The trailer brings us to Mr Beattie. The premier of Queensland has backflipped over his threat to sack councils that run elections.
Mr Beattie's party, when in government in 1990, may well have committed a disturbing illegal act involving the rape of a 14 yo aboriginal girl and Mr Rudd. Mr Rudd might soon be Prime Minister ..
British Telecom puts woman on hold for 20 hours
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A CUSTOMER trying to call British telecoms operator BT Group was left hanging on the telephone for a total of 20 hours, The Times newspaper reported today.
Hannah King, 51, called a company helpline after a BT engineer failed to turn up to install a telephone line at her new flat in Milford Haven, south Wales, according to the paper.
For eight hours in a row, she endured the sound of piped music.
She gave up and tried again the next day - and waited another eight hours before putting the phone down.
The following day, she spent a further four hours on hold before hanging up.
That took the total time wasted to almost one day, the paper said.
“I was so frustrated and angry I broke down in tears,” she told The Times.
“It is a helpline for goodness' sake, surely a company as big as BT can answer their phones.”
BT admitted that a new calling system had left some customers in the lurch.
“BT would like to apologise for the length of time this customer was left on the phone,” the paper quoted a BT spokeswoman as saying.
Councils win Beattie backdown
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THE Queensland Government today withdrew its threat to fine or sack councils that ask ratepayers to vote on controversial council mergers proposed by the state.
Premier Peter Beattie and Local Government Minister Andrew Fraser threatened the draconian action after several councils indicated they would ignore the state's ban on them holding plebiscites on the issue.
The Queensland Parliament last week passed laws to slash the number of local government councils in the state from 156 to 72.
Several councils have protested against the mergers, with Nebo council, just west of Mackay in central Queensland, today going ahead with a poll despite the threat of punishment.
Prime Minister John Howard yesterday continued to intervene in the issue, threatening to override legislation that gives the state power to sack councils.
Mr Howard had already waded into the issue by offering to cover the cost of ballots held by rebellious councils.
But Mr Fraser said today no action would be taken against councils that put the issue to a poll of ratepayers.
"There are a number of councils at the moment that are conducting polls or plebiscites. We are not going to move against any council that conducts that – we are moving on," Mr Fraser said in Brisbane.
"We believe that most councils are moving on, most mayors and communities are moving on, and we are not going to move against them.
"The votes that are being conducted will not change any boundaries."
Mr Fraser said Mr Howard's intervention did nothing but offer people false hope.
"The votes that John Howard is offering will not change any boundaries," he said.
"John Howard is not offering anything other than false hope. He is not interested in the votes that occur in parts of Queensland. He is interested only in his own vote."
Sex romp worker Carlie Street a 'sweet, naive girl'
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A FAMILY friend of Carlie Streeter, the woman at the centre of the Telstra sex romp case, has defended her conduct and described her as a "sweet, naive girl".
The woman, who contacted The Daily Telegraph's website yesterday, said she had known Ms Streeter since she was six and always found her to be of good character.
Along with former colleagues Aakash Sharma, Steve Hatzistergos and one other unnamed female, Ms Streeter was sacked by the telco following an investigation into a staff function.
Telstra claimed Ms Streeter had sexually harassed colleagues by having sex in a hotel room, just metres from them, and by remaining naked in the bath with two men while a female colleague was forced to used the toilet.
The Australian Industrial Relations Commission last week cleared Ms Streeter of any wrongdoing but Telstra is appealing the ruling.
Yesterday, the woman said she believed Ms Streeter had been the victim of circumstances beyond her control.
"We all are guilty of doing stupid things while under the influence . . . she's just a silly young woman who has made a terrible mistake."