The Age from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia • Page 9

WEDNESDAY 3 SEPTEMBER 1997 THE AGE A 9 Australia warns NZ against buying second-hand warships The two Perry-class ships are one-fifth of the price of a new Australian frigate, but would require -10 more crew. New Zealand has until November to decide whether to take up an option to buy up to two more frigates assembled by Transficld Defence Systems at Williamstown, with sections rusted US ships that were to originally cost $(il million. The total cost of the ships, after refitting and modernisation, will be $220 million. A team of New Zealand defence experts is to fly to Hawaii to inspect two 15-year-old US frigates that are on the market for $87 million each. frigates assembled at the Williamstown dockyards.

In a reference to Australia's 1994 purchase of two rust-riddled helicopter ships from the US, Mr McLachlan said if New Zealand asked for advice "we would say: 'Don't do it' 1 Mr McLachlan said that in view of the former Australian built in New Zealand and Australia. Two frigates have already been built for New Zealand at a cost of $1.1 billion as part of a l()-ship joint program with Australia costing about $5 billion. New Zealand's failure to take up the Australian option could cut short hundreds of jobs at By LINDSAY MURDOCH, international affairs correspondent, Canberra The Defence Minister, Mr Ian McLachlan, has taken a swipe at New Zealand for considering the purchase of two secondhand United States warships ahead of Australian Anzac-class Labor Government's experience of buying used ships, "ad hoc purchases on the second-hand market are not a smart "However, the decision to acquire additional frigates is one for New Zealand," he said. The Hoyal Australian Navy has had to bear a $100 million cost blow-out to repair the two Williamstown. Up to 1500 people are employed either directly or indirectly on the frigate program, The Howard Government has privately pressed New Zealand to boost its defence spending.

But New Zealand's Prime Minister, Mr Jim Holger, is believed to be worried that buy- Media laws backdown prompts ridicule rrSf. lU GEES? mrwrw S-A Q. -i imlcwm sss It ing two more Australian frigates could prevent the replacement of other military hardware. A spokesman for Transfield, Mr I.iam Bathgate, said yesterday that (lie company hoped to win a multi-billion-dollar contract to build 12 off-shore patrol vessels in a joint Australian Malaysian program. Logging clash averted as police step in By TIM WINKLER, environment reporter Police yesterday intervened between loggers and protesters in the continuing controversy over the clearance of bushland at Bannockburn.

About H.fi hectares of yellow-gum forest has been cleared to make way for the construction of the Bannockburn sewerage scheme, but some locals are concerned that this bushland is one of the last stands of virgin bush in the area. About fit) protesters attempted to disrupt clearing of the area, but a strong police presence prevented direct conflict with the loggers and no one was arrested. The Opposition's environment spokeswoman, MsSherryl Garbutt. said yellowgum trees had been recently listed as rare and threatened in Victoria and the bush should have been protected by the State Government. "Instead of standing up for the environment, Mrs Tehan has sat on her hands and let Barwon Water clear the lot," she stiid.

The cleared area was part of a forest that contained important hollow-bearing trees and habitat for the swift parrot and regent honeyealer, which were protected under the State Government's Flora and Fauna Guarantee legislation, Ms Gar-butt said. However, a State Government spokesman said Ms Gar-butt was wrong and the Govem-ment's scientific advisory committee had recommened that this species of yellowgum should not be protected under flora and fauna Guarantee legislation because it was well represented in the state's protected bushland. Furthermore, the Government had reviewed the circumstances under which a clearing permit was granted and had found no reason the clearing should be prevented, the spokesman said. "There is definitely not a case for a moratorium on clearing there because this type of yellowgum is well represented," the spokesman said. A spokesman for Barwon Water said the cleared area was being cleaned up yesterday, in preparation for the construcr lion of the treatment plant and lagoons.

They are due to be completed by the middle of next year. The $2.92 million project would connect sewerage to 343 properties, eliminating serious pollution problems caused by the present septic system, the spokesman said. By GERVASE GREENE and MALCOLM MAIDEN The Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, was yesterday pilloried by both sides of politics as the Government's backdown over the media ownership laws provoked new questioning of his leadership credentials. The Government's decision, however, drew a mixed response from media players. The Opposition Leader, Mr Kim Beazley, labelled him pea-hearted and "weak, weak, while the Victorian Premier, Mr Jeff Kennett, opted for sarcasm to taunt his Liberal Party colleague.

