Vic: Victorian Liberal Party director to quit

AAP General News (Australia)
02-23-2008
Vic: Victorian Liberal Party director to quit

MELBOURNE, Feb 23 AAP - The Victorian Liberal Party's director Julian Sheezel will
step down after five years in the post.

The Liberals' state president Dr David Kemp said in a statement last night that Mr
Sheezel would leave the job after the party's state council meeting in April to spend
more time with his young family.

A spokesperson for state Liberal leader Ted Baillieu would not comment on reports that
Mr Sheezel may seek pre-selection for the federal seat of Higgins, …

VIC:Main stories in Melbourne newspapers

AAP General News (Australia)
04-28-2011
VIC:Main stories in Melbourne newspapers
MONITOR FRONTERS VIC 2 MELBOURNE

THE AGE

Page 1: The AFL yesterday trumpeted its position as the most powerful sporting competition
in the country by securing a record $1.253 billion broadcast rights agreement with Foxtel,
the Seven Network and Telstra for the next five years.

Page 1: The coalition is struggling to win business support for its climate plan, with
no company chiefs signed up to spruik it as a better way to cut carbon dioxide emissions
than a carbon tax.

Page 3: A senior Monash University academic has slammed rival Melbourne University's
undergraduate model, calling it one of the best things to ever happen to Monash because
it had pushed more students to study there.

Page 5: Refugees from Africa are the most likely to find work after settling in Australia,
according to a landmark report examining how humanitarian migrants fare after their arrival.

World: The two main Palestinian factions, Fatah and Hamas, say they are putting aside
years of bitter rivalry to create an interim unity government and hold elections within
a year.

Finance: The United States' radical policy of printing money while keeping interest
rates near zero is taking a growing toll on the world's reserve currency, prompting financial
markets to abandon the greenback.

Sport: AFL players are demanding their share of football's new billion-dollar-plus
broadcast deal, with Adam Goodes last night leading the call for what he said is an entitlement.

AAP jcr/jfm

KEYWORD: =2

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

WA:WA govt to tighten right-of-entry laws

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2011
WA:WA govt to tighten right-of-entry laws

By Josh Jerga

PERTH, Aug 25 AAP - The West Australian government will look to tighten rules on unions'
right of entry to workplaces following accusations of foot-dragging on industrial relations.

WA Commerce Minister Simon O'Brien said the government would consider bringing aspects
of its industrial relations laws, which cover about 450,000 people, into line with the
federal government's Fair Work Australia legislation.

"What we are proposing to do is update our IR system here in WA," Mr O'Brien said.

"What we're not going to do is some radical Work Choices model; we've specifically
rejected that, and we will be seeking to harmonise (our laws) with other jurisdictions
including the national jurisdiction."

One area drawing criticism is WA's right-of-entry laws, whereby anyone nominated by
a union can obtain a permit and enter a worksite or business without giving notice.

Last week former Howard government industrial relation minister Peter Reith said the
laws were "as good as an open door policy for unions".

Mr O'Brien said the government was considering tightening up the state's right-of-entry
laws, with the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry particularly concerned about workplace
access for unions.

But he stressed the government would not be adopting an "anti-union stance".

"What I'm keen to promote as minister is a workplace environment which recognises and
balances both the right and interests of employers and workers," Mr O'Brien said.

"I don't believe we should have a pro-union or an anti-union stance accepted by government".

A code of conduct for the building industry, which has been pushed by both the sector
and IR advocates, is also being considered by the government, Mr O'Brien said.

Last month Premier Colin Barnett junked a $850,000 government-commissioned review into
the state's IR system which had made 193 recommendations.

It prompted attacks by Mr Reith and the right-wing industrial relations think tank,
the HR Nicholls Society, over the government's inaction on workplace reform.

Mr O'Brien denied the government had been inactive, saying since he became minister
in December last year he has consulted with industry about IR reform.

"That's just come to a conclusion and those results are being considered and I will
make an announcement about that shortly," he said.

AAP jsj/jl/de

KEYWORD: INDUSTRIAL WA

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

QLD:Hospitals reform a big deal for Qld: Bligh

AAP General News (Australia)
02-14-2011
QLD:Hospitals reform a big deal for Qld: Bligh

GOLD COAST, Feb 14 AAP - Queenslanders can expect to see a "dramatic difference" in
the health system as a result of a new deal on hospitals funding, Premier Anna Bligh says.

