The Age from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia • Page 1

AGE Tuesday 16 December 1986 250 Spencer Melbourne, 600 421 1 (Classified 604 1 144) 48 Pages 133rd Year 40c Epicure "Home Gifts from the good earth Competition winners 1987 LABOR iuieh in drag SAFARI CHIC CHASES A HAT-TRICK x- PAGE 1 1 THE 3 II 7 A3k rr Nurses stay out as peace bid founders I By MARK DAVIS I Holiday BP'S $16m deal that didn't click ends up in court flight milder threat The State Government yesterday supported an ACTU proposal for a new nurses' award that would add $50 million to the $54.7 million increase in nurses' wages agreed to in June. But hopes that the proposal would end the 46-day strike by nurses were dashed when the Royal Australian Nursing Federa-' tion and the ACTU fell out over details of the plan. The RANF also came under fire from the State Industrial Relations Commission, which accused it of having a "cavalier attitude" and "unmitigated gall" during yesterday's proceedings. The ACTU package was put together at the weekend after a series of talks last week between the ACTU secretary, Mr Bill Kelty, and the state secretary of the RANF, Ms Irene Bolger. It was to have been presented to the State Industrial Relations Commission and the Government as a joint ACTU-RANF position.

But when the ACTU presented the submission to a commission hearing yesterday morning, Ms Bolger walked out of the hearing and accused the ACTU of having changed the agreed position reached last Friday. Ms Bolger said the ACTU industrial officer, Ms Jenny Acton, was attempting to railroad the proposal through the commission. She said the ACTU proposal would classify maternal, child health and clinical specialist nurses as grade three. But the agreement she had reached with the ACTU last week was that those nurses should be classified as grade four. Ms Acton denied that the ACTU had made any changes in the position after Its talks with the RANF.

The RANF and the ACTU held talks last night on yesterday's disagreement Earlier, a mass meeting attended by about 5000 nurses voted to return to work immediately only if the Government agreed to the RANFs version of the joint ACTU-RANF position reached last week. After the meeting, Ms Bolger. said there must be "total agreement" by the Government because the RANF had also made substantial concessions on its original claims. By PAUL ROBINSON This was to have been the summer of the clicket at BP service stations. But the little plastic, magnetised worry beads that were to rival the Smurf have clicked out of BP'S grasp.

The story of the toy clicket and its friends the the "activity blisters" and the is now unfolding in Victoria's Supreme Court. BP is trying to recover $18 million from bank accounts in London and Switzerland. The money, authorised to be paid by one of BP's employees, was for the exclusive Australian rights to the toys. Two Victorian policemen have also gone to South Africa to investigate the payments. Their inquiries could take them to Europe.

BP has initiated Supreme Court action against a South African national, Dr Paul Adriaan Theodorus Mengede, and Branchdale (Pty) Ltd, a British company which Dr Mengede told BP he BP claims it has not received any toys in return for the SIC million it said was paid into two bank accounts earlier this year. BP sought summary judgment against Dr Mengede and Branch-dale last month, but the defendants were given leave to defend the action on the basis that they had an arguable case. Court records show that an employee of BP entered an agreement with Dr Mengede and a South African company called Marcus Consultants (Pty) Ltd for the payment and supply of "not less than" $1.5 million worth of toys. The agreement was signed on If June ISM, and was to operate for a 12-month period from 1 October this year with further yearly options. Dr Mengede was the president of Marcus Consultants, which held the patent for the toys.

The company also had offices at Oaks Avenue, Dee Why, Sydney. Under the terms of the agreement BP placed an initial order of $5 million worth of toys. In affidavits, BP claimed that four company cheques were sent by telegraphic transfer between It July 1188 and 1 October 1S88 from BP's National Australia Bank account in Melbourne, to Branchdale's bank accounts in London and Geneva, totalling $18,013 million. Two of the cheques totalling $2.3 million were sent from BP to Barclays Bank in Knightsbridge, London. The two other cheques were sent to the Nederlandshe Middenstandbank in Geneva, Switzerland, worth a total of $13.7 million.

