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Monday 16th September 1996
Monday 16th September 1996
Mr Wran, as chairman of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, said Mr Howard's decision to rescind his acceptance to the Victor Chang charity ball on Octover 31 smacked of opportunism.
"Anyone who knows anything about politics can tell you that John Howard is interested in votes, not principles," Mr Wran said.
"He would have looked at the situation, sensed controversy and decided to avoid it at all costs."
Howard cancelled after he learnt that over-exposed Princess Di was going to be there. Organisers are bracing themselves for what they expect to be the biggest social and media blow-up of the year. Over 300 photographers and journalists are expected to come to Sydney from London.... that's more than the capacity of one 737 passenger plane.
Finally, as Wran admits that Howard is going to get votes by staying away from Princess Di it sums up the view of the average Aussie about this "Royal has-been".
Two Queensland based Liberal MPs are still likely to cross the floor of Parliament to embarrass the Prime Minister when the new tax is put to the vote.
Warren Entsch (Leichhardt) and Gary Hardgrave (Moreton) both signed pre-election promises to oppose the propoased tax. They are expected to be joined by controversial National Party MP Bob Katter.
The proposed increase caused an uproar among north Queensland tourism operators as they had sold pre-paid packages to overseas and domestic tourists covering the period after the new tax became law. The tickets were based on a Au$1 reef tax.
Bergman was knock-out number 14 after Tszu's record of only 18 boughts...
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