A few people from Jubilee Australia and the National Indigenous Ecumenical Peak body (NATSIEC) have been standing in Pitt St Mall, Sydney holding signs to let Sydney siders know we are 'not happy John'. We say in this election put human life before war; people before economic growth; mercy to those seeking refuge before

Not content with bludgeoning the leftish Greens and various centrist, NHJ!-style independents in the opening weeks of the campaign, Rupert Murdoch's Oz propaganda 'droids this morning demonstrate that they're just as capable of sneering loudly at rightish political players over whom they know they also wield zip proxy-power. Webdiary readers will remember how Tony Abbott's underhand and possibly-illegal 'Australians for Honest Politics Trust' role in jailing Pauline Hanson was helpfully 'explained away' in heroic 'civic-mindedness' terms by most of Rupert's senior political opinion writers - who then curiously went very quiet about 'the integrity of the electoral system' when it transpired that while Hanson was in fact innocent of any fraud, their beloved Saint Tony stank to potential AEC fraud heaven. Yes - Editorial, Kelly, Sheridan, Price, Shanahan, Milne...they just didn't wanna' know about To

Not content with bludgeoning the leftish Greens and various centrist, NHJ!-style independents in the opening weeks of the campaign, Rupert Murdoch's propaganda 'droids demonstrate that they're just as capable of sneering loudly at rightish political players over whom they know they wield zip influence. Webdiary readers will remember how Tony Abbott's underhand and possibly-illegal 'Australians for Honest Politics Trust' role in jailing Pauline Hanson was helpfully 'explained away' in heroic 'civic-mindedness' terms by most of Rupert's senior political opinion writers - who then curiously went very quiet about 'the integrity of the electoral system' when it transpired that while Hanson was in fact innocent of any fraud, their beloved Saint Tony stank to potential AEC fraud heaven. Yes - Editorial, Kelly, Sheridan, Price, Shanahan, Milne...they just didn't wanna' know about Tony's little probbers with the

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Dear Margo, I love your book, what I've read of it so far. As a 17 year old I'm trying my best to understand as much as I can about Australia's democracy so that I can make informed choices about my future. Unfortunately, I've begun to feel lately that there is so little I can do to make people listen to me and to make a difference in the political arena - hell I can't even vote yet!!

But your book has at least made me aware and I've realised that if I can spread that awareness then I can do a little to help make changes. Awareness is like knowledge, it's very powerful. Anyway, I'd like to say thankyou for writing your book and for spreading the awareness that this country needs!

Excellent points Stephen!

However, you should also point out to older voters (in particular) that in general self funded retirees did FAR better with higher interest rates; just ask anyone who has been trying to live off of their interest income the last few years with 'lower' interest rates. [I've quoted the 'lower' as, has been pointed out elsewhere, our rates are NOT low currently compared to the US, Canada, and a number of other Western democracies.]

The simplistic high/low interest rate arguments are just that; simplistic.

14 September 2004 Press Release RESURRECTING RURAL AND REGIONAL AUSTRALIA Leigh Belbeck, spokesperson from Bindaree Beef confirmed today that the next in the series of important rural policy meetings to be held in rural and regional Australia will be held in Gunnedah on Friday, 24 September 2004.

FELLOW EDITORS: I PUBLISHED THE GENTLEMAN'S SMALLER PIECE (HE MUST HAVE READ THE WORD LIMIT AFTER SUBMITTING HIS FIRST ONE AND DECIDED TO NOT GIVE US AN EXCUSE TO IGNORE HIM). HIS BASIC POINT - THAT THE GUN OWNERS SAW HOWARD'S COLOURS FIRST - EVEN BEFORE THE WATERSIDE WORKERS - WHILE THE LEFT APPLAUDED WITHOUT IRONY - I UTTERLY AGREE WITH, INCIDENTALLY. Excellent book, which encapsulated everything we Law Abiding Gun Owners felt when Howard branded us all potential murderers, in 1996 after Port Arthur and then again in 2002, after Monash Murders.After Port Arthur Massacre, much was written and discussed about the effect of the Richmond Report, into Mental Health, as well as the influence of the sadistic and violent videos Martin Bryant watched. Or was the problem one of poor Policing in that M.B. had been previously asociated with two other deaths? But then the Media got heavily into 'Gun Control'. Suddenly Howard, against expert advice and against the wishes of the State Police Mi

