Today's Headlines
Tuesday 5th March 1996
International:
Prawn exports to the US could be banned and markets worth hundreds of millions of dollars be jeopardised next month because of
Australia's failure to adopt measures to protect endangered sea turtles.
The US plans to place an embargo on prawn imports from Australia and 51 other nations which do not use turtle excluder devices on
trawl nets.
Good one Yanks. This is the nation that ruined Vietnam and its wild life with chemicals like Agent Orange during the Vietnam war.
The Australian environmental movement could show up your politicians and their feel-good policies in far more important areas than
sea turtles.
Political:
Bad boy Bill Kelty, the union official who sunk Labor's failing chances in the last few weeks of the election has raised his ugly head again
threatening the new Liberal Government with war. He quit the board of the Reserve Bank yesterday before John Howard dumped him and
vowed "There is no way, given this challenge, that I will ever walk away from the union movement, this is as exciting as it's going to get
I'm going to be here."
Business:
Hopes of an election led run on the Australian Stock Exchange faded yesterday because, of all things, computer failure! Expectation of
the market's biggest day on record were demolished after software difficulties delayed trade for more than two hours. Sydney Futures
Exchange chief executive, Les Hosking, said it was a "great disaster" on what was one of the most critical days of the decade.
Sport:
The Australian cricket team felt the full force of the West Indian's in a great one day match in India yesterday. Securing their place in the
World Cup semi-finals was left to that great great West Indian batsman Richie Richards who made an undefeated 93. Australia was 229 for 6 after their
50 overs the Windies replying in 49 overs with 232 for 6. The top score of the match was by Ricky Ponting who scored a sparkling 102
off 113 balls before being run out.
Social:
The Aboriginal issue and government hand-outs to that community played a major issue in the political outcomes in the Federal
Election. Listed below are some comparative facts based on 1991 figures. Payments to Aborigines have increased since then.
You be the judge:
| How the government money is divided: |
| Social area | Aboriginal | $ per person | Population | $ per person |
| Health | Au$1,106.6 million | Au$4,175 | Au$18,400 million | Au$1,064 |
| Education | Au$171.6 million | Au$647 | Au$1,840 million | Au$106.5 |
| Welfare | Au$10,040 million | Au$3,788 | Au$45,230 million | Au$2,660 |
| Housing | Au$99.3 million | Au$375 | Au920.5 million | Au$54 |
| Job Training | Au$50.4 million | Au$183 | Au$1,970 million | Au$115.88 |
Aboriginal population: 265,459. Total population: 17,284,059 - 1991 Census and grant figures.
33% 9of Aborigines finish secondary school compared with 77% of non-Aborigines.
Aboriginal infant mortality is three times that of non-Aborigines.
Aborigines are the only group involved in a work for the dole scheme - up to 30,000 are involved.
Aboriginal life expectancy for men is 57 and 62 for women. For non-Aborigines: 75 for men and 81 for women.
In 1994 38% of Aborigines were unemployed compared with less than 10% for non-Aborigines.
Government payments are the main source of income for 55% of Aborigines.
(Sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1994; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Department, 1995.)
Personal trivia:
Another quiet day at the office yesterday, although the large project are starting to loom like challenges in waiting. The weather was
quite excellent yesterday with cool temperatures and a sunny sky.
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