08. 02. 10. - 16:00

• more General News news
• RSS Feed General News

08. 02. 10. - 16:00

Defence minister under fire over barracks

Social Democratic (SPÖ) Defence Minister Norbert Darabos is under fire from the People’s Party (ÖVP) and the Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) over conditions at army barracks.

Following a critical report about conditions in Austrian barracks by an ombudsman, ÖVP defence spokesman Norbert Kapeller said yesterday (Sun): "Our barracks should not be neglected," adding that a "model barracks" in Güssing, Burgenland did not "compensate for neglect of other barracks."

He called on Darabos, who is also sports minister, to spend less time on sports, for which there had been significant investment in marketing and ad campaigns, and more time on the military.

Kapeller said: "We need to spend that money to ensure reasonable living and working conditions for our soldiers and to supply them with necessary equipment."

BZÖ defence spokesman Kurt List called for "an offensive for renovation of barracks. The defence minister had been informed by military officers about desolate barracks but has done nothing."

Besides sports, the defence ministry had done nothing except to engage in "shadow action" on the military, List claimed.

In response, Darabos said yesterday that the ministry had invested 311 million Euros in barrack renovation during his tenure in office. "That will continue to be a high priority for me," he added, but cautioned that renovation would occur "step by step."

He said: "It is a long-term process that I will lead and bring to fruition" with the goal of "strengthening the military."

Darabos noted that ground-breaking for the 40-million-Euro project for the Güssing model barracks would occur in October this year.

SPÖ ombudsman Peter Kostelka recently reported that living and hygienic standards in many barracks left much to be desired.

He also called for much higher investment in barrack renovation from 2010 through 2014.

Kostelka cited the Benedek barracks in Bruckneudorf, Burgenland, as an example. He said the barracks housing 36 soldiers had no showers and they had to walk to another building 200 metres distant to shower in the basement.

The Austrian Military Officers Association had warned in February 2009 that some barracks were partially in "life-threatening condition" and criticised them as even below "Third World levels."

Austrian Times

Related articles: political scandals

1. Car fuel prices lower than the EU average

   » General News 2010-03-12

   The prices of petrol and diesel-fuel in Austria are lower than the EU average, the Economics Ministry said today (Fri).

2. Nazi era mass grave discovered in Graz

   » General News 2010-03-11

   The bodies of 77 people were probably buried by the Nazis on the grounds of Graz’ Belgier barracks, where the Nazi SS’ Wetzelsdorf barracks was located, it emerged yesterday (Weds).

3. Lower Austria 'invested €40 mn in disgraced Madoff fund'

   » Business 2010-03-11

   Lower Austria has invested 40 million Euros in disgraced American Bernard Madoff’s Alpha Prime fund, says a report in today’s (Thurs) Der Standard newspaper.

4. OSCE to monitor presidential election

   » General News 2010-03-10

   The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) will send election observers to Austria for the first time since World War II to monitor next month’s presidential elections.

5. Carinthian Slovene organisation opts for self-dissolution

   » General News 2010-03-10

   The Council of Carinthian Slovenes’ executive committee voted yesterday (Tues) in favour of its dissolution, head Karel Smolle announced.

6. Insurance branch tax 'will mainly affect customers'

   » Business 2010-03-10

   Customers would be the most affected party if the government decides to set up a new tax for insurance companies, a top branch representative has warned.

7. VIDC calls on Austria to shelter Iranian dissidents

   » General News 2010-03-10

   The Vienna Institute for International Dialogue and Cooperation (VIDC) called on the Austrian government today (Weds) to give refuge to Iranian dissidents.

8. Military frontier patrols useless, says report

   » General News 2010-03-09

   Military patrols of Austria’s eastern frontiers are practically useless in terms of increasing public security, the Federal Audit Office (RH) said yesterday (Mon).

9. US military behind Haiti quake, says Innsbruck scientist

   » General News 2010-03-09

   Innsbruck political scientist Claudia von Werlhof has accused the USA of being behind the Haitian earthquake in January, it emerged today (Tues).