"I don't want to be subject to another party-room lashing Mr Kennett said when asked to comment on the decision. Federal Cabinet has abandoned its 14-month attempt to scrap the cross-media ownership restrictions that prevented Nine Network proprietor Mr Kerry Packer from taking over the Fairfax organisation, publisher of The Age. It is understood the deep split in Cabinet forced the proposed changes of the Communications Minister, Senator Richard Alston, to be dropped. The backdown, which the Government has attempted to portray as a redirection towards more mainstream issues such as jobs and taxation, saw the Government ridiculed in the Parliament all yesterday. Mr Beazley said the Coalition's policy was to "reflect the opinions of whoever was the Who's watching Karen l.wn has her eye photographed using a new digital camera from Sony.

That camera is one of numerous new products at I'C-IT 97 better known to lay people as the 33rd Personal Computer Show which is being held at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre this week. Picture: Sebastian costanzo Government defeats bid Parking meter money spent on treats for officers, court is told for debate on republic Tongue-in-cheek lashing gives Kennett last word last person who sat on Mr Howard denied bis Government had attempted to favor any media mogul, in contrast to the former Labor Government. "There were no deals done. The only promises that I made were to the Australian people and I intend to deliver on jobs, taxation reform and native title," he said. Meanwhile, the Seven Network's chairman and largest shareholder, Mr Kerry Stokes, said the Government had made "a good decision for democracy" and the chief executive of John Fairfax, Mr Bob Muscat, welcomed the move, but News Corporation expressed disappointment.

Mr Muscat said from the perspective of the media company and its employees, the decision "removes the threat of an imminent change and allows us to get on with the job of running the business for all "What the Government was forgetting was that Fairfax is a company first and foremost, and an important company as far as providing media diversity is concerned," he said. The chairman of Fairfax, Sir Laurence Street, yesterday said the Federal Government's decision was "splendid news" and predicted Fairfax would survive intact beyond the next election. Mr Muscat said the impact of the decision on Fairfax's share-register was "difficult to "It is a matter of the company getting on with its business." PAGE A14: Editorial. Speaking tongue-in-cheek during a tour of western Victoria, Mr Kennett said he was "petrified" of Mr Howard. "It's very difficult.

1 don't want to be the subject of another party-room lashing that will probably cut me to the quick, so I have got to be very very cautious of what I say because, after all, I am only a humble citizen," he said. Mr Kennett, who has been a strong supporter of the Packer bid to take over the John Fairfax newspaper group, agreed that media ownership was not the community's top priority. "But having said that, they have been discussing (it) for a long time, I would have thought that the expectation was that there would have been a decision made." AT 12.00 NOON ii Tiir nrnrrT AUCTION mc rr-nrcLi lAJMDIINll Wayne Gillespie ami a prunr position only enhance this outstanding town residence featuring a sun dretu heel Northern courtyard garden This magnificently presented residence has great flexibility for both formal and informal entertaining and TV AUCTION ARCIim-CTllRI-, CLASSIC LOCATION. Supeihly positioned and architect designed 3 level modem home boasting a host of garden INSPECT A.H. Michael cess of Wales," he told Parliament.

"The Government's rejection of this innately democratic step accords with their insistence that the Australian secret ballot be ditched in favor of a postal ballot for delegates to the people's convention." The Opposition believes that up to two-thirds of the Government's 36 appointees arc strong or moderate monarchists, with only a dozen committed republicans. These include the three suggested by Labor the former head of ATSIC, Dr Lois O'Don-oghuc; the Olympic athlete Ms Nova. Pcris-Kneebone and Mr Carl Mollcr, a Tasmanian law student. A further 36 delegates will be appointed to the convention from parliamentary ranks, providing a pro rata balance of political shades from state and federal ranks. The rest will be voted from a voluntary postal ballot later this year an election that the Opposition says is inherently biased against the republican By JASON KOUTSOUKIS, crime reporter A former City of Yalta parking superintendent allowed money collected from parking meters to be used to buy pies and cakes for weekly morning tea sessions and to pay for Christmas parties, the Melbourne Magistrates Court was told yesterday.

Frank Todd, (ifi, of Bonnie Doon, pleaded guilty to three charges of theft from the City of Yattit. relating to offences committed between 1990 and 1995. Todd admitted he authorised the use of money collected from the parking meters to buy pies, pasties and cakes for a morning tea held every Thursday at the former City of Fitzroy council dices. His counsel. Mr Brian Walters, said Todd did not introduce the practice, but merely allowed it to continue after he took over as superintendent in charge of traffic bylaws in 1990.

