AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, April 12

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2008
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, April 12
Breakfast Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 0430


Rudd (SANYA)

KEVIN RUDD's discussed cricket and the situation in Afghanistan .. during his meeting
in China with Pakistani President PERVEZ MUSHARRAF.

Australia cancelled its tour of Pakistan last month .. over concerns for the security of players.

The prime minister's discussed the tour during his meeting this afternoon with MUSHARRAF
.. saying he hopes the situation can be resolved and the tour continue.

The two leaders have also agreed to continue talks over what Pakistan could be doing
in Afghanistan .. to better aid the effort of coalition forces fighting against the Taliban.



Intervention (CANBERRA)

The future of the Northern Territory intervention could be up in the air .. following
revelations Aboriginal communities and intervention workers have been exposed to a cancer-causing
chemical.

More than 50 intervention workers .. police and army officers may have been affected
by shipping containers which have been used for accommodation for the workers.

The containers are believed to contain formaldehyde .. a toxic chemical used in glue
which can cause cancer .. asthma .. respiratory problems and skin and nasal irritations.

Indigenous Affairs Minister JENNY MACKLIN is now waiting for a report on the situation
.. which is due to be handed to her on Monday.



Oly08 Dalai (NEW DELHI)

The Dalai Lama's representative says nations have a right to boycott the Olympics ..

even though the exiled Tibetan leader supports China hosting the Beijing Games.

TEMPA TSERING says the Tibetan spiritual leader has always said China .. which has
one-sixth of the world's population .. should have the right to host the Olympics.

But he says whether other countries boycott the Games or not is their right.

Meanwhile runners have begun carrying the Olympic torch through Buenos Aires .. with
Argentine police keeping small pro- and anti-China protest groups apart at points along
the 13-kilometre route.



Kons (MELBOURNE)

Tasmanian police will investigate how the shredded document .. that forced deputy premier
STEVE KONS to resign for misleading parliament .. was made public.

Tasmanian police commissioner JACK JOHNSTON says Solicitor-General LEIGH SEALY has
asked him to investigate how the document was removed from Mr KONS' office.

A letter was found in a rubbish bin outside his Burnie office last year .. revealing
he recommended former Resource Planning and Development Commissioner SIMON COOPER be appointed
a magistrate.

Mr KONS had to resign .. for denying to parliament he'd ever recommended the appointment
until the document was released .. proving he'd lied.

The document was pieced back together and produced in parliament this week by Greens
politician KIM BOOTH.



Hair

A hair transplant company is being investigated for abusing the Medicare safety net
.. with allegations it told patients accommodation and domestic flights would be covered
under the scheme.

Medicare's looking into the National Hair Institute .. after a company letter surfaced
telling a female patient an all inclusive treatment package would be covered by the safety
net.

The Australian newspaper reports the package included domestic flights .. luxury accommodation
and limousine transfers .. and was priced at more than 10-thousand dollars.

The safety net refunds 80 per cent of expenses once patients have spent a particular amount.

The company has denied rorting the safety net .. with medical director RHETT BOSNICH
saying the cost of the package didn't include flights or hotel stays.



Summit Youth (CANBERRA)

The nation's best and brightest young minds are convening in Canberra this weekend
.. to share their ideas for Australia's future.

The 100 hand-picked delegates will have two days to discuss and workshop ideas .. to
be pitched at the prime minister's 2020 ideas summit the following weekend.

They'll be debating key areas .. including the economy .. education .. climate change
.. health and the future of Australian governance.



Briefly in other news ..



A RiverCat ferry captain has been found NOT guilty of dangerous navigation .. causing
the death of a fisherman in Sydney Harbour.



New figures indicate rural and remote communities aren't receiving their fair share of
Medicare funding for mental health services .. despite a blow-out in the estimated cost
of the program.



French commandos have seized six pirates in Somalia .. during a daring helicopter raid
launched shortly after the bandits released the 30-strong crew of a luxury yacht they'd
hijacked last week.



A beaming KATE MIDDLETON has watched Britain's Prince WILLIAM become a pilot of the Royal
Air Force as part of his current military career.



in Finance ..



Rates Wizard (MELBOURNE)

Non-bank lender Wizard Home Loans has hiked its standard mortgage rate by 12 basis
points to 9.29 per cent per annum.

Wizard says the higher cost of wholesale funds shows no signs of improvement .. and
the gap between the official cash rate and its own funding costs has increased significantly
over recent months.



in Sport ..



AFL Wrap (Melbourne)

Essendon has suffered two more hamstring injuries on the way to a 30-point AFL loss
to the Western Bulldogs last night at Telstra Dome.

The Bulldogs won 19.14 (128) to 14.14 (98).

Round four continues today when St Kilda face a big test against unbeaten Geelong at
Telstra Dome.

North Melbourne host Melbourne this afternoon at the MCG and Sydney play West Coast
tonight at ANZ Stadium.



League Wrap (SYDNEY)

Gold Coast have claimed top spot on the NRL ladder while Melbourne flexed their premiership
muscle with a 26-4 win over Manly in last night's grand final rematch at Olympic Park.

At Parramatta .. the Titans won 28-20 to claim outright the lead with four wins from
their first five games.

The action continues today with St George Illawarra hosting North Queensland in Wollongong
.. while the Sydney Roosters have to do without WILLIE MASON and ANTHONY MINICHIELLO at
Penrith.



Super Wrap (PERTH)

The Western Force and New South Wales Waratahs battle for the mantle of Australia's
top Super 14 team in Perth tonight .. with the winner set to claim a spot in the competition's
top four.

The Brumbies will also be in action tonight .. aiming to keep alive their faint finals
hopes against the third-placed Blues in Auckland.

Leaders the Crusaders host the Lions in Christchurch while in Cape Town late tonight
the Stormers play the Cheetahs.

Last night .. the Sharks came from behind to beat the Highlanders 19-17 in Dunedin
to maintain their unbeaten record.



ENDS BREAKFAST ROUND-UP

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