Fed: PM warns nation to prepare for worst from Vic bushfires

AAP General News (Australia)
02-08-2009
Fed: PM warns nation to prepare for worst from Vic bushfires

By Sandra O'Malley

CANBERRA, Feb 8 AAP - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has told the nation to prepare itself
for worse news as the inferno ravaging Victoria became Australia's most deadly on record.

The military has been put on stand-by to provide assistance and most Australians were
in shock as the death toll in Victoria climbed to 84, superseding the 1983 Ash Wednesday
disaster, which claimed 75 lives.

Mr Rudd promised all Australians would partner in the rebuilding of the Victorian communities
razed by the bushfires.

…

DEVELOPMENT: EGYPT REJECTS IMF CONDITIONS

Analysis by Emad Mekay
Inter Press Service English News Wire
06-30-2011
CAIRO, Jun. 30, 2011 (IPS/GIN) - Egypt has cancelled plans to borrow 3 billion dollars from the International Monetary Fund because of conditions that violated the countrys national sovereignty and a public outcry that warned against terms that were blamed for impoverishing many Egyptians.

According to several Egyptian newspapers, General Sameh Sadeq, member of the countrys ruling military council, said the country turned down the loans, and those under discussion with the World Bank, because there were "five conditions that totally went against the principles of national sovereignty." Gen. Sadeq didnt detail what these conditions were.

The IMF loan would have made Egypt the first recipient of funding in the Middle East since the so-called Arab Spring movement against Western-backed dictatorships began late last year.

At a Group of Eight summit last month in Deauville, France, the IMF announced that it could make available as much as 35 billion dollars in loans to the countries of the Middle East over the next few years.

World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick in May announced 6 billion dollars in funding over the next two years for Egypt and Tunisia, the two countries where the Arab uprisings started, to help the two post-revolutionary nations modernise their economies. Egypts share would have been 4.5 billion dollars.

General Sadeqs statements on Tuesday contradict statements by the government of Prime Minister Essam Sharaf and his Finance Minister Samir Radwan, who both served under ousted president Hosni Mubarak, that the new loans came with no conditions. Both officials have advocated publicly for more loans to ward off the specter of a budget deficit, a staple argument in many countries for IMF and World Bank loans.

The decision was taken first on Friday by the countrys military rulers, who took over after a popular revolution ousted the Western-backed Mubarak on Feb. 11. The military have said that some conditions by the IMF and the World Bank on previous loans, that included privatisation of banks and massive food and energy subsidies cuts, fomented public anger at the Mubarak regime.

The Finance Ministry has so far reluctantly backed down from its loans decision and said in a statement on its website that the measure to reject the loans came in response to "public debate and to consultations with the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces."

The ministry said it now revised its budget deficit to only 134.3 billion Egyptian pounds (22.4 billion dollars) from 170 billion Egyptian pounds forecast before agreeing on loans with the IMF.

The militarys council, which is acting as a president until a new parliament is elected in September, said there was enough financing locally and from regional countries that made borrowing from the two Washington-based institutions unnecessary.

"That deficit can now be covered from the local market and from some grants and assistance that Egypt will obtain from friendly nations and other international institutions," the Finance Ministry statement said. In recent weeks, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United States and others have promised large amounts of assistance to the country.

Moustapha Abdelsalam, a banking sector expert with Al-Alam Alyoum business daily, said that local banks can easily cover the budget deficit. The government can finance the budget deficit mainly by borrowing 120 billion Egyptian pounds (20 billion dollars) domestically.

The militarys decision comes after a public outcry, and many anti-debt activists warned that the new loans could subject Egypt to a new set of Bank and Fund conditions and outside pressure, something many here say they hoped the revolution would end.

The Council for Revolutionary Trustees (CRT), a non-governmental organisation formed after Mubaraks ouster of Internet and democracy activists who faced up to the powerful security forces of Mubarak over 18 days of revolution, issued statements saying "outside borrowing contradicts the principles of the Egyptian Revolution that called for freedom from all sorts of local and foreign pressure."

"The Egyptian people who are about to begin a new era do not want to start their new life with a new set of loans," the CRT said. "We prefer to live in hunger than to extend a begging hand to those institutions."

