AAP Internet Bulletin 0001 Friday, Dec 11, 1998

AAP General News (Australia)
12-11-1998
AAP Internet Bulletin 0001 Friday, Dec 11, 1998





[A][CRICKET BRIBES PARLY ][FED]

Parliament ponders probe into cricket bribes

CANBERRA - Australian cricket has been put on notice by federal parliament to clean up its
act following the international uproar over the bookmaker cover-up.

Opposition senators said they could consider staging an inquiry next year if they were
dissatisfied with the Australian Cricket Boards handling of the Mark Waugh/Shane Warne saga.

Waugh and Warne have apologised after admitting they took money from an Indian bookmaker to
provide information about the weather and pitch conditions during Australias tour of Sri
Lanka in 1994.

The ACB fined both players a total of $18,000 in early 1995 but kept the matter secret, a
situation which has proven to be an international embarrassment after Warne and Waughs
bribery allegations against former Pakistan cricket captain Salim Malik.

Australian Democrats sports spokesman Andrew Bartlett yesterday said an inquiry could be
considered if parliament, when it resumes in February, believed there were continuing concerns
about the management of Australian cricket and the actions taken against Waugh and Warne.

"If theres still an inadequate response, it may be appropriate for the parliament to have
a look at it," he said in an interview with AAP.

Senator Bartlett said there was obviously great concern that the ACB had not been open and
accountable about two senior players accepting money from an illegal bookmaker.

"Unfortunately, one skeletons been found, what else is there?" he asked.

Senator Bartlett said the Senate had examined controversies previously in Australian soccer
as well as drugs in sport.

A spokesman for Labor sports spokeswoman Kate Lundy agreed that the parliament could step
in if the ACB and the players involved did not divulge more information about the matter.





[A][KENNETT BRIBES][VIC]

I was offered bribes: Kennett

MELBOURNE - Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett has revealed he had twice been offered bribes
during his political career.

But Mr Kennett said he knocked the money back.

The Premier was commenting after cricketers Shane Warne and Mark Waugh unleashed a storm of
outrage when they admitted accepting payments for providing pitch and weather information to
an Indian bookmaker.

When asked on Melbourne radio if he had ever been offered a bribe, Mr Kennett said: "I
think I have been offered it once - it may have been twice - in 22 years."

He told radio 3AW yesterday that one offer had been significant but he could not recall the
details.

"I think I was in Opposition then - I can't even remember it much - I don't keep a diary so
I wouldn't know, but there was one occasion on which I was," he said.

He said he had not taken any action - "just told them to go away and have a sleep".

Bribery scandals are rare in Australian politics: Monash University politics lecturer Nick
Economou said the only other Victorian incident he could think of dated back to colonial days.

In New South Wales, former Correctional Services Minister Rex Jackson copped a 10-year jail
sentence for conspiring with three other men in 1982-83 to arrange the early release of
prisoners in return for bribes.

In Tasmania, businessman Edmund Rouse was fined and given a three-year jail term after a
failed attempt to persuade MP Jim Cox to cross the floor of state parliament in 1989 to keep
the Liberal government in power.

And in WA, former premier Ray O'Connor was found guilty of stealing a $25,000 cheque
intended as a political donation, from Bond Corporation in 1984. He was sentenced to 18 months
jail, after originally suggesting the money was for a bribe to a local council.





[I][IRAQ WEAPONS][MID]

Inspectors won't be allowed in Baath Party office

BAGHDAD, Iraq - UN inspectors searching suspected weapons sites in Iraq will not be allowed
to enter an office of the ruling Baath Party that they were turned away from earlier, a party
official said today.

"They won't enter," Latif Nsayyif Jassim, a member of the party's leadership, said during a
news conference at the office in Baghdad's Adhamiya neighborhood.

"You will not find inside this office any materials related to what they are looking for,"
he said.

The office is inside a two-story stucco building behind black gates. There are no signs
outside indicating it is an office of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's party, but there is an
emblem of the party over the door.

Yesterday, a team of 12 inspectors was turned back when it tried to enter the office, a key
site of Saddam Hussein's government. The inspectors left after an Iraqi official demanded they
first provide a written declaration "on the material and items" they sought, the official
Iraqi News Agency said.

Later yesterday, however, an Iraqi official suggested the Iraqi escorts had made a mistake
in declaring the site sensitive.

