The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 4

4 www.smh.com.au THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1999 Gay senator pleads for end to 'racist' laws Guard on Milat's Growth low but 3 rateri se possible stepson The stepson of backpacker serial killer Ivan Milat is behind bars under special suicide watch in a Tasmanian prison after pleading guilty yesterday to attempted robbery with a knife. A gaunt Jason Ivan Milat, unemployed, uttered few words and appeared dazed and confused during his appearance before Devonport Magistrates Court He took several seconds to respond to questions. Milat arrived at the court unaccompanied and represented himself. Police alleged that on July 20, four days before his 23rd birthday, he had tried to rob the Walker's Family Store in Thomas Street, East Devon-port Police alleged Milat, from Wright Street, East Devonport, had threatened the store owner, Mr Alan Walker, with a pocket knife, but was overpowered and held until police arrived. During a previous court appearance, he had pleaded not guilty but yesterday, before the magistrate Mr Tim Hill, changed his plea to guilty.

Ivan Milat adopted Jason as his own child after meeting Jason's mother, Karen Duck, in 1975 when she was several months pregnant with Jason to one of Ivan's cousins. The couple eventually married in 1983 but Karen fled the marriage in 1987 and has been a protected witness in hiding since Ivan Milat's arrest in 1994. Jason Milat will face sentencing in Burnie Supreme Court on September 27. Fran Voss and Let Kennedy By MIKE SECC0MBE in Canberra It is a delicious irony of the electoral process that the Rev Fred Nile's Christian Democratic Party ensured the' election of Australia's first gay activist senator. They did not mean to, of course.

Of 45 candidates on the West Australian ballot paper at the last Senate election, they placed the Democrats' Brian Greig 45th. They just mucked up one of those complicated preference deals. Poetic justice. And, for a man who knew at age 12 that he was gay, it was one more "personal insight into intolerance, prejudice and hatred that I would not otherwise have Senator Greig used his first speech in Parliament to list political and social manifestations of that prejudice, which was "nothing less than sexual In schools there was a "conspiracy of silence" born of fear of being seen to "promote" homosexuality, so "gay and lesbian youth live in an environment of denial and rejection, with no support, counselling validation or role In Western Australia the age of consent for gays was still 2 1 the oldest age of consent in the world, Senator Greig said, leading to the arrest, fining and sometimes jailing of gays under laws not applying to heterosexuals and "similar to those which saw Oscar Wilde imprisoned in Reading jail more than 100 years Senator Greig attacked laws i. J.V v.

1 I5 mgg- 1. C-J MMrfn'niiiiwiiiiiiiiilwiiiw iTri-'f-TTi'iif'-ini nrtniiiiriiiriramiMirwiim Senator Greig campaign gave him a "personal insight into intolerance, prejudice and hatred' Photograph by MICHAEL BOWERS By TOM ALLARD Economics Correspondent Home and business loan borrowers can breathe a little easier after the release of the weakest quarterly growth figures in three years showed there was no need to raise interest rates in the short term. But a rate rise next year remains a possibility, despite the relief of the Treasurer at yesterday's weak number and denials that the Reserve Bank is concerned rates will have to rise to offset the GST. The latest national accounts show the booming economy screeched to a virtual standstill in the three months to June, posting growth of just 0.2 per cent, compared with a revised 1.4 per cent in the first three months of the year. The annual growth rate slipped to 4.1 per cent, still well above the long-term average.

Mr Costello hailed the result as evidence that the Government's disputed forecasts for a slowing this financial year to 3 per cent were on track. "We have been predicting a slowdown which is consistent with these numbers," he said. The slowing in the economy has been cited by the Government and the Reserve as the main reason that the inflationary impact of the introduction of the GST and tax cuts next July a $6 billion stimulus will not push up prices unduly. But economists were less convinced. Many consider the June quarter result to be an aberration, just like the last very low growth in 1996.

The low result comes off an exceptionally high March quarter growth and the early indications are that September will be another bumper quarter. Exports and building approvals surged in July and retail sales numbers out today are tipped to produce strong growth. "There can be little confidence the economy will slow sufficiently in coming quarters to easily absorb the big fiscal stimulus Treasurer Peter Costello is planning," said HSBCs chief economist, Dr John Edwards. That meant interest rates were likely to rise in the first half of next year, he said. The Reserve Bank yesterday took the unusual step of denying a report that its Governor, Mr Ian Macfarlane, told US central bankers he was worried the GST package could force a rate rise.

However the Reserve is anxious about the GST. While the national accounts confirm inflation is low, they show a slowing in productivity growth and rising real wages a mix that forces up unit labour costs and puts pressure on inflation. More criticallyi the Reserve doesn't just make interest rate decisions based on its central forecast, which still predicts a slowdown. It also judges the "balance of risks" of the forecast being wrong and the consequences if it is wrong. A surging economy combined with the GST could lead to overheating of the economy, requiring a series of rate rises to cool it down.

