PRESS DIGEST: Australian General News Sep 10 07:09, Monday, September 10, 2007
(Compiled for Reuters by Media Monitors)
THE AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW (www.afr.com)
Prime Minister, John Howard, yesterday hailed the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit a success, after the 21 regional leaders agreed on the need to set 'aspirational' goals for carbon emission reductions. Reportedly, China committed to the so-called Sydney Declaration at the eleventh hour, ahead of a United Nations meeting on the issue in Bali in December. Mr Howard's climate change accord is designed to replace the Kyoto Protocol when it expires in 2012. Page 1.
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The Coalition Government will rush legislation through the Senate banning an Australian Labor Party government from 'raiding' the Future Fund to pay for its national broadband plan. Labor wants to fund A$2.7 billion of its A$4.7 billion broadband plan from the sale of Telstra shares now held in the Future Fund - a superannuation scheme for public servants. The Coalition has also drafted a bill to allow federally funded plebiscites on Queensland's local council amalgamations. Page 1.
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Prime Minister, John Howard, has dismissed speculation he will resign before the federal election, despite the Australian Labor Party maintaining a healthy margin in the polls. The latest ACNielsen survey has Labor leading the Coalition by 57 percent to 43 percent on two-party-preferred terms, a trend confirmed by the 59 percent to 41 percent result in the latest Newspoll. Foreign Affairs Minister, Alexander Downer, yesterday declared his support for Mr Howard, citing 'affection and respect' for the prime minister throughout Cabinet. Page 1.
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New South Wales unions have rejected a recommendation to sell the state's retail electricity assets, which comprise Energy Australia, Integral Energy and Country Energy. The Owen report on energy reform, due to be handed to cabinet tomorrow, also recommends the lease or sale of state-owned generation businesses, Macquarie Generation, Delta Electricity and Eraring Energy. The United Services Union said it would lobby 'as many government ministers as we can,' and claimed there was 'disquiet' among backbenchers over the privatisation plan. Page 3.
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THE AUSTRALIAN (www.theaustralian.news.com.au)
At the Asia-Pacific Economic forum in Sydney on Friday, United States (US) President, George W. Bush, invited the 10 Southeast Asian nations to a special summit at his Texas ranch early next year. Mr Bush also plans to appoint a US ambassador for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a move observers say is designed to offset criticism about his 'preoccupation' with Iraq. Former US deputy secretary of state, Rich Armitage, said recently Washington had neglected Asia and allowed China's influence to spread. Page 1.
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Federal Australian Labor Party leader, Kevin Rudd, will outline a 'national innovation system' for the manufacturing sector at a roundtable discussion in Canberra this morning. Mr Rudd yesterday cited figures showing 14.8 percent-a-year growth in manufactured exports during the Labor governments of 1983 to 1996, compared with 1.8 percent a year under the Coalition Government. Industry organisations, trade unions, manufacturers and researchers will attend today's roundtable. Page 2.
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The Australian Democrats have proposed a A$500 million scheme to subsidise new mothers in the workforce. Democrats senator, Natasha Stott Despoja, has prepared a private member's bill that she hopes will 'challenge' the Federal Government and Opposition to re-examine the issue in the lead-up to the federal election. Under the proposal, all working mothers, including adoptive mothers, would receive 14 weeks' paid maternity leave in line with the minimum wage. Page 2.
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Defence Minister, Brendan Nelson, warned yesterday Australia would need to reconsider its military commitment to Afghanistan if Dutch troops withdrew from Oruzgan province, where Australia's Reconstruction Task Force is based. The Netherlands has 1700 troops stationed in the area to protect the 900-strong Australian contingent. Dr Nelson said negotiations 'for another partner agreement' with NATO forces were under way, but 'if the Dutch do pull out...we will not be able to safely continue in Oruzgan as we are at the moment.' Page 2.
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THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD (www.smh.com.au)
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) jets yesterday fired flares at a light plane that had strayed into the security zone for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Sydney. Two F/A-18 Hornet fighters intercepted the Cessna 337 before escorting the single-seater to Bankstown Airport, where the pilot, a solicitor, was questioned. In a separate incident yesterday, two hot-air balloons were ordered to make emergency landings after they strayed near the RAAF airbase at Richmond, northwest Sydney. Page 1.
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Federal Agriculture Minister, Peter McGauran, yesterday announced a A$110 million rescue package for the horseracing industry, amid an outbreak of equine influenza in New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland. Payments will be made to farriers, horse transport operators, thoroughbred trainers, not-for-profit equestrian organisations and others affected by the crisis. However, the NSW Government has declined to provide financial assistance, saying it has contributed enough through its efforts to contain the flu. Page 2.
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Health experts have called for a ban on television advertisements for junk food in a bid to halt a growing obesity crisis in Australia. The newly formed Obesity Policy Coalition, representing the Cancer Council Victoria, Diabetes Australia and the Centre for Obesity Prevention at Deakin University, also recommends sugary breakfast cereals be subject to goods and services tax. Senior policy adviser, Jane Martin, says many food labels - such as '99 percent fat free' - are disingenuous and confusing for consumers. Page 3.
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Australia's Cate Blanchett has won the best actress award at the Venice Film Festival for her portrayal of Bob Dylan in I'm Not There, a study of the singer's life and influence. Blanchett could not attend the ceremony and Australian actor, Heath Ledger, accepted the award and read a message on her behalf. 'I am sorry I can't be standing up here, throwing my arms around [the director, Todd Haynes], weeping in public and behaving just like a woman,' the statement said. Page 3.
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THE AGE (www.theage.com.au)
Carlton Football Club is likely to proceed with the redevelopment of Princes Park in Melbourne, including the construction of a new training facility for its Australian Football League (AFL) players and the demolition of traditional grandstands. The redevelopment is part of a financial package launched by the Victorian Government and the AFL to rejuvenate Melbourne's suburban grounds. Melbourne City Council, which controls the lease for the oval, will contribute A$2 million to the project. Page 2.
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The Victorian Opposition has criticised the Australian Labor Party Government for the number of advisers employed by its 20 cabinet ministers, who together have nearly 300 staff, leaked documents show. The Opposition will use the documents to challenge Premier, John Brumby, to slash the number of 'Labor hacks and spin doctors' in ministerial offices. The Opposition estimates the political advisers cost taxpayers about A$30 million a year. Page 3.
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Victorian Government backbencher, Kirstie Marshall, has conceded that taking payments for presentations to seminars, which she then passed on to two charities, was a 'stupid mistake.' Ms Marshall became embroiled in controversy when the company behind the improvement program, Mental Blank, posted clips of her endorsing the A$1000 seminars on YouTube. The Opposition's scrutiny-of-government spokesman, David Davis, said yesterday: 'Kirstie Marshall needs to ensure she is not working for a fee and there is not conflict of interest.' Page 4.
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The National Generators Forum says a continuation of the drought will adversely affect Victoria's brown coal-fired power stations. 'A continuation of the big dry could result in the volatile electricity market we have seen during the winter of 2007; this is of deep concern,' the forum's executive director, John Boshier, said yesterday. Recently, two major Victorian generators - Yallourn and Loy Yang B - bought emergency supplies of water over the Internet because low inflows sabotaged their water allocations. Page 4. --
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