http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/australia/ en-us Sat, 20 Sep 2008 14:05:14 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2086507/posts Attempts to turn Solomon Islands into a gun-free society has had an unintended deadly side effect. It's lead in part, to an increase in the number of fatal crocodile attacks. Guns were banned on Solomon Islands following racial tensions and the arrival in 2003 of the Australian lead Regional Assistance Mission, RAMSI. Solomon Islands Acting Police Commissioner, Peter Marshall, has told Radio Australia at least six people have been killed by crocodiles in the past 18 months. "We have various reports from around the provinces in Solomon Islands... of crocodiles entering into locations where fishermen are present or where children... RadioAustralia.net http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2086507/posts#comment Sat, 20 Sep 2008 14:05:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2086322/posts There is rising criticism that the Machang Bridge, which opened in July at the cost of millions of won, is only enriching speculative capitalists with tax money. They say that throughout the country, roads built through private investment are becoming white elephants where investors eat tax money via rough traffic predictions and contracts with excessive profit guarantees. The province of South Gyeongsang spent 380 billion won (US$337 million) in budget outlays and 190 million won in private capital to build the Machang Bridge linking Changwon and Masan. For the next 30 years, the earnings from the bridge tolls will be... The Hankyoreh http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2086322/posts#comment Sat, 20 Sep 2008 03:00:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2085228/posts The Australian government has issued its first license allowing scientists to create cloned human embryos to try and obtain embryonic stem cells. The in vitro-fertilization firm Sydney IVF was granted the license and reportedly has access to 7,200 human eggs for its research. If the firm is successful it would be a world first, the Australian government's National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), which granted the license, said on Wednesday. Scientists in other countries have made stem cells they believe are similar to embryonic cells using a variety of techniques, but none have been able to extract embryonic stem... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2085228/posts#comment Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:27:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2084213/posts Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin has revived John McCain's bid for the White House, the pro-gun, pro-life, mother of five has taken over from Barack Obama as the celebrity figure of the campaign. But will the Palin buzz make a difference or will it be a gimmick that backfires? US Correspondent Tracy Bowden reports. 7.30 Report http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2084213/posts#comment Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:06:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2083617/posts Sarah Palin: Impressions from Land Down Under Obama Wowed France, But Australians Like Palin Recently returned from Australia, a DBKP writer had the opportunity to gauge the feelings of the Aussies towards Governor Palin's selection as McCain's Vice-President. The impressions--and that is what they are--were extraordinary. For context, a little background is necessary. While Australia has the persona of a wilderness, in fact, the vast majority of people are urban--much more so than America. Nevertheless, they are extremely proud, as well they should be, of their humble, rough-and-tumble beginnings. This continent made early American and Canadian wilderness look hospitable. The... DBKP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2083617/posts#comment Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:55:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2083443/posts I wouldn't be surprised to learn that this location was in a Crocodile Dundee movie. I don't know if it was, but it sure seems like it could have been. This is NOT an easy place to get to, according to what I've read. And seen: Anyways, the falls: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2083443/posts#comment Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:34:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2080106/posts Opposition defends Joint Strike Fighter over simulated dogfights September 11, 2008 THE federal Opposition has dismissed new doubts about the multi-billion dollar Joint Strike Fighter project and the jet's performance. The JSF jets, for which Australia is likely to pay $16 billion, were comprehensively beaten in highly classified simulated dogfights against Russian Sukhoi fighters, it has been reported. The war games, conducted at Hawaii's Hickam airbase last month, were witnessed by at least four RAAF personnel and a member of Australia's peak military spy agency, the Defence Intelligence Organisation, The West Australian said. Opposition defence spokesman Nick Minchin said he... Australian Associated Press (AAP) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2080106/posts#comment Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:59:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2079533/posts NEW South Wales Premier Nathan Rees says Matt Brown quit as police minister after he was caught out in a lie about dancing around his office in his underwear. ... The Australian newspaper, quoting a witness, reported Mr Brown stripped down to his "very brief" underpants and danced on a green leather couch in his office. ... The Australian http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2079533/posts#comment Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:36:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2079382/posts Another navy sub forced to dry-dock because of crew shortages Mark Dodd and Matthew Franklin | September 11, 2008 THE Royal Australian Navy is set to move the fourth of its six Collins-class submarines into dry dock because of crew shortages, undermining Kevin Rudd's plans for