The court was told that parking officers under Todd's supervision helped themselves to everv vear between 1990 By GERVASE GREENE, Canberra The Federal Government last night prevented the Opposition Leader, Mr Kim Beazley, from speaking on the republic as he portrayed next year's constitutional convention as inherently biased. The debate, held over from Monday out of respect for the royal family, was immediately suppressed by the Government. The manager of Government business, Mr Peter Reith, justified the unusual move by accusing the Opposition of seeking to delay important Government legislation. But Mr Beazley said the Gov-crnmcnt had deliberately reneged on a deal and that it proved the coalition had no commitment to a genuine debate on the Constitution. Mr Bcazley's private member's bill would have allowed a plebiscite, to be put to the electorate at or before the next election, on whether Australia should become a republic.

The actual question or questions to be put would have SAT 20TH SEPTEMBER AT 12.00 VSSSSSt (376 delegates will be elected El 76 delegates will be appointed 36 from the community already announced, a The convention will be held over 10 days in May or June next year, a If no consensus able to lead directly to a referendum is reached, a series of questions will be put to the people in a plebiscite in 2000. been decided by a parliamentary committee. Although the joint Opposition and Australian Democrat move was planned before the last-minute revival of the Government's constitutional convention, Mr Beazley had planned to use the debate to attack the convention's composition. "(The bill) was originally to have been introduced yesterday, but was deferred until today by mutual agreement because of the solemnity of yesterday's parliamentary condolence motion for the Prin NOON AUCTION WED 10TH and 1995 to help pay for a Christmas party. Todd also pleaded guilty to a chaige related to the theft of ballot boxes, two portable two-way radios, and drinking water for a private water fountain tit his Bonnie Doon holiday house, with a total value of The court was told that Todd used the ballot boxes to store firewood and the two-way radios to communicate with a neighbor to save tin; cost of telephone calls.

Todd also pleaded guilty to stealing $200 in coins from the room where the parking meter motley was stored. lie has returned all the properly stolen and yesterday gave a cheque for $7900 to the City of Yiirra for the stolen money. Todd, who is serving a sentence related to two sexual relationships he had with boys under 16, was sentenced to one month's jail for each offence. The sentences will be served concurrently with his term for the sex offences. 12.00 NOON AUCTION SAT 13TH 'fc By GARETH BOREHAM, state political reporter The Premier, Mr Jeff Kennett, hits used the Federal Government's shelving of media ownership law changes to ridicule the Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, over his criticism of premiers last week.

Mr Kennett said he was surprised by the Government's decision, but joked that he could not give his honest assessment because it could lead to "another verbal blast from my colleague in Mr Howard attacked state leaders in a party room meeting over their criticisms of the Commonwealth. He singled out Mr Kennett, accusing him of inciting Melbourne business leaders against his Government. AUCTION SUN 21ST SEPT I mmm mmm is 1 a AUCTION SAT 6TH SEPTEMBER AT SEPTEMBER AT 3.00 PM THE POSITION 1 'V' "nrmnnrlir" RKNOWNKP AKl I 1 'JM tilionWY SOMMHRS SEPTEMBER AT 12.00 NOON i A 2 storey family residence cleverly designed to take advantage of the excellent Northern orientation and to provide an expansive rear garden and pool. Prime location with easy access to schools, -a IDLLJJifiFW IvWUI.Y IIOMl'S 'Nonnaiuhe with its great charm ami haracter has undergone extensive renovation, and coupled wiili an exceptional Northern WrSsJii-Sr transport ana Toorak Village. The Ultimate Town Residence l.uuruni-.ly llinniluHH this slunnin opIinucs t'Lissti lontMlfnlt-rMimiir wilh NMO-i family ltni The home lus tour rxtrpliolut lkluHini iiu Uidin ni.iler sink m.iny other not.ihlc le.mire INSPECT WEDNESDAY PM A.H.

Michael Gibson 9824 4348 separate dining rooms, study, suimxim. mtxtern kitchen, laundry, 4i hcdnoms. 2 bathrooms, powder room, workshop. 2 cellars and double garage INSPECT WEDNESDAY PM A.H. Helen Dowltng 04 18 388 07S, Gerald Delany 0418 3S8 337 of some 1 2 .000 sq ft is truly a unique oflertng.

