Australian News

[Australia (TheOne)]

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HERALD SUN
NAVY TO ACQUIRE TWO REPLENISHMENT SHIPS, NOT ONE

The Department of Defence has announced that it will be acquiring two replenishment ships rather then one, as originally intended. As part of the justification for the extra expense, the chief of the Royal Australian Navy said that with the acquisition of more capital ships, such as the two Canberra class LHD's, as well as more submarines, it was paramount to ensure that the navy had the capability to provide logistical support to these vessels at all times.

Further justification was given to the decision based on geography. The two major Royal Australian Navy bases are located on opposite ends of the Australian continent, therefore making it logistically more difficult. One vessel will be stationed at Fleet Base East while the second will be stationed at Fleet Base West. The possibility of a third ship was not ruled out, however the DoD said there were more urgent requirements then a third replenishment vessel. It is hoped that both ships would be in service by the end 2017.

The Department of Defence and Royal Australian Navy are also expected to announce soon a decision on the replacement of the eight Anzac class frigates.

[Australia (TheOne)]

[source: http://z9.invisionfree.com/21c/index.php?s...post&p=22014426]

Prince Phillip Passes Away
Prince Phillip, consort to Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh today passed away in the King Edward VII Hospital after a 3 year battle with cancer. The Prince is believed to have ‘passed away peacefully in his sleep’ in the early hours of the morning with the Queen and the two Prince’s Harry and William at his side. Other members of the Royal Family have since visited the ward on which the Prince spent his last hours. The Duke of Edinburgh was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2012 and despite the best efforts of the finest healthcare around was unable to continue battling. Since the time of the diagnosis, Queen Elizabeth has had little exposure in public with those close to the family revealing earlier this month that the Queen was suffering and was at the Prince’s side every day fighting each battle with him.

A member of the Danish-German House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, Prince Philip was born in Greece into the Greek royal family, but he and his family found himself exiled at an early age. After being educated in Germany and Britain, he joined the Royal Navy at the age of 18 in 1939, the same year he began corresponding with the 13-year-old Princess Elizabeth, his third cousin and the eldest daughter and heiress presumptive of King George VI, whom he had first met in 1934. After the war, Philip was granted permission by George VI to marry Elizabeth. Prior to the official engagement announcement, he abandoned his Greek and Danish royal titles, converted from Greek Orthodoxy to Anglicanism, and became a naturalized British subject. He married Elizabeth on 20 November 1947 and was granted the style of His Royal Highness and the title of Duke of Edinburgh by the King, his father-in-law. He became a Prince in 1957 and went onto father four children with Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

[Australia (TheOne)]

THE AGE
NAVY LEAGUE: AUSTRALIA NEEDS A BIGGER NAVY

The Navy League of Australia has released a statement, addressed to the Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, declaring that the need for an Australian naval build up was never more urgent now then it was before and during the second world war, in the aftermath of the brief battle between China and Vietnam over the Spratlay Islands. While the document does not suggest China is a threat to Australia, it highlights the brief conflict which erupted on Australia's door step as motivation and cause for an increased naval build up.

The document illustrates that China is now making the move from being a passive power, to one that uses force to assert it's will against other sovereign nations, which could be a catalyst for other nations in the region to take up more aggressive policies leading to an unstable scenario in which Australia would need to be prepared to protect it's interests. Although the document does not take a side over the dispute in the South China Sea nor suggest any one country is a specific threat to Australia, it highlights the need for maintaining and strengthening the Australian naval presence in South East Asia and Oceania.

The document goes as far as to declare that Australia needs a fully fledged aircraft carrier, suggesting that the new British Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier be the first option considered, with a recommendation that a minimum of two be purchased. "Such vessels would offer immense capabilities to the Australian Defence Force, and be true objects for projection of Australia's power and influence."

The document, which will be printed in this quarters issue of The Navy, the Leagues quarterly publication, also suggests that the Department of Defence double the order for Hobart class destroyers, and speed up the frigate replacement program, with a minimum of twelve frigates. However the biggest surprise is the call for smaller more versatile vessels. The League believes that a fleet of around twenty-four high-speed corvettes packing a sizeable punch in terms of armaments, would dramatically boost Australia's naval capabilities and ensure Australia maintains an ongoing and continued maritime presence in Oceania and South East Asia.

