit lost, etc just ask someone!

We can all do with some inspiration right now to get us to the finish line, so I'd like to share some great quotes from a good friend:

'A warrior lives by acting, not by thinking about acting, nor by thinking about what he will think when he has finished acting

We can all read a fair bit into the huge amount of pressure and censorship obvious at the moment. It's becoming evident all around us! (and I thought I was paranoid...)

Here, in the Western Suburbs of Sydney: from Parramatta to the Blue Mountains, there has been a huge number of political forums, meet the candidates events, stunts, and even a few rallies. But you would not know about it at all because even the local papers are very very cautious.

It's the same with all media: They are treading on eggs, they do not want to upset their paymasters. By far the highest advertising has been by the coalition parties.

Now, that has been getting even worse. The fellows from the 'Rock Against Howard' gigs and CDs tried to get an official launch happening in the Parramatta Mall, right in front of the Town Hall. Well, they were given the same standard delaying answers that all the local community peace groups and small parties are used to: you need insurance (over 10 Mill!), the pape

*** Howard's End '04 Competition Winners Announced ***

After more than 600 entries and 18,000 unique page hits to the website, we are delighted to announce that the winner and official Howard's End '04 Fridge Magnet is: **JOHN HOWARD USE BY 09 OCT 04**.

Congratulations to John Miate for this brilliant, clever and searingly true effort! His slogan has now been printed on 5,000 fridge magnets and will be distributed in John Howard's seat of Bennelong in the coming week.

The judging task was both hugely enjoyable and extremely difficult so to recognise some of the outstanding efforts, we have published the 12 fantastic finalists and runners-up at www.HowardsEnd04.com.

Make sure you head to the website because it also features some highly amusing and entertaining slogans in a number of 'Special Mention' categories: **The

There is a rally tomorrow in all capital cities, put on by the peace movement so i am told. not a member but going any way. 12 noon at regatta grounds. Hobart. sorry do not know the other locations in other cities. sure you will find it if you look in your local paper.

My open letter on the web to Howard and Latham probably no longer applies as the election is now so close. The treatment involved, Vitamin B17 Metabolic Therapy, is available in England, France, Germany, Italy, Israel, Russia, China, Canada etc.etc. Dr. M Rath has taken the Drug Cartel, and the U.S. and U.K. govt's to the International Court at The Hague and charged them with murder, genocide and crimes against humanity. Why he omitted Oz I'll never know. Dr. Contreras in Mexico has treated over 100,000 patients since 1970. We are being left to die unnecessarily.

Who will be your voice in the Senate?

Voters in SA have 3 main progressive options for the Senate, come and hear from the candidates:
*Sunday 3 October, 3pm*
Pilgrim Hall, 12 Flinders Street, Adelaide.

Democrats - John McLaren
Greens - Brian Noone
Progressive Alliance - Meg Lees

For more info contact Keryn 0414 679957 or email voterforum@senet.com.au

This is a short web movie I've produced with the help of Perth commedian and John How-Odd impersonator - Alex Manfrin, that addresses what we see as being Howards three big lies. I cannot believe that in spite of the lies a large proportion of the Australian public still supports Howard. I freely admit that this is a piece of Greens propaganda. Up until recently I was Greens WA Co-coordinator. I acknowledge that personal attacks on politicians are against Greens policy, but hope that the humorous intent of this piece mitigates in my favor. Thanks to Margo - I greatly appreciated your book. Keep up the good work!

In May this year, knowing that a federal election was looming and wanting to be in the position of placing an informed vote, I came out of my shell and wrote to the four major political parties (yes, I forgot the Nationals - woops!). I asked for their visions on six issues that I believe cut to the essence of Australia

NOT HAPPY, JOHN !
a festival of dissent with

MARGO KINGSTON,
(author of NOT HAPPY, JOHN ! - defending our democracy)
DAVID BRIDIE - LOU BENNETT - EDDIE PERFECT - GUY RUNDLE
ANNE PHELAN (actors for refugees) - SPOOKY MEN'S CHORALE
MORPH - hot new Cuban danceband SAN LAZARO - ASIKO - SUNGA
LIVING OUT LOUD - YIRRIBA - LOW BUDGET MILLENIUM CHORUS
+ roving musicians, choirs, drummers, interactive games, info stalls,
the Big John Howard Puppet, recording of John when he was 15.

Food & drinks for sale, think tanks, rap karaoke comp,
dance bands till late, extra surprises.

SATURDAY 2nd OCTOBER 6pm - late
BRUNSWICK TOWN HALL
cnr Sydney Rd/ Dawson St
$15 / $10 (u16 $5)

any surplus $ raised will go toward a 'NOT HAPPY JOHN' ad in The Age
the week of the federal election (view on the night)

For those who prefer to vote below-the-line in the Senate, I have a facility on my web site to generate a custom Senate how-to-vote card for below-the-line voting in the NSW senate. With 78 boxes to number, I feel it helps to go in prepared.

A week out, some may think the result is a given. But it

Unput-downable.
I read it in less than a day.
Now I am really, REALLY angry!!
Will write more AFTER October 9th

Cheers
Sarah