Today's Headlines
Monday 18th March 1996
International:
With China playing war games off their shores and with the US sending their navy in as an act of moral support for the island, the
Taiwanese have turned to Australia for support in a tender to build 10 diesel powered Collins Class submarines. If approved the deal
could be worth Au$6.5 billion.
In other international news the new Australian treasurer, Peter Costello, has been warned at his first international conference by the
International Monetary Fund that Australia's debt position was unacceptable. Michel Camdessus told Costello at the Asia Pacific
Economic Co-operation Forum meeting in Japan that higher interest rates or budget cuts were his two options.
Political:
Prime Minister John Howard yesterday established five new Cabinet committees including a group to focus on Australia's national
security. The Prime Minister also announced the establishment of the economic, legal, expenditure review and parliamentary business
committee. The expenditure review committee will implement the government's promised Au$8 billion in savings to the Budget over
the next two years.
Business:
MIM Holding Limited's Au$200 million natural gas pipeline from the south west to the Carpentaria-Mount Isa Minerals Province is
nearing reality. If the pipeline goes ahead it will provide a large area with a very valuable new source of power for the benefit of many
businesses established in this remote area of Australia.
Sport:
In an Australian middle order collapse the World Cup was lost yesterday to the Sri Lankan team. The Australians were sent in to bat by
Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga. After a great initial start the Australians landed up with a very average 241 for 7 after 50 overs.
Mark Waugh and his brother Steve are currently fighting poor form after Mark started the series with an incredible display of batting prowess.
I was surprised to see the Sri Lankan spinner who was accused of "chucking" on more than one occasion in Australia taking a very
active part and in fact restricting the run making spree at a critical stage. His bowling action looked dodgy to me but it would have been
a brave umpire who no-balled him for chuckinh in India!
The Sri Lankans won easily with 245 for 3. The run out of star opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya was a trifle controversial. Even the
third umpire was hard put to make a decision - maybe he felt safe being locked away in a little room out of sight of the crowd!
Global Gripe of the day:
Media driving people to suicide:
In yesterday's Sunday Mail there was extensive and investigative journalism about the manner in which a teenage killer had been given a bus
ticket "at the expense of the taxpayer" to travel to Maryborough where he killed a 2 year old toddler.
The well meaning social worker involved in giving the youth ticket committed suicide in her car at Mooloolah at 6.35 am yesterday
morning. What they don't say in today's article is that the Sunday Mail was in the car with the social worker.
The spineless bureaucrat who runs the state department said last night it was inappropriate for him to comment. Well mate I know what
I would be saying if the press drove one of my staff to suicide!
Social:
Teachers who are having problems with students will soon be able to turn to the Internet for assistance. I will let you know as soon
as we have more information (like the URL address) of the new service to be released by the University of Queensland.
Personal trivia:
Lovely day yesterday enjoying a lunch time bar-b-que. The weather could not have been better.
Jim Shapcott and his wife Elize joined us for a relaxing afternoon on the back deck overlooking the river.
Another lovely day today with cloud and some blue sky - about time we had some more rain though!
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