It is also recommended that the government continue on it's path of further co-operation with South Korea and Japan, and that it also further develop defence relations with Singapore and New Zealand, and build stronger relations with India, envisaging a coalition of nations in the wider Asia-Pacific region.

[Australia (TheOne)]

THE AUSTRALIAN
LABOR PIN HOPES ON RUDD TO RETURN TO GOVERNMENT

With an election around the corner, the Labor party is again looking to former ousted leader Kevin Rudd to return the party to government, after the party suffered a major defeat at early elections several years ago at the hands of a rejuvinated Liberal party under the leadership of Julie Bishop.

Kevin Rudd was ousted as leader and Prime Minister by Julia Gillard in a factional coup which left many voters disastisfied, however Gillard managed to hang on to power two years later at the election. However she was not as lucky third time round, with voters unhappy over her willingness to lie, in particular over the carbon emission tax which drove up the cost of living significantly for most households and businesses, a tax which Gillard vowed to never implement as long as she was Prime Minister. The Bishop Liberal government immediately repealed the tax upon taking office.

Although opinion polls at the end of Rudd's tenure as Prime Minister were less then favorable, many voters still prefer him as Prime Minister. Kevin Rudd has the task of rebuilding Labor's image, so heavily damaged by the Gillard government.

With Bishop's credentials speaking for them self, this will be one of the most genuinely interesting and closest battles for government in recent Australian political history between two popular leaders.

[Australia (TheOne)]

THE AUSTRALIAN
HOCKEY TO TAKE DEPUTY ROLE IF LIBS WIN ELECTION

In a move that can only be viewed as one motivated by popularity, Prime Minister Julie Bishop has announced that should her government be returned to power in the next election, the current federal treasurer Joe Hockey will take up the position of Deputy Prime Minister in addition to his treasury portfolio.

Although an election has not yet been called by the Prime Minister, the political maneuvering has already begun with the federal Labor party moving already to remove Julia Gillard as leader and reinstate former ousted Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as it's leader, in anticipation of the coming federal election.

To declare the Deputy's position will be given to a senior Liberal member, rather then the leader of the National party, which the Liberal party has been in a coalition at federal level for many years, signals that the Liberal party expects it can win the next federal election by such a considerable margin that it will not need to rely on support from it's junior coalition partner.

Betting agencies around the country have already started taking bets on the outcome of the election, with Julie Bishop a slight favorite early on at $1.80, although Kevin Rudd is not far behind at $1.85.

[Australia (TheOne)]

THE AUSTRALIAN
ABBOTT SEX SCANDAL ROCKS CANBERRA


Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Tony Abott

Shockwaves have been sent through the Canberra political landscape this afternoon with allegations of inapropriate sexual behavior by current Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and former Liberal party leader Tony Abbott and several staffers.

A former staffer in Tony Abbotts office, has come out with extraordinary and explosive claims that Tony Abbott made unwanted sexual advances toward her on several occasions, claiming that Mr Abott touched her inappropriately.

It has also been claimed that several other former staffers have given statements to federal police with similar accusations against Mr Abbott, including at least one staff member from Mr Abbott's time as Liberal party leader. With the rumor mill in full swing, one allegation doing the rounds around Canberra today was that Mr Abbott engaging in sexual intercourse with a male staffer undertaking a traineeship in his office, although at this stage it remains unclear whether it was in his current portfolio or during his time as Liberal party leader.

Prime Minister Julie Bishop refused to comment on the allegations, saying that it would be inappropriate for her to make comments regarding the allegations at a time when there is a police investigation into what has been alleged has taken place, and that the media needed to respect that the government and it's ministers and staff are not in a position to make comment. It is understood she has ordered all government members not to speak to the media about the allegations.

More to come on this developing story.

