National Newslist for Wednesday, April 8, 2009

AAP General News (Australia)
04-08-2009
National Newslist for Wednesday, April 8, 2009
AAP's National Newslist for today (not for publication). This is a guide only and stories
are subject to change. AAP's news editors can be contacted on 02 93228611/8610.

NATIONAL:
RUDD
- Prime Minister visits northern Tasmania.

THOMSON
- Federal Labor MP and former union boss Craig Thomson allegedly used his union credit
cards to help fund his election campaign and pay for a number of personal expenses, including
escort services; Gillard says audit best way to get to bottom of allegations Labor MP
used union credit card to pay for escort services, and bankroll his federal election campaign;
Seeking response from PM's office, after referral from Craig Thomson's office.

ECONOMY
- ABS releases Housing finance for February.

- Westpac-Melbourne Institute survey of consumer sentiment for April.

RATES
- Turnbull demands banks pass on cut, saying they are doing "very well"; Government pressure
has helped keep Australia's banks honest and home buyers in reasonable shape, federal
Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner says; Banks that fail to pass on the latest interest rate
cut to borrowers need "a good kick up the bum", federal Treasurer Wayne Swan says.

BROADBAND
- Conroy rejects suggestions taxpayers could fit the entire bill for planned network.

- Tanners says network will put downward pressure on broadband prices.

- Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan is confident the private sector will come to the party
and invest in the government's high-speed broadband network.

- Opp'n says it's unaffordable.

- Consumers would pay less for 100 common prescription medicines under a budget plan to
cut the price paid to drug companies.

OTHERS
- Federal Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull doorstop at West Ryde, Sydney, (approx 11am)
- Unemployed job placement workers and their supporters rally around the nation against
the federal government's Job Network decision.

- Food and Grocery Council CEO Kate Carnell addresses National Press Club.

- Senate inquiry into Lost Innocents and Forgotten Australian reports.

- Businessman Dick Smith decides none of the entries for his $50,000 prize for best investigative
report on the Seasprite helicopter debacle is good enough and will donate the cash to
charity.

INTERNATIONAL
- A New Zealand comedian has been let off the hook after airing views that former prime
minister Helen Clark was a lesbian and a "bloody communist".

- US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has backed a demand by South Pacific leaders for
elections in Fiji this year.

ENTERTAINMENT
- Press conference with Hugh Jackman about Wolverine.

MEDICAL
- A committee of the Therapeutic Goods Administration to announce whether sales restrictions
will be placed on drugs containing codeine (Nurofen Plus and others).

- Outseeking reax on report of a push to ban weight-loss product Mega Slim after claims
it's linked to health scares overseas.

COURTS:
BRISBANE - Outlaw bikies in Southport court on drug charges.

BRISBANE - Storm Financial founders in court over $2 million payment.

MELBOURNE - Sentence for the last of five men involved in setting alight a mentally ill
man, County Court.

MELBOURNE - Sentence for an accountant found with more than 12,000 child pornography images
following an FBI sting, County Court.

SYDNEY - Two alleged Rebels members to appear in Newtown court on drug charges.

SYDNEY - Sentencing of ex-policeman Mark Cavanagh for stealing a helicopter.

SYDNEY - Sentencing of Glen Hitchen for grievous paedophilia and child pornography offences.

PERTH - Third day and first day of witness evidence at Federal Court hearing for Fortescue
Metals Group and its chief executive Andrew Forrest.

GENERAL
MELBOURNE
- Spending the Commonwealth bonus on energy saving measures will cut water and energy
bills and reduce greenhouse emissions, the Victorian government says.

- Vic Premier John Brumby to make bushfire appeal fund announcement.

- Final community consultation of Victorian bushfires royal commissioners. Today's meeting
of Strathewen community at Arthurs Creek.

- AFL club North Melbourne will investigate which of its players posted on the internet
a degrading video that depicts a toy rubber chicken performing sex acts.

- The Office of Police Integrity (OPI) has ordered Victoria's new police chief to review
a probe into bullying claims against former police union boss Paul Mullett following claims
the government may have interfered in the investigation.

- Memorial service for Olympics administrator Judy Patching.

- Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese, test drives the first
ever all electric car to receive Federal approval to drive on Australian roads.

- Cirque du Soleil media preview.

SYDNEY
BIKIES
- Police will apply to have the Rebels and Comancheros motorcycle gangs declared criminal
organisations, after eight raids carried out on NSW properties on Tuesday.

OTHER
- Holidaymakers planning a break along the Murray River on the NSW Victorian border are
being warned an algae bloom makes the water unsafe for swimming; NSW Water Minister Phil
Costa presser at 9.30am (AEST)
- NSW motorists are being urged to slow down, buckle up and take rest breaks as they head
away for the Easter long weekend; Police presser at 10.45am.

