Today's Headlines
an Aussie's viewpoint on Australia's first daily Internet newspaper.
Since October 1995

Monday 9th June 1997

Associated links:
Search entire news archive by day
Search entire news archive by text
Definitive Lifestyle Guide to over 5000 Australian webs
Global Web Builders Gold
The Kid's Locker Room
World Wide Websters

International:

Foot in mouth Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer was on the Hanson warpath at the Australia Japan Society annual conference over the weekend. He said that while many Australians were descended from British settlers and many more born in Britain, ".....Japan long ago became our top trading partner, we obviously still value and promote our trade with Britain. But there is no question which is the more important.

"Now that is a point the Pauline Hansons and her fellow travellers need to reflect on. If as a country we telegraph racist sentiments to our region, not only will it reflect poorly on us morally, but it will threaten tens of thousands of jobs."

Interesting therefore that as the most racist country in Asia - based along official government policy - is alleged to be Japan... just where does Downer get off? Any half-educated Japanese guest to the conference would have choked on his or her pretzels when Downer made that statement. But guess what - you don't have to lay any bets that Downer was probably the most uneducated person there at the time...

Australia was subjected to another edition of the Packer family home show last night on top rating 60 Minutes (more accurately referred to as 38 Minutes - after you take out the ads). This time we had twenty minutes of self indulgence with young James Packer's 23 year-old girl friend, Kate Fischer.

Her name first popped up in a Channel Nine A Current Affair program about a month ago in which James Packer was interviewed and hailed as the all-conquering wonder boy of the Packer empire.

Last night the interview was supposed to be centered around Kate Fischer's mother, Prue Garland, who was, it appears, something of a rebel in her younger days - and Kate made it quite clear that she was a chip off the old block with comments like, "Look how I am dressed to show off my assets.... and you (talking to the 60 Minutes interviewer) are not dressed to show off yours at all."

Ms Fischer, dressed in a low cut black outfit, staring studiously at the interviewer's crutch when making the statement.

To an outsider I found her to be loud and ugly in her manners and mannerisms - the interview with Mum who has just landed a top job with John Howard - in charge of Women's Policy at Canberra - became a fight to keep Ms Fischer quiet.

One had the distinct impression that whether the topic had been the starving in Biafra, the splitting of the atom, or rolling a cigarette Ms Fischer would have been the "most knowledgeable" if not the most verbois.

She might be pretty but beauty is more than skin deep I guess young James Packer will learn that one day in an experience that not even money can save you from - if he decides to marry the woman.

The producers of 60 Minutes must be wondering what sort of "independent topic of Packer interest" will be thrown onto their desk next. Guess they need a job though.

Two time Liberal leader Andrew Peacock, who is currently Australia's ambassador to Washington is to be honoured with a Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AC).

The Queen's Birthday honours list is full of political and business names stemming from the establishment with just a sprinkling of dinky-di Aussies who have made it the hard way and been recognised. One of the more controversial being Bruce Ruxton the man the media love to slam for his "straight from the heart" comments. Ruxton is currently deputy national president of the RSL (Retired Soldier's League).


Pauline Hanson's One Nation Official home page.

Political:

Federal Training Minister David Kemp yesterday said that he had offered the Australian states and territories Au$4.5 billion in funding for TAFE (Technical and Further Education) Colleges over the next five years.

Dr Kemp said that the additional funding would see TAFE places boosted by 500,000 to 1.7 million during this period.

Dr Kemp is confident that the legislation will go through saying that if it does not pass the Senate it will sent back without amendments triggering a double dissolution for a fresh federal election.

email the editor

You say:

Lest we forget, GST is not a RETAIL SALES TAX. GST IS A GOODS AND SERVICES TAX

The electrician or plumber or even the boy who mows your lawn for money has to collect extra for the Tax department. Even the flea markets will be affected.

SAVINGS ARE EXEMPT.

WHY, because an unemployed person statistically employed for working one day a week does not need to pay income tax being below the threshold., but when he has to get the stove fixed, whamo.

The same goes for a person who gets a few months work in the year. Pensioners are exempt, so they say up to the pension amount, BUT WHAT ABOUT WHEN HE DECIDES TO USE HIS LIFES SAVINGS (ALREADY TAXED) TO BUY A CARAVAN OR FRIDGE ETC.

EVERY MODERN CASH REGISTER IN THIS COUNTRY IS GEARED FOR GST, AND EVERY MAJOR PARTY IS PRESSURED TO IMPLEMENT GST. DONT WORRY ABOUT ALL THE OTHER HORRORS WE WILL HAVE. This is why I will support Pauline, or any other INDEPENDENT, just to stuff up the plans of the supranational new world order being foisted upon us. The greedy will not be prepared to make the sacrifice: ENJOY YOUR TV.

Philip Madsen.

Sport:

All hail the leader - Australian cricket captain Mark Taylor - or should we?

The Australian cricket team is but a shadow of its former glory since Taylor has selfishly held on to his position as captain in the current English Ashes series.

Yes, he scored over 100 runs but then so did his playing partner Greg Blewett and Matthew Elliott did pretty well with 66. So why then did Australia crash all out for 447 after being 352 for 2 - leaving the English just 118 runs to win - a score which they reached with one day to spare? Quite simply because the roller-coaster ride that they have been taken through by the media because of the selfish ambitions of one Mark Taylor has left the team's confidence shattered.

Taylor said after his innings, "I'm not a bitter man. What I will say is that they're (the critics) doing their job and I'm doing mine, and I mean that. They get paid to comment and I don't have a problem with their opinion."

"My form has been terrible, everybody knows that...." yet he refused to relinquish his position to give someone else a go and in his privileged position as a selector for the team that is inexcusable. My prediction is that he will slump again and Australia will be totally humiliated in the Ashes series. Oh, if only I could be proven wrong.....

Personal trivia, from the global office:

Another gorgeous day in paradise.

Have a great day.


Return to Australian National News of the Day

#

Web development, design, and storage by Global Web Builders - Email: global@gwb.com.au

See GLOBE International for other world news.

WA
anotd