Julie Bishop denies The Guardian article

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ABC News 31 May 2013:

Indonesia has sent another clear message that it opposes the Federal Opposition's policy of turning back boats carrying asylum seekers. Indonesia's ambassador to Australia says his country would welcome whoever wins the election, but has ruled out collaborating on turning back the boats to his country. Nevertheless, the Coalition is vowing to press ahead with its policy to turn back boats where it's safe to do so.

Herald Sun 3 June 2013:

"At no time did I say in an interview ... that the coalition had either negotiated or reached an agreement with Indonesia," she said. "Indeed I said repeatedly in that interview that the coalition in opposition cannot reach agreements with foreign governments."

The Guardian 3 June 2013:

Here is the relevant extract from the transcript of Lenore Taylor's discussion with Julie Bishop:

Lenore Taylor: “On Indonesia, you always seem to say that you have had lots of discussions with Jakarta and you think you could manage the issue of turning back boats. Why do you think you could manage the issue of turning back boats given what Indonesian officials always say publicly? What do you know that we don't know about how about that could be managed?”

Julie Bishop: “Well I am not at liberty to tell you. I have had a number of conversations with high-ranking Indonesian ministers and officials, as has [immigration spokesman] Scott Morrison as has [Coalition leader] Tony Abbott and I am convinced we can work in cooperation with Indonesia to achieve our policy aim.”

Lenore Taylor: “So they would take boats back?”

Julie Bishop: “I am confident we would be able to achieve what we did in the past. The fact is they are Indonesian boats with Indonesian crew and I am sure we can work cooperatively with them and Lenore, one thing you understand about diplomacy and others do as well is the professional diplomats are paid to present, aah, particular views but what goes on behind the scenes can be quite different – what people say privately can be different to what they say publicly, that’s why I am devoting my time to quiet consistent diplomatic messaging and relationships.”

Australian Government helps bring international arms treaty to fruition

More than sixty countries had signed this international treaty in the first 24 hours it was open for signature. The Federal Labor Government can be proud of its role.

PRESS RELEASE BY THE HIGH REPRESENTATIVES OF ARGENTINA, AUSTRALIA, COSTA RICA, FINLAND, JAPAN, KENYA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM

New York 3 June 2013

Seven High Representatives welcome the opening for signature of the Arms Trade Treaty and encourage its early entry into force.

Today, the Arms Trade Treaty will open for signature at the United Nations. This is a welcome and extremely important milestone. It is the culmination of seven years of efforts to achieve a comprehensive Treaty to set common standards for effectively regulating the international conventional arms trade. The Treaty clearly shows the commitment of the United Nations to human rights and international humanitarian law.

We, the High Representatives of the seven co-author countries of the UN General Assembly Resolution on the Arms Trade Treaty, are heartened by the large number of States that will sign the Treaty today, many of which will be represented at Ministerial level.

It is vital that the Treaty comes into force as soon as possible and is effectively implemented. It is only then that the international community will have an effective tool to address the unregulated and illicit conventional arms trade that causes unspeakable human suffering throughout the world and undermines peace, security, stability and human rights. The co-authors, mindful of the many challenges that still lie ahead, will continue to work hard with other governments and civil society to achieve early entry into force and effective implementation of the Treaty.

We urge all States to make every effort to sign and ratify the Treaty as soon as possible. On 2 April 2013, the UN General Assembly adopted the Treaty by an overwhelming majority. We need to carry forward that same commitment now and get the largest possible number of States to sign and ratify the Treaty, so that it can be swiftly and effectively implemented. It is only then that the Arms Trade Treaty will be able to save lives and help achieve a safer, more just world.

Follow on Twitter: #ArmsTreaty #ATT

Hogan, are you with the Knitting Nannas or Nash's Nats? asks Saffin

Hogan, are you with the Knitting Nannas or Nash’s Nats? asks sitting Federal Labor MP for Page Janelle Saffin.

