Burning the Australian Flag

[donnashuggy]

Is going a bit far isn't it?

Or is it fair enough do you think?

[red_wolfey]

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@**meep** wrote:

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@red_wolfey wrote:

I'm sorry......it worked with germany.

Funny you accuse the Guardian and the ABC of witholding information for political purposes considering that is what happens with boat arrivals and the LNP.

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I was simply responding to AM's comment about the article making some good points.

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Or the witholding of the news of the  union slush fund until Gillard was PM.......how long was that held for?

Abbott should have told the truth instead of chest beating.

'I am sorry but this spying was done by the former Government and I am only just aware of this'

"I am sure you are listening to us and hopefullly we can both comeup with  a cooperation and work through this'

It's part truth with a sorry and it digs in to the Labor party.

[**meep**]

No doubt mindful of the fact the phone tapping program was in place during Labor's time in office, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten lent his support to the Government.

"This is indeed a 'Team Australia' moment. We need to walk this road together," he said yesterday.

Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek supported the bipartisan approach when she fronted reporters this morning.

"We are absolutely committed to working with the Government to restoring good relations with Indonesia," she said.

"[We are] absolutely willing to support any moves they make to restore the relationship to its normal footing."

However, she said Australia's relationship with Indonesia had been stuck in a downward spiral since the election.

"We need to work on a relationship that's been stressed for some time and is now at a very strained stage," she said.

"We need to make sure the difficulties between us don't fester and that we very quickly restore good relations between our nations."

Tanya Plibersek was asked this morning on the Today Show whether Tony Abbott should apologise.  Her answer was similar if not the same as the above.

[**meep**]

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@donnashuggy wrote:

Is going a bit far isn't it?

Or is it fair enough do you think?

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What do you think about the bipartisan approach?

Do you think Australia should apologise?

[izabsmiling]

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@red_wolfey wrote:

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@**meep** wrote:

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@red_wolfey wrote:

I'm sorry......it worked with germany.

Funny you accuse the Guardian and the ABC of witholding information for political purposes considering that is what happens with boat arrivals and the LNP.

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I was simply responding to AM's comment about the article making some good points.

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Or the witholding of the news of the  union slush fund until Gillard was PM.......how long was that held for?

Abbott should have told the truth instead of chest beating.

'I am sorry but this spying was done by the former Government and I am only just aware of this'

"I am sure you are listening to us and hopefullly we can both comeup with  a cooperation and work through this'

It's part truth with a sorry and it digs in to the Labor party.

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What makes you sure that the truth is that he is only just aware of it? He was an MP then and is our PM now.There is some eye opening info around!

Five Eyes spying alliance will survive Edward Snowden: experts

Date July 18, 2013

•  

Britain needed US intelligence to help thwart a major terror attack. New Zealand relied on it to send troops to Afghanistan. And Australia used it to help convict a would-be bomber.

All feats were the result of a spying alliance known as Five Eyes that groups together five English-speaking democracies, and they point to a vital lesson: American information is so valuable, experts say, that no amount of global outrage over secret US surveillance powers would cause Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to ditch the Five Eyes relationship.

 http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/security-it/five-eyes-spying-alliance-will-survive-edward-snowden-exper...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UKUSA_Agreement

The United Kingdom – United States of America Agreement (UKUSA, /juːkuːˈsɑː/ ew-koo-sah)[1][2] is a multilateral agreement for cooperation insignals intelligence between the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The alliance of intelligence operations is also known as Five Eyes (FVEY).[3][4][5][6]

http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/security-it/five-eyes-spying-alliance-will-survive-edward-snowden-exper...

A report by the US National Security Agency, released by whistleblower Edward Snowden, yesterday revealed a joint operation to monitor the phones of Indonesian officials during the UN climate summit at Bali in December 2007.

- See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/policy/fresh-spy-report-angers-jakarta/story-fn59nm...

US shares raw intelligence on Australians with Israel

Date September 12, 2013

• Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/us-shares-raw-intelligence-on-australians-with-israel-20130912-2tllm....

...

as he has rightly acknowledged: national security required consistent determination to do what's best, and his government would support how past governments chose to do that. "Australia should not be expected to apologize for the steps we take to protect our country now or in the past, any more than other governments should be expected to apologize for the similar steps that they have taken," he said.

[***super_nova***]

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@red_wolfey wrote:

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'I am sorry but this spying was done by the former Government and I am only just aware of this'

"I am sure you are listening to us and hopefullly we can both comeup with  a cooperation and work through this'

It's part truth with a sorry and it digs in to the Labor party.

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They cannot do that; these sorts of national security matters are always bi-partisan, while this particular thing happened under the Labor government there is no way TA can say that it has nothing to do with him; he would have been there and approving it.

The situation between USA & Germany is totally different than between us and Indonesia, on every level.  The LNP has been treating Indonesia with total disrespect, demanding and ordering them around.  If TA immediately contacted Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, grovelled bit and expressed regrets, it could have been OK.  But TA has absolutely no understanding of Asian society, he has no idea about diplomacy.  Writing letters is the stupidest idea, he should never put any promise or apology in writing.  He has to get on the phone, he has to get off his high horse and stop insulting the Indonesians. 

[**meep**]

Has he written a letter?

[izabsmiling]

Our PM received one apparently.Not sure if he has responded yet.

It's a difficult situation.A phone call ...and much earlier may have been the better way to go.

Indonesia’s intelligence agency chief, Norman Marciano, told reporters Wednesday that he had been assured by Australian intelligence officials that the wiretapping has stopped and will not resume.

A spokesman for Australia’s top spy agency, the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, declined to comment on Marciano’s claim of such an assurance. The spokesman refused to be named, citing ASIO policy.

Marciano spoke before attending a meeting called by Yudhoyono to discuss the issue with Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa and Indonesia’s recalled ambassador to Australia.

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/australian-pm-promises-to-do-everything-he-reasonab...

[cherry*135]

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@**meep** wrote:

Has he written a letter?

 _____________________________________________________________________________________________

I don't think he has yet, but it will be a secret when he does so we may never know. What is he going to put when he does write back  'No comment'?

Mr Abbott used his statement to the House, shortly after Mr Yudhoyono's press conference, to again stress his "deep and sincere regret" over the embarrassment suffered by the Indonesian president.

"The president indicated that he would shortly be writing to me," he said.

"I'd like to reassure the House that I will be responding to the president’s letter swiftly, fully and courteously.

"As always, I am absolutely committed to building the closest possible relationship with Indonesia because that is overwhelmingly in the interests of both our countries."

[**meep**]

He received that letter this morning....^^^^

[izabsmiling]

Just watching abc news24.It was suggested that a phone call now in reply to the letter rather than something in writing may be the better way to go...so that it doesn't become public .