AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, Feb 15

AAP General News (Australia)
02-15-2009
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, Feb 15
Evening Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1630


Bushfires Vic Wrap (SYDNEY)

Seriously injured bushfire victims and those who've lost their homes will soon receive
payments from the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.

About 70 people are estimated to be seriously injured as a result of the fires .. and
will each receive a one-off payment of seven thousand 500 dollars.

The appeal's advisory panel has also approved an immediate household relief payment
of around 10-thousand dollars .. for people whose houses have been lost or left uninhabitable.

KEVIN RUDD has told the people of Wandong .. they'll be supported every step of the
way until their bushfire-ravaged community is rebuilt.

The prime minister's attended today's open-air service of solidarity and reflection
in the small community north of Melbourne .. which lost three people and 200 homes to
the fires.

Mr RUDD's praised Country Fire Authority volunteers for putting themselves last and
their community first.

Melbourne Water says water in reservoirs under threat from the bushfires is being pumped
into ones that are safe.

More than a hundred of Melbourne Water's own fire fighting crews and planners are working
with other agencies to minimise damage to the Maroondah catchment .. and to prevent fire
fronts from spreading into the Upper Yarra catchment.

Meanwhile Australians and Americans have come together in Los Angeles and New York
to raise more than 50-thousand US-dollars ($A76,587.27) for victims of the Victorian bushfires.

And former Australian cricket captains STEVE WAUGH and MARK TAYLOR will skipper rival
sides featuring sporting and entertainment stars in a celebrity Twenty20 cricket match
next week .. to raise money for the appeal.



Stimulus (CANBERRA)

The federal government's dismissed speculation the prime minister could call an early
election .. to take advantage of the 42 billion dollar economic stimulus package.

With 12.7 billion in cash handouts and billions more for a raft of nation building
measures .. it's been suggested KEVIN RUDD could call an election for as early as September.

Parents .. working Australians and farmers affected by the drought are set to receive
up to 900 dollars in one-off cash payments .. beginning in March.

But Finance Minister LINDSAY TANNER's dismissed talk of an early poll .. saying the
government's focussed on guiding Australia through the global economic crisis.



Iraq US Probe (WASHINGTON)

Senior US military officers have reportedly become targets of a corruption probe ..

focused on a 125 billion US-dollar effort to rebuild Iraq following the 2003 invasion.

The New York Times reports investigators have subpoenaed the personal bank records
of retired Colonel ANTHONY BELL .. who was in charge of reconstruction contracting in
2003 and 2004.

According to the report .. investigators are also examining the activities of Air Force
Lieutenant Colonel RONALD HIRTLE .. a senior contracting officer in Baghdad in 2004.

Officials say several criminal cases over the past few years point to widespread corruption
in the operation the men helped run.



Church (BRISBANE)

A rebel Catholic priest has defended his Brisbane church's social activism .. telling
the congregations Jesus was also harshly criticised for unorthodox behaviour.

Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane JOHN BATHERSBY has terminated Father PETER KENNEDY's
appointment from next Saturday.

Father KENNEDY's attempting to appeal the sacking under the church's canon law.

He's been criticised for allowing women to preach in the church .. and for blessing
homosexual couples.

St Mary's church in South Brisbane was packed again this morning .. and the congregation
of around 600 loudly applauded the turbulent priest after his sermon.



Shark (SYDNEY)

The New South Wales government says there's no evidence of increased shark numbers
.. despite cleaner waterways around Sydney.

News Limited reports the state's fishermen are regularly hauling up to 100 sharks per
night .. but new quotas mean they'll be banned from hunting sharks until July.

A navy diver and a surfer are recovering in hospital from two separate shark attacks
last week in Sydney Harbour and at Bondi Beach last.

Deputy Premier CARMEL TEBBUTT says it's more likely that a ban on commercial fishing
in the harbour due to dioxin issues has led to sharks being attracted to the greater number
of fish.



Pregnancy (SYDNEY)

A new study's revealed for every baby that dies soon after birth in an Australian private
hospital .. three die in the public system.

The ANU's Medical School has examined almost 790 thousand births over four years.

It's found the neonatal death rate was one for every one thousand babies born in private
hospitals compared to three in one thousand for public hospitals.

The study's also found women who give birth in public hospitals are more than twice
as likely to suffer tearing .. or that their babies will need resuscitation.

Associate Professor STEVE ROBSON says he's shocked by the striking difference between
public and private systems.



Briefly in other news ..



Raft (BRISBANE)

Rescue teams have recovered the body of a man who drowned yesterday in a white water
rafting accident in far north Queensland.



Crossing (BRISBANE)

The Queensland government has launched a one million dollar community education campaign
to improve level crossing safety .. following two recent fatal accidents and a number
of near misses.



Ambulances (SYDNEY)

Five new mega-lift ambulances .. used to transport obese people to hospital .. are
about to be rolled out across New South Wales to meet a growing demand.



UK Goody (LONDON)

British reality TV star JADE GOODY says she plans to marry her boyfriend after being
told her cervical cancer is terminal and she has just months to live.



in Sport ..



Twenty Aust (SYDNEY)

With rain across Sydney for much of today .. the weather looks likely to be a factor
in tonight's Twenty20 match at the SCG.

Friday night's fifth one-day match at the Gabba was washed out .. drawing the Chappell-Hadlee
series two-all.

Australia's MICHAEL CLARKE and MITCHELL JOHNSON are being rested from tonight's 20-over
match .. with BRAD HADDIN to captain for the first time and Victorian ROB QUINEY added
to the squad.

The Kiwis also have injury concerns .. with KYLE MILLS ruled out and ROSS TAYLOR in doubt.



Cricket IPL (SYDNEY)

Queensland's LEE CARSELDINE and Victorian pair SHANE HARWOOD and ROB QUINEY have signed
for reigning Indian Premier League champions Rajasthan Royals.

The trio will link up with captain-coach SHANE WARNE and fellow Australians SHANE WATSON
and SHAUN TAIT.



Soccer AL AdUtd (ADELAIDE)

Adelaide United coach AURELIO VIDMAR has rushed to apologise for an extraordinary postmatch
tirade at his own club and city following the Reds' embarrassing A-League major semi-final
defeat yesterday.

VIDMAR labelled Adelaide a "piss-ant town" and blamed internal politics for messing
with his players' heads after Melbourne's crushing 4-0 second leg win.

A public apology was hastily issued .. with VIDMAR expressing regret for what he thought
were statements in the heat of the moment.



ENDS EVENING ROUND-UP

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