The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 3

Saturday, December 30, 1995 3 The Sydney Morning Herald deal OX ets tlie SNAG at the zoo laid-back Snowy lets other males monkey around 11 clear a 4 -r ICAC from By PAOLATOTARO Urban Affairs Editor The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has found that there was no corrupt conduct involved in awarding Sydney Showground to Fox studios, but expressed concerns about the process. The Treasurer, Mr Egan, announced yesterday he had received a letter from the ICAC Commissioner, Mr Barry O'Keefe, stating that a review of all documents and papers related to the Fox studios deal had concluded there "has been no corrupt conduct or conduct conducive to Mr Egan said the ICAC review vindicated the State Government's stance on the project which had always been focused on the benefits to the Australian film industry and to employment prospects for NSW. However, the ICAC letter cast doubt on a public statement made by the probity auditor, appointed by the Labor Government to oversee the Showground deaL The auditor, Dr John Ratcliffe, advised the Government that it was appropriate for it to negotiate directly with Fox studios. This was based on reports that the two other proponents, Global and Crawford, would not proceed with a film studio in Sydney if Fox set up elsewhere. According to Mr O'Keefe: "He clearly formed the view that Crawford and Global had made such statements, but as it has now emerged that Dr Ratcliffe was not present at the clarification meetings, it is not clear how-he was able to form his view." Nevertheless, Mr O'Keefe said Dr Ratcliffe had advised that it was appropriate for the Government to enter into direct Snowy is no paternal slouch: with Lisa he has fathered Lubutu, and with Koko he has fathered Kamili.

Two other infants born to Ficha and Sandra died. But Snowy is happy to let two other males, cheeky Louis and young Gombe, move in on his turf and mate with the females (Louis's inappropriate family background doesn't matter because he has had a vasectomy). So zoo staff are anxious to do genetic analysis on the newest chimp baby, born this month, to see if Snowy has fallen down on the job again. The zoo's animal behaviourist, Ms Margaret Hawkins, thinks Snowy is too much of a nice guy to be a brutal macho enforcer like some predecessors: "He can be quite impressive hen he's in the mood, but he's not always in the mood." He came to Taronga from a New Zealand zoo in 1986 when he was three. Because he was a male outsider, his full integration into the group had to be carefully staged over six long and painstaking years.

Even the younger females beat him up at first, and one overprotective mother almost tore his arm off and left him requiring major surgery. Ms Hawkins thinks he did not learn to be aggressive because, as an outsider, he had no family and friends to back him when he needed to assert himself. As well, he became the dominant male perhaps a decade younger than he could have expected in the wild. Then again, it may be that he's just a nice guy ho has had greatness thrust upon him. And, like all political bosses, sooner or later he'll face a leadership challenge: on his record so far, you'd have to guess that Snowy will gladly relinquish the job.

negotiations with Fox: "Coming from the probity auditor, this statement assumed an importance which was pivotal for subsequent events, as it was used by all parties to justify the stance adopted. Although unfortunate, it is not corrupt conduct." Late yesterday, Mr Egan said the ICAC letter found there was nothing untoward in the Government's approach. "The benefits of the deal are "more permanent and on-going even than the Olympic Games. The findings will obviously come as a great disappointment to Bligh Independent MP Clover Moore but she is simply out of step with opinion." The ICAC demanded all documents relating to the Fox studios plan early last month in the wake of a formal, four-point complaint about procedure Ms Moore. Ms Moore's complaints included that the State Government had by-passed processes and procedures that would ensure "accountability, probity and public protection and benefit" and that public property could be used for commercial gain by a private company and to "benefit a political party to the detriment of the public Mr O'Keefe's letter also expressed concern about aspects of the process adopted by the previous Liberal Government.

He said that in November 1994, the ICAC had been critical of the Government's Expression of Interest document for the Showground as it did not make a clear commitment that it would open the site to tender. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Collins, welcomed the ICAC finding but said he would renew his call for the release of all financial documents on the Showground deal. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TRIBUNAL A Men DISTRICT COURT JUDGES MAGISTRATES r'V 114 COUNTRY CCROKERS 197 iMt.iv.Ufa'iV.u.iiuU'UtJiaf- Women get top legal posts By DEBRA JOPSON Three prominent women, including magistrate Ms Pat O'Shane, have been appointed to key legal positions in an attempt to redress the. gender imbalance in the NSW judiciary. The Attorney-General, Mr Shaw, said yesterday that Ms O'Shane, who remains a magistrate, was the first Aborigine to become a part-time judicial member of the Equal Opportunity Tribunal.

