AAP Internet Bulletin 2030 Sunday, Dec 6, 1998

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-1998
AAP Internet Bulletin 2030 Sunday, Dec 6, 1998

[A][MULGRAVE][QLD]

Beattie to rule in own right after One Nation slump

BRISBANE - Queenslands Labor government can now govern in its own right after a slump in
support for One Nation helped Labor claim victory in the Mulgrave by-election.

One Nations vote in the north Queensland seat was last night slashed in half, dropping to
16 per cent from 31 per cent in June, when Charles Rappolt won the seat for Pauline Hansons
party.

The by-election was prompted by Mr Rappolts sudden resignation for health reasons.

Opposition leader Rob Borbidge said Labors claim of victory was premature, but an elated
Premier Peter Beattie said the numbers were on his side.

"Another 1100 votes were counted today and we have a lead of 310, with 782 votes
outstanding," Mr Beattie said.

He said most of the outstanding votes were postal and Labor scrutineers had worked out that
the National Party could not win.

The lead will return former Labor cabinet minister Warren Pitt to state parliament with
about 48 per cent of the vote, ahead of the Nationals Naomi Wilson on 45 per cent.

Mr Beattie, who formed government after the June state election only with the support of
independent Peter Wellington, promised there would be no changes in policy now Labor could
govern outright with 45 seats in parliament.

"It will be business as usual and we will concentrate on the basics - jobs, the economy and
law and order," he said.

"I said after the June election we would govern as if we had a majority of 10 and we
have."





[A][INSURANCE][FED]

Parliament to decide on wool and health rebate

CANBERRA - The fate of the wool stockpile and the $1.2 billion health insurance rebate will
be decided this week, when federal parliament sits for the final time this year.

With the 30 per cent rebate for health fund members due to come into force on January 1,
legislation must be approved by the Senate this week.

However the bill is on a knife-edge, with Labor, the Australian Democrats and the two
Greens senators both opposing the rebate, its fate once again rests with independents Brian
Harradine and Mal Colston.

The government is already threatening to make the rebate an issue in next years New South
Wales state election if it is rejected.

"If Labor denies people this rebate in the Senate I will bring the legislation back for a
second vote in the week before the NSW state election," Health Minister Michael Wooldridge
told reporters.

"Labor will be committing political suicide if it abuses its senate numbers to defeat this
vital and valuable initiative."

Debate on the rebate is not due to start until Tuesday, but will not start until after the
Senate decides the fate of legislation freezing the wool stockpile, which must be approved
this week if the government is to avoid a firesale.

Under existing legislation 90,000 bales of wool from the million bale stockpile must be
sold every three months.

Unless the freeze, which is opposed by Labor, is endorsed this week, another 90,000 bales
of wool will have to go before the end of December.

This week will also see the GST rammed through the House after debate was limited by the
government to just 20 hours for the 16 tax bills.

However there is no chance of the GST getting through parliament before the Christmas break,
because it has already been sent off to a series of Senate committees which will not report
until April.

The proposed sale of the rest of Telstra is also on hold until early next year after also
being sent off to a Senate inquiry.





[A][LEADERSHIP][NSW]

Chikarovski prepares to revitalise NSW Liberals

SYDNEY - Kerry Chikarovski has given herself barely two months to revitalise a demoralised
party and establish herself as a credible leader in time for the New South Wales election.

Mrs Chikarovski, who will be elected the NSW Liberals first woman leader at a party room
meeting tomorrow, said she would not take to the hustings until January because "people dont
want to be bombarded with politics over the Christmas period".

With the election on March 27, this gives her just two months settling-in time. She must
rely on her existing public profile, hit the ground with strong policies and hope the
honeymoon period lasts until after the election.

Her strategy will involve attacking Labor Premier Bob Carr on issues fundamental to state
politics, particularly law and order.

"What people are worried about are law and order, theyre worried about health, theyre
worried about education; thats the issue for them,"she said.

A crucial factor will be how voters interpret her coup against Peter Collins - will it be
seen as decisive action against an ineffective leader or a panic move by a party in crisis?

Mrs Chikarovski appeared confident when she addressed the media at the Lane Cove Golf Club
today; indeed, the champagne was waiting for her at the bar as she fielded questions.

Her slick media style contrasts with Mr Collins, who often appeared strident on television,
and she has recruited experienced staffers like Gary Sturgess and Ken Hooper from her days in
Nick Greiners administration.

