AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2007
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, Aug 3
Breakfast Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 0430
US Freeway Toll (MINNEAPOLIS)
US authorities have lowered the death toll from an interstate bridge collapse to four
.. but warn the final number could change as divers search the Mississippi River.
Officials say initial reports of seven or even nine people killed were based on the
best estimates authorities had initially.
The eight-lane Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis was being repaired when the bridge
buckled during evening rush hour on Wednesday.
Emergency crews are continuing their cleanup and recovery work as questions mount about
the cause of the bridge's spectacular collapse.
Haneef (CANBERRA)
Indian police now say there's no link between MOHAMED HANEEF and terrorist network
al-Qaeda .. and they deny preparing a secret file with the accusation.
Police in Bangalore say they have no file on Dr HANEEF .. who's returned home to India
after a charge of recklessly supporting a terrorist organisation was dropped due to a
lack of evidence.
Investigators have hosed down the al-Qaeda claims .. after the Federal Police moved
to clarify the source of the so-called dossier.
The document's been shown on SBS TV .. after allegedly being being handed to a reporter
by a senior Indian police officer.
Street Funeral (SYDNEY)
Friends and relatives will farewell an elderly couple today .. killed in an alleged
high-speed street racing crash in western Sydney.
JUDITH and ALAN HOWLE .. aged 70 and 71 .. were killed in the collision on the Great
Western Highway at St Marys on Sunday night.
The requiem mass will be held at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in St Marys
at noon (AEST) .. followed by a funeral procession at St Marys General Cemetery.
The alleged driver of one of the cars involved in the crash was refused bail when he
appeared before Sydney's Central Local Court on Wednesday.
He's been charged with two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death .. one of
negligent driving occasioning death .. and one of illegal street racing.
Brumby Cabinet (MELBOURNE)
Victoria's
new cabinet under Premier JOHN BRUMBY is sworn in today .. with department
mergers already creating
new portfolio combinations.
Victorian kindergartens will be merged with the state's education department .. under
a
new portfolio to be controlled by outgoing Health Minister BRONWYN PIKE.
Outgoing Education Minister and Labor upper house leader JOHN LENDERS will take over
from Mr BRUMBY as treasurer.
He's nudged out TIM HOLDING .. who'll take on the key water portfolio on top of his
finance, tourism and major events duties.
New cabinet member MAXINE MORAND will be minister for children and early childhood development.
Flu Qld (BRISBANE)
Queensland parents are being warned to get early medical attention for sick children
following the flu-death of a four year-old boy.
The young boy died at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane on Tuesday from suspected Influenza A.
Dr CHRISTINE SELVEY from Queensland Health says the boy had been unwell for several
days before his condition began to deteriorate rapidly .. and parents should have children
checked out immediately if they show symptoms.
Stolen (ADELAIDE)
South Australia's government's expecting more indigenous people to follow the lead
of BRUCE TREVORROW .. who's been awarded compensation by the SA Supreme Court for being
taken from his family 50 years ago.
But SA Attorney-General MICHAEL ATKINSON says the state government will consider creating
a compensation fund for the stolen generation .. like the one Tasmania has established.
He says while the government won't challenge Mr TREVORROW's compensation .. crown solicitors
will examine the court judgement for wider legal implications.
Dental (CANBERRA)
Nearly half the population cannot afford basic preventative dental care .. and most
people want Canberra to help meet the cost.
A survey conducted by activist forum AUSTRALIA FAIR says gaping holes exist in the
care and treatment of the nation's teeth and gums.
The Australian Council of Social Service-backed group says nine in ten people think
regular visits to the dentist are important .. but almost a quarter say they haven't seen
a dentist for more than two years.
And 46 per cent say they'd find it difficult for them to shell out the estimated 300
dollars for basic preventative treatment.
Three quarters say the federal government should share the cost of dental care.
Water NSW (SYDNEY)
Two
New South Wales cabinet ministers have reportedly broken ranks on Premier MORRIS
IEMMA'S unequivocal support for the Howard government's plan to take control of the Murray-Darling
river system.
