What the nation s newspapers say today, Friday April 28, 2000

AAP General News (Australia)
04-28-2000
What the nation s newspapers say today, Friday April 28, 2000

SYDNEY, April 28 AAP - No-one in the Victorian Government or on its Drug Policy Expert
Committee has provided evidence that heroin injecting rooms save lives or reduce crime,
the Herald-Sun says today.

Yet overdose deaths tripled in Switzerland in the five years after 1986, when injecting
rooms opened, it says.

"Two key independent MPs ... have already indicated they will oppose the injecting room bill.

"Other MPs should do the same."

The Australian says Richard Pratt's decision to withdraw the bulk of his sponsorship
of the arts will turn yet another spotlight on the precarious financial position of some
of Australia's best known arts companies.

It highlights the scarcity of donors and a broad-based philanthropic tradition in Australia.

He is refocusing on youth, welfare, indigenous and environmental projects.

"But perhaps his greatest gift will be to encourage others to follow his example,"

says The Australian.

The Age says the Reserve Bank would be unwise to push up interest rates when it meets
next week expecting a lift in US rates.

"In the next few months what is necessarily good for the American economy will not
automatically be good for our businesses and employees."

"If the Reserve Bank chases around after its American counterpart and the money markets
and then turns its attentions mid-year to dealing with our own peculiar, domestically
created economic circumstances, the Australian economy could find itself suffering a very
rough landing indeed," the Age says.

The Australian Financial Review says after the GST, the reform of the energy sector
should be the Government's next big project.

"Unless more action is taken, many of the consumer gains made so far could be lost
as surplus capacity is reduced," it says.

"The Howard government may be reluctant to become more involved in a sector controlled
by the States. But there is too much at stake to allow the energy sector's efficiency
to be seriously compromised by the inability of State governments to deliver fully on
their promised reform."

The Sydney Morning Herald says it is the Governor-General's job to formally accept
the declaration from the Council of Aboriginal reconciliation.

Controversy over who should accept it is typical of the Howard Government's recent
record in handling sensitive indigenous affairs issues.

"... the players should now get their acts together, preferably by reaching quick agreement
that Sir William should indeed take delivery of the declaration with Mr Howard, the reconciliation
council and possibly the Opposition Leader having leading parts in the ceremony, and delivering
speeches."

The Daily Telegraph says the threatened 24 hour shutdown of the New South Wales rail
system on Monday is another failure of the Carr Government to institute public sector
reform.

The State Labour Advisory Council had been formed to resolve issues "away from the
glare of the television cameras and the headlines".

"In terms of transparency of the government's negotiations with the union movement,
this is a worry in itself" says the Sydney tabloid.

The Brisbane Courier-Mail says the response by some Australian politicians to the crisis
in Zimbabwe has exposed them to charges of racism and threatened to undermine the universality
of our refugee program.

It was fortunate that Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock has put an end to suggestions
of a safe haven, while others have suggested that white farmers be rescued while making
no room for blacks.

"A special deal for white land owners from Zimbabwe would contradict the way Australia
has conducted its refugee policy for decades and undermine 30 years of an Australian immigration
policy that has been relatively colour free," The Courier-Mail says.

The Adelaide Advertiser says unpalatable remedies announced by a troubled Mitsubishi
today must be viewed in a wider perspective.

Other businesses in South Australia are taking on staff - so Mitsubishi's woes "should
be seen against the context of a robust, essentially healthy regional economy in transition".

AAP cjh

KEYWORD: EDITORIALS

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.