SYDNEY: Famed US film mogul George Lucas reportedly is closely monitoring the health of Queensland independent Senator Malcolm Colston, his Australian agent says. With the final two episodes of the Star Wars prequels to be shot in Sydney, Lucas is understood to be keen to save money on expensive high-tech computer imaging by persuading the Senator to take on the key role of Jabba the Hut.

CANBERRA: In a personal explanation to the Senate, senior ALP powerbroker Senator Robert Ray has lashed out angrily at rumours that he has been pestering the family of ailing Queensland Senator Malcolm Colston for information on the senator's funeral and burial plans. Senator Ray said there was absolutely no truth to scurrilous rumours that he had been spotted at a Collingwood hardware store purchasing nine square metres of parquetry flooring, a pair of size 11 tap shoes and a set of portable strobe lights.

MELBOURNE: Frequent air travellers are set for some good news at last.
Spokespersons for both the Qantas and Ansett frequent flier points redemption centres believe the number of points needed to be redeemed for free flights will fall substantially on the death of Queensland independent Senator Mal Colston.
Both companies said a freeing up of the available points pool should see a round-world flight - now worth some 180,000 points - drop to 160,000 points or even less.
Even non-frequent travellers are set to benefit from the Senator's demise. Both airlines said the quality and quantity of in-flight meals should improve markedly at no extra cost to the carriers.

HOBART: The ease with which the first batch of Kosovo refugees have settled into the Australian way of life has been attributed by Immigration officials here to the repeat screenings on their long flight from their war-torn European country of the hit Aussie film, The Castle.