Wednesday 19th March 1997
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Issues - The banking system under the spotlight. Singirok was accused by PNG Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan of "gross insubordination bordering on treason". Aikung was given directions by Chan to release the Executive Outcomes mercenaries from house arrest. Despite this order it appears that the military have not released the 40 mercenaries holed up at Wewak on the north coast of PNG. In fact it now appears that the guys who count in the defence force are lining up behind Singirok.
Singirok said yesterday, after resigning, that he would continue to "fight on" against the use of mercenaries on Bougainville.
"The issue of Sandline is not closed as what this Government is doing, I believe, is wrong as it has mortgaged the country to foreigners at the expense of the four million Papua New Guineans," he said.
"I appeal to all the servicemen and their dependants to remain calm and allow justice to take its own course."
Australian Prime Minister John Howard said that he supported Chan's dismissal of Singirok saying that a democratically elected government had to have absolute authority over military forces and Singirok's actions were contrary to this principle.
Well here's one from Liberal Senator Eric Abetz, "One does wonder why parliamentarians receive Au$145 per night while ATSIC commissioners receivers Au$320 per night for overnight stays in Canberra."
Ah, so that's why the ATSIC Commissioners meet in Canberra so often... "I can see clearly now."
On the subject of travel allowances Senator Colston was pulled up by the shorts in the Senate yesterday with embarrassing questions being levelled at him despite his wish for an extra week to answer claims being granted.
Opposition Senate leader John Faulkner asked the questions in question time saying Colston had:
For example when all the Senators travel allowances were tabled in Parliament yersterday, the following surprise results were revealed:
Unfortunately the same rot has filtered through all layers of Australian government.
Extensive political commentary and links can be found on Palmer's Australian Politics page.
News Corp said that it would pay US$754 million for Heritage and take over the Au$600 million in debts of the company. It would fund the purchase by issuing 38.6 million preferred limited-voting American Depository Receipts...
The decision to use preferred shares for the acquisition angered investors who wiped out more than Au$1 billion from the capitalisation value of the company. News Corp's preferred share price slid by 7% with the stock dropping 40 cents to US$5.20. Ordinary script dropped 22 cents to US$6.36.
We know that Uncle Rupert likes to live on the edge... his thrust and parry with the law in various countries like Israel and India would make even Christopher Skase and Alan Bond look like rank amateurs, but to take on such debt in the belief that investors will come to his beck and call as if he was the proverbial Pied Piper is nothing short of extraordinary.
A defining time in the history of the entire empire one starts to believe - despite the line that the well trained editors in the hundreds of papers that he controls might say in their glowing reports about the company.
That fellow has got a hide thicker than the proverbial elephant. In this test he contibuted just 21 runs - as an opening batsman. He has a batting average of just 18 runs over the last season... who else in international cricket (in any side anywhere) would retain his position as an opening batsman under those conditions!
To top it all Taylor said, "It's the biggest Test win I have played in by an absolute mile"..... sorry mate but you didn't play in much of it.. it was the like of Mark Waugh with his 118 runs that saved your bacon, but I am sure that wihtin a few days that old ego of yours will be re-writing the history books.
When asked about his future, Taylor said, "I am captain and I am going to do it as best I can.
"Trevor Hohns, the Chairman of selectors (and Australian Cricket Board chairman) Dennis Rogers have appointed me captain and I will do it for as long as I can."
Hmmm....
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