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Bushmaster sold to US

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US troops in Iraq, at risk of being killed or maimed by roadside bombs, will soon travel safely in an Australian-designed armoured vehicle. The Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicle has impressed commanders in Iraq where the US-built Humvee has provided little or no protection for their troops.
The Bushmaster, with its blast-resistant V-shaped reinforced steel hull and other blast-resistant features, can transport up to 10 fully equipped troops at high speed across all terrains. It also carries enough fuel and provisions to last three days. Under the US deal, which is due to be signed within days, up to 1500 Bushmasters will be built under licence by US firm Oshkosh.
Good news all round. The troops are protected and Australia gets increased cash flow and recognition as quality builders and suppliers. Officers and executives of my Regimental Association recently traveled to Darwin to welcome the new 7RAR back into the Army Orbat. The one common opinion from observations of these old soldiers, from ex privates to Generals is that the Army, and particularly our regimental reputation is in very good hands and they all like the Bushmaster. Australian defence firm Thales (formerly ADI) is building more than 400 of the vehicles for the Australian Army and another 50 for Dutch forces at its plant at Bendigo in Victoria. The Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicle sounds a lot better than my issued Infantry mobility vehicles that were made of leather albeit with a metal plate built into the sole and called Boots, GP – I still have them in the back shed.
Defence

Noel Pearson

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I watched Noel Pearson on Lateline the other night and was so impressed with his compassion for his own people and his straight talking that I’ve include the transcript on the left with a view to leaving it there for some time. Do yourself a favour and read it.
Uncategorized

National Emergency thoughts

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The Howard/Brough plan to actually do something about the abysmal Indigenous problems has certainly taken Rudd’s union problems off the front page and the blog world is awash with opinions and attacks. The Left are screaming and as usual are very strong on criticism but offer no answers of their own. PATERNAL…A WEDGE…TAMPA 2007…BANDAIDS…TOP-DOWN IMPOSED AUTHORITASIANISM are just a few of the screams. A common cry is “why now Howard?” suggesting it’s all about the election year but maybe it’s all about the plan being subsequent to a report that emphasizes the problem. Medical anthropologist Gregory Phillips, claims it’s all about uranium.
What Howard really wants is to destabilise Aboriginal communal rights to land and to get easy access to the NT’s uranium.
The debate at Larvatus Prodeo underlines why nothing has been done since Whitlam and Nugget Coombes thought up the outstation plan that hid the problem and denied solutions. Over at Surfdom “military involvement” translates as “martial law” in left-think, conjuring up images of soldiers with rifles standing guard against grog runners and recalcitrant locals. I think you’ll find the Army will be used for repairing and/or building infrastructure and it’s been my experience that soldiers and locals establish a good relationship when they’ve been used previously. Medical checks for STDs. There is concern about medical checks for all kids under 16 with TigTog questioning if they will also be checked for other maladies. Of course they will and to suggest otherwise is to insult the professionalism of the medicos involved. A problem of sexual abuse was identified by the recent report. How the hell are we going to even start to fix the problem if we don’t quantify and subsequently treat it? Permit Entry. Ken Parish at Club Troppo and others claim the cancellation of the permit system for entry to Aboriginal townships will open up the communities to white predators. I have never agreed with the permit system since it’s inception – I think it hides the problem. Let the police handle predators and grog runners and give unfettered access to tourists, the media, the police and bureaucrats. My eyes were opened when I went into Arnhem Land and visited communities under the auspicies of Gallowray Yunupingu. I learned a lot about their problems from one of his wives and from my own general observation. I also learned a lot about the causes of these problems. Let’s stop hiding the problems. Grog. A comment at Club Troppo
Howard tonight on Lateline said something like “We know what the root cause of this is, it’s alcohol.” That’s it right there: a boxed-up Easy Pack human solution and a complete inability to understand the Aboriginal spirit and what is really the root cause of their utter heartbreak, and all of that – sick and impoverished as his best humanity is – running a vast sunburnt expanse behind his political need.
We’ve spent too long trying to understand the root cause of their utter heartbreak. Two weeks ago I spoke to a thirty something-policeman who had just finished a tour at Doomadgee. The best time he ever had there was when the grog couldn’t get though due to the wet season. The town turned functional – the policemen’s lot revolved around actually being able to police the community for the community’s benefit and not just stopping fights, sending kids and woman off to a hospital or being on the lookout for grog runners. When the grog could get through it was a nightmare. No point trying to understand root causes when the people are drunk all the time. Stop the grog for a while and and then reason can function. ‘If you stop the grog they’ll just go elsewhere’ is a common call and fair enough. I’ve seen it myself but I’d bet next weeks army pension that the people who are going to be involved are well aware of that and will include it in their plan. There is plenty of evidence that dry communities” aren’t really dry and that determined drinkers can always find a way to circumvent regulations but that doesn’t mean we stop trying to dry them out. As no plan survives contact with the enemy then nitpicking of the original plan without offering alternatives is pointless. The lesson is, when confronted with a problem do something and adjust as other problems arise. To do nothing just doesn’t cut it.
Uncategorized