- A 23-year-old man from NSW central west has been charged with attempted murder after
allegedly slashing another man's throat and attempting to stab him in the chest while
he slept at home.

- Two Sydney teenagers have been charged with firearms offences, with one allegedly selling
guns to undercover police officers.

- NSW Premier Nathan Rees laying wreath at Schools ANZAC ceremony (11.30)
- Unionists unemployed after Job Network changes rallying at Trades Hall.

BRISBANE
- A search for a fisherman missing off Queensland's coast for three days has been scaled
back, while search continues for missing Chinese student; Outwatching for more.

- Entrepreneur Sarina Russo will keep her jobseeker offices in Brisbane open, despite
losing a Job Network contract.

- V Australia launch of LA flights.

- Seeking update on hunger striker in Lotus Glen jail.

- Queensland Services Union take part in national day of protest against federal government
announcement of new employment service contracts. 1pm (AEST).

- Outseeking more on report Noel Pearson has quit his think tank Cape York Institute to
concentrate on lobbying on behalf of land rights.

ADELAIDE
- More details of the death of former world cycling champion Jobie Dajka.

- Premier Mike Rann visits the Australian Submarine Corporation.

- Police arrest eight people over elaborate scheme for identity fraud.

HOBART
- Two men charged with murder in Hobart.

FINANCE
ECONOMICS NEWS:

Sydney - Westpac/Melbourne Institute survey of consumer sentiment for April

Sydney - ABS housing finance data for February

Sydney - Australian Office of Financial Management holds tender for $700 million May 2021 bonds

Sydney - Australian Office of Financial Management ceo Neil Hyden speaks at Aust business
economists lunch on aust govt debt in a changed financial world

EQUITIES NEWS:

Perth - Fortescue Metals v ASIC in court

Sydney - Reserve Bank of Australia board member Professor Warwick McKibbin addresses
Lowy Institute on "The global financial crisis: Cause and consequences"

Sydney - QBE Insurance Ltd annual general meeting

Melbourne - Adelaide Brighton Ltd to conduct $100m capital raising



See also: Stocks, Dollar, Credit


SPORT

LEAGUE

SYDNEY - Wrap of NRL news.

SYDNEY - West Tigers captain Robbie Farah presser ahead of 100th game, 1430

SYDNEY - NRL preview panel for round 5.

SYDNEY - More on this ...Manly centre Jamie Lyon has reportedly failed in his bid to
be made exempt from selection in this year's representative rugby league teams. (League
Lyon)

AFL

MELBOURNE - Wrap of AFL news.

MELBOURNE - Preview Geelong v Collingwood match on Thursday, Mick Malthouse presser, 1030.

MELBOURNE - Preview panel for Thursday's match.

MELBOURNE - Carlton coach Brett Ratten and Essendon coach Matthew Knights presser 1145,
Visy Park.

MELBOURNE - North Melbourne CEO Eugene Arocca presser 1000.

RUGBY UNION

SYDNEY - Super 14 preview panel for round 9.

GOLF

AUGUSTA - Preview Aussies at US Masters starting Thursday, with penpix.

AUGUSTA, Georgia - Greg Norman will be the first Australian to tee off when the Masters
starts on Thursday. (Golf Masters Tee Times)

CRICKET

CAPE TOWN - Preview third ODI Australia v South Africa starting Thursday night AEST.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa - Brad Haddin says Australia have been "hurt" by their seven-wicket
loss at Centurion and must rebound quickly for Thursday's third match in their one-day
international series against South Africa. (Cricket Aust), will be (Cricket Aust Wrap)
and (Cricket Aust Haddin) both to come.

SOCCER

GOSFORD - ACL match: Central Coast v Kawasaki Frontale, Bluetongue Stadium, 2000.

MANCHESTER - Manchester United are in danger of losing their grip on the Champions
League after the holders were held to a 2-2 draw by Porto in Tuesday's quarter-final first
leg. (Soccer Champions ManUtd)

CYCLING

ADELAIDE/MELBOURNE - More on death of controversial cyclist Jobie Dajka plus obit.

PARIS - American cycling legend Lance Armstrong has expressed outrage at claims from
France that he had not behaved himself during an out of competition drug test earlier
this season. (Cycling Armstrong).

SURFING

BELLS BEACH - Men's world tour event continues.

ATHLETICS

MELBOURNE - Pre-Stawell Gift meeting media opportunity, 1300, Albert Ground, Josh Ross,
Aaron Rouge-Serret, Sean Wroe, Melissa Breen.

RACING

SYDNEY - Throw forward to Saturday's Group One AJC Australian Derby program at Randwick.

MELBOURNE - Looking at the Caulfield meeting on Saturday.

SYDNEY - Cover of Wednesday's Canterbury fixture.

BRISBANE - Wrap-up of the Doomben card on Wednesday.

AAP cdh

KEYWORD: NATIONAL NEWSLIST

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