VIC:CFA volunteer gutted by 'low-life' theft

AAP General News (Australia)
08-15-2011
VIC:CFA volunteer gutted by 'low-life' theft

A Victorian Country Fire Authority volunteer who was robbed while out at a fatal car
crash says the low-life act has rocked his faith in humanity.

Third Lieutenant JOHN KUTCHEL from the Pearcedale fire station was one of 11 CFA volunteers
attending a crash in which a man was killed in Somerville last night.

He was there all night, and when he returned to the station this morning, he discovered
two GPS units and two hand-held radios had been stolen from his car.

GPS units were also missing from a colleague's car and a CFA vehicle, and a laptop
and other equipment were gone from the station.

AAP RTV bm/gfr/jmt

KEYWORD: STATION (MELBOURNE)

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Aust-Indon special forces plan counter-terror exercise

AAP General News (Australia)
02-02-2007
Fed: Aust-Indon special forces plan counter-terror exercise

By Max Blenkin, Defence Correspondent

CANBERRA, Feb 2 AAP - Australian and Indonesia will conduct a counter-terrorism exercise,
the second since resumption of joint training involving the Special Air Service Regiment
(SASR) and the controversial Kopassus special force.

But defence won't say when, where or how many troops from each side will take part.

"No specific information on this type of training activity will be released due to
operational security reasons," a defence spokesman said.

The exercise follows the first joint SASR and Kopassus counter-terrorism exercise conducted
in Perth in February last year.

That exercise, code-named Dawn Kookaburra, concentrated on counter-hijack and hostage
recovery operations.

The upcoming exercise will be the second in the series and with venues commonly rotated,
it likely to be in Indonesia.

"The Australian Defence Force has taken steps to develop training with TNI (Indonesian
Armed Forces) in the areas of hostage recovery and counter-hijack operations," the spokesman
said today.

"TNI's Kopassus Unit 81, currently represents Indonesia's most effective capability
in these areas.

"In the event of a terrorist incident, the safety of Australians in Indonesia could
rest on effective cooperation between the ADF and TNI."

The spokesman said building links through joint training between the ADF and Kopassus
would increase Australian effectiveness in working with TNI in the event of a terrorist
incident.

Former defence minister Robert Hill announced a resumption of joint training between
Australian and Indonesian special forces in December 2005, ending an eight year moratorium.

Australian defence ties with Indonesia grew through the 1980s and 1990s, mainly between
Kopassus and the Perth-based SASR, but ended abruptly in 1999 when Australia led the international
mission to East Timor.

The relationship with Kopassus was always controversial because of its well documented
involvement in human rights abuses in East Timor, Aceh and West Papua.

A 2004 report released by the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the Australian
National University warned that Kopassus frequently if not exclusively operated in an
illegal manner and there was little evidence it had changed its ways.

Kopassus Unit 81 has a specific counter-terrorist role. The government believes it
possesses the most effective capability to respond to a hijack or conduct a hostage recovery
operation involving Australians in Indonesia.

Other joint training between the ADF and TNI is planned.

The RAAF and Indonesian Air Forces will conduct a maritime surveillance exercise called
Albatross Ausindo off Northern Australia in the second half of this year.

AAP mb/sb/sp

KEYWORD: KOPASSUS

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED:All food may be labelled as containing GM

AAP General News (Australia)
04-18-2011
FED:All food may be labelled as containing GM

CANBERRA, April 18 AAP - A proposal to require food labelling of even tiny quantities
of genetically-modified (GM) ingredients would result in all foods being labelled as possibly
containing GM material, an industry body says.

Matthew Cossey, chief executive of the pro-GM plant science organisation CropLife,
said companies would do that to limit liability for possibly breaching labelling laws.

He said testing was sufficiently advanced to show up even tiny quantities of GM material in food.

"I would think you would nearly get to the safe position that they simply put on the
label on everything that this may contain GM material to ensure that they don't expose
themselves to any action," he told a parliamentary committee.

Greens' senator Rachel Siewert suggested this was an admission that GM material was
right through the food supply chain.

"That's what you are arguing," she said.

Mr Cossey agreed, but he added that GM material hadn't entered the food supply chain
until it was proven to be safe.

He said CropLife believed there was no need for the mandatory labelling of GM food ingredients.

CropLife said one industry survey of 1200 Australians conducted in 2007 indicated only
2.9 per were worried about GM safety, with far greater concern shown for safety of fresh
vegetables and meat.

People were most concerned about fat, sugar, fat and salt content and use-by date with
GM content ranking at 16th.

The Senate community affairs legislation committee is considering a bill, proposed
by Senator Siewert and independent senator Nick Xenophon, which would require development
of a standard for the labelling of genetically-modified material, irrespective of the
amount or how it came to be present.

Current food labelling laws do not require label disclosure of GM content of less than
one per cent.

Greenpeace GM campaigner Claire Parfitt said Greenpeace backed stronger labelling of
GM content so people were aware when their food contained GM material or products derived
from GM material.

She said a Greenpeace survey in 2009 indicated 90 per cent wanted to know if their
food contained GM materials.

"This bill goes to that objective. People will in fact know if their food contains
ingredients which are derived from GM processes," she said.

AAP mb/sb/ajw

KEYWORD: LABELLING

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Omnicare to Present at J.P. Morgan Conference

Wireless News
01-11-2011
Omnicare to Present at J.P. Morgan Conference
Type: News

Omnicare, a provider of pharmaceutical care for the elderly, announced that it will present at the 29th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Jan. 12 at 11 a.m. PT (2 p.m. ET) in San Francisco.