The move to borrow by the Sharaf government was surprising because it has been appointed as caretaker for less than six months and is widely believed to lack enough delegation from the Egyptian people. A host of columnists rebuked the government for taking such major decision without representation from the Egyptian people.

Earlier in June, the IMF announced that Egypt has reached agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on a draft 12-month 3 billion dollar financing package to support the countrys programme of economic changes.

The IMF, World Bank and other multilateral development banks announced the "Deauville Partnership for the Middle East" to offer loans to other countries in the region at the Group of Eight summit in late May.

The World Bank has pledged 4.5 billion dollars in loans to Egypt over the next two years to address budget and reserve shortfalls and to finance economic changes that strengthen its credit and investment prospects.

It is not yet clear now if Egypts decision might influence plans by other countries in the region to borrow.

Copyright 2011 IPS/GIN. The contents of this story can not be duplicated in any fashion without written permission of Global Information Network

FED:Tourism prepares for the Asian century

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-2011
FED:Tourism prepares for the Asian century

By Tony Bartlett, AAP Tourism writer

SYDNEY, Dec 6 AAP - A new blueprint for Australia's tourism industry has been unveiled,
which sets out how to capitalise on growing demand from Asia.

Federal Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson says the fresh plan sets a course for industry
and governments to work together to make the most of "the Asian century".

"Tourism 2020, which has been endorsed by all state and territory tourism ministers,
brings the work, research and collaboration between the industry and governments into
a single plan which links tourism supply with demand," Mr Ferguson told AAP.

The new plan integrates the National Long-Term Tourism Strategy with the 2020 Tourism
Industry Potential, which aims to double overnight tourism expenditure to as much as $140
billion by the end of the decade.

Mr Ferguson said Australia will never abandon its traditional markets of North America
and Europe, which are facing tough economic challenges.

"But we have to accept that opportunities for the next five to 10 years for real growth
will come from Asia. It's the Asian century.

"We've got terrific growth, over 26 per cent out of China in the last 12 months, tremendous
growth out of Malaysia and Indonesia, and India's there with a growing economy of 7.8
per cent."

The minister said market opportunities have to be seized when they're available and
the updated plan is all about lifting productivity, innovation and quality.

Tourism Australia (TA) is now spending one-in-five of its marketing dollars in China
to capitalise on the country's incredible tourist potential, and that will increase in
the years ahead.

But Mr Ferguson warned the way we do business has to keep pace with technology, with
only 35 per cent of Aussie tourism businesses currently accepting online payments for
instant confirmation bookings.

"That's where people do their research and that's where they want to make their bookings
and that's one of the key opportunities of the long term tourism strategy - going with
the times, online is the future."

AAP bart/af/afr

KEYWORD: TOURISM STRATEGY

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

FED:Events Diary Saturday, April 2, 2011

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2011
FED:Events Diary Saturday, April 2, 2011
EVENTS LISTED IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER AND LOCAL TIME UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED:


ADELAIDE


No items listed.


BRISBANE


- Tony Abbott "Pollie Pedal", Burleigh Heads. Contact: James Boyce 0423 239 265.

- Queensland Brides Wedding & Honeymoon Expo (Apr 1-3, 2011). Brisbane Convention & Exhibition
Centre. www.queenslandbrides.com.au/events/expo/
- 2011 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships Gold Coast (Apr 2-10, 2011). Kurrawa
Beach www.sls.com.au/aussies.


CANBERRA


1730 - Canberra Raiders vs Gold Coast Titans. Canberra Stadium.


DARWIN


No items listed.


HOBART


No items listed.


