Wednesday 9th October 1996
Search news archive by day | Search archive by text (NB - News Index) |
Definitive Guide to Aussie webs | Global Web Builders Gold |
The Kid's Locker Room | WWW - due for release shortly... |
This came after a day of stouching by Super League supremo John Ribot who said that from Friday he was going to be talking to loyal ARL players about jumping ship.
ARL chief John Quayle said that the package was not certain to save ARL loyal clubs like the South Queensland Crushers who currently have debts of about Au$9 million.
The Optus Vision backing, which would certainly have a touch of Kerry Packer's hand, has come as a big boost for the ARL which has several of its remaining loyal clubs pondering their future.
However, the deal gives Optus a far greater say in the ARL with rugby league in Australia now firmly controlled by two opposing Pay TV operators.
In what can only be called "fight-talk" News Limited executive chairman Ken Cowley said yesterday that he found ARL chairman, Ken Arturson's, offer to resign "curious" as, "He (Mr Arthurson) has got no authority in the ARL. Ne cannot make any decision of any consequence regarding the game without the approval of (Nine Network owner) Kerry Packer."
John Ribot dismissed the Optus package as a "band-aid" saying, "It doesn't address what is wrong with their competition. We are pressing on, confident we will have the best competition."
This comes at a critical time for both camps as Super League have given selected loyal ARL players until 6pm tomorrow to sign up - despite existing loyalty agreements with the ARL.
On a political level Prime Minister John Howard has, under extreme pressure from within his party, taken a more confrontational role on the issues raised by Ms Hanson.
In a firm response Howard told Parliament yesterday that he would not yield to pressure to review the government's attitude towards racial tolerance. Howard did not mention Ms Hanson by name, but said that people who exercised free speech had an obligation to do so in a "caring and sensitive fashion".
"But it has also been my credo that, if someone disagrees with the prevailing orthodoxy of the day, that person should not be denigrated as a narrow minded bigot," Howard said.
On a business level Pauline Hanson has been battling to sell her little fish and chip shop. Unable to keep it because of her political career Hanson put it on the market... having received a few nibbles from "tyre-kickers".
Hanson said that the decision to sell the shop had been a difficult one. She has owned the shop, which is about the size of a bedroom, since 1987.
Return to Australian National News of the Day