John Howard has irresponsibly disregarded Australias national interest in his subservient commitment to George W. Bushs war on Iraq which carries no United Nations mandate, the ACTU and unions said today.

“Mr Howard has made no
compelling case for the invasion of a country that poses no direct threat to
Australia. Nor has he produced any evidence linking recent terrorist attacks
with the regime of Saddam Hussein,” said ACTU Secretary Greg
Combet.

He said Mr Howard’s actions were
likely to provoke a much greater threat of terrorism against Australians –
a consequence already acknowledged by Minister Tony Abbott in a speech to
Parliament.

Mr Combet said the Prime Minister
had failed to address a number of key concerns troubling millions of Australians
opposed to the war. These include: