Briefs
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday March 19, 2010
Telstra's next stepTelstra has taken a big step towards expanding its own high speed mobile network in a move that signals some confidence it will not face the brunt of threats made against it by the federal government. The company yesterday announced it would commence a technical trial in May of so-called Long Term Evolution technology, the next generation of mobile technology.School land for saleThe state government will sell 10 hectares of public land at Hurlstone Agricultural High School, abandoning previous plans to sell a larger portion of the land. The Minister for Education, Verity Firth, yesterday said she had accepted the findings of the former head of the NSW Farmers Federation, Mal Peters, who chaired an independent inquiry into the future of agricultural education at the school.Post agreementAustralia Post and the postal unions have signed a memorandum of understanding - the first sign of reconciliation in their ongoing dispute over wages, conditions and the use of company-nominated doctors. The memorandum outlines a new framework for negotiations between the parties, with the goal of signing a Fair Work Agreement some time this year.Scientologist replyThe Church of Scientology has won the right to defend itself against allegations of coerced abortion, violence, intimidation and demands for ever-greater donations made under parliamentary privilege by the Greens MP John Kaye.A private meeting of the upper house Privileges Committee last week decided a statement by the church's Australian president, Vicki Dunstan, would be printed in the parliamentary record, Hansard. Ms Dunstan said Dr Kaye's speech was "false and unsubstantiated" and "may adversely affect the reputation of the Church of Scientology, church staff and their association with others".The committee said its decision to publish the church's response in no way vouched for its truthfulness, nor did it admonish Dr Kaye's views.
© 2010 Sydney Morning Herald