MELBOURNE


1100 - Autism Victoria to release 3000 balloons, to celebrate United Nations World Autism
Awareness Day. Beachcomber Cafe, St Kilda Sea Baths; 1930 - Federation Square `Lighting
it up blue', a global initiative to light up buildings. Contact: Caetlyn Twentyman 03
9657 1602, 0434 232 414, Murray Dawson-Ssmith 03 9657 1602, 0412 010 959. Website: www.autismvictoria.org.au
1300 - Minister for Youth Peter Garrett to launch National Youth Week (NYW) at Video Hits
Live concert, with acts including The Vines, Jebediah, Tim & Jean. Birrarung Marr, Lower
Terrrace, next to Federation Square. Contact: Melody Trouse 03 9693 8752, 0418 536 528,
Rain Fuller 8689 2213, 0432 070 301 or Lucy Williams 8689 2235, 0413 006 767. Website:
www.youthweek.com
- Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show. Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton
Gardens. Website: http://www.melbflowershow.com.au/


PERTH


No items listed.


SYDNEY
0845 - Australian Tourism Exchange 2011 conference (April 2-8). Sydney Convention and
Exhibition Centre. Contact: Kim Moore 9361 1306.

0900 - Command and Conquer event, featuring Star Trek series stars William Shatner and
Scott Bakula. Leighton Hall, University of NSW, Kensington. Contact: Sophie Blue 0416
006 821.

0900 - The Womens Conference of the NSW Teachers Federation. Federation Conference Centre,
reservoir St, Surry Hills. Contact: Joan Lemaire, Senior Vice President, NSW Teachers
Federation, 0407 424 808.

1030 - Senator Eric Abetz, leader of the coalition in the Senate, to be presented with
a petition opposed to federal government's carbon emmissions tax at a rally. Hyde Park
North, Sydney. Contact: Anne Easby 0417 386 155.

1100 - Rally calling for action on climate change, with member fo GetUp, Greenpeace and
other organisations. Belmore Park, opposite Central Station, Sydney. Contact: GetUp Paul
Mackay 0415 182 402.

1400 - NSW Australian Labor Party members due to hold meeting to discuss plans for rank-and-file
campaign to reform the party. Tom Mann Theatre, 136 Chalmers Street, Surry Hills, Sydney.

Contact: Darcy Byrne 0404 528 277.


SPORT


RACING -
Golden Slipper raceday, Rosehill Gardens

AFL -
Rnd 2 - to April 3
1410 - North Melbourne v Collingwood, Etihad Std
1510 (AEDT) - Port Adelaide v West Coast, AAMI Std
1940 (AEDT) - Gold Coast v Carlton, Gabba
2040 (AEDT) - Fremantle v Geelong, Patersons Std, Subiaco

RUGBY LEAGUE - NRL -
Rnd 4 - to April 4
1730 - Canberra v Gold Coast, Canberra Std
1930 - Parramatta v Nth Qld, Parramatta Std

BASKETBALL - NBL -
Rnd 25 - to April 2
1930 - Melbourne v New Zealand, State Netball Hockey Cnt
(NB: NBL Finals series - TBA)

NETBALL - ANZ C'ship - to May 23
Rnd 8 - Super Round - to April 4
1420 (AEDT) - Northern Mystics v Central Pulse, The Trusts Std, Auckland, NZ

HOCKEY (Women's) - to April 9 -
Match 2
1700 - Hockeyroos v Argentina, National Hockey Cnt, Lyneham, ACT

SWIMMING - Australian C'ships - to April 8
SOPAC, Homebush

RUGBY - Super Rugby 2011 - to July 9
Week 7 - to April 3
1530 (AEDT) - Blues v Cheetahs, Toll Std, Whangarei, NZ
1735 (AEDT) - Hurricanes v Bulls, McLean Park, Napier, NZ
2205 (AEDT) - Force v Rebels, nib Std, Perth

RUGBY - Sevens World Series - to May 29
Stage 6, Adelaide, SA - to April 3

TENNIS - ATP Masters - to April 3
Sony Ericsson Open, Miami, USA

SURF LIFE-SAVING - Australian C'ships - to April 10
Kurrawa, Gold Coast, Qld

CRICKET - ICC World Cup -
Final
India v Sri Lanka, Mumbai

GOLF - USPGA Tour - to April 3
Shell Houston Open, Redstone GC Tournament Course, Humble, Texas

GOLF - USLPGA Tour - to April 3
Kraft Nabisco C'ship, Mission Hills CC, Rancho Mirage, California