Continued: PAGE 5 media after nurses voted to return to work if the Government agrees RANF version of the peace proposal. Picture: DAVID JOHNS Australian Airline's flights, as well as thousands of international passengers. Airline spokesmen said Christmas was the busiest period of the year with peak carriage of 25,000 for each airline on some days. A Qantas spokesman said last night the airline conducted about 60 arrivals and 60 departures each week, about half of the international traffic in and out of Melbourne. About 100,000 passengers pass through Melbourne Airport each week over the Christmas period.

An industrial officer for the Association of Drafting, Supervisory and Technical Employees, Ms Judith Klepner, said the department was attempting to save over Christmas an estimated $2500 from a $90 million budget During the period the department wanted to reduce ADSTE staffing from four, to two members per shift and Electrical Trades Union staffing from eight to five. Ms Klepner said if airport equipment started to break down the reduced staff could not guarantee public safety. However, a spokesman for the Department of Aviation said the department had the responsibility to examine operating costs during the holiday period when staffing was "considered to be It had been decided that Melbourne Airport could operate safely with fewer people in "selected The spokesman said the reduced staffing was in line with government policy and did not deny the airport the expertise necessary to ensure reliability and safety. He said the Christmas period was "fairly hectic, higher than but that little maintenance work was done. He confirmed that without members of the Professional Radio and Electronics Institute, air traffic controllers could have to switch to the slower procedural method of air traffic control.

Each year, the department allows its regional offices to negotiate reduced staffing levels and last year unions and management reached agreement But this year the dispute has flared in Melbourne, apparently because the department has sought to extend reduced staffing beyond Christmas Day. Logging: Hobart may defy PM The State Industrial Relations Commission yesterday asked the Government to withdraw its move to let state-enrolled nurses do some of the work of striking nurses. The commission asked the RANF to direct its members to return to work in critical care and casualty wards. When Ms Bolger reported that she had not directed those nurses to return to work because the Government had indicated that it would withdraw the order but also seek a review of state-enrolled nurses' duties, the president of the commission, Mr K.D. Marshall, launched one of the commission's strongest attacks on the RANF.

"You have chosen for some reason not to do so (direct the nurses to return to work)," Mr Marshall said to Ms Bolger. "I think that says something about your bona fides Here you come back and you have the unmitigated gall to say that the Government wouldn't (withdraw). Frankly, Ms Bolger, this makes me just one person in this wide community who is outraged by this cavalier attitude to the interests of this Victorian community." The Minister for Health, Mr White, said yesterday's events' showed it was virtually impossible to get the RANF to agree to any proposal. He said the Government broadly agreed with the ACTU submission put before the commission yesterday but the details would have to be dealt with in an arbitration hearing of the commission. PAGE 8: Names drift back to work; How hospitals are faring.

Bomb scare in Remington Police cordoned off a large section of Flemington early this morning after a phone caller told them a stolen car full of dynamite had been parked in a Mobil service station at the corner of Nottingham Street and Racecourse Road. Police said they received the untraceable phone call about 2 am. The caller said the bomb would go off within an hour. Road blocks were immediately set up along Racecourse Road to prevent traffic coming near the service station and the Special Operations Group were checking the car. Flemington police said the owner of the car was coming to inspect it but that it was more than likely the threat was a hoax.

Ambulance units were on standby, but the fire brigade was not called to the scene. LMCrSSB logging program for this summer would cut about 50 hectares of the Lemonthyme, a wilderness forest which runs beside the Cradle Mountain world heritage area. In CANBERRA, Mr Hawke said it was "quite possible" the Government would take the matter to the High Court "What we have made clear in our decision is that we are prepared to use those powers which we believe do exist under that legislation (the World Heritage Properties Conservation Act)," he said. In the key areas of Lemonthyme and Southern forests the Government will seek to prevent any planned logging though High Court action. In the Jackeys Marsh area the scene of recent arrests of conservationists the Government decided that logging can continue until the season ends in a couple of weeks.

