Southern Cross News

[TheShammySocialist]

[b]News Clipping - Melbourne Gazette[/b]

[quote][b]Brisbane, USC[/b] - Energex and Energy Australia have reported today that currently about one and a half million people remain without stable power supply. But it optimistically reported saying that most of the electrical grid, especially mainline towers between cities and power production facilities are mostly undamaged. They say that most customers will have power restored within the next ninety six hours, with outlying areas being down for at least another week.

The government has been in constant contact with Energex and Energy Australia, and is coordinating with them in reporting outages of service in areas, to ensure the companies know of critical areas where outages are occurring. The government has made the utilities a critical sector of its early agenda, and has assured the people that these services will be restored as soon as possible. Initial reports have been optimistic and progress towards full utilities restoration appears to be moving forward very fast.[/quote]

[TheShammySocialist]

[b]Public Statement - USC Government[/b]

"Australia has been a historically peaceful land, the unifying forces such as those of the Hanseatics or a successor state such as the Queendom of Australia branded it as such. It has been a edifice of stability and the rights of man which has lit the Southern Hemisphere for a long time. The World has looked to Australia in the past for its diplomatic capabilities, and moral standing in the world. Recent events however have spoiled the reputation of this continent, that was known for its relative stability in a sea of uncertainty and conflict. War and political extremism have spoiled our virgin lands, the land of peace has slowly become a land of war.

Fellow brothers and sisters who call Australia home, I say "Enough!" to such events, to such extremism and conflict. I say it is time that we take a stand against this reputation of conflict that has come from the staining of our continent with the blood of our own brothers and sisters. I pledge to you from a city torn to shreds in a war of brothers against brothers that the Union of the Southern Cross will no longer let this reputation continue to grow, enough is enough. Today I announce the [b]Brisbane Doctrine[/b], drawn up by a joint effort by the Foreign, Defense, and Interior Ministries, in hopes of promoting a stable Australian continent, for a brighter and stable future."



[center][b]Brisbane Doctrine[/b]


[i]Political extremism and terrorism spilling blood anywhere in Australia is a crime against all Australians and will be treated as such by this government. We shall meet any threats that seek to destabilize the Australian continent once again with the courage and strength of our forefathers. We will once again ensure this continent is once again a beacon of light in a sea of uncertainty, we are setting out to make an example for the rest of the world to see. We are building a city upon a hill, as Winthrop said so long ago, and we will do so with the tenacity and steadiness that Australia has always possessed in her blood.

We call upon Australia's neighbors to support us in this righteous stand, help us continue to restore our homeland to the glorious stability it once knew.[/i][/center]

Edited March 26, 2011 by TheShammySocialist

[Triyun]

The United Federation of the East acknowledges and supports this Doctrine. May Australia once again know true peace.

[supercheese]

Pihana supports the doctrine.

[JEDCJT]

"The Union of Indonesia and Malaysia supports this doctrine."

[TheShammySocialist]

"We thank our regional neighbors for their support in this matter thus far."

[TheShammySocialist]

[b]News Clipping - Southern Cross Star[/b]

[quote][b]Melbourne, VIC[/b] - Today the government announced, after meeting with aboriginal tribal leaders from throughout the Union, that the Union of the Southern Cross has announced native law legislation for the upcoming constitution. These measures will include guaranteed rights as first-class citizens of the Union, including anti-discrimination legislation, as well as native range protection guarantees.

This legislation also is rumored to allow the national government to intervene on the behalf of the aboriginal people on any place throughout the continent of Australia. One Interior Services Ministry director, after the meeting, was quoted as saying, "We owe it to the Aboriginal people to protect their rights and their sovereignty in Australia. For years they have been persecuted as second-class citizens, barbarous nomads, this government has said 'ENOUGH' to such treatment. We are committed to an agenda of human rights, and we will defend the rights of our indigenous populations, to preserve their culture into the future, out of true respect they deserve."[/quote]

[TheShammySocialist]

[center][b][size="6"]Government Statement - Implementation of the New Constitution[/size][/b][/center]

[hr]

[center][b][size="6"]Constitution of the Southern Cross[/size][/b][/center]

[b][size="4"]Preamble[/size][/b]

In keeping with the ideas set down by the rights of man, in the hope of preserving these rights, and to protect the sovereignty of the Union of the Southern Cross and its people, we hereby enact this constitution for the Union of the Southern Cross. This constitution shall be enacted to confirm the basic rights of the people are ensured, and define the foundations of the Union itself. This constitution confirms this government's commitment to the basic democratic rights of the people and their freedoms, if it requires amendment to continue fairly and justly representing the people, they shall be accorded to this document.

