Fed: Hockey stumbles over key economic fact

AAP General News (Australia)
02-22-2009
Fed: Hockey stumbles over key economic fact

CANBERRA, Feb 22 AAP - The opposition's new Treasury spokesman, Joe Hockey, has stumbled
over a key economic fact in his first week in the job.

Mr Hockey struggled to name the size of the government's $42 billion economic stimulus package.

"This is exactly why we opposed the size of the $42,000, ah, million dollar, billion
dollar, the $42 billion dollar stimulus package," Mr Hockey told ABC Television on Sunday.

His predecessor, Julie Bishop, was attacked when she made a gaffe early in her tenure
as Treasury spokeswoman, failing to correctly name …

QLD:Ipswich mayor wants city flood-proofed

AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-2011
QLD:Ipswich mayor wants city flood-proofed

BRISBANE, August 1 AAP - Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasle hopes Monday's flood inquiry report
can provide some assurance that a natural disaster on that scale can ever happen again.

The Queensland Flood Commission of Inquiry's interim report will make recommendations
on what could be improved in the wake of January's widespread flooding that claimed 35
lives.

Much of the inquiry's hearings focused on the Wivenhoe Dam and how four specialist
engineers managed it.

Mr Pisasle said Ipswich still had not fully recovered from the devastation.

"People have gone through some terrific times over the last few months and we've worked
hard to get back to this position," Mr Pisasle told ABC radio on Monday.

"What we want in this report is that we will never have to go through these hard times again."

Rockhampton mayor Brad Carter said he didn't expect the Capricornia region to figure
prominently in the interim flood report, but hoped two major problems would be covered.

"We need to improve the flood immunity of the Bruce Highway and the flood immunity
of the Rockhampton airport," he told ABC radio.

Premier Anna Bligh says she looked forward to learning some tough lessons out of Monday's
flood inquiry report.

She said on Sunday that she eagerly awaited the document to understand more about what
happened, and what improvements the authorities can make.

"I don't care if it's tough. I want answers," she told reporters.

"I think Queenslanders deserve answers."

Ms Bligh said authorities must ensure they'll be as prepared as possible to responding
to and recover from future natural disasters.

She said she had asked for the report to be released now so that necessary changes
could be made before next summer's wet season.

"I certainly hope that what we see tomorrow is a report that has concrete recommendations
that the government can adopt to make sure that we are safer to make sure that in any
future disasters we are better protected," she said.

The premier said she understood Monday could be a difficult day for victims.

The $15 million inquiry that held 30 days of public hearings in eight locations ended on May 27.

A second round of public hearings, to focus on insurance and land use issues, will
begin in September, ahead of the final report due by February 24, 2012.

The report will be released at 1pm (AEST) on Monday.

AAP dac/crh/it/de

KEYWORD: FLOODS INQUIRY

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

VIC:Labor says rail cost blowout not its fault

AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2011
VIC:Labor says rail cost blowout not its fault

By Melissa Jenkins and Edwina Scott

MELBOURNE, April 5 AAP - The Labor Party has denied it is responsible for a cost blowout
for Victoria's regional rail link.

The coalition government announced on Tuesday the project will go ahead but it will
be up to $1.5 billion over budget and at least two years late.

After reviewing the Labor-initiated project, which was previously costed at $4.3 billion,
the state government has decided to proceed.

But the rail link won't be finished until 2016 at the earliest and is now expected
to cost up to $5.8 billion.

Work on the rail link is being tendered in seven separate packages.

Opposition public transport spokeswoman Fiona Richardson says Public Transport Minister
Terry Mulder is misleading the public on the project's cost because most of it has not
been put to tender yet.

"We have heard a lot of weak excuses from a weak minister whose heart has never been
in this project," she told reporters.

"The assertion that the minister is making is that he can somehow look into the future
and see what the cost of those tenders will be."

When pressed by journalists on whether Labor's $4.3 billion price tag was actually
a guesstimate, Ms Richardson repeatedly answered that the full cost of the project would
be known once all of the tenders have been returned.

Greens Western Metropolitan MP Colleen Hartland said the government's announcement
would give residents in limbo certainty surrounding the project.

But she said residents whose homes had been compulsorily acquired in Footscray, particularly
the elderly, should not be forced out of their homes by August this year.

"It's going to be delayed by two years. Why not allow those people to stay in their
houses? Their houses have been acquired but why not just let them stay there?" she told
AAP.

"Relocating before they need to just doesn't make a lot of sense."

Treasury has found the former government under-costed the project by between $700 million
and $1.1 billion.

