PRIME MINISTER THURSDAY, 18 OCTOBER 1979
From the Press Office SUMMARY OF ABC'S 7: 45 am NEWS
The Federal Minister for Industrial Relations, Mr. Tony Street,
saw the President of the Arbitration Commission, Sir John Moore,
in Sydney last nlight for talks on the Government's amendments
to industrial law. The meeting was arranged at Sir John Moore's
request as a result of his discussions with members of the
Arbitration Commission. Mr. Street has confirmed that he was
asked to discuss the consultative provisions contained in
amendments to the Conciliation and Arbitration Act. opposition
by Commissioners to the amendments centres on the provisions
requiring them to consult their Deputy Presidents before
making decisions on a award rates of pay or conditions. The
Commissioners have argued that this reduces their independence.
Senate debate on the amendments was adjourned last night
and is expected to continue today. The Government Leader in
the Senate, Senator Carrick, has said that no vote will be
taken until the outcome of the meeting between Mr. Street and
Sir John Moore is known.
Victoria's Government public transport system has come to a
halt. Transport unions say the strike, affecting trains, trains
and buses, will last for 48 hours, but the Government says
the men won't be allowed to return to work until Monday. It
does not' want them to collect weekend penalty rates after the
two-day strike. The strike, the latest in a campaign by
transport unions for wage parity with their NSW colleagues,
began at midnight.
The Japanese Ambassador to Australia has denied that his
country's new fishing agreement with Australia will endanger
the black Marlin. He says, however, he has passed on to his
Government concern expressed in Australia over the agreement.
The Federal Government last night successfully guillotined
the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Bill
through the House of Representatives, clearing the way for its
adoption. The minister Representing the Attorney-General in
the House, Mr. Viner, said there had been 51 hours deba ' te by
both the House and the Senate on the Bill which would bring
about wide-ranging reforms to ASIO's operation. The Government
made concessions to the opposition by making 9 amendments to
the Bill in the Senate, but no amendments were made to the Bill
during its passage through the House. The Bill gives the
Director-General of ASIO wide powers and says the Minister is
not empowered to override his opinions.
The Nobel Peace Prize has gone to Mother Theresa of India.
Mother Theresa, a Roman Catholic nun, is famous for her work
among the destitute in the slums of Calcutta.
Britain has outJlined plans to send military and police advisers
to Ziinbawe Rhodesia to help supervise elections and legal
independence. The proposals were made in London during a
meeting between Britain's Foreign Secretary, Lord Carrington,
and the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia, Bishop Muzorewa.
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Kampuchea: there is a lull in the fighting and a drop in
the flow of refugees. Thai reports from the border area
say there are no apparent reasons for the lull in fighting
between Vietnamese forces and the group still loyal to the
former Government of Po1 Pot.
Student protest is mounting in South Korea. The latest
outbreak in the country's second biggest city has led to about
200 arrests and up to 100 students and police suffering injuries.
A second political trial is underway in Peking. A woman is
accused of violating public order by org~ nising peasant
demonstrators. She is also accused of libel over her. claim that
she was raped by a former Communist Party Secretary.
The N. S. W. Attorneya-General, Mr. Frank Walker, has rejected as
totally unrea ' listic ' suggestions that the tabling in State
Parliament of documents such as the Finnane Report can prejudice
the course of justice. Mr. Walker was commenting on criticism
of the Government yesterday by the N. S. W. Bar Association. The
Association's President said the public debate which followed the
tabling of t~. special reports made it difficult for anyone charged
to get a fair trial. Mir. Walker said he was convinced that the
tabling of speci-al investigators reports would not even remotely
prejudice any subsequent criminal proceeding. He said that if
the Bar Association's attitude were applied consistently it would
mean that Royal Commission reports would also be kept secret.
In Adelaide last night the opening performance of the. Red Army
Song and Dance Company at the Festival Theatre sparked a
rowdy demonstration. About 1,000 marched by torchlight to the
Festival Plaza to hear speakers from the Captive Nation's Committee
which organised the demonstration.
one of America' s most noted huinourists has diecl. in -New York.
There has been a dramatic increase in the incidence of malaria
in Queensland this year.
Australia's cricketers will be battling today to avoid defeat
in the Fourth Test against India. The match ends today.
The A. B. C. was successful at the Sammy Awards for the television
and film industry awarded in Sydney last night. M~ 1
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