Friday 1st November 1996
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The move has prompted both international and national industry leaders to issue their strongest warning yet that Australia's "friendly country" image was now under threat.
"It is wrong to assume that Asian countries are familiar enough with Australia and the way it works that they don't take it (the political debate) as a racist issue," said Australian Tourism Commission manager, Jon Hutchinson.
He said some Asian media had tackled the debate in a way that indicated the possibility of hostility against Asians in Australia.
Federal Tourism Minister John Moore called for a return of balance and responsibility in the debate. He said it was "ridiculous" that the views of a few individuals on the fringe were being reported so extensively and so continuously, without regard to the damage that could be done to tourism.
Somehow I think that the finger should be firmly pointed at the empires of our media barons for that slant in reporting.... one can only wonder what the hidden agenda behind the angle is.... it certainly isn't our nation's best interest.
To all our Asian readers we can give you the simple assurance that the immigration debate being talked about by the man in the street in Australia is all about "perceived threats to employment" not race; that this debate has nothing to do with a perception of a growing resentment of Asians by Australians - which is an unfounded and false generalisation - and that, if anything, the respect and service with which our Asian tourists are and will be treated with will be better because of our frustration about the manner in which the mainstream media are reporting on the issue.
A coalition of powerful unions yesterday indicated that they were ready for a showdown over plans to break the unions waterfront monopoly by allowing non-union labour and outlawing industrial action.
Next week Social Security and Commonwealth Employment Offices will be thrown into turmoil with a nationwide series of rolling strikes taking place against workside reforms which unions claim will lead to the loss of thousands jobs in these government departments.
The Public Transport Union (40,000 members), Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (120,000 members), Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (200,000 members) are set to support the Maritime Union of Australia (waterside workers) in a series of rolling strikes aimed at bringing the country to its knees.
The unions are outraged at the deal struck between the government and the Democrats on new workplace laws which outlaw most strikes or industrial action on the waterfront.
The information carried will be provided by an independent non-profit company operating in Victoria who watch and report on the mainstream television media.
We will provide you with further details on this new service in the next few days.
Australian (only) feedback as at 4am AEST:
| Do you think the media debate in this country being manipulated to take the "heat off or hide" the sins of the mega rich? | Yes: 111 | No: 27 |
| Do you think the super-rich should be prevented from controlling the on-line media (such as the Internet) in the future where the man in the street can currently have an equal say? | Yes: 67 | No: 41 |
Last week the managing director of the Australian based brewing division resigned with the main cause of the drop in profits being a hefty Au$64.7 million tax bill which includes a disputed amount of Au$18.4 million.
Have a great day!
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