GOLF - European Tour - to April 3
Trophee Hassan II, Golf du Palais Royal and Golf de L'Ocean, Agadir, Morocco

MOTORSPORT - Moto GP - to April 3
Circuito de Jerez, Jerez, Spain

GALLOPS -
Rosehill
Moonee Valley
Eagle Farm
Oakbank
Kembla Grange
Gold Coast
Werribee
Taree
Sapphire Coast
Ascot
Alice Springs
Toowoomba
New Zealand
Sth Africa
UK

TROTS -
Menangle
Cranbourne
Albion Park
Port Pirie
Gloucester Park

GREYHOUNDS -
Wentworth Park
The Meadows
Warrnambool
The Gardens
Cannington
Richmond



AAP tr

KEYWORD: DIARY EVENTS SATURDAY APRIL 2, 2011

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

VIC:Williams was only trying to help

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2010
VIC:Williams was only trying to help

By Mike Hedge

GEELONG, Dec 10 AAP - A caring family man or a greedy, manipulative coward.

High-rolling drug lord or snivelling dobber.

Or a plain dill.

New sides to the sometimes chaotic, sometimes exotic and mostly pathetic life of Carl
Williams have emerged this week in a Geelong courtroom.

As did previously unseen glimpses of the unwritten code of the criminal world.

Williams, who took a bullet to the stomach in 1999 and in a decade-long fit of revenge,
proceeded to kill off his enemies, ended up with his head caved in and his brains splattered
around a prison cell.

As has often been the trend in Melbourne's underworld, the man accused of killing him
was someone he regarded as a friend.

Matthew Charles Johnson, the man accused of murdering Williams, was on remand in Barwon
Prison when he met Williams who was beginning a 35-year sentence that lasted less than
four.

Along with an old mate of Williams', Tommy Ivanovic, they shared a unit in the high-security
Acacia wing of Barwon Prison.

For the first year or so everything went as well as it could in prison.

Williams and Johnson became firm friends. Williams' father even made monthly contributions
to Johnson's prison "bank" account.

The trouble was, things started going too well for Carl.

Before he was sentenced in 2007 for murdering four underworld figures, Williams had
been helping police who, in return, had promised to help him.

Williams made a series of statements to police in relation to a corruption investigation,
and at one stage he was taken from prison for seven days to provide more assistance.

During his week on the outside, Williams was allowed to spend a day in private with
his girlfriend.

In order to keep their man sweet, the police also arranged, among other things, for
the payment of a $750,000 tax debt owed by his father; they gave Williams immunity from
further prosecution; paid his daughter's school fees; and were to give assistance in his
appeal against the 35-year sentence.

But the senior police officer handling the man described by a judge as Australia's
worst serial killer told the court Williams always wanted more.

Many believe that contributed largely to his death.

The manager of Barwon Prison Nick Silesky gave evidence at Johnson's committal hearing
this week that the prison population knew of Williams' role in the corruption investigation.

Inadvertently, Williams himself made sure of it.

Police gave evidence at the committal hearing that he requested copies of statements
he made to them.

Aware of the dangers of the statements being on paper, he requested they be on a CD
that he could view on his computer.

Within no time at all, the same statements had been lifted from the computer. Some
were allegedly found in Johnson's cell.

For Johnson, his friend's co-operation with the police is said to have threatened his
standing in the prison.

He, Williams and Ivanovic had celebrity status at Barwon, where guards still call them
by their first names.

Johnson was even openly referred to in court by some of his jailers as "Matty".

Johnson, who had been on remand for two years at the time of Williams' death, is also
believed to be known by another name among his mates on the inside.

Evidence before this week's hearing suggests he is "The General", a high-ranking member
of the jail gang POW - Prisoners Of War.

The breaking point is believed to have come when police again took Williams away for
a day to give them a hand.

Soon afterwards, Johnson, his credibility endangered by his friendship with a collaborator,
is alleged to have snapped and Williams, the "dog", was dead.

And that night the inmates of Barwon are said to have mourned his passing with a loud
and vigorous chorus of barking and howling.

