Friday, August 11, 2006



Little wonder most of us just give up and let the accountant sort out our tax each year. That's given that a Dutch court ruled witches could deduct the cost of spells, curses and magic potions last year - while knocking back a claim for travel expenses on a broomstick ...

Eye on Politics & Law Lords:     Machiavellian moment: Fingers crossed for the new wave
WHEN showbiz lawyer Michael Brereton travels these days he packs his suitcase thoughtfully in order to help customs officers search him at the airport.
"Everything is laundered and folded so they can take it out and I can put it straight back in," says the man who was fingered by the Australian Crime Commission as Mr X.

Divided we stand: Once upon a time, we shared certain ideals and aspirations. Divided We Stand
With no shortage of ideas for providing affordable housing, it’s only the political will that’s missing, argues John Spoehr Waking up to a great Australian nightmare ; Amid peaceful yearnings and warring impulses emerges a central question: why do we fight? Each generation confronts this issue, and each generation's answer helps define the national character of this country. Why We Fight


Tax haven suspects may face money laundering charges [It's the ultimate story Celebrity lawyer blames ex for sex, drug and tax claims ; The IRS routinely pursues and shuts down promoters of these scams and is currently investigating high wealth individuals and their associates hoping to boost government coffers by $615 million over the next four years. In fact, the IRS recently announced that it would spend $272.8 million over next four years investigating and prosecuting under Operation Wickenby, which looks into alleged fraud involving the use of offshore entities. Operation Wickenby ; More people stand to be charged with tax offences after three company directors were arrested in Queensland for allegedly dodging tax of $6.6 million. Offshore 'tax scam' charges laid ]
• · A SENIOR judge yesterday expressed dismay at the increasing number of women aged in their 30s and 40s who were coming before the courts on fraud charges. More female frauds ; AUSTRALIA’S first wealth survey in 100 years has found our richest 20 per cent own 60 per cent of all assets, while the poorest 20 per cent own just 1 per cent. The Australian Bureau of Statistics Social Trends survey released this week also found that over the past 20 years, housing has replaced food as the biggest expense for families with young children. Women under 40 warned on super
• · · In his book ‘Thriving on Chaos’, Tom Peters says: “involve everyone in everything – truly involved people can do anything”. Many people now experience major change in their workplace, so that is has almost become a way of life and therefore it is even more important for us to know how best to deal with change, and motivate those who need to change with us. Consultants Emily Lawson and Colin Price have identified that while programs designed to improve organisational performance abound, they are difficult to carry out. Success depends upon the ability to alter the mind-sets of those working in the organisations, before any major change can successfully be adopted. Boiled down to the most basic level, there would seem to be three major elements that need to exist for change to be successful they are - information, support and resources. The problem with psychology ; PDF version: Creating Fantastic Managers…
• · · · By linking scarcity to price, the universal gospel of liberal thought teaches that exploiting scarcity is the fountain of all wealth. Crime, the World's Biggest Free Enterprise ; A new generation of Britain's “super-rich” are moving to the French Riviera to avoid UK taxes Monaco’s Tax Haven Is 'Home' To 650 British Company Directors
• · · · ·  Book of camps Hitler ; Shazad Tanweer wrote the statement below on his university application form. Five years later this optimistic young man blew himself up with seven others. What changed him? The suicide bomber in his own words