[b][size="4"]Article I: Rights of the People[/size][/b]

[list]
[*] [b]Section 1:[/b] All citizens of the Union are granted the freedom of speech, expression, and ideas, and the freedom to peacefully gather and protest these beliefs. The citizen may forfeit these rights, however, in the prosecution of slander or hate speech of another citizen.

[*] [b]Section 2:[/b] All citizens of the Union are granted the freedom of religion, and to practice this religion without persecution. Religious gatherings, services, and procedures, so long as they do not breach national law, are allowed.

[*] [b]Section 3:[/b] All citizens of the Union are granted the right to live in a nation free of persecution for their specific gender, beliefs, race, origin, sexual orientation, disability, et. cetera.

[*] [b]Section 4:[/b] All citizens of the Union are granted the right of [i]habeas corpus[/i], and shall not be held without criminal charges that lack sufficient evidence for more than seventy-two hours.

[*] [b]Section 5:[/b] All citizens of the Union are granted the right to evade self-incrimination, and cannot be forced to admit their own guilt by duress or any means otherwise.

[*] [b]Section 6:[/b] All citizens of the Union are granted the right of free press, including the acquisition of newspapers, and the writing of articles, so long as they not prosecute slander, hate speech, or prosecute a campaign of revolution against the government.

[*] [b]Section 7:[/b] All citizens of the Union are granted the right to a fair trial by jury of his or her peers, the right to legal counsel, the right to a timely trial, and the right to not be tried for the same crime twice.

[*] [b]Section 8:[/b] All citizens of the Union are granted the right to be free of illegal search and or seizure of their property, as it is a breach of due process of the judicial system.

[*] [b]Section 9:[/b] All citizens of the Union are granted the right to fair and reasonable punishment for their crimes against the people or the state. Excessive bail, outside of a citizen’s ability to meet, shall not be posted.

[*] [b]Section 10:[/b] All citizens of the Union are granted the right to refuse the quartering of troops in their residence.

[*] [b]Section 11:[/b] All citizens of the Union are granted the right to vote at the age of sixteen.

[*] [b]Section 12:[/b] All citizens of the Union are granted the right to live in a society free of exploitation and slavery, and no individual within the borders of this nation shall suffer such a fate.

[*] [b]Section 13:[/b] All citizens of the Union are granted the right to bear firearms, but must do so in a responsible and non-threatening manner. These firearms must be registered with local authorities, and must not be military-grade assault rifles or automatic weapons.
[/list]

[b][size="4"]Article II: Union Organization[/size][/b]

[b]Section 1: Composition of the Union[/b]

The following states comprise the historical and political sub-divisions of the Union;

[list]
[*] State of Queensland
[*] State of New South Wales
[*] State of Victoria
[*] State of Southern Australia
[*] State of Tasmania
[/list]

[list]
[*] [b]Section 2:[/b] All states are accorded the right to assemble a parliament that will represent the will of the peoples of that state. This parliament may rule on and enact legislation that does not breach national law, or try to supersede said law.

[*] [b]Section 3:[/b] All states, in the interests of preserving Australian peace and stability, will not foment rebellion or move for succession. Any matters of succession will be a responsibility of the national parliament.

[*] [b]Section 4:[/b] All states are accorded the right to send one member of parliament for every ten thousand souls in their state.
[/list]

[b][size="4"]Article III: Legislative Responsibilities of the Government[/size][/b]

[list]
[*] [b]Section 1:[/b] The Union of the Southern Cross will have a bicameral legislative government, with legislative powers held by both the Council of Ministers, and the National Parliament.

[*] [b]Section 2:[/b] The Council of Ministers will consist of all of the heads of the countries' ministries, plus the Prime Minister, who will be appointed by the majority in Parliament. The Council of Ministers will attend sessions of Parliament, and are considered the upper house of the Legislative Branch. They will oversee the suspension of the Parliament, should the Governor General ask for such a suspension, and must vote a majority on every piece of legislation for it to become law.

