What Australian newspapers say on Monday, February 11, 2008

AAP General News (Australia)
02-11-2008
What Australian newspapers say on Monday, February 11, 2008

SYDNEY, Feb 11 AAP - The stage has been set for the federal government to say "sorry"

to the stolen generations on behalf of White Australia on Wednesday, The Australian says
in its editorial today.

Come Thursday, indigenous advocates should move on and turn their efforts to practical
reconciliation, the newspaper says.

"Today's Aboriginal children, whose futures are stolen by infant mortality, fetal alcohol
syndrome, malnutrition, abuse, health problems and lack of education, are Australia's
most pressing social priority."

Melbourne's The Age says the opening of federal parliament this week means showtime
for the Rudd government.

Top of the agenda will be the apology to stolen generations.

"Critical to saying sorry is the belief that, in doing so, all peoples can then begin
the long and arduous journey of emotional, spiritual and social renewal that such acknowledgement
provides," the newspaper says

After the apology, it will be time to implement the government's promised reforms.

These include repealing the Work Choices legislation, dealing with mounting global
economic problems, its so-called education revolution and improving the health system.

The Australian Financial Review says Kevin Rudd wants to make his mark on Australia
but is now faced with a suddenly more challenging economic environment.

He will need luck in his advice and skill in his judgement. He will need to avoid the
pitfalls of spreading himself and senior ministers too thin, of government overreach and
of the unintended consequences of well-meaning policies.

"Mr Rudd's ideas summit and his willingness to expose the government and the bureaucracy
to such free thinking is welcome," the newspaper says, "but in the end it is political
courage and grit that is in the shortest supply."

He will, above all, need the courage to take on vested interests -- and in some cases
tell constituencies that government cannot solve all their problems and they also have
to help themselves.

The Sydney Morning Herald says Australia might look for lessons in the latest furore
to engulf the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.

The head of the Anglican Church in Britain is under attack for saying Islamic religious
law or sharia should be adopted in Britain.

His suggestion is simply wrong in principle: it ignores the age-old division of church and state.

One of Britain's great strengths, as it is one of Australia's, is a secular body of
law presided over by secular judges. A fair society has one law for all; it treats everyone
equally regardless of differences, including religion.

Sydney's The Daily Telegraph says the fine enforcement system as it now applies on
NSW roads has gone beyond punishing the deserving to a regime that has all the look, smell
and texture of revenue raising.

Fines have soared from $118.3 million around 2000 to $312 million in six years --
"an inexplicable and indefensible growth in revenue".

Little of this massive revenue is finding its way into improving roads or young driver
education, the newspaper says.

"It's time for the Iemma government to ease up on this shameful plundering of motorists'
wallets."

Melbourne's Herald Sun says a new plan that will cut profits from poker machines for
gaming operators and state government is worth considering.

Family First Senator Steven Fielding's 10-year scheme to make pokies unappealing to
pubs and clubs by using a new tax to "nibble" at their profits over the period could be
a "novel way to reduce and eventually eradicate the pokies problem", the newspaper says.

It is clear the $2.5 billion a year split between government and operators is the
biggest barrier to addressing the menace.

Senator Fielding's proposal is worth thought as it would treat the cause of the cancer,
not the symptom.

Brisbane's The Courier-Mail says banks are their own worst enemy when it comes to public
relations, lifting mortgage rates by more than official increases and raising them independently
between Reserve Bank announcements.

Banks respond to criticism by arguing they are merely meeting shareholders' demand
-- providing lean overheads and fat dividends. But the industry appears to have lost sight
of a broader obligation to act as good corporate citizens and responsible members of the
wider Australian community.

Responsible banking practice requires lenders to look out for the welfare of clients
as well as investors -- for without customers, there would be no banks.

AAP jrd/rs

KEYWORD: EDITORIALS

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