She played down the Greiner angle today but one senior party official outside the press
conference was expressing glee that "the old firms back together again".

Under Mr Collins, the Liberals failed to dictate the agenda in state politics; many shadow
ministers were missing in action and the Coalitions performance in parliament was lacklustre.





[T][VIDUKA][SOC]

Viduka books into clinic in hitch to Celtic signing

MELBOURNE - Australian international Mark Vidukas future with Glasgow Celtic has been
plunged into confusion after his new club said the striker had been booked into a clinic and
appeared to be depressed.

The Socceroos manager, Bernie Mandich, today denied Viduka had personal problems but said
of his position: "It appears everything is on hold at the moment."

The 23-year-old striker joined the Scottish premier league champion just days ago in a Stg3
million ($A8.06 million) move from Croatia Zagreb. He was expected to make his debut today
against Hearts.

Instead Celtic last night announced Viduka had quit and said in a statement: "Mark has
informed us he is not in a fit state of mind to play to play football and it is his intention
to return home."

"The full extent of his difficulties only emerged today when he appeared depressed."

The news stunned the club and its supporters, because Vidukas transfer was first mooted
back in August.

However within hours Celtic issued a new statement following a board meeting, saying Viduka
would resume his career with the club in a month after attending the Wheathamstead Clinic in
Aberdeen. It was not immediately clear what kind of clinic it is.

"All parties would like to stress their co-operation in this matter and the board are sure
that all Celtic supporters will wish Mark well and look forward to welcoming him to the club
next year," the statement said.

Mandich said he had spoken to Viduka this morning and he was in good spirits.

He denied rumours the former Melbourne Knights star had suffered a breakdown or that he had
had troubles with his girlfriend since arriving at Celtic from Croatia Zagreb.





[A][BOMB][FED]

Accused letterbomber to face more charges - police

CANBERRA - The man accused of sending a letterbomb which exploded at the Canberra Mail
Exchange is set to face more charges when he appears in court on Tuesday, police said today.

Colin George Dunstan, 43, was arrested on Friday after he was admitted to Canberra Hospital
with a cut to his wrist.

A hospital spokesman said Dunstan remained in a stable condition today.

Dunstan was the subject of a nationwide search last week, with police wanting to question
him over a nationwide letterbomb campaign.

During a brief bedside court hearing yesterday, he was remanded in custody to appear in
court on Tuesday.

Australian Federal Police Acting Sergeant Daryl Webb confirmed today that Dunstan would
face more charges when he appeared in court.

Police told yesterdays court hearing that a search of Dunstans home had revealed bomb
related items and documentation relating to people to whom other explosive devices were sent.

"It is believed the defendant was involved with the construction and subsequent mailing of
the explosive device which detonated at the Fyshwick Mail Exchange about 12.25am on December
2, 1998," police said in statement of facts read out at the bedside hearing.

"It is also believed that the defendant has been involved in the construction and
subsequent mailing of 27 further explosive devices in the Australian Capital Territory, New
South Wales, Queensland and Victoria."

Dunstan, of Sentry Crescent in the Canberra suburb of Palmerston, was formally charged with
one count of damaging property with an explosive device, with intent to endanger life.

The charge related to the December 2 explosion. No plea was entered.

ACT Chief Magistrate Ron Cahill refused bail, remanded Dunstan to appear again in court on
December 8 and ordered a psychiatric assessment.





[A][TAX][FED]

No-one can predict Senate vote on GST - Fischer

CANBERRA - National Party Leader Tim Fischer said today it was impossible to predict whether
the Senate would pass the federal governments GST legislation in its present form.

"You can never predict what will happen on the floor of the Senate at the end count," he
told the Ten Network.

But Prime Minister John Howards negotiating skills could be the circuit breaker needed, he
said.

"We have seen the magnificent finesse of John Howard with respect to the Wik legislation
and on his shoulders this is a chance at another finesse," he said, adding that failure of the
Senate to pass the GST would be a disaster.

"That would be a disaster for our exporters, for job creation, that would be a disaster for
ACOSS, in their own words, maintaining a sustainable welfare budget in this country."

The Australian Council for Social Service has called for tax reform but has urged the
government to remove the GST on food.

The government last week introduced 16 bills designed to bring in the 10 per cent GST from
July 1, 2000 and abolish the existing wholesale sales tax system.

