In a possibly predictable move; another doctor has been given the top Australian honour, for his work towards a vaccine for cervical cancer. Worthy stuff indeed. In an ironic twist it seems that Prof Frazer is an example of reverse “brain drain”, Frazer having arrived here 26 years ago to research and then he stayed or so it seems.

It’s been nice over the last few years to see medical advances here resulting in the honours. Over the last 4 years, three of the top nods went to medical researchers. It certainly is different from the heady days where it was the biggest Aussie celebrity. Although that was fun too.

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It seems that the cabinet reshuffle by Howard (which) brought on(by) the Hill departure have sparked yet more internal rants and raves around the Coalition between the Liberals and the Nationals.

This has the potential  to make politics here interesting which it desperately needs since the Coalition took over control of both houses back in July. Let me see if I can get the sequence roughly right, here.

Firstly  one needs to note that this coalition is based on the number of Nats in the cabinet being relative to their number in the Parliament. The relationship has  been at best odd at worst till now at least strained. Any ruffles have basically been smoothed wit perhaps only a little mud sticking each time. As it stood the departure/defection of any member of the party would mean that one of their ministers lost theirv spot

So here is where it starts to get interesting. Senator Julian McGuaran defected a few days ago. He held no Cabinet position which meant that someone else was bound then to lose theirs. According to Sen Bartlett here:

Senator McGuaran said he was doing this because there is “no longer any
real policy difference between the Liberals and the Nationals in
Victoria”.

Which may be true — but given the implications to the party, why not just stay put. Especially given you are in coalition. And why penalise the other party in your coalition for a within coalition transfers. Unless: the second reason given is more accurate:

He also made some comments about this being an appropriate time
given “the grounds of the Cabinet reshuffle and the aligning of several
careers, some being promoted and some resigning.”

Howard has called it simply a reflection of the "laws of arithmetic".

Which strikes me as perhaps some very devious politicing. By keeping his seat but sacrificing  the prospects of another  the defectee  secures his position and  perhaps earns himself "extra credit" for the  move.

However — this is where it might get interesting. The Government only holds power by means of the partnership and a final or at least definitive split would be damaging to Howard. It would at least mean more negotiation or I suspect an early election.

Democracy might just out

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Funny how now even arson for the sake of animal rights is no longer just arson. The US seems way too ready to call anything vaguely distruptive the Big T. As if a crime is no longer just a crime.

Working on behalf of the Earth Liberation Front and the Animal
Liberation Front, the defendants committed arson with improvised
incendiary devices fashioned from milk jugs, petroleum products and
homemade timers, causing damage in the millions of dollars, Justice
Department officials said.

Sounds like a crime to me …… but no …….

Director Robert S. Mueller III
of the F.B.I., who appeared at the session with Mr. Gonzales, said one
of the bureau’s "highest domestic terrorism priorities" is catching and
prosecuting "those who commit crime and terrorism in the name of animal
rights or environmental issues."

Ok so they are going to stamp out vandalism in the political activism sector. No great surprise there. My question is when is a crime just a crime and not some sinister plot connected with Iraq? Oops sorry I mean Afganistan. Oops sorry I mean Iran.. Oh dear or was that N Korea?

I get so confused.
Link: U.S. Indicts 11 for Acts of Domestic Terrorism – New York Times.

Possibly Related Posts:

• to say thanks
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• As the dust settles
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