Signalling and control systems, land acquisition and rising construction costs have
chewed up about $900 million in contingency money, which was included in the initial budget.

The revised price tag includes items not previously budgeted for - $259 million for
34 V/Line VLocity train carriages and $150 million for two grade separations at Anderson
Road, Sunshine.

When the rail link is complete, major regional lines, including Geelong, Bendigo and
Ballarat will, for the first time, have their own tracks into Melbourne.

It will mean V/Line trains won't be held up by breakdowns on the metropolitan network
and vice versa.

AAP mj/gfr/dep

KEYWORD: RAIL VIC (VIDEO AVAILABLE)

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

VIC:Top cop carrying gun for protection

AAP General News (Australia)
12-15-2010
VIC:Top cop carrying gun for protection

One of Victoria's top cops is carrying a gun for his protection after receiving death threats.

The Herald Sun says Deputy Commissioner Sir KEN JONES has received threats at his home
and carries a high-powered Glock pistol.

Police are trying to determine how his home address became known.

Sir KEN joined Victoria Police last year .. accepting the role as deputy after missing
out on becoming chief commissioner.

AAP RTV mn/jen/

KEYWORD: POLICE VIC (MELBOURNE)

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED:Events Diary Saturday, August 7, 2010

AAP General News (Australia)
08-07-2010
FED:Events Diary Saturday, August 7, 2010
EVENTS LISTED IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER AND LOCAL TIME UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED:

ADELAIDE
No items listed

BRISBANE
1845 - Australian Defence Charity Ball 2010. Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Contact: Jayne Kidd 07 3893 1988

CANBERRA
No items listed

MELBOURNE
- Melbourne Art Fair. Royal Exhibition Building, 9 Nicholson Street, Carlton. Contact:
03 9416 2050. Website: www.melbourneartfair.com
- Melbourne International Film Festival. Forum Theatre, 154 Flinders Street. Contact:
03 8660 4888. Website: www.melbournefilmfestival.com.au
- The Winter Festival. Queensbridge Square, Southbank. Contact: Ainslie Lenehan 02 9375
2525. Website: www.winterfestival.com.au/melbourne-2/
- Beechworth Ned Kelly Weekend. Sub Treasury Building, Historic & Cultural Precinct, Beechworth.

Victoria Police Museum objects displayed. Contact: Sue Couttie 03 5728 8061, 0429 805
076. Website: www.beechworthonline.com.au
0900 - Home & Giving Fair. August 7-11, 2010. Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Contact: 02 9763 3222. Website: www.homeandgiving.com
1100 - Community rally calling on political parties to get real on climate change. Steps
of Parliament House. Contact: Jane Morton 0419 870 507.
1200 - Jessica Watson Book Signing. Borders - Chadstone Shopping Centre, Dandenong Road.

Website: borders.com.au
1400-1600 - Community meetings on recommendations in the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal
Commission report. Daylesford, Apollo Bay, Pakenham. Contact: Cameron Scott 0448 346 942,
03 9651 5799. Website: www.premier.vic.gov.au

PERTH
No items listed

SYDNEY
0945 - Federal Member for Grayndler Anthony Albanese attends rally to say `no way' to
RTA's `road to nowhere'. Campaign against M5 extension - southern connection link road.

St Peters Town Hall, 39 Unwins Bridge Road, Sydenham. Contact: Monique Spanbrook 0412
446 285
1100 - Maxine McKew, Federal MP for Bennelong, to hold a Bake-Off at Eastwood Mall. 160
Rowe Street, Eastwood. Contact: Sue Pike 02 9868 1399
1300 - `Stand Up for Refugees' rally organised by Refugee Action Coalition to be held
as part of nationwide protest. Rally followed by march around city blocks and back to
Town Hall. Sydney Town Hall, George Street, Sydney. Contact: Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713