AAP mh/jl/nb

KEYWORD: JOHNSON AAP NEWS ANALYSIS

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

NSW:NSW opposition wants backburn program

AAP Sports News (Australia)
08-04-2010
TEN: Results from Legg Mason Classic today - Updating

WASHINGTON DC, Aug 3 AAP - Results from Legg Mason Classic today (prefix denotes seeding).

Men

Rd 2

15-Mardy Fish (USA) bt Viktor Troicki (SRB) 6-4 6-3.

Xavier Malisse (BEL) bt 12-Julien Benneteau (FRA) 7-5 6-4.

MORE

KEYWORD: TENNIS RESULTS LEGG MASON CLASSIC

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

NSW: Main stories in today's Sydney newspapers = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
12-22-2009
NSW: Main stories in today's Sydney newspapers = 2

SYDNEY, Dec 22 AAP - Main stories in today's Sydney newspapers.

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD:

Page 1: Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is expected to press for a referendum on health
funding reform, putting the heat on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who pledged a federal takeover
if he failed to fix public hospitals.

Page 2: New national parks covering more than 70,000 hectares must be created in southwest
NSW, and infrastructure built to create artificial floods, if the state's iconic red gum
forests are to survive.

Page 3: Joe Hockey has signalled the opposition will resist attempts by the federal
government to lower company taxes, in another potential alliance between the coalition
and the left.

World: Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has revealed that his late father "emotionally,
physically and sexually" abused members of their family.

Finance: Qantas has signalled that the worst of one of the most dire periods in aviation
history may be behind it, issuing stronger-than-expected profit guidance and lifting seat
numbers on key routes.

Sport: Knights players will push ahead today with plans to subject themselves to holiday
drug-testing, but chief executive Steve Burraston said the club's code of conduct was
unlikely to be amended in time for tests to be carried out from tomorrow.

AAP mdg/sn

KEYWORD: MONITOR FRONTERS NSW 2 SYDNEY

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

Main stories in today's 1200 ABC news

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-2009
Main stories in today's 1200 ABC news

SYDNEY, Aug 12 AAP - Main stories in today's 1200 ABC news:

- Rescuers in Papua New Guinea are trying to reach the mountainous site where a plane
has crashed with 13 people on board, including nine Australians.

- Foreign Minister Stephen Smith says the government is keeping the families of those
on board informed of the rescue efforts.

- Four detained Rio Tinto staff are facing charges relating to bribery and obtaining
commercial secrets.

- A man has been charged with murder over the death of a woman whose dismembered body
was found in bushland in Sydney's southwest.

- A key measure of consumer confidence has risen significantly over the past few months.

- Brisbane forward Corey Parker says his side has remained positive during its poor
run in the NRL but knows that one loss could end its finals hopes.

AAP bm

KEYWORD: MONITOR 1200 ABC SYDNEY

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

Vic: Manufacturer placed in hands of receiver

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2009
Vic: Manufacturer placed in hands of receiver

MELBOURNE, April 2 AAP - A Ballarat manufacturing company has been placed in the hands
of receivers in another blow for the regional Victorian city.

Receivers McGrathNicol (McGrathNicol) took over the management of Lyco Innovations
Pty Ltd, which manufactures hydraulic equipment and employs 80 people, late on Wednesday.

It was placed in receivership after being assessed as unable to meet its ongoing financial
obligations due to deteriorating business conditions, a statement by the receivers said.

Receiver Keith Crawford said the company's current financial position would be confirmed
and the extent to which it could continue to trade would be assessed, while the sale of
the business - either whole or in part - was explored.

"We will be liaising closely with employees, customers and suppliers over coming days
in this regard and will make further announcements as appropriate," he said.

This is the latest in bad economic news for Ballarat, in Victoria's northwest, in recent times.

Truck manufacturer MaxiTRANS (MaxiTRANS) cut 54 of 380 workers at its Ballarat plant
on Wednesday.

In October last year, valve manufacturer John Valves was closed and 130 employees stood down.

AAP mok/gfr/sn

KEYWORD: LYCO

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

Fed: Haneef says treatment left family in "darkness"

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2008
Fed: Haneef says treatment left family in "darkness"

SYDNEY, Aug 30 AAP - Former terrorism suspect Mohamed Haneef says his arrest and imprisonment
left his family in "darkness", but he plans to return to Australia.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) dropped its case against Dr Haneef, who now wants
compensation from the federal government and an apology.