The $20 billion deal, which ties funding to hospital performance, was brokered by Prime
Minister Julia Gillard with state and territory leaders on Sunday.

A national pool of combined commonwealth-state money will now be used to fund local
hospital networks for each procedure they perform from 2012.

Ms Bligh said Australia's fastest growing state was right to sign up to the deal.

Over the next four years, Queensland will get an extra 270 hospital beds, more money
for emergency departments and more dedicated money for elective surgery.

For the first time ever, the Commonwealth will also take 50 per cent responsibility
for growth funding, Ms Bligh said.

"We know that people come across our border, we pay for their hospital care and the
Commonwealth has not matched that money," she told reporters on the Gold Coast on Monday.

"For the first time, we will get matching of those dollars.

"That will revolutionise the way that we can run health, and that's why it was worth
entering in this deal."

Patients could expect to see a "dramatic difference" in the health system over the
coming years, with the deal freeing up funds to invest in nurses and doctors, Ms Bligh
said.

"There's no such thing as a perfect health system anywhere in the world," she said.

"But when you see this kind of new money, these additional beds, and this kind of commitment
to population growth, you can really look forward to significant improvements that mums
and dads and families and older people will feel in their health system."

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) Queensland has welcomed the agreement but
president Dr Gino Pecoraro said the funding split was a worrying step back from the originally
proposed 60/40 split.

The lack of a single funder meant there would still be no real accountability for patient
care, he said.

And while the agreement set some ambitious targets, it was hard to see how these would
be met if staffing and bed shortages were not properly addressed, he said.

"Despite acknowledging there are shortages in the number of beds, doctors and nurses
needed in Queensland, the plan is unclear on how it will resolve these issues," Dr Pecoraro
said.

It was also disappointing that mental health, aged care and dental health had been
sidelined, he said.

The Rural Doctors Association of Queensland (RDAQ) said it was concerned "local" hospital
networks would not live up to the title.

"We have been concerned that local doesn't necessarily mean local - for example Goondiwindi
will still be controlled by Toowoomba," RDAQ president Dr Dan Halliday told ABC Radio.

"... We are concerned that it hasn't bought the benefits that we thought it might."

The group had been pushing for a set of minimum standards to ensure adequate services
in country areas and new measures to improve recruitment and retention of staff but said
neither of those issues had been addressed.

AAP jmm/crh/msk

KEYWORD: HOSPITALS QLD WRAP

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

VIC:Depression common among doctors

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2010
VIC:Depression common among doctors

MELBOURNE, Aug 31 AAP - Depression and anxiety among doctors is common, with suicide
rates above the national average, a doctors' mental forum has been told.

Research carried out by the national depression initiative beyondblue found that many
doctors and medical students who suffered depression and anxiety ignored their condition.

The former president of the Australian Medical Association Dr Mukesh Haikerwal says
it's important that doctors seek help in the same way that the general population seeks
help.

"The key concern is that the medical profession doesn't seek help for various and many
reasons and it's very important that they do," Dr Haikerwal told the Melbourne forum,
which was organised by beyondblue.

"The downside of all this, apart from having people who are very ill with depression,
is that they can take their own lives.

"We see a greater rate of suicide in the medical profession, much more amongst women
in the profession, and we don't need to get to that stage, we need to get help early and
treat it.

"We would want our patients to seek help when they have these problems and nip things
in the bud early and it's just the same for the medical guys."

beyondblue chairman Jeff Kennett said the public should be encouraged that the review
has been carried out and steps are being taken to improve the health of the profession.

He said doctors needed to make sure they were healthy before taking care of the health
of their patients.

"There's not much point putting so much pressure on our doctors that we expect them
to be there 24/7 if the result of that is they become ill, that they become depressed,
that their professional level of service drops," Mr Kennett said.

"We need to have a fit medical profession and we're a long way from doing that."

He said the suicide amongst female doctors was more than twice the national average.

The forum heard that doctors were reluctant to admit their problems because of a number
of factors, including concerns about being stigmatised, their standing with patients and
peers plus the potential impact on their careers.

AAP jxt/gfr/it

KEYWORD: DOCTORS

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

FED: Qantas adds three more flights to help clear backlog

AAP General News (Australia)
04-23-2010
FED: Qantas adds three more flights to help clear backlog

Qantas will boost flights between Australia and Europe .. as it tries to clear a backlog
of passengers .. stranded by the recent closure of European airports.

