background briefing 2-2 .............11

Gladys

Where ignorance is bliss

Communications Minister Alston stunned his audience into silence with an argument for a moratorium on Internet gambling. Speakers at the Ministerial Council meeting on gambling had argued that Australians can access 740 offshore gambling sites and send their money to other countries. Senator Alston attempted to put their fears at rest when he told them that overseas sites are no great threat because the cost of a long distance call is a 'big disincentive' for most gambling Australians.

It seems no-one in the audience was game to inform the minister that the Internet gives access to any site on the worldwide web for the cost of a local call.

Life imitating art, again

In The Games, that brilliant ABC television spoof of the Olympics, John Clark and Brian Doyle grappled with the problem of a sprint track a metre or two short of 100m. Not so funny is the incompetence of the person who made the women's running leg 2km short in the world triathlon championships in Perth on 30 April, thus enabling every entrant to break the world record.

Water shortage

It was revealed by the Daily Telegraph that the ABC Parliamentary reporters in NSW have to pay for their own bottled water. We suggest that the ABC house committee should seek a bread and water allowance.

The other side of the (hi)story "Banks of course are an historical part of Australian culture, in fact Ned Kelly and his gang used to rob them. Who would ever imagine the roles would be reversed? They have been," thundered Laws, taking a swipe against the rise in bank fees. The affair with the banks is well and truly over.

Proper words in proper places

If you are interested in the English language, like to curl up with a good dictionary, wonder about the right word to use, or tend to fume when a word is misused or mispronounced in the media, then Australian Style, the bulletin of Macquarie University's Style Council Centre, is for you.

Australian Style always includes a report from SCOSE - the Standing Committee on Spoken English - which advises the ABC on all aspects of spoken and written English. Australian Style is a delight to read and a model of attractive publication. It's published twice yearly and it's free. To go on the mailing list contact: Australian Style, c/- AusInfo, GPO Box 1920, Canberra ACT 2601.

"Proper words in proper places, make the true definition of style."

Jonathan Swift

ABC goes back a long way

In his eagerness to convey just how important he believes the ABC to be, a correspondent to the Corporation made a somewhat ambiguous claim. 'The ABC,' he declared, 'has been a prime transmitter and generator of cultural product since the time of Moses.' It is assumed he meant Charles Moses, the ABC's third chief executive.