a massive upgrade in naval resources to counter a military build-up inAsia. Defence analysts warned yesterday that severe skills shortages meant the navy could not crew its existing vessels, let alone new assets proposed by the Prime Minister in a major speech to the Returned and Services League on Tuesday night. Mr Rudd told... The Australian http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2079382/posts#comment Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:28:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2077997/posts An Australian power company has withdrawn more than 3,000 Chinese-made protective uniforms after staff complained of skin irritations. Ergon Energy says there will be no more uniforms worn in the field from close of business today. The Electrical Trades Union says more than 250 Ergon Energy workers had broken out in rashes and some had vomited after wearing the flame-retardant suits. Ergon says as soon as staff reported skin irritations it advised them to seek medical advice. The company says independent scientific tests are being conducted on the uniforms and it has advised its suppliers to do the same. Chinese... radio australia http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2077997/posts#comment Tue, 9 Sep 2008 10:35:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2077916/posts MOVES to build a Catholic school in Camden, in Sydney's south-west, have been welcomed by the same community group which vocally opposed plans for a Muslim school. The president of the Camden/Macarthur Residents Group, Emil Sremchevich, told Fairfax the Catholic plan "ticks all the right boxes", even though he was yet to see its development application. "Catholics are part of our community so we should be supporting it on this basis alone," Mr Sremchevich told Fairfax. "To become part of the community, you need to live in the community. You can't just turn up." Mr Sremchevich said he was not... Herald Sun http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2077916/posts#comment Tue, 9 Sep 2008 06:16:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2074194/posts How The West Was Won The rapid and unexpected decline of the Sunni insurgency in Iraq was officially recognized this week, when Maj. Gen. John Kelly, commanding the Marine Expeditionary Force, turned operational control of Anbar Province over to the Iraqi army and police. Anbar, a vast expanse of desert the size of North Carolina, had been the stronghold of the Sunni insurgency. For years, foreign fighters loyal to al-Qaida had sneaked across Iraq's northwestern border with Syria, into Anbar and down a "rat line" of safe houses in Haditha, Ramadi and Hit. From Fallujah, the arch terrorist Zarqawi... Previous Thread http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2074194/posts#comment Thu, 4 Sep 2008 01:13:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2076126/posts IT'S not fair. The Americans have Sarah Palin. Why can't we have one of those? Mooseburgers may not be everyone's idea of the perfect feed, and some people might baulk at giving their kids names like Track or Trig or Bristol. Also, the Alaskan Governor holds some views so far to the Right that she risks toppling off the edge. As a friend of mine remarked on the day Palin accepted the Republican vice-presidential nomination: "It's interesting how the apparent contradiction of being simultaneously pro-gun and pro-life resolves itself through the great US institution of the shotgun marriage." But, hey!... News.com.au http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2076126/posts#comment Sat, 6 Sep 2008 17:00:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2074850/posts SYDNEY (AFP) – Australia is in the grip of a "man drought" where women increasingly outnumber men and a good bachelor is hard to find, according to new research from a leading demographer. From its founding as a British penal colony more than 200 years ago, Australia has traditionally suffered from a gender imbalance where men were more likely to be more numerous than the fairer sex Down Under. But what was once an oversupply of testosterone began to move in the other direction in the 1990s, and single women in their thirties are beginning to wonder where all the... AFP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2074850/posts#comment Thu, 4 Sep 2008 21:28:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2073120/posts AN Islamic organisation warning of the return of an empire founded 700 years ago has hacked into the website of a Wollongong church and published disturbing images and messages. For several days, anyone who visited the website of Wollongong's Wesley Church was greeted by anti-war messages flanked by pictures of the Turkish flag, masked soldiers and an image of US President George W Bush with a cross over his face. While the text on the www.wollongongmission.unitingchurch.org.au website was not in English, other websites on the internet hacked by the same group, AdReNaLin, identified those responsible as "sons of the Ottoman... Illawarra Mercury http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2073120/posts#comment Tue, 2 Sep 2008 17:43:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2070322/posts The View From Down Under Most Americans I think have a high regard for Aussies, based on our traditional mutual support of one another in our common wars. These positive views were I believe re-enforced recently with the rather sudden appearance of a whole bunch of first-rate Aussie movies in the 70s -- among some of my favorites would be Gallipoli and Breaker Morant. Then of course everybody loved Mel Gibson and Crocodile Dundee. Aussie culture quickly became the latest rage with the American in crowd. But Americans really don't know what Aussies think about them. And I think... Radarsite http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2070322/posts#comment Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:42:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2064078/posts AUSTRALIAN special forces soldiers have killed a senior Taliban commander responsible for co-ordinating attacks on government facilities in Afghanistan's Oruzgan province. Australian troops spotted Mullah