AAP Internet Bulletin 1830 Tuesday, Dec 8, 1998

AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-1998
AAP Internet Bulletin 1830 Tuesday, Dec 8, 1998





[A][COCAINE RING][NSW]

Cocaine seizure smashes international ring - police

SYDNEY - A record $50 million high-grade cocaine seizure on the NSW mid north coast had
smashed a major international drug ring, Australian law enforcement officials said today.

The 225 one-kilogram blocks of the drug were recovered by Australian Federal Police and
customs officers when they raided an 18m yacht at Coffs Harbour around lunchtime yesterday.

The cocaine, the largest quantity ever seized in Australia, was concealed in the lining of
a fibre-glass runabout attached to the vessel, which had recently arrived from Venezuela.

Four people - three men and a woman - were arrested during the raid and this afternoon
appeared in Coffs Harbour Local Court, facing a series of charges.

A nine-month undercover investigation involving some 100 officers had also seized almost
$600,000 linked to the drugs," AFP General manager Bob McDonald told reporters in Sydney.

A further $6 million in laundered funds -- thought to be proceeds from a previous
importation -- had been traced to Hong Kong, Canada, the United States and Spain.

"Its a massive international drug syndicate behind this operation," Mr McDonald said.

"And while we believe weve dismantled it, there are several principles that we would still
like to bring to justice.

"We will not be leaving a stone unturned in our pursuit of them."

Operation Gentle began following inquiries into a suspicious vessel that arrived in
Forster, also on the states mid north coast, in February.

It was learned people connected to the boat had allegedly smuggled massive amounts of cash
out of Australia through Adelaide.





[A][THELMA TIWI][NT]

Cyclone Thelma batters islands north of Darwin

DARWIN - Cyclone Thelma battered the Tiwi islands, north of Darwin, today bringing down
trees, powerlines, destroying at least one major building and cutting communications with the
mainland.

The islands, which are about 100km north of Darwin, this morning took the brunt of the
cyclone which was as intense as Cyclone Tracy which all but destroyed the Top End capital on
Christmas eve, 1974.

With winds reaching 240kph near its centre Cyclone Thelma is, like Tracy, a category four
cyclone, but forecasters predicted today that it would narrowly miss Darwin to the north-west.

Northern Territory Emergency Service spokesman Patrick Horner this morning said that just
after 9am (CST) all communications with the Tiwi islands - Bathurst and Melville - were lost.

But he said before communications went down, the emergency service was told all the
islands' approximately 2,000 people were safe in public cyclone shelters.

Mr Horner said emergency services were also told that at least one major building had been
completely destroyed in the cyclone.

"Apparently at least one major, reasonably strong building has been destroyed but we are
not sure if it has been blown away or what," he said.

"Unfortunately, all communications with the islands has been lost... we can't get through
to them on phone, mobile phone or even satellite phone.

"We just have to sit and wait and find out what has happened when communications resume."

Bureau of Meteorology spokesman Michael Berechree said Cyclone Thelma had almost gone past
the Tiwi.





[T][SOCCER VIDUKA BURNOUT][SOC]

Viduka best to quit Celtic: sports psychologist

MELBOURNE - Stressed-out Australian soccer star Mark Viduka could have seriously damaged
his mental health if he had not walked out on Celtic and Brazilian ace Ronaldo could be
heading the same way, a sports psychologist said today.

Dr Michelle Pain of Monash University said Viduka had probably done the right thing by
walking out on Glasgow Celtic only days after transferring from Croatia Zagreb.

"He might be just burnt out from the sport," Dr Pain said.

"I think Ronaldos going through the same thing.

"Both have enormous pressure placed on them ... Viduka had to perform in Croatia and for
Australia while Ronaldo had to play for his club and every single game for Brazil.

"They are under physical pressure to play in every game and they are also under emotional
stress to perform well."

The Brazilian, at 22 a year younger than Viduka, stunned the soccer world when his name did
not appear on the original team sheet to play in the World Cup final against France.

There were reports he was taken to hospital after a convulsive fit, there were stories of
an epileptic fit and like Viduka he was said to be depressed.

Ronaldo played in the final and there was speculation that he was forced to turn out to
fulfil sponsorship requirements.

Viduka went walkabout days after signing an $8 million contract with the Scottish
champions, saying he needed to rest.