Chief executive ALAN JOYCE says it will take two to three weeks to clear the backlog
of more than 15-thousand travellers.

He says the airline has been working with relevant airport authorities to gain clearances
to operate supplementary flights between Australia and Europe.

Qantas is adding three flights to its schedule for today and tomorrow .. and is looking
into options for more flights to London.

Mr JOYCE says staff are processing passengers in order of need .. with priority given
to the elderly and families with young children.

He says flights are heavily booked through to early May .. and there are limited seats
to rebook passengers.

AAP RTV klm/ajw/





The three additional Qantas flights are:

* QF158 London to Sydney via Singapore which left today at 9.20am (AEST).

* QF171 Sydney to Frankfurt via Singapore departing tonight at 10.00 (AEST)

* QF172 Frankfurt to Sydney via Singapore departing tomorrow at 11pm (AEST).

KEYWORD: VOLCANO QANTAS FLIGHT (SYDNEY)

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

Events Diary Thursday, December 10, 2009

AAP General News (Australia)
12-09-2009
Events Diary Thursday, December 10, 2009
EVENTS LISTED IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER AND LOCAL TIME UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED:

ADELAIDE
1100 - Former NZ prime minister Mike Moore to launch his new book, Saving Globalisation.

Henry Basten Room, Mitchell Building. Adelaide University. Contact: David Ellis 0421 612
762.

1130 - Adelaide Zoo to unveil a family of panda sculptures. Lyrebird Conference Centre.

Adelaide Zoo. Contact: David Ellis 0421 612 762.

1830 - University of Adelaide Physicist Professor Anthony Thomas to talk on the most recent
developments in subatomic physics and the science of the universe. Union Hall, North Terrace
Campus. Contact: Anthony Thomas 0420 961 148.

BRISBANE
0600 - Proclamation Day Breakfast and Flotilla, Colmslie Recreation Reserve, Lytton Road,
Morningside.

0900 - Proclamation day Commemoration Ceremony, Royal Palms Lawn, City Botanic Gardens.

1030 - Proclamation Day Parade, City Botanic Gardens to St Johns Cathedral.

1130 - Proclamation Day Celebration of Thanksgiving, St Johns Cathedral, Ann Street, Brisbane.

1400 - Youth Parliament, Parliament House, Alice Street, Brisbane.

1600 - Proclamation Day Concert, Brisbane Riverstage, City Botanic Gardens.

CANBERRA
0930 - The Australian Defence Force Academy graduation parade, attended by the governor-general
and defence minister, ADFA, Northcott Drive, Campbell, ACT. Contact: Sharelle Mathias
0411 088 971.

1300 - Chief Police Officer Michael Phelan will provide information on the upcoming weekend
operation as part of Operation Unite: A Blitz Against Drunken Violence, Garema Place,
outside the City Police Beats Office, Civic, Canberra. Contact: Helena Cox 02 6256 7460.

MELBOURNE
- Australian Dancesport four-day championship. Hisense Arena. Contact: Michael Sinclair
9651 5799, 0438 399 959. Website: www.theaustralianchampionship.com.au
1100 - Governor of Victoria David de Kretser to present The Royal Humane Society of Australasia
awards. Government House. Contact: Colin Bannister 9650 3233 or Sue Cutler 9650 3233,
0400 441 467.

PERTH
No items listed.

SYDNEY
0700 - Actress Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Ambassador for the Life Changing Experiences
Foundation, will release 50 butterflies. Hyde Park, near the fountain. Contact: Laura
Percy 0417 458 928.

0800 - Founder of Clean Up Australia Ian Kiernan will launch a new sustainable business
program designed to reduce water and energy use and minimise waste production. Baguette
Room, level 5, JR Fleming Stand, Rosehill Gardens Event Centre, situated off James Ruse
Drive, Rosehill. Contact: Paul Fahy 0413 162 724.

0900 - Public hearings for the Productivity Commission's inquiry on Wheat Export Marketing
Arrangements. The Medina Hotel on Crown, 359 Crown Street, Surry Hills. Contact: Clair
Angel 0417 665 443.

0900 - Opening of the Realising Our Broadband Future forum, with Communications Minister
Stephen Conroy. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will speak at 0905, National Broadband Network
CEO Mike Quigley will speak at 0935, Senator for the Australian Capital Territory, Kate
Lundy will speak at 1100. John Niland Scientia Building, Building G19, Enter via Gate
11, Botany Street, University of New South Wales. Contact: Tim Marshall 0408 258 457.

