I'm back in U.S.A. You don't know my lucky one, boy I'm back in U.S.A. I'm back in U.S.A. I'm back in U.S.A. I'm back in U.S.A. Yeah! And now, here's Johnny Young! Hello everybody and welcome to this very international Young Talent Time that we've got for you tonight. And I've never seen such a big and excited audience in our studio for, oh, at least a week. How you doing? Yeah! You're looking great. A lot of kids dressed up too. And we're back in the USSR. We really are becoming an international show, of course, aren't we, Vin? Yeah, yeah. Because next week, right around Australia for two hours, we'll be showing you our international Young Talent Time from Universal Studios in the United States. Lots of fun. And we're planning to have a show in the United States. And we're planning, busily planning to go to Russia to say hello to all the Russian people. Got a letter from some people who are helping us organize the Russian program the other day. And they said there's some fabulously talented kids, singers and dancers and everything. Yeah, and they're catching up with all the pop music in Russia too now. So have you all been practicing your... All that stuff? What's that called? Cossack Dancer. What, you can do it? Go right ahead. Joey and Jamie are going to do some Cossack dancing. Sure. Here we go. MUSIC PLAYS Right on the middle. That's cheating. That's better. That's... That's cheating, you guys. You've got to learn to do it without it. Still behind your bottoms. But it is a wonderful world, isn't it? Young Talent Time's world of international music. And tonight we do pay tribute internationally as Courtney lets us know that it really is a wonderful, wonderful world. Here comes Courtney on Young Talent Time. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE I see trees of green Red roses too I see them bloom For me and you And I think to myself What a wonderful world I see skies of blue And clouds of white Bright blessed days Dark sacred nights And I think to myself What a wonderful world The colours of the rainbow So pretty in the sky Are also on the faces Of people going by I see friends shaking hands Saying, how do you do? They're really saying, I love you I hear babies cry I watch them grow They'll learn much more Than I'll ever know And I think to myself What a wonderful world Yes, I think to myself This is a wonderful world. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Amies the Family Jewelers are celebrating their 43rd birthday, so come share the big birthday bargains. Pulsar sports watches, limited stocks, half price at only $99. Hallmarked English gate bracelets, half price at $150. Fine Polish porcelain 66 piece dinner settings, $169. Or this magnificent sapphire and diamond ring, 21 genuine stones, only $199. Join the celebrations and save now at Amies the Family Jewelers. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE I love the way the kids get dressed up when they come into the studio. Do you plan all this way ahead of time, do you? Yeah, you know young talent times coming up and you all get dressed up. You look beautiful. It's time to give a call to one of our viewers who wrote to us, and Julie Ramadon, who's 10 years old and comes from Sydney, and she's got a song coming up. So we'll give her a little call right now on the phone. And let's see. It's ringing. PHONE RINGING Hello? Hello. Hi, is that Julie? Yes. How you doing? Good. You enjoying the show so far? Yeah. Don't forget to watch next week, will you, Julie? No. You know what's on next week? Yeah. What is it? Two Hour Show. Yeah, and where's it from? From Universal Studios in America. That's where it's from. It's good to have you with us tonight, Julie, and what would you like to have as your request on Young Talent Time tonight? One Night in Bangkok. Ah, that's a good international song for our international show, and you're a pretty girl, too. Thanks for speaking with us. See you soon, Julie, and here comes One Night in Bangkok. APPLAUSE MUSIC PLAYS THE HIP-HOP SONG PLAYS More Hastings, more this place. One night in fact I've got new worlds, your Heusta. The bars and temples let the birds take free. You'll find a god in every golden cloister. And if you're lucky then the gods are she. I can feel an angel sliding up to me. One town's very like another when your head's down over your pieces, brother. It's a drag, it's a drag. It's really such a pity to be looking at the far end and looking at the city. What do you mean? You've seen one crowded, excited town? T.O.s, woman's tricks. Samusera in the summer's end, more sweet. Get tied, you're talking to a tourist who's every move among the purest. And thank god I'm only watching the gate, controlling it. One night in fact I've got friends so hard man humble. Not much between despair and ecstasy. One night in fact I've got a tough guy couple. Don't be too careful with your company. I can feel the devil walking next to me. Fun song on our international show. And moving right along with our special requests, I want you to meet two absolutely wonderful people. Because they say it's true that it's never ever too late to fall in love and it's never ever too late to have a happy childhood. Well, Eve Simpson and Addie Nankervis are not only having a great time together, but they're going to get married. How about that? Now, Eve, I've heard all about you. You love dancing and singing and having a really really good time. But