The Age from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia • Page 2

At Tfl THURSDAY 6 NOVEMBER 1997 JUST BRIEFLY US facing rejection on Radio Free Asia broadcasts from NT Gtanni forecast flfor ecoimoinniy9 jobless eWJT' IS I "'Oct stressing the benefit of technology in reaching and changing non-democratic societies. "We have opportunities that were either diminished or didn't exist at all during the Cold War," he said. The US Assistant Secretary of State, Mr Stanley Roth, said the escalation of Radio Free Asia output was not aimed solely at China, but "other non-democratic countries in the region, including North Korea and countries in Mr Roth confirmed the broadcasts would specifically involve those nations' Internal affairs, rather than Just promoting American values. Beijing has opposed the Radio Free Asia broadcasts, and a Foreign Ministry spokesman, Mr Tang Guoqiang, called on the Federal Governments support yesterday. Mr Talbott, a close friend of President Clinton, is leading a "presidential mission" through seven countries In the region In advance of the Kyoto summit on climate change.

He had talks over Australian insistence on individual targets set according to particular economic circumstances, and the two governments remain as far apart as ever. Senator Hill confirmed there remained little support from Washington for the coalitions hard-line stance. By QERVASE GREENE, foreign affaire writer Australia It let to refect American attempts to broadcast propaganda into South-East Asia and China using local transmission facilities recently abandoned by the Federal Government. The Government has decided to deny the US State Department access to the former Radio Australia site on the Cox Peninsula, near Darwin, preferring to side with regional neighbors particularly China In preventing Radio Free Asia broadcasts from there. The issue was raised during talks between Foreign Affairs Department officials and the US Deputy Secretary of State, Mr Strobe Talbott, in Canberra yesterday.

While the Government is keen to auction the use of the recently upgraded facilities to foreign broadcasters, it is believed a preference towards the BBC World Service has been indicated a move that would be welcomed by China. A spokesman for the Foreign Minister, Mr Alexander Downer, said the issue was still to be decided. "Guidelines are still being developed for the future use of the Cox Peninsula," he said. Mr Talbott confirmed that the issue -had been raised, falling by 0.5 per cent in 2002. The current account deficit is forecast to leap to almost $40 billion, or 6.4 per cent of gross domestic product, by 2000.

Dr Brain said the Reserve Bank would be forced to increase its official cash rate from 5 to 10 per cent to dampen debt-driven import demand. He said the only alternative was for the government to lift taxes! The report also said inflation would increase from its existing negative level to 3.7 per cent in 1999 and 5.5 per cent in 2001. Other prominent economists, in Melbourne for a conference, said yesterday Australia could achieve full employment if the public accepted greater wage flexibility, including scrapping minimum wages. The professor of economics at the Australian National University, Professor Ross Garnaut, told the conference at the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economics and Social Research that low-income earners and welfare recipients could be compensated by a system of negative tax, or tax credits. In his paper, Time to End Unemployment, Professor Garnaut said there was no unemployment by Australian standards in Hong Kong, Japan or the US due to "prodigiously flexible He said the biggest impact for Australia would be the loss of exports for investment in Asia, predicted to drop sharply.

"The Asian economic crisis will continue to seriously undermine Australia's net trade performance over the next three years," Dr Brain said. "Some of Australia's major commodity exports will suffer dramatic falls in price and volume while our manufacturing and service exports will also be heavily affected." The report highlights iron ore, coal, gold, wheat, wool, beef, steel, motor vehicle, education and tourism as the industries most at risk of export slowdown. Dr Brain said about 30,000 people would lose their jobs while a further 30,000 jobs that would have been created in export industries would be lost. In the longer term, he predicted the jobless rate would stay above 8 per cent and rise to 11.3 per cent in 2001-02 as a significant recession hit Australia after the Sydney Olympics. He predicted economic growth would not reach the 4 per cent level hoped to be achieved by the Government "for a considerable saying it would instead peak at 3 per cent around the Olympic Games, with growth then halved the following year and Making radio waves: Mr Talbott on his mission to broadcast propaganda into Asia from Darwin.

Picture: Andrew meares Court security is stepped up at hearing Shades That's Mazda. That's Cool! By VICTORIA BUTTON, court reporter Court security was tightened yesterday after it was claimed a prosecution witness at the committal hearing of six men accused of torturing and murdering 14-year-old Joel Russell had been intimidated. The witness, Ms Dallas Maree Sweetman, 27, said she was confronted by a dozen people making barking noises as she left the Melbourne Magistrates Coiul last Thursday after giving evidence against her former associates. Ioel and his 17-year-old brother, Wade, were allegedly kicked, stabbed, tied up and beaten with baseball bats, bars and chains on 14 January under a Reservoir house Ms Sweetman was visiting. The prosecutor, Mr Jeremy Rapke, told the court a woman associated with a defendant called Ms Sweetman a dog in the incident last Thursday, which he said was no doubt intended to intimidate and upset the witness.