0945 - Australia's national sail training ship Young Endeavour arrives in Sydney, completing
a six-month circumnavigation of Australia. Fleet Base East, Cowper Wharf Road, Potts Poin.

Contact: Jennifer Reilly on 0447 401 667.

1100 - Angelina Ballerina and The English National Ballet will perform Angelina's Star
Performance. State Theatre. Contact: Emma Collison 0418 584 795.

1100 - Paramedics Scott Clarke and Peter Richards will meet with a patient they successfully
resuscitated following a cardiac arrest in 2006. Ambulance State Headquarters, Balmain
Rd, Rozelle. Contact: 9320 7796.

1100 - Launch of the new Powerhouse Museum exhibition The 80s Are Back, revealing the
good and the bad about the decade which is remembered for its excess. Powerhouse Museum,
500 Harris Street, Ultimo. Contact: Hayley Gallant 0413 985 277.

1800 - Professor Tu Weiming, from Harvard University will deliver the lecture Cultural
China and Confucian Humanism to the UNSW Confucius Institute. Science Theatre, UNSW Kensington
Campus. Contact: Jia Lu 9385 8996.

1900 - A slide show of Australian images, by photographer Robert McGrath, will be displayed
as a backdrop as the Sydney Philharmonia Choir performs Handel's Messiah. Concert Hall,
Sydney Opera House. Contact: Nicole Tiedgen 0401 281 153.

SPORT
CRICKET - Sheffield Shield - to March 21
TAS v WA, Bellerive Oval - to December 11
VIC v SA, MCG - to December 13
BASKETBALL - NBL - to February 14
Rnd 12 - to December 12
1700 (AEDT) - NZ Breakers v Perth Wildcats, North Shore Events Cnt
GOLF - PGA Australasian C'ship - to December 13
Hyatt Regency Golf Club, Coolum
SOCCER - FIFA Club World Cup - to December 19
Abu Dhabi, UAE
SOCCER - FIFA Club World Cup - to December 19
Abu Dhabi, UAE
SWIMMING - European C'ships Short Course - to December 13
Istanbul, Turkey
CURLING - European C'ships - to December 12
Aberdeen, Scotland
HANDBALL (Women's) - World C'ships - to December 20
China
CYCLING - World Cup Track - to December 12
Cali, Colombia
BOBSLEIGH/SKELETON - World Cup - to December 13
Winterberg, Germany
SURFING (Men's) - ASP World Tour - to December 20
Billabong Pipeline Masters, Banzai Pipeline, Oahu-Hawaii
SURFING (Women's) - ASP World Tour - to December 20
Billabong Pro, Honolua Bay, Maui-Hawaii
GALLOPS -
Gosford
Bendigo
Ipswich
Geraldton
New Zealand
Sth Africa
TROTS -
Penrith
Mildura
Gold Coast
Geelong
Goulburn
GREYHOUNDS -
Warrnambool
Dapto
Sandown
Albion Park
Angle Park
Bendigo
Maitland
Mandurah
Hobart
New Zealand

AAP bm/evt/cdh

KEYWORD: DIARY EVENTS THURSDAY DECEMBER 10, 2009

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

Vic: Chinese hackers circulate email on how to hack film website

AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-2009
Vic: Chinese hackers circulate email on how to hack film website

MELBOURNE, Aug 1 AAP - Instructions educating Chinese citizens on how to sabotage the
Melbourne International Film Festival are being circulated around the world, organisers
say.

In the latest attack on the festival's website, online ticket sales were shut down
after Chinese hackers on Saturday booked out all film sessions through to next Thursday.

It is not the first time hackers have broken into the website, but the first occasion
ticket sales have been compromised.

Hackers replaced festival information with the Chinese flag and anti-Kadeer slogans
soon after the launch of the 2009 festival.

Six Chinese-language movies have also been pulled out of the festival, leaving organisers
with a logistical headache and the fear that Chinese film- makers will boycott the festival
in future.

The hijacking comes as part of a mounting campaign against the festival's screening
of The 10 Conditions of Love, a documentary about exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer.

China has accused Kadeer of being behind this month's violence between Muslim Uighurs
and Han Chinese in China's western Xinjiang region that left nearly 200 people dead.

Kadeer has denied instigating the riots.

Festival director Richard Moore told AAP he had been alerted by a minority Chinese
student living in the US that instructions on how to sabotage the festival were travelling
fast.