[A][INTERNET][FED]

Ombudsman backs moves to compel ISPs to join scheme

CANBERRA - The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) today backed moves to force
Internet service providers (ISPs) to become members of the TIO scheme.

The ombudsman cannot investigate complaints by customers of ISPs which have not joined the
scheme.

"This is of great concern to the TIO and the ACA (Australian Communications Authority) as
customers of recalcitrant ISPs do not not have access to the TIOs free and independent
complaint resolution service," ombudsman John Pinnock said in a statement.

"Given the continued rapid growth in Internet usage, adequate levels of customer protection
can only be achieved when all ISPs are members of the TIO scheme."

Complaints rose to 4.6 per cent of all TIO cases in the September quarter, up from four per
cent for the June quarter and 3.6 per cent for the March quarter.

In one case, an Internet user told her ISP by e-mail she wished to terminate her agreement
which was paid for by automatic monthly credit card payments. She continued to be charged and
was told she could only terminate agreements by phone.

The TIO found the customers agreement allowed termination by e-mail but for security
reasons the ISP had changed its policy. The ISP accepted the complainant acted in accordance
with her service agreement and refunded the charges.

In another case, a man bought an Internet starter kit with eight hours free access and no
start-up fees, but had difficulties with the registration.

His ISP told him to carry out a standard registration and the starter kit conditions would
still apply, but this did not happen and his written complaint received no response.

A TIO investigation found an administrative error had occurred and a particularly busy
period meant the ISP had not responded, but the ISP then credited the set-up free and issued
eight hours free access.





[A][INSURANCE PARLY][FED]

Govt rebuffs Democrats, rebate set to fail

CANBERRA - The federal government today rebuffed a compromise from the Australian Democrats
on its planned 30 per cent private health insurance rebate, setting the scene for its defeat.

Health Minister Michael Wooldridge was to meet Queensland independent Senator Mal Colston
late today, but even if the government manages to win his vote its unlikely to persuade
another senator to back the proposal unless the rebate is means-tested.

The Democrats proposed half of the estimated $1.6 billion annual cost of the rebate go to
families on incomes up to $50,000 and singles on incomes up to $30,000.

The $800 million saved would go to public health programs, including reduction of hospital
waiting lists, rural services and dental care.

Democrats leader Meg Lees said the governments proposal amounted to robbing the public
system to put money into a private insurance product. She said it was economically and
socially irresponsible to support it.

"This is a compromise package where the government gets half of what it wants, going into
private health insurance, and we get half what we want, and that is money going directly into
the public system," Senator Lees told reporters.

But Dr Wooldridge said the plan would not work.

"I have seen the proposal put out by the Democrats and the government will not be accepting
it," Dr Wooldridge told parliament.

The Democrats proposal would have an adverse impact on middle and higher income earners,
the lowest users of private cover and the largest group leaving private insurance, he said.

"The fact is, if you artificially bring in a whole lot of heavy drawers on the system
youll push premiums up, not premiums down," he said.



[F][AUST STOCKS CLOSE]

Aust stocks gain on strong banking sector

SYDNEY - The Australian sharemarket rallied for the second consecutive session today as
interest in the banking sector led the general market higher.

The all ordinaries index ended the day 15.6 points firmer at 2771.7 points.

Yet while the all industrials index benefited from the interest in banks, gaining 38.1
points to 4956.7, the resources sector succumbed to continuing weak commodity prices, dropping
4.9 points to 989.3.

Offshore, Hong Kong were marginally higher. At 1626 AEDT the Hang Seng was trading 2.5
points stronger at 10431.3 points, while in Japan the Nikkei was 125 points firmer at 14848.0.

Another rise on Wall Street overnight also buoyed trading today with the Dow gaining 54.33
points to 9070.47.

"The market finished up in line with the firmer close on Wall Street," Morgan
Stockbrokings Simon Reed said.

"Interest continued to focus on banking and the telecommunications sectors."

The banking index stacked on 80.1 points to 6306.1 as speculation about big bank mergers
was again brought to the fore.

Comments by National Australia Bank chief executive Don Argus put a collapse of the
existing "four pillar" no-merger policy back on the political and market agendas.

Mr Argus comments lent support to the shares of ANZ and Westpac - seen as the likely
targets in any consolidation.