[*] [b]Section 3:[/b] The National Parliament will consist of members voted into office by members of their constituencies. To provide equal state representation, for every ten thousand souls of a state, a member of parliament shall be accorded to represent them. These individuals will represent their constituencies, and are responsible for the people who place them in office in good faith. The National Parliament will oversee the budget of the Union, as well as funding for national projects, and any other proposals that require the governments’ attention. A simple majority (of fifty-one percent) must be attained for a legislative bill to be passed.

[*] [b]Section 4:[/b] The Legislative Branches must vote a simple majority to legitimize declarations of war, and treaties with foreign entities. Should conflict arise with a direct attack upon USC soil, the country shall be declared at war immediately, with or without a vote of Parliament or Council.

[*] [b]Section 5:[/b] The Legislative Branch must vote a simple majority to support the extension of combat duties for troops deployed on foreign soil, after one calendar month (of thirty one days and nights) of deployment, without a declaration of war.

[*] [b]Section 6:[/b] The Legislative Branch must vote on economic projects that will cross state boundaries, that are deemed “significant” in value.

[*] [b]Section 7:[/b] The Legislative Branch must create committees of members that oversee a general selection of governmental affairs, which must include, but is not limited to; Parliamentary Committee of Defense, Parliamentary Committee of Economic Relations, Parliamentary Committee of Foreign Relations, Parliamentary Committee of Internal Affairs, Parliamentary Committee of Ethics, and so on and so forth.

[*] [b]Section 8:[/b] The Prime Minister will serve as the President of both the Council of Ministers, and the National Parliament, and will serve as the official liaison between the Governor General and the Legislative Branch. He may, with the consultation of the Governor General, negotiate and sign treaties, and/or ask for a declaration of war on a foreign entity.
[/list]

[b][size="4"]Article IV: Responsibilities of the Governor General[/size][/b]

[list]
[*] [b]Section 1:[/b] The Governor General of the Union of the Southern Cross is the Head of Government of this nation, having proven that position through the leadership of the people.

[*] [b]Section 2:[/b] The Governor General is considered the Commander in Chief of the Southern Cross Defense Forces, and along with the Minister of Defense, shall oversee and direct these forces, or delegate the power to do so. The Commission of all officers must be passed through the Office of the Governor General.

[*] [b]Section 3:[/b] The Governor General has the ability to negotiate and sign treaties with foreign powers; the approval of these treaties must gain a simple majority, at least fifty-one percent of the votes, in the National Parliament.

[*] [b]Section 4:[/b] The Governor General will be succeeded by self-chosen successor, who has the approval of the National Parliament, Council of Ministers, and Prime Minister.

[*] [b]Section 5:[/b] The Governor General may ask the National Parliament for a declaration of war for sufficient reason, a measure that must garner a simple majority, at least fifty-one percent of the votes, and have the general approval of the Council of Ministers and Prime Minister

[*] [b]Section 6:[/b] The Governor General may present legislation to the Council of Ministers, and the Parliament, for a vote of implementation.

[*] [b]Section 7:[/b] The Governor General may suspend Parliament for sufficient reason should the need arise. Such suspension will be with the consultation of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.

[*] [b]Section 8:[/b] The Governor General may force a vote for the dissolution of Parliament at any time, to force a new election, should the need arise.
[/list]

[b][size="4"]Article V: Judicial System[/size][/b]

[list]
[*] [b]Section 1:[/b] The Judicial Branch is established to interpret and defend the Constitution of the Union.

[*] [b]Section 2:[/b] The Judiciary will oversee any court cases it deems ‘significant’ to future rulings and interpretations of the Constitution.

[*] [b]Section 3:[/b] The Judiciary will oversee any court cases between states.

[*] [b]Section 4:[/b] The Judiciary reserves the right to investigate, at any time, members of the Legislative Branch, military, or government if believed these individuals breached the law of the land.

[*] [b]Section 5:[/b] The Royal Australian Mounted Police is established as the national police force, and under the constitution and national law, as well as state law, has the power to arrest any individual, in any state. All interstate crimes will be investigated by the RAMP.

[*] [b]Section 6:[/b] The national courts shall take precedent over state courts in matters of interstate crimes.