"It's a very, very concerted and pointed attack," Mr Moore said.

"Everyone's watching this - it's totally global."

The email provides instructions for loading tickets into "shopping carts" from the
festival's website, and Chinese are being urged to teach others how to "purchase" MIFF
tickets online.

The circulating email reasons MIFF should be sabotaged "because the festival invited Kadeer".

Online sales represent 65 per cent of all tickets bought, Mr Moore said, with the weekend
being the period of "maximum traffic".

"We knew there would be another attempt," he said. "There will be a decline in sales
as a result."

Kadeer is scheduled to attend a question-and-answer session after the screening of
The 10 Conditions of Love on August 8.

Security remains a priority, organisers say. "We've been in constant liaison with the
police. We're monitoring it," Mr Moore said.

Film buffs can still buy tickets at the festival's box office or over the phone.

AAP ees/jhp

KEYWORD: FESTIVAL UPDATE

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

NSW: The main stories in today's Sydney newspapers

AAP General News (Australia)
12-30-2008
NSW: The main stories in today's Sydney newspapers

SYDNEY, Dec 30 AAP - The main stories in today's Sydney newspapers:

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

Page 1: Residents of a Sydney suburb have dished out vigilante justice to a suspected
bank robber.

Page 2: Sydney will usher in the New Year to the strains of `80s karaoke hit Hey Mickey,
reworked for the occasion.

Page 3: The Salvation Army is appealing for people to stop dumping rubbish outside its stores.

World: (LONDON) Nuclear waste the federal government ordered the British government
to clean up after tests in the Australian desert in the 1950s may have been dumped at
sea.

Finance: OZ Minerals has failed to meet its own deadline for announcing how it will
refinance $816 million in corporate debts.

Sport: Andrew Symonds and Matthew Hayden are facing the sack from the Australia Test
cricket team.

MORE kd/jj

KEYWORD: MONITOR FRONTERS NSW

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

Fed: Smith says Pakistan military needs to face modern threats

AAP General News (Australia)
08-20-2008
Fed: Smith says Pakistan military needs to face modern threats

CANBERRA, Aug 20 AAP - Pakistan's armed forces need to adapt to present-day challenges
after years of border conflict with India, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith says.

Australia is willing to help with technical expertise but not with military personnel, he says.

Mr Smith also renewed Australia's offer to help Pakistan cope with the transition from
President Pervez Musharraf, who resigned this week after the country's parliament began
impeachment proceedings.

"The Pakistan army has for years stood across the border looking at the Indians," Mr
Smith told ABC Radio.

"They have got to adopt and adapt to the modern challenge and our forces, our military
advisers are very good in that area.

"We have offered technical support. I have ruled out supply of military personnel but
there is technical expertise we can bring to bear."

Mr Smith said Pakistan had done a good job conducting parliamentary elections earlier
this year, bringing to power a government critical of Musharraf.

"They have now seen him off. It does give the chance for them to now focus on the real
substantial problems that Pakistan have."

Those problems related especially to security in the federally-administered tribal
areas, now a bastion of Islamic extremism.

"When we think of Afghanistan, we now have to think of Afghanistan-Pakistan because
that is where the difficulty is and that is where the insurgents seek refuge across the
border," he said.

AAP mb/rl/cjh/bwl

KEYWORD: PAKISTAN AUST DAYLEAD

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

Qld: Next GG an outstanding role model, says Bligh

AAP General News (Australia)
04-13-2008
Qld: Next GG an outstanding role model, says Bligh

Queensland Premier ANNA BLIGH says Australia's next governor general is an outstanding
role model for women and children.

Prime Minister KEVIN RUDD has announced 65-year-old Queensland Governor QUENTIN BRYCE
will be appointed Australia's first female governor general after the resignation of Major
General MICHAEL JEFFERY.

Major General Jeffery's current term is due to expire next month.

Ms BLIGH says QUENTIN BRYCE is an outstanding role model .. and passionate advocate
for the rights of women and children to a better life.

Ms BLIGH has also paid tribute to Ms BRYCE'S tireless work as governor of Queensland
.. a position she has held for almost five years.

Ms BLIGH said she will immediately begin considerations for Ms BRYCE'S replacement
.. with the appointment subject to approval from the Queen.

