IS GLOOM AND DOOM NECESSARY?

by Eric D. Butler
Irrational fear is a most destructive force. While it is as certain as the sunrise that growing social disintegration with worldwide instability will continue as long as orthodox finance economic policies are pursued, no responsible person should be promoting the view that the international financial system could completely collapse overnight and plunge Australia into a revolutionary situation with a complete break down of law and order.

As demonstrated by the recent Barings collapse, and traumatic events in Japan, with headline, which states that 'NEW RECESSION FEAR HITS JAPAN' a worldwide collapse of the international financial system could develop almost, overnight. But Australia is one of the best-placed nations in the world to survive such a collapse.

To paint an extreme scenario, a major earthquake could blow Japan off the map, precipitating the collapse of a financial system on a global scale, with the international investors threatening to withdraw their investments unless Australia accepted the type of draconian measures for which the International Monetary Fund is notorious. But the reality would be that in spite of the damage done to the Australian economy, in the event of a major crisis the Australian people are physically capable of feeding themselves, housing themselves, clothing themselves, and operating their industrial system. Self-survival would require that the Australian banking system be re-regulated and brought under the control of the elected representatives of the Australian people.

It is now becoming increasingly clear to a growing number of people that the de-regulation of the banking system has been a major disaster. No less an authority than one of those who first recommended de-regulation, Dr. Fred Argy, an economist who was at one time a member of the Federal Treasury, now expresses doubts about the practical consequences of financial de-regulation, stating that "the truth is that financial markets" have become nothing but casinos, the playthings of speculators.
Dr. Argy warns, "Unless we can tame this beast that we've created somehow, it will devour government independence completely. It will become extremely dominant in the determination of economic and social policy".

Nothing is more important in Australia at the present time than the generations of a grassroots educational programme not only warning the people of what is now threatening, but of outlining a constructive political and economic programme to insulate themselves against what may be happening internationally. As the famous Chinese sage Confucius is reported to have said, "When struck by a thunderbolt it is too late to consult the book of dates."
Rather than becoming fearful of coming events, Australians should welcome them as an inspiring challenge, opening up the possibility of national regeneration.

THE CORRUPTION OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT

by David Thompson
In the past few weeks the role of the Australian High Court has been placed under the political spotlight by the pressure of events. The unanimous rejection of the WA. appeal of the 'Mabo' decision, the retirement of Chief Justice Mason, appointment of his successor, a new High Court Judge, and lastly the Court's decision just last week to uphold Federal intervention in the deregulation of State industrial relations systems has called the role of the Court into question.
The most devastating comments on the role of the Court came from the longest serving Chief Justice of the Court, Sir Garfield Barwick, in an address to the Samuel Griffith Society.

It is almost certain that retiring Chief Justice Mason's interview broadcast on the A.B.C. Four Corners programme will set alarm bells ringing among constitutional experts and academics. Sir Anthony Mason offered the view that the protection of individual rights was better left to judges than to Parliament, and that in areas where Parliament does not act, the Court itself is obliged to act. As a principle this seriously undermines the sovereignty of the Parliament, and elevates the Court's Judges to unelected policy makers who escape personal responsibility for their actions.

It is now undeniable that the High Court has undermined the ability of State Parliaments to govern in the best interests of their constituents, weakening the federation in the Commonwealth's favour. The Western Australian secession movement is increasingly being bolstered by the view that the "indissoluble" Federal Commonwealth has already been dissolved in practice by the transfer of State powers to Canberra, with the High Court merely directing the traffic.

BARWICK'S BOMBSHELL

In a devastating address, the 91-year-old Sir Garfield Barwick demanded a return to the authority of Parliament, implying that political parties, prime ministers with presidential pretensions and even the High Court is undermining democratic government. On the High Court's new position of finding "implied rights" in the Constitution, such as the right " to free political speech, Sir Garfield commented that such decisions have "reduced the sovereignty of Parliament, withdrawn from the community its heretofore democratic control of its liberties and vested it in an unelected and unrepresentative judiciary".

On political parties, Sir Garfield said: "If a parliamentary party is allowed by any means to compel those members of Parliament who are also members of the party to vote according to the prescription of the executive government, the role of Parliament and its relation to the executive as designed in parliamentary democracy is reversed....The impact therefore of the party system is that the Parliament is virtually turned into a rubber stamp in the hands of the executive. Thus while the party system may have provided some stability in government, it has on the other hand drastically altered the relationship of the Parliament to the executive and the control of its affairs by the community itself...."

Barwick also pointed out that the United States Constitution, with its Bill of Rights entrenched, was "founded on a distrust of the community and of the Congress to whom unlimited sovereignty was not given". The fact that the community's rights were written down thus placed their application in the hands of the judiciary, denying the community the democratic control of its affairs through the Congress.

The American Supreme Court, like our High Court, is unelected, and therefore the judges escape personal responsibility for their decisions. If the Australian High Court is to continue in an interventionist, "activist" manner, increasing pressure for election of judges is the inescapable result. The best alternative is to restore the High Court to its constitutional role of interpreting the Constitution.

SELF-GOVERNMENT IMPAIRED

INCREASING DEMANDS OF ABORIGINAL 'INDUSTRY'

Further evidence that the demands of "Aboriginal" groups are of a revolutionary nature is to be found in the fact that, like the revolutionary "green" agenda, the demands can never be finally met, but as each position is conceded by the majority, minority demands continue to escalate. The highly contentious concession that native title does, in fact, exist in Australian law has not satisfied those who pursue the Aboriginal agenda.