[*] [b]Section 7:[/b] The High Court of the Southern Cross will be made up of eleven individuals, appointed by the Governor General, and confirmed by the Council of Ministers.
[/list]

[b][size="4"]Article VI: Economic Law & Resources Management[/size][/b]

[list]
[*] [b]Section 1:[/b] Any national company of the Union of the Southern Cross must maintain fifty-one percent of the ownership of its stocks and assets by investors or owners with citizenship inside the borders of the Union.

[*] [b]Section 2:[/b] All national companies that provide goods and services to the people of this nation, or its government, are required be licensed to provide these services at all times.

[*] [b]Section 3:[/b] All companies that provide vital services deemed necessary by the state risk losing ownership of their companies should they be deemed to price-gouge or unnecessarily fail to provide these services.

[*] [b]Section 4:[/b] All national companies that propose interstate economic activities that exceed a monetary amount deemed as “significant” by the government, must present these plans to the Legislative Branch for vote.

[*] [b]Section 5:[/b] All resources within the borders and exclusive economic waters of the Union are considered to be resources of the state, and its people. The National Government will be the final judge, through the use of licensing, to allow these resources to be harvested for use by both national and international companies.

[*] [b]Section 6:[/b] The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Union is to extend two hundred nautical miles from its shores, but it will be cut to an equidistant EEZ border, if it so meets another nation's EEZ. The EEZ allows for the passage of ships of all kinds, including military vessels, but any vessels that use the EEZ for resource gathering must be licensed.

[*] [b]Section 7:[/b] The territorial waters of the Union are judged at ten nautical miles; these territorial waters also include the waters surrounding the unique Great Barrier Reef, which is protected under National Environmental Preservation Laws. No military vessel of another nation may pass within these waters unless they are the vessel of an ally. Any commercial vessel that has not confirmed a port of destination will not be afforded any passage, and will be intercepted.

[*] [b]Section 8:[/b] The national airspace of the Union incorporates any region of the atmosphere above the Union, and out to one hundred nautical miles. This national airspace will be cut in half should it contravene with the airspace of another nation. Any aircraft civilian or military, without a confirmed flight path, or heeding any repeated hailing, and/or without a destination plan will be escorted from the airspace should it be breached.
[/list]

[b][size="4"]Article VII: The Southern Cross Defense Forces[/size][/b]

[list]
[*] [b]Section 1:[/b] The Southern Cross Defense Forces is hereby established as the men-at-arms of this nation. It will serve and protect the interests and soil of this nation, and will be an apolitical body.

[*] [b]Section 2:[/b] The Southern Cross Defense Force is responsible for the defense and elimination of hostile enemies of the state, whether individual or nation-state, which should threaten it. These responsibilities are, but not limited to; threats from the land, seas, or air, or any other domain which may provide avenue to undermine the sovereignty of this nation.

[*] [b]Section 3:[/b] The Southern Cross Defense Force is only to be deployed in domestic combat roles if the country is at threat from internal duress by order of an “Precedent of the Union”, under Article 10, Section 2.

[*] [b]Section 4:[/b] The Southern Cross Defense Force is under the direct command of the Governor General and the Minister of Defense, who shall oversee proper civilian management of the combat forces.
[/list]

[b][size="4"]Article VIII: International Relations[/size][/b]

[list]
[*] [b]Section 1:[/b] All international relations shall be conducted through the Southern Cross Foreign Office, or a Parliament-appointed delegation. The Governor General and Prime Minister are both accorded the right to negotiate and sign treaties.

[*] [b]Section 2:[/b] All international treaties must be confirmed by a simple majority of the parliament.

[*] [b]Section 3:[/b] Any declaration of war by the Union of the Southern Cross must be made for justified causes, in which the Parliament must vote a simple majority in order to confirm the declaration. This precedent is nullified by any declarations of war upon the Union or any mutual-defended ally by a foreign nation, or an unprovoked attack upon the Union, so devastating, that it requires swift reaction.

[*] [b]Section 4:[/b] The Governor General, at any time, may declare a limited military action, and may deploy forces when, in his opinion, the situation dictates the deployment or use of combat forces. This limited military action must not last more then one calendar month (thirty-one days).
[/list]

[b][size="4"]Article IX: Election Precedents and Political Factions[/size][/b]

[list]
[*] [b]Section 1:[/b] Under [b]Article One, Section 11[/b], all citizens of the Union of the Southern Cross gain the right to vote at the age of sixteen years. To become a member of the National Parliament, an individual must be of the age of twenty-four.