This would raise the female representation to three out of eight. A barrister, Ms Robyn Tup-man, will become the fourth woman to join the State's 54 male District Court judges. A deputy solicitor in the Department of Public Prosecutions, Ms Deborah Anne Sweeney, who previously worked for the Independent Commission Against Corruption and headed the NSW Crimes Commission's investigation division, will bring to 13 the number of women among the 127 magistrates in NSW. The Government was "seeking to turn around decades of male domination of the appointment of judges and Mr Shaw said. "This is in no sense tokenism.

These are appointments of qualified, competent women based on merit." Mr Shaw has also recommended that three female clerks of the court be made country coroners, lifting the number to 14 women and 197 men. The State's three full-time coroners are men. Ms Tupman, who at 44 and after 10 years at the Bar will become the second-youngest District Court judge, said: "Women should be there so the whole of the community is reflected by the judiciary." Despite research which indicated no sex-based differences in sentencing patterns, Ms Tup-man said she believed women did behave differently as judges. Juggling courtwork with the family responsibilities of two young children had brought a different perspective. "Realistically, women approach life differently to men and it has got to influence the way they practise on the Bench," she said.

5-- JtJ 41 contemplates his lot in Taronga Parenthood puzzle Snowy ut i 18? Zoo. photograph by rick stevens telephone interception equipment to monitor the transmission of computer data, which police and the crime commission argue is necessary to investigate illegal activity associated with computer databases. The law enforcement bodies are asking that the State Government allow the use of global satellite positioning technology track suspect vehicles during investigations. Asked whether the Government was considering the proposals, Mr Shaw said yesterday: "These are submissions made to the Government by, amongst others, the State Crime Commission and obviously they deserve attention. "I must signal that I have some privacy and civil liberty concerns with them, but in the new year we will look at them.

"We will get submissions about them and make a considered decision." Greater police power a privacy worry By BOBBEALE Science and Environment Editor Snowy is a '60s kind of guy, into peace, harmony and free love. But as the dominant male of Taronga Zoo's large chimpanzee colony, this 11-year-old hairy ball of muscle and sinew should be routinely belting the daylights out of his male rivals and generally shouting, biting, slapping, stamping and ruling the roost. The prize for such aggression is the right to sire the most infants. The duty is to wield a complex political power, offering protection and forging alliances, policing strife-makers, rewarding supporters and controlling a group. But Snowy doesn't give much of a toss for all that.

He'd rather take up his favourite spot by a small waterfall in his enclosure, sit by himself and think. Normally, this would not matter, but Snowy's top position in the colony is the result of much social engineering by his keepers. Rivals have been moved on and allies encouraged so that Snowy's sperm can contribute to the colony's genetic diversify, a priority for a species with a bleak future in the wild. But new genetic fingerprinting studies by the zoo's conservation biologist, Dr Bronwyn Houlden, have confirmed that hile Snowy has mated successfully since becoming the dominant male, he has been letting subordinates get away with a fair bit of philandering. Using recently available technology that resolves human paternity suits chimps and humans share 98.4 per cent of their genes Dr Houlden has found that another male, Monte, is the real father of Snowy's supposed first offspring, Shabani.

The studbooks have been amended accordingly. Concern about civil liberties issues Mr Shaw. Mr Shaw confirmed that the Government had decided on some changes to laws that allow State law enforcement agencies to use electronic listening devices when criminal activity was suspected. He confirmed a report in yesterday's Herald that the Government will broaden the NSW Listening Devices Act to "3 YEAR PARTS AND LABOUR WARRANT 90 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE 532 litre capacity was f'. it? (0) i Home loan borrowers turning away from banks HOME LOANS HOW MORTGAGE MANAGERS STACK-UP 4A i 1 87 gT Kflf i III I jaLM L3lE laLJfcv.

allow police or State Crime Commission officers to apply to a judge for warrants to install the devices when breaches of Federal law or the laws of other States are suspected. Mr Shaw agreed it was likely that the change would lead more devices being used but said the reform was needed because organised crime operated across State borders. "The Listening Devices Act was passed through the NSW Parliament in 1984 it clearly needs modernisation. It's got to take account of the fact that organised crime is now national," he said. "We can't hamstring our police by allowing them only to enforce NSW laws.

