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


This on-line paper is now archived for perpetuity in the National Library of Australia

Friday 29th August 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:

Independent Member for Oxley Pauline Hanson has
issued a writ of defamation against Triple J Radio station for airing the song "Backdoor Man".

The writ taken out in the Queensland Supreme Court seeks damages from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). The song's writer, a drag queen - university lecturer called Mr Simon Pantsdown - comes from Sydney.

The ABC's Queensland manager, Bob Wurth, said that he is bewildered by the defamation action saying, "After all, it's all her own work. It looks like Triple J has gained another listener."

Ms Hanson refuses to repeat the disgusting lyrics, "The matters complained of... are of such a nature that I do not wish to repeat them," she said in a statement issued by her solicitor Craig Gough.

She accepted that she was subject to public scrutiny and comment, but "the material broadcast on Triple J is neither criticism nor satire, nor is the comment for public purposes or in the public interest - it is simply unacceptable in the extreme".

Isn't that just typical of the world we live in today, a university lecturer by the name of Mr Pantsdown who enjoys playing out the role of a drag queen... the Australian institution (higher learning) that today bans a bona fide political party from talking on their campus accepts without question freaks like this - to lecture to our kids! Give me a break...

On the subject of that university in Toowoomba, yes the one that banned One Nation meetings on their campus, their latest news links their activities with those of socialists bordering on the extreme left... with strong ties to the United Nations and the World Bank.. but there are dollars in it for the university. Here is an extract from the story:

"CERFE's mission is to fund social science research projects which help governments make the best decisions for their people. We aim to add to the quality of life in the local community through research which establishes what are the major concerns. In some cases education delivery is the best way to help,' he said.

"Mr Ambrogetti emphasised CERFE, which derives its income from the United nations, World Bank, European Commission, the Italian Government and private companies, saw sociological research as the vital first step to ensure the most appropriate technical innovation was applied. CERFE and its six agencies support research in 50 countries from USA to Niger in Africa. Through joint ventures it looks at new agents of social change, welfare policies, risk control regimes and the crisis in Western scientific thinking."

You heard it hear first... coming to you soon a most remarkable One Nation anthem: "One Nation Young and Free" that has been conceived through contacts on the Internet.. A world first? You be the judge when it is released.

The music and the words are quite stunning, the music being written by a top musician based in Melbourne who co-wrote the words with a great song writer based in Canberra.

I will say no more at this time... only to let you know that the music sends shivers down my spine! Imagine the music being played at One Nation launches... an anthem that no-one can prevent being sung... Pauline Hanson's One Nation's own anthem.

The Australian Electoral Commission boundary changes have been recognised by many as a deliberate attempt to unseat Pauline Hanson. Here is what she thinks about the decision.

One hundred and thirty five of the Chinese boatpeople who tried to slip into the country via Thursday Island two months ago have been sent home.

Four are still being held in custody as it is understood that they are helping authorities with inquiries into the Chinese illegal immigration racket masterminded by the Fukienese triads.. a violent criminal organisation.

Last night a spokesman for Immigration Minister Phillip Ruddock said, "They (the illegal immigrants) left Port Hedland today on a Boeing 767 and flew to Xia Men in the Fujian province of China.

"They were escorted by 69 immigration officials from the Australian Protective Services.

"Following interviews with the adults to see whether they qualified under Australia's protective obligations, it was ruled they had no right to remain in the country.

"With the co-operation of the Chinese Government, they were "removed" to China."

The investigations uncovered a Au$8,000 price being charged by the triads in China for those embarking on the voyage to nowhere.

The spokesman said on this issue, "We hope the return of this group will send a signal to others - not only in China - that taking a hazardous boat journey is not the way to migrate to Australia."


Making the news.


Political:

The people's convention on a Republic will go ahead next year after two independents, Brian Harradine and the Green's Bob Browne voted with the government on the Senate.

It appears that no one was more surprised than Prime minister John Howard as Brown abandoned the stance of close colleague Dee Margetts reversing his earlier comment that a non-compulsory vote was the thin end of the wedge.

The convention will have 152 delegates and cost about Au$50 million. The government will appoint 76 of the delegates, 40 Federal, State and Territory MPs and 36 non-parliamentary figures taken from local government.

The other 76 delegates will be chosen from over 12 million voting Australians through a voluntary postal vote in November or December.

Democrats leader Cheryl Kernot said that the decision by Brown and Harradine was a "stunning reversal on principles" with Opposition leader Kim Beazley warning the ballot would mean that a "few million Australians" would not get to participate in the decision making process.

"It means a major breach is going to occur in Australian democratic principles and the Australian secret ballot on a vote for an important issue is out the window," Beazley said.

John Howard responded by saying, "If they'd had their way, the whole process towards a rational debate about the future of Australia's constitutional arrangements would not have proceeded."

email the editor

You say:

Interesting.

I have neither condemned nor supported the one nation party, mainly due to the fact that the only information I receive about them and Pauline Hanson is that they are evil and racist. Never has anyone actually been able to explain to me exactly WHY they are racist, just that they are. Ask any opponent what policies they disagree with, and no-one has been able to give me any other explanation except "she's a racist".

I don't care who you are or where you come from....as long as you do no evil and respect all around you, you're alright by me. To paraphrase the Dalai Lama when asked the secrets of a happy life....Hurt no-one and feel useful. All the violence has so far been caused by those preaching tolerance!

I still neither condemn nor support this party. But at least I now have an opportunity to review the other side of the story and attempt to form an opinion (not easy given the bias of both sides). The real loser in this whole fiasco is the truth.

Please accept this as a vote of support....if not for your ideals, then for free speech. Don't think for a moment that this is an enshrined right.

M J Edwards

Social:

Australians still prefer marriage to living in sin according to the head of the Australian Institute of Family Studies, Harry McGurk.

Dr McGurk told the Family Day Care Conference in Brisbane that "enormous confusion" existed with regard to how Australians live.

"25% of all marriages 30 years ago were shotgun weddings," he said.

"Year by year in Australia the number of teenage pregnancies are going down but the number of babies being born to teenagers outside marriage is going up.

"We need relationships of intimacy and we are always going to need them.

"Most people seem to be looking for a stable relationship and commitment and marriage.

"I think we are very much committed in Australia to the idea of family but there is a variety of forms compared with what they were previously.

Personal trivia, from the global office:

Another gorgeous day in paradise.

Have a great one... getting warmer now.


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.

anotd