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Sunday 6th October 1996

International:

You would think that News Limited was not just a newspaper group, but was the news, following the company's win in the Full Federal Court on Friday. For an Aussie's view check out the Global Gripe...

Political:

Herron is quoted as saying, "One of the Aboriginal leaders of today told me if she had not been taken for education then she would not have achieved what she did."

"She would not have been educated and would probably have married a remote elder."

Yes, but did she or her family have a choice in the decision at that time?

The Liberal Party in Queensland have suffered a major swing against in the Lytton by-election. The seat already held by the Labor Party was retained by them on an increased margin of just over 3%. This basically leaves that status quo in state politics with a hung parliament and a Liberal-leaning Independent holding the balance of power... yes and our political decision making is up the pole because the Independent can sink anything that she doesn't like.

Business:

The interim orders were granted in an urgent court hearing to enable the ASC to investigate the unusual trading in TNT options in the lead up to Wednesday's take over announcement by Dutch conglomerate Royal PTT Nederland (KPN).

Global Gripe of the day:

The reporting by the News Limited group over the last few days has become so perochial that one really has to battle to find some Australian good news which is not just a big plug for this media empire. Sure there are the old reports on deaths, tragedies, wars, political skullduggery and elections... but today, for example, the full reports in these areas appear on page four with the first three pages being taken up with self-gratification about the wonderful future of rugby league now that (News Limited's) Super League has been allowed to compete next year. This follows their successful appeal against the Australian Rugby League's (ARL) successful court case blocking Super League earlier in the year.

Take some of the highlighted comments on pages two and three of today's (New Limited) Sunday Mail:

• "The cream tends to rise to the top, doesn't it?" - Paul Morgan, Brisbane Broncos chief executive and alleged architect of Super League.
• "Our paramount aim is to elevate the game to the international stage." - Ken Cowley, Chairman News Limited.
• "It's quite obvious now we'll be up and playing in 1997. It's fantastic." - Lachlan Murdoch, newly appointed managing director of News Limited.
• "Super League has promised to make rugby league bigger and better." - Glenn Lazarus, Broncos forward.
• "I can see when we will be as well known in the US as their basketballers are here." - Andrew Ettinghausen.

In the papers since Friday's decision there has not been one News Limited article that I know about looking at the decision from the perspective of the ARL or its thousands of supporters. Is this really news? Should News Limited be forced to relinquish some of the hold that they on the Australian media... and they way we think?

There is only one answer, but what politician has the political fortitude to take on this media bias that they have allowed to appear.

Believe me I don't think that the ARL is pure as the driven snow either but what a horrible mess we have allowed this country to get into through the dictates of the media in the hands of so few.

Personal trivia, from the global office:

Warm overnight - overcast today, but otherwise a perfect day in paradise. Have a good one.

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