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| ELECTION DIARY | Sunday, 12 August 2007 Of six-packs and copped proposals charlot zahra Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi continued with his Grand Tour of Elderly Men and Animals down under this week, culminating with his meeting with Australian Prime Minister John Howard on Wednesday in Canberra.
 The two Prime Ministers have something in common – both will be facing a general election in the coming months, and both are trailing in the polls. Obviously there was no mention of this by Gonzi as he emerged at the end of his 25-minute meeting with his Australian counterpart, preferring to focus instead on the problems being faced by returning Maltese migrants who lose eligibility for a full Australian pension when they decide to retire in their country of birth. The political uncertainty Australia is facing at the moment has left the candidature of Maltese Foreign Minister Michael Frendo for the post of Commonwealth Secretary-General out in the cold, as Howard did not commit itself on whether Australia was supporting Frendo or not. There might well be a new political master in Canberra by the name of Kevin Rudd come November, when the Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will be meeting in Uganda to take the all-important decision for Frendo. So all in all, a rather measly booty for the Prime Minister after a two-week working holiday in Australia (not even a dog this time!) After meeting the equivalent of the entire population of Saint Vincent de Paule three times over, Gonzi did, however, manage to meet with “The Body”, one of Australia’s top 50 eligible bachelors, who is of Maltese descent. Boasting a six-pack, 32-year-old Omar Muscat, who emigrated to Australia 20 years ago, said of his nickname: “I copped it when I got back to Canberra after they put me in the top 50 because I had to take pictures with my top off and that sort of thing. But don’t give this much publicity!” But the trip was not devoid of any political controversy: Labour accused the Prime Minister of copying two of Labour’s proposals during his speech to the Maltese community. Only last week, Labour leader Sant accused the Government of filching another 26 of Labour’s proposals for its pre-Budget document. As the Italians have it, “L’appetito vien mangiando!” Have you noticed anything interesting related to the electoral campaign? Then send an e-mail to Charlot Zahra on:
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NEWS | Sunday, 12 August 2007 PN support in Gozo in free-fall Bortex fires Maltese, hires Chinese Forget the bedpans, let’s talk travel plans… ‘Our pharmacy licences are now safe and more valuable than ever’ AFM calls off search for missing migrants Musicians give hope to immigrants Mangion stands by Pender Place sale Mangion stands by Pender Place sale European gays appoint Maltese activist as policy officer Ostreopsis not an alien species Rockers, relax – cult programme will be back MMA official bluffed with junior to corrupt him Mistake paves way for Marsa hazardous waste incinerator PBS schedule ‘turned into auction’ UTV fracas: Former director to sue priest for libel To Gozo, and beyond Rector wants a ‘Gozitan Lourdes’ in Ta’ Pinu The road to Smart City – over 600m of tarmac through arable land |