The person who won the seat was Independent and former Gold Coast mayor Lex Bell. It's the first time since the rise of the modern party-political system that six Independents have been elected to a Queensland Parliament. The federal political focus today shifted from the former sheep paddock in Canberra to the site of Australia's first Parliament in Melbourne. To mark the Centenary of Labor's first Caucus, ALP leader Kim Beazley convened a special meeting of all his MPs in the southern capital. That's one of the key cuts in a defence review to be unveiled fully tomorrow and many in the Australian Defence establishment feel it'll take the NZ out of Anzac.
Australian soccer is in crisis again and crowd violence is to blame.
Last night's semi-final between the Melbourne Knights and Perth Glory, in Melbourne, ended in violence when Knights' supporters attacked some of the Perth players and a coach as they were leaving the ground. But Soccer Australia is attempting to play down the significance of another chapter of crowd violence. The plan announced late today proposes a 1 per cent levy on all insurance premiums - with further funds raised by government. The total losses from HIH are still being estimated. The Great Train Robber Ronny Biggs has finally come full circle.