To: The Sydney Morning Herald

Sent: Wednesday, 24 October 2001 2:58 PM

Subject: the khaki key election...

I keep hearing about the 'car key election' - how come there's no poll promises for drivers?

More seriously: The bill for sending our 1500-odd servicemen off to the Arabian Sea has been reported as being at least $1000 million over the next six months, or around $133,300 per head per year. (I don't suppose this includes the $200/day 'compo' to their families - another $110 million a year...) Germany sent some 5000 German troops with heavy gear including Leopard and Marder tanks to the Kosovo and northern Macedonia - the cost of that exercise reportedly is some $2000 million a year, or $40,000 per head. Are we getting good value from this exercise, Mr Reith? And are we perhaps pricing ourselves out of the market for 'foreign legions'? Here's hoping...