Today's Headlines
Saturday 23rd March 1996
International:
Hundreds of millions of dollars were lost in Australian seafood production because of degraded wetlands, the Australian
Seafood Council claimed yesterday. Spokesman Duncan Leadbitter, speaking at the Ramsar Wetland conference in
the Great Hall in Brisbane, said that New South Wales had lost 50% of its sea grasses and that 20% of southern Queensland's
mangroves and salt marshes had been lost, mainly to development.
These wetlands, he said were hugely productive in terms of seafood species such as prawns, bream, whiting and mullet. The
Ramsar conference has drawn about 1,000 delegates from around the world. The conference is dominated by female delegates.
Comet Hyakutake, is at its shiny best right now as it travels within 15 million kilometres of earth. The comet, discovered by an
amateur astronomer from Japan, looks like a bright fuzzy ball as it hurtles through space.
Political:
Prime Minister John Howard yesterday promised that he would support people in need and that the welfare section would not be hit by
the Government's plans to carry out major spending cuts. He also ruled out the introduction of a consumption or General Sales Tax,
a policy which caused the downfall of the Liberal Party's aspiration to attain Government in the 1993 Federal Election.
Business:
The big Australian, BHP, has recorded a shock fall in profits of 31% in the third quarter of the financial year. BHP shares closed at
Au$18.08 after profit for this quarter fell to Au$223 million. The minerals and steel divisions of the company have performed badly
over the last few months.
Sport:
The money trail supporting Global League, the game established by the players in the now defunct Super League, leads back to
English Rugby League Chief Executive, Maurice Lindsay, who has backed each player with Au$10,000. Under cross-examination
Lindsay confirmed that News Limited money was not being used in any way to support the establishment of the players new
Global League. The competition is expected to start next Friday if the Australian Rugby League's (ARL) attempt to gain an injunction
against the start of Global Legue fails in the Federal Court on Monday.
Last night 7 teams, including the Brisbane Broncos, forfeited their games because they could not field their players who refused to play
in the ARL premiership. The standard of rugby league shown on television last night was pretty pitiful and the spectator support had fallen off
quite dramatically from full houses to about 25% full at best.
Not surprising really.
Social:
Brisbane appears to have lost its popularity with the Australian population. The city of Perth in Western Australia has now been
voted as Australia's most livable city, followed by Canberra then Brisbane.
Australian television watchers want more kids TV - results found by a Bureau of Transport and Communications survey.
Australian television companies spent about Au$707 million last year making local shows. Most of that or Au$517 million was spent
by commercial channels. Commercial stations put about a third of that or Au$154 million into news and current affairs and a
further Au$150 million into sport. Drama was a poor relation with only Au$89 million being spent.
People surveyed said that they watched the following regularily:
- News and Current Affairs: 80%
- Movies: 42%
- Documentaries: 40%
- Sports: 38%
- Serials (soaps): 22%
- Light entertainment: 20%
- Games/panel shows: 17%
- Children's programmes: 10%
I know that our little Alex dominates the television set watching the kids programme Nickelodeon on Galaxy.
Personal trivia:
Really big day in the big smoke (Brisbane) yesterday. Visited and signed up a number of large clients including a multinational company.
Today provides another perfect setting for enjoyment and pleasure, river views and birdlife from the global office with sunny skies and
pleasant temperatures.
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