The UN Special Commission, which is charged with dismantling Iraq's weapons of mass
destruction, denounced the move. Richard Butler, the chief UN inspector, called the action "a
blockage."

Iraqi newspapers today carried the official agency report on the incident. But
surprisingly, no newspaper mentioned it in editorials - a sign Iraq may want to move past the
dispute.

As many as 140 inspectors on regular teams are working in Iraq as well as some visiting
experts, Caroline Cross, the inspectors' spokeswoman said. Altogether, the number is a little
less than 200, she said.

They are expected to finish this round of work by next Monday.





[I][SCI ISS][US]

Astronauts prepare to enter space station

SPACE CENTER, Houston - With most of their outside work done, Endeavour's astronauts
prepared to go inside the international space station for the first time today to turn on the
lights and ready the outpost for future assembly crews.

"I think this is a very significant and almost momentous event," NASA's lead flight
director, Bob Castle, said of the first in-orbit sojourn into the belly of the fledgling
outpost 400 kms above Earth.

Later this morning the crew of five American astronauts and one Russian were to begin
opening a series of hatches that connect shuttle Endeavour with the two-part, seven-story
space station.

Using flashlights to guide them, they were to float one by one into the first piece of the
outpost, the American-made Unity module. The 11-metre cylindrical chamber will be pitch black,
so the astronauts' first official act is to flip on the lights.

"It'll be kind of this momentous, "Zing! The lights come on,"" Castle said.

The astronauts will share the moment with the world: They will have a camera that should
provide everyone back on Earth with the first look inside the space station since it's been in
orbit.

"This is our goal - building a space station and setting the pace for the future. It's
extremely challenging, but it's also extremely rewarding," shuttle commander Robert Cabana
said today. "When you get to look out the window and see Zarya and Unity joined together, and
knowing that you get to go inside ... it's pretty awesome."

Once inside, there's plenty of work to be done.

Cabana and astronaut Jerry Ross will wire up a communications system inside Unity. The
others will continue on into the Russian-built Zarya control module, where cosmonaut Sergei
Krikalev will replace a charging component on a faulty battery.

Other duties include transferring tools from the shuttle to the space station for later
use. The astronauts will even leave behind clothes for the first permanent station crew,
scheduled to arrive in January 2000.

The work will continue through the next 24 hours, when the astronauts will leave the space
station and close the hatches to get ready for next week's return to Earth.





[A][OSLAND REACTION][VIC]

Supporters vow to fight on for Heather Osland

MELBOURNE - A High Court decision rejecting an appeal against the murder conviction of
Heather Osland who was terrorised by her husband for 13 years before she killed him, was
unjust, her son said.

David Albion said Frank Osland was a cruel and evil husband who tormented his mother for 13
years and hunted her down whenever she tried to break his grip.

"I feel its an injustice her being inside because to live 13 years with a bloke that beat
her up and everything and now shes got to spend the next seven years reminded of it," he
said.

Oslands right of appeal was exhausted when the High Court handed down its 3-2 judgment
yesterday rejecting the battered woman syndrome as a defence to murder.

"My mum went through a lot of pain for a long time," Mr Albion told reporters in Melbourne
after the decision.

"(Shes) very devastated today. Shes just very disappointed with the decision."

Mr Albion, who is Oslands son from an earlier marriage, struck the fatal blow but was
acquitted of murder in a separate trial by reason of self defence.

Yesterday he criticised the Victorian police for claiming they were called to the Oslands
Bendigo house only once for domestic violence. Her supporters say she stopped calling police
after numerous reports because each time the violence escalated when the police left.

"I would like to know why the police withheld evidence - basically is what Id call it," Mr
Albion said.

"They say they only came to the house once and they came to the house more than once that I
know of."





[A][TANNER][VIC]

DPP to decide whether to charge Tanner

MELBOURNE - The office of Victorias Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is due to
consider whether charges will be laid against a suspended police officer found by a coroner to
have shot and killed his sister-in-law 14 years ago.

State coroner Graeme Johnstone found yesterday that Detective Sergeant Denis Tanner
contributed to the death of Jennifer Tanner, who died from gunshot wounds at her property in
central Victoria on November 14, 1984.

However, the coroner did not recommend charges over the death.