AAP RTV dmc/wz

KEYWORD: GG BLIGH (BRISBANE)

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

Fed: Rudd to host COAG on Dec 20=2

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2007
Fed: Rudd to host COAG on Dec 20=2

Mr Rudd said the COAG meeting would discuss elective surgery waiting lists, public
dental care and the provision of age-care beds.

It would also discuss Labor's proposal for computers in schools, harmonising state
and federal carbon trading schemes, the need for business deregulation and an audit of
national infrastructure, including housing.

Mr Rudd said the meeting would set out an agenda for next year and initiate a number
of high-level task forces.

AAP rm/ac/pjo/jlw

KEYWORD: COAG RUDD 2 BRISBANE

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

Qld: Voting opens for this year's TV Fugly Awards

AAP General News (Australia)
04-26-2007
Qld: Voting opens for this year's TV Fugly Awards

By Christine Flatley

BRISBANE, April 26 AAP - Bored by Big Brother and tired of Today Tonight?

Disgruntled viewers can now vote for the worst shows and stars on Australian television
as part of this year's TV Fugly Awards.

Started as a joke by Brisbane's Anthony Dever in 2002 as an alternative to the Logie
Awards, the Fuglies are designed to recognise the least loved programs and personalities
on the box.

In the five years since its conception, the online awards have attracted almost 87,000
votes, and this year have received more than 4,500 submissions to determine the latest
crop of nominees.

And for the first time, bookmakers will be taking bets in some categories on the winners.

Eight programs have been nominated for worst TV show, including Big Brother, Today
Tonight, Celebrity Dog School and David Tench Tonight.

Last year's big winner Darryl Somers has again been nominated for Worst Male TV Personality,
and is up against eight-time Fugly winner Eddie Maguire and Andrew G.

Worst Female TV Personality nominees include Gretel Killeen and The Biggest Loser's AJ Rochester.

Each year, following the closing of votes, Mr Dever flies to Melbourne and announces
the awards out the front of the Crown Casino, where the Logies are held.

To date, not one winner has turned up to accept their award.

Mr Dever said this year's winners would be announced on May 4, and he's expecting a
similar response.

"While there will be no red carpet and no overseas celebrities flown in a day before
to glamourise the event, we will try to get some fake applause sound effects and maybe
ensure 20 ex-Big brother housemates are in attendance to provide the necessary c-list
feel every awards night should have," Mr Dever said.

Viewers have until May 4 to cast their votes at www.fugly.com.au

AAP cf/pjo/ks/bwl

KEYWORD: FUGLIES

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

Qld: State's holiday road toll jumps to seven

AAP General News (Australia)
12-27-2006
Qld: State's holiday road toll jumps to seven

Two people have died in an horrific accident in central Queensland this morning ..

bringing the state's holiday road toll to seven.

A furniture truck and a sedan collied head-on on the Bruce Highway near Princhester
.. south of Marlborough .. at about 7am.

Police say the male driver of the sedan and a female passenger died at the scene.

A dog travelling in the vehicle also died.

The male driver of the truck and his male passenger were transported to the Rockhampton
Base Hospital for observation.

Emergency crews have closed all southbound and northbound lanes of the highway while
they clear the area.

The highway will remain closed for several hours and motorists are advised to delay
their trip through the area.

It takes the state's holiday road toll to seven.

Two people died in separate motorbike accidents on Christmas Day.

A man also died on Saturday in Rockhampton when his vehicle left the road and struck
a tree .. and two more people died in separate accidents on Friday.

Police are urging motorists to slow down and avoid taking risks .. especially on wet
and slippery roads.

AAP RTV cf/els/cp

KEYWORD: TOLL QLD (BRISBANE)

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

NSW: Vietnam veterans deserve highest respect: Nelson

AAP General News (Australia)
08-18-2006
NSW: Vietnam veterans deserve highest respect: Nelson

By Nick Ralston

SYDNEY, Aug 18 AAP - Australians who served in the Vietnam war should be shown the
highest respect regardless of what view an individual may have about the conflict itself,
Defence Minister Brendan Nelson says.

Dr Nelson has delivered the Vietnam Veterans Day address to about 200 ex-servicemen
at a ceremony at the Cenotaph in Sydney's Martin Place.

It marked the 40th anniversary of the battle of Long Tan, where 108 Australian soldiers
from Delta Company 6RAR fought an estimated 2,500 enemy troops in a rubber plantation.

It was the bloodiest battle of Australia's controversial involvement in Vietnam and
resulted in the deaths of 18 Australians.

