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A letter to the editor of crickey.com.au
You'd think a politician with Peter Dowding's record of failure would have the good sense to take his super payout and go fishing. But no, Mr Dowding, forced out in 1990 after only two years as Premier of WA, and found by the WA Inc Royal Commission to have "presided over a disastrous series of decisions" and to have placed electoral advantage before the public interest, has decided to re-invent himself as a foreign affairs commentator.
Mr Dowding's return to the public arena has been provoked by the forthcoming visit of the Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, to Israel. He sees this as part of a dastardly Zionist plot engineered by me and others to dupe the Deputy PM into compliance with Israeli policies.
I can only assume Mr Dowding doesn't know Julia Gillard very well, if at all. I doubt anyone has ever duped her into anything, and I would certainly not try to do so. She visits Israel, as she visits other parts of the world, to see for herself and make up her own mind. When in Israel she sees who she wants and talks to whoever she likes. There are plenty of critics in Israel of the current Israeli government's policies including the labor members of the Israel Cabinet ( ever heard of Ehud Barak, Mr Dowding), and no doubt she will talk to them.
Mr Dowding says that I "write off those who believe in meeting Palestinian aspirations to live in some semblance of a homeland with some semblance of dignity, as ranting supporters of terrorism." This is quite untrue. I have always been a supporter of a two-state solution, with a viable Palestinian state alongside Israel. I have never accused critics of Israel of being supporters of terrorism - unless they have actually supported terrorism.
So does Mr Dowding support or oppose terrorism? It's hard to tell. He says it's "a serious issue." Then he says "but that applies to the terrorism from people with nothing left to lose as well as State terrorism." What does this mean? That Yassir Arafat, who stole 4 million euros of EU aid money, had "nothing left to lose"? He had plenty to lose, which was why he rejected President Clinton and Prime Minister Barak's offer of a Palestinian state in 2004. Or perhaps that the Saudi multi-millionnaire Osama bin Laden is one of the wretched of the earth? In fact terrorists are nearly always well-educated people from affluent backgrounds. They act not out of desperation but out of religious or political ideology.
Next Mr Dowding suggests that Julia Gillard, Stephen Smith and I are unhappy about President Obama's Cairo speech and that the Deputy PM is rushing off to assure Israel that we don't agree with President Obama. In fact, I thought the Cairo speech was positive, and although I can't speak for Julia Gillard or Stephen Smith I've no doubt they thought so too. There was nothing in it which contradicts Australian policy. President Obama supported a Palestinian state, supporting: "the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own." That is also the policy of the Labor Party and the Rudd Government, which I support.
It's also a policy which I happen to know that most Israelis would support, if such an outcome could be achieved without putting their own safety at risk. They don't believe that to be the case at the moment, and I don't blame them. Perhaps when Hamas and Hizbollah stop firing missiles at Israel towns, that view will change.
Coming back to President Obama's speech - perhaps Mr Dowding missed the part where the President condemned terrorism, saying: "We will relentlessly confront violent extremists who pose a grave threat to our security because we reject the same thing that people of all faiths reject, the killing of innocent men, women, and children." Perhaps he wasn't listening when President Obama quoted the Quran, saying: "whoever kills an innocent, it is as if he has killed all mankind." Perhaps he chose not to hear President Obama say: "Threatening Israel with destruction is deeply wrong." The President also condemned anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial.
Recently in parliament I identified this criticism ( restated explicitly during Obama's visit to Buchenwald), as a pre-election challenge to the current president of Iran. It is to early to tell whether this subtle American challenge will be as successful as the new US policy in Lebanon with the recent defeat of Hezbollah and particularly its Christian satellite.
Anyone who follows Persian politics knows Holocaust denial has been ‘front and centre' in the crucial Iranian TV debates. My comments have focused on Obama's challenge to Persian leaders to repudiate denial's of the Nazi genocide. This together with the internal economic disaster wrought by Ahmadinejad will hopefully lead to his democratic demise.
The way is then open for the US to diplomatically engage and demilitarize Ahmadinejad's missile and nuclear build up.
I suggest that Mr Dowding actually read President Obama's speech, and I also suggest that he do what Julia Gillard has done - go to Israel and find out for himself what is going on there. Then he might not waste his time and Crikey readers' time with absurd conspiracy theories.
Follow the link to read Michael Danby's press release on Prejudice not 'moderated' in Crikey, New Matilda comments
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There was a favourable election report on the Melbourne Ports Victory in the Melbourne Weekly. Click here
Look who is suppporting Michael Danby on August 21. Click here
The Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O'Connor today announced that, if re-elected, a Gillard Government will extend the highly successful Secure Schools Program, which has already improved security at 54 schools across Australia. Click here Michael Danby calls for Liberal candidate for Melbourne Ports to disassociate himself from fake Danby website. Click here Emerald Hill Weekly interviews Michael Danby on rise La Gillarde. Click Here
So, what is Australia's National Broadband Network? Why is it so important and what will it mean for every Australian? Click here
Federal Labor's School Building Program saw the culmination of nearly a decades hard work by Galilee Primary School principal, Frank Cervillo with the opening of the schools multi-purpose hall, replacing a derelict under croft. Michael Danby representing Education Minister Julia Gillard said with the addition to the school precinct, Father Bob McGuire, Father David Hoffman, the local Catholic community and the Catholic Education office now saw Galilee and an adornment to the Catholic Education system. Click here.
