AAP Internet Bulletin 1700 Monday Dec 21, 1998

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-1998
AAP Internet Bulletin 1700 Monday Dec 21, 1998



[A][WATERFRONT][QLD]

Strike breakers accuse Patrick, Reith

More than 350 non-union waterfront workers used as strike breakers earlier this year today
launched a class action seeking $125 million damages from 36 respondents, including federal
Workplace Relations Minister Peter Reith.

Patrick chairman Chris Corrigan and the National Farmers Federation (NFF) were also named
among respondents to the Federal Court action in Brisbane.

The former workers are seeking damages for misleading and deceptive conduct, negligence and
breach of contract.

They include former Special Air Service and regular army personnel who trained in Dubai in
December last year on behalf of the Melbourne-based stevedore Patrick.

Mr Corrigan sacked the company's unionised workforce in April, intending to replace them
with non-union NFF-backed workers who were to be trained by the Dubai men.

The Dubai recruits were to train staff first at Webb Dock in Melbourne and then later at
Brisbane, Sydney and Perth docks.

However, they were used as strike breakers when the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA)
staged massive sit-ins at the four ports.

The MUA eventually won legal action in the federal court to keep their jobs.

Solicitor Garry Scott, representing the Dubai-trained men, alleged today that they were
deceived into working for the Patrick company.

"When my clients went over to Dubai they never knew they were going to be strike breakers,"
he said by telephone.





[A][HOWARD FINANCE]

Howard world financial reform pledge

Prime Minister John Howard today committed his government to actively pursue many of the
suggestions in a report by his taskforce on international financial reform.

In accepting the report, Mr Howard said the Group of 22 nations, or G22, would be the
"centrepiece of international efforts to get greater transparency and to achieve some of the
reforms" in financial dealings.

He said the report would be forwarded to world leaders in the new year.

Australia, he said, could argue the cause of financial sector reform in the international
arena because of the strength of the Australian financial system.

"The strength of the Australian system has made this country even more attractive in the
eyes of the world and gives us some greater authority to argue the cause of financial sector
reform. You are much better able to do that if your own house is in relatively good shape."

Treasurer Peter Costello said, after delivering the report to the Prime Minister, that it
would be used as a discussion piece for advancing some of the commitments made at the
Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) forum this year.

He agreed international support would be needed to advance the issues but said Australia
had the credibility in this area.

"We can speak as an honest broker with a lot of weight in these forums and this is a
guideline as to how we should speak."

Mr Costello said improved supervision was needed in relation to financial systems in
emerging markets.

"We have to look at some of the international players that are outside the supervisory net
and ensure that things are improved there.





[I][IRAQ][MID]

Iraqis claim victory over US, British

Iraqis have been victorious against "enemies of God" during four days of US-British
airstrikes, Saddam Hussein said in his first public comments since the attacks ended.

The Iraqi president said in a brief speech on radio and television that the Iraqi people
and the army have proved to be "worthy of what your leadership expected from you."

"God will repay well and crown your heart with clear victory," he said.

No final casualty toll has been released, but previous reports indicated at least 42 Iraqis
were killed and 96 wounded in the strikes, which unleashed the most severe firepower since the
1991 Gulf War. Iraqi forces offered little resistance, other than anti-aircraft fire.

Iraq's UN ambassador, Nizar Hamdoon, claimed the toll was much higher.

"Casualties are in the thousands in terms of people killed or wounded, but we don't have
any final figure," he told CNN. "There has been enormous damage mainly to the civilian
infrastructure and to human lives."

In halting the strikes, President Bill Clinton said the 70-hour assault severely damaged
Iraq's ability to build weapons of mass destruction.

Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said the United States might strike again if Saddam
rebuilds his weapons of mass destruction.

"We reserve the right to use force again," Albright said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Iraqi officials have not allowed reporters to inspect areas where the most extensive damage
occurred, including presidential palaces and defence installations.



[T][CRICKET AUST][CRIK]

Lehmann in, Ponting out of Test team

Dumped Test batsman Ricky Ponting said today he fully expected to be dropped from the
Australian cricket side.

Ponting was axed from the Test side today for the Boxing Day Ashes Test to make way for
recalled South Australian captain Darren Lehmann.

