Loose cannons

Caput Nullius

Arch-reactionary Bulletin columnist David McNicoll says that he regards the Mabo decision on land rights "reversing the 200 year old policy of terra nullius, as at best questionable and at worst unacceptable." He goes on to admonish Aboriginal people and their supporters with: "Let us hear some praise for governments, federal and state for their efforts [on behalf of Aboriginal people]. Let us have a 'thank you' for the generous financial hand-outs."

Deja vu

Employment would obviously be a key issue for the union movement in the prices and incomes accord Mark VII, to be negotiated in the next couple of weeks, says ACTU assistant secretary, Jennie George. "Wages will be a very important part of the equation, as will the social wage policy, in particular child-care."

Blameless

"There are plenty of parties still going on but they don't entertain as lavishly as they did, and they don't want publicity for their parties. I really do think there are more poor in Australia today than ever before, but you can't blame the rich." — Lillian Frank, described by the Australian as a well-known socialite who mixes with Melbourne's rich.

Wild West

The US National Education Association estimates that every day 100,000 students in the US carry a gun into class, reports Time. Another report estimates that 13% of gun-related incidents occur in primary and preschool.

Visionary

V 

While blaming Aborigines, environmentalists and penalty rates for unemployment, Business Review Weekly's Robert Gottliebsen warns: "If the next government does not solve the unemployment problem during the next few years, a whole new Australian culture will develop as children grow up in families with no breadwinners. Those children will become the seeds of a huge swing to the left during the next century."

From GLW issue 87