one thing that I have to ask you is, how come you're going out with a younger man? Catch him young and train him. Catch him young and train him. That's a good question. Catch him young and train him. I believe she's a real live wire already, isn't she? I think she is, yes. And you're having a good time together? I would, please. Well, we've got some flowers for the lady and we've got some chocolates that you can share. Thank you. And it's a real pleasure and lots of good luck. And let us know when the... Hey listen, you might have some challenges here for the hands. You're right. Beautiful lady. Lovely. And I've heard that you like dancing and having a good time. So this song is especially for you on our international show tonight. And to sing it is our sweetheart, Natalie Miller. Here she comes. Applause. Last night I dreamt of San Pedro. Just like that Pibbacone I knew the song. Long road with eyes like the desert. It all seems like yesterday not far away. Dropped into the island breeze. All the nature on a breeze. This is where I'd love to be. La is la ponita. And when the sun will fade. The sun would sit so high. And I'd be staring through my ears. And stick my eyes to Spanish lullaby. I want to be where the sun holds the sky. When it's time for siesta. You can watch them go by. Beautiful faces. No cares in this world. The colors are bright and divine. Last night I dreamt of San Pedro. It all seems like yesterday not far away. Dropped into the island breeze. All the nature on a breeze. This is where I'd love to be. La is la ponita. And when the sun will fade. The sun would sit so high. And I'd be staring through my ears. And stick my eyes to Spanish lullaby. Spanish lullaby. Beautiful! What's the matter? Oh, is that for me? That's a magic wand, huh? Well, you come and sit next to me here and you can wave it. I hope you enjoyed that, Evie and Eddie. It was terrific fun. What have you got on? I've got a teddy bear on. I thought it was a lion. It's a teddy bear. You look really beautiful, sweetheart. And for all our requests tonight, the phone request and the letter request, we've got all sorts of Young Talent Time stuff for you. I hope you enjoy this latest addition to our Young Talent Time game, which is a lot of fun. And this has got Ricky on it. This is our Young Talent Time game, our Young Talent Time book, and our record for all of our... There we go. Take your pick for all of our Young Talent Time writer intervals. OK. Got to do that because we send them stuff and we get them from people to give away, so we've got to let them know what we're doing, don't we? And thank you. This is another request from Jane Price in Shepperton in Victoria. And she writes, I think you really love Young Talent Time and I think Joey is a real spunk. Isn't that cute? I think there's a few that agree with that. Does Joey like Courtney? Ooh! Oh, there's some rumours. Does Joey... Hang on, well, we'll have to ask Joey... Does Joey like Courtney? Pardon? Yes? Yes? Yeah, no, she's embarrassed. OK. Here's a photo of me and my brother at Dreamworld and I'd really like the girls to sing a song for me and say hi to Joey. Thanks a million from Jane Price. Good on you, Janey. Well, the girls will sing a song for you and for Joey and it's called Walk Like an Egyptian. Yeah! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE MUSIC All the old paintings of that tomb They do the send-in, so, you know If they move too quick, oh, hey-oh They're falling down like a domino All the bears are men, but then now They've got their money on the fence Oh, what they do, oh, hey-oh They snap their teeth and you can't forget Falling tight to the hook, that's how they say Hey-oh, hey-oh, hey-oh, hey-oh Walk like an Egyptian MUSIC Long waitresses take their trays They spin around and they cross the floor They've got the moves, oh, hey-oh You drop your drink and they bring you more Old school kids so sick of books They like the funk and the metal band When the funk goes brimmed, oh, hey-oh They're walking like a jibjigam All the cops and the donut shacks say Hey-oh, hey-oh, hey-oh, hey-oh Walk like an Egyptian Walk like an Egyptian MUSIC Thank you, girls. Juanita, Courtney and Ricky. Walking Like an Egyptian. And if you have requests on Young Talent Club, you give us a call, drop us a line, go to the station you're now watching, and we'll try and do it for you. Back with some flashbacks and a beautiful Northern song after the break. To Peter's footy fever, and you could win. Enter now. Here it is, the million dollar manufacturer's liquidation. Sterling Silver at once only prices. 50,000 Sterling Silver charms were up to $10, now $3. This is a once only offer, and here is the only place you can get it. Make sure you get the address. Initial charms and earrings, $3. Hoop earrings, $5. Chains, $10, $20, and $30. Zodiacs, $5. Chains and fobs, $15. All Sterling Silver and all available right now at the million dollar manufacturer's liquidation. Only now and only at this address. You've heard all about these Southern burgers. Well, Townsville's best kept secret is they're here already. The beautiful fresh bun. The magnificent sauces. And they start from 99 cents each. Buffalo Bill's Heatley Fair Shopping Center, Fulham Road, Heatley. The burgers really taste great at Buffalo Bill's, Heatley Fair. Yeah. Music Ah, that's funny. You want to see a funny picture of me going back about 15 years ago? Well, not