[*] [b]Section 2:[/b] To be considered for election, an individual must either have the nomination of a licensed political party, or have a petition of the endorsement of at least five percent of their constituencies’ population.

[*] [b]Section 3:[/b] All official political parties must be licensed within the Federal Government, presenting petitions of support from five percent of the population. They must also have declared platforms, which will be reviewed by the government.

[*] [b]Section 4:[/b] To form a government, a party must either have, or gain the support of fifty-one percent of the National Parliament, the leading party will then declare their candidate for Prime Minister, who will be appointed upon consultation with the Governor General.

[*] [b]Section 5:[/b] The national government is reserved the right to dissolve political parties that breach the constitution, with the consultation of the High Court of the Southern Cross and an official inquiry.

[*] [b]Section 6:[/b] The legislative branch must hold elections at least every three calendar years.
[/list]

[b][size="4"]Article X: Constitutional Supremacy[/size][/b]

[list]
[*] [b]Section 1:[/b] The Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and overrides any laws of the individual states of the Union of the Southern Cross.

[*] [b]Section 2:[/b] The Governor General, while bound by the constitution in power and legal precedent, may suspend some, or all constitutional precedents, by declaring a “Precedent of the Union”. This declaration will impose martial law, and give the Governor General and Council of Ministers, and those delegated by the text of the Precedent, to act with absolute authority over the affairs of the state.
[/list]

[b][size="4"]Article XI: Amendment Procedures[/size][/b]

[list]
[*] [b]Section 1:[/b] Amendments to the Constitution must be made by a simple majority of the legislative branch, confirmed by the Board of Ministers, and confirmed by Governor General.

[*] [b]Section 2:[/b] Amendments to the Constitution must be first put through a court of inquiry with the High Court of the Southern Cross, for interpretation, before their vote.
[/list]

[TheShammySocialist]

[b]News Clipping - Southern Cross Star[/b]

[quote][b]Adelaide, SA[/b] - The Defense and Economic Ministries jointly announced today the reopening of the Woomera Rocket Complex and Test Area. The reopening of the test and launch facilities mark a favorable advance in Southern Cross Aerospace science, and the government looks forward to beginning work from the facilities. There are reports that the government would like to begin deploying both civilian and military satellites from the three-platform facility. The test range will also be used for live munitions testing and training, and incorporates a land area that is larger then England.

General Dynamics Australia (GDA), Australia Aircraft Corporation (AAC), de Havilland Australia, and ADInstruments are all planning to begin working with the Southern Cross government at the facility. AAC spokesperson Mila Kovacs, "The Australia Aircraft Corporation is looking forward to wholeheartedly to getting this country's orbital infrastructure in order. We have been working with General Dynamics, and are currently working on a new electric rocket engine that could be one of the strongest aerospace engines in service."

An anonymous source inside de Havilland Australia was also quoted as saying that the company is already beginning work on the first satellites for the military, the Defense Ministry reportedly had no comment on the matter. The opening of the test range, however, is good news to aerospace engineers and the aerospace industry as a whole, and could generate a massive increase in jobs in South Australia and Victoria as time wears on. Kovacs was stated, "We got plenty of work to do, and we have a can-do spirit, we're looking forward to the first launches, whenever they may be."[/quote]

[TheShammySocialist]

[center][b][size="6"]Election Results Announced[/size][/b]

[IMG]http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa325/VictorDeltaRomeo/FirstElections.png[/IMG][/center]

[b]Brisbane, QNLD[/b] - The results are in after the national election three days ago, with 99% of all precincts reporting in, the Free Australian Movement has won the majority of the National Parliament, with fifty-two percent of the vote. The majority that the center-right Free Australian Movement has garnered, has put Lizzie Whittaker, the head of the Free Australian Movement, in the position of Prime Minister. As Prime Minister, Whittaker will be the official liaison between the government and the Governor General, as the Head of State.

The rest of the votes were split fairly evenly amongst the other parties, with the Australian Conservative Union pulling twenty percent of the vote. The Liberal Movement of Australia grabbed fifteen percent of the vote, while the Australian Socialist Party came in a distant fourth with only thirteen percent of the vote.