It needs the legislation passed by July 1 next year when a more hostile Senate takes
effect.





[A][SHOPPING][VIC]

Cashed-up shoppers promise a retailers dream Xmas

MELBOURNE - Shopkeepers could look forward to a boom Christmas, with spending expected to be
up by more than four per cent or $496 million on last years national figures, the retailers
association said today.

Reduced mortgage rates, low inflation and drops in unemployment levels were expected to
entice shoppers to spend big this Christmas, according to findings by the Australian Retailers
Association, Victoria (ARAV).

A survey conducted at major shopping centres around Melbourne showed that more than 25 per
cent of the citys shoppers planned to spend at least $500 on gifts, ARAV executive director
Timothy Piper told AAP.

"All the indicators point to a boom Christmas," he said.

"Obviously, the confidence in the economy is high and people are more confident about their
futures. This is reflected in their spending."

Mr Piper expected Christmas spending to increase by $123m in Victoria alone and $496m
nationwide.

The association last week surveyed shoppers at several suburban centres to gain information
on buying trends this Christmas.

Along with indications of a retail windfall, it found most men left Christmas shopping
until the last week, unlike women who were far better organised.

Gift vouchers, CDs, clothes and computer games would be the most popular purchases, the
ARAV found.

The biggest spenders were women under 40 years old, closely followed by women over 40.





[A][JOBS][FED]

Govt abandons manufacturing jobs target

CANBERRA - The Howard government today abandoned its promise to create 200,000 manufacturing
jobs by the year 2000, at the same time as it unveiled plans to create over 1,000 jobs by
building Australias first pulp mill in 17 years.

The commitment was made by former Industry Minister John Moore last year to justify the
governments decision to freeze tariffs on the car industry.

But his successor, Nick Minchin, today confirmed the government had abandoned the target.

"Were not putting specific jobs targets on particular sectors," he told the Nine Networks
Sunday program.

"Were on about creating as many jobs as we possibly can."

The scrapping of the target was denounced by opposition industry spokesman Bob McMullan as
an admission of failure.

"How can the Howard Government hope to succeed if Senator Minchin admits failure before he
even starts," Senator McMullan said in a statement.

"Much of Australias job growth will come from services industries - but this does not mean
that the Howard Government should give up on the manufacturing industry."

Ironically, the admission came as Senator Minchin today announced a $40 million incentive
package to ensure the go-ahead for Australia first pulp and paper mill since 1981.

Senator Minchin said Australian-owned Visy Industries would establish the $450 million
kraft pulp and paper mill at Tumut, in southern New South Wales, creating more than 1,000
jobs.





[T][OPEN][GOLF]

Greg Chalmers wins Australian Open

ADELAIDE - West Australian left-hander Greg Chalmers won a victory for consistency and
determination today, shooting a final round two-under-par 70 to win the Australian Open at
Royal Adelaide.

Chalmers began the day a shot behind Victoria's Stuart Appleby and ended up beating the
Victorian and Queenslander Peter Senior by a shot.

Chalmers had a winning four-round total of level-par 288.

He made his push for the lead with birdies at the second and third holes today and a
further birdie at the 10th.

But his real victory surge came yesterday over the back nine, the toughest stretch in
Australian golf.

Chalmers played those holes in 32, three under par - the best performance of the
championship.

That effort came on top of an outward nine of 42 and put him back into the championship.

After 14 holes today, Chalmers seemingly had the championship won when he led by four
shots.

But he faltered over the final two holes, missing a birdie putt at 17 where he lost a shot
to his pursuers and then bogeying the 18th.

When he walked off the final green, Chalmers punched the air in anticipation of scoring
only his second victory on a senior world tour.





[A][DIOXIN][FED]

Govt drags feet on most poisonous pollutant

MELBOURNE - Australian governments were today criticised for dragging their feet over
regulating environmental pollution by the chemical dioxin, the most poisonous material mankind
has produced.

Greenpeace researchers today released a nationwide study on dioxin-producing sites in
Australia which recorded 63 known producers of the recognised carcinogenic material.

The Democrats also promised today to move in Federal Parliament tomorrow that Australia
beef up its efforts to deal with pollutants.

Apart from causing cancer, dioxin is also known to alter sexual development, cause
reproductive problems, suppress the immune system, cause diabetes and poison the organs.

