What Australian newspapers say Tuesday, April 23, 2002
SYDNEY, April 23 AAP - In the light of the violent crime that appears to be a factof life in Sydney, police are seeking `random breath test-style' powers to stop and searchcars which they suspect are being used to carry concealed weapons, The Daily Telegraphsays in its editorial today.
Civil libertarians will oppose this as an unacceptable invasion of our rights to privacy,but most people will consent to this extension of police powers in return for a feelingof greater safety in their daily lives, it says.
"Most will see that the only ones to be adversely affected by such a move to help policewill be those who are intent on causing harm and injury.
"That's a bargain most will accept with pleasure."
Prime Minister John Howard maintains, unconvincingly The Sydney Morning Herald says,that it is not his intention to discriminate against single women or lesbian couples.
Yet his push to restrict procedures such as IVF to married and de facto heterosexualcouples will do just that, the newspaper says, if he is successful.
The Australian Financial Review says there is a clear need for a comprehensive reviewof the communications industry -- from telecoms, pay-TV and internet to broadcast TV --to assess how far convergence has gone and what the response should be.
Separation of Telstra's networks is an idea that deserves to be considered as partof the wider review and the ideal body to conduct the review, the newspaper says, is theProductivity Commission.
It has shown its independence from government in several previous inquiries.
The Australian says Foreign Minister Alexander Downer must look long and hard at howAustralia's foreign policy has been neglected by his government before he gets seriousabout devoting diplomatic resources to chasing a temporary seat on the US security council.
"Worthy as a seat on the United Nation's key decision-making body might be, it willremain an elusive goal if Australia does not reassert its role in the region and prioritiseits other foreign policy initiatives."
And given the real possibility of failure, it would be more productive for the nationto invest its resources and develop its policy agendas where they matter most -- in Asia.
Victorian treasurer John Brumby merits a big tick for the $364 million of positiveincentives he has handed the state's business community, the Herald Sun says.
"His mini-Budget recognises that jobs and the maintenance of a high standard of livingboth depend on the wealth created by corporate Victoria.
"Particularly welcome are the changes which will mean that businesses will pay lesspayroll tax -- a great job-destroyer.
"But the Bracks government will be anxious to see if these offerings are enough toplacate business resentment of its industrial manslaughter laws.
"As for the general public,... if the stamp duty is left where it is, Victorians willneed the increased prosperity Mr Brumby's mini-Budget is meant to deliver."
Testing of year 7 students should be compulsory for all government schools, The Age says.
"Statewide testing will pinpoint schools whose students have serious problems," the paper says.
Victorian education minister Lynne Kosky has promised the test data will not be usedto `punish' poor-performing schools but to identify areas of need and ensure the schoolsget extra help.
"It should be possible to accomplish this in a way that does not shame individual schoolsor teachers but, even if it does cause some embarrassment, reality must be faced - forthe sake of the children."
The Courier-Mail says Premier Peter Beattie is rightfully wary of making workplacebullying a criminal offence, but has indicated he is sympathetic to at least some formof intervention to help victims.
The newspaper says that following the report of a state government taskforce on bullying,Mr Beattie favours changes to the state's industrial laws that would allow workers tocomplain to the industrial commission which would have the power to mediate in disputes.
It says that at least initially, the emphasis will be on educating employers as wellas employees about the nature of workplace bullying.
"This does not mean employers will no longer be able to tell workers what tasks theyexpect them to perform, or to give reasonable instructions about work," the newspapersays.
The Canberra Times says the moderate people of France have probably been stunned bythe first rtound of thevpresidential election, with the far-right's Lean-Marie Le Pen'supset win over the mainstream centre-left socialists' candidate, Prime Minister LionelJospin.
The vote should shake the French out of their political apathy, it says, and make themrealise centre-right President Jacques Chirac would maintain French democratic valuesand not turn from those things which are more likely to deliver prosperity -- engagementwith the world and Europe.
AAP rs
KEYWORD: EDITORIALS
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