Hours after the finding, Victoria Police said Det Sgt Tanner had been suspended from duties
on suspicion of committing a criminal offence.

The DPP was due to consider the coroners finding and decide whether Det Sgt Tanner would
be charged with any criminal offence.

In his 200 page finding, Mr Johnstone criticised the first police investigation which
concluded Mrs Tanner had committed suicide.

A 1985 inquest under coroner Hugh Adams delivered an open finding, but it was quashed in
1996 when the body of a transsexual was discovered in 1995 in an old mine shaft near the
Tanners Springfield property near Mansfield in north-eastern Victoria.

"The force has already conceded there were significant shortcomings in the way the matter
was dealt with," police said.

"Victoria Police extends its sympathies and regrets to Jennifer Tanners family and friends
for any further anguish they suffered as a result.

"It should however also be noted that Homicide Squad and Ethical Standards Department
detectives played a vital role in having the entire case re-examined and new material being
put before the coroner."





[A][THELMA][WA]

More evacuations as Thelma continues to rage

PERTH - Up to 600 people could be evacuated from the far north Dampier peninsula as intense
tropical cyclone Thelmas increasingly destructive core bears down on the north-west coast.

Winds of up to 150 kph buffeted the northern coast of Western Australia throughout
yesterday, ripping up trees as the category five cyclone continued on its south-westerly
course.

At mid-afternoon, Thelma was 110 km north-northwest of the small Aboriginal community of
Kalumburu, on WAs northern-most tip, and moving along the coastline at 11 kph.

Winds around its 47 km-wide eye reached 320 kph, making the tropical storm the most severe
on record to assault Australia, WAs Cyclone Warning Centre said.

Rain started falling throughout the Mitchell Plateau early this morning, and was expected
to become very heavy during the night.

The Cyclone Warning Centre expected Thelma to skim the coast then head off to sea.

State Emergency Service (SES) Broome assistant regional manager Alan Gale said provisions
were in place to evacuate several Aboriginal communities around the Dampier peninsula, about
500 km west of Kalumburu.

"Well take up to 600 people from there to Derby and to Broome by road if Thelma comes too
close," Mr Gale told AAP.

"Otherwise, the pearling communities along the north have all taken off to Wyndham (200 km
south-east of Kalumburu)."

He said the gale-force winds - expected to intensify tonight to about 220 kph - had ripped
up a few smaller trees along the coast around Kalumburu.





[A][MOTOROLA][SA]

SA premier ends year facing two inquiries

ADELAIDE - South Australian Premier John Olsen has ended this years parliamentary sittings
facing two inquiries.

SA Attorney-General Trevor Griffin yesterday announced that former chief magistrate Jim
Cramond would head an independent inquiry into allegations Mr Olsen misled parliament over his
dealings with communications giant Motorola.

And a parliamentary select committee was established to inquire into changes to government
policy on rural water allocations.

The water inquiry relates to challenges to statements made by the Premier over how the
water policy was formed.

In a fiery final sitting for 1998, state opposition leader Mike Rann and opposition
treasury spokesman Kevin Foley were ejected from lower house question time for interjecting.

Mr Rann later said in a statement: "As we end the year in parliament we have the remarkable
situation where the Premier faces not one but two inquiries."

Earlier, Rebel Liberal MP Peter Lewis raised the possibility of an imminent leadership
challenge, saying he expected a party room meeting to be called as part of moves to discipline
him for speaking out recently against Mr Olsen over his handling of his controversial dealings
with Motorola.

He told ABC radio that if government members were looking for a chance to introduce a
leadership spill the meeting could also be the ideal the opportunity.

But a spokeswoman for Mr Olsen said there were never plans for a party room meeting
yesterday.

Last night moves to discipline Mr Lewis were postponed by Liberal officials at a meeting of
the party executive.





[A][TAX][FED]

Coalition celebrates as tax passes first stage

CANBERRA - The GST package has edged closer to reality after passing the first stage in
federal parliament in a milestone Treasurer Peter Costello hailed as "a great day for
Australia".

Prime Minister John Howard, Mr Costello and Financial Services Minister Joe Hockey shook
hands across the despatch box as the package of 16 GST bills passed the final stage in the
House of Representatives yesterday.

The legislation now faces a range of senate inquiries over the summer parliamentary break
before debate begins in the Senate next year.