just me. This is a Young Talent Time magazine that Jeremy Cooley, our in-studio host, found in the archives. Look at that. Check that out. Can you see that? Look at the length of the hair. Look, there's another picture on the inside. Look. Oh! Ah, yuck. Thank you very much, Jeremy. Actually, there's a lot more. You're wearing a skivvy, John. Yeah, some of it. You're wearing a skivvy. What do you call it? Bogan? Bogan. Bogan's wear skivvies. There's a gorgeous picture here. Oh, look, that's Debbie Byrne when she was on Young Talent Time. Looking great. Yeah, that's nice. And, Karen, I'll show you more of these. But I also found a videotape of a show that we recorded right here in this studio about ten years ago. And I'm sure the mums and dads... And I was surprised because there was some wonderful talent, and you won't believe who was our special guest on this particular show. And we'll start with the opening of the show and then show you some of the kids and then show you the special guest. It's very funny. Turning back the clock on Young Talent Time by around about ten years. Here we go. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE MUSIC PLAYS MUSIC PLAYS MUSIC PLAYS The Young Talent Team, and they're about to join you in the Navy. So, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, the stars of our show, the Young Talent Team. Yeah! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE MUSIC PLAYS MUSIC PLAYS MUSIC PLAYS MUSIC PLAYS MUSIC PLAYS MUSIC PLAYS CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Our very special guest star, Mr Daryl Summers. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE MUSIC PLAYS MUSIC PLAYS MUSIC PLAYS MUSIC PLAYS MUSIC PLAYS MUSIC PLAYS MUSIC PLAYS MUSIC PLAYS MUSIC PLAYS MUSIC PLAYS MUSIC PLAYS MUSIC PLAYS MUSIC PLAYS MUSIC PLAYS CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Hey, didn't get me that time! SCREAMS MUSIC PLAYS Tina Arena was a bit like New Court this year. She used to always cop all the rough treatment of the show all the time. Which is fun. I hope you're watching, Tina, and I hope you enjoyed that memory right there. And, of course, that was Daryl Summers, who was a... who wasn't a contestant. As a matter of fact, he was here at Network 10 doing a series called The Daryl and Ozzie Show. That's about nine, ten years ago, wouldn't it be? Johnny, yeah. And have a look at this. This is a photo that I found around about the same time Vinny Deltito was going to the Johnny Young Talent School. He looks cute, doesn't he? APPLAUSE OK, I hope you enjoyed sharing those memories with us and we'll do it again. It's fun, isn't it, looking back? It was. It was. It wasn't all that different to what it is now? No, well, the cost is the same. Well, the same cost? Nothing's changed. That's great. OK, seeing as it is our international show, I think it's only appropriate that I wear my Coober Hat to introduce this beautiful song as our tribute to the northern part of Australia where more and more towns are watching Young Talent Time because of the satellite system. So hi to all the people enjoying Young Talent Time in the outback and all those distant northern towns as we pay tribute to you in a great northern song. Here's our boys. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE MUSIC The salvation of the bed played And the children drank lemonade And the morning lasted all day, all day And through and up the window came Like Sinatra in a younger day Pushing the town away Oh, oh Hey, ma, ma, ma, doobie, doobie, ya, ya Hey, ma, ma, ma, eh, eh, ah Love in a northern town Evening turned to rain Watched the water roll down the drain As we followed him down to the station You know he never walked away goodbye You could see it written in his eyes As the train rode out of sight Bye-bye MUSIC Hey, ma, ma, ma, doobie, doobie, ya, ya Hey, ma, ma, ma, eh, eh, ah Life in a northern town Young, ma, ma, ma Hey, ma, ma, ma, doobie, doobie, ya, ya Hey, ma, ma, ma, eh, eh, ah Life in a northern town Young, ma, ma, ma Hey, ma, ma, ma, doobie, doobie, ya, ya Hey, ma, ma, ma, eh, eh, ya Take it easy on yourself Young, ma, ma, ma Hey, ma, ma, ma Doobie, doobie, ya, ya Hey, ma, ma, ma Hey, eh, eh, eh, ah Life in a northern town CHEERING Hey, ma, ma, ma Doobie, doobie, ya, ya Hey, ma, ma, ma Hey That was me. Yuck! Then I broke the fat barrier, thanks to the Diet Factory. I didn't want lectures. I just needed help with my food. And the Diet Factory makes the most delicious calorie-controlled food. They provide and deliver everything you need for your whole week's menu. For only $9 a day, that's real value. Thanks to the Diet Factory, I feel great. You too can break your fat barrier if you call the Diet Factory now on 251 077. Here it is, Auntie Ivy of the Life in a Crew With something really special that everyone can do It's gardening, gardening And you can start today If you haven't got a garden, you can garden anyway Get stuck into weeding Talk to the roses Put up a feed-up Grow your own veggies Make a garden pond with a little fish Or wish it well, come make a wish We like Auntie Ivy and the Life in a Crew Come and make a garden, it's a growing thing to do Well, everybody's ready to dance and have a good time as our international show takes you to Rio de Janeiro. When my baby, when my baby smiles at me I go to Rio, Rio de Janeiro, Miami-O I go out and then I have to do the samba And the bomba Now I'm not