NT: Disgraced former mayor begins "spiritual retreat" in prison

AAP General News (Australia)
02-22-2008
NT: Disgraced former mayor begins "spiritual retreat" in prison

Darwin's disgraced former lord mayor reportedly says he'll treat the next two months
in prison as "a spiritual retreat".

PETER ADAMSON has turned himself in today .. convicted for using stolen council funds
to buy a fridge .. women's underwear and a Darth Vader voice distorter.

The 47-year-old former minister in the Country Liberal Party government had 14 days
in which to front court .. after losing an appeal against his conviction and sentence
on February 15.

A visibly shaken ADAMSON walked through the door of Darwin …

FED:Australia should save commodity gains: IMF

AAP General News (Australia)
04-28-2011
FED:Australia should save commodity gains: IMF

Eds: This story is not for publication until 1600 AEST Thursday, April 28



By Colin Brinsden, AAP Economics Correspondent

CANBERRA, April 28 AAP - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has again signalled
the federal government should consider saving the revenue boost from higher commodity
prices in a sovereign wealth fund.

The IMF, in its Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and the Pacific released on Thursday,
says that for economies benefiting from higher commodity prices, such Australia and New
Zealand, some of the boost to government revenues could be saved.

"(This would) ensure a more equal distribution of its benefits across generations and
reduce long-term fiscal vulnerabilities from an ageing population and rising heathcare
costs," it says.

Treasurer Wayne Swan has previously dismissed calls from the IMF and the Organisation
for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to set up a sovereign wealth fund.

"We've got eight million sovereign wealth funds in this country, they're called the
superannuation accounts of Australian workers," Mr Swan said on the issue earlier this
month.

"At the moment the government is intent on lifting our national savings in part by
lifting the savings of low-paid Australians through contribution to their superannuation."

More broadly, the IMF says several economies in the region have room to tighten their
budgets further.

"Fiscal consolidation would also expand fiscal space and increase the scope for governments
to respond effectively to potential future shocks," it says.

Releasing the report in Hong Kong, IMF's director of the Asia & Pacific department
Anoop Singh said economic growth in the region was expected to remain robust this year
and next.

The IMF expects the region to lead the global recovery and grow by close to seven per
cent in both 2011 and 2012.

For Australia, it expects growth to pick up to 3.0 and 3.5 per cent in 2011 and 2012
respectively, from 2.75 per cent in 2010, as demand from emerging economies of Asia for
commodities increases and as private investment in mining emerges as the main driver of
growth.

"Overall, risks to the outlook for Asia are balanced, although new downside risks have
surfaced, such as the unrest in the Middle East and north Africa, as well as uncertainties
about the effects of the tragedy in Japan," he said.

"Also, fiscal and financial vulnerabilities in advanced economies could affect Asia,
mainly through the trade channel."

The report also warns potential overheating pressures are rising, and inflation risks
remain on the upside.

For the region as a whole, consumer price inflation accelerated to about 4.5 per cent
in February 2011, largely due to the rise of fuel and food prices, which are beginning
to feed into core inflation and to "affect the poor".

Australia's own consumer price index (CPI) for the March quarter was released on Wednesday,
after the IMF report was compiled.

It showed the fastest increase in prices in five years, blamed largely on the impact
of this summer's natural disasters on fresh food prices, as well as higher fuel costs.

The CPI rose 1.6 per cent in the quarter, pushing the annual rate above the Reserve
Bank's target band to 3.3 per cent.

But the bigger shock was that measures of underlying inflation also accelerated by
a solid 0.85 per cent on average, raising the risk of an interest rate rise in coming
months.

AAP cb/sb/jl/

KEYWORD: ECONOMY IMF (WITH FACTBOX)

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

QLD:Strong demand for Qld Year 7 pilot scheme

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2011
QLD:Strong demand for Qld Year 7 pilot scheme

The Queensland government has received three times the number of applications needed
for a pilot program that will move Year 7 classes into the state's secondary schools.

The government announced in June that it would move Year 7 to high schools by 2015.

Twenty schools were needed for a trial in 2013, but Premier Anna Bligh says 59 schools applied.

The successful participants will be announced later this year.

AAP RTV ka/gd/crh

KEYWORD: EDUCATION QLD (BRISBANE)

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

FED:Owner-occupier housing finance up 2.1pc

AAP General News (Australia)
02-14-2011
FED:Owner-occupier housing finance up 2.1pc

SYDNEY, Feb 14 AAP - The number of new home loans for owner-occupiers rose 2.1 per
cent in December, to a seasonally adjusted 51,706, official data shows.

