Today's Headlines
Monday 19th February 1996
International:
Nine East Timorese who have camped in the Australian Embassy in Jakarta for the past 11 days have continued their hunger strike
in protest against Australia's refusal to grant them asylum. The East Timorese scaled an embassy fence late on February 7th.
The group is made up of students aged between 24 and 27 years.
John Howard released his Au$1 billion pitch at the Australian family yesterday. The policy included tax breaks on salaries up to Au$70,000,
extra support for parents with children under 5, guarantees of 450,000 child-care places by the year 2000, guarantees on award rates,
and Au$40 million to help the high conservation areas in Queensland's far north.
Prime Minister Paul Keating who was fiddling up in the bushland of northern Queensland while "Rome" burns, had this to say about
Howard's policies: "That's cynical and unscrupulous. He's happy to play a confidence trick on Australian families with promises he knows
he can't fund. He has no hope of delivering." Keating must be talking about himself again - must have something to do with the climate
in our far northern reaches!
Business:
Australian business was spending more now on innovation but still falls behind its OECD partners in this area. Much of the reported lift by business has
been because of the 150% tax break on R&D - an area that the government has just cracked down on to raise revenue to fund its promises.
Sport:
Golfer Craig Parry took his 3rd Australian Masters yesterday with an impressive 13 under par 279 at Huntingdale. The prize of Au$750,000
is one of Australia's richest.
Social:
Thousands crammed into Chinatown in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley yesterday as the Chinese New Year celebrations started. The
Chinese New Year which runs for a fortnight marks the Year of the Rat.
Global Gripe of the day:
The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth:
Isn't it strange how important facts simply get overlooked by our traditional media? Take for example what is apparently the real reason behind the Queensland State
Labor Party not calling another election now that it has lost the balance of power in parliament. This would be the normal and proper way of resolving the debacle with a
hung parliament being run by an independent with the casting vote. You see the pollies only get the full benefit of their incredibly lucrative
superannuation payout after they have been members of parliament for 8 years. Some very senior Labor MPs have only been in for 6 and
represent marginal seats. If they went to the people now and lost their endorsement they would also lose out on the superannuation. By
caving in to the Liberal/National Coalition they have guaranteed the 8 year stint - even though decision making in Queensland is going to be
a total farce for the next three years.
Now why did the media not report that in the papers or on the television. Huh?
Personal trivia:
A very pleasant cool day yesterday with storms threatening in the late afternoon. We went to visit friends near Brisbane enjoying a bar-b-que
and late night talking about things of great worldly significance. Such is the nature of idle chatter amongst friends. It was a great evening
during which young Alex had a particularly good time looking out for Max in the heart of Koala territory.
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