ANZ added 24.5 cents to $10.56 while Westpac gained 27 cents to $10.49.

Among the other banks, NAB lifted 17 to $24.25 and the Commonwealth improved 18 to $22.76.

Insurance group National Mutual Holdings - itself a subject of some takeover speculation -
was up one cent at $3.12.

National Mutual Holdings Ltd today unveiled two acquisitions in the Asian life insurance
markets while announcing a 31.7 per cent slump in annual net profit to $205.32 million.

In a recently typical move, Cable and Wireless Optus was the most traded stock as interest
in the telecommunications sector continued unabated.

C&W Optus closed steady at $2.97, with 15.76 million shares traded worth $46.99 million.

Telstra followed its competitor on the volume turnover table, rising 11.2 cents to $7.58
with 10.48 million shares worth $79.11 million changing hands.

Newly listed group Telco Australia has surged another 13 cents to 48 cents - 135 per cent
higher than its issue price.

Global media group News Corp also gained ground, with the ordinary shares climbing 6.4
cents to $10.73 and the preference shares rising 22 cents to $9.82.





[F][AUST DOLLAR]

Aust dlr closes marginally up in sluggish trade

SYDNEY - The Australian dollar closed marginally stronger today, after languishing within a
tight range during the session amid sluggish pre-Christmas trade.

Arab Bank foreign exchange dealer Scott Young said there had been good offers for the
domestic currency in Europe overnight and that had been the only action of the past 24 hours.

"Its been very quiet and very range bound," he said of local trading today.

The local unit finished here at $US0.6182/87 from $US0.6170/75 at yesterdays close.

During the day it traded between $US0.6173 and $US0.6203.

Overall the market was still looking at the Australian dollar from a pessimistic point of
view as commodities prices continued to struggle, Mr Young said.

The Commodity Research Bureau Index closed weaker again overnight, down 0.24 to finish at
194.86.

The CRB is an index of 21 US futures markets. It is not weighted to Australias exports and
does not include coal, iron ore and wool but traders follow it as an indicator for the
commodity price-sensitive Australian dollar.

Current commodities prices were bringing a "dark cloud" over the Australian dollar, Mr
Young said.

"The CRB isnt really a perfect index for the Aussie because its an American index," he
said.

"But the market players, especially the US guys, believe theres a good correlation there
so thats all that counts really.

"Thats helped them sell and push the Aussie down."

Mr Young said a strengthening US dollar against the Japanese yen overnight may also have
hindered the Australian dollar today, but not a lot.

At the close here the US dollar was trading at 120.25/30 Japanese yen from 118.93/98 here
yesterday.

"It probably doesnt help the Aussie a hell of a lot," Mr Young said.

"But I dont think its had much of an effect."

The domestic market would now look towards employment data due from the Australian Bureau
of Statistics on Thursday before slipping into Christmas mode.

Economists expected unemployment to nudge higher to 7.9 per cent in November, from 7.7 per
cent in October.

They predict that employment will rise by 5,000.

"That will be basically the last thing for Australia before Christmas," Mr Young said.

"Come the end of this week itll become close to deathly quiet."

Meanwhile, on the cross rates today the Australian dollar was buying 74.30/39 Japanese yen
from 73.36/43 yesterday and 1.0380/91 German marks from 1.0349/60.

It was also trading at 0.3747/53 British pounds from 0.3719/23 and 1.1843/64 New Zealand
dollars from 1.1822/43.

At the close here the US dollar was trading at 1.6790/95 German marks from 1.6773/78.

On the Reserve Banks Trade Weighted Index the Australian dollar closed at 53.9 from 53.7
yesterday.





[A][NUCLEAR][FED]

US envoy urges Australia to accept nuclear waste dump

CANBERRA - The US has stepped up pressure on Australia to accept a proposal by an American
company to establish a dump for the worlds nuclear waste.

Seattle-based company Pangea has been quietly floating the proposal for two years.

It was forced to go public with its plans last week when green groups uncovered a
promotional video extolling Australias qualities as a dump site.

President Bill Clintons special envoy on weapons of mass destruction, Robert Gallucci,
today said the proposal would not only be profitable for Australia but would also be a service
to the international community.

"Australia could play a role in that, I think it would make a tremendous contribution to
international security," he told ABC radio.

Australia had a history of being active in promoting the non-proliferation of nuclear
weapons of mass destruction, he said.