SPORT
AFL -
Rnd 19 - to August 8
1410 - North Melbourne v Fremantle, Etihad Std
1410 - Sydney v Hawthorn, SCG
1940 (AEST) - West Coast v Brisbane, Subiaco Oval
1910 - Geelong v Collingwood, MCG
RUGBY LEAGUE - NRL -
Rnd 22 - to August 9
1730 - Manly v Melbourne, Brookvale Oval
1930 - Sth Sydney v Wests Tigers, ANZ Std
1930 - Cronulla v NZ Warriors, Toyota Std
SOCCER - A-League - to February 13
Week 1 - to August 8
1930 - Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory, SFS
BASKETBALL (Men's) - Training Camp 3 - to August 13
Pre-selection camp in the leadup to the world titles in Turkey, Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Cnt
RUGBY - Tri Nations series - to October 30
Match 5 - Bledisloe Cup
1735 (AEST) - Australia v New Zealand, AMI Std, Christchurch
GOLF - USPGA Tour - to August 8
Turning Stone Resort C'ship, Atunyote Golf Club, Verona, New York
GOLF - USPGA Tour - to August 8
World Golf C'ships-Bridgestone Invitation, Firestone Country Club (Sth Course), Akron, Ohio
SWIMMING - European C'ships - to August 15
Budapest, Hungary
SHOOTING - World C'ships - to August 11
Munich, Germany
GALLOPS -
Randwick
Flemington
Eagle Farm
Morphettville
Belmont
Newcastle
Gold Coast
Wodonga
Queanbeyan
Cairns
Darwin
Toowoomba
New Zealand
Sth Africa
UK
TROTS -
Newcastle
Bendigo
Albion Park
Globe Derby
Wagga
Gloucester Park
GREYHOUNDS -
Wentworth Park
The Meadows
Warrnambool
The Gardens
Cannington
Richmond


AAP RTV nep/jfm/wz

KEYWORD: DIARY EVENTS SATURDAY AUGUST 7, 2010

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Police bashed and bitten

AAP General News (Australia)
12-27-2009
NSW: Police bashed and bitten

SYDNEY, Dec 27 AAP - Two officers have suffered facial injuries and one of them bites,
after being assaulted by a woman in northern NSW, police say.

The officers attended a home at Inverell about 5.45pm (AEDT)on Saturday after reports
that a woman was injured by a broken window.

"Upon their arrival, the officers were met with a female who allegedly began to assault
them," police said in a statement.

"Family members of the woman then allegedly began to assault the police.

"Eight other police officers arrived at the scene to subdue the crowd. During the incident
OC spray was deployed."

Both officers suffered swelling and bruising to their faces and one received bite marks
on the arm.

A 29-year-old woman was arrested and later charged with two counts of assault occasioning
actual bodily harm.

She was refused bail and is due to face Armidale Bail Court on Sunday.

AAP ad/mmr

KEYWORD: BITE

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld:Erin Brockovich helps Bindi and unearths Oz enviro disasters

AAP General News (Australia)
08-16-2009
Qld:Erin Brockovich helps Bindi and unearths Oz enviro disasters

By Angela Harper

BRISBANE, Aug 16 AAP - US environmental crusader Erin Brockovich is set to help Bindi
Irwin save Steve's Place and unearth a swag of environmental disasters on Australian soil.

The famous blonde, whose activist work was thrown into the spotlight after Julia Roberts'
portrayal of her in a self-titled movie, is teaming up with an Aussie law firm to fight
for the community and right wrongdoings.

Ms Brockovich said communities throughout Australia, including some near Sydney, Melbourne
and in Queensland, were already experiencing environmental problems with pesticides and
Chromium VI. She plans to help throw these into the spotlight.

In Australia Chromium VI is used to make bricks and linings for furnaces. Its compounds
are used for chrome plating, manufacture of dyes, wood and water treatment. It is also
used in galvanising, printing, paints, degreasers and rust converters.

Long-term exposure to Chromium VI, through absorption and inhalation, can adversely
affect health including causing cancer and problems to respiratory and immune systems.

"These problems already exist (in Australia). That is why I feel my work is so important,"

Ms Brockovich told a press conference in Brisbane.

"People are already coming to me with these problems and you won't know, and they won't
know and their neighbours won't know unless we start talking about it.

"Awareness is the key."

And although she branded lawyers as "blood-sucking back-stabbing bastards" Ms Brockovich
said communities needed their help.

Ms Brockovich also flew over the Queensland coast after the massive oil spill in March
and was already working with communities to provide advice on litigation, give support
to those affected and act as a conduit between government, lawyers and the community.

More than 200,000 members of a community are also pulling together and have signed
a petition to protect another Queensland site, known by some as Steve's Place, named after
the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin.

Ms Brockovich joins the likes of Russell Crowe in the campaign to stop mining giant
Cape Alumina from mining the Cape York site in far north Queensland.

"I'm helping Bindi with her plight in what's going on out there," Ms Brockovich said
when asked if she is involved in the dispute.

Cape Alumina has been conducting environmental studies on a 135,000-hectare pastoral
lease on Cape York. It won a court battle to access about 15 per cent of the property
which was purchased by Steve Irwin's family company Silverback Properties after Irwin's
death in 2006.

Terri Irwin has strongly condemned the planned mine and says it will destroy a pristine
environment, including the Wenlock River.