Akhtar Mohammed and his armed protection party in a remote area of Oruzgan last week, Defence said today. The special operations task group (SOTG) patrol kept watch and, after confirming there were no non-combatants in the area, called in an airstrike, defence spokesman Brigadier Brian Dawson said. Herald Sun http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2064078/posts#comment Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:28:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2063784/posts - Angus & Co., WE SALUTE YOU!!! I'm not sure regarding the exact date, but at least I know Ac/Dc formed in Sydney back in 1973 (- does anyone here on the greatest Conservative site on the Internet happen to know the exact date?) AC/DC is one of my favorite rock bands and all of Australia indeed ought to be very, very proud of them. AC/DC are admirable out of many reasons. Three of them stands out from my point of view: 1. Their conservatism; while most bands that have been around for some time, sooner or later, tend to... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2063784/posts#comment Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:23:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2063534/posts AN appeal for "ugly ducklings" to move to Mount Isa to help address a woman shortage has sparked calls for the mayor to publicly apologise. John Molony sparked widespread outrage with his comments that "with five blokes to every girl may I suggest that beauty-disadvantaged women should proceed to Mount Isa" in remote north-west Queensland, The Courier-Mail reports. "Quite often you will see walking down the street a lass who is not so attractive with a wide smile on her face. Whether it is recollection of something previous or anticipation for the next evening, there is a degree of happiness,"... Herald Sun http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2063534/posts#comment Mon, 18 Aug 2008 03:01:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2060665/posts CANBERRA - About 20 Catholic pilgrims who attended World Day Youth services in Australia with Pope Benedict XVI last month have claimed asylum, with more applications expected, refugee advocates said on Tuesday. The majority of applicants were from Africa, including Zimbabwe, where political and economic upheaval have driven millions to flee, as well as Cameroon, Burundi and Kenya, the Sydney-based Asylum Seeker Centre said. "We are seeing utter destitution, we see malnutrition, we are seeing depression, we see homelessness. People are coming to us from a place of crisis," centre spokeswoman Tamara Domicelj told Reuters. Rights watchdog Amnesty International said... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2060665/posts#comment Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:54:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2059002/posts Australian scientists have come up with a unique way to combat climate change: eat kangaroos and save the world. A study claims that farming and consuming more kangaroos instead of cattle and sheep will reduce carbon gas emissions. According to the scientific journal Conservation Letters, the Australian icon produces far less methane than sheep and cattle. Methane is one of the worst causes of greenhouse gas and in Australia alone sheep and cattle produce 11 per cent of the nation’s total emissions. Kangaroos, on the other hand, produce relatively small amounts of the gas because they are not ruminants; as... Times Online (U.K.) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2059002/posts#comment Sat, 9 Aug 2008 13:03:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2058543/posts Pastoralist John Anick yesterday lost his legal fight with WA Police in the State Administrative Tribunal to reclaim his handgun licence that was revoked by police under legislation that no longer allowed pastoralists to possess the firearms. Mr Anick, a station owner in the Pilbara, was the first of a group of pastoralists being represented by lawyer Ross Williamson fighting the handgun confiscation that was implemented by police in the past 18 months. Mr Williamson said his clients had a right to possess handguns because they dealt with wild and aggressive cattle. Many of his clients had stories of being... The West Australian http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2058543/posts#comment Fri, 8 Aug 2008 13:36:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2058407/posts CHINA has not done enough to fix its pollution and indeed may have permanently damaged the environment, Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates said today. As Beijing was again cloaked in a dirty haze just hours before its Opening Ceremony, Coates said he hoped one of the legacies of the 2008 Games would be that China took greater care of its habitat. Asked if Games organisers had done enough to clean up the atmosphere, Coates said: "No. But I don't know what more thay can do. "This may well be permanent damage. "I am no world expert but to have... Herald Sun http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2058407/posts#comment Fri, 8 Aug 2008 03:44:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2057893/posts This ya gotta see...One of those "Would be nice...if true". http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=efCelx7qe_M&feature=related YouTube http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2057893/posts#comment Thu, 7 Aug 2008 07:51:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2057596/posts FORGET those plans to have a third child for the country because further increases in the birth rate could harm the economy, the nation's productivity watchdog has warned. A major analysis of the nation's increasing fertility rate said it was at its highest level for 25 years - but the Productivity Commission yesterday warned further increases may aggravate rather than solve the problem of the ageing of the population. This is because it will shift women out of the workforce while they care for babies, depressing labour supply and reducing the taxation base as our population ages, the Daily Telegraph... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2057596/posts#comment Wed, 6 Aug 2008 20:42:02 GMT