The Australian Federal Government has indicated that it is to sell a further third of its 51% shareholding the the national telecommunications carrier, Telstra.
The remaining two thirds well be transferred to the government's "Future Fund", to be sold down over time.
Whilst the Telstra share price is presently kept buoyant by high dividends, the pool of about one third of the company's shares in the Future Fund, selling into the market, may well provide a long term depressant to the stock.
In his article in The Sunday Age, 20 August 2006, Peter Huck discusses the conundrum facing the judiciaries of the 38 death-penalty states of the USA.
The experience of pain during execution may make the death penalty unlawful under the 8th amendment of the US Constitution.
The court of Missouri has ordered that an anaesthetist be present at each execution to ensure that drugs are administered in a pain-free manner.
At present, the search for an anaesthetist willing to take up such a role has been fruitless, leaving the future of the death-penalty uncertain.
Comments critical of controversial historian and ABC board member Keith Windschuttle were edited from broadcast on Helen Razer's Sunday Arts radio program.
While the ABC claims the right to censor potentially defamatory comments, listeners who tune to the national broadcaster to hear 'vigourous debate' of controversial topics may have to look elsewhere if the debate involves any of the ABC's board members.
