National Interest

The National Interest round up begins with a budget leak - no nothing exclusive from federal treasurer Wayne Swan, but the story from the Canberra City News of how an advance copy of the ACT budget ended up in the toilet. The Liberals were so keen to get an early insight into Labor's plans that a staffer picked up a copy of the budget papers an hour early and sneaked them out of the lock up and into the ladies. Unfortunately she was spotted and officials followed her into the cubicle to secure return of the documents.

Sydney's Daily Telegraph reports on the kid's birthday party that cost $30-thousand dollars. We're not talking millionaire row or a trip to Disney Land, but a dispute between warring parents who asked the Family Court to rule on where their 7 year old's party should be held and who should be invited. Dad wanted to celebrate at McDonald's with gifts, balloons, his relatives, his new partner - and their new baby - Mum wanted a quiet party on familiar at the daughter's play centre, with no relatives. It took a judge, three barristers, three solicitors and a day in court to reach a compromise.

Family law expert Michael Taussig QC says if somebody asked him to run a case in court about a birthday, he'd tell them to see a psychiatrist. Or perhaps suggest two parties - one with mum, the other with dad.

It's not just family matters that tie up valuable court time - we've reported before on the dispute between rival chocolate makers over the colour purple - now international food giant Nestle and local company Cantarella Brothers are battling it out over the colour green. Nestle flogs the Italian sparkling water San Pelligrino, which comes in a green bottle with a red star on the label - Cantarella Brothers sells rival brand Santa Vitorria, also in a green bottle and with a label featuring a scene from the 19th Century masterpiece, the Birth of Venus. Nestle thinks consumers could get their green bottles confused and it's taken action under the misleading and deceptive conduct provisions of the trade practices act. This week the Federal Court recommended that the parties enter into mediation over the matter - which sounds like a polite way of saying the dispute is a waste of time. As celebrity chef Neil Perry told the Financial Review one bottle's "got a naked woman on it and the other's got a star". He says the dispute is "just ridiculous".

We've heard of tree vandals - property owners who cut down trees that interrupt their view of the water - but where else but Queensland would you find dune levellers? The Sunshine Coast Daily reports that sand dunes on Bribie Island are being lowered to improve the ocean vista from nearby houses. The work threatens nesting sites of the endangered loggerhead turtle but apparently it's all above board. The Caboolture Council issued itself with a permit to level the dunes and got the tick from the State's Environmental Protection Agency.

The Daily also reports on the dispute over the Dingo fence on Fraser Island, which indigenous leaders say could disturb culturally significant sites. The $750-thousand fence is meant to separate dingoes from tourists but the Courier Mail says it doesn't work - it carries a picture of a dingo daintily picking its way across a specially- designed dog-proof cattle grid.

Family pets are the latest victims of a tight property market. Many landlords prohibit pets and the RSPCA is being inundated with requests to help out with animals that are not allowed to accompany their owners into new rental accomodation. The Courier Mail profiles one family who reluctantly gave away their moggy when told 'no cats allowed'. They thought the pet parrot might be OK - but they've been told the bird has to go too - even the fish tank.

Presenter

Peter Mares

Producer

John Standish