Today's Headlines
Saturday 24th February 1996
International:
The Australian Rugby League (ARL) took out the Super League in the Federal Court with a super knock-out blow. This move has put News
Limited's Foxtel pay television operation back an enormous amount. As an Aussie the thing that disturbed me the most was that another
pretty typical Aussie, ARL Chairman Ken Arthurson, was put through the ringer in the court for 5 days by the lawyers representing
News Limited yet the Super League well-moneyed "heavyweights" - Ken Cowley (News Limited Chairman and Chief Executive),
Lachlan Murdoch (son of Rupert), and Super League chief executive John Ribot refused to front up to be questioned by the ARL's lawyers.
Sounds a bit strange to me - if you feel so strongly for something you defend it, guess personal reputations are more important than
the Super League and all the Super League players that are now adversely effected by this decision.
Well yes, if you want my opinion some political deals are going on in media circles that the general Australian public are not aware about.
This last week the mainline media have started playing the man (John Howard) and not the ball (the policies). His reaction to media
questioning has now become the issue not what he says about what the Coalition will do if they win the March Federal Election.
We have television pictures of Prime Minister Paul Keating (who only
yesterday was unable to explain a Au$440 million hole in his Medicare policy) waving to a group of adoring school girls; Paul Keating
dancing into an interview over "little Johnnies plight". The same television station shows pictures of John Howard looking flustered;
scratching his eyebrow and general looking pretty unflattering. Interesting footage for the general populous in the second last week of
an election campaign.
Business:
Transport group, Brambles Industries, has foreshadowed a 15% increase in earnings following a strong contribution from its
European operations. Interim net profits are up by 16% to Au$102.5 million.
Sport:
Well the Australian cricketers showed their class in the World Cup in India yesterday trouncing Kenya with a score of 304 for 7
which included a world record stand of 207 in limited overs cricket by the Waugh brothers. Mark Waugh scored 130 and Steve Waugh
82. Kenya were never in the match reaching, believe it or not, 207 - or the exact score of the record stand!
Social:
Indulging in great art, world-class opera or cutting-edge music has little attraction for holidaying Australians. An Australian Bureau of
Statistics survey has shown that Australians enjoy spending time in an animal park. About 1.8 million or 1 in 5 Australians
visited an animal or marine park last year. About 1.7 million or 17% visited botanical gardens.
Personal trivia:
Much excitement at the global office yesterday. We were visited by a six foot long green tree snake which took refuge in the hi-fi set
downstairs. Yours truley tried the brave male act. Armed with a long handled broom and watched by my female staff I struck out boldly at
the hi-fi - causing the snake to slither into view. That was fine and all was going well as we had the sliding door open through which it
could escape. However, the snake had other things on its mind and came straight for me raising its head in strike mode. Yours truley
moved rapidly in reverse with ego slightly deflated. The situation became worse when one of the staff (turned out to be a snake catcher!)
took over and disposed of the reptile in a few seconds flat.
Very different way to finish up the week - especially as we were working on a tight time table for one of our international clients,
Singapore Technology Park!
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