What Australian newspapers say on Thursday, August 6, 2009

AAP General News (Australia)
08-06-2009
What Australian newspapers say on Thursday, August 6, 2009

SYDNEY, Aug 6 AAP - The most disturbing questions arising from the Ozcar fake email
affair concern the conduct of the Treasury Department itself, says The Sydney Morning
Herald in Thursday's main editorial.

"A picture has emerged of a politically sensitive bureaucracy that is highly attentive
to political needs as a way of maintaining its role at the centre of power in Canberra
and its power over the rest of the federal bureaucracy," it says.

"The arrival of Kevin Rudd as prime minister, with his manic drive to deliver transforming
policy across the breadth of federal power, appears to have compromised Treasury."

The National Audit Offices report presents evidence of policy being created on the
run, resulting in confusion, lax bookkeeping and a systemic failure to seek competitive
bids as the department outsourced work, the editorial says. The report does not follow
Treasury's attempt to shunt all blame to department official Godwin Grech, but found "he
was clearly overworked and under intense pressure to implement a Rudd Government political
initiative quickly".

The federal government's own code of conduct says that lobbying is a legitimate activity,
but it's time for a tougher line on lobbyists, says The Australian in Thursday's main
editorial.

The rise of an "unholy alliance" between former politicians-cum-lobbyists and apparatchiks
on one hand and practising politicians on the other is an alarming development, it says.

"The lobbying code is `intended to promote trust in the integrity of government processes',
but recent revelations suggest it is not working," the editorial says.

"Around the country we see a political culture that entrenches patronage and threatens
to place special interests ahead of the national interest.

"It's an industry peopled by a class of former politicians, advisers, trade union officials
and backroom operators who morph into lobbyists and consultants and pull in the dollars."

Sydney's The Daily Telegraph calls for an immediate and complete review of security
on all Australia's army bases after finding security "incredibly relaxed" at the Holsworthy
base.

Just a day after an alleged planned terror attack on the barracks was foiled, you might
imagine that security at Holsworthy and other military establishments would be tightened
a little, it says in Thursday's editorial.

"But you'd be wrong. Very wrong," it says.

"The Daily Telegraph discovered yesterday that gaining entry to Holsworthy remains
remarkably easy.

"Even worse, security within the base appeared to be incredibly relaxed, with little
blocking visitors."

People with experience of military establishments in the US or the UK "would be shocked
by how less intense is security at our bases".



Swift action to end an alleged terrorist plot demonstrates the abilities of Australia's
law enforcement bodies, the main editorial in The Age newspaper says on Thursday.

"The alleged plot, involving men of Somali and Lebanese origin, to launch a suicide
attack on an Australian Army base was foiled by the prompt concerted action of ASIO, the
Australian Federal Police and the Victoria Police," the editorial says.

But it says the world should beware of failed states that could become breeding grounds
for terrorist groups such as Somalia's al-Shahab, which is allegedly linked to this week's
terror arrests.

"Movements such as al-Shabab flourish when societies disintegrate. Terrorists peddling
paranoid theories find such environments fertile ground; they may even be able to gain
influence in communities far removed from them, if those hearing the message are sufficiently
alienated from their own society to be receptive to it," it says.

"If the alleged plot to attack Holsworthy is proven, that may be what has happened
here. Australia, and the wider world, cannot ignore the fate of failed states.

Former Treasury official Godwin Grech's involvement in the Ute-gate scandal shows the
public service needs review, the main editorial in the Herald Sun newspaper says on Thursday.

Mr Grech's role in the fake email scandal is significant because of his position at
Treasury, "that most sensitive of all departments", the editorial said.

"Liberal politicians, along with (Opposition Leader Malcolm) Turnbull, have been quick
to point out how well they know Mr Grech and how he has assisted them in the past, which
raises the question: Mr Grech has been helpful to the Liberals before. But just how helpful?

"He advised the former Howard government - but just how involved he became with the
coalition in opposition needs to be examined.

"Mr Grech's Treasury career is over, but before his actions are conveniently swept
away as the result of depression over his continuing ill health, the public service needs
to clean house.

"Public servants, especially highly placed officials, are there to advise on policy,
not to attempt to mould it for their own ends."

Australians can look to the arrests of alleged terror plotters in Victoria this week
and be thankful we are served by diligent, alert and smart intelligence and police agencies,
says The Courier-Mail in its editorial.

With the arrests of five men charged with conspiring to do acts in preparation for
an armed attack, we can recognise that the agencies mandated to preserve national security
are vigilant.

But we should also acknowledge the role of those who tip off authorities about suspicious
behaviour, the editorial says.

"Over the past 20 years Australia has welcomed tens of thousands of refugees from Somalia,
mostly families escaping civil war, thug-rule by warlords and brutal religious persecution,"

it says.

"But a small minority numbering in the tens according to authorities have either
brought their prejudices with them or, alarmingly, been radicalised after they arrived
here.

"Many brave individuals in these new communities are keen to weed out bad elements
and readily cooperate with authorities about activity they are aware of or suspicions
they have."

AAP jrd/jl

KEYWORD: EDITORIALS

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