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WESTRALIA WIND-UP
Wednesday, 25 August 2004
Citizens Dying - WA government still lying. Another Dead. - RIP.
While the WA goverment continue their cruel stalling game, denying responsibility and legitimate workers compensation entitlements, yet another former Kimberley Agricultural Dept worker has died. Sitting in his kitchen, his wife discovers him; Dead sitting there. The man was lucky if he reached 50 years.
Much the same scenario as the previous former worker. His daughter called for her father, no answer, ...found him dead on the front porch.
...Still the assholes in the WA government say there is no evidence of improper supply of chemical and no evidence of causing ill health, apart from the possibility of cancer!
The likes of Agricultural Minister Kim Chance and premier Giddy-up Gallop should be utterly ashamed of their part in downplaying these criminal killings of innocent citizens.
Does the widow qualify for a cheque? Probably does.
Much the same as John Steinbeck's, Grapes of Wrath, let the bastards die first before the WA government acknowledges their suffering.

Westralia.Net offers condolences to the family.

Posted by Westralia.Net at 9:56 PM JST
Updated: Wednesday, 25 August 2004 10:01 PM JST
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Wednesday, 11 August 2004
Only one (1) poisoned worker's claim paid.
It was revealed on August 6 that one of the many Workers Compensation claims for the poisoned Kimberley chemical sprayers has been paid, despite more than 40 already dead. Incredibly this is six months after Agricultural Minister, Kim Chance told the long suffering and dying former workers that their claims would be "Fast-Tracked". We know of claimants who have fought the WA Insurance Commission all the way, and have still received costs within 6 months! Yet Kim Chance says our boys are being Fast-Tracked.
See our "How to Help" page on our DERBY DIOXIN section for more very revealing questions about how the WA government has stifled fair assessment of the workers' claims.
Most of the workers have no idea who the successful claimant is. However keep in mind that if this worker has been on Social Security payments due to his/her illness, they will be obliged to repay those payments to CentreLink. Meanwhile more workers will die.

Posted by Westralia.Net at 1:47 PM JST
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Wednesday, 21 July 2004
Black-Balled by Attorney General's Staff
From the Desk of WESTRALIA.Net CEO: As I have on-going unfinished business with the WA government's Attorney General's office, I must comment on how nice it is to be a known commodity.
Now when I announce myself, I am always told the person I wish to speak is not there, or "the systems down", so they can't give me any information. However if someone else calls on my behalf the person who has been missing for weeks has suddenly beamed back into the office to take the call. It must be a big disappointment for them to find it is really me, still waiting for answers for the government to explain the alleged illegal conduct and criminal activity of government bureaucrats.

Posted by Westralia.Net at 1:34 AM JST
Updated: Sunday, 1 August 2004 2:44 AM JST
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Wednesday, 23 June 2004
"...LIGHTS, CAMERAS, ...ACTION!"
WESTRALIA.Net CEO finished filming yesterday with Toronto-based film producer, Niv Fichman. After completing films this year with Robert Redford, and another with Isabella Rosselina, he headed this way to find some of the dirty deeds done by the WA government involved in the poisoning of its own citizens. Interestingly he heard about the CEO's problems from some of the gang at U.S. Department of Energy and University of Chicago's Argonne National Laboratory who had been using the world's largest electron accelerator to discover a related mystery. See Argonne National Laboratory here.
Niv and associates were told, "You want to see problems, go out to Western Australia and see this guy". It was an expensive exercise shooting in state of the art High-Definition, but he had to come all this way to find something that couldn't be found anywhere else in the world. Such are the far-flung implications of the WA government's treatment of its own citizens.
We can't let the cat out of the bag and tell you the story, otherwise that would spoil the movie when it comes out next year, but needless to say WESTRALIA.Net goes far and wide to draw attention the immoral corruption we are forced to face here.
The film has already been pre-sold to an Australian National broadcaster, and other international broadcasters and film circuits.

Credits to our local Westralian film crew: Simon on Camera, Nig the Wig on Lighting, Scott as Sound technician, and Leonora on Production Admin. All mentioned in glowing despatches back to Toronto HQ.