Minister for Lands and Regional Development TONY KELLY has publicly stated his serious
doubts over the 10-billion-dollar plan .. and says Environment Minister PHIL KOPERBERG
is of the same view.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports Mr KELLY has told Griffith's Area News he's got serious
doubts about it .. saying the dairy industry was "stuffed" following the deregulation
process.
He says he's worried water will become another commodity .. to be bought and sold at
a profit .. and that Mr KOPERBERG also is not happy with several issues and has very serious
concerns.
Byelections (MELBOURNE)
The Victorian Liberal Party will not contest by-elections to fill the seats vacated
by outgoing Labor leaders STEVE BRACKS and JOHN THWAITES.
By-elections will be held in the seats of Williamstown .. held by outgoing premier
STEVE BRACKS .. and Albert Park .. held by his longtime deputy JOHN THWAITES .. following
their surprise resignations last week.
After much speculation .. the Liberal Party's administrative committee decided last
night NOT to contest the by-elections.
News Limited newspapers say the decision overrules a move by grassroots members.
States Hospital Roxon (CANBERRA)
Labor's blasted Canberra's stance on hospital funding .. saying Federal Health Minister
TONY ABBOTT has assumed more positions on hospital funding intervention than the Kama
Sutra.
Labor health spokeswoman NICOLA ROXON says Mr ABBOTT first suggested more hospitals
could be federally funded .. only to be pulled into line by Treasurer PETER COSTELLO.
She says the health minister doesn't seem to know if the decision to fund a hospital
in a marginal Tasmanian seat is genuine policy .. or just electioneering.
Meanwhile .. Tasmania's Treasurer is predicting Canberra's plans to underwrite a community-based
takeover of a state-run hospital could cost up to one billion dollars over the next 10
years.
MICHAEL AIRD says JOHN HOWARD'S 45 million-a-year proposal for Mersey hospital in the
state's north .. was done on the back of an envelope.
BRIEFLY IN OTHER NEWS:
Australian Transport Safety Bureau officials are today expected to reveal more details
about Tuesday's plane crash north of Melbourne .. which claimed the lives of the pilot
and passenger.
A Tasmanian Labor committee will discuss the fate of maverick federal backbencher HARRY
QUICK today .. for campaigning against his preselected successor.
Formula one powerboats could be tearing through the blue waters of Sydney harbour under
a reported plan to bring the event to the
New South Wales capital.
Thousands of Noosa residents arrive in Brisbane this morning .. to protest against
the government's planed mergers of Noosa .. Caloundra and Maroochy shires.
IN FINANCE:
Rio Tinto (MELBOURNE)
Mining giant Rio Tinto has posted a 14 per cent drop in first half profit .. with rising
costs taking a toll on the business even as demand for commodities has increased.
Like other big miners .. Rio Tinto has been riding a wave of demand from China and
other booming Asian economies.
But its efforts to supply those markets has been hampered by rising costs .. and a
lack of necessary infrastructure and quality ore bodies.
AND IN SPORT:
AFL COACHES (MELBOURNE)
Outgoing Essendon coach KEVIN SHEEDY is the biggest name among five candidates who
met with Melbourne officials yesterday to discuss the Demons' coaching role.
Carlton caretaker BRETT RATTEN and Collingwood assistant GUY McKENNA also visited the
house of Melbourne chief executive STEVE HARRIS.
AFL BULLDOGS (MELBOURNE)
The Western Bulldogs will try to turn around their form slump tonight when they host
St Kilda at Telstra Dome to start round 18 of the AFL.
The Bulldogs are coming off two beltings from Geelong and West Coast, while the Saints
have won five of their last six.
Big names return tonight, with Bulldogs trio SCOTT WEST, CHRIS GRANT and DANIEL CROSS
overcoming injury and Saints ruckman JUSTIN KOSCHITZKE back from suspension.
LEAGUE EELS (SYDNEY)
Parramatta players insist they've shaken off their emotion-charged loss to Manly and
will be ready to fire against old foes the Bulldogs in round 21 of the NRL tonight.
Despite both sitting in the top six, neither side can afford a loss and the Dogs could
drop out of the eight if they lose.
Dogs halfback BRENT SHERWIN believes the intense rivalry between the clubs over the
past 30 years will again bring out the best in both sides.
ENDS BREAKFAST ROUND-UP
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