[Australia (TheOne)]

HERALD SUN
ABBOTT SEX SCANDAL WIDENS, MALE STAFFERS COME FORWARD

The sex scandal surrounding Transport Minister Tony Abbott has widened and taken an unprecedented, shocking turn, with four current and former male staffers stepping forward, one of whom claims to have had sex with Mr Abbott.

Three of the male staffers, still working within the Liberal Party but in other offices, have claimed that they have been propositioned by Mr Abbott with inappropriate sexual advances on at least a dozen occasions. All three men said they no longer felt safe or comfortable working in Mr Abbott's office, and moved to other departmental offices within the government.

A fourth man has come forward claiming to have engaged in sexual intercourse with Mr Abbott on more then one occasion. In an interview on the Nine networks A Current Affairs, the man, who no longer is employed after resigning from his position, gave a tell all account. He claimed that he would stay back with Mr Abbott, well into the night, to finish paper work and tie up loose ends. Mr Abbott, it is alleged, would order take away and bring out a bottle of whiskey. On the third such occurrence Mr Abbott made sexual advances towards the man, who did not 'resist'. This 'affair' went on for two months, and the pair even engaged in sexual intercourse in Mr Abbotts tax payer funded vehicle.

Mr Abbott nor his office, would make any comment. The government has said that Mr Abbott will stand down from his position as Transport and Infrastructure minister, while Australian Federal Police investigate allegations of misconduct. "Australian Federal Police will undertake an investigation into claims of misconduct by Mr Abbott, and will determine whether there is sufficient cause for further investigations.", an AFP spokesperson said earlier.

Mr Abbott, who as his time as opposition leader, tried to appeal to Christians across Australia through his own Christian beliefs, is believed to be extremely distraught by the allegations, which are said to have taken a heavy toll on his wife and three daughters. Although Mr Abbott has not made any public statement yet, it is understood he has told the Prime Minister he is not guilty of any allegations of inappropriate sexual advances or sexual harassment. Which political analysts have taken as a 'it's not what he said, but what he failed to deny'. Mr Abbott has hired private security to ensure the privacy of his family is maintained from the media, which has been camped outside his house since the scandal broke.

In a period leading up to an election which is expected to be tightly contested, a political sex scandal was the last thing the Bishop government needed.

Labor opposition leader Kevin Rudd has declined to be drawn into the issue, and has similarly to the government 'banned' his party members from speaking about the matter publicly. "It would be inappropriate for me or anyone in the Labor party to comment on this matter which is now being investigated by the Australian Federal Police. It is a matter for the Liberal party to deal with along with the Australian Federal Police in the course of their investigations."

[Australia (TheOne)]

THE AUSTRALIAN
NT COULD BE MADE STATE UNDER RUDD

Labor Opposition leader Kevin Rudd has announced that under a Labor government lead by him, the possibility of the Northern Territory becoming Australia's seventh fully fledged state would be looked at more seriously then ever before with the objective of making it a state, rather then simply examining the viability of the change.

The Australian constitution has provisions whereby such a change would be legally allowed, and would not require constitutional changes to allow for the inclusion of additional states.

It was also announced that the possibility of 'dividing' up existing states, and creating new administrative boundaries would also be considered, in order to help ease the extraordinary financial strain on some existing state governments. In particular the cost of providing infrastructure and health care for some state governments is excessive, in particular with regards to rural communities and smaller cities beyond the state capital cities. Such a carve up would likely be done in co-ordination with the existing federal policy of population distribution, which aims to build up and develop smaller cities around the country into larger metropolitan and business-economic centers.

The Greens have attacked the plan, saying it is nothing more then the continuation of the urbanization which has occurred in existing major cities, and that this will simply create the same problems and environmental issues seen in major cities, in these other areas.
The Greens and Labor have had deals in place for many years whereby preference votes are given to each other to help each party's candidates get over the line against the Liberal Nationals coalition. However many Labor power brokers are 'fed up' with the Greens antics and demands, in particular during the Gillard government, which severely compromised Labor's policies and political standing, which has lead to strong rumors circulating that Labor will be aiming to form a majority government without preferences from the Greens, in order to have an uncompromisable mandate.