AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, Aug 16

AAP General News (Australia)
08-16-2006
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, Aug 16
Midday Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1130


Iraq Aust Contractor (CANBERRA)

A London-based security company says an Australian who suffered fatal injuries in a
roadside bombing in Iraq .. knew the risks that came with his job.

34 year old JON HADAWAY .. who worked for ArmorGroup .. died on Monday night in a German
hospital .. after the armoured car he was in ran over a dirty phosphorous bomb on August
3.

His family should find out soon when his body will be released .. so they can bring
him home to Australia.

Foreign minister AlEXANDER DOWNER says the man's death highlights the dangers of working in Iraq.



Stemcell Schultz (CANBERRA)

Liberal backbencher ALBY SCHULTZ has warned freeing-up stem cell research laws could
lead to the practice of "Frankenstein science" in Australia.

He says stem cell research is the precursor to embryonic cloning .. and he has very
.. very grave difficulties about that.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister ALEXANDER DOWNER is refusing to declare his position on
stem cell research .. but says he'll consider any bill on the issue.



Greenhouse (CANBERRA)

The states and territories are set to unveil their blueprint for a national greenhouse
gas emissions trading scheme later today.

But the federal government .. which was left out of the states' planning process ..

is still opposed to it .. claiming it'll increase the cost of power and petrol.

Federal Industry Minister IAN MACFARLANE says the solution to reducing greenhouse emissions
lies with cleaner technology.

Labor's environment spokesman ANTHONY ALBANESE has criticised the federal government
for refusing to back the creation of a national carbon trading scheme.



Petrol Macfarlane (CANBERRA)

The federal government's insisting its subsidies for LPG conversions will have a major
impact in reducing fuel costs for ordinary drivers .. despite deciding it's not worth
converting the commonwealth car fleet.

Industries Minister IAN MACFARLANE told ABC Radio .. commonwealth and other car fleets
don't get the government subsidy which makes the scheme worthwhile.

Mr MACFARLANE says because they don't get the subsidy .. and because they're sold after
two years .. it doesn't pay for fleet cars to be fitted with LPG.



Poll Qld Water (HERVEY BAY)

PETER BEATTIE says if his government's re-elected .. he'll extend water rebates throughout
Queensland.

Visiting Hervey Bay on the first full day of the state election campaign .. the Premier
says his government would spend 20 million dollars over two years on extending the scheme.



ICAC Liberal (SYDNEY)

NSW Labor MP JOHN AQUILINA has referred allegations against Liberal branches in north-western
Sydney to the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

The Australian newspaper says there are allegations Lebanese Catholic Maronites were
told land deals they were involved in would receive planning approval .. if they joined
the Liberal Party.

Mr AQUILINA says he's referred the allegations to the ICAC.

Meanwhile .. NSW Energy and Ports Minister JOE TRIPODI's under pressure to stand down
while his involvement with a company which bought government land is investigated.



Tickets Debnam (SYDNEY)

The NSW opposition says commuters are going to be angry over a rise in fares for public
transport that's slow and overcrowded.

High petrol prices have forced the state's bus and ferry operators to make a submission
to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal for a rise in fares.

They want an extra 10 to 20 cents for buses .. 20 to 30 cents for ferries .. and 50
cents for Jetcats.



IN BRIEF:


Sharman (SYDNEY)

An elderly Sydney man charged with dangerous driving after burns survivor SOPHIE DELEZIO
was hit by a car .. has had his case adjourned for a fortnight.



Escapee (ADELAIDE)

A South Australian prison escapee is back behind bars .. after nearly 24 hours on the run.



Mideast Gaza (GAZA)

A Palestinian militant and his father have been killed in an Israeli air strike on
a house in the southern Gaza Strip.



Tonga King (NUKU'ALOFA)

The King of Tonga is gravely ill .. in hospital in New Zealand.



IN FINANCE:



At 1120 AEST, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index was UP 43.4 points to 4979.4

The all ordinaries index was UP 39 points to 4943.8.

The Australian dollar was trading at 76.48 US cents, UP from 75.95 at yesterday's close.

It was at 59.80 euro cents, UP from 59.71 yesterday.

In Sydney, gold bullion was trading $1.95 DOWN at $US624.75 an ounce, from yesterday's close.

IN SPORT:



Even the prime minister's jumped in on the ANDREW JOHNS affair.

JOHN HOWARD says everyone in the public eye has a responsibility to conduct themselves
decently .. and be aware of their actions.

Mr HOWARD's told Macquarie Radio everyone who's in the public spotlight has a responsibility
to restrain themselves.

He says everybody wants the best players on the field at all times .. but they also
want some discipline in the game .. and no one wants a situation where referees feel intimidated.

But the PM says it's a difficult situation .. no-one's perfect and the last thing he
wants to do is set himself up to dispense advice.



Brogan (ADELAIDE)

An assault charge against Port Adelaide AFL ruckman DEAN BROGAN's been adjourned
for more than a month.

BROGAN'S case came before the Adelaide Magistrates Court today where lawyer MARK GRIFFIN
asked for a two or three week delay to take more instructions.



Golf PGA Grady (MEDINAH, Illinois)

Australian former US PGA Championship winner WAYNE GRADY has withdrawn from this year's
event beginning on Thursday at Medinah.

GRADY, who clinched his only major title at Shoal Creek in 1990, has pulled out with
a wrist injury.

AAP RTV dpb


Tennis WTA (MONTREAL)

Australia's ALICIA MOLIK has lost a hard-fought first round match to Poland's MARTA
DOMACHOWSKA at the WTA Montreal Cup tournament.

MOLIK lost in straight sets, both of which went to tiebreakers, 7-6 (7-1) 7-6 (7-5).

Earlier, NICOLE PRATT won her first round match against Spain's MARIA JOSE MARTINEZ
in straight sets 6-1 6-2.



Squash Men (SHEFFIELD)

Canberra's STEWART BOSWELL has caused a huge upset on the opening day of the English
Open squash championship in Sheffield by beating fellow Australian ANTHONY RICKETTS.

BOSWELL has defeated the third seed from Sydney 9-11 11-5 11-8 4-11 11-6 in 74 minutes
to set up a second-round clash with seventh-seeded Frenchman GREGORY GAULTIER.

Top seed DAVID PALMER, from Lithgow in NSW, also moved into the second round with a
win over Welsh qualifier ALEX GOUGH 11-6 11-6 11-7.

ENDS MIDDAY ROUND-UP

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