Monday 27th January 1997
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In his Australia Day speech yesterday Deane said, "Both sides of our national Parliament have accepted the importance of a genuine reconciliation between Aboriginal peoples and Australians as a whole.
"We must achieve it by the year 2001 - otherwise we'll enter the second century of our nation as a diminished people."
Prime Minister John Howard, speaking at a citizenship ceremony in Adelaide, said that Australia was one of the most tolerant societies in the world, and urged Australians to consider the things they had in common rather than the things which pushed them apart when they celebrate Australia Day.
Queensland Premier Rob Borbidge suggested yesterday that a system of "accreditation" be introduced for Aboriginal groups to be accepted as native title negotiators.
"As we rework the native title legislation it is going to be important that, if you like, particular groups are accredited so that there is negotiation with aspects of native title that people know who they should be talking to rather than find a couple of dozen lobby groups landing at the door all competing over the same interests" he said.
Borbidge claimed that finding representative bodies was like "drawing a name out of a hat".
Northern Territory Chief Minister Shane Stone said yesterday that he was not hopeful the Senate would overturn a Federal move to squash the territory's "right to die" legislation.
The Private Member's Bill introduced in Parliament last year by Liberal backbencher Kevin Andrews would nullify the Northern Territory's legislation which has allowed three terminally ill patients to "commit" legal suicide by answering a few questions on a computer attached to a lethal drug.
"I think we're probably five or six votes short (in the Senate) in terms of rolling back the Andrews Bill at this stage," Stone told Channel 10 television's Meet the Press programme.
The Senate is due to debate the Andrews Bill after the committee hands down its report late next month.
To overcome the shortage office space equivalent in size to 60 suburban homes has been quietly dug out from under the House - without even the politicians realising what was going on!
Two new mezzanine floors have been added to accommodate some of the extra 200 rooms required to house this growing army. Chief engineer Adrian Guilfoyle said that building had been going on for some years with only some of the politicians aware of the major engineering work in progress under their feet.
The Parliament House workforce has increased by 700 since it opened in 1988, with the building now costing more than Au$4,500 an hour to run.
Last year's bill for keeping the building running topped Au$38.8 million - about three times as much to run as the old parliament.
In a world where money is no object Au$80,000 was spent repairing the parquetry floors damaged by stiletto heels after a Labor minister's "corridor party".
Independent Member for Oxley Pauline Hanson yesterday revealed that she would endorse "like minded" candidates in the House of Representatives and the Senate but declined to reveal whether she would form a new party.
"What we need is for people to represent Australians, not to elect people to be a yes-person for the people running the country," said Ms Hanson, "If you start backing Liberal, National or Labor candidates they will eventually vote according to how the party tells them.
"I am not disclosing about forming a party. I have to take into account the 38 support groups (groups supporting her stand) - I am amazed by that.
"I have to give it very careful consideration. They are looking for some direction. I would not be in the position that I am now if it wasn't for the support of the Australian people.
"I will be speaking at six functions in two days. It was initially the National Party who invited me to come, but when other people heard I was coming... they invited me to be a guest speaker at a further five other functions."
The feeling around the general populous is that a Pauline Hanson led party would do extremely well in the next Federal election and could quite plausibly hold the balance of power.
Hayden was joined at the crease by Mark Waugh after captain Mark Taylor once again failed dismally in his attempt to get his batting form together - being lbw to Bishop for only 11. Waugh smashed a fast 82 runs before being caught by Murray off the bowling of Hooper. At the close of play yesterday Blewett stood on 91 not out and Michael Bevan on 47. The Australians sitting on 434 runs for the loss of just 5 wickets.
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