The Governor-General, Michael Jeffery, has spent the Christmas period visiting Australian troops in the Middle East.
He joined troops of the Al Muthanna Task Group for Christmas lunch in southern Iraq, as well as visiting the Special Forces Task Group in Afghanistan, the AP-3 Orion crews, and HMAS Parramatta in the northern Persian Gulf.
The Australian forces are part of Operation Catalyst, described by the Department of Defence as “Australia’s contribution to the safety, reconstruction and rebuilding of Iraq”. [Read more...]
John Howard’s Christmas message adhered strictly to the political messages he has crafted over nearly 10 years in office, emphasising the generosity of Australia’s overseas aid response and lauding the work of non-government welfare agencies.
“Rigorous safety checks of Santa’s sleigh and reindeer” have been carried out and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has provided “dispensation allowing the sleigh to fly lower than 1,000 feet over built-up areas.” 
The Treasury Executive Minute of October 6, 2005 was revealed by The Australian newspaper this morning. It appears to confirm arguments that lower-paid workers will be negatively impacted by the WorkChoices laws. It also appears to conflict with statements Costello made to Parliament in early November.