Ponting said he knew it was time for him to go after making just 47 runs in the opening
three Tests of the summer against England.

"With the amount of guys that are scoring runs in Australia now, if you're not doing the
business week-in, week-out for Australia then there's going to be pressure put on you," he
said after Tasmania's eight wicket win over Queensland at the Gabba.

"That show's by my last four innings where I didn't get any runs and now I'm out of the
side."

Ponting said he was feeling the pressure generated by the bookies scandal hanging over the
Australian side.

Ponting revealed last week he turned down an approach from a Sydney bookmaker last year to
provide information on the Australian side.

"There's been things in the paper virtually every day ... and I've tried to stay pretty
much away from all that and concentrate on the cricket," he said.

"But as it's turned out I still haven't got any runs in the past couple of innings so I'm
paying for it now."

Ponting's fate was sealed with a third ball duck yesterday in the Tasmanian first innings.

The Australian team is:

Mark Taylor (capt), Michael Slater, Justin Langer, Mark Waugh, Steve Waugh, Darren Lehmann,
Ian Healy, Damien Fleming, Stuart MacGill, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath, Colin Miller (12th
man to be named).





[A][SMALL HOWARD][FED]

Howard backs unfair dismissal move

Workplace Relations Minister Peter Reith was entirely within his rights to introduce
changes to unfair dismissal laws by regulation rather than by legislation, Prime Minister John
Howard said today.

Mr Reith last week introduced regulations exempting small business from unfair dismissal
laws for new employees after the measure was repeatedly rejected by the Senate.

The ACTU and the federal opposition both claim the move is illegal, and are threatening
legal action.

But Mr Howard said similar changes via regulation had been introduced by the Keating Labor
government.

"There is a regulation-making power in the Act and that regulation-making power was used by
the Keating government in respect of short-term contracts back, I think, in 1994 or 1995," he
told Brisbane radio 4BC.

"Our advice is that there is absolutely no reason legally why you can't use the
regulation-making power.

"Now that's the law and the precedent."

Mr Howard said the move would create up to 50,000 new jobs, and warned the opposition and
independents senators they would be held accountable if they overturned the regulation when
the Senate resumes in mid-February.

"And if, when we resume in ... February, the Labor Party and others in the Senate combine
to vote down this regulation then they're voting against the creation of up to 50,000 new jobs
in small business," he said.

Mr Howard said he would not take the votes of Independent senators Mal Colston or Brian
Harradine for granted on the issue, despite their recent support for the government's private
health insurance rebate.





[A][INSURANCE HOWARD][FED]

Government committed to Medicare: PM

The federal government remained committed to its 1996 election promise that it would not
dismantle Medicare, Prime Minister John Howard said today.

Mr Howard said he was "absolutely" committed to retaining Medicare as a universal public
health funding system.

His comments come after the Australian Private Hospitals Association said people should be
able to opt out of Medicare and use private insurance to cover all their health needs.

Under the proposal, people would receive a voucher for Medicare services to which they were
entitled with the value of the voucher calculated on an age/sex/health formula with, for
example, young healthy people receiving less than older people needing more care.

"I'm not sure I fully understand what the private hospitals were getting at," Mr Howard
told Brisbane radio 4BC.

"I'll obviously get more detail about it during the day.

"But irrespective of what they're saying, we have a commitment to Medicare and we won't be
walking away from it."

Health Minister Michael Wooldridge also issued a statement saying he welcomed policy debate
on the issue, but the government had a clear commitment to retaining Medicare in its entirety.

"I suggest that the industry would be well advised to direct their attention to other
issues, in particular the 30 per cent rebate on private health insurance which comes into
effect on New Year's Day 1999," he said.

Mr Howard also referred to weekend media reports that said some intermediaries from the NSW
Carr Labor government had sought to intercede with Independent Senator Brian Harradine to
ensure the rebate passed the Senate.





[A][PATIENTS ACT][FED]

255 women in HIV, Hepatitis B scare

Up to 255 women are to be tested for HIV and Hepatitis B after a health worker at Canberra
Hospital contracted the viruses.

ACT Acting Chief Health Officer Shirley Bowen said the voluntary testing was available for
240 women resident in the ACT and 15 in New South Wales who had invasive surgery at the
hospital between January 6 and December 11 this year.

