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Sunday 22nd September 1996
Sunday 22nd September 1996
Beasley said, "I confess to being more than a little worried about Australia's relations with its region under the Coalition Government." Beasley was talking at the 12th Ben Chifley Light on the Hill memorial dinner which honours the post-war Labor Prime Minister - in his home town of Bathurst.
"The Prime Minister, much less his Foreign Minister (Alexander Downer), has no idea of the task ahead of him in taking Australia's relationship forward."
He said that the troubles had been started by the scrapping of the DIFF (Development Import Finance Facility) soft loan scheme and had been aggravated by Howard's continuing claims to both his Indonesian and Japanese hosts that Australia was not part of Asia.
Got to sat I agree with Beasley's views regarding "Downer" and the Howard's comments about Australia not being part of Asia. Guess there is a learning curve applicable here for Howard and a quiet sacking probably the best course for our current Foreign Minister.
Kerry Packer is to go head to head with gambler Archie Karas in a no-limit poker challenge in London next month.
Australia's richest man has agreed to the challenge in a one-on-one game of Texas Hold'Em with no limits and a neutral dealer.
Texas Hold'Em is a version of poker used at the annual world championships and is best played by two people.
Greek born Karas s a former merchant seaman who jumped ship in Portland, Oregon and set off to make his fortune in the Casinos of North America. Karas started with savings of Au$8,500 and in just 12 years built it up to Au$70 million through the gabling tables.
Last January Karas lost Au$55 million at Binion's Horseshoe in Las Vegas. He is keen to recoup some of his losses through the match with Packer.
If the vote favours the existing system then the Governor General or Prime Minister would probably be asked to perform the honours.
Chisholm will personally collect Au$7.2 million in salary and bonuses during 1996-97 and is sitting on share options worth Au$8.6 million.
Mr Chisholm is head of British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) the once troubled satellite station which now leads Europe in its coverage of sport and news.
An 11 member International Olympic Committee team will study all aspects of Sydney's progress during a three-day inspection of games venues and the state of Sydney's Olympic budget and organisation.
A report will be made to IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch.... the commission is being co-ordinated by IOC powerbroker Dr Jacques Rogge who is tipped to replace Samaranch when he retires.
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