It is particularly poisonous for unborn babies.

Greenpeace researcher Dr Darryl Luscombe said dioxin is never produced intentionally and is
an unwanted byproduct of PVC manufacture, pesticide production, burning waste, pulp and paper
mills, steel and non-ferrous smelting and cement kilns.

He said some recycling unfortunately also produced dioxin. Burning paint off old car bodies
and burning waste for heating, for example, would contribute to dioxin pollution.

While condemning the federal government for inaction on reducing the production of dioxin -
Australia does not even have the means to test for the material and any test samples must be
sent to New Zealand - Greenpeace acknowledged some states had made progress.

New South Wales had made most progress among the states in reducing the release of dioxin
into the air.

Since the early 1990s, 11 facilities in NSW producing large amounts of dioxin have been
closed.





[A][THELMA][NT]

Cyclone Thelma threatens Top End coastal communities

DARWIN - The Top End's first tropical cyclone of this wet season was about 400km north east
of Darwin this afternoon and expected to hit coastal communities within two days, the Bureau of
Meteorology said today.

Cyclone Thelma, a category one cyclone with winds of 90kph, was expected to hit coastal
areas between Croker Island, about 250km north-east of Darwin, and Cape Fourcroy on Bathurst
Island, about 100km north-west of Darwin, in the next two days.

A category one cyclone with winds of less than 124kph is the lowest category, rising up to
category five, where winds can reach more than 280kph.

According to the meteorology bureau, a category one cyclone can cause minor damage to
houses and crops.

The senior forecaster at the bureau's severe weather section, Lori Chappel, said the
cyclone was three weeks earlier than normal, probably because of the La Nina weather
phenomenon that has come in the wake of the El Nino.

She said since the category four Cyclone Tracy devastated most of Darwin and killed 66
people in 1974 there had only been four much smaller cyclones to have directly affected
Darwin.

They were Cyclone Max (category one) in 1981, Cyclone Gretel (category 2) in 1985, Cyclone
Neville (category one) in 1992 and Cyclone Rachel (category one) in January last year.

Another senior forecaster at the bureau, Ian Shepherd, said it was unlikely Cyclone Thelma
would directly affect Darwin.

"It's unlikely but we have all staff on board and we will be tracking it around the clock,"
Mr Shepherd said.





[F][MARKETS][FED]

Australian shares to ride on Wall Streets gains

SYDNEY - Strong gains on Wall Street and a weaker Australian dollar are likely to provide a
shot in the arm to the Australian sharemarket this week on the back of last weeks
confidence boosting interest rate cut.

In New York on Friday share prices closed at their highs on short-covering from Thursdays
sharp losses and as much stronger-than-expected employment figures for November eased concerns
about the US economy, dealers said.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 136.46 points at 9,016.14. The Standard & Poors
500 was up 26.40 at 1,176.54.

This along with a softer Australian dollar, which has benefits for the commodities sector,
are likely to provide an end of year boost to the market before the festive season gets
underway.

However, a raft of data releases this week is unlikely to provide direction for a market
which is focused on 1999 and the possibility of a slowdown, according to a Westpac Bank
report.

The ANZ job advertisements figures due out tomorrow is expected to post a small rebound in
November from its 3.1 per cent fall in October, economists said.

Housing finance to be released on Tuesday "could spark some interest" given the role being
played by the housing in forecasts of slower growth in 1999, a Deutsche Bank report said.

However, Craig James, chief economist from the Colonial State Bank, said the market would
have to wait until the December/January figures to gauge the effect of the interest rate cut.

Labour force figures to be released on Thursday are expected to show softer gains this
month given the strength of employment growth over the past five months.

Economists expect the figure to head back around the eight per cent mark.





[A][TODDLER][VIC]

Toddler trial lawyer questions jailhouse "confession"

MELBOURNE - Police were unable to obtain a confession from the man accused of murdering
14-month-old Jaidyn Leskie even though they bugged his house, car, prison cell and even close
friends, his lawyer said today.

Defence barrister Colin Lovitt, QC, today said alleged confessions by Greg Domaszewicz, who
on Friday was acquitted of the crime after a 34-day trial, were not to be believed.

He said police had mounted an extensive bugging campaign against Domaszewicz, placing
listening devices in his house, car, psychiatrists office, in his jail cell and even in the
prison visiting area.