Iran ‘unable to take Australians’

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Iranian naval forces in the Gulf tried to capture an Australian Navy boarding team but were vigorously repelled, the BBC has learned. The incident took place before Iran successfully seized 15 British sailors and Marines in March.
The Australians, though, to quote one military source, “were having none of it”. The BBC has been told the Australians re-boarded the vessel they had just searched, aimed their machine guns at the approaching Iranians and warned them to back off, using what was said to be “highly colourful language”
From the West Australian;
Petty Officer Andrew Keitley was awarded one of the military’s highest honours, the Distinguished Service Medal, for his actions as part of an Australian boarding party in the Persian Gulf in 2004.
PO Keitley led a party onto a ship in the Shatt al-Arab waterway when they were surrounded by five Iranian armed boats.
The Iranians menaced the Australians for about four hours and made a number of attempts to force their way on board. The Australians were eventually winched off the cargo ship by an Australian Seahawk helicopter.
The chopper pilot, Lt-Cdr Tony Johnston, was also awarded a DSM. Well done guys!
War on Terror

Howard bans alcohol, porn in indigenous communities

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ALCOHOL and pornography will be banned in indigenous communities in the Northern Territory as part of a dramatic response to widespread child abuse, which was today labelled a “national emergency”. My first response – good! Second response – my, aren’t the lefties going to scream – good! They’ve had their go, now some hard work has to be done to recover from the damage. The police are going to be very busy and they’ll need eyes in the back of their heads. The last time I drove down the Arnhem Highway towards the centre we drove through the last town at about 4:00 pm. A dry town and all quiet but after having passed through there were a stream of locals walking back into town. Been hunting, said someone in the back…no such luck. A mile or two out of town was a cleared area full of hundreds of empty stubbies. The town was dry so they just went to the limits and sat down there. I agree with Howard – we have to be paternal to help and protect the next generation. They need to go to school and get a real education but there is little chance under the current chaos. Just the same it’s going to be difficult. UPDATE: Larvatus Prodeo are all over it…wedge politics…Tampa 2007 and this waffle;
He’s had 11 years to starve them, drive up the negatives and drive down the positives and now he owns them. 
Just gets better and better.
Uncategorized

Unionist being kicked out of the ALP

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Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd set the ball rolling yesterday after the WA Supreme Court released footage a tape showing the unionist abusing a company representative who tells him he can’t enter a building site. Rudd lays down the law;
“Under my leadership, I have made it clear that it is completely unacceptable for any member of the Australian Labor Party to behave in such a manner,” Mr Rudd said last night.
Might as well disband the CFMEU then if that’s his stand. We’ve known about McDonald and his breed for years and yet Rudd suddenly decides they have to go. It wouldn’t be just because of the videos…would it? Let’s have every building site on CCT for showing on each evenings news – just to remind people of what they are voting for. McDonald isn’t going easy;
“I would like to tell the Labor Party how hard it is to represent workers in the building and construction industry under the Howard Government’s industrial laws,” he said. “It is a story I intend telling them during the expulsion proceedings they are going to bring against me. “For this reason I am not going to resign.”
Do it mate, Get yourself on the front page every week until the election.
Politics

Hurley Not Guilty!

