Well, all will be revealed tomorrow when the old diggers get together for their annual state conference.
That's all from us for tonight. We'll be with you again tomorrow night at the usual time.
Look forward to seeing you then. Good night.
Music
What are you scared of, Mr Ford?
Who says I am?
I can smell it on you. Get me out of here, you said. It's a matter of life and death, you said.
You've got pit.
You were scared for your life, Mr Ford, and I helped you. So maybe my life was in danger to her. I reckon I deserve to get paid.
7.40 Sunday, the boat comes in on ABC, and Jack Ford finds himself in real trouble.
Do think, man, you came through the wall.
The Ferdys is worse than the war, Padre.
I cannot agree with you.
I know who you are. At least in the war you knew who your enemy was. Now it's pretty near everybody, even your friends.
Suppose I did help him. Who could possibly tell him?
Jack. Before they killed him.
When the Boat Comes In, starring James Bolam, back on ABC, 7.40 Sunday.
Next in Spring and Fall, Gary MacDonald is Max Lawrence, successful disc jockey, a man on the move, well on the way to his first ulcer.
Is this a scrape test? I don't know if I'm ready for Hollywood.
I guess you should drink this barrier, man.
Cheeky white, not a bad idea.
Then something happened to change it all.
When you say it's not an ordinary ulcer, um...
There's a possibility we could be looking at cancer.
Jimmy Dancer.
I warned you! This is a false alarm. I should be buried cross.
I told him.
Facing Up to Jimmy Dancer, a superb performance by Gary MacDonald in Spring and Fall, 8.55 Thursday on ABC.
The shattered city of Beirut is tonight completely sealed off in a state of siege.
Good evening, Graham Evans with the late news.
The latest report said that there was a scramble in Beirut to buy food and bottled water, following the latest battles on the western edge of the city.
Beirut Radio reported heavy casualties and serious property damage in the latest tank and artillery battles.
Lebanon's Prime Minister, Mr. Wazan, says the situation in Beirut is now desperate, with no food, water or power.
There are still about half a million civilians in west Beirut.
Israelis seem to be concentrating their fire on this area, because it's a Palestinian stronghold on the outskirts of west Beirut.
The firing has had an effect. Almost all the civilians here have fled.
The only people left are those who simply have nowhere to go.
Yasser Arafat, still negotiating, but angry at the continued Israeli military pressure.
As you see, cluster bomb, fragmentation shells. You see? Here you are. You have to see by yourself.
This is what they said that they are coming to make peace for Galilee, yes?
Naif Hawatmi, one of the major leaders of the radical left. He thinks the Americans are the key to a successful settlement.
Through an interpreter, he cited the ceasefire as an example.
And when the American administration wanted, nine days ago, to implement the ceasefire,
and took a clear position on this, a ceasefire was implemented.
But another Israeli move has threatened negotiations.
About 200 yards down this street, the Israelis and their phalangist allies have effectively cut off any supplies coming into west Beirut.
That is the key point in the blockade. Prime Minister Wazan has said that if that blockade is not lifted, negotiations may break down.
In addition, the Israelis have turned off all water and electricity.
Broken mains now provide the only available water for many people.
There is concern here that the continual pileup of garbage may soon pose a serious health hazard.
As political discussions continue, both sides are maneuvering militarily.
The PLO mining roads building barricades in the streets.
The Israelis pounding away with artillery as this city is slowly reduced to rubble.
The Labour Party leader, Bill Hayden, had a psychological boost over his undeclared leadership challenge of Bob Hawke
at the Labour Party's national conference in Canberra today.
Mr Hayden and Mr Hawke took opposite sides on the capital gains tax issue,
and the conference supported Mr Hayden's view that the tax should not be introduced.
It voted instead to strengthen the laws against tax avoidance.
From Canberra, the ABC's political correspondent, Barry Cassidy.
The capital gains tax issue provided the classic test of strength on the conference floor
and it brought out all the big guns.
Those in favour of the tax wanted to add the rider that the tax would be aimed specifically at speculators and tax cheats,
but those against simply wanted to strengthen the existing anti-avoidance legislation.
The issue was the most passionately debated so far.
Mr Hawke argued the party should ignore the problems the tax caused during the 1980 election campaign.
Circumstances had changed and he was adamant it could now be sold.
If we can't sell this proposition against Malcolm Fraser and what he's been doing to prop up the privilege
and make the 95% pay what the 5% should have been paying,
then we shouldn't be in the bloody business of politics if we can't beat Fraser at that.
Mr Hayden stayed with his original position, that the tax would cost the Labour Party votes.
Now why the blazers do we in the Labour Party so persistently go about doing things
which can only be calculated to put us on the defensive?
Next election we want the Government on the defensive on every issue we can put them on the defensive.
And there are a large range of them.
They're our enemy. We don't want to convert ourselves into a punching bag.
I would have thought with the experiences we've had,
three years in Government out of the last 33 years we'd be getting a bit punch drunk from that sort of thing
and we ought to learn a few lessons.
When the hands went up Mr Hayden's position had won 54 votes to 43
and Mr Hayden had clearly been given a psychological boost in the undeclared leadership war with Mr Hawke.
But it was only one obstacle. There are pitfalls to come.
Tomorrow the party debates uranium mining when the left will attempt to retain the present policy
banning the mining and treatment of uranium and repudiating present contracts.
And it has become clear behind the scenes here that the left this time could well have the numbers.
In Canberra, Barry Cassidy.
The Minister for Trade and Resources Mr Anthony says if the National Conference of the ALP
doesn't take the opportunity to reject its negative uranium export policy
it will hinder the safe and comprehensive development of the Australian uranium industry.
Mr Anthony says Labor's current commitment to halting uranium mining and repudiating uranium supply contracts
is not a policy. It's a declaration of primitive ignorance and fear.
The Prime Minister and Federal Treasurer indicated today that they're expecting the banks to stick to their commitment
to provide extra housing loans.
From Canberra, Lindsay McGoffin says that the Federal Government wants the banks to provide an extra $400 million for housing loans.
The banks agreed to lend that extra $400 million in return for a 1% increase in interest rates.
Despite that increase, the bank's research directorate has warned that unless interest rates are deregulated
to allow the banks to compete more effectively and attract more funds
the provision of that additional $400 million might not be possible.
Mr Fraser says the banks have given the Government a solemn undertaking and he expects them to honour it.
What I'm saying is that I believe that the...