In The Sunday Age today :-

Front Page

"The Prime Minister, Mr. Paul Keating will support the removal of the ban
on homosexuals in the Defence Force when Cabinet makes its long-awaited
decision tomorrow.

     Mr Keating's support is likely to be critical to Cabinet's acceptance
of a submission from the Attorney-General, Mr. Michael Duffy, seeking the
immediate removal of the ban.

    The case for removing the ban has been strengthened by the pledge by
the US president-elect, Mr. Bill Clinton, to phase out a ban on
homosexuals in uniform in the American forces and the removal of the ban
in Canada.

     Sources last night said Cabinet remained divided on the issue, with
the argument of the Defence Minister, Senator Robert Ray, that the removal
would threaten the morale, discipline and cohesion of the defence forces.
(now where have we heard *that* before?)

     But they believed a phased timetable for the removal of the ban could
provide a basis for compromise.

     Mr Keating has not yet declared a public stance on the issue, the
first to produce an apparently irreconcilable split in the Cabinet since
he became Prime Minister.  Although he has not been greatly involved in
behind-the-scens discussion on the issue, his stance is certain to
influence other ministers and should ensure the adoption of the Duffy
submission.

     Mr. Clinton this week reaffirmed his intention to remove the ban in
the US forces, but told a press conference he had not thought about a
timetable and would seek advice on this point.  He said any change in
policy would be accompanied by a strict code of conduct to deal with
appropriate sexual behaviour.

     Mr. Clinton said that there had always been gays in the military, and
that the issue was "whether they can be in the military without lying
about it".

     Senator Ray has accepted the argument of the Defence Force chiefs
that the ban should remain, although a caucus committee has supported its
removal.

     With the Opposition committed to restore the ban if the defence
chiefs so recommend after the next election  (Liberal Party=our
conservatives, even though our whole country is more left than the US),
the Cabinet debate appears likely to touch on the electoral consequences
in the decision.

     While soldiers may be encouraged to vote against the Government if it
scraps the ban, gay groups appear certain to campaign against the
Government in marginal seats if it buckles to pressure from the defence
chiefs.

     A number of backbenchers and at least one minister are understood to
have highlighted the electoral consequences of maintaining the ban, saying
it could cost the Government seats.

     Mr. Duffy is supporting the removal of the ban on human rights grounds,
saying it is in breach of Australia's international obligations not to
discriminate on grounds of sexual preference.  His submission calls for an
immediate repeal of the ban.

     As Australia has joint defence exercises with the US, sources say
President-elect Clinton's pledge to remove the ban is highly significant.
It undermines the service chiefs' argument that the ban is important to
maintain discipline and morale."


More as I hear it :)









 AussieVamp
AussieMan, Neophyte Vampire and DarkWolf
(Eric Clapton is God!!!)   [ and there is Bobby Fischer... ;-) ]
(Walter Payton, Mike Singletary and Neal Anderson form the Holy Trinity!)