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

Wednesday 11th June 1997

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International:

Not a bad call for a nation whose senate is run and controlled by lobby groups such as the gun and petroleum industry and where the man in the street has very little power compared to those who line the pockets of the well-heeled lobbyists...

In Washington yesterday a spokesman for the State Department, Nicholas Burns, said, "I can tell you if she (US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright) were invited, she would not attend that ceremony... because it wouldn't be appropriate."

The opposition Hong Kong Democracy party said yesterday that it was a "traversty" that Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer had not ruled out attending the ceremony.

Independent Member for Oxley Pauline Hanson yesterday advised that she will oppose all tariff cuts saying that the major parties could not be trusted to protect jobs by opposing tariffs because they had previously rushed towards trade liberalisation.

"Our position is that we believe first and foremost in Australian jobs.

"Our first priority must be that of Australian jobs and we will do all we can anywhere to ensure Australian jobs are protected."

Meanwhile back in Sydney national director of One Nation, David Ettridge, announced the launch of Young Nation.

"At the end of the day, young Australians are going to inherit the country so they need to make sure it's taken care of responsibly," he said.

Ettridge said that Young Nation was still in its infancy but said that the party would be up and running within 3 months. This has got the wind-up the embattled Democrats with South Australian Democrat Senator Natasha Stott Despoja challenging the demand for a Young Nation party.

"The Democrats strongly support increased participation of young people in all areas of politics. It is quite duplicitous, however, for a political party, like One Nation, to expect young people to be involved in it when the party has anti-youth policies.

"In her first speech, Ms Hanson suggested the introduction of National Service for young people. I wonder if young people will come out in droves to support a politician who wants to send them to a boot camp?"

Guess what Natasha I reckon that that is probably the best reward that you could give Australian youth - helping them to understand discipline and order - something sadly lacking in our education system today.

Interesting opening paragraph in Queensland's Courier Mail today in an article by John Hyde headed "Withering PM bows to vested interests".

"The jury on the Howard Government is in. The Prime Minister, flanked by the executives of the car companies, so reminiscent of Hawke flanked by Packer and Bond at the time of the television carve up, provided the evidence needed to confirm the most serious charges. Howard is in thrall to vested interests: he is weak."

Interesting because the commentatror then steers away from the inital commercial thrust with hot potato issues like Packer and Fairfax currently on the carve up board and turns his attention on political issues claiming that Howard has "employed the One Nation ideal".

Australian international golfing star Greg Norman is to spend Au$36 million on a refurbished Boeing 737 jet which will fly him, his family, friends and employees in comfort to all corners of the world. I guess that it is sheer coincidence that Norman recently signed a seven year multimillion dollar deal to be an ambassador for Boeing.

Pauline Hanson's One Nation Official home page.

Political:

Yesterday Howard's determination to establish a sunset clause came under attack from Aborigines while the Native Title Tribunal's Helen McInenrney raised an interesting development when she revealed that lawyers had become more and more involved in native title claims since the Wik ruling.

She said that the Native Title Tribunal currently has 538 native title claims on its books. 320 are at the mediation stage while the rest are still in limbo. Most of the claims against pastoralists involve lawyers paid for by the taxpayer - whereas the pastoralist has to foot the bill for his own legal expenses.

A tough call under the circumstances.

Strange but true:

Warning:

1. Please check with your physician before starting any exercise program.
2. Before using this unit, please check it to be sure of safety. If anypart is worn or broken, do not use this unit.
3. Don't use it if any damaged occurred.
4. Don't allow a pregnant woman to use it.
5. Don't let child close on during exercising.
6. If you feel vomitive, dizzy or any uncomfortable condition during exercise, stop exercising immediately.
7. This product doesn't fit an older people, a younger child and a poorreactive people.
8. Away from the dangerous things (glass, wall, angle of table, sharp things etc) during the exercise.
9. During the exercise, just take it easy, do not use too much power.

Business:

BIL bought Conrad Black's 25% share some months ago and can now buy a further 3% under the "creep" provisions of the Corporation Law. On Friday, investment bank Merrill Lynch bought Westpac Bank's 2.9% stake in Fairfax - Merrill Lynch handled BIL's initial purchase of Black's stake.

It is widely considered that BIL are simply acquiring Fairfax shares on a holding basis for Kerry Packer's Publishing and Broadcasting Limited.

Personal trivia, from the global office:

Have a great day.

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