Economists' forecasts had centred on a 1.0 per cent rise in housing finance commitments
for the month.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) said total housing finance by value rose
by 2.5 per cent in December, seasonally adjusted, to $21.587 billion.

The ABS said flooding in Queensland did not affect this data collection.

AAP jcc/dlm/cdh

KEYWORD: HOUSING

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

QLD:Children among injured in serious crash

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2010
QLD:Children among injured in serious crash

BRISBANE, Aug 31 AAP - A multi-vehicle crash south of Brisbane has left several people,
including children, injured.

The Department of Community Safety could not confirm reports that a child was killed
in the crash at Heritage Park about 8.30am (AEST) on Tuesday.

"We're hearing up to four cars were involved. We have multiple patients including children,"

a spokeswoman for the department said.

"At this stage we've had two adults taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital with unknown
injuries and there are a number of other patients being treated at the scene."

The accident happened at the intersection of Green Road and Waller Road.

AAP tnf/apm

KEYWORD: CRASH

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

News Diary for Friday April 23, 2010

AAP General News (Australia)
04-23-2010
News Diary for Friday April 23, 2010
Good Evening News Editors and Chiefs of Staff

Here is AAP's preliminary newslist for Friday (not for publication).

This is a guide only and stories, local times and locations are subject to change. In
some cases times and locations may not be available. Story coverage is subject to staffing.

TOP STORIES
LEAGUE - More on Melbourne Storm salary cap penalties
ANZAC - Anzac Day previews
THAI AUST - Outwatching for more on fears Australian hurt in Thai unrest.

ADELAIDE
- Beverley Eleen Eitzen, who has denied killing her mentally disabled son, due in SA Supreme Court.

BRISBANE
1250 - RBA boss Glenn Stevens to address business function in Toowoomba.

- Seeking update on coal ship being towed into Gladstone.

- Seeking update on health worker payroll debacle.

- Anzac Day preview
- Tourism conference continues in Hobart

CANBERRA
1130 - Government officials will brief the media on the recent COAG health reform agreement,
Parliament House.

1130 - Media briefing in advance of the 3rd International Forum for the Challenges of
Peace Operations, Asia Pacific Civil-Military Centre of Excellence, Queanbeyan.
1215 - Professor Yvonne Galligan lecture - Thinking About Gender and Democracy, Parliament House.

MELBOURNE
- Outwatching Carl Williams story
0900 - Federal Housing Minister Tanya Plibersek and Victorian Housing Minister Richard
Wynne to open the Salvation Army's new crisis accommodation centre. 4b Upton Road, St
Kilda. (Cover on merit)
0915 - Victoria Police, EPA and other experts discuss Operation Pipedown, targeting excessively
loud motor vehicles across Melbourne. Victoria Police Centre, 637 Flinders Street, Melbourne.

(Cover on merit)
1200 - Coronial finding for Mohamed Chaouk, shot dead by police after allegedly striking
an officer with a blunt sword.

SYDNEY
0605 - Qantas flight QF32 from London Heathrow due to arrive Sydney International Airport, Mascot.

0900 - National Road Summit 2010, 1345 NSW Roads Minister David Campbell to speak. WatersEdge,
Ground floor, Pier One, Walsh Bay.

0900 - Something Fast v Patinack Farm (Anthony Cummings) - in directions list of 60 matters
before a registrar, Land and Environment Court, 13B
0930 - Sentencing of Heritage Tuotoa for manslaughter, juvenile who stabbed boy to death
on train, using excessive self-defence, Supreme Court King Street 1
1000 - Premier Kristina Keneally, Planning Minister Tony Kelly, Minister Assisting the
Premier on Veterans Affairs, Peter Primrose, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore and NSW RSL
President Don Rowe - Heritage listing for Sydney's ANZAC War Memorial.

1030 - Sentencing/sentencing submissions for Thomas Isaako over bashing of Irish man,
Downing Centre District Court G1
1000 - Federal Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O'Connor announces proposals to strengthen
regulation to combat serious crimes such as money laundering, people smuggling. AFP headquarters,
110 Goulburn Street, Sydney.

1045 - Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott will address the Lowy Institute, talking
about the coalition views on foreign affairs and defence. The Lowy Institute, 31 Bligh
Street, Sydney.
1400 - Sentencing of Michael Darwiche, gun offences, Downing Centre District Court 1.3
1800 - Public forum on the Northern Territory Intervention. Speakers: Journalist John
Pilger, NAIDOC Indigenous Person of the Year Larissa Behrendt. NSW Teachers' Federation
Auditorium, 37 Reservoir Street, Surry Hills.

