AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, Aug 6

AAP General News (Australia)
08-06-2007
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, Aug 6
Midday Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1130

Howard Poll Rudd (MELBOURNE)

KEVIN RUDD says JOHN HOWARD is not too old to be prime minister .. he's just out of touch.

His comments follow the leaking of an internal Liberal Party poll .. which reveals
voters see the prime minister as old and dishonest.

Mr RUDD has told Southern Cross Broadcasting the government has run out of ideas ..

and has lost touch with concerned and working families on the cost of living and housing
affordability.

He's also rejected the pollster's finding that he's seen as a younger version of his counterpart.

And Mr HOWARD believes the coalition's position has improved .. since the leaked dossier
was compiled.

He says people have reacted positively to a number of recent government initiatives.



Howard Economy (CANBERRA)

The Prime Minister has started the week with another attack on Labor's economic credibility
.. with interest rates tipped to rise on Wednesday.

JOHN HOWARD says voters need look no further than the six state Labor governments ..

as an indication of how KEVIN RUDD would manage the economy.

In his weekly radio message .. the PM says the states will run up 70 billion dollars
of extra debt to finance their spending over the next five years.

The federal opposition says JOHN HOWARD has embarked on a poll-driven campaign of blaming
the states for everything .. from interest rate rises to problems with the health system.

NSW treasurer MICHAEL COSTA has also hit back saying the Federal Government is desperate.



Indgienous Brough (CANBERRA)

The federal government's radical intervention into Northern Territory Aboriginal communities
will cost more than half a billion dollars in the first year.

Indigenous Affairs Minister MAL BROUGH says the figure shows the government's not cutting
corners in securing the future of Aboriginal children.

He says people who criticise the price tag are either not a parent .. or don't have a soul.

A new bill .. which contains legislation allowing the takeover of Aboriginal communities
for five years .. will be introduced into federal parliament tomorrow.



Haneef (BRISBANE)

The family of Dr MOHAMED HANEEF wants to sue the Australian government over the failed
terrorism charge against him.

Dr HANEEF's solicitor PETER RUSSO has returned to Australia from India .. ahead of Wednesday's
appeal against the immigration minister's decision to cancel the 27-year-old's work visa.

Meantime the Prime Minister has rejected DR HANEEF'S request to be made an honorary Australian.

JOHN HOWARD says the category doesn't exist .. and anyway it wouldn't be appropriate.



Alcohol (MELBOURNE)

Australia's about to be swamped by an entire generation whose brains have been damaged
by alcohol.

And to make the situation worse .. most of them are unaware they have a problem.

Results of new research just out claims the drinking habits of as many as two million
Australians place them at risk of permanent brain damage.

The research conducted for the Arbias Group by the Roy Morgan organisation says men
who have six drinks a day for eight-to-ten years .. and women who have three drinks a
day over the same period are at risk of alcohol-related brain injury.



US Shooting (NEWARK)

Three teenagers in America have been killed and one wounded .. after they were lined
up against a wall in a school parking lot in New Jersey and shot in the head.

Authorities say three of the victims had student identification from Delaware State University.

No-one's yet been arrested .. and investigators have no information on a motive.



Briefly in other news ..



Housing (SYDNEY)

A new audit has found housing affordability across Australia has plummeted in the
past six years.



Terror US (CAMP DAVID)

US President GEORGE W BUSH has signed into law .. an expansion of the government's power
to eavesdrop on foreign terror suspects without warrants.



France Paintings (NICE)

Hooded and armed men have staged a brazen afternoon heist at a museum in the French
Riviera city of Nice .. making off with four priceless paintings .. including a Monet.



in Finance ..




At 1101 AEST .. the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index was DOWN 88.8 points to 5932.2, and
the all ordinaries index was DOWN 94.5 points to 5961.4.

The Australian dollar was trading at 85.47 US cents, DOWN from 85.88 US cents at Friday's close.

It was at 61.89 euro cents, DOWN from 62.65 euro cents on Friday.

In Sydney, the spot price of gold was $US671.20 per fine ounce, UP $US5.10 from Friday's
close of $US666.10.



in Sport ..



AFL Bombers (MALBOURNE)

Essendon have guaranteed outgoing coach KEVIN SHEEDY will see out the season, despite
the long-time Bombers mentor meeting with other clubs to discuss his future as his own
side's AFL finals hopes start to fade.

Essendon were thrashed by 63 points by Hawthorn at the MCG yesterday, to send the Bombers
tumbling to 12th spot, after starting the round in the top eight.



League (SYDNEY)

Cronulla's season goes on the line tonight when they host ladder leaders Melbourne
at Toyota Park to close out round 21 of the NRL.

The Sharks are on a six-game losing streak and need to win their last five matches
to be any chance of qualifying for the finals, while the Storm will be keen to erase the
memory of last week's loss to the Sydney Rosters with an improved performance.



Soccer AL SydFC (SYDNEY)

Brazilian world Cup-winner JUNINHO PALISTA will have his first training run with Sydney
FC today after being unveiled as the A-League club's new marquee signing.

JUNINHO .. who signed a one-year deal with Sydney last Friday reportedly worth around
$1 million .. met his teammates at the weekend and is having his maiden run under coach
BRANKO CULINA at Sydney Football Stadium this morning.



ENDS MIDDAY ROUND-UP

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