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| Down Under |
| Australian PM sets out priorities |
| 2004-10-11 |
| Australian Prime Minister John Howard has said national security and the economy will be priorities for his fourth term in office. After the success of his conservative coalition in Saturday's election, Mr Howard confirmed he would keep Australian troops in and around Iraq. Australia has 900 troops stationed in the Gulf on non-combat missions. The prime minister also pledged to keep the economy strong, and to continue cooperation "against terrorism". The BBC's Phil Mercer in Sydney says Mr Howard is also expected to pursue closer trade and defence ties with Australia's South East Asian neighbours. In the first news conference of his fourth term, Mr Howard said the strong mandate his National-Liberal coalition received would not lead to radical change. "We're not going to allow this enhanced position to go to our heads," he told reporters on Monday. "That would be a big mistake and the Australian public would not appreciate it," he added. During the election campaign the prime minister promised to improve his country's anti-terrorism efforts across South East Asia. They include plans to deploy squads of Australian police officers in neighbouring countries and to establish a joint intelligence training centre. Our correspondent says trade is also expected to be a key feature of the re-elected Howard government. Trade agreements have already been signed with the United States, Singapore, and Thailand. Similar deals with China and Malaysia may follow. On the domestic front, the administration is expected to try to overhaul industrial legislation to reduce the power of trade unions. It is also planning to sell off the government's remaining multi-billion dollar share in Australia's national telecommunications network. The National-Liberal coalition was returned to office with an increased majority in the lower house, as well as a possible 38-seat blocking majority in the senate. The final results are not expected until later this month, owing to a complex voting system. Mr Howard has presided over a period of great prosperity - a key advantage in the election given the inexperience of the Labor opposition leader, Mark Latham. Mr Latham said he wanted to remain Labor leader, despite criticism of his campaign. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #6 What Spain? Al Andalus |
| Posted by: SR-71 2004-10-11 2:49:39 PM |
| #5 HEY, SPAIN - SEE A NATION WITH A SPINE? ENJOY WEARING THE BURKAS, SPAIN... |
| Posted by: BigEd 2004-10-11 12:57:03 PM |
| #4 Also, the Americans are NOT stupid, Igster, despite the smug fantasies of the left. They remember Latham saying that Bush was the 'most dangerous man in the world today' 'the worst president in history' and that Howard etc were a conga line of suckholes for supporting them in Iraq and Afghanistan. Latham also made the mistake of painting the war on Islamism as a regional war for us: focus on the region, on JI, on the Phillipines. That is useless when the enemy organises globally. A regional response to a global threat? hahaha. Break away from the Brits and the US and make alliances with... Indonesia... Malaysia? Yeah right. They'll be worth the paper their written on. yassss . the anglosphere are their own best allies as time and test have proven. |
| Posted by: Anon1 2004-10-11 10:43:28 AM |
| #3 Igster, I don't mind those who overstay their visas. They applied at the consulate and got their visas in the first place. The country knows who they are. It is the ones who refuse to apply at a consulate that I mind coming in: those that come with no ID at all and could be anyone. They are the most likely to be criminals and jihadis and those are the ones that pretend to be refugees (after safely transiting several intermediate countries). Unfortunately for YOU Igster, most Aussies agree with ME so we have Howard/Costello for 3 more years. And there's no denying they are excellent economic managers. We finally have a budget SURPLUS. My fear is for the unions. It was good having strong unions who fought for worker entitlements. |
| Posted by: Anon1 2004-10-11 10:39:08 AM |
| #2 Anon1, most illegal immigrants staying in Australia are in fact citizens from Britain, the US and other western countries, they simply over-stay their visa, if you don't know this, then get informed. As far as illegal refugees, we only get a trickle here, you should know. If labor had won, they alliance would have remained strong, there's much more to it than just a change of political parties. Now however, as you have rightly pointed out, say goodbye to medicare (including the pbs), industrial relations and the environment. Next time, don't be so short sighted. |
| Posted by: Igster 2004-10-11 10:18:59 AM |
| #1 Lets get one thing straight, Howard: I voted for you so you could kick out the illegal immigrants (often mis-labelled refugees) and to keep our alliance with the USA strong. I voted for you because I recognise the war on terrorism is in fact a war on Global Islamism driven by fundamentalist wahhabist sunnis. I on the other hand, like to work in a unionised workplace, I like medicare and I like the environment. But how can I vote Labour when to do so puts at risk our allies? If I have to sacrifice my working conditions to keep the alliance with the USA strong and defeat fundamentalist islamists then I will willingly do so and bear the burden. Now go and do what we voted you in to do!! |
| Posted by: Anon1 2004-10-11 10:04:55 AM |