PERTH
- No items listed.

HOBART
- PM in Penguin (AAP NOT attending)
- Yu trial expected to begin to wrap up

DARWIN
- Parliamentary Secretary for Water, Mike Kelly announcing funding to improve water supplies
and wastewater services in remote communities

FINANCE
- RBA governor Glenn Stevens to address University of Southern Queensland and Toowoomba
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Economic Conditions Forum
- ABS international trade price indexes for March
- Melbourne Institute bulletin of economic trends
- Seven Network Ltd appearance in Federal Court relating to proposed merger with WesTrac
- HIA Trades Report for March quarter 2010
- Oil Search Ltd annual general meeting
- James Hardie appeal continues

SPORT
LEAGUE
SYDNEY/MELBOURNE - More on Melbourne's NRL salary cap scandal
SYDNEY - NRL match: Bulldogs v Brisbane, ANZ Stadium, 1935
TOWNSVILLE - NRL match: North Queensland v Parramatta, Dairy Farmers Stadium, 1935
SYDNEY - Preview Penrith v Wests Tigers
SYDNEY - Preview Cronulla v Newcastle

AFL
MELBOURNE - AFL match: Western Bulldogs v Adelaide, 1940, Etihad Stadium
MELBOURNE - Wrap of AFL news
MELBOURNE - Preview of Melbourne v Brisbane; media conference with Lions coach Michael
Voss, 1545, Albert Ground
MELBOURNE - Media conference with Carlton coach Brett Ratten, 1230 Visy Park
SYDNEY - Preview Sydney v West Coast
ADELAIDE - Preview Port Adelaide v St Kilda

RUGBY
Super 14 round 11
HAMILTON, NZ - Chiefs v Cheetahs, 1735AEST
BRISBANE - Queensland Reds v Stormers, Suncorp Stadium, 1940
PERTH - Western Force v Crusaders, ME Bank Stadium
SYDNEY - Preview NSW Waratahs v Brumbies on saturday

CRICKET
SYDNEY - Sydney airport presser for captain Michael Clarke at 1400 as Australian team
flies out for World Twenty20 in the Windies

SWIMMING
SYDNEY - Australian team competes in two-day grand prix meeting at SOPAC, day 1

TENNIS
LONDON - Preview Fed Cup World Group playoff Australia v Ukraine starting Saturday

NETBALL
SYDNEY - Preview ANZ Championship round

RACING
SYDNEY - Preview Sydney Cup meeting.

AAP jlw/cdh

KEYWORD: DIARY NEWS FRIDAY AM UPDATE

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

Tas: Streeton discovered by antiques roadshow

AAP General News (Australia)
12-09-2009
Tas: Streeton discovered by antiques roadshow

An antiques roadshow through Tasmania has unearthed a painting by Australian great
ARTHUR STREETON.

This year CHARLES LESKI .. of Leski Auctions .. started conducting travelling roadshows
where people present their treasures for valuation .. similar to television versions of
the concept.

His most recent trip to Tasmania has effectively paid off for one Hobart family ..

who found out they have a Streeton painting called "The Rose Garden" .. believed to
date from 1913.

The painting will be offered for sale by Leski Auctions in Melbourne next Tuesday and
it's expected to fetch between 40 thousand and 50 thousand dollars.

AAP RTV pc/crh

KEYWORD: STREETON (HOBART)

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

Vic: Main stories in today's Melbourne newspapers

AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-2009
Vic: Main stories in today's Melbourne newspapers
Main stories in today Melbourne newspapers, Saturday, August 1



THE AGE

Page 1: Victorians living in fire-prone areas will be allowed to remove trees from
their property to avoid a repeat of Black Saturday.

Page 3: New hospital operating procedures aimed at saving lives are to be introduced
by Australian surgical teams.

World: A Texas border city has become a talking point in America's health-care debate.

Finance: Macquarie Group is reinventing itself by abandoning old businesses and old
relationships.

Sport: St Kilda's Stephen Milne is striking a balance with his defensive game.


HERALD SUN

Page 1: Some senior Victorian police officers have defied their own traffic safety
messages by collecting speeding fines.

Page 2: Late pop star Michael Jackson was addicted to a powerful anaesthetic and his
doctor, Conrad Murray, is at the centre of a major police investigation.

