AM Summary

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-1998
AM Summary

CANBERRA, Dec 7 AAP - The main stories in todays 0800 (AEDT) edition of the ABCs AM
program:

* Judicial Conference of Australia secretary Professor Ian Parker says the superannuation
surcharge as it affects judges is unconstitutional, and they are prepared to challenge the
federal government in the High Court over the issue. He says this is putting a strain on the
relationship between the judiciary and government. Interview with Prof Parker.

* Labor Senator John Faulkner says there is evidence that the government is flagging
reduced routine checking of parliamentary travel entitlements. He says this is an area that
requires more thorough departmental scrutiny. Interview with Senator Faulkner.

* Following the end of the Jaidyn Leskie murder trial, central figures connected to the
murdered toddler are negotiating to sell their stories for large sums to television networks.
Moe residents says this will further affect the already negative image of the small Victorian
town.

* Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock says some Federal Court judges are overstepping their
jurisdiction on matters relating to refugees. He says their creative lawmaking has
considerable consequences which ultimately widen the ambit of judicial review beyond that
which parliament believes is appropriate. Interview with Mr Ruddock.

* Former Indonesian president Suharto will face interrogation later this week over
allegations of improperly acquiring massive wealth and corruption charges.

* West Australian scientist Professor Neville Bruce says women in a secure relationship
have five to eight times more chance of getting pregnant. Interview with Prof Bruce.

* Queensland now has a majority government after Labors win in the Mulgrave by-election at
the weekend. Premier Peter Beattie says the result sends a clear message to Prime Minister
John Howard on the GST. Opposition Leader Rob Borbidge accuses One Nation of being traitors
for not directing preferences to the Liberals candidate.

* The appointment of NSW MP Kerry Chikarovski to head the states opposition party is being
touted as a tactical move ahead of the March election to boost Liberal polling. Newspoll
director Sol Lebovic says Mrs Chikarovski has not been given a long time to establish herself,
so it is unclear whether the move will be a successful one for the Liberal Party.

* Small Business Consultative Committee chair Kurt Rendell says the new tax system would be
a compliance nightmare if food was exempted. He says some small businesses are worried about
being GST tax collectors, but he doesnt see it being a major pain. He says committee members
are all pro-GST.

* In Western Australia, the Australian Hotels Association is threatening to take legal
action if tough amendments to smoking laws are passed. AHA president Bradley Wood says the
restrictions are effectively the same as prohibition, and so if they do lose business they
need to be compensated. Greens MP Giz Watson says the AHAs move is tantamount to blackmail.

AAP et/mfh/br

KEYWORD: AM SUMMARY

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