Month: March 1999

The Commonwealth Grants Commission has continued a trend of calling on Western Australia and Queensland to pull their weight in the federation.

The main beneficiary of this trend has been the Sydney-Melbourne-Canberra axis.

Expect some screams from Premiers Richard Court and Peter Beattie. The screams will be inconsistent with their boasts that their states are the new economic powerhouses of the Commonwealth. They are the new powerhouses and so should pull their weight under the general federal principle that the common wealth of the nation is distributed so each resident of the nation gets, as far as possible, equal access to government services.

The ACT used to help subsidise (although only slightly) the poorer states (South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory) now it will be slightly subsidised by the larger states.
Continue reading “1999_03_march_grants”

Have a look at the illustration on this page.

It’s a newspaper, isn’t it?

People familiar with the internet will at once notice it is in fact the ABC’s website. But there is precious little difference between it and, say, The Canberra Times. Sure, the method of delivery is different, but the substance is the same. With the ABC newspaper, the printing has been out-sourced to the reader.

The other three television networks have similar websites, though their content is nowhere near as comprehensive or as good. That’s why various commercial broadcasting interests would like the ABC to sell its internet arm. There has been much talk about it recently.
Continue reading “1999_03_march_cross media”

“”Call me a whore for $90,000.”

“”I’d admit to having an affair with John Howard for $90,000, but I might draw the line at Mal Colston.”

“”Say what you like for quarter of a million.”

“”I wish someone would say it about me for that.”

These were some of the reactions in our newsroom at the verdict in the Abbott and Costello defamation action.
Continue reading “1999_03_march_costello”

The Australian Capital Territory is in grave constitutional danger.

An argument is unfolding in the High Court in the Eastman case that threatens to set aside all of the cases decided by judges and acting judges of the ACT Supreme Court who were appointed after 1992.

Tangentially, it might result in the ACT losing its representation in the Federal Parliament.

David Eastman was tried for the murder of assistant police commissioner Colin Winchester before an acting judge of the Supreme Court. Eastman’s lawyers are arguing that the judge’s appointment was invalid so Eastman’s conviction was invalid.
Continue reading “1999_03_march_act eastman crisis”