Moreover, a modest rate increase from their low levels is unlikely to unhinge the economy, even if it does slow, and it could easily be reversed. denying rights to same-sex couples and promised to plead for cross-party support for a Democrat bill, the Sexuality and Gender Status Bill, to remove all discrimination from Commonwealth legislation and make it unlawful to incite hatred of gays. He made the political personal, pointing out that if he died, his partner of 13 years, Keith, had no claim on his superannuation. Keith could not be claimed as a dependant, they could not split incomes for tax purposes, and if they separated there was no legal mechanism for property settlements. Gays and lesbians were denied spousal recognition within the Defence Force and Public Service and were not next of kin for hospital visits or funeral arrangements.

environment that leads to harassment and violence towards gay and lesbian people," he said. "While parliaments continue to deny our relationships, deem us to be criminals and render us to be second-class citizens without legal protections, then some people will take this as their cue to continue to treat us badly." Even now, as a senator, he still faced prejudice. The Senate register of interests barred him from registering Keith's interests under the section for "spousede facto partner" because it was deemed to apply only to heterosexuals. "For as long as governments condone this apartheid, they are creating the social and political Boo who? The winner of the piggery prize for sexism By DEBRA JOPSON The Legislative Council president, Dr Meredith Burgmann, is unsure whether to judge the pearls before the swine for the seventh Ernie awards for sexist remarks, at Parliament House tonight. The pearls will be worn by many of the 420 women to mark the 30th anniversary of Australia's equal pay decision, and they will be judged as part of the "frock-off" (boob tubes are outlawed).

The swine (in silver) adorn the awards themselves, which are made to entrants norninating the As the judge who decides, with the assistance of "boo which remarks are the most sexist by the level of booing they attract, Dr Burgmann has a conundrum this year. For the Elaine award her staff have nominated Daily Telegraph columnist Miranda Devine, who wrote of her: "She is the Felicity Shagwell of NSW Parliament (minus the bonking)." "I don't think Tm allowed to be nominated, am IT she said with uncharacteristic uncertainty. Dr Burgmann claimed that Mrs Elaine Nile, after whom the oinkiest, most sexist remark in four areas industrial, judicial, political and media. Already there are scratchings. It is possible that author John Morgan might have taken out the Gold Ernie for writing in Debrett's New Guide to Etiquette and Modern Manners: "It is bad manners to expel any liquid from any orifice in public, and breastfeeding is no different" Dr Burgmann believes this is a sure-fire big boo statement However, it cannot win because overseas try-hards can rate only a mention, not take a prize.

On the eve of the event, the organisers are flummoxed because while all the other areas have attracted scores of entries, there has not been one porcine union grunt reported. Is sexism in the union movement dead? "I don't think so," Dr Burgmann said. "It's just that they haven't said anything. A lot of the worst, like Martin Ferguson, have gone into politics." He has some entries in the political category, including: "Several commentators for the most part women are now asking whether middle-class, tertiary-educated 'femocrats' speak only to and for their peers." He is up against a Victorian Liberal MP, John Richardson, who told fellow MP Lynne Kosky to have "a cup of tea and a nice lie down" when she advocated family-friendly sitting hours. If the winner of the judicial category is "magistrate who said anonymously in a survey that women nagged men into domestic violence, Dr Burgmann hopes he will come forward to put his name to the award.

award "for unhelpful remarks from women" was named, had asked her if she could have it She had to explain delicately that she could not It was just named after her. The night will not be genteel. Dr Burgmann admits that some very elegantly dressed-women use the occasion to become very raucous. Last year this was assisted by the consumption of 63 bottles of champagne, 231 of white wine, 78 of red and uncounted beers. "They think, 'everyone else around me is behaving badly, why not 7 Unions push for Democrat support And the nominees are MEDIA JUDICIAL "Women cause a lot "I did observe one day recently that Kerry Chikarovskl could boost of problems by nagging, bitching and emotionally her image a bit by hoisting the hem on her skirts a bit higher." John Laws in his newspaper column P0UTICAL "If Angie said go and unpack the car, I'd get pretty narky." Sydney Alliance candidate in Sydney City council elections Nick Farr-Jones for saying he does not include his family in his decision-making.

Sri hurting men. Men cannot bitch back, for hormonal CLINTON" (repeat offenders) vVit reasons, and often have no would be cruel to say that the reason there are so few female recourse but violence." Anonymous NSW magistrate politicians is it's too time-consuming to make up two faces." Radio commentator John Laws 'ELAINE' (most unhelpful remark from the sisterhood) "I am a mother. Australia is my home and the By TONI O'LOUGHLIN The union movement has resorted to lobbying the Democrats to get a better deal on junior wages after Labor's agreement with the Government to keep age-based wages for young people. The Democrats will move to restrict the payment of junior wage rates to workers aged 15 to 17 and abolish the age-based pay for 18 to 21-year-olds by introducing amendments to the legislation negotiated by Labor and the Government last week. The deal over youth wages is a rare example of a Government-Labor agreement Labor has mostly been sidelined by Government-Democrat deals, such as ones over tax, the constitutional preamble and the statement of regret for past wrongs to Aborigines.