"Out of all of this there was not a skerrick of material to put before a jury, not the
slightest thing that amounted to an admission," Mr Lovitt said.

However, one prisoner on remand with Domaszewicz at the Melbourne Assessment Prison (MAP)
gave evidence to police that Domaszewicz admitted to killing Jaidyn while he was baby-sitting
the toddler at his house in a suburb of Moe, in eastern Victoria, on the night of June 14-15.

He was believed to have said Domaszewicz told him Jaidyn accidentally broke his arm while he
was watching mechanical work being carried out on a car.

Unable to tolerate the childs distressed screams, Domaszewicz was supposed to have swung
the child against something solid, thereby killing him.

After the toddlers body was recovered from Blue Rock Dam, 19km from Moe on New Year's Day,
he was found to have both a broken arm and a fractured skull.

Mr Lovitt today told AAP that the supposed confession fitted exactly with the polices
favoured scenario on the manner of death for the toddler.

"He gave them the Homicide Squads pet theory; it was an amazing coincidence," Mr Lovitt
said.

He said Justice Vincent told the prosecution they would be unwise to present the material
to the jury because it was unlikely to stand up to scrutiny.





[T][CUPTAS][CRIK]

Defiant Boon leads Tigers to victory

HOBART - Captain David Boon, angered by a suggestion he was past it, hit a century to lead
Tasmania to an upset eight-wicket win over a full-strength New South Wales in the Mercantile
Mutual Cup one-day cricket match here today.

When Boon, who turns 38 on December 29 and is in his 20th first class season, reached his
100, he pointed his bat defiantly at a Hobart journalist who suggested in this morning's
Sunday Tasmanian that age might at last have caught up with him.

Boon, who made 116, and fellow opener Jamie Cox (91) almost singlehandedly beat NSW.

They put on 210 - easily beating the Tasmanian record one-day partnership of 152 by Gary
Goodman and John Hampshire against Queensland in Brisbane in 1978-79.

Their stand enabled Tasmania to pass NSW's 7-247 with eight wickets and 13 balls to spare.

It was a stunning form reversal for NSW which leads the Cup table and had the rare luxury
of fielding its full panoply of internationals while Tasmania has lost six in a row.

Boon said later he he was motivated by the article.

"It was extremely negative ... it put me in a wheelchair," he said.

He said the century, his first in 53 domestic one-dayers, was one of the few remaining
milestones in his long career.





[A][SNOWY][FED]

Snowy River scheme celebrates 50th anniversary

SYDNEY - The Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric scheme is advertising for workers again - only
this time its to celebrate 50 years since the start of construction.

Plans for an anniversary reunion next October were launched at the Powerhouse Museum in
Sydney today and now the search is on for the invitees - the 100,000 people who worked on the
project between 1949 and 1974.

The scheme, featuring 16 dams and seven power stations, diverts water for irrigation west
to the Murray and Murrumbidgee River systems and produces hydro-electric power for
south-eastern Australia.

Heralded as the birthplace of multiculturalism in Australia, the Snowy scheme, which cost
$1 billion, attracted two thirds of its workforce from outside the country, particularly from
war-torn Europe.

Those workers, including carpenter Charlie Salvestro, a second generation Snowy scheme
employee, battled weather extremes, primitive living quarters and dangerous work conditions to
create what is considered to be one of the seven civil engineering wonders of the world,
according to the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Charlie said he and his family followed his father to Australia from a small town north of
Venice when he was 13.

"After the war there wasnt much opportunities there (in Italy) and my father, who was a
carpenter, came to Australia in 1950," the 61-year-old said.

"He went to the scheme and saw there was 25 years work so he borrowed some money to pay our
fares and 18 months later we were there."

Now working as a builder in Cooma, Charlie said he was proud of his 25 years as a Snowy
employee, first as a carpenter building the employees camp and later in the 145 kilometres of
tunnels.

"In those days we had a very good team of workers who finished the job ahead of time and
under budget but not only were they a good working team, they were a very well behaved team,"
he said.

The reunion will be held on Sunday, October 17 at Lake Jindabyne while other events have
been planned, including Australia Day celebrations in Cooma, a commemorative book, travelling
photo exhibition and special exhibition at the Powerhouse museum.

A toll-free reunion line has been established for former employees: 1800 623 776.

KEYWORD: NETNEWS 2030

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