Dr Haneef said the AFP had taken too long to clear his name.

"It has left the whole family in darkness, this episode. Just because of some, I don't
know, some foolish mistakes from some person," Dr Haneef told The Weekend Australian from
a town outside Dubai in the United Arab Emirates where he now lives with his wife and
daughter.

He said he was sceptical that the AFP had been seriously investigating him since dropping
the charge against him in July last year, saying he had not been contacted by the AFP
since leaving Australia after his release.

The investigation had "shattered" his family, he said.

But he said he planned to return to Australia despite the experience.

"I have always had a plan to come back to Australia and I still believe I have this option open.

"It's just a matter of convincing my family. It is very hard. It's my wife and my mother
and my mother-in-law."

Dr Haneef's lawyer has said Dr Haneef will be seeking compensation for his ordeal and
a formal apology from the AFP.

AAP krc/ao

KEYWORD: HANEEF RESPONSE

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

NSW: Family speak of grief at Valentine's Day killing

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2008
NSW: Family speak of grief at Valentine's Day killing

By Margaret Scheikowski

SYDNEY, April 24 AAP - A grieving mother has told a judge her beloved only son was
robbed of his life by a "cowardly bully" on Valentine's Day last year.

At the sentencing hearing in the NSW Supreme Court for her son's killer, Norma Nichols
said today she wanted to see Tony Riley "pay for his crime".

Riley, 48, has been found guilty of the manslaughter of David "Glenn" Nichols, 54,
who was gunned down outside his home at Gulgong in central western NSW on February 14
last year.

Mr Nichols, a divorced father who had worked at a nearby coalmine for almost 30 years,
had been in a relationship with Riley's estranged wife Kathryn.

Riley, a real estate agent who had been suffering from depression, shot himself in
the head after killing Mr Nichols, resulting in brain damage.

Referring to the sentence she might hand down, Justice Jane Matthews said today:"The
real problem is that the Tony Riley now before the court is not the same Tony Riley who
committed this offence, and that creates very serious difficulty."

Mrs Nichols said her son's death had shattered the whole family, especially his four
children, who had lost a "loving and caring dad".

Mr Nichols' sister, Elizabeth Barton, told the court the shock of her brother's death
"just rips out your whole inner being".

"I remember him telling me the last time he stayed at my home that he was not going
to spend the rest of his life hiding from Tony Riley, there were many rumours around town
that he owned guns," she said.

She recalled placing a flower at the scene of his death and said "I do remember the
eerie feeling of evil".

Mr Nichols' other sister, Bronwyn Cochrane, said her brother had told her he cared
for Kathryn Riley's safety and wellbeing and wanted her to do whatever would bring her
happiness.

"After she had decided on her life's direction, if she had wanted to be with Glenn,
Glenn's intention was to marry Kathryn," she said.

Her brother had died "courageously defending a friend he loved", she said.

She described him as generous and caring, a loving father and a champion provider to
four children and two stepchildren.

"As Glenn's face and body were too disfigured to display, the funeral director kindly
arranged Glenn's body so that we could see his hands, they were not as we knew them, their
soft warmth gone," she said.

"That Glenn lost his life in this extremely violent way causes unimaginable pain and
grief, yet something we now live with every day.

"We are heartbroken for all, including the Riley family."

Sentencing submissions will continue on April 30.

AAP mss/wjf/goc/sp

KEYWORD: RILEY NIGHTLEAD (PIX AVAILABLE)

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

Fed: Council of Australian Governments' Meeting outcomes

AAP General News (Australia)
12-20-2007
Fed: Council of Australian Governments' Meeting outcomes:

Council of Australian Governments' meeting outcomes:



* COAG agreed to establish seven working groups, chaired by federal ministers, in the
following target areas:

- Health and ageing.

- Productivity, including education, skills, training and early childhood.

- Climate change and water.

- Infrastructure.

- Business regulation and competition.

- Housing.

- Indigenous reform.



