Some words to ponder on Indigenous welfare:
As Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough and his state colleagues meet
today to discuss the solutions to violence in Aboriginal communities,
here’s hoping they remember these words: “When innumerable reports on
the poor state
of Aboriginal health are released there are expressions of shock or
surprise
and outraged cries for immediate action. However, the appalling state
of
Aboriginal health is soon forgotten until another report is released.”
They came from an idealistic backbencher when the Aboriginal Health
report by the House of
Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs was released
back in
1979. His name was Philip Ruddock.


Paint your bandwagon: John Howard let the
cameras in to the Lodge last week to grab happy snaps as he watched the World
Cup – but Crikey has exclusively obtained the first photos of the PM’s
preparations for Kylie’s rescheduled Showgirl Tour. (see right)


Barnyard antics: Is Barnaby Joyce really
addressing a breakfast function of the NCC front, the Council
for the National Interest, in Brisbane next month? They’ll agree on economics – but things aren’t exactly
rosy between the NCC and the Nats after they assisted various independent candidates who
ran against National MPs at the 2004 poll.


Canberra’s paranoid PC Plod: Police in the national capital already have a
curious and concerning attitude to public accountability. “Move along, move
along, there’s nothing to see here” sorta sums it up. Now, the Canberra Sunday Times
reports ACT Policing have ordered the removal of suburban crime data such as house break-ins from appearing on the Neighbourhood
Watch website.
As newsletter editor Neil Garvey told the times “The whole point of
Neighbourhood Watch was to propagate the statistics, and the whole idea was to
make the community aware of the timing and degree of crime in each suburb.” – that was what Neighbourhood Watch was all
about in 1983. A spokesplod, however, claims the statistics had to be removed
because they were being “misconstrued”.


Leak inquiry: Ever wondered how a well
timed leak can change political history?


Save the Democrats: In the lead up to the
New South Wales state election, that state’s sole Democrat MLC Arthur Chesterfield
Evans has been reduced to sending out begging letters to advocacy groups: “You may be aware that
membership of political parties has fallen, and the Democrats have not been
unaffected by this. In order to remain registered as a Party, we need to keep
the membership topped up, and particularly with members with an interest in
important issues… I am therefore delighted to be able to offer you free Associate Membership for one year.”