Nationals candidate Kevin Hogan really needs to answer that question soon - for his ability to represent those Northern Rivers communities taking a stand against coal seam gas exploration and mining is in question as reports continue to reveal his political bosses are not in the mood to not listen to party small fry like himself:

* The Coalition has stated that it wants to remove the additional layer of federal oversight for CSG projects should it gain power in September, and create a “one-stop shop” for approvals at state level.

* Worse still was Opposition resources spokesman Ian MacFarlane, whose own electorate of Groom takes in CSG proposals, calling on industry to work to ensure the controversy surrounding the gas sector rollout does not become an election issue.

He needs to further explain how he would rein in both his Coaltion colleagues and the industry given that in May 2013 even the Productivity Commission has observed:

the practices of some resource explorers (and some subcontract drilling operators and others) have tainted the reputation of the industry.

While just yesterday ABC News North Coast reported that an email trail revealed that NSW Liberal MP and Minister for Resources & Energy Chris Hartcher was so eager to accommodate Metgasco that he was determined to grant that company a CSG production lease ahead of approval conditions being established - apparently in an attempt to help Metgasco bolster its faltering share price.

A ploy which apparently worked - because in September 2012 Metgasco's share price did rally before once again beginning its inexorable fall.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-03/foi-csg-ministerjpg/4730022

Update

The Daily Examiner 4 June 2013:

In another revelation, it seems Metgasco did not want to have any announcement about their production licence being granted before council elections on September 8, possibly because of the CSG referendum being held by Lismore City Council.

On 3 September 2012 Citicorp Nominees Pty Limited had 9,996,123 shares in ERM Power Limited which is Metgasco Limited's largest shareholder. This represented 5.93% of all issues shares and made the Commonwealth Bank of Australia its third largest shareholder.

Since then the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and its subsidiaries appear to have divested themselves of the bulk of these shares and the bank ceased to be a substantial shareholder in ERM on 7 May 2013. Has the bank also sold off its Metgasco shares?

Newcastle Trades Hall Council joins Lock The Gate in opposing CSG exploration/drilling in Hunter Valley

Newcastle Trades Hall Council (NTHC) and Lock The Gate 14 May 2013 statement:

The Lock The Gate Alliance looks forward to working with the Newcastle Trades Hall Council, after the peak union body declared it is totally opposed to further coal seam gas (CSG) exploration and drilling in the Hunter Valley.

The motion passed by the Council cites risks to the environment and the community, and concerns for agricultural lands and townships, and supports the NTHC working closely with groups opposing CSG until the unconventional gas mining practice is proven safe.

NTHC Secretary Gary Kennedy said that CSG drilling technology was not proven to be safe. “The dangers to aquifers, the environment and the community are real, with little public benefit,” he said.

“While it is true that there is a shortage of natural gas, this is because we are selling our gas to overseas markets to maximise corporate profits.”

“The NSW Government have not gone far enough to fully protect the environment, landowners, and the community,” said Kennedy.

Lock The Gate's regional coordinator for the Hunter, Steve Phillips, welcomed the involvement of the NTHC in the campaign to protect the Hunter Valley from CSG. “The movement to protect the Hunter Valley from CSG includes residents groups, farmers, vignerons [wine producers], and environmentalists. It now includes the peak trade union body in the region — the Trades Hall Council,” he said.

“People and organisations are uniting to fight coal seam gas, because CSG is a major threat to farmland, ecosystems, waterways, and public health. Propaganda from both gas companies and the NSW Government — through it's laughable CSG “information” website — cannot hide the facts.”

“In Queensland, where the CSG industry has been allowed to take hold, the worst fears of the community are coming true. Gas is leaking up uncontrollably from the ground, and from rivers. Kids are getting sick. Communities are being destroyed.”

“More than 80% of surveyed residents in Tara report health problems since the development of the British Gas-owned CSG field there. Symptoms include coughs, chest tightness, rashes, difficulty sleeping, joint pains, muscle pains and spasms, nausea, vomiting, spontaneous nose bleeds, skin irritation, and eye irritation.”

“Lock The Gate welcomes the inclusion of the Trades Hall Council in this critical campaign to protect public health, agriculture, ecosystems, and waterways from coal seam gas drilling,” concluded Phillips.