Today's Headlines
Monday 20th May 1996
International:
Three weeks after the massacre of 35 visitors at Port Arthur the residents held an ecumenical service on the lawns of the historic
site. 5,000 people gathered as 35 white birds representing the victims circled overhead. A young boy waved goodbye as the
people prayed that they could break with the past. Since the shooting the area, dependent on the tourist trade, has been deserted
and cottage industries and small businesses are struggling and going broke.
In the background the voice of the gun lobby can still be heard but it appears that this time the government is going to hold its
resolve and maintain the abholition of military styled weapons.
Political:
The country's major trade unions have vowed to scuttle the Coalition's industrial relations reforms in the High Court.
ACTU President Jennie George said last night that she had legal advice that some of the proposed changes would be unconstitutional.
Business:
CRA have said that without genuine support from the local Aborigines the Au$1.1 billion Century Zinc mine would not go ahead.
The company sais that they would scuttle the project if the government had to intervene to break the eigth month long deadlock.
A crucial meeting to be held today between CRA-RTZ officials and the Gulf Region Aboriginal Corporation would determine the
massive projects future.
Sport:
Well, Auckland hammered Northen Transvaal yesterday in the second final in the Super 12 series. The final score of 48-11 clearly
outlined the difference in the performance of the teams on the day. Auckland now meet Natal in the final (as I predicted) in New
Zealand this weekend.
Tonight Queensland will play New South Wales in the first in the State of Origin series. The Queensland maroons go in as 5-4
underdogs. Last night over 3,000 tickets for the final at the Suncorp Stadium remained unsold. The first time in years that there
has not been a sell-out well before the game.
Social:
In an international survey the French have been voted the world's best lovers. Fifteen countries were surveyed, including Australia
which came 8th overall.
The Durex (condoms) Global Survey 1996 questioned about 10,000 people around the world on sexual
health and attitudes.
Australia's bedroom rating climbed to equal second with with Britain and the United States. The survey found that although the Americans
were the world's most active lovers with 135 encounters on average per year they were also found to be the least considerate.
We are currently gearing up to put fifty more restaurants into our Definitive Lifestyle
Guide to Wining and Dining in S E Queensland. It is another beautiful sunny and warm day with temperatures in the mid 20 degree
celcius.
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