Margo, I must thank you for your book Not Happy John. It has restored my faith in humanity that there are at least a few people around who are able to stand up and be counted on these intensely worrying issues.

In the past I was a fairly conservative person who tended to be a swinging voter depending on current issues. However, while John Howard holds the reigns I can no longer in good conscience vote for this evil man or his party. (if he doesn't have altsheimer's he must be evil.... how else could he not remember dates, times, conversations etc of such importance)

In what seems another life time I was married to a Journalist who left Journalism because of the Murdoch takeover so your comments struck a chord with me there as well.

Please please keep going.... there are a huge number of people who agree with you but just dont have the voice or the means to get their opinions heard.

I marched in the anti Iraq war march, which was a first in my life, even though i wa

Whilst I am a conservative voter by nature, I too have been alarmed at the deterioration of the level of debate on issues in Australia in recent years. I have enjoyed reading your articles in the SMH over the years, although not always agreeing with you.

My daughters gave me your book for my birthday and I started reading it last night. What a revelation! I have only read the first few chapters but you have articulated that which I have been saying for some time. Vigorous debate in a democratic society is a healthy thing - it's what sets us apart. I think that this idea that you are either with me or against me is unhealthy for any democracy.

Sadly, I think that Howard when he finally goes - and I suspect it won't be this time - he will leave Australia a more polarised, insensitive and selfish society than he found. Not a great legacy by any measure.

I also realised when I read your bio that we were at Uni together!

All the best
Geoff Neilsen

Great to see Howard's Dictatorship exposed. Those of us who owned Guns and were treated like Criminals by Howard in May 1996 saw this coming first. We rallied in major cities and drew crowds that hadn't been seen since the anti-Vietnam marches of the late 60s. Take heed that Bush referred to Howard as the 'Man of Steel'. He may well have used the Russian translation, 'Stalin'!

Thanks to Robin Rothfield, the convenor of www.defeathoward.com, for bringing this brilliant article by Richard Woolcott to our attention.

Check out the front page of Brisbane City Life. Thanks to NHJ!er Gayle (seat of Dickson) for this. Also NHJ events have been added to the Sydney what's on page.

Gayle will advertise any NHJ event in City Life for free, in any city (I'm not sure exactly which cities it's in). In her words

The what's on pages are some of our busiest and the text down the middle (actual events) gets much better results. Any events, please let me know or tell people to submit them. It costs nothing and if it makes one extra person come along, it's worth it.

So contact her with your events.

Gayle is a successful, professional woman - a swinging voter - who has decided it is time to be heard. For the seat of Dickson she has created website, including Labour.

I've notified the national secretariats of all four parties, and sent personal notifications to all MHRs and Senators belonging to those parties.

If anyone else has a similar quixotic urge and would like more detail, contact me via the website.

John Bear

I have been writing to my local candidates in the election asking them to support the introduction of legislation, in the first term of the new parliament, to establish a Commission to review government business and reporting directly to the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate in parliament. I want candidates to make a public commitment to it.

The Commission would be something similar to ICAC in NSW and have power to subpeona documents, members of parliament, advisers, public servants, defence and intelligence personnel. It would investgate complaints, matters referred to it by parliament or standing committes and do its own independent audits and investigations of processes as well. It would have as part of its charter an enforceable ministerial code of conduct. It would have public hearings and publicly release its recommendations. Recommendations could include recommendations that a minister resign, further investigation by Federal Police and civil and criminal