the kind of person with a passionate persuasion For dancing, for romancing But I give in to the rhythm and my feet follow the beating of my heart Well, when my baby, when my baby smiles at me I feel like dancing, up the jungle Miami-O, Miami-O When my baby smiles at me The sun lightens up my eyes And I am free of thoughts, wild and blust When my baby, when my baby smiles at me I feel like dancing, up the jungle Miami-O, Miami-O When my baby smiles at me The sun lightens up my eyes And I feel free of thoughts, wild and blust And I am free of thoughts, wild and blust And I am free of thoughts, wild and blust And I am free of thoughts, wild and blust And I am free of thoughts, wild and blust Yeah! Woohoo! Yeah! Yeah! Well done, Jamie! OK, let's get back down to work right here in Australia as we take a little look at the land down under. I said, do you speak my language? He does smile, maybe emerging my language. He said, I come from a land of hunger Where women go and men from there I said, do you speak my language? I come from a land of hunger Where women go and men from there Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? You better run, you better take cover Down in a dam in Bombay With a sack of jar and not much to say I said, to the man here trying to tempt me Because I come from a land of plenty He said, I come from a land of hunger Where women go and men from there Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? You better run, you better take cover I come from a land of hunger Where women go and men from there Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? You better run, you better take cover You better run, you better take cover After midnight We're gonna let it all hang out Baby mama, the way you playin' so low Don't cry, sister cry Don't do it, don't do it The very best of JJ Cale 16 hits together for the very first time Don't miss this one Well I'm sleeping with my bluey On a dusty winded arrow With a long game of semi With a high-end canvas load If you count the room with that amount With me, you can ride So I climbed up in the cabin And sat down inside He asked me if I've seen a road With so much dust and sand I said, listen mate I've travelled every road in this here land Cause I've been everywhere, man I've been everywhere, man Crossed the desert square, then I've reached the mountain, then And trouble I've had much Share my love in everywhere I've made your dog out of the hole And I've been everywhere, man I've been everywhere, man Hey Clancy Good night, good night, Ricky Hey Clancy, do you know what the coldest country in the world is? The coldest country, yeah No, no, what? Chilly Hey Joey, I went to a French restaurant last night And Joe was good Do they serve snails? Oh yeah, they serve anyone They serve anybody We have any kind of jokes on this show, what's your name? Caroline Caroline, and what's your giggle for everybody around Australia? Why did the tree blush? I don't think I've heard this one Why did the tree blush? Because it saw the nature strip Okay, Michelle's your name I know, cause we met before in the commercial break, didn't we? Yeah What's your giggle? What driver doesn't get caught for driving? What driver doesn't get caught for driving or for speeding? Speeding What driver doesn't get caught for speeding? A screwdriver Hi, Vy Hey, hey, hey I'm Vy What's frozen water? Ice What's frozen cream? Ice cream And what's frozen tea? Ice tea What's frozen ink? Ice tea We'll have a bath then What's your name? Simone Okay, Simone, you tell everybody your giggle Why were the two flies playing football in the saucer? Why were the two flies playing football? You're funny, Vyny Why were the two flies playing football in the saucer? Because they were practising for the cup That's a clever one, thank you And yours? My name's Mark Oh, hi Mark Nice, my name's John, nice to meet you What happens if your feet smell and your nose runs? What happens if your feet smell and your nose runs? You're built upside down Oh dear, that's funny And now, ladies and gentlemen, we've got something very special for you tonight because we've got a little girl called Linda Lane, Linda Jane who's got a friend called Charlie who's kind of cute So let's say hello to Charlie and Linda Jane Gidday, hi, hey Courtney, come over here Oh Gidday, hey Charlie She's gorgeous Oh thank you Hello Courtney Hi Oh, I've got a Jake Have you? I have Okay, listen to this, this is great What would you get if you crossed an elephant with a kangaroo? I don't know, what would you get? Don't you know? No Peak holes all over Australia Oh, that's funny Right, well you both share an interesting talent, so tell us about it What is it? Well our interesting talent is called ventriloquism She thinks she can speak without moving her lips Okay, where did ventriloquism originate? It did originate in Greece, it was about 3000 years ago, quite a long time ago Oh right, how long have you two been together? Oh we've been together for 13 years There's also quite a lot in Aura House too Yeah, we're known as Linda Jane and Company Right, okay, what's your favourite hobby? My favourite hobby is girls, Courtney Charlie, he's terrible I'd like to serenade you Would you like to hear me sing? Yeah Oh I've got some flowers down here Oh yeah, get them These are some flowers from Charlie Oh thank you Isn't she gorgeous? Okay, well you can sing your song Ready? Yeah Unite me love you I