Mr Rapke said that yesterday the defendant Mr Lance Edward Franklin mouthed "You're dead, you're ing dead" to Ms Sweetman's sister, Kylie, during an adjournment. Through a lawyer, Mr Franklin denied this. Under the increased securi Doctor cleared over baby death NO ONE contributed to the death of Tristan Power, who was delivered by forceps at the Royal Women's Hospital, on 12 March 1995, the Coroner's Court found yesterday, Tristan died on 22' March, after life support was turned off when a scan at the Royal Children's Hospital showed damage to the cervical spine. The coroner, Jacinta Heffey, found that while the obstetrician attending the birth, Dr Douglas Adey, may have taken a different course, "these are matters of professional judgment, and; unless that judgment can be shown to be recklessly made, then it cannot be said that such person making that judgment contributed in any way to the Alfred staff in 24-hour strike CATERERS, cleaners, ground staff and orderlies at the Alfred Hospital went on strike for 48 hours yesterday morning, in a dispute over contracting out of About 12 staff had blockaded themselves in the kitchen. A hospital spokesman said the staff had failed to win the contract to supply food and other services and the new i contractor would take over, on 24 November.

He said services were being maintained. Child, 2, gets snagged in bath A CHILD. 2, had her fingers stuck in a bath plug for about three hours on Tuesday night. Three of the child's fingers became lodged in the plug hole as bathwater was being drained at her home in Mount Waverley shortly. Firefighters attempted to unscrew the drain-plug after cutting the pipe from below, but were unsuccessful.

After two hours firefighters removed the plug, with the girl's fingers still stuck. She was taken to the Monash Medical Centre, where firefighters took another hour to free her. BE CMSfVL fJOTtb THKDU) THE BAB OUTCUirH THE BABt OUT WITH PNG aid troops ask for support Australian defence personnel have asked for security to be stepped up at food drop areas in drought-stricken Papua New Guinea after villagers armed with machetes rushed a Black Hawk helicopter. Showgrounds panel appointed THE Minister for Planning and Local Government, Mr Rob Maclellan, has appointed an independent panel to consider an amendment to planning controls on the Melbourne Showgrounds. Quote of the day "I remember saying to Stu, 'You have to fake a heart or fall off the bed it's the only way we are going to see a doctor'." Ms Michelle Randall giving evidence at the Court Inquiry Into the death of her boyfriend, Mr Stuart James Prattley, who died of meningococcal disease.

And the winners are The elderly, after the Federal Government scrapped accommodation bonds and replaced them with an annual entry fee in a backdown on its nursing homes policy. Online They're racing In cyberspace this afternoon as The Age provides online updates all the Oaks Day action at www.theage.com.au and watch for the First Test live tomorrow. Clarification Mr Robert Cornall In a recent article in this newspaper, we reported that Mr Robert Cornall, managing director of Victoria Legal Aid, is entitled to a performance-based bonus for imposing legal aid cuts. Mr Cornall has drawn our attention to the fact that he is not personally responsible for Imposing such cuts and any performance-based bonus to which he may become entitled is for the efficient performance of his duties th administering the amount of legal aid In Victoria, as deter: mlnedby the Commorl-wealth Government. By PHMXIP MUMON.

oconoinlcs) corroapondant, Canbarra Australia's unemployment rate would soar above 11 per cent, official interest rates double to 10 per cent and the current account deficit leap to almost $40 billion by 2000, an independent economic forecaster said yesterday. Dr Peter Brain, from the National Institute of Economic and Industry Research, also said the Asian economic crisis would slash 1 per cent from Australia's economic growth this year and cost 60,000 jobs. Dr Brain's grim predictions came as the federal Employment Department's leading indicator of employment rose strongly in September on the back' of increased job vacancies to posts its first positive reading in two years. The official employment figures for October will be released today, with some economists predicting unemployment will remain largely unchanged at 8.6 per cent. Other market economists are mixed in their views, although the Westpac Bank this week cut its economic growth forecast by 1 per cent to 3 per cent.

Dr Brain predicted economic growth would plunge to 2.9 per cent this year with the decline driven by lower exports to Asia. ti Air Air Htm RMm MHMtTM 0(MM F3 INCLUDES Air conditioning 3 year unlimited 3 3 OMOHTM sVnon OtfriMMi Protege AIR CONDITIONING! $20,990" j) 1bV Driver's side alrbag 1 .6 litre DOHC 16V engine. Power steering AMFM radio cassette Spacious interior kilometre warranty 1.6 litre Manual. Recommended Promotional Price excluding on road costs, statutory and dealer delivery charges Desperate criminals make daring escape Metro INCLUDES AIR CONDITIONING! $15,490 ty yesterday, those entering the court were scanned with a metal detector and forced to provide identification. The six defendants charged with murdering Joel whose body was found in the Yarra River on 17 January have not been asked to enter a plea, but are contesting the matter at committal.