Posted by Westralia.Net at 4:46 PM JST
Updated: Friday, 9 July 2004 7:44 PM JST
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Friday, 11 June 2004
HEALTH OFFICER
Marie Ryan has accepted the post as WESTRALIA.NET HEALTH OFFICER. See her profile on our "Government" page. It was Naomi Segal, Marie and other parents affected by mandatory chemical spraying with substances banned elsewhere that succesfully altered the regulations allowing WA to finally catch up with the rest of the educated world about the dangers of organochlorine chemicals. Media reports from the time illustrate how the WA Health Department had to be dragged "kicking & shouting" about the chemicals' alleged safety. Unfortunately by the time Marie and associoates won their campaign many Westralians parents and children unnecessarily suffered sometimes horrendous consequences of the WA governments concerted denials.

Posted by Westralia.Net at 12:42 PM JST
Updated: Friday, 9 July 2004 7:49 PM JST
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Tuesday, 11 May 2004

Corruption and Crime Commission Defines FORTIFICATION


Further to our previous WIND-UP story about the the biker gang being served a Fortification Notice, the crew at WA governments Corruption and Crime Commission have responded to our inquiry; "What is the definition of FORTIFICATION?" Ms. K of CCC responds: The CCC definition of "fortification" is set out in section 67(1) of the Corruption and Crime Commission Act 2003 to mean "any structure or device that, whether alone or as part of a system, is designed to prevent or impede, or to provide any other form of countermeasure against, uninvited entry to premises". So back to our original pondering; Could WA government departments be defined as "FORTIFIED". It appears that the answer is YES. Now to the part (b) of the aforementioned Fortification Notice that refers to people within being reasonably suspected of engaging in criminal activity. Some at WESTRALIA.Net do certainly and reasonably suspect some people in the WA government fortifications to be involved in organised criminal activity. ...Even to the point that we have submitted lengthy police statements alleging same.

Posted by Westralia.Net at 8:22 PM JST
Updated: Wednesday, 12 May 2004 8:27 PM JST
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Sunday, 9 May 2004

The AAA Comes To Town


Yesterday a new group was formed called the Alumina Action Alliance. The group is a consolidation of interests from the Consevation Council of WA, the Yarloop and Districts Concerned Residents' Committee, the Kwinana Progress Association, the Kwinana Watchdog Group, The Alumina Widows and Workers Association, and the Wilderness Society. The main thrust of the AAA is the concern about the WA government supporting expansion plans of Alcoa and Worseley, while there exist so many unanswered questions about the illnesses and deaths of workers and nearby communities of existing alumina facilities. AAA has written to Premier Geoff Gallop calling on the State Government not to support the expansion plans and to hold a public inquiry into the pollution and health effects. Alliance spokesman Tony Hall said there should be no environmental approval for alumina refinery expansion until it could be proved beyond doubt there would be no further harm to workers or nearby residents. "It is shocking that the companies are pushing ahead with these plans and alarming that the Government has so quickly pledged its support while the health issues are still generating so much concern and are yet to be fully explored," Mr Hall said, For further details about the Alliance readers can contact Tony Hall on: 0400 099 446 or Michael Southwell on: 0400 114 125

Posted by Westralia.Net at 5:45 PM JST
Updated: Tuesday, 11 May 2004 11:37 PM JST
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Tuesday, 4 May 2004
Fortification Notice
Luke Eliot wrote in the West Australian last month about the Gypsy Jokers biker gang again attracting attention of the WA Police, this time about the police previously serving a "Fortification Notice" that obliged the GJ's to satisfy the police that it was NOT heavily fortified. Gypsy Jokers simply provided a key to the police to counter any claim of fortification. The GJ rep made the point that all the WA Services had a key to read the Water meter, Gas meter and the like. So it is a little difficult to say your holding the fort, while handing out keys to the front door.
The police Commissioner originally applied to the Corruption and Crime Commission for the Fortification Warning on the grounds that the premises are "heavily fortified and habitually used by a class of people reasonably suspected of being involved in organised crime".
Gypsy Jokers say the security cameras and 1.8m wall are simply to protect their toys from being stolen.
The story goes on to say that the real challenge for the gang will be to disprove part (b) of the notice; That the clubhouse is habitually used by significant number of people suspected of organised criminal activities.
...So what's the WIND-UP point of this story?
Take a look at our Whistlers' Corner, see the WA Criminal Code extracts. These are the criminal activities that we believe have frequently been breached by officers of the WA government. Like the Health Dept., Dept. Of Environmental Protection, to name some of the most regular culprits that often raise our suspicions. Are these Departments fortified? What is the definition? Well, they just don't let you walk in.
... And what of the record of some of the churches?
Some look like forts, and let's face it, one particular church has the dubious distinction of what seems like more allegations, charges, and convictions for criminal activity of (organised and concealing) criminally physically and sexually abusing more people than any other entity in modern human history.(Well, maybe discounting the Nuremberg Trials)
So why pick on the Gypsy Jokers?
WHY NOT START AT THE TOP? If one really wants to benefit society, that is the correct place, so as to lead by exemplary example. ....Dream on for real leadership.

