1. Defence Budget Fears
2. China Rise The Focus Of Rice Talks
3. Citizen To Terrorist A Quick Step: ASIO Chief
4. Indian Nuclear Deal an Explosive Issue
5. Lawyer Fears for ‘Tortured’ Australian
6. All Clear For Uranium Sales To Chinese
7. Thales (France) Plans Takeover of Australia’s Largest Defence Manufacturer
8. Ambassador Scolds Pro-Papua Mob

1. Defence Budget Fears, Geoffrey Barker, AFR*, 2006-03-10

   The federal government’s snap $2 billion purchase of as many as four C-17 heavy-lift military transport aircraft is ringing loud alarm bells about defence acquisition procedures and about the adequacy of the defence budget.
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2. China Rise The Focus Of Rice Talks, Michael Gawenda, Age, 2006-03-11

   China will be the focus of talks in Canberra between US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Japan’s Foreign Minister, Taro Aso. Dr Rice said she was essentially talking about the security challenges that China presented to the US in the region. She expected Australia and Japan to develop a joint approach with the US on security issues involving China.

   • Roundtable with Australian, Indonesian and Latin American Journalists, Secretary Condoleezza Rice, 2006-03-09

      

3. Citizen To Terrorist A Quick Step: ASIO Chief, Tom Allard, SMH, 2006-03-13

   In a frank assessment of the difficulties security agencies face, Paul O’Sullivan said the radicalisation process was “ongoing”, suggesting that ASIO believed more people were becoming attracted to violent extremism.

   • Challenges of Australia’s Security Environment, Director General of ASIO, Paul O’Sullivan, Security Legislation Review Committee, 2006-03-08

      

4. Indian Nuclear Deal an Explosive Issue, Tony Walker, AFR*, 2006-03-10

   Observing Prime Minister John Howard navigate the issue of whether Australia might relax its ban on selling uranium to a non-signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) recalls the phrase “non-core promise”.
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   • More Than One Reason to Draw India into Fold, Leslie Kemeny, AFR*, 2006-03-11
     * Subscription required.

      

5. Lawyer Fears for ‘Tortured’ Australian, ABC Online, 2006-03-10

   Ahmed Jamal, 23, has been held by Kurdish Authorities since being detained while on a pilgrimage to Mecca in 2004. His lawyer, Mr Stephen Kenny, says it was not until the end of last month that Mr Jamal met an Australian consular official.

    

6. All Clear For Uranium Sales To Chinese, Stephen Wyatt And John Breusch, AFR*, 2006-03-13

   China has bowed to Australian government demands for strict safeguards on the use of uranium supplies, paving the way for local producers to start exporting to potentially the fastest-growing uranium market in the world over the next decade.
   * Subscription required.

    

7. Thales (France) Plans Takeover of Australia’s Largest Defence Manufacturer, Spacewar.Com, 2006-03-04

   Thales announced plans for a complete takeover of Australia’s largest military manufacturer ADI. ADI has annual sales of 700 million dollars and employs 2,500 people.

    

8. Ambassador Scolds Pro-Papua Mob, Geoff Elliott, Australian, 2006-03-10

   Australia’s US ambassador, Dennis Richardson, has attacked proponents of self-determination for the Indonesian province of Papua as being out of touch with democratic Indonesia.

    

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