In a radical package of reforms essential to achieve reconciliation between Aborigines and other Australians, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission is making a further 113 demands. So outrageous are some of the new demands that even Prime Minister Keating blanched when accepting the recommendations. It is claimed that respect for Aboriginal culture can only occur if a new date for Australia Day is agreed, and new laws are passed to recognise indigenous flags. In addition, seats should be reserved in parliament for indigenous representatives as in New Zealand, where Maori seats still exist.
Some of the more revolutionary demands include regional self-government for Aboriginal communities, and changes to the preamble of the Constitution acknowledging prior ownership of Australia.

If such demands are ever met, this would provide the setting for even more revolutionary demands, like the establishment of separate black sovereign states. Other ominous demands made by A.T.S.I.C. in the report include a treaty between indigenous and other Australians and a form of land tax to fund compensation for Aborigines alleged to have been forcibly removed from their families. Following the High Court Mabo ruling, and then the Commonwealth Native Title Act, the Commonwealth is slowly gaining a stranglehold on administration of land tenure at the expense of the States. Such control would be essential if the Commonwealth wanted to levy a land tax for whatever purpose.

BRIEF COMMENTS

While Mr. Bob Carr can command a tenuous majority in the N.S.W. Legislative Assembly, it is almost certain that he has been denied control of the Legislative Council. As we go to press, counting for the Council continues, but we note that reports indicate that Mr. John Tingle, of the Shooters' Party, has an excellent chance of winning a seat, and Mr. Edwin Woodger, of Australians Against Further Immigration, still has some chance of gaining a seat. Such an amazing result would certainly confirm our view that there is electoral "heat" in the immigration and multicultural issues.

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It is significant that the High Court's decision upholding the Commonwealth Native Title Act under challenge from W.A. has been welcomed by none other than Mr. Henry P. Schapper. Both Mr. Schapper and Dr. H.C. (Nuggett) Coombs, following their deep influence on economic policy to the benefit of the Fabian movement, transferred their interest to Aboriginal land rights. Dr. Coombs, in championing the 'Aboriginal cause, called for a treaty between Aborigines and other Australians. Schapper, in a letter to a newspaper (West Australian, 21/3/95) describes the High Court decision upholding Native Title Act as "a proud, national and historic event". Both gentlemen have given significant comfort to the Fabian programme to fragment Australia.

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In today's Alice-in-Wonderland economics, what was black yesterday becomes white tomorrow. Reducing the unemployment figures was a major objective - at least the "experts" and their political puppets claimed this. But then the economy "took off' and before long there were frenzied warnings that the economy was "overheating". In fact, it was dangerously "on the boil', one of the main causes being the activities of the building industry. Higher interest rates were essential.
Now we read an Australian headline which states that 'SLUMP IN JOB ADS RAISES HOPES OF SLOWING ECONOMY". The story underneath starts with the comment that "The boom in the jobs recovery appears to be over, raising fresh hopes....that the economy has moved to a more sustainable growth path".

We will not attempt to interpret this gobbledygook, but what it indicates is that the world's economies are at the mercy of complete idiots who would be at home at the Mad Hatter's Tea Party in Alice-in-Wonderland. The world's scientists and engineers are able to put men on the moon and bring them back again. But those directing the world's economies are unable to implement a financial policy, which ensures that the true purpose of an economy system is fulfilled: to provide goods and services to consumers at the rate they require them. If there are any economic "experts" who would like to break free from the black magic enslaving them, we recommend that they enrol for the League of Rights' Social Dynamics Seminar.

VICTORIAN SUPPORTERS PLEASE NOTE

(Melbourne Suburban Newspaper Spills Some Beans) from Malvern-Prahran Leader, 5th April
"Professor John Ernst, Head of the Department of Urban & Social Policy at the Victorian University of Technology, states that Victorian families will pay dearly for privatisation (this will apply to other States with respect to privatisation....O.T.) of the electricity industry. He says, 'The Kennett Government has increased electricity costs dramatically, especially with the doubling of the supply charge to $34. The average household is now about $150 worse off, because electricity price hikes have far exceeded inflation. For people who use very little electricity this represents an increase of up to 50%.'
"Professor Ernst claims that these increases are designed to fatten up the S.E.C.V. (State Electricity Commission of Victoria....O.T.) ready for sale to foreign buyers. 'The increases are the only reason why the Government is now able to say that Victoria has expensive power, because a major study in 1991 revealed that Victorian power was then the cheapest of all States.
Victorians should not be conned. The average family will still be about $200 worse off in 1999, even after the Government's reductions. After five years of the privatisation experiment consumers will be worse off, not better off. All this is bad news for ordinary consumers, especially when the publicly owned S.E.C.V. dropped prices by over 20% from 1985 to 1992, a lot more than the Kennett Government is now promising.'

Professor Ernst also attacked the government's claim that lower prices are 'enshrined in legislation'. "'This is simply not true. There is no legislation that guarantees price reductions. Even the Government's open line has admitted this. And after the year 2000, if full competition is introduced, neither the Premier nor the Regulator-General, the industry watchdog, will give a guarantee that prices will not rise"....Professor Ernst says domestic consumers won't benefit from competition. "Ordinary consumers will not invest in the required new meters, which currently cost $1,000 each, for a few cents savings. Low income earners, pensioners, tenants and others can't afford them and working families will hardly sit at home monitoring the half hour price of electricity to flick the switch and save a few cents.'
"'I urge Victorians to become involved with the Public First campaign to stop the sell-offs'."
(Public First has set up local campaign groups and can be contacted on (03) 662 9688.)

FARM DEBT