* Health - $150 million to cut elective surgery waiting lists by 25,000 people.

* Education - National Secondary School Computer Fund to be accelerated.

* Indigenous - Extra $50 million for indigenous drug and alcohol rehabilitation and
treatment. A commitment to close the 17 year indigenous life expectancy gap and halve
the gaps in indigenous child mortality, and reading, writing and numeracy.

* Funding - Special Purpose Payments (SPPs) reform to deliver incentive-based funding
to the states.

* Economy - Reform program to increase economic capacity and address inflation.

* COAG - state and territory leaders agreed to meet four times in 2008.

AAP cmb/pmu/cjh/mn

KEYWORD: COAG FACTBOX

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

Events Diary for Wednesday, August 15, 2007

AAP General News (Australia)
08-15-2007
Events Diary for Wednesday, August 15, 2007
EVENTS LISTED IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER AND LOCAL TIME UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED:

ADELAIDE
0730 - National science week launch. SA Museum, North Tce. Contact: Paul Flanagan 0422 004 431.

BRISBANE
0900 - Royal Queensland Show continues.

1200 - Cricket World Cup on display. Andrew Symonds, Mitchell Johnson and Ashley Noffke
to appear. Bulls Stand, main showbag pavilion, RNA Showgrounds. Contact: Stephen Gray
0418 885 899.

1800 - Aussie mozzie lecture. Crowther Lecture Theatre, James Cook University, Cairns.

Contact: Linden Woodward 0419 791 564.

CANBERRA
0900 - Foreign Minister Alexander Downer will give the ministerial address at Biofuels,
Energy and Agriculture Conference. Theatrette, Parliament House, Canberra. Contact: Cathy
Reade 0413 575 934.

0900 - House of Representatives sits.

0930 - Senate sits.

1000 - Health Minister Tony Abbott to launch Walk in our shoes, a report based on a survey
of stroke survivors and their carers. Senate Alcove, Parliament house. Contact: Nicola
Edwards 0416 800 790 or 03 9670 1000.

1015 - Standing Committee on impact of illicit drug use on families. Committee Room 1R3,
Parliament House, Canberra. Contact: 02 6277 4566.

1030 - National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation to hold a press conference
to address issues of health equity and the real commitments of the Northern Territory
National Emergency Bill. Main Committee Room, Parliament House. Contact: Margaret Chirgwin
0424 644 465.

1100 - Australian Greens launch a campaign seeking justice for World War II comfort women.

Senate Courtyard. Contact: Kristian Bolwell 0411 638 320.

1130 - Imagination Factory exhibition opening at Questacon. Questacon King Edward Terrace,
Parkes ACT. Contact: Jonathan Dampney 02 6270 2902 or 0400 402 905.

1130 - Joint Committee on financial reporting and equipment acquisition at the Department
of Defence and Defence Materiel Organisation. Committee Room 1R4, Parliament House, Canberra.

Contact: 02 6277 4615.

1200 - Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough will address
the press club. National Press Club, 16 National Circuit, Barton, ACT. Contact: 02 6121
2199.

1235 - Politicians, diplomats and medical professionals will launch a "roadmap" to abolish
nuclear weapons. Committee Room 1S3, Parliament House. Contact: Jessica Morrison 0431
519 577
1700 - Standing Committee on future development of the Australian honey bee industry.

Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House, Canberra. Contact: 02 6277 4500.

DARWIN
No items listed.

PERTH
No items listed.

MELBOURNE
No items listed.

HOBART
No items listed.

SYDNEY
1000 - Electronic voting demonstration and explanation that will allow blind or vision
impaired voters to cast an independent, secret vote for the first time. Guide Dogs Australia,
2-4 Thomas St, Chatswood. Contact: Phil Diak 6271 4415 or 0413 452 539.

1230 - Emergency Services Minister Nathan Rees to officially inspect the new firefighting
vessel for Sydney Harbour. Moore's Wharf, Sydney Ports Corporation, 4 Towns Place, Millers
Point, Sydney. Debbie Sinclair 0408 877 479.

