AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, Aug 1

AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-2010
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, Aug 1
Midday Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1130


Poll10 Rudd (CANBERRA)

Former foreign minister ALEXANDER DOWNER has denied saying KEVIN RUDD was used by the
HOWARD government as a double agent to leak information damaging to his enemies in the
Labor Party.

News Limited has reported Mr DOWNER as saying that when Mr RUDD was an ambitious backbencher
in opposition .. he leaked information given to him by the Liberals to embarrass the ALP's
then foreign affairs spokesman LAURIE BRERETON.

Mr RUDD .. who took over the shadow portfolio in 2001 .. denies the claims and is seeking
legal advice.

Deputy Prime Minister WAYNE SWAN says the former PM is an honourable man .. and he's
accused the Liberals of putting the boot in while Mr RUDD's in hospital recovering from
surgery to remove his gall bladder.

Mr DOWNER has issued a statement saying his comments have been misinterpreted.



Poll10 Super (CANBERRA)

Labor has announced its planned no-frills superannuation product will begin in mid
2013 .. if it's re-elected.

Treasurer WAYNE SWAN says MySuper .. recommended in the recent COOPER review .. will
of lift the retirement savings of a 30-year-old worker on average wages .. by 40 thousand
dollars.

Together with Labor's plan to increase the super guarantee from nine to 12 per cent
by 2020 .. Mr SWAN says it'll amount to almost 150 thousand dollars more in their super
balance.

Opposition Leader TONY ABBOTT says the coalition is still finalising its response to
the Cooper review.



Poll10 Abbott (CANBERRA)

TONY ABBOTT says he doesn't apologise for changing his old-fashioned views on some issues.

In the past year .. the opposition leader has changed his stance on climate change
.. paid parental leave .. immigration and industrial relations.

Mr ABBOTT's told the Nine Network he doesn't apologise for moving to positions which
better reflect coalition values .. and he'll leave it to the public to judge him.

With three weeks to go to the federal election .. he's announcing an aged care policy
that includes getting three thousand high-care residential aged-care bed up and running
.. to ease the nursing home-care crisis.



Poll10 Greens (CANBERRA)

Greens leader BOB BROWN says his party won't block attempts to cut company tax in the Senate.

A policy document issued in March said the Greens would return the company tax rate
to 33 per cent and broaden the company tax base by reducing tax concessions.

Labor's promised to reduce it to 29 per cent .. and the coalition to 28.5 per cent.

The Greens .. which will likely hold the balance of power in the upper house after
the federal election .. will launch its campaign in Canberra at lunchtime.



Rates Preview (SYDNEY)

Borrowers are tipped to be spared an interest rate rise for at least another month.

All 11 economists surveyed by AAP expect the Reserve Bank of Australia will leave the
key cash rate at 4.5 per cent for a third straight month at Tuesday's board meeting.

And they believe another increase by the central bank is unlikely until the end of
the year .. after lower than expected inflation figures.

Nine of the 11 economists surveyed say rates will lift by a quarter of a percentage
point by Christmas .. increasing monthly repayments on an average 300 thousand mortgage
by 49 dollars.



Weather SA (ADELAIDE)

Emergency crews are cleaning up after a possible tornado that caused millions of dollars
of damage in the South Australian town of Penola.

Extreme winds hit the town in the state's south-east about 5.30pm (CST) yesterday.

The State Emergency Service says about 60 building including homes and businesses were
damaged .. including the Penola Bowling Club and other businesses in the main street.

More SES crews are being brought in from Adelaide to help .

The weather bureau's MARK ANOLAK says he can't confirm if it was a tornado because
there's no automatic weather station in Penola .. but damaging wind gusts were expected.



US Chelsea (RHINEBECK)

CHELSEA CLINTON has married her longtime boyfriend at an exclusive estate along New
York's Hudson River.

After weeks of secrecy .. BILL and HILLARY CLINTON say their daughter has wed investment
banker MARC MEZVINSKY in the small village of Rhinebeck.

Celebrity guests included actors TED DANSON and MARY STEENBURGEN .. fashion designer
VERA WANG .. and former secretary of state MADELEINE ALBRIGHT.



Heaters (SYDNEY)

Greens MP JOHN KAYE says the replacement of unflued heaters in New South Wales schools
must not be delayed by rumours and propaganda from vested interests.

Heating experts quoted by The Sun-Herald say replacing the gas heaters could take up
to a decade .. and the cost will be way over the 170 million estimated by the state government.

The paper also says some in the public service believe the pledge to replace the 55
thousand heaters is purely political .. seven months from an election .. and unflued heaters
are safe.

Mr KAYE says the Woolcock study's the latest to confirm that unflued gas heaters are
making students sick .. and must go.



Briefly in other news ..



Missing (SYDNEY)

It's Missing Persons Week .. and family members are being urged not to wait to report
missing loved ones to police .. because the first 24 to 48 hours are crucial to finding
them.

Heroin (SYDNEY)

Two men will face court after police seized heroin worth an estimated eight million
dollars on the street .. in Sydney's southeast.

Abduction (BRISBANE)

A 57-year-old man faces weapons charges after two missing children were found safe
and well at Mission Beach in far north Queensland yesterday.



in Sport ..



League Roosters (SYDNEY)

Sydney Roosters coach BRIAN SMITH has singled out forward MITCH AUBUSSON for special
praise after his side shut down Eels' superstar JARRYD HAYNE in last night's 48-12 victory
at Parramatta Stadium.

But the 23-year-old former centre says it's impossible to contain the NSW fullback
alone and has paid credit to his team-mates.

The Roosters are already readying themselves for next Sunday's SCG blockbuster against
ladder-leading St George Illawarra.

There are three games today .. the Warriors play Gold Coast in Auckland in a match
with a crucial bearing on the top eight .. Melbourne hosts Canberra at AAMI Park and St
George Illawarra travels to Brisbane to take on the Broncos.



AFL Lions (BRISBANE)

Brisbane Lions coach MICHAEL VOSS is shattered following his side's 10-point defeat
at the hands of AFL rivals Melbourne at the Gabba.

Things got worse for VOSS following his side's eighth straight defeat last night, with
news prized recruits BRENDAN FEVOLA and XAVIER CLARKE may miss the rest of the season
through injury.

Neither took part in the second half as the Lions suffered their 13th loss in 14 games.

In AFL action today .. Fremantle will be aiming to make it seven western derby wins
on the trot when they tackle arch AFL rivals West Coast at Subiaco Oval .. Richmond will
take on Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs will play North Melbourne.



ENDS MIDDAY ROUND-UP

Broadcast Desk inquiries 24 hours: 02 9322 8714

AAP RTV

KEYWORD: MIDDAY ROUND-UP

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