If you thought the more frightening implications of the cracking of the human genetic code were still a few years' away, think again. The ethical challenges are on us right now, and the first involves the fear that people with a clean bill of genetic health will get better insurance deals. The life insurance industry thought they could protect the vulnerable by getting together and agreeing not to discriminate on the basis of genetic tests. Dr Patrick Schamasch says that even if there's only a minute risk that the new test developed in Canberra could return an incorrect result, it will not be used in Sydney. But this evening the decree appears to have had little effect.
Reports say shots have been fired throughout the day.
But there's a welcome in the bush for the Elders Rural Bank which is to start operating from this weekend. Well here we go again, and this time it's not CD's but books, magazines and computer software.