Fed: A different look at the week in politics

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Fed: A different look at the week in politics

By Rob Taylor

CANBERRA, Feb 10 AAP - A different look at the week in politics.

PM VS STEVEN SEAGAL?

Prime Minister John Howard almost came face to face with Hollywood's `Under Siege'action man himself this week, just missing Steven Seagal at New York's upmarket PierreHotel.

Seagal came down the hotel stairs and did a double take after eyeballing the waitingpress pack, who were lounging out the front waiting for Mr Howard and chief UN weaponsinspector Hans Blix.

Muttering curses, he vanished back up again, assuming the hacks and cameras were apool of hated paparazzi.

He reappeared minutes amid a phalanx of minders, storming through a side door beforethe lensmen could lift a finger and before Mr Howard and Mr Blix could manage a handshake.

Or perhaps even ask the Seagal meister for an autograph.

DOWNER MEETS FREUD

Was it a Freudian slip? The bulk of the diplomatic community thought so when ForeignAffairs Minister Alexander Downer let slip in a foreign policy speech this week just whoIraq was defying.

Asked about other nations like Israel possessing nuclear weapons in defiance of internationallaw, Mr Downer told the National Press Club those countries weren't as frightening tothe world (except perhaps the Palestinians) as Saddam Hussein.

"Those countries for 12 long years haven't made a mockery of the authority of the UnitedStates, ummm, United Nations Security Council," he said.

PARLY PERKS

Labor was warning of open season on parliamentary perks this week amid a furore overthe loan of $10,000 televisions to Communications Minister Richard Alston and Prime MinisterJohn Howard by Telstra.

The PM and Senator Alston claimed the wide screen sets were helping them come to gripswith the possibilities of digital TV.

But Mr Tanner said based on the government's arguments, Senator Alston could swap tohealth minister and start requesting free cosmetic surgery.

"If the ministers are to get free benefits of this magnitude, reflecting their portfolioresponsibilities, then a range of absurd and ultimately corrupt situations will arise,"

he said.

"We'll have the minister for industry getting a free BMW in order to enhance his policyon tariff protection."

He didn't mention which body parts Senator Alston might be looking to enhance.

NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE.

Federal Agriculture Minister Warren Truss rarely sets Question Time alight, althoughhe does win points for general niceness.

But just what was he getting at this week while trying to rail against Labor statesover drought assistance for farmers?

"In some states, not only are the governments not providing any assistance, but theyare being positively negative," he said.

Yeh, right.

A DROUGHT TOO FAR?

Mr Truss was embarrassed last year when one of his drought announcements extended assistanceto the urbane residents of inner Melbourne in the Darebin shire.

At the time, the minister's office complained Darebin had been included because ofthe rush to get drought assistance to needy farmers.

One spokesman was quoted as saying instead of having hundreds of bureaucrats workingout which areas would get what, the minister had pushed ahead for the good of farmers.

The Senate's Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport committee this week found outhow many bureaucrats it took to come up with the drought assistance boundaries.

Four staff working about five hours - far removed from the hundreds estimated by MrTruss's office.

THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES

One of Parliament House's post-September 11 security measures is a sign in the corridorbetween the cabinet room and the PM's office that warns: "Restricted access, authorisedpersonnel only."

But why, given no one can get into the building without a pass?

Security chief Michael Lucas struggled to explain as Labor and Democrat senators grilledhim in estimates committee this week.

Lucas said the sign went up when it was "noticed" the corridor was a public thoroughfare.

So there were unsafe people in the building?

Well, no. But the corridor was being used by people with visitor passes, and even bysightseers escorted by building staff.

So was the sign policed?

Lucas said if someone was seen on camera lingering or acting suspiciously in the corridor,they'd be challenged, although the sign was not likely to deter anyone with maliciousintent.

So Parliament House is possibly safer and tourists can no longer walk past the PM's office.

FRIDGE SECURITY

For anyone wondering why how those fridge magnets would stop a terror attack, justask Acting PM John Anderson.

"For around a buck for every Australian, I can only say to you that I hope you neverhave to eat your words because an Australian somewhere picked something up, noticed somethingthey might not have otherwise noticed, know who to report it to and thus prevented a veryawkward situation," he said.

Got that?

QUOTE UNQUOTE

"When you leave this job you are free to join the ABC or one of the journalists' thingsand ask the `are you going to rule out or are you going to rule in question' but I'm notgoing to respond to ruling out, ruling in questions," Health Minister Kay Patterson givingLabor Senator Jan McLucas some career advice during a health estimates hearing.

AAP rft/sb

KEYWORD: POINT OF ORDER COLUMN