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an Aussie's viewpoint on Australia's first daily Internet newspaper
Since October 1995

Sunday 21st January 1996

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International:

It is the fifth anniversary of the Gulf war - the world's first truley TV war. Who can forget the footage from CNN taken in Baghdad in Irag as the American smart bombs flew towards their targets. Iragi citizens living in Australia feel very bitter that America did not take out Saddam Hussein at the same time believing that they left him in power for political rather than moral or humanitarian reasons.

Political:

It was a major blunder by trade minister Bob McMullan yesterday when he said that Federal Parliament would not sit before the next election. As parliament is set to resume on February 13 this can only mean a March Federal Election. Cricket lover John Howard, leader of the opposition, was challenging Prime Minister Paul Keating to a live debate in the lead up to the election.

Business:

The Australian banks are in the firing line again being accused for dodgy accounting when it comes to charging interest. It appears from the report that errors are in the banks favour 99% of the time and that an error of up to Au$300,000 has been uncovered in one case. Guess that wasn't for a home loan!

Sport:

The fears of the Australian cricket team, who yesterday defeated Sri Lanka to win the World Series Cup, are so strong that it is now likely the team will boycott the World Cup to be played in Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India. Sri Lankan Romesh Kaluwitharana (Killer Kalu) was named as player of the World Cup Series for his aggressive batting. Personally, I felt that Australian batsman Michael Bevan, who had a batting average of just under 300, deserved the award - but such is democracy.

Social:

The Federal government wants to increase the percentage of non-English and indigenous people on Commonwealth boards and advisory bodies to 15% by the year 2000. Reminds me of another Labor promise which appears to have gone awry - that to have women making up 40% of their MPs by the year 2000. If anything the percentages have drifted the other way since the promise. This latest measure was announced by Paul Keating who said that it was aimed at cutting racism.

Global Gripe of the day:

Buying a baby:
A Californian lawyer, Mr David Leavitt, is reportedly helping rich Australians "buy babies" from the USA. This fellow charges up to US$40,000 for an adoption. In one case he is being sued by the father for US$7 million to a father after his baby was spirited away to a Canadian couple without his consent. The mother has already been ordered by the courts to pay the father US$1 million. This unusual career has involved the sale of 8500 babies in the past. It sounds like a cattle market to me and I, for one, don't like it.

Personal trivia:

Had a quiet day in front of the computer yesterday. My five year old boy Alex has been innundated with email from all over the world after his short story Koala Trouble was listed in Netscape's What's New files. (If you have Netscape check out Koala Trouble under the What's New list by clicking the button. Poor fellow he has promised to answer each email personally - could be a long day for one so young...

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