Astrology of the AWB Scandal 

The Australian Wheat Board scandal could yet have serious implications for the Howard Government.

The AWB was formed in 1939, however on 1 July 1999 the Australian Wheat Board became a new corporate entity. I am using Melbourne as a location in the AWB chart, as this the location of their Head Office. I am using 9am, which is the normal starting time of the business day.

Interestingly, in this chart, the Moon, planet of commodities and food, is making a conjunction to Neptune, planet of deception, in Aquarius in the 7^th house of “others”.  Of course Neptune also governs oil, so it is fascinating to find these two planets making a conjunction in the AWB chart, since the AWB is accused of abusing the oil for food program in Iraq.

In this case “others” can be seen to represent other countries, or indeed any entity with which the AWB has dealings. These two planets oppose Mercury in Leo close to the 29 Cancerian Ascendant, suggesting that there is a rather autocratic communication style at work in the AWB corporate mentality, operating with a deceptive element. These planets also square a prominent Jupiter in Taurus and a debilitated Mars in late Libra, completing a Grand Cross configuration. Fixed cross energy is highly intransigent and resists any kind of external influence or scrutiny.

There is also a powerful T-square involving Saturn in Taurus, Uranus in Aquarius and the Nodal axis, signifying an internal conflict within the AWB corporate philosophy. This dilemma plays out as a strong ambition to make money via foreign trade deals, while working within the rules (Saturn in Taurus in 9th) but at the same time a equally strong desire to have the creative freedom to wheel and deal with trading partners (Uranus 7^th).

Fittingly, Ceres, Grain Goddess, is rising in Cancer, the sign most often associated with food and nutrition.

Several of these planets are forming tight aspects to John Howard’s natal chart[1]. The AWB Moon and Neptune tightly oppose Howard’s Pluto /Sun conjunction in Leo while the AWB Mercury conjuncts them. Jupiter in the AWB chart is exactly conjunct to Howard’s Saturn at 0 degrees Taurus and the AWB Mars squares Howard’s Mars. Indeed John Howard was having a Ceres return when the AWB was restructured in 1999. One could argue that this aspect alone symbolises the close association between the Federal Government and the revamped AWB, but to have so many close conjunctions and other links, seems suggestive of Howard’s potential complicity in the oil for food deals.

Saturn will station direct in early April 2006 at 4.23 Leo, making an exact square to John Howard’s Nodal Axis at 4.23 Scorpio/Taurus while at the same time making a conjunction to the AWB’s Mercury. Potentially, this could be a tricky time for Howard as more information comes to light.

Alexander Downer, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, is also in the firing line. Downer is in the midst of a very intense Pluto transit and he could yet be a political casualty of the AWB scandal. As a Virgo Sun, Downer’s basic temperament is probably at odds with the idea of corruption and cover up. He is probably feeling under intense pressure, which is coming his way in the form of the Pluto transit making a conjunction to his exact Moon/ Chiron conjunction in the 8^th house.

When Saturn stations on April 5 2006, Mars and Pluto will be making an opposition aspect to each other, further intensifying the pressure on Downer. Perhaps he will turn whistle blower! Unlikely perhaps, but with transiting Jupiter close to his 7^th house, something needs releasing. He will probably get some help from somewhere; perhaps a colleague from overseas will come to his aid or offer support. In fact Downer will continue to have some heavy transits to deal with well into 2007. His Moon/Chiron will take several hits from Pluto, and transiting Jupiter will catch up to this position by the end of 2007. Meanwhile transiting Saturn, after conjuncting Mars, will then hit Pluto, then his IC, before moving into Virgo and connecting with his 4th house planets.

Meanwhile, in Australia’s chart[2] when Saturn station on April 5^th, the powerful opposition of Pluto and Mars will trigger Jupiter, Mercury and Neptune in Australia’s 3^rd and 9^th houses. This could signify some heated exchanges or explosive revelations that could have further implications for our image overseas as more information comes from the Cole Inquiry.