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Since October 1995

Friday 14th June 1996

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International:

The terrible accident suffered by the elite Australian soldiers yesterday when two Blackhawk helicopters collided in mid-air appears to have been an accident in waiting. The soldiers in the Blackhawk helicopters were, it now appears, training for retaliatory strategies should a terrorist event occur at the Sydney 2000 Olympics in Sydney in the year 2000.

The problems with the Blackhawk helicopters, supposedly the world's most sophisticated, has been a total charade. There is a fleet of some 27 (3 have now been wiped out) Blackhawk's stationed at Townsville in Northern Queensland. At any one time only six can be flown because of a Au$20 million problem related to shortages of spare parts, cracks in the craft and corrosion.

Australia paid Au$500 million for the fleet in 1988 and since the day they arrived these and other problems have been faced. Today, only three of the remaining twenty seven Blackhawks can be flown.

To me it appears that the bloody Yanks are taking advantage of the Aussies again - dumping their high tech discards on a trusting, yet unknowing ally just to make a few bucks. This has not been the first time it has happened and I doubt if it will be the last. About time we returned the compliment.

Political:

What a backdown! Yesterday Prime Minister John Howard and Federal Treasurer Peter Costello said that they would **never** backdown from the new tax levied on all state and local government purchases - previously exempted from wholesale tax.

In the face of a walkout by the states the men from Canberra were forced to backdown and to agree to restrict the new tax to vehicles only - and only those purchased for use by state and local government executives.

The compromise, will only raise about half the desired Au$1.2 billion. Guess where the balance will come from!

Business:

The Queensland super bank saga is creating more drama than the battle between the Super League and the Australian Rugby League with Metway bank now saying that they are now in favour of going with New South Wales based St George as there is more money in it for their share holders. This has put enormous pressure on the state government to come up with the goods after the highly publicised media launch by Premier Rob Borbidge in which the super bank deal had, supposedly become reality.

Sport:

Long jumper Nicole Boegman took the silver to lead an Australian medal charge at an international athletics meet in Duisburg, Germany yesterday.

Boegman was second with a leap of 6.55 metres, six centimetres shorter than local Claudia Gerhardt.

Social:

Queensland genetic researchers have identified the gene which causes the common skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma (BCC). The discovery of the BCC gene could lead to the development of a treatment to block genetic mutations which trigger the start of cancer, and early identification of people at high risk of cancer.

News of the discovery will be announced today in a major international science journal.

Personal trivia, from the global office:

Another perfect day ahead of us. Cold overnight, but a warm day ahead of us. The best part is that I will be able to enjoy it from the sanctity of the global office.

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