AAP General News (Australia)
02-17-2005
FED:What Australian newspapers say Thursday February 17, 2005
SYDNEY, Feb 17 AAP - The Kyoto protocol on climate change came into effect yesterday
but the chances of a new agreement once this one expires in 2012 seems remote, The Australian
says today.
In its editorial, the paper says it is "safe to say" greenhouse emissions as a result
of human activity could raise the earth's temperature by between 1.4 and 5.8 degrees Celsius
over the next century.
The paper says if predictions are accurate, the cost in lost farming land as sea levels
rise, increased cooling costs and various forms of environmental damage could be as high
as 2.5 per cent of the world GDP by the middle of the next century.
Australia has the world's highest per capita emissions, and while not a signatory to
the treaty, has invested $500 million in low emission technologies. Despite this Australia
is still often misguidedly labelled as the "world's worst greenhouse bandit".
The editorial says there are common practises in developing countries, such as the
use of cow dung for fuel in villages, or the use of 50 million two-stroke engines pouring
out C02, that require attention long before Australia's carbon emissions.
The Australian Financial Review says despite Japan, our biggest trading partner, sliding
into recession, two of Australia's largest resources companies - Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton
- have reported record profit increases.
In its editorial the paper says this marks two big changes in the past decade: a diversification
of our export base away from Japan to a broader basket of nations and the rehabilitation
of the "old economy" resource industry.
The paper says Australia should be the "Lucky Country" but as a result of a slump in
investments in resource projects and capacity constraints on ports and rail links, we
can't meet demand and exports overall have been "sluggish", meaning Australia risks losing
its position to other nations.
Sydney Morning Herald says in its editorial today the assassination of Lebanon's former
prime minister Rafik al-Hariri is a tragedy the Middle East sees too often.
The paper says the death leaves questions such as to what extent was the Syrian government
involved? Will Lebanon revert to sectarian violence? Or could Hariri's murder make it
easier for Lebanon to regain real independence?
After 15 years of civil war from 1975 to 1990, Hariri became prime minister in 1992.
It was a role he filled for 10 of the next 13 years.
The paper says he initially enjoyed Syrian support but the relationship fell apart
after resentment over Syria's dominance.
With Lebanon facing an election and Hariri the potential leader of an anti-Syrian coalition,
the Herald says Damascus had reasons for wishing him dead but it questions whether Syria's
President Bashar al-Assad would have risked such an indiscriminate and spectacular atrocity.
The Daily Telegraph says the M5 East Freeway, overrun with a litany of problems, has
the potential to compromise safety and cause a "disaster".
The main editorial refers to a document obtained by the Sydney paper alleging air quality
standards are not properly monitored, some cross-tunnel access ways pose fire risks, maintenance
standards are not understood, some staff are inadequately trained and those carrying out
maintenance work had actually caused power failures in the tunnel.
The editorial says at the heart of the issue is the breakdown of relations between
the operator BHEgis and the transport safety contractor Alstom, substantiated by emails
between the two revealing a "corrosive level of distrust".
The paper says if the organisations can't resolve their difficulties the NSW government
may be called in to broker a solution.
The Victorian government must make the most of its review of the Education Act, the
main editorial in The Age newspaper says today.
The paper says the review should deal with voluntary levies that have become de facto
fees at some schools and are putting some parents under pressure.
Raising the minimum leaving age from 15 is up for debate, but The Age says it is more
desirable to engage students in learning than to compel them to stay at school.
The paper says it is feared the government has already made up its mind on many issues.
"Given what is at stake, this seems manifestly inadequate," the paper says.
The Age calls for the government to allow vibrant debate on the future of education
and to keep an open mind.
The health insurance system is a mess and the government has not done enough to fix
it, the main editorial in the Herald Sun newspaper says today.
The paper says the Howard government's "tinkering" with incentives seems to have staunched
the "near terminal haemorrhage" of members.
"But now the system faces a relapse, thanks to Australia's largest health insurer,
the government-owned Medibank Private," the paper says.
Medibank Private is to cut no-gaps services at up to 20 private hospitals and patients
who choose a non-contracted hospital could face a $100-a-day gap bill.
"In other words, Medibank Private members could soon be paying more for less," the paper says.
The Courier-Mail's editorial said Australians with private health insurance were likely
to be hit soon with another big increase in their premiums.
Speculation centred on an average rise between $150 and $200 a year, coming on top
of the average $100-a-year rise in premiums last year.
The paper says it may be time for the Productivity Commission to undertake a thorough
audit of the private health insurance funds and the way they go about doing business to
determine what improvements are needed.
"The commission is due to issue its draft report on the impact of advances in medical
technology on health spending and has already issued a comprehensive report on the implications
of an ageing population.
"Turning its reformist eye towards the private health insurance sector seems a logical
next step."
The northern suburbs of Adelaide continue to undergo a dramatic transformation for
the better with the arrival of new industries in the area, the main editorial in The Advertiser
newspaper says today.
The paper says the area is shaking off a bad image and becoming the Cinderella of Adelaide.
"The three ugly sisters of unemployment, welfare dependency and social isolation are
slowly receding," the paper says.
The Advertiser says manufacturing jobs have given the area a boost and things will
get even better if the $6 billion contract to construct three destroyers for the Royal
Australian Navy is awarded to the ASC at Osborne.
AAP apw/rad/snp/cdh
KEYWORD: EDITORIALS
2005 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.