"I cant help but think that the economics would be very favourable for a commercial
arrangement that involved addressing the needs of so many countries who do not have the
geology for the long term storage of spent nuclear fuel or radioactive waste," he said.

Mr Gallucci acknowledged that the US had produced much of the worlds spent nuclear fuel
but said he doubted it would be possible to site the dump there.

"I dont know enough about the geology of the United States," he said.

"But I dont think the politics in the United States would sustain (the idea of storing the
worlds nuclear waste in the US)."





[A][SUMMONS][QLD]

Man faces court on child sex charges

BRISBANE - A prominent Queensland man faced a Brisbane court today on child sex charges,
which his counsel said would be strongly contested.

The 58-year old man, who was supported by his wife and children during the brief
Magistrates Court appearance, is facing 47 counts of indecent dealing with boys and girls
under the age of 14 between 1961 and 1972.

Under the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act in Queensland, a person charged with a sexual
offence cannot be named until committed for trial or sentence.

No plea was required and the man was remanded to reappear on March 15 for mention.

His solicitor, Terry OGorman, criticised the three months delay, accusing police of having
to cobble together a case against his client.

"It is hard to see why such a lengthy remand is needed, but if the officers need that long
to cobble a case together then I have to cop it," Mr OGorman said, adding that the
allegations would be strongly contested.

Police sought a lengthy remand because of staggered annual leave for officers.

Outside the court, Mr OGorman said his client would be entering a strong not guilty plea.

"The case will now be defended very strenuously, charge by charge.

"When my client is given the opportunity to enter a plea he will be entering very strongly
and forcefully a plea of not guilty," Mr OGorman said.





[F][Y2K ABS]

Y2K survey encouraging but time running out

SYDNEY - Time is running out for Australian companies to combat the impact of the Year 2000
Millennium Bug (Y2K) but they are making progress, according to research data released today.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) study asked 6,500 small to large Australian
businesses about their awareness and progress in tackling the Millennium Bug.

Small to medium businesses stood out as the problem group with 91 per cent of small
enterprises, with four employees or less, aware of the Y2K issue.

But only 52 per cent of businesses in this category intended on taking action to counter
its effects.

Chairman of the federal governments Y2K Steering Committee, Maurice Newman, said along
with his fellow directors and the Y2K Industry Program, he had focused since the beginning of
the year on raising awareness and understanding of the Millenium Bug in industry, particularly
small to medium sized businesses.

He said the objective was based on research conducted by the Australian Bankers Association
which found only 20 per cent of small businesses and 51 per cent of medium businesses had
taken any action to counter Y2K.

Small to medium enterprises contributed $125 billion, or 58 per cent, of Australias gross
product and employed around 3.6 million people.

"Australia cannot afford a large failure of small to medium-sized businesses," Mr Newman
said.

"Marketing efforts of the Industry Program have concentrated on causing action among owners
of small to medium businesses. Im very pleased to announce .. that many Australian businesses
have listened. They have been stepping on the Millenium Bug."

He said the research findings, compared with another ABS study in February this year,
showed the number of businesses taking action against Y2K had doubled and that around 82 per
cent of businesses with between five and 199 employees had commenced planning.

But more than half the businesses - 55 per cent - surveyed expected to complete measures to
counter Y2K by the fourth quarter of 1999.

Just over a third expected to have the problem under control by July 1999 with twelve per
cent anticipating a completion of measures by the year the first month of next year.





[I][MICROSOFT Y2K][Microsoft]

Y2K bugs found in Windows 98

REDMOND, Washington - Several Year 2000 bugs have been found in Windows 98, one of the most
heavily tested software products ever.

None of the problems poses any risk of data loss or damage to computers, and they are so
obscure that most users would be unlikely to spot them, said Don Jones, Microsoft Corp's
product manager for Year 2000.

The Y2K bugs were found during company tests, Jones said.

Microsoft posted a software update Monday on its Web site to correct the problems. It
previously issued corrections to Windows 98 to fix other bugs, or "issues," as Microsoft calls
them.

Windows is the operating system for nine out of 10 personal computers, and Microsoft has
gone to great lengths to reassure customers that products won't be affected by the date change
at the end of the millennium. Windows 98 was tested by tens of thousands of people and
companies before its release in June, in addition to company testing.

