What Australian newspapers say Monday, Dec 16
SYDNEY, Dec 16 AAP - Contrary to the doom-and-gloom merchants' forecasts, tariff cutssince the late 1980s have been the making of the car industry, The Australian FinancialReview says in its editorial today.
The industry now exports nearly a third of its output and the four car-makers all facethe future with confidence.
The federal government will pour $2.8 billion into the industry over the five yearsto 2005, when the tariff will fall from 15 per cent to 10 per cent.
The industry will continue to be supported more generously than any other manufacturingindustry for another decade, the newspaper says. The whole economy will benefit from increasedefficiency and cheaper transport.
The car makers should be pretty pleased, but they also know their parent companiesare building up production in low-wage countries such as Thailand and China, and Australianplants must ramp up productivity to survive.
The Advertiser says the agreement between the federal government and Australia's fourcar makers and component producers is a message of assurance for this state.
"Negotiations characterised by harmony and realism have resulted in another decadeof protection and subsidies," it says.
"It is not a matter of subsidising inefficient industry. The exact opposite is true.
The agreement provides a continued framework for the efficiencies and innovations whichhave turned Australia's car industry into a competitive global operator."
The dramatic shake-up in George Bush's economic team last week demonstrates the USPresident's determination to avoid the political fate of his father, The Sydney MorningHerald says.
George Bush snr enjoyed enormous popular support over his 1991 Gulf War, only to failto win re-election the next year because of a weak economy and a sense among ordinaryAmericans that their interests had been overlooked, it says.
"Mr Bush's decision to force the resignation of his two most senior economic advisersis an acknowledgement of the seriousness of America's economic malaise.
"It is also a recognition that the success of his re-election campaign for 2004 maydepend less on war in Iraq than on the mood in the malls."
NSW voters are far from convinced Opposition leader John Brogden is a viable alternativepremier, The Daily Telegraph says.
Voters need to understand what Mr Brogden and his party stand for.
He must enunciate a clear vision for the state, it says.
In the 30 years since Australia recognised the People's Republic of China, it has hadan economic transformation, The Australian says.
The challenge for Beijing is that the new affluence of its people will bring internaldemands for political as well as economic change.
A stable and prosperous China will be an excellent trading partner and a great friendfor Australia, it says.
A politically divided China, where the party seeks to maintain authoritarian rule will not.
"While trade must remain paramount, our government should continue to engage in a dialogueon human rights with China."
While the Yorta Yorta Aboriginal community has lost its native title claim, VictorianPremier Steve Bracks wants to continue negotiations for a mediated settlement to givethem some title, the Canberra Times says.
"It is noteworthy that while the claim was resisted by a number of objectors, few ofthem have expressed any jubilation about the result and some have expressed interest ina solution which recognises mixed rights to the land," it says.
For more than 47,000 Victorian high school students, the receipt of VCE results todayis the beginning of their future, the Herald Sun says.
"After the most intensive working years of their school life, almost all Year 12 studentshave now completed their VCE," the paper says.
"For many, ENTER scores they receive today will secure their chosen path.
"Others, however, will find themselves disappointed. They might fear their future hasbeen hopelessly derailed.
"This is certainly not the case.
"While VCE marks sufficient to secure a first tertiary, preference are the ideal, theyare not the be-all and end-all ... the future is full of promise."
The expansion of the EU is welcome, but Turkey should have been included, The Age says.
"...An opportunity has been lost to send a badly needed signal of goodwill to the Islamicworld," it says.
"Turkey is justified in asking why Latvia, where Russian-speakers still face discrimination,is about to be welcomed, while the EU will not even begin talking about Turkey's accession.
"... It is unfortunate that Turkey, which is that rarity, a largely Islamic state thatis also secular, modern and moderate, could not have been given more encouragement now,when closing the Muslim-Christian divide is such a global imperative."
AAP rs `
KEYWORD: EDITORIALS
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