An Australian news roundup

Protesters highlight West Papuan's plight

For once I agree with the "Greens" (really far-Leftists) about something -- though not for their reasons. The betrayal of the Melanesian West New Guineans to the Muslim fascists of Indonesia by the whole world was a disgrace that Australia took part in. They are good people who deserve our help

Greens Senator Bob Brown has told a rally that Australians have an obligation to support people in West Papua who are suffering under Indonesian rule. About 200 people attended the protest in Melbourne against alleged human rights abuses committed by the military in the Indonesian province. The Australian Government recently granted temporary protection visas to 42 asylum seekers from the province, and they will settle in Melbourne.

Senator Brown says Australians need to highlight the issue with the Federal Government. "As with East Timor, it will be the Australian people that change the Australian Government and the Australian Opposition out of their turning of backs," he said. Senator Brown says the Australian Government's support for Indonesian sovereignty over West Papua is racist and hypocritical. "How else do you explain a million people who are our near neighbours have the government's back turned on them when it comes to freedom and democracy yet John Howard's prepared to send our troops to the other side of the planet at the behest of George Bush for freedom and democracy," he said. Similar protests were held in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.

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Solar-thermal power touted as energy solution

Australian scientists have developed a new way of producing electricity, which could provide all of Australia's electricity needs in 2020. It has been developed by mixing solar energy, heat and natural gas.

In the search to find a cleaner, more efficient form of power, scientists at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) have developed what is called solar-thermal energy. Two hundred mirrors track the sun, and focus the sun's rays towards a tower. The heat can reach temperatures of more than 1000 degrees Celsius, producing 500 kilowatts of power. This is then mixed with natural gas and water to produce a renewable energy.

Wes Stein from the CSIRO says the new development could provide for Australia's future energy needs. "It would only require about 50 kilometres by 50 kilometres in the centre of Australia somewhere to provide all of Australia's electricity needs in 2020," he said. "That's not very much of Australia."

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Same-sex veto not 'anti-gay'

The Federal Government's opposition to the ACT's proposed laws on same sex marriages are not an anti-homosexual gesture, Prime Minister John Howard has said. The Federal Government is threatening to introduce legislation to block proposed ACT laws which register civil unions and effectively give them the same rights as married couples.

Mr Howard and Attorney-General Philip Ruddock view the ACT laws as an attempt to undermine federal legislation introduced in 2004, which defines marriage as a union between a man and women to the exclusion of all others. Despite the Federal Government's threats, ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope is determined to push ahead with his proposed laws, saying last week that the question now was whether "there is no place in John Howard's Australia for homosexuals".

But Mr Howard denies his plans to veto the legislation are "anti-homosexual". He says he is simply trying to uphold the special place marriage holds in Australia. "This is not an anti-homosexual gesture. This is a gesture to support the special and traditional place of marriage as a heterosexual union for life of a man and a woman in Australian society," he said on Channel 10. "Why we're against what the ACT is doing is that, in all but name, they are equating same-sex unions with marriage. "I don't support that, not because I'm against homosexuals, but I think there should always be a margin for marriage as we understand it in our society ... you don't equate a gay union with a traditional marriage - that's our position."

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Govt to sign China uranium deal

A bit of meaningless fluff to facilitate an important export opportunity for Australia

Federal Resources Minister Ian Macfarlane has confirmed that Australia will sign a safeguard agreement with China which will clear the way for the sale of uranium potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Mr Macfarlane is confident the agreement to be signed tomorrow governing Australian uranium exports to China will ensure its peaceful use. "In terms of the arrangement and what will be signed tomorrow, it is definitely a safeguard agreement," he said. "It is the same agreement that has been signed, as I say, with 36 other countries around the world."

Mr Macfarlane is in Perth to provide a resources briefing to visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who spent today touring key West Australian industrial and energy research facilities. Premier Wen flies to Canberra this afternoon and will meet the Prime Minister John Howard on Monday.

The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) says it remains fundamentally opposed to any deal to export uranium to China. ACF president Ian Lowe says such a move would further regional insecurity and increase nuclear risks. "No matter how strong and how valid the assurances that China or any other country gives us, once we export uranium it's outside of our control, so we're making the world a dirtier and more dangerous place by exporting uranium," he said. Professor Lowe is also not convinced by the argument that it would be environmentally better for power-hungry China to seek nuclear, rather than coal-fired, energy. "Nuclear might be better than coal but it's not nearly as good as renewables," he said. "Renewables are our real economic opportunity and the real environmental opportunity. In fact China's planning to get 15 per cent of its energy from renewables and only 6 per cent from nuclear."

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Privileges for smokers abolished

If smokers want the same pay as everybody else, they should be prepared to put in the same hours

"Workers at a major [Australian] government department have been banned from taking cigarette breaks during office hours, setting a precedent for workplaces nationwide. Under the new rules, public servants will only be allowed to smoke during their lunch hour. Those breaking the ban will be disciplined with verbal and written warnings and counselling. Smoking will also be banned within 15m of the government department's offices. More than 3000 staff employed Australia-wide by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources and its associated agencies will be hit by the new rules.

Department chief Mark Paterson told The Daily Telegraph he issued the new edict primarily because of health issues. "We're moving into a new premises in October that incorporates a childcare centre and I don't want parents and children to be confronted by a phalanx of smokers out the front of the building," he said. "We're giving people plenty of notice and we're providing financial support for quit programs and other courses. I'm prepared to consider providing support to employees' spouses if that assists them in giving up, too. "We can't restrict what people do outside of hours and during their lunch hours but we can do so during working hours."

More here




Australian star does well



Blonde bombshell Sophie Monk has landed her first leading role in a Hollywood film just six weeks after her major movie debut saw her take Tinstletown by storm. Confidential can reveal that the former Bardot singer has been offered the lead role in dark comedy Sex and Death 101, to be directed by Daniel Waters, who has previously made his name writing the screenplays for cult favourite Heathers and action-fest Batman Returns. Contracts are yet to be signed but it's understood Monk intends to take on the part, with filming to begin in May. The 26-year-old glamour was in Sydney yesterday, looking a candidate to front any new Pepsi Max campaign as she sipped away during lunch at Sienna Marina cafe Woolloomooloo. She's expected to head to Queensland to holiday with her family but while she's in the country will also do early publicity for comedy Click, in which she has a role alongside walking gag-a-thon Adam Sandler... The down-to-earth Aussie has just done shoots in the US with mags GQ, Nylon and Movieline.

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