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an Aussie's viewpoint on Australia's first daily Internet newspaper.

Saturday 28th December 1996

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International:

Queensland State Premier Rob Borbidge suggested yesterday that a national referendum on Native Title was the only was to resolve the land rights puzzle triggered by the High Courts decision on the pastoral land claimed by the Wik people.

Mr Borbidge said that this move would be the only way to stop the Senate from blocking key changes to the Native Title Act which were divisive and had raised the heat in the racism row. Federal Labor, the Democrats and the Greens have signalled that they would block any moves to reform Native Title.

Borbidge's plan got little support from either the Aborigines or the mining and cattle lobbies - the parties most effected by the decision.

Political:

Prime Minister John Howard will consider amending the politically sensitive Racial Discrimination Act to protect pastoral leases against Native Title claims after the High Court's Wik decision. Howard said, "the ball game has changed because of this decision and the community should understand that and it may be necessary to have responses that are different from what was previously posed."

Government sources said that Howard planned to pressure the Leader of the Opposition, Kim Beazley, to support legislative action in the wake of the Wik ruling as the Keating government gave a commitment to protect pastoral leases by writing this into the preamble of the Native Title Act.

This strategy also has the potential to split the Australian Labor Party as its Federal Members have widely differing views on this issue.

Sport:

Glenn McGrath was the hero at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday when Australia regained its cricketing pride after being tumbled out for only 219 in the first innings of the third test against the West Indies. The West Indies were teetering at 233 for 9 wickets after a magical spell of bowling by McGrath saw him take 5 wickets (including that of Brian Lara for only 2) for 40 runs in 27 overs.

The Sydney to Hobart yacht race is well under way after a rocky start on Boxing Day saw favourite Brindabella and seven other yachts forced to retire within hours of the start.

Exile, a lesser known boat, is the current leader - with a marginal lead over current favourite Morning Glory.

Personal trivia, from the global office:

Another gorgeous day outside... we will be going to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary later today so that my Mum can get to hold one of their gorgeous Koalas.

The number of birds outside the global office are absolutely amazing... everything from cockatoos to cookoos... brown ducks to mud larks... lorikeets to cranes.

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