[TheShammySocialist]

[center][size="4"][b]Southern Cross Indo-Pacific Balance of Power Policy[/b][/size]


[i]"In the interests of maintaining traditional balances of power within the regions of both the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific Rim, the Southern Cross Foreign Office announces the [b]Indo-Pacific Balance of Power Policy.[/b]

As the title of the policy suggests, the Union of the Southern Cross pledges to maintain the traditional balances of power in both these oceanic regions. The Southern Cross Foreign Office will pursue a policy of deterring regional threats, and trying to balance them through diplomatic channels, to ensure the peaceful conduct of relations. This [i]may[/i] include the signing of pacts, treaties, and/or agreements with traditionally oppositional forces, to ensure that peace is assured in these regions.

The Union of the Southern Cross, like the states before her, will maintain a proactive diplomatic stance in these matters, to ensure regional stability does not waver or shift to one side too drastically. The Union of the Southern Cross was born from warfare and strife, it still remains pockmarked due to that strife at the time of this policy declaration. We value regional stability and relations, and this policy is a hallmark of the value we place on such regional assurances of peace and prosperity."[/i][/center]

Edited March 29, 2011 by TheShammySocialist

[TheShammySocialist]

[b]Joint Press Release - Orbital Corporation/Supermarine Australia/ADInstruments/Woomera Rocket Complex[/b]

[i]Concerning Impulse Rocket Project[/i]

"The Woomera Rocket Complex, along with its joint partners, are looking for limited developmental partners in this new rocketry project. This project will be to design, and put into service a new type of Impulse Rocket, which will be stronger then any rocket currently in service. Using a new type of engine, this rocket will define a new age in space launches and rocketry technology, and will be able to lift very large payloads, at reduced fuel costs, at faster speeds, for longer distances.

These limited developmental partners will be able to access this new technology and work directly at the Woomera Rocket Complex in developing this exciting new technology."

[Zoot Zoot]

The British Space Agency is presently doing it's own research and development into advanced space travel and would be delighted to work with pioneers such as ourselves.

[Lavo]

Due to experience with multiple Mars missions, and interest in such a prospect, the consortium behind [i]Project Caelum [/i] has expressed an interest to work with TSC on this project.

[Triyun]

The United Federation of the East is looking to built a new super heavy lift rocket as part of the 2nd Artillery Regiment Space Forces. We are highly interested in a cooperative project and offer assistance from both UFE state owned enterprises in aerospace, Tsinghua University, and the civilian and military space agencies.

[iKrolm]

Selenarctos is interested in participating in the development of Impulse Rocket.

[Aggressivenutmeg]

Canada would like to send a team of 5 scientists and engineers to act as observers, although we cannot technologicaly contribute to the development, we feel that our scientists could learn a lot from the experiance.

[Lynneth]

[quote name='TheShammySocialist' timestamp='1301450198' post='2680335']
[b]Joint Press Release - Orbital Corporation/Supermarine Australia/ADInstruments/Woomera Rocket Complex[/b]

[i]Concerning Impulse Rocket Project[/i]

"The Woomera Rocket Complex, along with its joint partners, are looking for limited developmental partners in this new rocketry project. This project will be to design, and put into service a new type of Impulse Rocket, which will be stronger then any rocket currently in service. Using a new type of engine, this rocket will define a new age in space launches and rocketry technology, and will be able to lift very large payloads, at reduced fuel costs, at faster speeds, for longer distances.

These limited developmental partners will be able to access this new technology and work directly at the Woomera Rocket Complex in developing this exciting new technology."
[/quote]
"The Directorate of Space of Sri Lanka would like to know what approximate capabilities you are aiming for.
Sri Lanka being one of the nations most invested in space, we could certainly offer our expertise for this project."

[TheShammySocialist]

[b]News Clipping - Southern Cross Star[/b]

[quote][b]Brisbane, QNLD[/b] - The Economic ministry announced today that it is creating the Southern Cross Ferry Division, and is nationalizing all ferry services in the Union of the Southern Cross. This will include significant amounts of ferry services out to some of the small outlying islands on the Southern Cross coast, as well as the ferry lines between Melbourne and Tasmania.