Cape Alumina boss Paul Messenger said the move to enlist Ms Brockovich's help was nothing
but a publicity stunt.

"I guess it's another stunt from the Irwin stunt machine," Mr Messenger told AAP.

"They're not interested in conservation, that's quite clear. If they were they'd be
sitting down and talking to the stakeholders."

He had issued an open invitation to Steve's widow, Terri Irwin, to discuss the matter
but she had never approached the company with her concerns.

Mr Messenger said the land belongs to its traditional indigenous owners and the late
Steve Irwin had never set foot upon the land in question at Pisolite Hills.

Cape Alumina said it had permission to mine the land about three years prior to Irwin's
widow Terry being granted the land.

The company expects mining operations to begin in 2013.

Comment was being sought from Terri Irwin.

AAP ahe/mmr

KEYWORD: BROCKOVICH (FILE PIX AVAILABLE)

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Access restored to 1,000 flood victims - SES

AAP General News (Australia)
04-06-2009
NSW: Access restored to 1,000 flood victims - SES

SYDNEY, April 6 AAP - Only 11 families remain isolated by flood waters on the NSW mid-coast
after storms dumped more than 500mm of rain over the area in two days last week.

More than 1,000 people were still cut off on Sunday after the freak rainfall that led
to declarations of natural disaster zones in Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, the Clarence Valley
and Nambucca.

But receding flood waters and repairs to roads leading to the Darkwood and Thora communities,
along the Bellinger River, mean access to the world beyond was restored by Sunday evening.

A State Emergency Service spokesman said less than a dozen families were still cut off.

"The flood waters have dropped quite a lot over the past 12 hours," the spokesman told AAP.

Eight families at Taylors Arm, on the Nambucca River, will be cut off for another one
or two days until a landslide has been cleared from an access road.

Three families at Bellbrook, on the upper Macleay River, will be stranded until waters
recede from low-lying bridges.

At the peak of the floods last week, 4,000 people were cut off by floods.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) website listed all rivers on the mid-north coast as
below flood levels on Monday.

A chance of showers is predicted for the region until Friday.

The Insurance Council of Australia says $27 million worth of claims have already been
lodged by affected residents and business owners.

AAP vpm/wjf/maur

KEYWORD: RAIN NSW

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Population explosion triggers new boundaries

AAP General News (Australia)
12-02-2008
Vic: Population explosion triggers new boundaries

A population explosion has triggered an expansion of Melbourne's growth corridors to
accommodate an extra 1.8 million people by 2036.

Melbourne's population is predicted to hit five million people in 20 years .. earlier
than forecast .. and Premier JOHN BRUMBY's announced an expansion of the city's boundaries
to cope.

Around 134 thousand extra homes will be opened up in growth areas in the outer west
and north .. with smaller developments in the south-east.

Almost half a million more houses will be added to established and existing growth
areas . and the government will also develop six suburban business hubs .. to provide
jobs outside the CBD.

Suburbs earmarked for investment are Broadmeadows .. Box Hill .. Dandenong .. Frankston
.. Footscray and Ringwood.

AAP RTV cmb/gfr

KEYWORD: POPULATION VIC (MELBOURNE)

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Man charged with strangulation murder to face court

AAP General News (Australia)
04-29-2008
Vic: Man charged with strangulation murder to face court

A man charged with the strangulation murder of his girlfriend in her Melbourne flat
will appear in a Melbourne court today.

The 35-year-old woman's body was discovered at her home in a block of flats in Toorak
Road .. in wealthy Toorak in Melbourne's inner east .. about 8.30 (AEST) yesterday morning.

Homicide squad Detective Sergeant PAUL TREMAIN says a man turned himself in at Prahran
police station later in the morning.

Thirty-six-year-old DAVID PIPER .. of Toorak .. was arrested and taken to the St Kilda
Road police complex .. where he was questioned through the day.

He appeared in a brief out-of-sessions hearing at the police complex last night ..

and was remanded in custody to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court today.

AAP RTV jrd/psm/

KEYWORD: PIPER (MELBOURNE)

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: We're sticking with Royal, says The Women's

AAP General News (Australia)
12-25-2007
Vic: We're sticking with Royal, says The Women's

The Royal Women's Hospital says it's sticking with the reference to the Queen despite
abbreviating it's new neon signage to just "the women's".

The hospital's MANDY FROSTICK says they've been inundated with callers upset by a report
in The Herald Sun that the hospital is dropping the Royal from the name.

Ms FROSTICK says the hospital is still registered as The Royal Women's Hospital but
the sign's been shortened merely because if it was kept it would've been too long to be
effective.