Before Australia's Parliament leglislates autonomous sactions against Iran, Australia welcomed United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1929 imposing new sanctions against Iran, adopted overnight in New York. Click here
Danby examines how the Federal Labor Government is addressing Public Housing in Melbourne Ports. Click here
Broadcaster and eminent theatrical producer John Michael Howson writes to Michael Danby on Passports Affair. Click here
Michael Danby, has welcomed the Treasurer's 2010 Federal Budget which is economically responsible and provides relief for the people of Melbourne Ports experiencing cost of living pressures, while also affording additional incentives for saving. Click here
New Salvation Army Crisis Accommodation Centre opened by Michael Danby and Minister for Housing Tanya Plibersek. Click here
Malaysian Militant attacks Danby in Malaysian Parliament, Click here
Michael Danby, argued not to accept the Stern Hu bribery conviction, as it may have been given under duress Click here
Michael expressed his doubts about the fairness of Chinese legal system and its dealing with the Australian citizen Stern Hu. Follow the link to see Michael Danby on Bloomberg TV's 'The Trade', speaking on Stern Hu Click here
Michael Danby criticised Tony Abbott's undignified jibes in front of Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Click here
Michael Danby welcomed the resumption of Middle East Peace Talks and pointed to generous offers made to the Palestinians by previous Israeli leader Ehud Olmert-see map, click here
More than 400 people attended a function at the St Kilda Town Hall on February 15 to pay tribute to Danby's work in the electorate for more than 11 years. Click here
Over 60 Australian Mp's and Senators signed a letter to the Malaysian Government asking to drop the charges against Anwar Ibrahim. Click here
Michael Danby says the ABC wont kow-tow to the Chinese communist party, click here.
Click here to read Laurie Oakes's overview of proposals that would cost the taxpayer $500 million dollars to finance political parties, published in The Herald Sun on the 19th of December, 2009.
Click here to read the speech delivered by Governor-General Bryce on Sir Zelman Cowen's 90th Birthday.
Julie Bishop makes a desperate and out of context attack on Michael Danby. Click here
Michael Danby has called the Liberal Party's recent outburst on Border Security nonsense. Follow the link to see Minister for Immigration & Citizenship, Chris Evans, discuss the recent influx of asylum seekers on Lateline (October 14), click here, or more recently the Minister's interview on the 7.30 Report on the 21st of October. Click here
Michael Danby delivered a detailed speech on New Matilda and Crikey.com declaring them the ‘dark and ugly recesses of the internet' . Mr Danby called on Crikey owner Eric Beecher to explain his publications failure to moderate racist comments. Click here.
Beijing's treatment of minority groups. Says a cover story of the Aust. Jewish News. Click here
An All party delegation to India consisting of 6 mps had their outrage towards the recent attacks on Indian students reported in the Economic Times (of India). Click here
Michael Danby promoted the Harmony Day Walk in the Hindustan Times on the 4th of July Click here and on the same day the Sunday Tribune (of Bangalore) newspaper reported on the delegations outcry at the attacks on Indian Students Click here
25 May 2009: Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Migration Michael Danby, today tabled the 2nd of the Committee's reports into immigration detention. For Michael's tabling speech please click here. Please click here for the media release.
Local area receives Budget millions. Please click here for information on the benefits Melbourne Ports is receiving in the 2009-10 Budget.For a macro explanation of the budget, please see this interview with Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner and this interview with Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Local small businesses were winners in this year's budget. There will be an increase and extension of the Small Business and General Business Tax Break. For more information please see these links to Media Releases from the Minister for Small Business Craig Emerson.
Media Release 1 Media Release 2
The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd blasted Iran's role in undermining the anti racism essence of last week's UN conference, which had the stated objective of opposing bigotry. Click here
New Electoral Commissioner Ed Killesteyn explained that 1.2 million Australians are not enrolled to vote, to see his dramatic opening statement to the Electoral Matters Committee click here.
Chinese Ambassador ticks off Member for Melbourne Ports. Danby welcomes his felicitous response: SMH article, Canberra Times articleForeign Minister defends Danby's appearance at rally click here
Michael Danby today announced that 28 local schools in Melbourne Ports will receive $4 million for minor infrastructure and refurbishment projects under Round One of the National School Pride (NSP) program. Click here
Pauline Hanson drops her bundle appearing on Today Tonight (channel 7) and walks out on an interview over questions about the $200 000 bonus she received, for receiving 4% of the Queensland Senate vote ($2.10 per voter) at the 2007 election click here. To read how Michael Danby exposed her earlier funding rort Click here
The Joint Committee on Migration established a new paradigm for the humane but rational treatment of asylum seekers. Click here.
Clive James, one of Australia's most celebrated expatriates penned the following poem in the Australian Literary Review. September 7 2007