Dr Bowen said the women had been notified as a precautionary measure and there was minimal
risk of infection.

"On questioning the health care worker involved, they have stated that they have
double-gloved for every procedure they have performed," Dr Bowen told reporters.

"And to their knowledge, and to the knowledge of the hospital's infection controls area,
have not had a needle stick injury or a skin breech."

Dr Bowen said over the past seven days a member of the hospital staff, whose identity was
not revealed, unexpectedly found out they had contracted both Hepatitis B and HIV.

The person acted quickly to alert the hospital and the health department of the situation,
she said.

"We are undertaking a 'look-back' process in which we contact all patients exposed to the
HIV or Hepatitis B virus in the course of an operation or procedure," she said.

Testing started on Sunday evening and was expected to be finalised by Wednesday, although
some women may have to wait three months before results can be determined.

Partners of the patients were not currently being tested, she said.





[A][MURDOCH][FED]

Murdoch plans to marry girlfriend

Australian-born media baron Rupert Murdoch planned to marry his new girlfriend, who is 36
years his junior, in the new year, it was reported today.

Sources close to Mr Murdoch, 67, said his children were embarrassed by the haste of his
plans to marry Chinese-born Wendy Deng, 31, after he split from his wife Anna earlier this
year, New Idea magazine reported.

They were also aware that Ms Deng may have claim to his fortune, once the pair married, the
magazine said.

Mr Murdoch had proposed to Ms Deng, who works for the News Corporation boss, and she had
accepted, it was reported.

"Rupert is crazy about Wendy and he doesn't care who knows it," a friend of Mr Murdoch
reportedly said.

"He's like a young man in love who wears his heart on his sleeve. He's anxious now for a
quick divorce and financial settlement with Anna so he can set a marriage date."

Anna Murdoch cited "irreconcilable differences" when she filed for divorce after 31 years
of marriage.





[A][XMAS SHOPPING][FED]

Shoppers in Christmas buying binge

Christmas shoppers appeared to have shrugged off economic doomsday talk and were tipped to
spend four per cent more than last year, a peak retailing body said today.

Weekend retail sales were well above expectations on preliminary figures and the tills
would run hot until closing times on Christmas eve, Australian Retailers' Association (ARA)
spokesman Stan Moore said.

"We did an analysis of Christmas trading in early November and forecasted the Christmas
spend would be up three to four per cent," Mr Moore said.

"We think it will go close to four per cent."

Mr Moore said the ARA was forecasting $1.8 billion would be spent in NSW and $5 billion
nationally by Christmas consumers, with major department stores figuring strongly in increased
sales.

"The reports coming in from other states indicate trading is tracking very well," he said.

"Department stores made up 30 per cent of the increased spending in December and have been
reporting above-expectation trading."

Mr Moore said he was surprised economic turmoil in Asia and other parts of the globe had
not damaged consumer sentiment.

"It would appear consumers in the last two quarters of 1998 have basically shrugged off the
Asian turmoil," he said.

"It's an indication of underlying robustness in the Australian economy."





[F][ANZ MERGERS]

ANZ wants "four pillars" assurance

ANZ Banking Group Ltd chairman Charles Goode today called upon the federal government to
give an assurance that the "four pillars" anti-merger policy would remain in place for a
specified minimum period.

Mr Goode told shareholders at the annual general meeting here today that any proposed
merger between two of the major banks would provide considerable cost savings and shareholder
benefits.

These cost savings would provide a powerful reason for the other two major banks to also
wish to merge, he said.

However cost savings and shareholder benefits arising from any such industry restructure
were not the only issues; there were broader community issues.

Mr Goode noted that Prime Minister John Howard and Treasurer Peter Costello had said they
did not wish to see the "four pillars" policy changing until there was more competition.

The four pillars policy prevents mergers between any of the four major banks.

"We must accept the government policy and understand it," Mr Goode said, adding that in
Australia the four leading banks held 64 per cent of bank assets which was a very high level
of bank industry concentration by any international standard.

He said there was no point proceeding down the merger path, with all subsequent
interruptions to business, if there was not a reasonable chance of a successful outcome.