She says it's important there's distinctive signage because they're right next door
to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

AAP RTV jxt/jec/

KEYWORD: HOSPITAL (MELBOURNE)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

0100 2GB Sydney Headlines

AAP General News (Australia)
08-18-2007
0100 2GB Sydney Headlines

Refugee programs to focus on Iraq



Reserve bank governor warns more interest rises may be on the way



Legislation passes on water allocations for Murray Darling



Coroner says pilot error killed 15 in Lockhart crash



3 rescue workers killed trying to rescue 6 miners trapped in Utah mine collapse



Sydney police say not up to them to shut down illegal brothel opposite APEC security office



Aboriginal laws pass



Sport



NRL - Storm beats Eels, Bulldogs beat Broncoes



V8 Supercars



Tennis Hewitt



AFL - Collingwood beats Melbourne



AAP RTV tm

KEYWORD: 0100 2GB

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Web pranksters have April 1 field day

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2007
Fed: Web pranksters have April 1 field day

Taking the prize for this year's online April Fool's prank is search giant Google ..

which has offered consumers free high-speed wireless internet .. through their home plumbing
systems.

Code-named Dark Porcelain .. Google said its Toilet Internet Service Provider works
with Microsoft's new Windows Vista operating system.

The company also launched GMail Paper .. a cutting edge service that allows users to
request their emails on paper .. free of pop-ups or flashy animations.

Online auction site eBay's front page featured its top 10 unbelievable deals .. including
happiness .. flying carpets and ocean front property in Arizona.

And PC Magazine's website has reviewed a helmet accessory for the Nintendo Wii video
game console .. stopping users from injuring themselves during physically intense gaming
sessions.

AAP RTV sh/tm/bart

KEYWORD: FOOLS TECH (SYDNEY)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Coonan joins calls to speed up switch to fast broadband

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-2006
NSW: Coonan joins calls to speed up switch to fast broadband

Communications Minister HELEN COONAN has joined the Australian competition watchdog
.. in calling for Telstra boss SOL TRUJILLO to flick the switch on fast-speed broadband.

She's told a conference on broadband services in Sydney .. she backs calls by Australian
Competition and Consumer Commission chairman GRAEME SAMUEL .. for the upgrade of ADSL
services already available to 91 per cent of the country.

Mr SAMUEL says Telstra should stop using regulatory constraints as an excuse not to
offer high-speed broadband to more people.

AAP RTV pc/was/drp/rt

KEYWORD: TELSTRA BROADBAND (SYDNEY)

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed:Abbott: Smart card would assist in medical emergency

AAP General News (Australia)
04-26-2006
Fed:Abbott: Smart card would assist in medical emergency

The health minister says a smart card for health services would provide basic medical
information to help in an emergency.

TONY ABBOTT's told the Nine Network .. the card would not contain people's entire medical
history .. just basic details such as blood type .. allergies and recent medical history.

He says while no final decisions have been made .. a smart card could mean that if
you're in trouble a doctor .. ambulance officer .. or hospital emergency department ..

would be able to access basic health information about you.

He says people should not be afraid of the card as it would provide better value for
taxpayer dollars.

Federal cabinet is today considering a smart card which would cover Medicare and welfare
payments.

AAP RTV klw/jv/

KEYWORD: SMARTCARD ABBOTT (CANBERRA)

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Ori and the Rope of Cows' Hide

Ori and the Rope of Cows' Hide (Madi/Uganda) Ori, the supreme being, is an all-seeing, incorporeal creator who lives in the sky but takes little interest in human affairs. Another word for the supreme being is Rabanga, which stands for the supernatural force responsible for reproduction: Rabanga may be a spirit, Mother Earth, fertility, or the force from which the sun, moon, and stars sprang.

At some time, Ori's wife or mother fell or was expelled from the sky in a shower of rain, and when on earth multiplied her kind. For some time, contact was maintained with the sky by means of a cowhide rope, but this was bitten by a hyena and human attempts to replace it with a bamboo tower failed.

In another version of this myth, Ori is the creator, without body, all present, all knowing, but not interesting himself greatly in human affairs. He lives in the sky, where also man dwelled when he was created. At some time, a man and a woman were for some offense expelled from heaven in a shower of rain (some say that they fell down accidentally), and they increased and multiplied. The gods afterward made a rope of cowhide by which communication was kept up, each side going from time to time to dance with the others, until the hyena bit through the rope. The men thereafter tried to reach the sky by building a tower of bamboo, but after they had built it very high it collapsed.