didn't want to do it I didn't want to do it You made me want you And all the time I knew it I guess you'll always knew it You made me happy sometimes You made me sad And there were times, Courtney You made me feel so bad You made me cry cause I didn't want to tell you I didn't want to tell you I want some love That's true Yes I do, indeed I do You know I do Give me, give me, give me What I'd die for You know you got the brand of kisses That I'd cry for You know you made me I like you Give me, give me You know you made me Like you Now sing, here Not bad Thank you Cause I've been everywhere man I've been everywhere man Crossed the desert spam And I've breathed a mountain air And I've traveled that much And I've been everywhere I've been here, been everywhere I've been everywhere How's that? How's that? Kentucky Fried Chicken, three buns and gravy fritters, $9.99. Or, 16 pieces of chicken, six buns and gravy fritters, $15.99. So, bring it back! Make cooking easier with a new microwave from Townsville Microwave. North Queensland resident expert Sylvia Bowers can show you the benefits of convection microwave cooking. In fact, everyone who purchases a new microwave receives free cooking classes. Townsville Microwave stock only recommended microwave safe accessories and carry a range of quality corning ware second to none. They even have recommended starter sets for beginners and a super collection of microwave recipe books. Townsville Microwave, the complete microwave centre. Next week, that's seven days from now on Young Talent Time, we'll be on air for two hours showing you all the fun we had at Universal Studios in the United States. And we're so looking forward to showing you that. All our directors and producers and editors have been working very hard cutting it all together. And I managed during the week, so I can give you a little bit of a taste of what the program's about, to steal a few scenes to show to you right now. So don't forget to watch next week. And let's have a little look at some of the highlights from our Universal Studios show. This is one of the magnificent sets that we were able to use on the back lot. And this is the actual street where Michael Jackson recorded the way you make me feel so good. And of course, the wonderful Charlie Chaplin who we ran into. And we performed for the Americans and they are a great audience. And of course, we'll be meeting King Kong and Conan the Barbarian who's just fabulous and lots of very, very exciting pictures of people for you to meet. So do join us two weeks from now as we'll be living in America. No, one week from now. That's seven days from now for our Universal special. OK, let's sing that American song we've been practicing for the closing. You ready? Here we go. Here we go. Here we go. Here we go. Here we go. Here we go. Here we go. Here we go. Here we go. Here we go. Here we go. Here we go. Here we go. Come on, Joey. Well, we'll look forward to that next week and also just a little reminder. Oh, come on in, Charlie. I'm going to sit down. You can sit down right there. There you go. Oh, good day. Thanks, mate. Enjoyed it. Thank you. You were just great. I enjoyed it too. For our friends in Sydney, Young Talent Time, we'll be in Sydney for the very special Westfield Bicentennial Challenge. That's on Friday, the 26th of August. And the Young Talent team will be there. We'll be there, Rolf, Harris, a whole bunch of wonderful people. So if you'd like to join us for that special performance, the Westfield Challenge, be quick and get your tickets from the Centre Management Office at any Westfield shopping towns. And that's on Friday, the 26th. And I'll pretend that I'm kissing those lips I am missing. Good night, Courtney. Good night. And I hope. Good night, Joey. Great closing. Good night, Vinnie. Good night, John. Say good night to your mate for me too. Good night, Ricky. Good night, Natalie Jane. Good night. And I'll say good night, Marlena. Good night, Greg. Good night, John. To you. And on behalf of our sponsors, McDonald's, see you next week for our Universal special. Bye, everybody. Whoo! Yay! Sydney and in Melbourne, Johnny Young and the cast choose to stay at the Southern Cross Hotel. Our Talent Discovery shares in the McDonald's scholarship fund and takes home a Yamaha keyboard. Our Talent Discovery of the Year will win a grand piano from Yamaha Music Australia. Young Talent Time is a Television House production for Network 10 Australia. Gavin Wood speaking. Good night. Good night. See you, folks. Sometimes it's torture on Sale of the Century. One, two. Torture deciding what to buy. We'll just spend $4 with $200 cash going, Wayne, once, twice, three times, sold at that price. Yes, I'll do it. The 16-year-old Whizkid put him to side if he wants $30,000. He's coming back on Monday to tell us what he's going to do. Monday night at 7. The final link in a $20 million project was forged this week with the opening of the Winton to Kainuna deviation on the Landsborough Highway. This section, completed at a cost of $7 million, is just part of the enormous $40 million project to seal the full length of the Landsborough Highway. The entire project is a tribute to the Queensland Government's commitment to provide services and facilities for the state's widely scattered population. Well, this is the final stage of the bitumen sealing of the road from Brisbane to Darwin. It gives some indication of the main