10. Mauthausen wall defaced again

    » General News 2010-03-08

    The outer wall of the former Nazi concentration and death camp at Mauthausen, Upper Austria, was defaced again last Friday night, police said.

Related articles: crisis

1. Union boss slams TA chief

   » Business 2010-03-12

   Werner Luksch, the head of the workers’ council at Mobilkom, has criticised parent firm Telekom-Austria’s (TA) chief Hannes Ametsreiter.

2. Austrian Peter Löscher named top-earning German company boss

   » Business 2010-03-12

   An Austrian has been named as the best paid CEO among German companies listed by the country’s stock market index DAX in "crisis year" 2009.

3. Job anxiety slowly ebbing

   » Business 2010-03-12

   Austrians’ anxiety about losing their jobs has been slowly ebbing, according to results of a new poll by Linz public-opinion research firm Spectra released today (Fri).

4. Car fuel prices lower than the EU average

   » General News 2010-03-12

   The prices of petrol and diesel-fuel in Austria are lower than the EU average, the Economics Ministry said today (Fri).

5. Salzburg flight school is bankrupt

   » Business 2010-03-12

   Salzburg flight school Flight Track Trainings GmbH entered bankruptcy proceedings today (Fri), the Alpine Land Creditors Association (AKV) reported.

6. AUA 2009 turnover and passenger numbers down

   » Business 2010-03-11

   Struggling former flagship carrier Austrian Airlines (AUA) failed to get back in the black last year as turnover and passenger numbers dropped.

7. Lower Austria to have more postal service providers

   » Business 2010-03-10

   Lower Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) Governor Erwin Pröll announced yesterday (Tues) that his province would have at least 500 postal service providers within two years.

8. AUA passenger numbers up

   » Business 2010-03-10

   Former Austrian flagship carrier Austrian Airlines (AUA) said today (Weds) they had more passengers last month compared to the same period last year.

9. 'Fest der Pferde' show jumping is history

   » Business 2010-03-10

   There will be no more editions of the "Fest der Pferde" (Horse Festival) show jumping tournament, it has been announced.

10. 'Fest der Pferde' show jumping is history

    » Sports 2010-03-10

    There will be no more editions of the "Fest der Pferde" (Horse Festival) show jumping tournament, it has been announced.

'Sudoku Day' in Vienna this Sunday
Around 1,500 people are expected to take part in Sunday’s "Sudoku Day" competition in Vienna.

Bosnian minister calls for Austrian investments
Bosnia-Herzegovina's Minister of Communications and Transport Rudo Vidovic has invited Austrian investors to play a bigger role in the Balkan country.

Vienna to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with cultural festival
Vienna will celebrate the 17 March St. Patrick’s Day this year with a 20 March parade on the Ringstraße and eight cultural events from 13 to 24 March, it was announced today (Fri).

Salzburg flight school is bankrupt
Salzburg flight school Flight Track Trainings GmbH entered bankruptcy proceedings today (Fri), the Alpine Land Creditors Association (AKV) reported.

Robber fails to be taken seriously
A 29-year-old drunk became a laughing stock after failing to rob a Spar supermarket and a Bank Austria (BA) branch yesterday (Thurs) afternoon, police said.

Austrian Peter Löscher named top-earning German company boss
An Austrian has been named as the best paid CEO among German companies listed by the country’s stock market index DAX in "crisis year" 2009.

Job anxiety slowly ebbing
Austrians’ anxiety about losing their jobs has been slowly ebbing, according to results of a new poll by Linz public-opinion research firm Spectra released today (Fri).

Blown-up explosives factory to reopen
The Austin Powder GmbH emulsion explosives factory that blew up on 11 March 2008 is going to reopen this April, according to firm chief Wolfgang Schuster.

Nurse goes loopy at Linz General Hospital
A nurse ran amok yesterday (Thurs) at Linz General Hospital (AKH), attacking her instructor after failing a further education course for the third consecutive time, police said.

Car fuel prices lower than the EU average
The prices of petrol and diesel-fuel in Austria are lower than the EU average, the Economics Ministry said today (Fri).