By BRENDAN DONOHOE and SONYA VOUMARD Thousands of airline passengers face disrupted Christmas flights because of widespread strike action looming at Melbourne Airport Three key unions have decided to strike in protest at the Department of Aviation's plans to cut staffing levels during the hectic Christmas period. Two unions covering electricians and mechanical trades people warned yesterday that they would start bans from this afternoon, followed by a strike between midnight on 24 December and midnight 1 January, unless the department abandoned its reduced staffing plans. Another union covering strategic radio and radar technicians has decided to strike over 21, 22 and 23 December. The union, the Professional Radio and Electronics Institute of Australia, could cause the most disruption to domestic and international flights. It intends to widen the dispute to members in other states if the row is not settled by Thursday.

The institute's industrial officer, Mr John Tamplin, said yesterday that without his members, air traffic controllers at Melbourne Airport could be forced to switch to "procedural" traffic control. This slower procedure would reduce flights out of the airport to one every 90 minutes, he said. The other unions threatening strike action, the Electrical Trades Union and the Association of Drafting, Supervisory and Technical Employees, cover electrical and mechanical trades people who maintain the airport's electrical equipment, escalators, air conditioning, water, refrigeration and other equipment The unions said a strike could result in the "complete shutdown" of the airport A Department of Aviation spokesman defended the reduced staffing plans as adequate to ensure reliability and safety. Departmental officials are due to meet union officials this morning to discuss contradictory claims on staffing, passenger and safety levels. If the dispute spreads nationally, it would affect an estimated 300,000 passengers between 20 and 27 December on Ansett and lishing a direct top-secret Washington-Bagdad link to provide the Iraqis with better and more timely satellite information.

One source with first-hand knowledge said the Iraqis receive the information from satellite photos "several hours" after a bombing raid to assess damage and plan the next attack. This source said the intelligence information is "vital" to Iraq's conduct of the war. The CIA director, William Casey, met senior Iraqi officials in October and November to make sure the new channel was functioning and to encourage more attacks on Iranian installations, the sources said. Iraq has mounted a series of precision air attacks against Iran Air challenge Ansett Transport Industries starts court actions in Melbourne and Sydney in a new bid to keep East-West Airlines off Australia's main air routes. PAGE Press upheaval The Australian Journalists Association may leave the Press Council after differences with newspaper owners.

PAGE $600m FDT tipped Fringe benefit taxes are tipped to be double the original estimate and bring in $600 million. PAGE 5 Christmas Bowl The Christmas Bowl Appeal is fully supported by church leaders despite criticism. PAGE 14 forest areas if the Tasmanian Government tried to move in. Mr Groom, describing Federal Cabinet's decision as a sellout of Australian workers, said road construction in both the Lemonthyme and Southern forests would start before Christmas. Sawlog harvesting in the Lemonthyme would begin in January.

"We are going to proceed and it will be up to them to stop us," Mr Groom said. "This is fundamental to the rights of Tasmanians; it goes to the heart of federalism." Mr Groom said his Government had sought legal advice from Sydney Queen's Counsel Mr Murray Gleeson. As a result it was satisfied that the Federal Government would have trouble invoking its powers under the World Heritage Properties Conservation Act because the Lemonthyme and Southern forests would not satisfy the criteria for world heritage listing. The Tasmanian Government's mm SUPERVALUE! jm US accused of double-dealing in Gulf war Irene BoIgerspVafeing to the to the EXCLUSIVE PERTH HoTZL UJAlTiHG FOR NtU) ZSAI.AHPMIt.POfAlneSroARRllfe Confident Kiwi FREMANTLE. New Zealand defeated USA yesterday to finish 44 points clear on the America's Cup challengers' table.

The controversial 12-metre will meet French Kiss in one semi-final, with Stars and Stripes against USA in the other. New Zealand lost only one race in the challengers' round robin series, and on Sunday sank the New York Yacht Club's $25 million campaign cup challenge with America II. PAGE 48: Report. ue the war, which is now in its seventh year. The revelation that the administration has been sharing intelligence data with the Iraqis at the same time that it was shipping arms to the Iranians raises new questions about the administration's policy on the war in the Persian Gulf.

