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Current Affairs - By Wally

Union up to their old tricks

Qantas cancelled 18 flights today, and it looks likely they will have to cancel more tomorrow.

What are the causes of these cancellations? A pay dispute strike orchestrated by the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA). Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth are all being affected, as aircraft engineers demand a 5% pay rise, instead of the 3% pay rise Qantas are offering.

The Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) president Paul Cousins apologises to the public for flight disruptions.

I'd like to apologise to the Australian flying public, he told ABC Online.

We have been forced into this position by Qantas who seems to wish to dictate an outdated wages policy upon its employees.

But Qantas' chief executive officer Geoff Dixon says Qantas will not be backing down from their offer of 3% pay rise. He even went as far as threatening to employ external engineers to do the work. He also labelled the apology "a joke":

"I think the fact that they are apologising to passengers is a little bit of a joke," Mr Dixon told ABC Radio. "They're the ones putting on this industrial disputation, not us."


"We're not prepared to contemplate 5 per cent," he said.

"We will have a record profit this year but we'll also have in the year coming up in about two weeks time $2 billion more in our fuel bill than the current year.

"Everybody, apparently except the engineers, realise that fuel is almost out of control, that all airlines around the world are making major changes to their business and we have to do the same."

Source: AAP


Wally says: Well done to Geoff Dixon for not backing down to the Union. Qantas has managed to grow its business over the years, adding 8000 jobs. The cancellation of flights is hurting Qantas, and I back their move to employ external engineers if the current engineers refuse to work. A 3% pay rise in the current airline industry economic climate is not such a bad deal, with fuel cost rising and making it very difficult for airlines to prosper.

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Farmers jeer and boo Labor ministers in parliament

Wheat farmers let the Rudd Government know what they thought about the new wheat farming marketing laws. During Question Time today, farmers in the gallery jeered and booed the Labor ministers. It was quite humourous. The Labor ministers looked startled when they received the abuse.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) pleaded with the farmers to calm down and respect the parliament. As Rudd was leaving the chamber, the farmers started chanting "We want Burke", referring to to Agriculture Minister Tony Burke


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Green Light For Kangaroo Cullings

Kangaroos to be distroyed



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Kangaroo culling criticised by Japan

Japanese reporters have lashed out at the proposed culling of kangaroos in Australia. The Japanese reporters see it as a case of double standards, comparing the culling with whaling.

Australia's Agriculture Minister Tony Burke was in Tokyo yesterday, defending the culling


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Ambos are falling asleep at the wheel

The paramedics union have completed a new survey with 350 Victorian paramedic officers participating. The results show that 87 per cent of those who completed the survey feel that fatigue is affecting their judgment when working.

Another alarming discovery coming from this survey is the fact that there have been paramedics who have fallen asleep while at the wheel. Inaccurate drug dosage and even the use of wrong drugs are also due to the officers being fatigued, putting the lives of patients at risk


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East Timor's President thanks Darwin Hospital for saving his life

East Timor President
Jose Ramos-Horta thanking the staff at Royal Darwin Hospital (ABC TV)



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Nine's A Current Affair exposed for inaccuracies

It's about time nine's A Current Affair were pulled up for some of their botchy stories. They are more interested in luring viewers than telling the truth.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found that the licensee of QTQ Brisbane, Queensland Television Ltd, breached the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice 2004 in several broadcasts of A Current Affair about government support for children with autism which were critical of the performance of the then Queensland Minister for Disability Services and his department.

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Australia's cricket tour of Pakistan postponed

Cricket Australia


Cricket Australia and the Pakistan Cricket Board have announced that the tour of Pakistan, which was to take place in April and May of this year, has been postponed.
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Wally's Taking Over

Hello folks,

Welcome to Wally's www.currentaffairs.net.au. I thank those who have posted on this site in the past, but I'll take it from here


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Can't Keep A Good Greyhound Down!

Seems as if you can't keep a good b*tch down, especially a greyhound.

A greyhound who apparently is retired burst back into the spotlight at an English football game. The bright lights, the screaming crowd, it was all set up for the former 11 time winner to reclaim her glory days. The greyhound named Fool's Mile, escaped from her owner Jane Holland, then did four laps around the pitch, stopping the Blackpool Vs Burnley reserves game in the process. The crowd loved every bit of it, and even gave Fool's Mile a standing ovation


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