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Since October 1995

Saturday 6th January 1996

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International:

The Singaporean billionaire who won the battle for Dreamworld said last night that the theme park was the jewel in his Australian tourism empire. Kua Phek Long, a shipping tycoon, said that the park would be used as a drawcard to pull Asian tourists into his three hotels planned for Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast..

Political:

Well I would make the following prediction about state politics in Queensland. It is all over 16 votes and an election result which was overturned by the courts. The crucial win by Labor gave it a one seat majority in Queensland. A Liberal-leaning independent, Liz Cunningham, held the only and all crucial seat not secured by the two major parties. The seat of Mundingburra suddenly became hot property and Premier Wayne Goss was seen there on a weekly basis soon after the court ruling dishing out promises and new employment creating businesses and government funded schemes. Then came the dumping of the current MP Kevin Davies because he allegedly had financial problems. The mayor of Townsville, Tony Mooney, was put up as the Labor candidate and the gloves came off. Kevin Davies was not impressed and turned on his Labor colleagues with a vengeance. With little less than a month to go before the by-election Labor has slipped to 46% of the vote against Liberal 54% in the latest polling.
So what is the prediction - Labor lose. Stalemate in State Government. A new state election and the odds are on a new Liberal Party Government being formed. All because of 16 votes and a place called Mundingburra. Such is democracy.

Business:

BHP yesterday became the second largest copper producer with the announcement of a Au$3.2 billion take over of US based Magma Copper. Their US$28 per share offer attracted 87% of the ordinary and preferential shares.

Sport:

Well its all happening for Sri Lankan spin bowler Muttiah Maralidharan after he was again no-balled for "chucking" in a match against the West Indies at the Gabba. The Umpire, West Australian Ross Emerson, had to be escorted off the pitch by police after the match. By the way the Windies cleaned up Sri Lanka in the day night match.

Social:

A National conference is to be held on the growing problem of black deaths in custody (for crime or being held pending a court case). Pity that they do not do the same to investigate the problem across all race groups as the problem is not restricted to the Aboriginal race. There have been Royal Commissions into black deaths in custody in the past that have cost the tax payer tens of millions of dollars - yet most suicide deaths happen in the young 16 to 23 age group amongst white children who are not in custody.

Personal trivia:

More rain yesterday while the team were hard at work preparing the Definitive Guide to Wining and Dining in Queensland. We are having a lot of fun with the icons and a spaghetti line (you will see what we mean in due course!) Woke up at 4am this morning - most unusual for one who can sleep through a blazing thunderstorm. We have a large double door window overlooking the parkland / river valley. The views are quite beautiful and at 4am with a full moon and thousands of powder puff clouds the silver linings from the moon created a wonderful spectacle across the sky. A beautiful sunny day today - although I believe that a bad cyclone has hammered the Gulf of Carpentaria in the last 24 hours.

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