"It is our assessment that considerable changes to the current environment would be
required before there is a reasonable prospect of a merger in Australia being approved," Mr
Goode said.

"Accordingly, we believe it would be beneficial for the community as a whole to have an
assurance from the government that the "four pillars" policy will remain in place for a
specified minimum period," the ANZ chairman said.





[I][US SPEAKER][US]

Republicans anoint Hastert as speaker

Drained from a tempestuous impeachment debate, and still smarting over election losses and
the abrupt resignations of two party leaders, House Republicans are moving quickly to choose a
new leader.

Since the surprising resignation on Saturday of Bob Livingston, the designated House
Speaker, the Republicans have rallied behind Representative Dennis Hastert.

The Illinois lawmaker, a former teacher from Middle America, is as soft-spoken as outgoing
Speaker Newt Gingrich is outspoken.

"I didn't really seek this at all." Hastert said at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport
on his way home from Washington last night. But he quickly added, "I do want the job. I think
there's a big role to play. I think we need to bring our conference together. We need to heal
the wounds and we need to reach out across the aisle."

The House Speaker is one of the most powerful positions in American politics, holding
immense influence over the country's legislative agenda.

Gingrich was forced to resign following the party's poor showing in November elections.
Then, before ever assuming the speaker's position, Livingston announced his retirement on
Saturday after admitting to an extra-marital affair.

Within hours, Hastert had been anointed and his two potential rivals had dropped out.

Chaos roiled in the House chamber after Livingston made his stunning announcement in the
waning hours of a historic but rancorous impeachment debate. Several members immediately
congregated around Hastert and urged him to run.

But as Representatives Steve Largent of Oklahoma and Christopher Cox of California
expressed interest in the speaker's job, Republican leaders knew they didn't want to send
lawmakers home for an end-of-session two-week recess amid such tumult.

And they knew it was time for a conciliator who could work with Republican conservatives
and moderates - and with Democrats, who will have 211 seats in the next Congress and the
support of an independent member. The Republicans have 223.





[I][US OCTUPLETS][US]

Woman gives birth to octuplets

A 27-year-old woman has became the mother of the only known living set of octuplets, giving
birth to five girls and two boys in one day. Another child, a girl, was born 12 days earlier.

All eight were in a critical condition, with the smallest weighing 308 grams (11 ounces)
and the largest 756 grams (1 pound, 11 ounces).

Nkem Chukwu, who had taken fertility drugs, gave birth to seven of the children by
Caesarean section early yesterday.

Until the first child was born 12 days earlier, doctors were unsure how many foetuses Ms
Chukwu was carrying because her uterus was so crowded, said Dr Brian Kirshon, a specialist in
high-risk births who was among three doctors who delivered the children at St Luke's Episcopal
Hospital.

The first girl was 12 weeks premature, and the others were 10 weeks early.

"It will be a remarkable feat if all the babies do survive," said Kirshon. The babies were
immediately taken to the adjacent Texas Children's Hospital. All are on ventilators.

Leonard Weisman, the hospital's chief neonatal specialist, said potential lung and heart
problems are the immediate worries. After that, metabolic problems and infections are a
danger.

"They're doing as well as could be expected," said Dr Patti Saverick, a paediatrician at
Children's. "They're hanging in there." It would be at least two months before the babies
could be released.

The mother was in a stable condition, Kirshon said.

Ms Chukwu entered the hospital in early October and has been confined to bed for six weeks,
Kirshon said.





[T][CRICKET ENGLAND][CRIK]

Blewett century leads Australia XI

A commanding century by Greg Blewett led an Australian XI to safety on the third day of the
four-day cricket match against England here today.

At tea the Australians were 4-278 with Blewett on 154 and Michael Bevan yet to score in
reply to England's 6(dec)-469.

Blewett and Matthew Elliott (81) put on 206 for the first wicket.

But with Elliott's departure there was a mini collapse as Corey Richards went for a duck
and restored Test batsman Darren Lehmann for four.

Stuart Law helped Blewett steady the innings only to fall on the stroke of tea for 21.

Blewett has so far hit 14 fours in an innings of 316 minutes.

Ben Hollioake has taken 2-55, while Mark Ramprakash and Dominic Cork have a wicket each.