"I think national crime has to be attacked on a co-operative basis criminals aren't going to confine themselves to breaches of either Federal or State laws." -MMmmm One-year 'Honeymoon' Mortgage managers lil II lLJO By BERNARD LAGAN State law enforcement bodies are pushing for greater powers which, the Attorney-General, Mr Shaw, says raise concerns on privacy. The proposals, which will be considered by the Government in the new year, include the use of satellite technology to track vehicle movements. Mr Shaw confirmed yesterday that the NSW Police and the State Crime Commission were proposing further extensions to their powers to covertly monitor suspected criminal activity. However, he said he was concerned about the privacy and civil liberties issues they raised. It is understood the proposals include amendments to laws that would allow suspected criminal activity in homes and vehicles to be covertly videotaped.

They also include the use of A Better Roads. Safer Roads. Saving Lives. to Standard variable Best available I Bank average KXH Mortgage managers' average UUULRIL 6 CROWS NEST lent S370 million to mortgage borrowers, up more than 70 per cent on the previous year, while the banks' home loan volumes remained stagnant. "We are just going to get bigger and better next year," said Mr Symonds.

"The banks haven't seen anything yet." The boom for mortgage managers is a simple reflection of their ability to undercut bank interest rates. According to the interest rate comparison service Cannex, the average mortgage managers' standard variable rate is 9.28 per cent -well below the banks' average of 10.34 per cent. Super Member Home Loans (SMHL) a joint venture bv the ACTU and National Mutual is offering a standard variable rate of 8.7 per cent. By TOM ALLARD Home loan borrowers are deserting banks in record numbers to refinance their mortgages with the growing band of non-bank mortgage providers undercutting banks on interest rates by as much as 1.75 percentage points. While official statistics are sketchy, mortgage managers which have stolen around S3 billion worth of the banks' home loan business over the past 12 months report that as many as half their applications come from disgruntled bank customers.

"At least 50 per cent of our business comes from refinancing," said the treasurer of mortgage manager Super Member Home Loans, Air Darrel LaBrooy. "And that's indicative of the whole industry." Managing director of the biggest mortgage manager, Aussie Home Loans, Mr John Symonds, said 35 per cent of the S2 billion or so in home loans it wrote each year were provided for home loan borrowers who had left a bank or building society. The mortgage-hopping underpins a rapid escalation in the market share of the new lenders. The latest figures show mortgage managers and other cheap home loan providersr like life insurance companies, with 10 per cent of the S120 billion home loan market. In October, these lenders ACT deputy chief cleared on sex claims A discrimination commission has cleared the ACTs Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Tony De Domenico, of sexual harassment allegations made by a former staff member.

Ms Margot Marshall, a Liberal Party member, lodged the claims against Mr De Domenico almost a year ago. In a ruling handed down in Canberra, the Discrimination Commissioner, Ms Robin Burnett, said she was not persuaded that the primary facts establishing the alleged unlawful conduct had been substantiated. Welcoming the decision, Mr De Domenico said: "This matter has been a great strain both on me and my entire family over the past 12 months. It is a great relief to have this finally out of the way." Ms Marshall said she was disappointed. She planned to appeal against what she described as a conservative decision.

mvim-im Source: CANNEX 1 Two-year Three-year fixed fixed However, Cannex's managing director, Mr Andrew il-link, said some of the mortgage managers were on such fine profit margins they could be forced to put up rates in 1999. He pointed to Citibank's recent decision to raise its variable rate by 0.25 percentage points to 9.2 per cent. Citibank finances its home loans in a similar fashion to mortgage managers. SMHL's Mr LaBrooy said he saw no reason why rates should go higher, all things being equal. However, he forecast that some smaller lenders would be forced to close next year.

