22 - 28 May 2012 – Issue: 413
AUSSIE GUITAR GODS
For those who have rocked, we salute you
ENTERTAINMENT P9
LONDON PRIDE
Getting the lions share in Regent’s Park
DUNKING THE GAMES PLAN Boomers in disarray over pre-Olympics schedule
VOICES P6
SPORT P15
41434
CLAIM YOUR TAX REFUND TODAY! TAX, FINANCIAL AND MIGRATION EXPERTS: Money Transfers, Tax Refunds, Visas, Limited Companies & Accounting, UK Bank Accounts, CV & Job Assistance, Travel Clinic, Shipping, Legal and Umbrella Services
www.1stcontact.com/mast2
EUROPE, AUSTRALIA IS WATCHING YOU: SWAN n
Australia will act as an economic watch-dog to some of the world’s most financially important countries after Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan said he would ensure European leaders stick to their promises and continue to concentrate on growth.
TREASURER Wayne Swan has vowed to use international forums such as the G20 (Group of 20) to keep European leaders to their word in pursuing policies that grow their economies and encourage employment. Asian financial markets were somewhat more stable on Monday after this weekend's Group of Eight (G8) summit, held at US President Barack Obama's retreat Camp David, which acknowledged that growth and jobs must be the "imperative" for the global economy. The G8 includes three countries in the eurozone - Germany, France and Italy. The Australian sharemarket rose this week, after dropping sharply last week on renewed fears that Greece might be kicked out of the single currency union, while the Australian dollar made a modest recovery to 98.55 US cents on Monday after hitting a sixmonth low 97.95 cents on Friday. Mr Swan said the global economy faced "very profound" challenges that had been underscored in recent weeks by further events in Greece and across the European community. "The prime minister and I will continue through the G20 to ensure that European leaders meet their commitments and they do put jobs and growth to their forefront of their decision-making," Mr Swan told parliament on Monday. He reiterated that the government had forecast a 0.75 per cent contraction
0808 141 2314
Thomson says he’s a victim of a lynch mob FEDERAL MP Craig Thomson claims he’s the victim of a lynch mob unleashed by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, after factional enemies in the Health Services Union (HSU) smeared him with claims he misused members’ funds. More than three years after claims were first raised that he used a unionissued credit card to pay for escorts and lavish meals, the MP for the NSW Central Coast seat of Dobell launched an emotional attack on the opposition, Fair Work Australia (FWA) and the media in parliament on Monday. “You have unleashed the lynch mob,” Mr Thomson said, pointing to the opposition benches, after reading out death threats he had received, including one telling him to cut his wrist or hang himself. “And you (the media) have fanned it.” Mr Thomson also questioned the integrity of the FWA investigation of the allegations, saying it was biased and selective and that the organisation’s vice president, Michael Lawler, was the partner one of his main accusers. During an hour-long statement to parliament, Mr Thomson, who was HSU national secretary from 2002 until his election as an MP in 2007, ...continued on p3
beautiful city on Earth | P10 in Europe this year in the budget. He said Australia was not immune from the global instability. "But we do need to remember that we have some of the strongest economic fundamentals amongst developed economies," he said. Economic growth and jobs had been
the government's "imperative" from day one of the global financial crisis, he said. Commonwealth Securities chief economist Craig James said fear rather than fundamentals had driven financial markets over the past two months.
"Investors remain worried about how the European crisis will play out, and are especially fearful about the risk of Greece exiting the euro area," he said. However, from Australia's ...continued on p3
ON SALE FRIDAY 9AM!
LONDON O2 SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIRE WEDNESDAY 11TH JULY MANCHESTER O2 APOLLO MONDAY 16TH JULY BUY AT TICKETMASTER.CO.UK SEETICKETS.COM www.coldchisel.com
A Live Nation presentation in association with CAA