NewsRoo.com.au

A compact weekly review of Aussie news for Australians abroad
By Vince Chadwick and Benjamin Hope

October 25th 2008

Covering Australian News of 19/10/2008 to 24/10/2008













Kevin Rudd

Government 'inept' economic managers: Turnbull

Bi-partisanship over the Rudd Government’s management of the economic crisis has quickly evaporated as at least three Australian investment companies suspended withdrawals from their mortgage and commercial property funds after the wealth management industry was left out of the government’s bank deposit guarantee scheme. Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull moved to censure Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Treasurer Wayne Swan for 'inept economic management,' saying the legislation introduced hurriedly by the government last week would also impose huge cost increases on Australian banks leading to increased interest rates and fees. The government retaliated by censuring Mr Turnbull for not apologising for attacks made by Liberal MPs on Treasury Secretary Ken Henry and Governor of the Reserve Bank Glenn Stevens.

Centrelink Office
Image: Shinkiman

Rising unemployment to cut migrant numbers

Immigration Minister Chris Evans told the senate this week that Australia’s record migrant intake should be cut next year due to a predicted drop in demand for labour in the global credit crisis. The proposal comes as economists predict at least 200,000 more Australians will be out of work by the end of next year as a result of the credit crisis and reduced consumer spending. Professor Guay Lim from the Melbourne Institute for Applied Economics and Social Research said problems would result if people decide to save rather than spend the government’s $10.4 billion bonus to pensioners, families and new home owners in the lead up to the Christmas period.

Parliament House
Image: Jpp

NSW, ACT sound warning for Labor

The ACT has returned to minority rule after elections held this week saw the Greens win three seats in the Legislative Assembly to secure the balance of power. Remaining guarded about who they would support, the Greens held talks this week with both the Labor and Liberal parties about a possible power-sharing arrangement. Meanwhile, NSW Labor has suffered what Premier Nathan Rees described as a 'shellacking' in four by-elections. Labor retained the seats of Cabramatta and Lakemba but lost the Sydney metropolitan seat of Ryde to the Liberal’s Victor Dominello after a massive swing of 22.9% on a two-party preferred basis. An 18% swing across the board led some Labor strategists to suggest the party was doomed to lose the next state election in 2011.

Whale
Image: Nestor Galina

Australia’s first whaling envoy established

The Federal government fulfilled its election promise this week with the appointment of former Sydney Olympic chief Sandy Holloway as Australia’s first whale envoy. Environment Minister Peter Garret also announced he is still holding out the possibility of taking Japan to the International Court of Justice, after a $2.3 million whaling surveillance project undertaken last year. Mr Holloway said Australia will continue to work towards a whaling suspension and he would visit Tokyo again before next month. Conservation groups have criticised the government for ending negotiations by insisting on a tougher wording for a motion that may have forced Japan to admit its scientific justification for whaling was dubious at the World Conservation Congress this month.

David Bartlett
Image: Graeme Bartlett

Tas Premier Bartlett takes aim at DPP

The Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett has been embroiled in scandal after the state’s Director of Public Prosecutions, Tim Ellis SC, accused Mr Bartlett of having “close and current” links with suspended police commissioner Jack Johnston, as well as his would-be replacement Richard McCreadie. Mr Johnston stepped down in August while facing charges of disclosing secrets after allegations he tipped of then premier Paul Lennon about a police investigation in April this year. Mr Bartlett claimed he is the victim of 'complete falsehoods' spread by Mr Ellis, who has refused to specify the nature of the alleged links. Opposition parties unsuccessfully tried to pass a motion of no-confidence in the government after the Greens accused Mr Bartlett of misleading parliament over the affair.

Australian Soldiers
Image: DeSnousa

Families of dead soldiers win compensation

The Federal Government will make payments of a confidential amount to the families of four young soldiers who committed suicide after being subjected to bullying or neglect in the army. Federal Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said the government failure to address the issue since the families lodged their claims in 2005 had added to the pain and frustration of the deceased’s families. Charles Williams, father of one of the soldiers hopes the successful claim will ensure ‘bullies are ultimately dealt with and punished.’ The Australian Defence Force also came under fire this week after a pay restructure saw Special Forces soldiers returning from Afghanistan billed with a $30,000 debt. The debt was later repealed.

Chest X-Ray
Image: upton

Organ donors 'not dead': doctor

A Melbourne doctor has courted controversy after suggesting that most organ donors are not dead when their organs are removed. Melbourne specialist Associate Professor James Tibballs argues in a recent journal article that it is 'impossible to be certain' that the brain and circulation have ceased 'irreversibly' in donor patients. Critics however, say the distinction is academic and labelled the comments 'irresponsible' amid conern they would dissuade people from becoming organ donors. The claim comes as the federal government considers national guidelines on organ donation to resolve inconsistencies in states laws regarding the use of blood thinning drugs and the insertion of cannulas in order to cool organs for transplantation before the patient has died.

Gabriella Cilmi
Image: Lee Jordan

Cilmi and The Presets dominate ARIA Awards

Dance duo The Presets and 17-year-old star Gabriella Cilmi dominated the 2008 Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Awards, picking up nine ARIAs between them. Cilmi took home all six of her nominations, including best female artist and best pop release, in a night she described as ‘a dream come true.’ Indigenous singer Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was recognised in the best independent release category and The Wiggles received their 4th award for best children’s album. Delta Goodrem won the award for highest selling album and ARIA hall-of-famer Nick Cave won best male artist. Julian Hamilton of The Presets said the Australian music industry is ‘as exciting as it’s ever been.’

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