Monday 24th March 1997
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Issues - The banking system under the spotlight. Sir Julius Chan last night used Papua New Guinea (PNG) television to broadcast a plea to the country's 4 million citizens to honour the country's constitution. He refused to resign despite growing demands from prominent people within the PNG community.
Over the weekend Australia's biggest company, BHP, returned 15 of its staff, located at the Port Moresby steel processing centre, back to Australia.
With an estimated 10,000 Australians still in PNG Australia's rapid-response defence force was put on full alert with 130 specialist soldiers from the Rapid Deployment Force being moved to Townsville in preparation for the safe evacuation of these citizens if the situation in PNG deteriorates further.
Sir Julius, looking very tired, has been trying to secure support before an expected challenge by opposition leader John Momis and Port Moresby Governor Bill Skate, who will move a motion calling for the Prime Minister to step down.
Cyclone Justin will just not go away - the cyclone has once again reformed after hitting the Australian coastline just north of Cairns at about 3am on Saturday and weakening into a low pressure system.
Flooding has hit the inland areas with the strong winds devastating sugar cane crops in the Cardwell Shire.
Over the weekend two people died as a result of the flooding, a boy was electrocuted while swimming in flood waters and a woman died while trying to clear a tree that had blocked her vehicle's path on the Paluma Range Road.
Almost 40,000 Queenslanders spent a second day without power and water as raw sewage poured into rivers from paralysed treatment ponds.
The Bruce Highway was cut in six places. In all the confusion a New Zealander was arrested on Saturday after the police responded to a complaint from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority that he had falsely claimed to have picked up a weak signal from the mission New Zealand yacht, the Queen Charlotte.
Challenging web sites:
The Opal files - A secret history of Australia and New Zealand makes a number of allegations including the following:
Radio conversation released by the chief of naval operations 10-10-95.
Americans: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid a collision.
Canadians: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.
Americans: This is the captain of a US navy ship. I say again, divert your course.
Canadians: No. I say again, divert your course.
Americans: This is the aircraft carrier USS Missouri. We are a large Warship of the US navy. Divert your course now!
Canadians: This is a lighthouse. Your call.
Federal immigration minister Phillip Ruddock said the move demostrated the Australian Government's determination to deal fairly but quickly with illegal immigrants.
Ruddock said that changes announced last week would mean that, in future, illegal immigrants who arrived in Australia would be sent home immediately if they could not give authorities a sound claim for being allowed to remain in Australia.
Extensive political commentary and links can be found on Palmer's Australian Politics page.
Prime Minister John Howard will reveal a number of changes which will effect areas such as industrial relations, and the dealings of small business with the Australian Taxation Office, Australian Securities Commission, the Bureau of Statistics, and the Insurance and Superannuation Commission which will be centralised in a "single entry point".
Small Business Minister Geoff Prosser said, "This will be the most significant package for small business ever outlined by (an Australian) government."
Matthew Hayden has been sent home after playing some great innings on the current South African tour while captain Mark Taylor once again failed with the bat yesterday in the third test. Australia were reeling at 94 for 4 in their second innings after being 23 for 2 with both openers (Hayden and Taylor) going cheaply.
This after South Africa were all out for 384 - leaving Australia with a large first innings deficit of over 150 runs..
The move has incensed the family of Lord Baden Powell, founder of the world scout movement. The founder's grandson, also Lord Baden-Powell, a vice president of the Scout Association, was seeking urgent contact with scout headquarters "to discuss the reasons behind the decision".
Lady Baden-Powell, vice-president of the Girl Guides, said the move was "extraordinary".
British Scout Association spokesman John Fogg said last night, "Our policy is firmly that no young person or adult should receive less favourable treatment because of their sexuality, gender, marital status or ethnic origin."
Yesterday one of our new clients, Computer Gym went on-line. A fabulous and fun site all about the fast expanding computer education service which currently boasts a network of franchises in Australia and the United Kingdom. The company won the Australian and New Zealand "Franchisee of the Year" award in 1996.
Keep the flame of independent thought in Australia on the Internet - view Media Watch Interactive. Return to Australian National News of the Day