Page 3: The Melbourne man who won $40 million in a Powerball lottery has no plans on retiring.

World: Two people are dead after a car bomb exploded in Majorca.

Finance: Australian shares are in a strong run with the ASX 200 hitting a nine-month high.

Sport: Carlton claimed an uninspiring victory at Etihad Stadium Friday night.

AAP sbl/rs

KEYWORD: MONITOR FRONTERS VIC AUG 1

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

Vic: Drug ring supergrass fears for life: court

AAP General News (Australia)
12-29-2008
Vic: Drug ring supergrass fears for life: court

A gangland supergrass alleged to be the head of a drug trafficking syndicate spanning
three continents .. has told a court he fears for his safety.

The supergrass .. who has provided evidence against accused murderer TONY MOKBEL and
corrupt Victorian drug squad detectives .. was extradited to Victoria from the Netherlands
on Boxing Day.

Australian Federal Police allege the 41-year-old man headed a drug syndicate operating
out of Australia .. Canada and the Netherlands .. by conspiring to import cocaine using
a large network of couriers who would swallow parcels of the drug.

The supergrass appeared amid high security at Melbourne Magistrates Court today from
behind a protective shield and was flanked by security personnel.

He told court he fears for his safety and successfully argued his name and image should
be suppressed from media publication.

The supergrass also reportedly taped a conversation with TONY MOKBEL for police.

AAP RTV df/pmu/wz

KEYWORD: SUPERGRASS (MELBOURNE)

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

Oly: Bolt after Olympic golden double

AAP General News (Australia)
08-20-2008
Oly: Bolt after Olympic golden double

With only 11 gold medals to be presented today at the Beijing Olympics .. the fewest
since the first day of competition .. and USAIN BOLT in line to collect one of them ..

it's a distinct case of quality over quantity.

The Jamaican sprinter will try to add the 200m gold medal to his world-record performance
in the 100m .. where he coasted over the final metres en route to a 9.69-second time.

The 200m .. however .. is his favourite event.

It he wins both the 100m and 200m at the Bird's Nest .. he'l be the first Olympic athlete
since CARL LEWIS in 1984 to achieve the feat .. while MICHAEL JOHNSON'S 12-year-old world
record of 19.32 could fall in the process.

The women's 400 hurdles final and hammer throw will also be held today.

Elsewhere swimmers are back in the water .. with the women's 10-kilometre open water
race being held for the first time at the Olympics.

AAP RTV mo/af

KEYWORD: OLY08 (BEIJING)

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

Fed: Rudd schmoozed world leaders but produced no concrete results: Robb

AAP General News (Australia)
04-13-2008
Fed: Rudd schmoozed world leaders but produced no concrete results: Robb

The federal opposition says KEVIN RUDD may have excelled in schmoozing world leaders
.. but his 18-day trip abroad produced no concrete results.

The prime minister arrived back in Canberra today from a gruelling trip that took him
to the United States .. Europe and Asia.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman ANDREW ROBB says Mr RUDD did the meet-and-greet
very nicely .. but .. like his government's four-and-a-half months in office .. there
are no outcomes.

He's told ABC TV that while it was important Mr RUDD met with the US and Chinese presidents
.. he didn't need to meet 12 world leaders .. and he should have come home sooner to prepare
for next month's federal budget.

AAP RTV mj/jmt

KEYWORD: RUDD ROBB (CANBERRA)

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

FED: Shine aims to decide on gang-rape appeal today

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2007
FED: Shine aims to decide on gang-rape appeal today

CANBERRA, Dec 10 AAP - Queensland Attorney-General Kerry Shine says he hopes to make
a decision today about whether to appeal a judge's decision not to jail nine youths who
gang-raped a 10-year-old girl.

Mr Shine met the Director of Public Prosecutions to discuss what he described as a
"lenient" sentence for an "horrific" crime.

Cairns-based District Court judge Sarah Bradley did not record convictions against
six teenagers and gave suspended sentences to the three others over the 2005 gang rape
at the indigenous Arukun community on Cape York.

The girl had "probably agreed" to have sex with the youths, Judge Bradley said during
her sentencing remarks, The Australian newspaper reported today.

The deadline for an appeal had passed although under Queensland law prosecutors could
apply for an extension, the attorney-general said.

"I've asked the Director of Public Prosecutions to give me an advice today on our chances
of success both in relation to the appeal and in terms of applying for an extension of
time," Mr Shine told Southern Cross Broadcasting.

"So I would hope to make a decision later today."