Two small mortgage managers went bust this year, although their loans were taken on by another party. guishing between breeds, Dr Wirth said. Yesterday's attack came two days after 79-year-old Barbara Stringer died after she was savaged by a pit bull terrier at Toowoomba, 100 kilometres west of Brisbane. "The difficulty with dog management acts around the country is that the fines for the owners of dogs who do that attack humans is very low," Dr Wirth said. "They must be changed so that there are provisions containing a responsible and realistic range of financial penalty, including the option of jail sentences for irresponsible dog owners." Dr Wirth said: "Bull-mastiffs as a general run are usually quite steady temperamentally I would have to say that to some extent it is a surprise that a bull-mastiff behaved in that way." 0U Apartments from $228,000 to over $2 million Enormous a i 3 3 3 on Attack by bull-mastiff unusual: RSPCA head apartments 5 Spectacular Jss IP views "NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATIONS" Sunday 3 1 December 1995 Special Event Clearways Special Event Clearways will be in operation along the following streets from 6.00 am on 3 1 December 1 995 to 6.00 am I January 1996: Market St between Castlereagh St and George St (south sides George St between Market St and Railway Square (east sides) Elizabeth StPhillip St between Liverpool St and Bridge St (west side) Full length of Glebe Island Bridge (both sides) Road Closures Haig Avenue between College St and Cathedral Streets will be closed to through traffic from 6.00 am on 3 1 December.

The following roads will be closed from 6.00 pm and will be re-opened at the discretion of the Police once the crowd has dispersed. PhillipYoungLoftus and Pitt Streets north of Bridge Street Gresham St between Spring St and Bridge St George St between Alfred St and Lower Fort St Hickson Rd between Pier One and George St Argyle St between George St and Harrington St Art Gallery Rd at Hospital Rd Motorists are also advised that any vehicles that stop on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Glebe Island Bridge or Western Distributor during the fireworks display will be towed away. Traffic Delays in the City area are expected. Spit Bridge In addition to normal opening times the Spit Bridge will open to boating at 1 1 .00 pm on 3 I December and again at 1.30 am on I January. Further information is available from the Roads and Traffic Authority's Sydney Traffic Control Centre on (02) 211 3000 (24 hrs).

ATRIUM LUXURY LOCATION A stunning entrance Glass-walled lifts Cascading hanging gardens Reverse rycle air cond. lltra-modern kitchens with granite benehtops Security and intercom Underground parking Central glass atrium Rooftop 18m lap pool, sauna, gym, 120m jogging track, sundcck. BBQ, golf driving range basketball practice area Abundance of built-in cupboards French balconies with landscaping advanced flower boxes 3m (9') ceiling Internal laundries Perfect for investment or for owner-occupier Convenient access to shops, boutiques restaurants 13 Ll I IMM over ALREADY Tennis courts Gym, Training pool Jogging track Golf green with cash back Right now, we'll give you $100 Cash Back when you purchase an Amana Refrigerator Freezer. (Model tssissj YOU CAN ONLY BUY AMANA BY KLEENMAID DIRECT FROM OUR OWN RETAIL STORES LISTED BELOW The bull-mastiff, the breed of dog that attacked a teenage girl in suburban Adelaide yesterday, was not generally dangerous and its aggressive behaviour surprised RSPCA national president, Dr Hugh Wirth. However, many breeds of dog, including the bull-mastiff, were capable of attack and State-based dog management acts did not discriminate among breeds, Dr Wirth said yesterday.

The 17-year-old girl was attacked by two bull-mastiffs as she was walking across the backyard of a vacant house in the beachside suburb of Glenelg. She was in a stable condition last night in Adelaide's Flinders Medical Centre suffering lacerations to her face, arms and legs. The attack showed the need for dog regulations to impose higher fines on irresponsible dog owners as well as distin Cinema complex Shopping complex Restaurants frs Mil SYDNEY METRO: BUVCKTOWN 621 4044 CHATSW0OD: 417 8500 EASTERN SUBURBS: 417 8500 FRENCHS FOREST: 9950 5555 HURSTV1LLE: 821 4711 WARWICK FARM: 821 4711 NSW REGIONAL CANBERRA: (06) 239 2008 CENTRAL COAST (043) 521 5 NEWCASTLE: (049) 549 700 WXLONGONG: (042) 269 088.