Today's Headlines
Sunday 22nd April 1996
International:
The Federal Government yesterday ordered an independent inquiry into alleged paedophilia activities by an Australian diplomat after
claims that foreign aid money was used to buy access to orphans for sex. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer ordered the inquiry
while in Bangkok after claims were made that Commonwealth aid money had been diverted to orphanages and schools to ensure
a supply of "clean" boys and girls for paedophiles.
Political:
The Queensland State Political scene is getting quite bitter with Labor opposition leader getting upset about the sackings by the
new state Coalition government of senior bureaucrats from plum jobs. Four senior members of the Premier's department were ordered
to take four weeks leave on Friday following the disappearance of a number of controversial computer files pertaining to the dealing by the previous
Labor government.
Sounds to me like someone should come up with a software application which destroys files by date and prefix. That would supplement the
merry hum of shredding machines when there is a change of government. Because all that confetti isn't worth a bull's roar if a carbon
copy is left on the computer. Blush, blush...
Business:
Australian general insurance industries suffered one of their worst years on record in 1994/95 with deteriorating underwriting
returns and dismal investment returns. A report by Deloitte Ross Tohmatsu, a large accounting group, showed that the country's
private sector direct insurers suffered a combined loss of Au$77 million for the year - a dramatic turnaround from the Au$471 million
profit in the previous financial yearr.
Sport:
What a bad day for Australian swimming at the lead up to the Atlanta Olympics - and I am talking about Kieren Perkins, the world's
greatest long distance freestyle swimmer who missed out on the chance to qualify for the final in the men's 200 metre final at Homebush
yesterday.
The race was won by Victorian Michael Klim who turned in a sizzling time of just 1 minute 48.26 seconds in his heat - the fastest time in
the world over the distance this year. Perkins who could only manage 15th in the heats reflects the incredible depth of swimming talent that Australia will have at
Atlanta.
Social:
A new study reveals that buying food in Australia is cheaper now than it was in 1970. The table below demonstrates the
result of more competition and greater efficiency on the nett cost of purchase to the consumer.
| The cost of food in minutes on labour: |
| Food | 1972 | 1995 |
| Butter | 15.1 | 5.8 |
| Eggs | 13.4 | 9.7 |
| Sugar | 11.4 | 7.4 |
| Milk | 5.2 | 4.3 |
| Steak | 57.1 | 43.5 |
| Bread | 4.0 | 6.6 |
| Tea | 8.9 | 6.8 |
Another great day yesterday fiddling away on the Internet. There is so much to do and so little time... but it's all great fun!
This morning I took a walk down to the river's edge as the sun rose. It is again a magnificent day with fragmented clouds shrouding
an otherwise perfectly blue sky.
Return to Australian National News of the Day
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Another great day yesterday fiddling away on the Internet. There is so much to do and so little time... but it's all great fun!