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an Aussie's viewpoint

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Thursday 18th July 1996

International:

Australian business is starting to take a real hold on United States media and entertainment businesses.

In the latest foray Channel Seven (television) placed the winning bid for MGM UA studio and Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation has reportedly offered over Au$3 billion for a major US television company.

News was reported to be bidding for New World Communications Group, which owns ten television stations. News already owns 20% of the company.

This move by News would make it the biggest owner of television in the US - reaching an estimated 40% of homes.

Now wouldn't that make a nice change... a national reporter with an "ocker" Aussie accent and a bit of Australian culture to lift the US and replace some of the imported stuff we get here like Amway, MacDonalds ... and the strange spelling of words like colour and centre...

Political:

The Police Ministers could'nt agree last night on a uniform gun law so it appears that the nation might be going to a referendum on guns.

Prime Minister John Howard has nothing politically to lose from the move with both the Democrats (quasi-ALP) and the Australian Labor Party (real ALP) supporting the move.

The only problem that they have is that the move would cost Au$50 million. Now that is almost the same figure that has been cut from the Australian Broadcasting Commission's (ABC) budget... a move which caused industrial action last night. We had no 7.30 Report - for a mo we though that Kerry O'Brien had been given the sack for his grilling of bossman, Senator Alston, over the big cuts to the ABC budget the night before.

Let's remember that the ABC cuts are because of the Au$10 billion budget deficit - and a referendum on guns has resulted from one crazy going ape in Tasmania earlier this year and the subsequent refusal by Queensland, Western Australia and the Norther Territory to move from their stance to allow automatic weapons to be held privately if they have gone through the "crimping" process.

Business:

MIM Holdings Limited are now planning to take their Mt Isa mine to stage three which will result in Australia's deepest mine being developed.

At a cost of Au$500 million MIM will mine over 1.5 kilometres straight down to gain access to a new major copper body. The new mine will start production in 1999. In light of the Century Zinc debacle this can only be good news for Queensland and the outback.

Good on 'ya boys!

Sport:

Gary Player, that South African superstar both on and off the golf course whose most famous saying was "The more I practice the luckier I get," advised Australian Ian Baker-Finch to give up the golf circuit for 12 months after an abysmal performance this year.

"My heart bleeds for you," said Player, "forget the so-called gurus. Most of them talk a load of rubbish. What have they won anyway?"

Find a teacher who can take you back to the fundamentals of the game on the practice fairway. Forget about competition for 12 months. You can't work on your game while playing."

Baker-Finch, it appears, is unlikely to take Player's advice.

Personal trivia, from the global office:

Today we have been blessed with sunny skies and warm weather. The day will be spent in the global office, with a small party of invited guests joining my staff in the grounds below on the Brisbane River at 3.30pm this afternoon.

Platters of cheese and glasses of white wine will be served in the peaceful valley area punctuated only by the raucous cries of the sulphur crested cockatoos. We expect the brown ducks to join the table (because their is food there) so we will be keeping a close eye on any fowl action!

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