Posted by Westralia.Net at 1:38 AM JST
Updated: Wednesday, 5 May 2004 3:09 PM JST
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Monday, 26 April 2004
Corruption and Crime Commission Flooded with Gripes.
Yesterday's Sunday Times carried a story by Peter Law about the new Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) being flooded with complaints in its first 100 days of operation. The CCC takes over from the "useless as teats on a bull" Anti-Coruption Commission (ACC). Chief CCC consulant Matthew Byrne is quoted as saying, "There is always a flurry of complaints when a new body is established..., ...but we didn't think it would be this many".
This illustrate that even the professionals in the firing line have no idea about the size of the problem here.
The story goes on to state that the CCC had found about half its expected 150 staff members and the Commission would be fully operational by July.
Westralia.net is astounded that they require 150 staff to investigate the estimated amount of WA Government corruption. (We have such a small population). Now they find the number of cases is going to be larger than originally thought.
One ponders if the CCC will ever be able to get the tiger by the tail.
So far it seems they have only catered for dealings with a slightly feral moggy.
Big mistake. The offending entity is an evil beast.
Of course many cynics will believe that the CCC will be held on a very short leash, or become corrupted itself, thereby become part of the evil.
What a challenge Mr. Byrne and his collegues will face, just keeping their head above the rising cesspool of muck.
We believe the CCC had better make hay while the sun shines. At least while WA has a relatively reformist Attorney General.

If you want to read what the ethics requirement should be, you can go to our INTRODUCTION page. Click on the GRIM REAPER and "see the facade he hides behind". It is unfortunate that so, many, many people will find the statements on ethics on the linked CCC site a cruel and sad joke.
Frequent breaching of these standards over the years has cost many people their health, families, and lives.

Posted by Westralia.Net at 10:47 PM JST
Updated: Monday, 26 April 2004 11:14 PM JST
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Saturday, 24 April 2004
...Maybe Alien Abductions?
The ABC Radio program "Australia Talks Back" about the WA gov workers' poisoning was postponed on Wednesday while more research is undertaken, however we do expect it again this Wednesday 28th at 4pm Westralia Time, 6pm Australian Time.
That brings us to another question of why the WA government chose Bruce Armstrong to review Professor Andrew Harper's report on the poisoning of the workers in the Kimberley?
Bruce armstrong was a former WA Health Commissioner. We believe this is a direct conflict of interest.
Additionally this is what he wrote in The Medical Journal Of Australia Vol.140, No.7, p388, about Birth Defects and Vietnam Service:

"Chemical exposure, however may not have been the only possible relevant aspect of Vietnam service. Could specific, potentially teratogenic, infections (for example, cytomegalovirus or herpesvirus infections, toxoplasmosis, or syphilis) have been acquired and subsequently passed on to the mother? Concern has also been expressed about the emotional and behavioural effects of Vietnam service. It is conceivable a disturbed man, prone perhaps to excess alcohol, would adversely affect the emotional and nutritional well-being of his pregnant spouse and her intake of potentially teratogenic agents - alcohol, tobacco smoke, and mood-altering drugs. Thus, while direct teratogenic effects of paternal exposures may seem far-fetched, indirect paternal effects cannot be dismissed."