Dr Nelson apologised at the ceremony for the inadequate recognition given to those
who served in a war that "divided and polarised" the nation.

"It's easy for us ... from the comfortable distance of 40 years to settle for the broad
brush strokes of history, to skate over the individual acts of heroism, or bravery," he
told the ceremony.

"To do so demeans the values for what they fought and for which 18 on this day gave their lives.

"... whatever our view of the conflict to which our government committed our Australian
defence force, let's not ever treat those who served and wear our uniform with anything
other than the highest respect and regard - irrespective of the individual feelings we
have towards the conflicts in which they are involved."

The service began with the Sydney Royal Australian Navy Band marching down adjacent
Pitt Street and into Martin Place where they were met by the veterans, displaying medals
and standing tall alongside the main cenotaph.

Dr Nelson, NSW Governor Marie Bashir, and Opposition defence spokesman Robert McClelland
were among a number of representatives to lay wreaths.

The names of the 18 killed in the battle were also read while Lament to the Fallen
was played by on the bagpipes.

Veteran Geoff Green, who served in the war in 1968, said today went some of the way
to make up for the hostile environment many faced when returning from Vietnam.

"This particular event is all part of the healing process ... time heals everything," he said.

"A lot of water has gone under the bridge since the 1960s and 70s. I think its time
to put all of that behind us and just to acknowledge the fellows for what they did for
Australia while they are still with us."

Anthony Bonvino, a conscript who served as a reinforcement to the 6RAR after the battle
of Long Tan, said the recognition has been a long time coming.

"There was a lot of resentment and the government at the time didn't particularly help
us," Mr Bonvino said.

"I think we're now going in the right direction. I was a conscript, I didn't want to
go, but I went and did my duty."

AAP nr/klw/cjh/nf

KEYWORD: LONGTAN NSW (PIX AVAILABLE)

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

SA: Liberal leader joins the call for safe driving

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2006
SA: Liberal leader joins the call for safe driving

The South Australian Opposition's joined the call for local motorists to take care
on the state's roads over Easter.

Opposition Leader IAIN EVANS says the Easter break is one of the most eagerly awaited
holidays .. but a time of greater risk of road accidents .. particularly on country roads.

Last Easter seven people died on South Australian roads.

AAP RTV tjd/rt

KEYWORD: TOLL SA (ADELAIDE)

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

NSW: Budget on May 24=2

AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2005
NSW: Budget on May 24=2

The budget is expected to contain changes to land tax on investment properties.

The government last year abolished the $317,000 land tax-free threshold, making more
than 300,000 properties liable for the tax for the first time.

Mr Carr today said he was aware of public concerns about land tax.

"I'm listening to the community on issues like land tax. I'm saying again there's going
to be a review of taxes in this budget that's coming down," he told reporters.

AAP pj/kp/hu/sd

KEYWORD: BUDGET NSW 2 SYDNEY

2005 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

National DSL Provider DSLi Selects Netopia as Exclusive DSL CPE Vendor.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 21, 2000

Unique, Upgradeable Modular Architecture, VPN, Security and Other

Business-Class Features Make Netopia R7200 SDSL and R3100-I

IDSL Routers Clear Choice for DSLi

Netopia, Inc. (Nasdaq:NTPA), a market leader in providing DSL Internet equipment and e-commerce Web platforms to small and medium size businesses, today announced that DSLi (www.DSLi.com), a national provider of business-class DSL connectivity and value-added services, based on Florida's Digital Coast, has selected Netopia as its exclusive DSL CPE (Customer Premises Equipment) provider.

DSLi, which already offers the Netopia R7100 SDSL and R3100-I IDSL routers to its NorthPoint-provisioned customers, is now offering the Netopia R7200 SDSL and R3100-I IDSL routers to customers whose DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) circuits are provided by Covad Communications (Nasdaq:COVD).

DSLi's selection of Netopia DSL routers for its Covad-provisioned customers means that they too can now enjoy the unique capabilities which Netopia routers provide. These include easy-to-use, secure VPN, Dial Backup, Dynamic MultiNAT and a host of other business-class features which enhance DSLi's service offering; and a flexible modular architecture which makes it easy for DSLi to upgrade its customers' equipment as new technologies become available.

"We are very glad that we can now offer Netopia DSL routers to our Covad-provisioned customers," said Mario Bustamante, president of DSLi. "Netopia routers not only provide fast, reliable Internet access, but make it possible for us to offer VPN and other value-added services which really allow our customers to leverage the Internet to grow their businesses."