Mr Howard earlier told parliament he was immensely proud of todays achievement.

"It gives me immense pride as we come towards the end of this parliamentary session this is
the week that the government I lead ... after 25 years of need has finally matched the
national need and introduced taxation reform," Mr Howard said.

Opposition Leader Kim Beazley and treasury spokesman Simon Crean were more subdued about
the House vote.

"It marks a sad and sorry point in the history of tax reform in Australia," Mr Crean said
in a statement.

"Never, ever has a more misguided, inequitable, regressive and socially and economically
damaging tax proposal passed through the House of Representatives."

Mr Crean said $30 billion worth of taxes had been hidden from Australian consumers.

"Its time for the senate committees work to begin in earnest, to ensure that the GST is a
tax that Australians will never, ever have to pay."





[A][INSURANCE][FED]

Harradine vows to reject unchanged health rebate

CANBERRA - Independent Brian Harradine will today vote down the governments tax rebate for
health insurance unless the government agrees to changes that will protect health fund members
from fee rises and out of pocket expenses.

Senator Harradine last night rejected suggestions he might abstain from voting on the bill,
which would ensure its passage, and instead indicated he was likely to vote it down.

"I have not said to anybody or intimated to anybody that I was going to abstain," Senator
Harradine told AAP.

"The government, if it persists with how its going, then fine, this measure will just go
down the drain.

"I will either be voting for the bill or against the bill tomorrow. And at this point of
time I have been given no solid reason that would convince me to vote for it."

Talks between Senator Harradine and his office, and federal Health Minister Michael
Wooldridge are likely to continue right up until todays Senate vote on the 30 per cent,
non-means tested rebate.

Labor, the Australian Democrats and Greens Senators oppose the rebate bill but Queensland
Independent Mal Colston told parliament yesterday he might back it.

Dr Wooldridge has refused to make any changes to the rebate, but if Senator Harradine goes
ahead with his threat to reject the bill, the vote will be tied, defeating the legislation.

Senator Harradine does not oppose the rebate, but he said the governments proposal did not
guarantee premiums would not rise, nor that out-of-pocket expenses for fund members would be
cut or abolished.

The legislation must be passed today before parliament rises for the Christmas break if the
the rebate is to come into effect as promised by the government from January 1.





[A][ECONOMY ACCESS][FED]

Aust economy to slow in 1999: Access

CANBERRA - No-one should be fooled that the economy would escape a slowdown in growth in
1999, Access Economics said today.

In its Economics Monitor for December, Access said the economy would slow in 1999 as
business investment, commodity prices and exports faltered - but a recession was unlikely.

It said a pessimistic mood in the markets because of fears of a global recession had swung
back to optimism, fuelling a sharemarket rebound.

"(But) do not be fooled," it warned.

"The Australian economy will slow in 1999.

"While a recession is unlikely, clients should expect slower Australian output growth in
1999."

Access said strong growth in domestic spending had offset export weakness but investment
would now suffer.

"Some argue that as Asia did not slow the Australian economy in 1998, continued output
growth at around trend rates is likely. This view is wrong," it said.

"Australia will not power through 1999 despite Asia. There is a slowdown ahead."

The document said the housing cycle was peaking and consumer confidence was set to wilt as
real income growth was squeezed by rising inflation.





[F][NOMURA]

Court finds Nomura manipulated Aust stock market

SYDNEY - Investment giant Nomura International Plc manipulated the Australian
stock market by creating a "false and misleading appearance" of active trading, the federal
court found today.

In a judgement that could have worldwide ramifications, Justice Ronald Sackville said
Nomura had knowingly embarked on an elaborate strategy aimed at depressing the level of the
benchmark all ordinaries index.

Describing a series of trades by Nomura on March 29, 1996, as "characterised by
misunderstandings and not a little ineptitude", Justice Sackville said the investment bank had
breached both the Corporations Law and the Trade Practices Act.

"Nomura was not simply using accepted or standard market techniques to achieve legitimate
commercial objectives," he said.

"Nomura engaged in deliberately misleading conduct as part of strategies designed to
achieve illegitimate ends."

On the day in question, Nomura attempted to offload some $587 million worth of securities
by selling in large parcels in the last few minutes of trade to unwind a hefty arbitrage
position.

In the event, Nomura and its brokers managed to sell only 66 million securities instead of
the 156 million required and also traded with itself in respect to two shares and a short time
after the all ords fell.

