Tuesday 4th March 1997
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Issues - The banking system under the spotlight. Health and education projects valued at Au$12 million will be stopped indefinitely and Australian personnel will be kept off the island until security improves dramatically.
A leaked PNG government document claims that a former Australian SAS officer acted for the Solomon Island's government last year to buy thousands of weapons and ammunitions from Australia - allegedly for the Bougainville rebels.
The former officer, identified only as Mr Smith, travelled to Australia on April 17th with a cheque for Au$357,000 as down payment for arms for the Solomon Islands police force. The arms included 3000 M79 grenade launchers, 3000 rocket launchers, 10 machine guns, 1000 Australian made Styer rifles and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
Smith allegedly met with Bougainville Resistance Army (BRA) commander Ismael Toroama in the Shortlands islands south of Bougainville just before buying the weapons.
"It is logical to perhaps conclude that any interaction between Smith and the BRA is assumed to be done with the full blessing of the Solomon Islands government," the report said.
At the same time the ALP are preparing more than 20 questions for Senator Colston alleging further irregularities in his spending habits.
Opposition Senate Leader Robert Ray will move a Private Member's Bill requiring that any member or Senator forced to resign because of a conviction lose their own contribution to their superannuation plus the tax-payer-funded top-up.
Queensland State Premier Rob Borbidge has continued to throw fuel on the fire by saying that he might not replace Colston if he is forced to resign from the Senate. This would keep the Liberal Party's fragile hold on the Senate.
Federal Opposition leader Kim Beazley said that Borbidge was out of his depth saying, "Bob (sic) Borbidge is a Gold Coast motel owner trying to prove he's a Nat."
Deputy Opposition Leader Gareth Evans said that Mr Borbidge's comments were the most stupid by any Australian politician for many years.
"This guy is just a sloping forehead, knuckles dragging on the ground, constitutional primitive," Mr Evans said.
Extensive political commentary and links can be found on Palmer's Australian Politics page.
More than Au$4.3 billion was wiped off the value of Australian shares taking its total losses this week to Au$10 billion.
Interest sensitive stocks like banks were hit the hardest as analysts ruled out any further interest rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of Australia - which holds its monthly policy meeting today.
Some analysts say that the next move by the Reserve Bank could be higher rates as evidence mounts up that the economy is picking up its pace.
It was a day of madness in the Australian police force yesterday. A 77 year old woman was fined Au$100 in an Ipswich magistrate's court for "assaulting a police officer". Former Ipswich deputy mayor Georgie Conway "lost it" when she was asked by Senior Constable Waldermar Luckhoff if she had been drinking when she was stopped by the police as she turned into her Leichhardt home.
She told the constable "I don't drink how dare you ask me that?"
Constable Luckhoff said that Ms Conway then proceeded to prod him in the chest "They were distinctive prods," he told the court.
During this time the constable established that Ms Conway had not been drinking because he could not smell alcohol on her breath.
When Ms Conway continued to prod him after he took a step back he said, "Right, you're under arrest".
Ms Conway said, "What for."
The constable said, "For assaulting me".
Ms Conway told the court that she doubted that she could assault anybody at her age.
She said she had not poked the constable but had unintentionally allowed her hand to brush the front of his shirt. "I put my hand up to my head and said 'please leave me alone'".
Constable Juliet McGrath, who was with Luckhoff, gave evidence supporting him.
On passing his decision Magistrate Ross Woodford took into account her age, lack of prior convictions, 16 years in local government and ongoing commitment to community works.
It has taken me three months reporting many acts of trespass to the police. All they have ever done is warn them - even though they have caught the same off-road motor cyclists damaging parkland - ..... so they just return.
Who are the police policing - old women or trespassers?
Have a great day.
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