FB,
Yes, the Rudd government is taking a whole new stance on Iraq, but that's an issue that a lot of people in Australia feel very strongly about and it has a lot of votes behind it. The ASIC issue doesn't carry the electoral threat that Iraq does.
I actually agree with ASICs for ground staff and contractors, because unless I am wrong, they have no other form of background check done. I'm not sure we should be asking for the ASIC to be abolished, only applied with a lot more commonsense.
Also, DOTARS will be listening very closely to the AFP and ASIS/ASIO on this matter, and I suspect the pollies won't be in a hurry to go against their advice. This will be one of our biggest hurdles and I don't think we'll ever get over it if we try to have the ASIC abolished en-masse.
Walrus