The aim, a fall in the sharemarket, would create a profit opportunity which Nomura could
exploit by the sale of March share price index (SPI) contracts.

"In short, Nomura endeavoured to move the close," Justice Sackville said.

"That it enjoyed limited success in its endeavours was due to failures of communication,
the inability or unwillingness of brokers to implement instructions and a degree of ineptitude
on Nomuras part.

"The limited success Nomura enjoyed was not for want of trying."





[I][US MICROSOFT]

Internet browser unnecessary in Windows: Expert

WASHINGTON - From day one, Microsoft has maintained that it entwined its Internet
navigation program into the latest version of its Windows operating system to benefit
consumers. The two can't be separated, the company argued.

Apparently they can, said government attorneys who used a recent Microsoft publication to
prove it.

The dispute came yesterday in the antitrust trial against the software giant. The
government introduced into court a definition of "Web browser" plucked from a dictionary
published last year by the company.

A browser is the software mechanism that lets people view the Internet. And, according to
the Third Edition of the Microsoft Press Computer Dictionary, it's also an "application"
program that is separate from an operating system.

The meaning came to light as Microsoft squabbled with a computer expert over the technical
need to integrate the company's browser into Windows.

David Farber, a software pioneer with more than 30 years in the field, testified there was
no technical benefit in "welding" Microsoft's Internet browser into Windows.

Farber's argument is designed to bolster the government's case against Microsoft. The
Justice Department alleges the software giant tied its Internet software to the current
version of Windows, thus giving its browser an unfair advantage with consumers over rival
Internet products.

Farber, a University of Pennsylvania professor, said Microsoft could have designed Windows
98 so that a user could easily remove the browser.

"It was perfectly feasible for Microsoft to do it. ... It is currently feasible for
Microsoft to do it," he said.

Windows is installed on more than 90 per cent of the nation's personal computers. Its
dominance is at the core of the Justice Department's claim that Microsoft is a monopoly that
used its monopoly power unfairly.

The government contends that Microsoft illegally tried to alter Java because it saw it as a
threat to Windows. Software written using Java can run on a variety of computers, minimising
the importance of Windows.

Microsoft argued that Sun used a double standard when working with clients on agreements to
license Java.



[I][SCI SATELLITES]

Hughes helped China improve rockets: Pentagon

WASHINGTON - The videotape of the January 1995 satellite launch showed a sheet of flame
streaking from beneath the payload canopy and, 52 seconds into the flight, the rocket
exploding.

Chinese officials, protective of their skill at building rockets for commercial satellite
launches, blamed the American company that built the satellite - the payload that somehow
burst into flame shortly after liftoff.

Hughes Space and Communications Co., the California aerospace firm that built the APSTAR II
satellite, suspected poor rocket science on the part of the Chinese.

The disagreement between the two parties led Hughes to conduct a comprehensive study of the
accident, a study so detailed, the Pentagon now says in a classified report, that it may have
compromised US national security. Hughes looked into all sorts of aspects of Chinese rocket
engineering, from payload management to in-flight wind shear to the overall strength of the
rocket structure.

The company's findings appear to have helped China greatly improve the reliability of its
rockets. That is precisely the problem, says the Pentagon, because improved rockets can easily
be translated into improved ballistic missiles.

In a 13-page classified report, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the
Pentagon said Hughes gave China militarily useful information on improving rockets while
regulators with the US Commerce Department did nothing to prevent the flow of sensitive
information to Beijing.

The knowledge China gained from Hughes "did not likely alter the strategic military balance
between the United States and China," the report said.

"However, in light of the strict standards of US policy not to assist China in improving
its satellite and missile-related capabilities, (the Defense Department) believes that the
scope and content of the launch failure investigation conducted by Hughes ... raises national
security concerns both with regard to violating those standards and to potentially
contributing to China's missile capabilities."

In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said today: "The Chinese side has no
intention to get missile technology through the launching of US satellites. We hope that the
US side will thoroughly give up the legacy of a Cold War mentality and do more to facilitate
normal business contacts between the two countries."





[T][GOLF PRESIDENTS]

NZ underdogs to take on US giants

MELBOURNE - Two golfers not ranked in the world top 50 will try to topple two of the top
three today to give the International Team an early break in the Presidents Cup at Royal
Melbourne.

