Today's Headlines
Tuesday 12th March 1996
International:
Wow! Super League is history - a judge in the Federal Court ruled yesterday. This devastating body blow for Foxtel was lauded by
the Australian Rugby League's (ARL) lawyers who called it a 15 out of 10 decision in their favour! The rulings included:
News Limited, Super League and the rebel clubs restrained until 31st December 1999 from:
- organising or playing in any competition not authorised by the ARL.
- allowing their players and coaches to be involved in any unathourised game.
Within 48 hours Super League must order its players and coaches in writing to play in the ARL competition.
Super League not to pay players and coaches unless they play in ARL competition. (That one MUST hurt!)
By 4pm March 20th all Super League clubs to hand over all Super League merchandise to the ARL!
Until 31st December 1999 Super League clube must 'do their best' to maintain the ARL competition as the premier rugby league competition.
Over to you Rupert...
Political:
John Howard is now our new Prime Minister. He was sworn in yestersday in a traditional ceremony handled by the Governor General,
Sir William Deane. Howard included Her Majesty the Queen in his oath of allegiance after the promise to serve the people of Australia.
Paul Keating and the Labor party had removed all reference to the Queen in the swearing in ceremony.
The new key federal ministers are:
- Prime Minister - John Howard.
- Trade and Deputy Prime Minister - Mr Tim Fischer.
- Treasurer - Peter Costello.
- Primary Industries and Energy - Mr John Anderson.
- Senator Jocelyn Newman - Social Security and Assisting the Prime Minister in the status of Women.
- Mr Ian McLachlan - Defence.
- Senator Robert Hill - Environment.
- Senator Richard Alston - Communications and the Arts.
- Mr John Fahey (ex New South Wales Premier) - Finance.
- Dr Michael Woodridge - Health and family Services.
- Senator Amanda Vanstone - Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs (phew!).
- Mr John Moore - Industry, Science and Tourism.
- Mr John Sharp - Transport and Regional Development.
- Mr Alexander Downer (dumped Liberal leader) - Foreign Affairs.
- Mr Peter Reith - Industrial Relations.
Business:
In a horrific day on the markets the Australian Stock Exchange plunged 80 points. Comments and actions by Bill Kelty, Secretary of the
ACTU, coupled with the budget blow out which is expected to be about Au$5 billion caused 10 year long term interest rates to climb to
9.2% from 8.3% less than a month ago.
One man who appears to have gone into hiding is ex Prime Minister Paul Keating. By all accounts he and Ralph Willis (the ex Treasurer)
should be called to account. They misled the people in the lead up to the election that the budget was in surplus. I mean can you
imagine running your business like this... and isn't a country's economy far more important than even the biggest business?
Picture the CEO of Australia's largest company BHP walking up to his bank manager and saying "Sorry mate we made a slight
mistake - there won't be no profits this year in fact we need to borrow another Au$1 billion because some unexpected expenses
just came up.." get off!! The people are like the shareholders in a big company. The politicians are well paid to run the country but
treat the people like bystanders and with total disrespect.
We can only hope that the Liberal Party will be more accountable because
the Democrats have "failed to keep the Bastards honest" in the past.
Sport:
A great cricket match in the quarter finals of the World Cup in India between Australia and New Zealand with Australia winning.
New Zealand spear headed by a firey 130 runs by Chris Harris built up a formidable score of 285. Australia
needing over 5.7 runs per over started with a dash with 6s being hammered all over the ground. Mark Waugh scored his third
century of the World Cup series with an excellent 110 runs. The New Zealand score was reached in the final two overs of the game
with Australia now moving to the semis and closer to victory.
Social:
More than half of Australian young people expect environmental degradation, levels of crime and violence and the gap between the poor and
the rich to be worse by the year 2010 according to a report showing alarming levels of pessimism among our youth. The study conducted by the
Australian Science and Technology Council also found most young people care about the future and want it to be a society
"motivated more by generosity than by greed". Interesting that 58% of young people think that computers and robots are taking
over people's jobs today.
Personal trivia:
Another glorious day in paradise. Today my wife and I are going sailing on the Gold Coast Broadwater in a large 3 master with some
friends. Our trip starts at 9am and finishes at 5pm - we will travel up to Sanctuary Cove and then back to the Gold Coast Broadwater.
Great fun but also nice to be with good friends and clients of ours at the same time!
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