HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:45, Dec 4 =2

AAP General News (Australia)
12-04-2003
HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:45, Dec 4 =2



ABUJA - Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon has denied there is a black-white
racial split in the organisation but admitted many member countries had serious democratic
flaws. (CHOGM Nightlead)

JAKARTA - Six of the 14 Turkish boat people stranded in Indonesia after being turned
away by Australia will be repatriated tomorrow because they did not claim asylum, the
International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said today. (Boat Indon)

LOS ANGELES - Before getting her big break in Hollywood Naomi Watts has revealed she
was told countless times she was not sexy or pretty enough to make it in America. (US
Watts)

PARIS - A lawyer for Frenchman Willie Brigitte today rejected allegations that the
suspected Islamic extremist had been preparing to stage an attack in Australia. (Brigitte
France)

CANBERRA - A snapshot of Australia's welfare needs has found about one million more
homes will be required across the country over the next seven years. (Welfare)

CANBERRA - Health Minister Tony Abbott today moved to force Labor to take a position
on the government's Medicare safety net, introducing legislation to set the policy in
motion. (Medicare Parly. N/L to come.)

CANBERRA - University students could blame the independent senators and the federal
government for fee hikes if the deal passed the Senate, Labor said today. (Universities
Labor. N/L to come.)

CANBERRA - The age of Australia's political leaders did not influence their electoral
appeal, Prime Minister John Howard said today. (Howard Age)

CANBERRA - Australia's film industry should not become a social welfare system for
uncompetitive movie makers, Academy Award winner Russell Crowe said today. (Crowe)

SYDNEY - Staff at talk radio station 2UE were jubilant at the decision to pull out
of the part merger with arch rival 2GB, breakfast announcer Mike Carlton said today. (Radio
Carlton. N/L to come.)

SYDNEY - A man convicted of assaulting an 11-year-old girl was free because of a legal
blunder by a judge and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), NSW Opposition leader
John Brogden said today. (Blunder. N/L to come.)

SYDNEY - About 80 per cent of Australian bosses used high tech spy equipment to keep
tabs on their staff's emails, phone calls and internet usage, a workplace surveillance
expert said today. (Surveillance)

SYDNEY - Arrest warrants have been issued for two men wanted for the murder of a man
whose death was the catalyst for a crime explosion in Sydney's south-west. (Gain. N/L
to come.)

SYDNEY - About 1,000 people have marched on NSW parliament to condemn what they say
is a state government plan to merge councils by stealth. (Councils. N/L to come.)

MELBOURNE - Elite members of Victoria's police force will be issued with stun guns
from next year. (Stun. N/L, Factbox to come.)

MELBOURNE - Melbourne's Crown Casino abandoned caution and honoured a fake $2.3 million
cheque in its bid to woo a high-roller, the Victorian County Court was told today. (Huang)

MELBOURNE - A coroner has urged life jackets be made compulsory on recreational boats
after two men died on a moonlight jaunt down the Ovens River in Victoria's far north at
Easter this year. (McDonald)

MELBOURNE - Bikers slapped with speeding tickets on the way to this year's motorcycle
Grand Prix on Victoria's Phillip Island say they had their fines dropped after reminding
authorities they had been travelling under police escort at the time. (Motorcycles)

MELBOURNE - Victoria's budget surplus for 2003-4 was now expected to be $652 million,
up considerably on the original estimate of $245 million, state Finance Minister John
Lenders said today. (BUDGET VIC. N/L to come.)

BRISBANE - A high-living horse trainer at the pinnacle of the Australian drug industry
was jailed for 18 years today after being convicted on drug charges. (Lowe)

BRISBANE - A Queensland couple who have dedicated their lives to their children, adopted
daughter, orphaned nieces and the community have been named the Australian Family of the
Year. (FAMILY)

BRISBANE - A man with multiple personality disorder downloaded 6600 child porn images
as his teenage alter ego, a court was told today. (MORTIMER)

BRISBANE - Properties owned by members of the Rebels motorcycle gang have been targeted
in a series of drug raids in central Queensland. (Bikies Lead)

BRISBANE - A 30-year-old man shot by police in McDonalds car park in Brisbane was today

charged with attempted murder and the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle. (Shooting

Nightlead)

PERTH - Australia could increase its migrant intake if the pattern of settlement was
properly managed, federal Opposition leader Mark Latham said today. (Labor Migration)

PERTH - The brothers convicted of the Perth Mint Swindle over twenty years ago continue
their eighth bid to clear their names. (MICKELBERG to come)

ADELAIDE - The Baulderstone Hornibrook company has been chosen to build Holden's new
corporate headquarters in Port Melbourne, part of the car maker's $200 million redevelopment
of the Fishermans Bend precinct. (MOTOR HOLDEN )

DARWIN - Allegations a police officer unlawfully shot and killed a man in a remote
Aboriginal community will be heard in April next year. (Whittington)

DARWIN - The struggling Northern Territory tourism industry received a boost today,
with news more international flights will soon touch down in the region. (Airline)

DARWIN - A 52-year-old man is in a critical condition after a fire at a Darwin block
of units overnight, police said. (Unit)

AAP sp

KEYWORD: HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL 2 SYDNEY

2003 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.