Dissent over the deal began emerging within Labor's parliamentary ranks yesterday, with several members signalling they were unhappy with the legislation. Left Senator George Campbell who will vote for the Government's legislation led the way, saying the deal "would not create one more job" for young people. "The focus has got to be on developing an integrated skills and training process," he said. But Labor ruled out supporting the Democrat amendments. The Opposition Leader, Mr Beazley, rejected claims by the Workplace Relations Australian people are my children.

And Minister, Mr Reith, that Labor was negotiating secretly with the Democrats to change the deal Labor had brokered with the Government In a heated exchange, Mr Beazley told Mr Reith that Labor was sticking to the original legislation negotiated. "This is absolute baloney," he said. "There have been no discussions with anyone on this matter "This is the most extraordinary piece of fantasising for political purposes any of us have seen in this place." The union movement, which has been lobbying the Democrats after Labor's deal with Mr Reith, welcomed the Democrat amendments. Mr Joe De Bruyn, the national secretary of the shop assistants' union, which has 100,000 members under age 21, said the situation was "a gross embarrassment for "How can you say to people that you are 18 years of age and you can enter into any legal contract that you want to but you aren't entitled to an adult rate of pay?" Labor's deal sparked fury within the union movement last week and provoked officials from some of the nation's biggest unions to threaten to withdraw funding to the ALP. The secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, Mr Doug Cameron, said the Democrat amendments brought "fairness and equity for young The amendments will not succeed without the support of Labor.

I have tor I look after my home in the best interests 'GARETH' (improvers'award) The Australian Tourism Commission for telling Rothmans International a cigarette ad campaign mocking Australian women as "domestic appliances" was offensive. SMM GRAPHIC 2 9 99 "He's Romeo by name and Romeo by nature He fell into the clutches of a female and all that perfume was for her." Barrister Aarne Tees, who said of a defendant who allegedly bought feminine gifts using a stolen credit card its children." Pauline Hanson Mas Max first to fold in battle for the male market there is a lot of competition in the market," said Carl Ham-merschmidt, a former Max editor who is now acting editor at Ralph. FHM editor Neil Ridgway said there would be more casualties, but he was confident he wouldn't be among them. "People are still sampling but I think the time is coming when people will start buying one title over another my theory is there will be more closures." By ANDREW H0RNERY Marketing Writer The new wave of politically incorrect men's magazines claimed its first victim yesterday with the closure of two-year old glossy Max. Max's latest issue was still sitting on the presses when its publisher, Next Media, made the decision to pull the pin on the magazine after enduring months of aggressive competition and poor advertising support in a market littered with He denied the closure indicated men's magazines were in decline.

"Men can live vicariously through a magazine like Max if you don't have the opportunity to go to New Zealand and snowboard you can fantasise about it through the magazine," he said. But the magazine closure came as little surprise to those in media and advertising circles. "I think it was inevitable "Ad revenue is the lifeblood of any magazine. I don't think the ad department was pulling its weight." Max competed against a bevy of men's tides launched in the past two years, including Australian Consolidated Press's Ralph, Emap Australia's FHM, Conde Nast's GQ and Murdoch Magazines' Men 's Health. Max had managed a slight increase in its circulation, according to sales figures for the first six months of 1999 released last month by the Audit Bureau of Circulations.

Its monthly sales were up 2,000 copies to 28,634 but it still trailed rivals such as Ralph on 66,168 and FHM on 65,037. "It is pretty tough going when you are competing with the bottomless money pits of Kerry Packer (Ralph) and Emap. They can afford to absorb losses for a few years, whereas an independent publisher is always operating on a pretty finite margin," Davis said. magazine corpses. But Next Media is adamant the last issue will hit the news stands.

The last of Max issue continues the magazine's beer-stained tribute to Australian manhood and features a cover shot of two buxom female models wearing footy clobber to commemorate the upcoming grand final season. "It is purely a financial decision," Max editor Jason Davis, who leaves Next Media next week, said yesterday. A PRODUCT SAFETY NOTICE (SDfftr8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 THEFT FROM BOAT SONY CASSETTE CAR STEREO (MODEL XR-C220) SONY COMPACT DISC PLAYER (MODEL CDX 51-81) VULCAN SILHOUETTE WALL FURNACE Product installed prior to 1 June 1999 It has been reported that the Vulcan Silhouette Wall Furnace, if incorrectly installed or serviced, may become electrically charged and give persons coming into contact with the shell an electric shock. This may cause serious injury or death. All owners of the Vulcan Silhouette wall furnace manufactured from 1st October 1998 to 1st June 1999 with serial numbers 81000000 to 90599999 are requested to contact the number below to have the unit inspected at no cost.

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