road's skill in providing a first-class road system throughout the state of Queensland. Main road's Minister Bill Gunn travelled to western Queensland for the official opening of this joint, federal-state funded project to seal all sections of the vital Brisbane to Darwin National Highway. The opening celebrates a significant milestone for road construction in northwest Queensland. Today, it is possible to drive from Brisbane to Darwin on this, the longest national highway in Queensland. Providing a road system over such a vast state as Queensland is an enormous challenge in itself, mainly because of the tremendous costs involved. On the Landsborough Highway, some $40 million has been spent over the last five years, an amount that covers only 100 kilometres of a road which is over 1800 kilometres long. The development of the Landsborough Highway has been a saga of pioneering in road construction techniques to cope with the harsh environment and the remote location of many of the job sites. The final phase of the project to seal the whole of the Brisbane to Darwin Road involved the construction of 19 kilometres of highway northwest from Kainuna at a cost of $4.5 million. Difficulties faced during the construction included the remoteness of the area from centres of supply of goods and services and the hot, arid climate with extremes of temperature. Material for the base of this section of the Landsborough Highway came from the crusty top of the mesas found in the Kainuna area. The deposit was found to be within an economic handling distance from the construction site and proved to be first-class road-based material which will stand where over many years to come. The Landsborough Highway is used by an ever-increasing flow of interstate and regional traffic and the work just completed will add immeasurably to the safety of all motorists who use it. For years, this highway was frequently closed by rain, severely hampering traffic and causing losses with late deliveries of essential goods. Well the Main Roads can be extremely proud of the completion of this project which marks the final sealing of the Kainuna-Winton section of the Landsborough Highway which is a project of great importance in our bicentennial year. Paul Hogan lashes the media on 60 Minutes and the journalists hit back Monday morning on Today. Point of View is written and spoken by Bob Santamaria for the National Civic Council 254 Queen Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000. Here now is Point of View, an independent news commentary by Mr Bob Santamaria on behalf of the National Civic Council. How do you do? Last week the Canberra correspondents got down to one of their favourite pastimes, opening up another round in the opposition's apparently endless leadership debate. But was it a genuine challenge to either Mr Howard or Mr Sinclair or was it simply another example of Labour mischief-making with members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery playing their habitual role of government hacks? Unfortunately that question barely matters. The most important problem in Australian politics today is not what either of the major parties does to the other or to itself, but simply that the electorate has switched off. The small section of the Australian public which remains switched on knows that the country's real problems have remained unattended for so long that they've become almost insoluble. The Government uses the mechanisms of public relations, like the coming referendum paid for by the taxpayer, to distract public attention from hard decisions of public policy. Mr Keating for instance goes through the charade of allegedly paying off Australia's foreign debt in Tokyo. It's bunkum and everybody knows it. Mr Hook to take another example, Gala Vance around the Sacred Fire at a Northern Territory corroboree promises to sign a treaty with the Aborigines. The Aborigines unconsciously adapting themselves to the culture of the whites also go in for symbols. At Mr Hook's Northern Territory charade, perhaps the most able of the Aboriginal leadership, Mr Galawiyun in Pingu took off the familiar tailored suit with which he mixes in white society and put on the ceremonial ochre of the corroboree. To which world did he belong? Meanwhile the real problems multiply and deepen and are ignored by everybody, Aboriginal and white alike. Who has even thought of the revolution in Australia's traditional foreign policy, marked in the past by comfortable dependence, first on Britain and then on the United States, now that Japan, rather than the United States, is about to become the major foreign power in the South West Pacific? Or that over the same period the increase of Japanese power in the region will actually serve as a magnet for the Soviet, India, China, whose presence in the South West Pacific is geographically far more natural than that of either Britain or the United States, whose capitals are both 10,000 miles distant from Canberra? Some of the more politically conscious inhabitants of Queensland's Gold Coast have responded to this by passing resolutions against Japanese land purchases, about as effective as Cnut ordering the tide to roll back. The Aboriginal activists groaning under the alleged oppression of white Australians might ask themselves how Japan treats its Aborigines, the Anus, how India treats the Tribals, or China, the Tibetans. If ever any of these powers have