While he is supposing STD's, smokin' & drinkin' of the men, and recreational drug use of the wife, we wonder why he didn't throw in Alien Abduction for good measure.

Posted by Westralia.Net at 11:04 PM JST
Updated: Saturday, 24 April 2004 11:19 PM JST
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Thursday, 15 April 2004
More ABC Radio Coverage
In addition to BACKGROUND BRIEFING on Radio National (AM band - 810)after the news at 9am on Sunday April 18th, Listen to AUSTRALIA TALKSBACK on Wednesday April 21st at 4pm in Westralia, 6pm in Australia. Derby Dioxin's 20 year crusader, Carl Drysdale will be interviewed.
You can ring in too, to voice how lousy the WA goverment have been in the treatment of their own workers. The talkback number is: 1800 802 341
Go forth citizens and speak!

Posted by Westralia.Net at 4:30 PM JST
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Tuesday, 13 April 2004
ABC Radio National "Background Briefing"
As Westralia.net has been keenly interested in the chemical poisoning of the WA government workers in the Kimberleys, Westralia Wind-Up readers should tune in to ABC Radio National's (RN) "Background Briefing" program after the news at 0900 on Sunday April 18. Mark Horstman, Science Reporter for RN and TV's Catalyst, advises this program will be repeated at 1900 on Tuesday April 20th. The program has been researched and put together by Mark.
We will run a link to the transcript when it is available later that week.
For the record, the Catalyst science TV science program has previously run another story about Westralia.net co-founder, Frank Hansford-Miller, entitled; "Cloning Frank".

Posted by Westralia.Net at 7:57 PM JST
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Wednesday, 31 March 2004
Ask no questions, ...find no evidence. How convenient.
Yet another poisoned former WA Government worker from Derby died last week, and another over Christmas (R.I.P. Brothers).
We will keep fighting for you.

Westralia.net is still asking, and has still received no answers from our earlier questions to Agriculture Minister Kim Chance.
The biggest question is why does the WA Government spend so much money when they simply refuse to properly investigate the scores of premature deaths and debilitating illnesses.
The so-called Expert Medical Panel simply dismisses the evidence of ridiculously so far off-spec 245T with extreme dioxin content(really "toxic waste", not production herbicide) being supplied to the Kimberly workers. Bruce Armstrong says he found no evidence. Well, check out the following transcript and footnote.

Courtesy of ABC TV's "7:30 Report":
MICK O'DONNELL: Both the Queensland Forestry workers and the Kimberley spray gangs believe they were victims of a rogue batch of the chemical dumped in Australia during the Vietnam War.

CARL DRYSDALE, KIMBERLEY AGRICULTURE DEPT WORKER: All of a sudden we got all of these drums and then we asked where they came from.

MICK O'DONNELL: Most of the 245T the Derby workers used had come in drums like this one, clearly labelled by the Kwinana Company which sold it to the Agriculture Protection Board.

But the batch which arrived in Derby in the early 70s was unlabelled, in second hand drums.

CARL DRYSDALE: The original stuff was sort of like a honey consistency or an engine oil consistency and this stuff was dark brown with silvery coloured streaks through it.

MICK O'DONNELL: And remarkably, workers on the other side of the country also recall a similar strange batch of the chemical arriving in the early 70s.

SID ARMSTRONG: It was a black, sludgy looking stuff.

It looked like a black treacle.

MICK O'DONNELL: And those descriptions sound remarkably like the sample Canberra professor of chemistry Ben Selinger hunted down when he investigated a rogue batch of 245T in 1981.

EMERITUS PROF BEN SELINGER, AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY: The sample we had of the fire damaged stock was black and viscous and not like you'd expect pure 245T to look.

MICK O'DONNELL: The mystery of the rogue batch takes us back to this plant, south of Perth.

Chemical Industries Kwinana was importing 245T during the Vietnam War.

A report by the Tariff Board in 1971, tabled in Parliament, found the company was importing fire damaged 245T from Singapore, dumped here at low prices.

EMERITUS PROF BEN SELINGER: Fire damage, particularly at the stage it was being transformed at in Singapore, would increase significantly the levels of dioxin in the 245T.