The Southern Cross Ferry Division announced at the same press conference its intent to begin putting into service two to three high-speed catamaran ferries that will run between Melbourne and Tasmania. Spokesperson Katie Nowlin, "We believe the use of catamaran ferries, built by INCAT Shipbuilding of Tasmania, will have a positive economic impact on the region. As it stands, the current ferries are aging systems, and have been long overdue for an upgrade. INCAT already has one ferry that is being finished, and could be in service within a month if all goes smoothly, we hope to have two more of these catamarans with a year if all goes well."[/quote]

[TheShammySocialist]

[b]News Clipping - Melbourne Gazette[/b]

[quote][b]Brisbane, QNLD[/b] - The Defense Ministry announced today that with the upcoming procurement of the first aircraft carrier for the fleet soon coming, the SCNDF has begun training the Fleet Air Arm on naval aviation and flight deck operations. A spokesperson inside Wood Marsh, an infrastructure planning and construction group out of Melbourne, confirmed the company was contracted to build a mock up for naval aviators outside Melbourne. This includes facilities for practicing take offs and landings on the confines of a carrier deck.

The government has reported that the facility will help both aviators and flight line staff to prepare them for service on the upcoming arrival of the aircraft carrier SCS [i]Indefatigable[/i]. The aircraft carrier is currently being produced in the United Federation of the East, and its' arrival is expected within a year or so. The Fleet Air Arm will have to make do with land bases until that time, but the Naval General Staff has said that the absence of a carrier will not hinder its ability to defend the country from maritime threats.

"While the absence of a carrier certainly restricts some of our power projection abilities, we have enough allies with land bases to support operations elsewhere. The country is well protected already by the Air Defense Force and Ground Defense Force, as well as our existing navy, the arrival of the carrier is only meant to strengthen that. Is it critical? Yes, but we're doing just fine right now," reported Rear Admiral Jack Collins, one of the operations officers of the SCNDF. "The SCNDF's strength is expected to explode within the next twelve months, training facilities like this one are imperative for our naval aviation arm, and can be used to train personnel for the helicopter decks of our smaller ships and the [i]Storm[/i] landing helicopter platform ship."[/quote]

[TheShammySocialist]

[quote name='Lavo_2' timestamp='1301456274' post='2680389']
Due to experience with multiple Mars missions, and interest in such a prospect, the consortium behind [i]Project Caelum [/i] has expressed an interest to work with TSC on this project.
[/quote]


[quote name='Triyun' timestamp='1301456453' post='2680390']
The United Federation of the East is looking to built a new super heavy lift rocket as part of the 2nd Artillery Regiment Space Forces. We are highly interested in a cooperative project and offer assistance from both UFE state owned enterprises in aerospace, Tsinghua University, and the civilian and military space agencies.
[/quote]


[quote name='iKrolm' timestamp='1301465788' post='2680509']
Selenarctos is interested in participating in the development of Impulse Rocket.
[/quote]

"We would gladly accept the involvement of your nations in this project, we would like you to dispatch a team of your best rocketry experts to Melbourne, and we shall provide for lodging, food, and expenses. We will be working at the Woomera Rocketry Complex."

(OOC: I'll have a separate thread running soon, I'll post the link on this thread.)


[hr]


[b]News Clipping - Southern Cross Star[/b]

[quote][b]Adelaide, SA[/b] - In an unprecedented kickoff to its space program today, the Woomera Rocketry Complex launched three civilian telecommunications satellites today, all at once. The Economic Ministry reported that upon news of the satellites launching, stocks jumped in both M2 Telecommunications and Telstra. The satellites will provide dish users with increased service on the frontier, as well as provide satellite phone service for these areas, which are crucial for maintaining connections with the urban centers.

This feverish schedule is expected to continue into the coming fortnight, with four more launches scheduled, two for each week, including two military launches. These will primary be communications and global position system satellites, which will increase the capabilities of the current military systems. Woomera has scheduled up to twenty launches in the next three months.[/quote]

[TheShammySocialist]

[b]News Clipping - Melbourne Gazette[/b]

[quote][b]Sydney, NSW[/b] - In a press conference held at a manufacturing outlet for Holden Motors today, the Economic Minister announced that unemployment has dropped a full 2% points in the first quarter of the year since the USC Government was formed. This has put the total unemployment in the country at 11%, and numbers are projected for it to fall as conditions improve. The government has announced subsidization of some sectors of the country, mostly transit-oriented sectors, in an effort to keep these vital organs of the state flowing.

