AAP General News (Australia)
08-19-2011
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, Aug 19
Midday Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1130
Helicopter (ADELAIDE)
The ABC says it's being overwhelmed by support from around the world, as it awaits
official confirmation of the deaths of three newsmen in a helicopter crash in South Australia.
Veteran reporter PAUL LOCKYER, cameraman JOHN BEAN and pilot GARY TICEHURST were in
a chopper that went down in the Lake Eyre region last night.
ABC head of news gathering DON LANGE says calls have been coming in from news people
across the country and overseas, who've worked with the experienced trio.
He says LOCKYER was one of the ABC'S most popular reporters - a marvellous, self-effacing
individual with bucketloads of humility.
TICEHURST, he says, was a classic pilot with unbelievable skills, who covered 29 Sydney
to Hobart yacht races, while BEAN was an award-winning cameraman and a terrific bloke.
Aust Stocks (SYDNEY)
The Australian share market has had its biggest fall in two weeks, after US and European
stocks slumped overnight on fears of a new recession.
At 11am (AEST), the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was DOWN 123 points at 4,128, while
the broader All Ordinaries was DOWN 122 points at 4,198.
It's the market's biggest fall since it slumped more than four per cent on August five.
Thomson Abbott (MELBOURNE)
Opposition Leader TONY ABBOTT has again declined to say whether he would sack a colleague
in the same situation as embattled federal Labor MP CRAIG THOMSON.
Mr THOMSON, the member for Dobell on the New South Wales central coast, is facing scrutiny
over allegations his former union credit card was used to pay for prostitutes and that
the NSW branch of the ALP paid a 90-thousand dollar legal bill of his so he could avoid
bankruptcy.
When asked if he would sack a colleague in the same predicament, Mr ABBOTT said he
didn't have all the details but that he would do things differently to Prime Minister
JULIA GILLARD.
He's told the Nine Network he would never express full confidence in a member without
asking questions - and Ms GILLARD should call an official investigation into the matter.
COAG (CANBERRA)
The carbon tax will be one of the main issues discussed at today's Council of Australian
Governments meeting in Canberra.
Ahead of the meeting, New South Wales Premier BARRY O'FARRELL has told reporters the
proposed tax should be ditched because of the uncertainty in the global economy - a view
shared by Victorian Premier TED BAILLIEU.
However South Australian Premier MIKE RANN says now isn't the time to play political
games over a carbon price and people expect their politicians to get on with it in the
national interest.
Israel Ambush Aust (CANBERRA)
The Australian government has condemned the terrorist attacks in southern Israel in
which six people have been killed.
Acting Foreign Minister CRAIG EMERSON says the attacks were indefensible and undermine
efforts towards peace and security in the region.
He says the Australian government stands with the people of Israel against these brutal
actions and calls for those responsible to be brought to justice.
Morcombe (BRISBANE)
Police divers in Queensland have returned to the search for DANIEL MORCOMBE's body,
spurred on by the missing schoolboy's family.
About 50 State Emergency Service personnel and 25 police officers, including five forensic
officers and four police divers, have started the sixth day of scouring bushland at Beerwah,
on the Sunshine Coast.
The search was sparked by the weekend arrest of 41-year-old Perth man BRETT PETER COWAN,
who's been charged with DANIEL's murder.
BRUCE MORCOMBE, DANIEL's father, has urged police and volunteers at the muddy search
site to keep going following the discovery of a shoe on Wednesday.
The shoe is to undergo forensic testing to determine if it's linked to the case.
Floods Inquiry (BRISBANE)
The commission of inquiry into Queensland's summer floods will offer confidentiality
to flood-affected people who want to dob in a bad insurance company.
The Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry is preparing for its second round of hearings
in September and October, which will examine the conduct of insurers.
A spokesman for the inquiry says they're interested in hearing how insurance companies
dealt with claims and responded to complaints, and also wants to hear any positive feedback
on insurers, as is considers how the industry can be improved.
Belgium Storm (HASSELT)
A violent storm has swept through an open-air music festival in Belgium, killing at
least three people and injuring dozens more.
People at the three-day Pukkelpop festival have described scenes of panic as large
hailstones pelted the crowds.
20-year-old New Zealander BRINNIE GARDNER says it was crazy, as all the concert structures
collapsed.
Only days ago, five people were killed when parts of a stage collapsed at the Indiana
State Fair in Indianapolis.
Briefly in other news ..
Libya (TRIPOLI)
Several explosions have rocked the Libyan capital Tripoli, amid reports that strongman
MUAMMAR GADDAFI is preparing to leave the country.
Groves (BRISBANE)
Former ABC Learning Centres boss EDDY GROVES will stand trial in May next year on a
charge relating to the collapse of Australia's biggest childcare chain.
in Finance ..
At 1100 AEST, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was DOWN 123 points at 4,128, while the
broader All Ordinaries was DOWN 122 points at 4,198.
The Australian dollar was at 103.40 US cents, DOWN from $104.83 US cents at the close yesterday.
The price of spot gold in Sydney is 18-hundred-and-36 US dollars per fine ounce, UP
from yesterday's local close.
in Sport ..
RL Tigers (SYDNEY)
Wests Tigers star LOTE TUQIRI has left the door open for an NRL return against Parramatta
on Sunday.
TUQIRI says the plan is to give his quad injury another week but that may change.
The dual international has had a horror run with injury, managing only five matches
all season and just two since round three.
AFL Eagles (MELBOURNE)
Essendon hope key-position duo MICHAEL HURLEY and TAYTE PEARS will return straight
to AFL action next weekend after sitting out tomorrow's finals-defining clash with West
Coast.
HURLEY has a hot spot in his foot, while PEARS has a small crack in his leg.
Midfielder RICKY DYSON was dropped by the Bombers, who recalled ruckman TOM BELLCHAMBERS,
DAVID MYERS and NATHAN LOVETT-MURRAY to take on West Coast.
The Eagles have been strengthened by the return of captain DARREN GLASS and BEAU WATERS.
Super Waratahs (SYDNEY)
Former Wallabies hooker MICHAEL FOLEY has been promoted to head coach of the NSW Waratahs
on a three-year contract.
He takes over from CHRIS HICKEY who guided the Super Rugby team for three years.
FOLEY, a member of the Wallabies' 1999 World Cup-winning squad, was previously the
Waratahs' forwards coach.
ENDS MIDDAY ROUND-UP
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