As is now apparent to all, we have failed in our aim to dislodge the Howard Government, both in terms of dislodging the Liberal Party and in terms of dislodging John Howard from Bennelong. More seriously, it seems that Howard will control the Senate, either outright or with the help of Family First. This is, to those of us who mourn the loss of our previous acceptance of diversity and difference, a nightmare scenario.

We now have to accept that certain past issues are now dead issues, politically. The voters of Australia have had their chance to have their say against actions in Iraq, against actions against refugees in the past, and against some other issues. They decided that either they agreed with those actions, or simply did not care. If, as seems likely, there is another Bush-led aggressive war in the next few years, the blood will be on the hands of those supporting Liberal this time, but as far as the Iraq war is concerned, while Howard may some day face war crimes charges,

Margo, I said in an earlier review that you were singing to the choir. I didn't realise what a small choir it was. I fear that we now have nowhere to go.

If Mr Howard gets control of the Senate, it will be the end of any effective opposition to this government.

I feel like emigrating.

Hamish: I truly hope not too many people emigrate because we have a lot of work to do yet.

You're right, especially about the Senate. But democracy is not dead yet, and when the chips are down, well, Ozzies don't give up.

The further assault on our democracy has started, just a day after the election, as anyone who has read the news can see.

It is particularly highlighted and recognised in some of the more 'intelligent' postings to Margo's article 'New era dawns for an Australia in Howard's image'.

It's interesting that our 'Prime' Minister, has entered into an alliance with Family First, who seem to be totally at the opposite end of the spectrum to his policies. Oh don't the wedgies hurt when your not prepared for one, Family First?

I'm glad I'm always 'commando', relying on supporting garments I have found, leads to lazy muscle tissue.

It surely was a landmark election in Australia's history, but I guess this government won it and now they can 'OWN' it for the next 3 years.

Watch out for the big global curves coming which will alter the scope of things. All those hip pocket voters are losers anyway: America

Wrong lot got elected.

Seems that peoples' trust is highly dependent on their perception of the economy and what's in it for them. 'Abstract' matters such as defending our democracy, freedom of the press, doing the right thing by those who are less advantaged, etc, etc count for very little these days.

More concretely, I can't wait to get even more involved in fighting back. It's the only way I can lift my depression! There I feel better just at the thought of it. I might have some IT skills to contribute.

Hamish: Good onya David. That's the only way to get through the post-ele

Hiya Margo and Hamish and the NHJ crew, it's a bummer of a day today but we're not going away. Lots of work to be done. Whatever you decide to do with the evolution of NHJ I want in. I'd really like to help now that the election has been decided.

If it's a Move On kinda thing then even more so.

It's always darkest before dawn.

Two reasons for this posting:

1) Tim Blair says there hasn't been a new posting all week!
2) Last call to gay, lesbian and transgender voters to remind them that a vote for Howard Latham is a vote for homophobia!

There may still be some gay, lesbian, transgender voters out there prepared to give their precious votes to the Coalition or the Democrats.

People who do this should be well aware that both these parties are giving their preferences to the Family First Party, a rabidly right-wing christian fundamentalist group whose aims, together with John Howard and others, are to ensure that people who belong to sexual minorities in our communities are marginalised, and, where possible, pushed back in to their closets and hard-won rights removed from them.

Is this what you want??

Remember that John Howard and his supporters are aiming to turn this country away from some of its democratic freedoms, so that eventually we will discover that we won't even have the right

I would love you to add this link on your website.

www.wmd.com.au

NHJ!(HA): 'Ts the best we can do at this stage Ben. We'll have more control over the new website to follow the election.

As we ready our national hearts and souls and minds to exercise the privilege of democratic Citizenship, this majestic Human franchise, it's impossible not to look around at the country and be inspired. So many great Australians, famous and obscure, have embraced what feels to me like a renewed sense of civic seriousness over the course of this campaign. New leaders are appearing; grass-roots movements are sprouting; people of great principle and courage and selflessness are stepping up to have a go at helping to re-define what it will mean to be Australian in the coming years. There's a tremendous energy building in the Polity, you feel; one driven by the simple desire of the powerless many to re-assert some corrective tempering check on the powerful few; to take control of our individual and collective destinies again, truly 'for all of us'. And it's been splendid; delightful; a great additional privilege to have been able to watch just one small part of this rebirth up close, via t

Tomorrow is D-Day.

I've been writing the Counterspin blog for the Sydney Morning Herald and Age during the campaign.

After nearly nine years of John Howard's reign, I believe it's time for a change. Read my editorial here (under the headline: 'If not now, when?)

[Hamish: I emailed Mary and asked her to submit this under 'Corrections etc' 8-10-04] I assumed that Australia's forests belonged to the whole country, that they weren't there for the rapine of wood companies?

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

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

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