The positive economic news comes as large orders of vehicles have been put in by the Commonwealth of Canada, who have bought a huge amount of vehicles produced by the defense corporations of the country. A total of five-thousand units are expected to be delivered to Canada, and it has put more Australians to work in Thales and at Holden Motors, including the plant outside Sydney.

News from Brisbane is good as well, as the city has been cleared of rubble, and work is beginning at a feverish pace to rebuild what was lost. The government has announced that it will do whatever it takes to make Brisbane glitter once again, and they are confident in their ability to do so. The recent post-election polls, a month after the FAM was placed in power, still show people in favor of the government, giving a boost to both the Prime Minister, and the Governor General.[/quote]

Edited April 10, 2011 by TheShammySocialist

[TheShammySocialist]

[b]Parliament Press Release[/b]

[quote]"Parliament released some of the details of the newest bill to pass through the House of Commons today, the Military Infrastructure Modernization or "MIM" Act. This bill, on top of the airbase modernization bill, which passed a few months ago, is expected to continually increase the capabilities of the military. While details are not entirely clear about these bills, as some of their contents are confidential, Defense Ministry officials note they will go a long way to help the continual improvement of the defense of the nation.

Also included in the bill is funding for increased asymmetric warfare protections, which will include allocations of money for planning, training, implementation of, and equipment for defense against asymmetric threats. The allocations of funding will continue to boost a wide spectrum of industries, and is expected to increase job numbers, to an already burgeoning job market.

The Union is also expecting its first census to begin in earnest in the coming week, which the government says is crucial, as it has been relying on numbers from the old CA and AFS governments since taking power."[/quote]

[TheShammySocialist]

[b]News Clipping - Southern Cross Star[/b]

[quote][b]Melbourne, VIC[/b] - The Defense and Economic Ministries, in a joint press conference today, announced the completion of five more launches of satellites into orbit over the past fortnight. Although initially noted that there would be only four going up, the defense ministry insisted on a fifth, which was launched successfully last night. Three of these satellites were confirmed to be property of the Southern Cross Defense Forces, and are noted to be GPS and Communication satellites.

The other two were confirmed by the economic ministry to be telecommunications satellites, which will bring satellite phone and TV service to remote locales of the Outback. The government hailed this new progress as "a great leap forward", and has said that the Woomera Rocket Facility will be busy for the next two months launching up to at least "nine or ten" further satellites during that time. Stocks in a number of aerospace companies and their related industries jumped at the news of further work going into orbital vehicles.[/quote]

[hr]

[b]News Clipping - Sydney Times[/b]

[quote][b]Sydney, NSW[/b] - In a huge poll released today, which was the work of an independent media and data collection firm, there is indicators that the Southern Cross public is still seething over the recent attacks launched from Pihana at the USC. The polls numbers are a startling show of the public's continued outrage over the attacks, whose dead were finally laid to rest last week in a huge military funeral. The poll's questions is as follows;

"Do you still feel that Pihana should be held accountable for their lapse in security?"

[list]
[*] Answer 1: "Yes, they should be held accountable." - 68%

[*] Answer 2: "No, enough has been done to hold them accountable thus far." - 30%

[*] Answer 3: "Indifferent." - 2%
[/list]

"Do feel enough has been done to hold Pihana accountable?"

[list]
[*] Answer 1: "No, not enough has been done to hold Pihana accountable for its actions." - 65%

[*] Answer 2: "Yes, enough has been done to hold Pihana accountable for these actions." - 30%

[*] Answer 3: "Not sure." - 5%
[/list]

"Do you feel that the international pressure has inhibited a proper response to these actions?"

[list]
[*] Answer 1: "Yes, international pressure has inhibited a proper response to these attacks." - 72%

[*] Answer 2: "No, international pressure is correct in its movements to restrain response." - 18%

[*] Answer 3: "Indifferent on international pressure." - 10%
[/list]

The poll reportedly had a margin of error of +/- 1.5%, but despite this, the numbers of respondents, across a cross section of the population, thirty thousand people in all, still seem to be seething over the attacks. Eighty-two percent of the respondents, from both sides of the action, still said they would support military action and any USC military actions.[/quote]

[iKrolm]

In general, but specifically with regards to the third point, we urge the people and government of the Union of Southern Cross to work with the people and government of Pihana to overcome past conflict and build a peaceful future.