Headlines Tuesday 16th September

My mother's birthday. She turns 76.
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When war criminals hide out in the open
Piers Akerman
THE Rudd Labor Government has dudded its constituency on almost every domestic issue and is now turning its back on core principles of humanity.
Four years ago, Labor MPs Nicola Roxon and Tanya Plibersek bared their concerns for the victims of war crimes living in Australia in an interview with the 7.30 Report and expressed the hope those victims would never have to worry about being confronted by their torturers in the streets of their adopted nation.

According to Roxon, now Rudd’s Health Minister: “This is a very important issue of principle, it’s an issue about bringing people to justice if they have committed terrible crimes, and we’re talking about some of the most horrific sorts of events that probably you and I or your listeners can’t even conceive of. I don’t want people who are fleeing from those sorts of circumstances overseas and trying to make a new life here in Australia to find that they are going to run into at the shops someone who was actually perpetrating that violence against them.”

And Plibersek, now Minister for the Status of Women added: “There are survivors of torture and abduction and many people who have lost family members in countries around the world who live in Australia and who can point to people in their own community whom they accuse of committing these crimes.”

All well and good, but Joanna Ximenes, an East Timorese woman living in Sydney, says she has identified the man who she believes was responsible for the death of her brother, and the Rudd Government seems reluctant to treat the matter seriously.

Channel 7’s Today Tonight reporter James Thomas last week aired two segments about an East Timorese man, Guy Campos, who Ximenes accuses of contributing to the beating death of a young boy in 1979 and another woman, Odetty Moniz Alves-Platt, accuses of assisting Indonesian soldiers in seizing her father in 1979 and placing him aboard an Indonesian military helicopter, never to be seen again.

Thomas’ files contain further accounts from others who claim that Campos collaborated as a spy with the Indonesian special forces and participated in a number of acts of torture.

Naldo Rei, author of Resistance: A Childhood Fighting for East Timor, identified Campos as one of a number of intelligence officers who beat him with an iron rod until he was unconscious. Jose Belo, another East Timorese, says Campos was among the collaborators who tortured him with electric shocks, kicking and beating in 1995.

But it would seem that is insufficient for Home Affairs Minister, Bob Debus, to take an interest and not good enough for the Australian Federal Police, who seem to be dragging their feet even though Campos is in Australia on a 90-day pilgrim’s visa issued in connection with World Youth Day and is scheduled to leave the country next month. - What I think you are missing is the unfairness of quoting Nicola Roxon and Tanya Plibersek on issues which they were merely gasbagging. Their words sounded fine, but I'm sure they didn't mean it at the time. Had they been able to point to something under the previous administration, it would have been dealt with to the extent of the law, even if that action wasn't popular.
I object when people use their religion to hide their feelings and intent. I feel that the devout should match their feelings with their religion. I was appalled by Rudd claiming to be a devout Christian 'like Mr Howard' and his mealy mouthed assertion to 'believe in something' when faced with non Christians. Mr Howard was strong, and held to his faith, while admitting that he had a duty to consider the temporal in administration.
I know a Christian pastor who was the victim of torture by the Khmer Rouge. I recently proof read his autobiography, which sadly will probably never be published in Australia because, although he is the son of a communist state, he rejected it.
George Orwell would be proud of Rudd, Nicola Roxon and Tanya Plibersek. They lie for their own convenience. - ed.
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The most powerful people in Australia
Chris Smith
It’s a crucial week for the direction of this country and the fun and games in Canberra have already begun.

There’s at least three key pieces of legislation being debated: the luxury car tax, what you’ll pay for a half descent motorcar; the Medicare surcharge levy, whether you’ll stick with private health insurance or not; and the condensate excise, which may put an end to exploration of our rich fields of gas and oil.

And behind the scenes there’s been some arm twisting - some covert meetings - with the key independents in the Senate, who will determine whether the government rules.

Meanwhile, however, all the political attention over the weekend has been on Peter Costello …it was an extract-athon. Through the papers and on 60 Minutes last night.

And despite all these protestations from him, not accepting the accusation that he’s gutless… he was - and is.

It wasn’t specifically canvassed in that story last night, but as he writes in his book there was a moment when the former PM was confronted by senior Ministers. They told him they thought Costello should take over. But after consulting his family Howard decided he wasn’t budging. Costello told Ray Martin he didn’t have the numbers.

Well, he should have had a go. And that, apart from his treasury expertise, will be his legacy. -I disagree, Chris. Costello did the right thing in not trying to destabilize the Liberal party without sufficient support. Costello could have ruined everything, or he could behave responsibly. He chose to behave well. That may be why he was successful as a treasurer. Maybe he will be Lazarus with a triple bypass, and maybe he won't. But he didn't gamble foolishly, despite the suggestions otherwise. I don't fault Mr Howard either. I think the press wanted change. They got it.- ed.
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Turnbull straight onto front foot after seizing leadership
Malcolm Turnbull has wasted no time getting stuck into the Rudd government after scraping into the Liberal leadership in a partyroom vote this morning. Jason Morrison is in Canberra.
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Oral sex the "new black", say health experts
Oral sex is the "new black" in the bedrooms of all Australians, according to leading sexual health experts who believe improved hygiene standards and feminism are turning more couples onto the practice.
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No hard feelings: Nelson throws support behind Turnbull
Ousted Liberal leader Brendan Nelson says he holds no malice towards Malcolm Turnbull after he wrested the leadership this morning in a tight partyroom vote.