          Standard and optional features of Netopia routers include:  --   A uniquely extensible modular architecture which allows the      router to be expanded with a number of add-on kits and upgraded      to new WAN technologies as they become available.  --   Analog or ISDN dial back-up, which ensures that small business      DSL customers not only have redundant access to the Internet but      redundant access to local servers from the Internet. Customers      can utilize Netopia's back-up capabilities either by connecting a      third party external modem or ISDN terminal adapter to the      router's auxiliary port, or by purchasing an optional Netopia      internal analog or ISDN WANlet upgrade kit.  --   Dynamic MultiNAT, a sophisticated NAT extension that provides the      security of a NAT "wall" to hide LAN IP addresses, while      providing flexibility in the use of multiple IP addresses offered      by an ISP.  --   A built-in firewall that uses packet filtering and network      address translation to protect a company's network resources.      This enhanced security is especially important to DSL customers,      as DSL connections are "always on."  --   A built-in 8-port hub, which means that smaller businesses can      use the Netopia router to set up their network as well as to      connect their network to the Internet.  --   Sophisticated diagnostic, management and monitoring tools such as      Ping, Trace Route, Syslog, Telnet client and SNMP.  --   Secure VPN, which lets businesses easily set up extranets for      partners and vendors, securely connect branch offices, and      provide secure LAN access to remote and mobile workers. Netopia's      VPN implementation allows small businesses to implement a      business-class VPN solution using just a Netopia router and the      client software built into the Windows operating system. No NT      Server or external VPN equipment is needed. 

"DSLi shares Netopia's philosophy of offering small and medium businesses not only high-speed Internet access, but the services they need in order to use the Internet as a powerful business tool," said Alan Lefkof, Netopia's president and CEO. "This philosophy has proven very successful for DSLi and we look forward to working with them as they further expand their DSL offering nationwide."

About DSLi

Based in South Florida, DSLi is a data communications and Internet access provider using various forms of DSL technology to offer small, mid-size and Fortune 500 companies a full solution in high speed Internet access. DSLi is currently implementing an aggressive multi-tier campaign to provide the highest level of DSL services and products for its client base throughout the country. For more information on DSLi, visit its Web site at www.DSLi.com.

Based in Southeast Florida, the Internet Coast is a rapidly growing, technology-driven, region supported by Internet related businesses, educational facilities, and organizations. It is now recognized in the same way as other U.S. technology clusters like Silicon Valley. The Internet Coast is a globally recognized community of free-thinking innovators dedicated to the attraction, development, and advancement of technologies.

About Netopia

Netopia, Inc. develops, markets and supports Internet and electronic commerce infrastructure for small and medium size businesses. Netopia's DSL equipment and e-commerce Web platform enable businesses to connect easily and cost-effectively to the Internet, establish and enhance their Internet presence, and conduct business and electronic commerce on the Web.

With its Netopia e-commerce Web platform, the Company has established Web-based services with Bloomberg.com, Citigroup's Bizzed.com, Cendant Corporation, Netscape Netcenter, Jato Communications, France Telecom, SmartAge.com, Mac Publishing's Macworld.com and Concentric Network. With its Netopia DSL Router family, the Company has established interoperability with central office equipment from Copper Mountain Networks, Lucent Technologies and Nokia; and has established strategic distribution relationships with leading CLECs including Covad Communications, NorthPoint Communications, Rhythms NetConnections Inc. and Jato Communications; and with hundreds of ISPs including France Telecom, Telecom Italia, Bell Atlantic, PSINet, Verio, UUNet, Earthlink Network and Concentric Network.

Headquartered in Alameda, Calif., Netopia's common stock trades on The Nasdaq Stock Market(R) under the symbol "NTPA." Further information about Netopia can be obtained via phone 510/814-5100, fax 510/814-5021 or on the web at www.netopia.com.

Portions of this release include forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Netopia, Inc.'s actual results could differ materially from the results discussed in this release and in the forward-looking statements contained herein for many reasons. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to product development, product acceptance, licensing opportunities and general economic conditions. For more information concerning Netopia and risk factors that may affect Netopia's future results and may cause actual results to vary from results anticipated in forward-looking statements, investors should review Netopia's public filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available by calling Netopia at 510/814-5260 or online at www.sec.gov.

Note to Editors: All company names, brand names and product names are trademarks of their respective holder(s).