MICK O'DONNELL: Is it possible that some of that ended up in the Kimberley, used by those workers?

PROF BRUCE ARMSTRONG: I think it's certainly possible.
We found no evidence of it but nobody seems to know what happened to it.

READERS, PLEASE NOTE:
Professor Bruce Armstrong did not meet or interview any of the affected workers in Derby, nor did he access their medical records held there.
"We found no evidence.."
He clearly states in his report that the Panel did not call for submissions and none were received. Similarly, the Panel did not seek to interview any APB workers.
...But still the experts managed to gain five (5) psychiatric reports on the affected workers!
Absolutely stunning stuff!
Come on people, where's the critical analysis of this joke?

Bruce, you won't find evidence if you refuse to look or ask questions.
...but then again, maybe you knew that already.

We have been told the cost of this is around $160,000.
Bloody great inquiry paid for by the WA public while our poisoned citizens continue to die.
Shamefully sad.

These people today, your children tomorrow.

That sounds dramatic, but this is why we are here, because as you can see, there is no sign from the WA Government that lessons are ever learned year in year out.
Why face problems when you can sweep them under the carpet? ...so it will continue to the next generation. Why shouldn't it?
Wittenoom asbestos M.O. lives on. People die.
What are you going to do about it?

Posted by Westralia.Net at 12:08 AM WST
Updated: Wednesday, 31 March 2004 12:24 AM WST
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Wednesday, 3 March 2004
Feds keep our money. ... Again.
As a follow on from the recent electricity bungle, the National Competition Council (NCC) is about to impose more multi-million dollar penalties on WA for the State's failure to enact electricity reforms.
$41 million was held back last year due to failure of the State to enact other reforms, such as in Retail Trading. The latest indications are this next penalty will be more serious.

Aside from the alleged "good intentions" of the NCC and incompetence of the State government in avoiding these penalties, WESTRALIA.net questions the whole acceptance of this situation.
Dickheads or not, the State Goverment was elected by the people here. Penalaties on the WA Treasury and public, simply because Canberra does not see the policies it wants should not be tolerated.

WESTRALIA.net suggests:
If the Feds in Canberra and the NCC want to see REAL COMPETITION, they should sacrifice their own positions and encourage true competition between the States by returning State Taxation rights hijacked for the Commonwealth war effort in 1941 and never given back.
Imagine.
Firstly, Westralia virtually generates biggest bucks per capita by far. So we need not have any fear of our own poverty.
#2, We, and the Australian States should be rationing our money to the Federal Government for the provision of literally, Commonwealth Services. This was the original intention.
#3, How would Westralia be then, competing with each Australian state for business and generally making Westralia an attractive location by way of provision of services and lifestyle.
Likewise those States would compete with us and each other. You could not short cut on services and infrastructure spending, nor could you over tax the citizens. Whatever provided the best outcome for the citizens would dictate their choice.

That is "National Competition".
This was demonstrated a few decades ago with all systems go in Queensland after they abolished Death Duties. Meanwhile the other States continued to tax you even after you died. They soon woke up when big slabs of tax paying population moved north to Queensland. That demographic shift fueled the development of that state we see today.
No one seems to have suffered due to loss of Death Tax.
Remember, that was the original intention. Not to be raped and pillaged, then every year go back rattling our little cup; "Please Sir, can I have some more?"

...And for Death Taxes, well in the whole scope of humanity, people might actually want to leave a contribution to their own caring society if they knew it would never be wasted. In fact they might even compete to see who would bequest the most.
...But that is another Westralia.net story for another time.

Posted by Westralia.Net at 11:19 PM WST
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More Iron to China - More Big $$$ to Westralia
Congratulations to BHP Billiton's new $11.6 Billion iron-ore sales deal to China!
Together with Rio Tinto's bigger output it is almost like the "Glory Days" of the seventies for our iron producers.

Westralians familiar with BHP Iron Ore's previous life as Mt. Newman Mining Company will recognise WESTRALIA.net's black swan logo as being the obsolete centrepiece of MNM's famous "Back Duck".
BHP kindly provided permission for our continued use.


