12 July 2000 Transcripts on this website are created by an independent transcription service. The ABC does not warrant the accuracy of the transcripts. ABC Online users are advised to listen to the audio provided on this page to verify the accuracy of the transcripts. Mr Della Bosca has incurred the wrath of his party after telling The Bulletin magazine that rolling back the GST only causes more problems, and advocating that food be taxed. As Labor searches for a new president, the biggest problem is that where John Della Bosca had rare cross-factional support, not so the names being bandied about as his replacement.
Negotiations are underway between the factions to find a consensus candidate.
The analysts and the pollsters believe Labor is bleeding badly as a result of John Della Bosca s comments but that the damage is short term. The internal Treasury memo advises the Beattie Government on how to put a positive spin on issues such as high unemployment figures and other budgetary weaknesses. There were jubilant scenes in Fiji today as nine of George Speight's hostages were allowed back into the real world. They're a downpayment on the Speight promise to release all of his hostages this week. The report by the State's Community Services Commission says Aboriginal children are 10 times as likely to be taken from their parents as non-indigenous children.