1230 - Sydney Centre for International and Global Law director Dr Ben Saul will speak
at a Lowy lunch about Australia's response to the case of Dr Haneef. The Lowy Institute
for International Policy, ground floor, 31 Bligh St, Sydney. Contact: Nicky Baker 8238
9090.

1630 - Steps leadership programs workplace diversity forum. Hilton Hotel, Sydney. Contact:
Brian Pate 9212 3888.

1700 - The inaugural Macquarie University vice-chancellor's debate: That Capitalism is
Bad for the Soul. Building E7B Courtyard, Macquarie University, North Ryde. Contact: Greg
Welsh 9850 7456 or 0407 200 474.

1730 - Welcome reception for Consul General of USA Judith Fergin. Terrace Room, Australian
National Maritime Museum, 2 Murray St, Darling Harbour.

1730 - Free public seminar to critique the NSW correctional centres for Aboriginal offenders.

Minter Ellison Room, Level 13, Law School, University of Sydney. Contact: Rachel Miller
9351 0239.

1730 - Sydney Institute presents Justice Salim Joubran from the Supreme Court of Israel.

Lecture on the role of Israel's Supreme Court. Clayton Utz Seminar Room, Level 30, 1 O'Connell
St, Sydney. Contact: 9252 3366.

1800 - Free public lecture Leadership and Collective Information Processing, creating
high performing adaptive teams in today's global environment. Professor Stephen Zaccaro
will give address. Webster Theatre B, UNSW Kensington Campus. Contact: Kerry Barnett 9385
1986.

SPORT
BEACH VOLLEYBALL - Olympic test event - to August 19
Volleyball Women's Challenger, Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Grd, China
SAILING - Olympic test event - to August 24
Qingdao International Regatta, Qingdao Olympic Sailing Cnt, China
GALLOPS -
Canterbury
Sandown
Eagle Farm
Gawler
Belmont
New Zealand
Sth Africa
TROTS -
Harold Park
Cranbourne
Redcliffe
Cobram
GREYHOUNDS -
Bulli
The Meadows
Ipswich
Angle Park
Ballarat
Bathurst
Cannington
Gold Coast
Warrnambool



AAP RTV nap/sg/evt/cdh/wz/crh

KEYWORD: DIARY EVENTS WED AUGUST 15, 2007

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

Fed: Cancer inherited in more ways than one: Study

AAP General News (Australia)
02-15-2007
Fed: Cancer inherited in more ways than one: Study

Australian scientists are rewriting the rules of cancer inheritance .. after discovering
a new way the disease can be passed down through generations.

Researchers previously thought cancer could only spread through families when a parent's
gene mutation is passed on to their children.

But a landmark study by New South Wales researchers has revealed cancer can also be
inherited .. if it's caused by gene paralysis .. rather than a mutation.

University of NSW cancer specialist ROBYN WARD says their findings have major implications
for the many sufferers whose cancer can't be explained through current genetic tests.







The researchers made their discovery on a woman with bowel cancer caused not by a mutation
.. but through a process where a small but critical part of her DNA is wrapped in a coating
.. rendering it useless.

It was previously thought this kind of cancer-causing fault couldn't be inherited.

But the team's found one of the woman's three children has exactly the same coated
DNA .. putting him at extreme risk of developing bowel cancer too.

The discovery's been detailed in the latest New England Journal of Medicine.

It'll lead to new tests for people concerned about their familial history of cancer
.. who haven't been able to find a pure genetic link.

AAP RTV tam/tm/bart

KEYWORD: GENETIC (SYDNEY)

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

Fed: Jobless will be given $5,000 to move to get jobs

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2006
Fed: Jobless will be given $5,000 to move to get jobs

People living in areas of high unemployment reportedly will be offered up to five thousand
dollars to leave home and take jobs in other parts of the country.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports the federal government will launch a pilot government
before the end of the year .. hoping to lure single people to places like Darwin and Western
Australia .. where there are chronic skill shortages.

Residents in regions suffering from higher-than-average unemployment .. like the New
South Wales north coast and Sydney's outer suburbs .. will be targeted with the offer.

AAP RTV acb/ibw

KEYWORD: UNEMPLOYMENT (SYDNEY)

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