One well-placed US Government official said the administration policy of arms for Iran and satellite intelligence for Iraq was "a cynical attempt to engineer a stalemate" in the war. An administration official said yesterday that any intelligence assistance to Iraq was for "defensive" purposes, designed to keep either side from winning or losing the war. Industry loss The Victorian breeding industry suffers a severe blow with the impending sale to a NSW stud of Voodoo Rhythm. PAGE 48 Wallace pleads Hawthorn's premiership centre-man Terry Wallace makes a passionate plea for the club to let him go. PAGE 48 Port of an international contest to be held in Mecca next month requires entrants to memorise the entire Koran.

passes By LEITH YOUNG and PETER GILL Tasmania's logging dispute seems certain to go to the High Court, with the Tasmanian Government determined to defy a Federal Cabinet decision yesterday to protect Tasmania's National Estate forests. The Tasmanian Minister for Forestry, Mr Groom, said this summer's logging in the Southern and Lemonthyme forests would go ahead, despite a Federal Government promise to protect them. The prospect of a High Court contest arose after Cabinet decided to review the environmental and economic implications of logging in the Lemonthyme and Southern forests, Douglas River and Jackeys Marsh-Quamby Bluff areas. The Prime Minister, Mr Hawke, said yesterday that the Federal Government would seek an injunction to prevent logging in the Lemonthyme and Southern A White House spokesman said there would be no comment The direct Washington-Bagdad link, established in August was accomplished by way of a special intelligence unit in the US Embassy in Bagdad, one source said. Two sources said that the Iraqis now receive selected portions of the actual photos that are taken by US reconnaissance satellites and on some occasions, US reconnaissance aircraft In mid-August just after the direct channel was installed, Iraq executed a surprise bombing raid against the Iranian oil terminal at Sirri Island that Iran supposedly thought was safe from attack.

PAGE 7: North "took his war Into US PAGE 13: Nicholson's view. 41 39-35 14 COOiptltOfO MKoriW LmwUst 13 18 17 43 42 44 43 Photography Pub rood jNfeao 3 CITY: Late rain and cool change. Expected top 27 (yesterday 21). TOMORROW: Few showers. THURSDAY: Becoming fine.

Details 10 UK2ATAELE VALUE! mm By BOB WOODWARD, of 'Tho Washington Posf WASHINGTON, 15 Dec The Central Intelligence Agency has been secretly supplying Iraq with detailed intelligence, including data from sensitive US satellite reconnaissance photography, to help Iraqi bombing raids on Iran's oil terminals and power plants, informed sources claim. The information has been flowing to Iraq for nearly two years. During the same period, the Reagan administration was secretly selling arms to Iran in an effort to free the American hostages in Lebanon and gain influence with factions in the Iranian Government In August the CIA stepped up the initiative with Iraq by estab Spy case The Supreme Court judge hearing the MI5 case describes some evidence from the Australian Cabinet secretary, Mr Michael Codd, as insupportable. PAGE 3 Record attempt Wing-tip damage on takeoff has not stopped an attempt by two pilots to fly non-stop around the world. PAGE 3 Defence sales Exports- of defence equipment could double if red tape were cut says a Defence Ministry report PAGES Powerful 23 litre engine long wheel-base, 5-speed manual tram, RB.

radio, tinted side and rear glass-heaps of load space! Also available in 4-wheeTdrive option. Recommended ratal $15,757. St No. 383IL 5-speed man, powerful 23 overhead cam. engine, LSQ, psteer, amfm radiocass, folding rearseat The ultimate in 4-wheel drive luxury.

Also a big choice in 2 and 4-doormoddsat big savings. Recommended reta $27,866. St no. 38692. Mr Casey in recent months, concentrating on oil terminals, oil pumping stations and power plan ts all with the intent of destroying Iran's economy and its ability to contin Karachi violence The death toll from two days of communal violence in Karachi rises to at least 67.

PAGE Automated trade Australia's stock exchanges vote to introduce automated screen trading. PAGE 33 Dollar surges The dollar surges to 66.17 US cents. Stocks rise 0.7 points to 1438.3. PAGE 33 BEST TRADE-INS. QUALITY AFTER-SALES SSW1CE In! urn (Mater detoeryfet 'Plus stttutorywHoad costs UMUUM47SS.