Earlier, Mr Shine said the case had not been brought to his attention until yesterday
nor had there been any communication with his office about an appeal.

"Rape, particularly of a 10-year-old girl, by numerous offenders is to my mind horrific
in the extreme," he said in a statement.

Mr Shine said he understood the victim, now aged 12, is being looked after by foster parents.

There was a Court of Appeal precedent that the courts should not treat indigenous defendants
and victims differently to others, he said.

"In my view, people in the Cape community should be able to rely on the same justice
system as elsewhere in Queensland," Mr Shine said.

AAP pw/rl/maur/bwl

KEYWORD: GANG LEAD

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

NSW: Killers of "little old lady" on south coast lose appeal

AAP General News (Australia)
04-26-2007
NSW: Killers of "little old lady" on south coast lose appeal

Two of three men who tied up an elderly lady and robbed her .. leaving her to die alone
in her NSW south coast home .. have failed in their appeals against their manslaughter
convictions and 18-year jail terms.

JOY ALCHIN's body was found in January 2001 .. 12 days after the men ransacked the
71-year-old's house at Greenwell Point .. and took 23-thousand-300 dollars in cash.

The Court of Criminal Appeal has found 33-year-old PETER DAVID TABER and 44-year-old
IAN CRAIG STYMAN showed a complete lack of remorse for the cruelty inflicted on their
victim.

The two men .. along with STYMAN's nephew SHANNON STYMAN .. slipped into Ms ALCHIN's
house early on January 7 2001 .. tying her up and gagging her before making off with the
cash.

Soon afterwards IAN STYMAN made a triple-0 call from a public phone .. telling police
men with guns had gone into the house .. but the call was regarded as a hoax.

TABER and IAN STYMAN have previously successfully appealed murder convicitons and life
sentences for Ms ALCHIN's death.

Today an attempt to have their 18-year sentences for manslaughter reduced was dismissed.

The court's found if not for the phone call .. the crime would have been in the worst
category of manslaughter.

Both men must serve at least 13 and a half years behind bars .. before becoming eligible
for parole in 2015.

SHANNON STYMAN was also convicted of Ms ALCHIN's manslaughter .. and is serving a 14-year
jail term.

AAP RTV ka/wjf/tm/bart

KEYWORD: ALCHIN (SYDNEY)

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

Fed: Mind-altering parasite turns women into sex kittens

AAP General News (Australia)
12-27-2006
Fed: Mind-altering parasite turns women into sex kittens

An Australian researcher says a common parasite can increase a women's attractiveness
to the opposite sex .. but can also make men more stupid.

About 40 per cent of the world's population is infected with Toxoplasma gondii .. including
about eight million Australians.

Human infection generally occurs when people eat raw or undercooked meat that has cysts
containing the parasite .. or accidentally ingest some of the parasite's eggs excreted
by an infected cat.

The parasite is known to be dangerous to pregnant women .. as it can cause disability
or abortion of the unborn child .. and can also kill people whose immune systems are weakened.

NICKY BOULTER .. an infectious disease researcher at the University of Technology Sydney
.. says until recently it was thought to be an insignificant disease in healthy people.

But new research reveals it has mind-altering properties.

Dr BOULTER says the effect of infection is different between men and women.

He says infected men have lower IQs .. achieve a lower level of education .. and have
shorter attention spans.

They're also more likely to break rules and take risks .. be more independent .. more
anti-social .. and are considered less attractive to women.

On the other hand .. infected women tend to be more outgoing .. friendly .. more promiscuous
.. and are considered more attractive to men.

Dr BOULTER says the research isn't conclusive .. but is backed up by animal studies
that found infection also changes the behaviour of mice.





Source: Australasian Science

AAP RTV jb/ibw/wz

KEYWORD: PARASITE (CANBERRA)

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

NSW: Fraud squad detectives to interview Einfield=2

AAP General News (Australia)
08-18-2006
NSW: Fraud squad detectives to interview Einfield=2

The speeding charge against Mr EINFELD was dismissed in the Downing Centre Local Court
on August 7 after he said he had loaned his car to an old friend .. US-based academic
Professor TERESA BRENNAN .. who had since died.

It later emerged that a Professor TERESA BRENNAN died after a car accident in the United
States in 2003.

Mr EINFELD denied any suggestion of wrongdoing over his evidence and has since said
he had loaned his car to "an old acquaintance".

Police today would not detail the exact date when Mr EINFELD will be interviewed.

AAP RTV kjd/was/bart

KEYWORD: EINFELD 2 SYDNEY (REOPENS)

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