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THE jury hearing the trial of police officer Chris Hurley – charged over a death in custody on Palm island have found him not guilty. No witnesses to the event and no apparent or obvious dereliction…..what else could they do? A political event that raised false hopes among the uneducated at Palm Island and has achieved nothing other than to make it extremely difficult in the future for Queensland Police to man their stations in indigenous communities. Who would want to serve there after all? If you are well intentioned you can still find yourself in court after an accident occasioned by excess alcohol and for just how long can a policeman hold his patience in these circumstances. Premier Peter Beattie said earlier today the verdict should be calmly accepted.
“This has been a difficult case … but I think it’s absolutely imperative that everybody, regardless of who they are, accept the decision of the court,” Mr Beattie said.
Good idea Pete….pity you didn’t accept the decision of your Justice Department in the first place and avoided all this angst.
Uncategorized

Damn, it’s cold!

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BRISBANE could be facing its coldest June day for more 90 years today as winter winds continue to lash Queensland. Winds of 75 km/hr on Moreton Bay and as I went for a drive to the shops the car dash says 10 deg outside. The winds are filling up the pool with leaves and other rubbish and blowing everything that isn’t nailed down around the yard. The dogs started barking at trees blowing in the wind so we are inside the office with the heater on. I only have one question….where’s the bloody rain?
General Musings

Payne sells his VC

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KEITH Payne didn’t have much time to think before taking the action which earned him the Victoria Cross in 1969, but he thought long before selling it.
On Monday the Vietnam War veteran, one of Australia’s last two surviving VC recipients, sold his cross for an undisclosed amount to Maryborough Military and Colonial Museum.
Keith gets financial security for his extended family and the buyer gets a draw card for his museum
“It was a hard call to make but I felt the time was right,” the 74-year-old former professional soldier said yesterday.
The buyer and curator, Mr John Meyers started the museum when he sold his share in a sawmill and hardware business.
“Keith’s medals will really help put Maryborough on the tourism map,” he said.
I know them both and wish them well.
General Musings

Kirribili House Party

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JOHN Howard has angrily denied running “a rich man’s government” as he fought off Labor claims of a cover-up over using his taxpayer-funded residence Kirribilli to entertain Liberal donors. Personally, I don’t see the problem. Prime Ministers of all persuasions, Hawke included, have held social gatherings at Kirribili with a view to bolster support but apparently it is only relevant when as ALP leader you are struggling to make any worthwhile hit on a competent government. Rudd doggedly attacks Howard all day in the house when he could’ve better utilized his time studying productivity and trying to understand why business and punters generally are worried about Australia becoming a Union controlled country under the ALP. I see your “Kirribilli Party” Kev and raise you ” Economics and wealth creation” Shannahan spends copious words in his article in today’s Australian denigrating the Coalition’s attack on the unions saying;
…Of course, the Government’s attack on the ACTU’s campaign against the Work Choices laws is total bunkum.
His point fails when he recognizes the problem the ALP has with this closing sentence;
The real trouble for Labor is that there are still a few ugly, foulmouthed bullies around in the union movement who by their very existence lend credence to the Government’s campaign. The election is six months away. Rudd hasn’t got a minute or a thing to lose by getting rid of them.
The “few ugly, foulmouthed bullies” have cost Australia millions of dollars and are subject to a host of court actions. Just follow the link for a litany of CFMEU excesses. Joe McDonald in West Australia is a particularly evil, foulmouthed bully and is a living, breathing, swearing, threatening example of why we shouldn’t risk an ACTU/ALP government. When the case is finished we may learn exactly how much he has cost the West Australian government just in the Perth-Mandurah railway line. The project is already three months behind schedule and $200 million over-budget and the unions have had a big say in that. There is talk of the Coalition using DVDs of Joe threatening bosses in West Australia as a part of their campaign to remind voters of what they can expect if they lose concentration on election day. Good tactic, I say. Paul Keating gets another gig in the Australian, this time urging the ALP to privatise. What he says may make sense but it doesn’t matter. What matters is every mention of Keating in the press reminds the voters of true arrogance, ALP version. I’d like to see Paul mentioned every day as a part of the Coalition campaigning. The Battle rages and war hasn’t even been declared yet. The real election campaign promises to be a humdinger as we start asking Rudd for policy details over and above “we’ll cut emissions by 60%….” without any costings or plans.
Politics
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