[T][SHIELD QLD][CRIK]

Tasmania thrashes Queensland

Tasmania cruised to an eight wicket win over Queensland today inside three days of the
Sheffield Shield cricket match at the Gabba.

Chasing 109 for victory, the Tigers reached 2-110 midway through the post-lunch session
with Michael DiVenuto unbeaten on 31 and Test discard Ricky Ponting 17 not out.

Openers Jamie Cox (six) and Dene Hills (43) were the only wickets to fall as the Tigers
bounced back from last week's thrashing by South Australia in Hobart.

Tasmania set up victory yesterday when it posted a first innings 229 in reply to 164,
before reducing the Bulls to 7-127 in their second dig at stumps.

Tigers pacemen Greg Rowell (4-54) and Colin Miller (3-29) finished off the tail this
morning in just over an hour as Queensland crashed to be all out for 173.

Rowell had picked up 4-44 in the first innings against his former state on the opening day
while young paceman Gerard Denton snared 4-53.

Hills top-scored for the Tasmanians in their first innings with 60 while DiVenuto notched
59.

Matthew Hayden was the outstanding batsman for the Bulls with innings of 78 and 51.

Tasmania's victory takes it to 10 points after five Shield matches.





[T][SHIELD NSW][CRIK]

Victoria takes first innings points

Victoria took first innings points but captain Shane Warne decided against an immediate
declaration, batting on to be 7-435 at tea on the third day of the Sheffield Shield match
against New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Matthew Mott's stubborn six-and-a-half hour 105 took Victoria toward NSW's first innings
360, with Ian Harvey smacking a quickfire 82 to take the Vics past the target midway through
the second session for a 75 run lead at the break.

Warne opted against a quick declaration, even after Harvey was stumped by Phil Emery off
the bowling of Graeme Rummans with the score on 400 and came out to bat himself, but was out
for seven, caught by David Freedman off Shane Lee.

Warne's decision to bat on effectively shuts NSW out of the match, consigning the Blues to
the bottom of the Shield table, but will make it difficult to achieve an outright result, with
a day and a session left and the Vics bowling to a near Test strength NSW batting lineup.

Darren Berry went into tea on 29 not out with David Saker on 12, while part time left arm
spinner Rummans was NSW's only multiple wicket taker with 2-71.





[T][SHIELD WA][CRIK]

SA in control over WA

South Australia has taken control of its Sheffield Shield cricket match against Western
Australia after taking three early wickets on day three here at the WACA today.

In reply to SA's 6(declared)-503, WA was 6-255 at lunch, still needing another 99 runs to
avoid the follow on and 249 runs to claim the vital first innings points.

Acting WA captain Damien Martyn is 77 not out, with Matt Nicholson on 15.

After WA resumed on 3-182 today, spinner Brad Young and fast bowler Mark Harrity did the
damage.

Harrity was the first to strike, Simon Katich not offering a shot and being comprehensively
bowled without adding to his overnight score of 16.

Young then removed Chris Rogers (11) and Rob Baker (4) in quick succession.

Rogers was caught in close prodding defensively, while Baker was clean bowled by a Young
arm-ball.

Harrity has 2-38, while Young has 2-74.

Brett Swain also has two wickets, while Jason Gillespie has bowled with considerable venom,
but is yet to claim a wicket.

Martyn has played some wonderful strokes, but has generally batted cautiously as the
wickets have continued to fall at the other end.





[T][BOXING CONNELLY][BOX]

Ray Connelly dies aged 71

The voice of boxing in Australia Ray Connelly died in the early hours of today, aged 71,
after enduring brain surgery several months ago.

The man who carried out the introductions of the major fights held in this country was
probably the most revered man in a sport dominated by wheeler-dealers.

Three-time world champion Jeff Fenech described Connelly as a gold fish in a sea of sharks.

Fenech said boxing would never see the likes of Connelly again.

He described Connelly as the ultimate gentleman who would be missed very much by boxing.

Trainer Johnny Lewis recalled a visit to Brisbane recently when a boxer from the 1950s told
Connelly the proudest moment in his career came with Connelly's build-up of him prior to one
of his fights.

"It's a very sad day for boxing," Lewis told AAP.

KEYWORD: NETNEWS 1700

1998 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.