Some programs, especially older ones, may fail when the date changes to 2000 because they
were written to recognise only the last two digits of a year. Such programs could read the
digits "00" as 1900, instead of 2000.

Among the Y2K problems with Windows 98:

If a computer is started at the precise fraction of a second when the date changes, the
computer's system clock could display the wrong time or date.

A particular technique for resetting a date to February 29 for a leap year could result in
Feb. 29 being displayed for other years. This is only a display problem, meaning it cannot be
applied to stored data.





[A][KANGAROO][NSW]

Golf club in clear over kangaroo attack

SYDNEY - A teenage boy mauled by a kangaroo while playing golf at a New South Wales golf
course lost his court battle for compensation today.

Judge Barry Mahoney, in a reserved judgment, dismissed a claim for $750,000 damages by
15-year-old Steven Shorten, of Grafton in northern NSW, against the Grafton District Golf
Club.

The District Court judge said it was unreasonable to expect a golf club to keep kangaroos
off its property or to supervise children playing on the golf course.

Judge Mahoney also found the club was not obliged to put up notices warning golfers that
the kangaroos could be dangerous during mating season.

The boy told the court in October that he was attacked by a large male kangaroo while
looking in the rough for a friend's golf ball on October 27, 1996.

He said the kangaroo gouged him on the right cheek, fractured his cheekbone, and slashed
his abdomen, back and legs.

Through his father, Rodney Shorten, Steven claimed the club was negligent in failing to
erect kangaroo-proof fencing, permitting kangaroos to be on the course, failing to warn
players of the dangers from the kangaroos and failing to adequately supervise child players.

But Judge Mahoney found it was "both reasonable and legitimate" for the golf club not to
have taken any active steps to deal with the kangaroos.

"In my view the average member of the community would regard the imposition of such a
responsibility on a golf course as being unreasonable," he said of submissions the boy's
lawyers made about child supervision being needed.

"Further, I regard it as unreasonable to require the defendant to either eradicate, remove
or relocate kangaroos presently on its course and to prevent those or other kangaroos from
regaining access to it.





[T][CRICKET ENGLAND][CRIK]

Thorpe to return home

MELBOURNE - Batsman Graham Thorpe will return to England tonight and take no further part
in the Ashes cricket series, team manager Graham Gooch said today.

Thorpe suffered a recurrence of a back injury against Victoria here yesterday and will miss
the remaining three Tests against Australia.

Thorpe, England's top runscorer of the past two Ashes series, had surgery on his lower back
after returning early from the tour of the West Indies in March this year.

He recovered to play the initial three Tests of the five match series against South Africa
when the problem flared again.

Thorpe missed the tail end of the English summer but was confident he had overcome the
injury when he arrived in Australia in late October.

"It's been an ongoing thing but I came out here in my mind fully fit," Thorpe said.

"It is a setback again but I'm optimistic that I can get it right."

Thorpe retired hurt after making one run in 40 minutes against Victoria yesterday.

Team manager Graham Gooch said the England hierarchy met last night when it was decided to
send Thorpe home.

"It's thought if Graham can't prove his fitness it is best that he returns home ... to get
it sorted out once and for all," Gooch said.





[T][CRICKET ENGLAND][CRIK]

England draws with Victoria

MELBOURNE - England offspinner Robert Croft claimed three wickets but it was not enough to
prevent a draw in the four day cricket match against Victoria at the MCG here today.

Chasing 281 runs to win, Victoria was 8-245 at stumps on the final day.

England appeared on track for victory but lost focus when Victorian tailender Ashley
Gilbert raised tempers late in the day.

Gilbert, making his first class debut, was involved in an exchange with England paceman
Dean Headley that prompted Mark Ramprakash to walk from point to the toes of the tall
Victorian.

Umpire Terry Prue and England captain Alec Stewart separated the duo, who were also
involved in a verbal confrontation yesterday when Gilbert claimed Ramprakash's wicket.

Gilbert frustrated the victory bid with wicketkeeper Peter Roach after the home side
plummeted to 8-232 with 30 minutes remaining.

The duo then batted the remaining minutes for a draw.

Croft took three wickets and paceman Dean Headley snared two victims in the match that
finished early to allow England to fly to Adelaide tonight to prepare for the third Test
against Australia.

KEYWORD: NETNEWS 1830

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