New Zealanders Frank Nobilo (58) and Greg Turner (62) will face the might of Americans Mark
O'Meara and David Duval in the opening foursomes match.

It is difficult to imagine a more highly-credentialled duo. O'Meara won both the US Masters
and the British Open this year while Duval is the hottest player on tour, with four US
victories in '98.

Neither of the New Zealanders has won this season, but they remain a highly experienced duo
in team competitions.

The Internationals would appear to have a strong chance of victory in the following clash
today when Greg Norman and close friend Steve Elkington meet Jim Furyk and John Huston.

The Australians recently combined to win the Shark Shootout on Norman's return from
shoulder surgery and International captain Peter Thomson admitted that had been an influencing
factor in his decision to pair them.

In the third of the five scheduled morning matches today US Open champion Lee Janzen and
Scott Hoch meet Japan's Shigeki Maruyama and Australian Craig Parry.

The match which will probably create the greatest interest follows as World No.1 Tiger
Woods and compatriot Fred Couples meet reigning US PGA champion Vijay Singh and dual US Open
winner Ernie Els.

Victorian Stuart Appleby andZimbabwe's Nick Price are last off, against Davis Love 111 and
Justin Leonard.

Meanwhile the Americans have dismissed suggestions that today's forecast fearsome heat
could sap their energy in the first round of the Cup,

Temperatures of 40 degrees are expected for the foursomes and afternoon fourball matches
but US Team captain Jack Nicklaus said his players would be just as comfortable in the heat as
the Internationals.





[T][CRICKET ENGLAND][CRIK]

Healy fit for third Test against England

ADELAIDE - Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy will keep an extraordinary record of Test
appearances intact after being declared fit for the third cricket Test against England
starting here today.

Healy passed a fitness test at Adelaide Oval yesterday after complaining of a right thigh
strain yesterday.

Healy's fitness ensures the world record holder for the most number of dismissals by a
wicketkeeper retains his awesome Test appearance record, missing just one of Australia's past
109 Test matches, in Pakistan in 1994.

Australian captain Mark Taylor was more concerned at the mental state of batsman Mark Waugh
rather than the durable wicketkeeper's ailment.

On Wednesday, Waugh and legspinner Shane Warne admitted they took money for providing
information to an Indian bookmaker on Australia's tour of Sri Lanka in 1994.

The ensuing scandal has weighed heavily on Waugh since becoming public on Tuesday.

Taylor said Waugh's situation was far from ideal leading into the third Ashes Test.

"I don't think he's going to be in the best state of mind over the next five days unless he
is superhuman - which I think we have already come to conclusion over the last 48 hours that
he is not," Taylor said.

Australia leads one-nil entering today's match, the third of the five Test series.

Australian squad: Mark Taylor (capt), Steve Waugh (vice-capt), Michael Slater, Justin
Langer, Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Ian Healy, Damien Fleming, Stuart MacGill, Colin Miller,
Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie (12th man to be named).





[A][SANTA][ACT]

Teacher in trouble over Santa Claus

CANBERRA - Christmas will never be the same for a class of second grade children who were
sent home in tears after their teacher told them Santa Claus did not exist.

The incident happened earlier this week at a school at Tuggeranong, Canberras "nappy
valley".

And Santa made it into Hansard when local Education Minister Bill Stefaniak took the
parents concerns to the ACT Legislative Assembly, causing members to get "a little out of
control", a spokeswoman for Mr Stefaniak said.

"The ministers line is that if Santas in Hansard, then he must exist," the spokeswoman
told AAP.

Mr Stefaniak said the incident was unfortunate, and discussions about Santas existence
should stay left in the home.

Call to Australia Party leader Reverend Fred Nile said the teacher should not have said it,
and said children probably know more about Christmas than their teachers.

"There is no point attacking something that children understand," Mr Nile told AAP.

"It should be left in the area of a childs imagination."

But the Australian Education Union defended the teacher, labelling the issue "a storm in a
teacup".

"The teacher would be condemned in our view for not responding to such questions," local
branch secretary Warren Lee said.

"I dont think it was inappropriate to have that discussion in the classroom."

The teacher, who has not been named, was understood to have been reprimanded by the school
principal, but had not been disciplined.

KEYWORD: NETNEWS 0001

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