What Australian papers say today, Monday, Aug 6, 2001

AAP General News (Australia)
08-06-2001
What Australian papers say today, Monday, Aug 6, 2001

SYDNEY, Aug 6 AAP - The decision to allow Australians who acquire another citizenship
to retain their Australian citizenship provides all Australians the opportunity to take
full advantage of the globalised economy without having to forfeit their right to remain
Australian, The Australian says in its editorial today.

The change will mean that those of us who live overseas but want to "still call Australia
home" will soon be able to do so without guilt or trepidation.

"Only a stupid sort of patriotism forces enterprising Australians to choose between
grasping opportunities abroad or keeping their official Australian status," the paper
says.

Mr John Howard delivered his third snub to the Pacific nations during his prime ministership
by cancelling his attendance at the South Pacific Forum meeting in Nauru from Aug 17-20.

Mr Howard seems blinded to the reality that the forum is the only world theatre where
Australia has top billing, The Sydney Morning Herald says.

Forum nations have been dismayed by his latest rudeness.

"It speaks eloquently not only of his attitude towards them but reveals the government's
misplaced priorities," the paper says.

The latest review of Australia's censorship-classification system is a measure of the
problem as much as another attempt at a solution, The Advertiser says.

"After the absurdities of the Menzies era and the censorship uproars of the 1970s,
we have muddled through with a system of reasonable balance, the true test of which is
that it satisfies no one entirely, is grudgingly accepted generally," the paper says.

"What may alarm and even frighten today's custodians is seen by the very audiences
they act for as no more than amusing stuff, not to be taken seriously.

"Here is the problem for today's Australian censors.

"They must seem to uphold broadly acceptable standards while standing on shifting sands."

One of the greatest concerns of the wool industry now is a shortage of supply, 13 years
after the industry plunged into chaos following the decision to raise the statutory floor
price to $A8.70 a kg, The Australian Financial Review says.

The recovery is prices is now yet enough to encourage farmers to rebuild merino stocks,
given the high prices also being paid for cattle, grain, sheepmeat and live sheep exports.

There are marketing alternatives developing aiming to more directly link growers to
wool spinners, the paper says.

"It is too early to predict which, if any, of these will prove successful over time.

But as (Woolstock Australia chairman Donald) McGauchie puts it: `What I am happy about
now is that the market will sort out the best way.'"

Police officers who have had the courage to reveal the race-based nature of gangs in
Sydney have themselves been vilified for perceived bigotry, The Daily Telegraph says.

A proposal to keep a log of crime based on racial histories has been decried as racist
and dumped by its architects.

"If we are to be serious about curbing the malignant influence of gangs and their members,
we must have the courage to confront the fact many of them are second-generation immigrants,"

the paper says.

"Where they are coming from, to whom they are answering and most importantly, why are
people joining, are central issues to formulating a plan to combat them."

It's time England put up a better fight when it comes to cricket, the Herald-Sun says.

"England obviously needs an injection of young talent and authorities have taken the
first step by recruiting former Australian Test wicketkeeper Rod Marsh to guide them,"

the paper says.

"With a 5-0 whitewash looming, the satisfaction of trouncing the old foe would be greater
if England were able to put up a stronger fight."

If the ABC abandons "second-tier" sports coverage, who else can fill the gap?, The Age asks.

"ABC Television management is considering ways to revamp its sports coverage, perhaps
in order to chase ratings, and this might mean abolishing coverage of the so-called "second-tier"

sports," the paper says.

"The corporation has a duty to serve not only big-city sports lovers, but a legion
of devoted viewers throughout regional Victoria.

"Any decision to abandon or reduce a distinguished and effective tradition of sports
on television should be taken carefully.

"There are more people, on and off the field, who stand to be offended than pleased
by these changes," The Age says.

AAP rs

KEYWORD: EDITORIALS

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