AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, Dec 4

AAP General News (Australia)
12-04-2009
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, Dec 4
Midday Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1130


Labor NSW Keneally (SYDNEY)

New New South Wales Premier KRISTINA KENEALLY says her first priority will be to focus
on jobs and economic investment.

Ms KENEALLY will be sworn in as premier today after being elected by the state Labor
caucus as their new leader last night.

She's told the Nine Network second on her priority list is transport .. health and
education and wants to put at the heart of her government a care for the most vulnerable
in the community.

The former planning minister has also rejected an allegation the Labor party has been
a disgrace .. saying there's much the party can be proud of.

Meantime FRANK SARTOR says he'll support the new premier .. despite narrowly losing
a crucial vote in the Right faction to challenge for the leadership.

Ms KENEALLY beat Mr SARTOR by three votes.



Labor NSW OFarrell (SYDNEY)

Opposition leader BARRY O'FARELL says there will be no early election in New South
Wales because the state government isn't stupid enough to risk ruin.

Mr O'FARRELL has this morning wished newly elected premier KRISTINA KENEALLY success
because he says the state can't afford to wait 15 months for a change of government.



Park Charges (MELBOURNE)

Two boys have been charged over the alleged gang rape of two teenage girls in a Melbourne park.

The 15-year-old girls were targeted by a group of up to 10 males at Broadmeadows railway
station .. in Melbourne's north .. on October 24 .. before being separated and allegedly
raped at a park in nearby Roxburgh Park.

Five teenagers surrendered themselves to police yesterday .. after details of the alleged
pack rape were splashed across the media.

Early today .. a 16-year-old Meadow Heights boy was charged with two counts of rape
.. and a 15-year-old Broadmeadows boy was charged with one count of rape.



Boat (CANBERRA)

A boat believed to be carrying 15 suspected asylum seekers has been intercepted 150
nautical miles north west of Darwin.

It's the 51st boat to be intercepted in Australian waters this year.

Home Affairs Minister BRENDAN O'CONNOR has confirmed personnel on board HMAS Albany
boarded the vessel late last night.

He says those onboard the boat are safe and have indicated they want to come to Australia.

They're now being transferred to Christmas Island where they'll undergo security ..

identity and health checks.



Stephens (MELBOURNE)

Gangland figure ROBERTA WILLIAMS has gasped and moaned in court as her 22-year-old
son was sentenced to four-and-a-half years jail in a Victorian court today .. over a three-day
theft spree.

In January this year TYE STEPHENS stole a 2008 Subaru Impreza worth 30 thousand dollars
.. and almost 60 thousand dollars in cash from a couple of Coles supermarkets .. a Bakers
Delight and a gaming venue.

He'll be eligible for parole in two years.



Snorkeller (BRISBANE)

An American tourist has died while snorkelling in North Queensland.

Investigations are now underway into the woman's sudden death near Agincourt Reef off
Port Douglas.

The woman .. believed to be aged in her 60s .. is the seventh person to die while snorkelling
in northern or central Queensland in the past 15 months.



Asia Rudd (SYDNEY)

Prime Minister KEVIN RUDD says Asia-Pacific countries need a wider and more inclusive
organisation to address economic .. trade and security issues facing the region .. but
not a structure like the European Union.

Foreign delegates and former leaders of 21 Asia-Pacific countries have today gathered
in Sydney for two days to attend the Asia-Pacific Community Conference.

The event is the culmination of 18 months of regional discussions about developing
a new forum for Asia-Pacific countries including China .. Japan .. the US and Australia.

Mr RUDD was the first to propose the idea and has today detailed what challenges the
region faces in the 21st century.



UK Iraq Aust (LONDON)

Britain's former defence chief has played down the influence Australia exerted over
former US president GEORGE W BUSH's plans to invade Iraq in 2003.

The Iraq Inquiry in London has heard suggestions that despite Australia's relatively
small military contribution to the US-led invasion .. it still had a significant say in
the campaign's planning process.

However the then defence chief .. Admiral Lord MICHAEL BOYCE has told the inquiry it
was Britain who had the ear of the US rather than the Australian government.



US Groom (NEW YORK)

A groom in America has interrupted his own wedding ceremony to update his Facebook
page and to `tweet' about it.

Youtube footage shows DANA HANNA .. from Maryland .. take out a telephone from his
suit .. interrupting the minister .. then hand a second phone to the bride.



Briefly in other news ..



Polanski (GENEVA)

Authorities acting to protect ROMAN POLANSKI from public attention .. have moved him
from a Zurich area jail to an undisclosed location .. before his transfer to house arrest
in the Swiss Alps.



Guinea President (CONAKRY)

Guinea's junta chief has been shot and injured by an aide .. but his spokesman says
he's doing well after the murder attempt at a military base.



US Crashers (WASHINGTON)

The US Secret Service agents .. who let a gatecrashing couple enter a White House dinner
without an invitation .. have been suspended from their duties.



in Finance ..



Finance Markers Morn RADIO MORNING

At 1115 AEDT, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was DOWN 46 points at 4,728.6, while the
broader All Ordinaries Index was DOWN 44 points at 4,745.3.

The Australian dollar was at 92.23 US cents, DOWN from Thursday's local close of 92.82 US cents.

It was at 61.32 euro cents, DOWN from 61.55 euro cents on Thursday.

The spot price of gold in Sydney was $US1,204.82, DOWN $US8.78 from $US1,213.60 per
fine ounce on Thursday.



in Sport ..



Cricket Aust (ADELAIDE)

West Indies captain CHRIS GAYLE has won the toss and chosen to bat first against Australia
in the second Test at Adelaide Oval.

In ideal conditions for batting it was an important toss to win .. offering the visitors
a chance to get established in Adelaide after a hefty innings defeat in the first Test
at the Gabba.

The visitors made two changes to the team from Brisbane .. with TRAVIS DOWLIN unlucky
to be dropped for the fit-again RAMNARESH SARWAN while fast-medium bowler DARREN SAMMY
has replaced the injured JEROME TAYLOR.



Golf Aust (SYDNEY)

Strong winds of up to 65km/h are continuing to keep golfers off the course during the
second round of the Australian Open at NSW Golf Club.

Play was suspended just after 8.30am and officials are going to check conditions shortly
to see if play can resume.

Only a handful of players made it onto the course before the suspension .. with co-overnight
leader STUART APPLEBY parring his opening two holes to remain at six-under par.



Boxing Mundine (SYDNEY)

ANTHONY MUNDINE says he is happy for a rematch with DANNY GREEN if the money is right.

MUNDINE has announced he'll fight fellow Australian boxer ROBERT MEDLEY next month
in Sydney for the IBO junior middleweight title .. but hasn't ruled out taking on GREEN
further down the track.



ENDS MIDDAY ROUND-UP

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