Posted by Westralia.Net at 1:04 AM WST
Updated: Wednesday, 3 March 2004 10:55 PM WST
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Saturday, 28 February 2004
No Electricity - a good example of DUMB.
After Perth's rolling power cuts of last week or so, the media are still wondering why no heads in State government have rolled.

From WESTRALIA.net's perspective, the big issue here is that WA Government blows the trumpets after securing a $25 Billion Gas deal to supply China's energy market, but has not enough brains to realise you don't put contractual caps on your own gas supplies from your own resources supplying your own city. DUMB.

Posted by Westralia.Net at 5:57 PM WST
Updated: Saturday, 28 February 2004 6:20 PM WST
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Update - Derby Poisoned workers
...And now for the latest slap in the face.
Of the minority of workers who will be eligible for their Worker's Compensation entitlements, they will only be able to receive upto the 1982 (when the saga began) maximum available of around $60,000.
Beter than a poke in the eye with a hot stick, you might think, but not so.
Even if they were to receive today's maximum amount of around $120,000 for lost pay, they are obliged to REPAY all the Social Security payments they have claimed for being too sick to work for all these years.
So after the whole exercise they still get NOTHING, unless they only became incapacitated recently.
Another classic tragedy initiated by the State of WA.

Posted by Westralia.Net at 5:45 PM WST
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Friday, 27 February 2004
Derby - Poisoned workers not impressed.
Today after more than 20 years of fighting, the former state government Agricultual Board workers who were exposed to Chemicals that was supposed to be 245T during the 1980's were told their Worker's Compensation claims would be fast-tracked.
Trouble is, of 90 odd affected workers, 36 are already prematurely dead. Also the WA authorities say it is only the cancer-struck workers who will get the fast-track deal. (Gee Whiz, after 20 years, what's the normal speed?)No guarantees for the others, some who have not been able to work for several years. Minister Chance coceded that perhaps one worker who received contact bindness after only 3 months work will probably get something. He's been blind for nearly twenty years.
The WA gov's "Expert Medical Panel", who didn't even interview or ask for the workers medical records, concluded there is no evidence of a link from 245T exposure to the other debilitating illness suffered by the workers.
We believe that the offending chemical used was no longer in fact production herbicide, but after being fire-damaged had extremely elevated levels of dioxin. If so, it was then "TOXIC WASTE", not herbicide. Sampling evidence and research shows this to be likely, but the WA gov's panel has simply dismissed all eye witness accounts of the product that the gov illegally supplied to their own workers in unmarked drums, telling them, "it was safe enough to drink", when workers feared for their personal safety.
Most of the workers boycotted the meeting, once again feeling well in advance that they were going to be left for dead.

WESTRALIA.net put these questions to Mr.Chance:

How are workers Comp claims going to work when Armstrong says there is no firm evidence of link?

The real issue was not explored: This was not Herbicide, but allegedly "toxic waste" being so far off specification with dioxin content.

The real question of where the rogue batches (as evidenced in the Federal tariff investigation) finished up was simply dismissed.

We know it came in to Australia in large enough quantities. This has been researched by competent people. Where did it go?

We still need to know even if it did not go to Derby. The stuff is a known disaster and it has supposedly disappeared into thin air.

Why were the chemicals supplied illegally to the workers in unmarked drums?

Why were workers' accounts of witnessing completely different physical characteristics of these drums contents not researched?

The same claims by workers in Qld and Vic over a similar period?

What was wrong with Harper's Report?

Why did it need a review?

Why was a specialist used who had already published work in medical journals dismissing Viet vets Agent Orange claims, and went on to supposing blame on the vets and their spouses living habits as a more probable cause of birth defects?

Why is there such a concentration on cancer links, when the symptoms many workers suffer are not indicative of cancer?

How did Armstrong and co. manage a report on these workers when he did not interview them and did not access their medical records?

What was the public cost of the Armstrong Inquiry?

What was the public cost of flying the circus to nearly 2000 Km to Derby, when only about 8 of about 50 workers attended?

More waiting, less answers no doubt.


Posted by Westralia.Net at 10:29 PM WST
Updated: Friday, 27 February 2004 10:34 PM WST
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