WEDNESDAY PM Gibson 9824 4348, Gerald Delany 04 18 358 337 three excellent bedrooms including an excellent master suite. INSPECT WEDNESDAY PM A H. Michael Gibson 9824 4348 A fine mansion on 31,800 sq ft approx. A rare opportunity to acquire a superb, two Mori-) family home wuh elegant reception rooms, many famil) bedrooms, livc-m quarters, internal lift. NortliSouih tennis court, and swimming pool This elegant Toorak residence has many original features, including an tmprcjssive entrance lull with open lireplace, and is surrounded by magnificent established gardens.Thc finest residential street in Melbourne Truly a rare investment opportunity.

INSPECT BY APPOINTMENT A.H. Gary Dyaaon 0418 316 168 AUCTION SAT 20TH SEPT AT 1 1 SAT 13TH SEPTEMBER AT 3.00 PM AUCTION SAT 20TH SEPTEMBER AT 3.00 PM MODIiKN AND IN A TOORAK CUL-DE-SAC" Superbly osilioned new home site cutrenily comptisiiig live roomed linn u- iteslli'il nn iMrdt'ti i CompriMiig spacious L-1 lW formal livincand AUCTION SATURDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER AT 1.00 PM PRIME LAND Locaial on the river side ol Toorak Ro.nl is this superh panel of land 28,000 si ft si) m) approx. Ideal for new home site or redevelopment (subjetl to GhiikiI approval). A.H. Michael Oibaon 9824 4348, Ross 0418 323 994 -r1 tX nnu'Kitotsi of some 5 rcminiHt-nt ol more i 1 "CLASSIC VICTORIAN TEKRACI: HOME" Superbly presented 2 storey balconied terrace home beautifully located between Melbourne's finest parklands.

I'eat spacious entrance, lormal lounge, sep dining, spacious kitchen, fam nn overlooking rear courtyard gaulen, 3 bdrms. guest powder room, car accommodation from rear ROW INSPECT WED 1 1-1 1 .43 AM A.H. Gary Dyason 0418 318 188 (g toasting an oppoti unity 10 create one-J? own garden oasis in one of Tixvaks AUCTION SAT 6TH SEPTEMBER AT 1 .00 PM most sought after coum nisi minutes wm. features to suit todays modern lilcstyle. Comprises spacious formal and from the Toorak Village A I IHTIM1 I II I 1 Yl.l: OITORU'NITY INSPECT WEDNESDAY PM A.H.

Michael Gibson 9824 4348, Peter Kudelka 0418 319 439 .00 AM 12m i5.7iH eoiu locations 2M7m! 1 1 .00 AM Kooynnp Knatl nil. Miiuy it uvii, informal living areas, gourmet km hen and meals area, 1 Ix-drooms; all semi ensuue, double garage and exiensivc Northerly terracing INSPECT WED PM A.H. Michael Gibson 9824 4348, Peter Xudelka 04 1 8 3 1 9 439 APARTMENT 5A AUCTION SAT 6TH SEPTEMBER AT Wc arc uijjentlv scclfiiijj Itvo vrll Maili'd imiily Jinnies in iJic SMO.ODO to $1.2 million price range. IJ you atv considering selinj! ilense coll lixluy All Mr.lMfllrtlMin W2-MJ-M "OAKDENt A particularly ipaciou 9th floor apatiment with scope to modernise tn lhl coveted and select cuiiiji inniK imu uiinug Northern sunroom, kitchen, I Inlniis (each wilh This classic bedroom Victorian home, r)cb in period detail, offering beautifully proportioned room and an abundance of natural light, old stables converted into a frcc-slnndmg homeoffice; all of this set in a superb, well estnbljshed garden. Note: Err Mr nt off-tf rrrl undrirnvrn parking vld Jnv Street.

INSPECT WEDNESDAY PM AND THURSDAY 6. 1 PM A.H. Rou Saw 0418 322 94 or 9883 3800 ri INSPECT WED PM LANDMARK PROPERTY In conjunction Philippe Batters Ply Ltd Contact Michael Oibaon 0418 630 992 AUCTION SAT 13TH SEPTEMBER AT 1.00 PM Sjtortacular brand new garden abutment a ahnit it ml I to Tinirak Village. INSPECT WEDNESDAY PM A.H. Tim Blacken 041 1 410 700 THIS MAGNIFICENT PENTHOUSE APARTMENT HAS BEEN SOLD.

A.H. Gerald Delany 04 18 3S8 337. Clin Nettlefold 04 1 8 338 489.