to deal with Australia's Aborigines, they're not likely to be afflicted with the crisis of conscience, which apparently paralyzes Australia's intellectuals. Who gives a thought to the fact that although over the past 10 years we have spent between $40 billion and $50 billion on defence, we could not keep two battalions in the field in any of the surrounding islands for a period of two months. That point, which was passingly noted over recent events in Fiji, is likely to arise in much more direct form as Papua New Guinea slips visibly into chaos. How many noted that while Mr Keating was spectacularly repaying a modicum of our overseas debt to the Japanese, in exactly the same financial year, Australia's total foreign debt simultaneously rose by a net $11 billion to over $100 billion, and that next year it will be the same again. Who recalls that Australia's birth rate is at its lowest ebb since the history of white settlement in this continent began? This is not mentioned in Polite Company, which regards the only excusable baby as the one manufactured by the scientists with IVF. Who notes that Australia's marriage rate is continually declining, that its divorce rate is almost double what it was before the late Lionel Murphy's Family Law Act, that the number of single-parent families of children without parents or one parent only, and the enormous cost associated with it, are at the highest level ever, or that, in order to avoid offending its feminist constituency, the Government's childcare payments are directed to subsidising wealthy two-income families, with taxes raised from poorer single-income families. Who notes that the law increasingly accords equivalent status to temporary cohabitation and to regular family relationships, that the same law pretends that the homosexual act and the heterosexual act are biologically equal, being simple matters of preference, and that, while it is established beyond any dispute that it is almost entirely act of homosexuality which brought the AIDS plague down upon the country, the Government and its well-paid PR hacks simply tell lies about the incontrovertible statistical facts, so as not to offend another of the Government's constituencies. In the light of those facts, to worry about whether Mr Hayden is to become Governor-General, whether Mr Keating will succeed Mr Hawke, who will succeed Mr Sinclair, and whether it's better for the Liberals and Nationals to unite excites no one. Perhaps it is time that we paid attention to and became excited by the real things. Goodbye until next week. For a free copy of the text of this telecast, write to News Weekly, Box 66A, GPO, Melbourne. Point of View, the independent news commentary you've just seen, is presented by Mr Bob Santamaria on behalf of the National Civic Council. Point of View is written and spoken by Bob Santamaria for the National Civic Council, 254 Queen Street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000. You could be sunning, sailing or snorkelling. It's all happening here in North Queensland. You're watching NQTV. Another mid-air collision. Four dead, two survivors. Brow over radioactive waste dump in inner city Brisbane. And bruising league is Balmain, Downs the Panfords. Good evening. All four people on board a light aircraft were killed today in South East Queensland's third fatal mid-air collision this year. Another two men on board a second aircraft survived the disaster. The planes were flying in perfect conditions over Moreton Bay. There's still no indication why they struck each other. The piece of an early Sunday morning at Amity Point on Stradbroke Island was shattered just after 9.30. Fishermen watched on as the two paper Cherokees collided. One then fell into the sea. Well, the aircraft just fall out of the sky and just goes nose first into the water with a really big splash and a really loud explosion. The plane came down just off the island's northern tip, only a few hundred metres from the township. I was too, I was kind of too shocked just watching this plane just crashing before my eyes. It was only a matter of 400 metres away from where we were standing. The men waded to the wreckage, just knee deep in water on a sandbar. They found no survivors, the bodies of two men still strapped in their seats, two more floating in the sea. The second aircraft went down some seven kilometres away. Among the bits and pieces which began washing to the shore, the plane's pilot who stumbled onto the beach. Well, we thought he was swimming in the beach actually. We just thought he might have had a camp over the back here. We were going past and as we went past I just wound my window down. He was calling out help so I stopped and I jumped out of the passenger seat and ran in to get him. Still in shock from the ordeal, George Walker said there'd been no warning. We were flying around the top of Stradbroke Island. There was a loud bang, looked out by left and three to four foot of the port wing was missing. Walker's passenger was plucked from the sea alive soon after. Later as the rest of the wreckage was pulled ashore, the dead were brought back to Brisbane and the investigations began into Queensland's latest air tragedy. Lee Anderson, National Nine News. The State Government's environmental and industrial safety record is under fire again tonight with fears of a potential radioactive leak occurring near the heart of Brisbane. The opposition is