They are: Mr Alan Lance Franklin, 19, and his father, Mr Lance Franklin, 39, of Reservoir; Mr Paul Francis Cassar, 18, of Fitzroy; Mr Robert Ian Carpenter, 19, of East Reservoir; Mr Neville Maurice Hon-eysett, 31, of Preston; and Mr Shane Patrick Kelly, 40, of Reservoir. Ms Sweetman yesterday cried after saying it was difficult to give evidence against people "I liked and In the written statement, she said she took notes from the boys under the house. Joel had been suspected of setting up a burglary. She had not seen any bashings but heard thumps coming from below the house, she said in the statement. She had not seen Mr Cassar under the house and did not see Mr Honeysett that day.

Ms Sweetman said she was "more or less" kept prisoner in the house. The case continues. bushland at about 10am, but an intensive search failed to locate them. Parents were urged to pick children up after school and police reinforcements were sent to patrol school precincts. Brisbane's city centre was thrown into chaos late yesterday as police swooped on the Performing Arts Complex and the Roma Street Transit Centre in response to reported sightings which proved to be unrelated to the escape.

Police sources said Abbott was believed to have squirreled away as much as $1 million tha( he stole from Gold Coast banks. A police spokesman, Mr Brian Swift, said the "absolute worst" was expected from the men in their determination to avoid capture. "This is the most significant search for desperate criminals ever to have been mounted in Queensland, if not Australia," he said. The chief executive officer of Queensland Corrections, Mr Stan Macionls, said the prisons system had not previously been subjected to an escape attempt of such "calculated But the Minister for Corrective Services, Mr Russell Cooper, reacted angrily, ordering an investigation Into the escape and a review of security at all Queensland prisons. "There is something seriously amiss when prisoners cut their way through cell bars, prise apart those oars to get out, escape from the centre's most secure unit and cut their way through a series of perimeter fences," he saldf conditioning Driver's side airbag year unlimited kilometre warranty Four speaker AMFM stereo Power steering 5 door hatch Interior space and flexibility 1.3 litre Manual Recommended Promotional Price excluding on road costs, statutory and dealer delltvry charges As 1 1H1 INCLUDES AIR CONDITIONING! $26,490 metres to the first of three per-imetre fences.

One of at least two accomplices outside the jail threw a gun and a large set of bolt-cutters to the men. Alarms were triggered as they began cutting through the first fence, and an unarmed prison officer rushed to the scene and ordered the men to stop. The officer was immediately fired upon and forced to take cover. A second accomplice hiding in thick bush fired on the prison's armored surveillance vehicle with a high-powered rifle when it arrived. One bullet hit the vehicle's battery, disabling it.

Another bullet passed through a section of the roof which was not armored, missing the 'driver's head by centimetres. While the guards in the vehicle were pinned down, the' prisoners cut through the fences and fled with the accomplices into the bush to a stolen Falcon sedan. A police car which tailed the sedan was fired at and' forced to retreat. A security guard at a nearby shopping centre also came under fire. The abandoned sedan was found early yesterday five kilometres west of the jail.

A blood-splattered seat Indicated at least one fugitive had been wounded. As residents in surrounding suburbs were warned to bolt doors and exercise extreme caution, police received numerous reports of sightings of the fugitives. Mr Brad Scho-fleld, of Forest Lake, told reporters he had been offered $50 by one of the men to call a taxi. Two men wearing tracksults and carrying packages under their arms had been seen in conditioning Central locking 5 speaker stereo Power steering Power windows Alrbag Choice of V6 and 4 cylinder, hatch and hanttop year unlimited kilometre warranty 1.8 litre Manual Recommended Promotional Price occluding on road costs, statutory and dealer delltvry charges www.mazda.com.au MO LMCT 1001 Hi: OMO 0777 MtLSM GnflHtyttt Mum IMCT 6tt Hi: (03) I (My Mardt IMCT 0240 Hi: 0320 2000 IMoniMtonMu IMCT 4100 Hi: (03) 5221 72M OMOTOi Kiman Mirta 0IIOW001 OMtwooO Mirti 0070 1111 07IW0jm Hmtim Marti IMCT Must LMCT 444 Ml: KM 1222 MuftlMCT 7204 Hi: 1711 444 LMCT 1293 Fh: 0400 3555 IMCT 0077 Hi: 0170 0322 3010 Hi: 0741 4000 0MIM 042 MI uu ORKMUVt Mirioim Marts IMCT 000 HI: 00004444 SMI OSes OnKt Clwfl Moyi LMCT ION Pit: (03)M42M OR TOM LOCAL ROMl OJMM MnOon MMO IMCT 7234 Hi: R74 2222 Hm MsMt IMCT 1411 Hi; 0700 2011.