claiming Health Minister Alicia Harvey has known about the threat for months but has avoided action, endangering the public and the environment. Padlocks and crumbling mortar, almost illegible signs and their air of neglect, belay the contents of these buildings. Radioactive wastes from soil moisture tests and medical equipment are stored here in a works depot yard at Petrie Byte. Experts say the facility is full and there's already danger to staff, let alone the general population in the busy city centre and nearby recreation area on the banks of the river. The heart of the facility is this 1940s bomb shelter, its condition described as disturbing by a health department physicist. In a confidential memo he told the government failure to provide appropriate storage facilities is an abrogation of responsibility to provide essential radiation protection for public health in Queensland. They have refused to act, nothing's been done to even improvise proper storage there even in a temporary capacity. Mrs Harvey has really got to explain to people of Queensland why nothing has been done to protect us. Premier Micah Hearn on hearing of the document leak confirmed immediate funds could be available. If it's demonstrated by the professionals, which is not Mr Combin, that there is an immediate problem we will allocate the necessary monies to quickly overcome it. Environmental and industrial safety is fast becoming a key issue for the government. The Eagle Farm petrol spill and then the Queen Street industrial accident followed by today's concerns about the storage of nuclear wastes put Premier Micah Hearn and several of his key ministers in the hot seat for tomorrow's cabinet meeting. Andrew Bruin, National Nine News. Taking a new initiative on immigration the federal government has announced a nationwide year of citizenship. The campaign is aimed at encouraging all Australian residents to become citizens. A gesture Prime Minister Hawke calls the ultimate expression of commitment. Wonderful day to become an Australian isn't it? I'm very proud of it, thank you very much. Hannah Mandlikova takes out citizenship and that's what the federal government wants to see repeated a million times over in the next 12 months, officially designated the year of citizenship. Announced by the Prime Minister today a nationwide campaign will soon be fully underway, targeted at the estimated one million residents who are not Australian citizens. It's the latest development in the increasingly contentious immigration debate, one that had Mr Hawke talking about his belief in One Australia. Common ground there apparently with John Howard. What I'm arguing for very passionately is a One Australia approach. But the government says unlike the opposition it won't be cutting back on Asian immigration nor will it make citizenship compulsory. However the government is very serious about the importance of becoming an Australian. It's not just a question of the benefits that go with citizenship, it's a question of then being prepared to accept the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. As for not making it compulsory. You're going to get a better quality of citizen and you're going to get someone who has got the commitment to Australia that we all seek from someone who becomes a citizen because he wants to, he feels it's an obligation. Prime Minister Hawke has thrown his personal prestige behind this drive for citizenship. He says the moment a person becomes an Australian should be the most important and joyous of a person's life. Peter Harvey, Canberra. Calls tonight for the sacking of Federal Opposition Health Spokesman Wilson Tuckie after a controversial speech at a National AIDS Conference. Mr Tuckie suggested AIDS was deliberately spread by what he called unnatural acts. Medical experts say he's put debate on the issue back five years. Living up to his reputation for kindling controversy, Wilson Tuckie caused uproar at the conference in Hobart, his speech offending the audience and enraging AIDS experts. AIDS is very much a disease that results from deliberate and possibly unnatural activity. I'm sorry. The gering and booing continued as Mr Tuckie went on to tell the audience that included AIDS sufferers. You don't catch AIDS, you let someone give it to you. The performance earned unanimous disapproval from AIDS experts, outraged at his level of understanding of the problem. I was angry yesterday but today I'm saddened that a shadow spokesman for health could be so ignorant about such an important topic. Accusing Mr Tuckie of being out of touch with the latest medical, scientific and social aspects of AIDS, they say his comments turned back the clock to a time when the virus was wrongly thought of as a gay plague. I find it very hard to believe how Mr Tuckie can continue in his current position as Shadow Health Minister with the level of knowledge or I should say lack of knowledge about AIDS. Opposition leader John Howard has refused to comment on the dismissal calls while Wilson Tuckie is standing fast. They were not outrageous comments. Today he also reiterated a call for AIDS testing of all blood samples. Matthew Clark, National Nine News. Still ahead on the Sunday night news, Liberal leader Angus Innes says Terrence Lewis should go. And heading for Sweden on hot air. You can tell a lot about avamic cattlemen when their cattle walk on by. It's that look of quiet pride comes.