According to a release, the presentation will be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed from Omnicare's Investor Relations Web site at ir.omnicare.com. Please allow extra time prior to the presentation to visit the site and download the streaming media software required to listen to the Internet broadcast. Following the conference, an archived version of the webcast will be available for 30 days.
Omnicare is a provider of pharmaceutical care for the elderly.

((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

.

Copyright 2011 Close-Up Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
n/a

FED:14 million set to vote today

08-21-2010
FED:14 million set to vote today

Fourteen million voters will decide who runs the country for the next three years when
they head to the polls today .. in one of the tightest races in living memory.

Polls point to a cliffhanger result which could go either way .. or end in a hung parliament.

The leaders threw all they had at the campaign on the last day of campaigning .. with
Labor Leader JULIA GILLARD focussing on the chance of the coalition bringing back the
unpopular Work Choices.

Opposition Leader TONY ABBOTT .. after a 36-hour no-sleep campaign blitz .. warned
Labor that Labor is incompetent and wasteful and does not deserve a second chance.

Polls also show the Australian Greens could emerge with the balance of power in the
Senate and with their first lower house seat won at a general election.

Voting is compulsory .. and almost eight-thousand polling booths will be open around
the country .. from 8am to 6pm.

The coalition needs 17 Labor seats to win the election by garnering a uniform swing
of 2.3 per cent across the country.

But the government can lose its absolute majority if it loses 13 seats.

AAP RTV ca/goc/wz

KEYWORD: POLL10 (CANBERRA)

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Premier tells of highway terror

AAP General News (Australia)
04-13-2010
Qld: Premier tells of highway terror

BRISBANE, April 13 AAP - A driver who terrified Queensland Premier Anna Bligh by driving
erratically next to her car on a motorway last year has been convicted and fined.

Leigh Sydney McQueeney, 48, appeared in the Holland Park Magistrates Court on Tuesday
in relation to the incident on May 7 on the M1 at Rochedale.

He was found guilty, on his own plea, of not having proper control of a vehicle and
fined $300 and a conviction was recorded.

Ms Bligh told reporters after the court case it had been a "very terrifying incident".

"Any vehicle that's behaving erratically in a freeway situation travelling at speed
is very scary," she said.

She had been a passenger in a Chrysler sedan travelling south along the motorway between
Brisbane and the Gold Coast with three other people.

A blue Saab sedan driven by McQueeney started accelerating and decelerating, due to
a later-identified mechanical problem, alongside the Premier's vehicle.

Her security officer flashed her badge out the window and directed McQueeney to pull
over, which he did.

"Ultimately the police officer who was travelling with me made a judgment to prosecute
on the basis of the behaviour observed," Ms Bligh said.

The premier said she did not believe the driver knew she was in the car.

"That was not obvious to me at the time. What I saw was a vehicle behaving in a very
scary fashion," she said.

She said she gave a witness account to police about the incident, which lasted around 10 minutes.

The court heard McQueeney would face other traffic charges, including driving without
due care and two counts of driving without a licence, on April 22.

AAP pjo/maur/

KEYWORD: MCQUEENEY

2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED: Memorial for PNG crash victim June Canavan today

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2009
FED: Memorial for PNG crash victim June Canavan today

A memorial service will be held today in Queensland .. for one of the victims from
the Papua New Guinea plane crash.

Thirteen people were killed .. nine of them Australians .. when the Airlines PNG plane
crashed near Kokoda on nearly three weeks ago.

Their bodies were returned to Australia last Wednesday .. and a memorial service will
be held for Doctor JUNE CANAVAN at the Sunshine Coast University today.

Doctor CANAVAN'S partner ANNE GRIPPER says she was a fantastic person .. who loved
sport .. arts and adventure travel.

APN Newspapers report the memorial service will begin at 11.30 this morning.

AAP djb/pjo/maur/ka/psm/

KEYWORD: PNG PLANE (BRISBANE)

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Blacktown Sydney Top Ten baby suburb

AAP General News (Australia)
04-22-2009
NSW: Blacktown Sydney Top Ten baby suburb

NSW Top Ten Baby Surburbs for 2008



Suburb Number of babies

Blacktown, 789

Bankstown, 739

Auburn, 699

Merrylands, 645

Dubbo, 603

Wagga Wagga 589

Orange, 560

Quakers Hill 504

Guildford 494

Liverpool 494



Figures released by NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages

AAP bc/fdf/

KEYWORD: BABIES (FACTBOX) (REISSUING)

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

TAS: Seven activists charged in Tassie climate change protest

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-2008
TAS: Seven activists charged in Tassie climate change protest

By Paul Carter

HOBART, Dec 16 AAP - Seven anti-logging activists have been charged with trespass over
a dawn raid on a Tasmanian pulp mill.

Fifteen activists from the Still Wild, Still Threatened action group launched the protest
to express their anger over the federal government's "pitiful" targets to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions.

The group stormed the Gunns Ltd woodchip mill at Triabunna, on Tasmania's east coast,
about 4.45am (AEDT) on Tuesday, their spokeswoman Ula Majewski said.

Ms Majewski said seven of the activists chained themselves to equipment at the mill,
halting production and backing up scores of laden log trucks.

Police Inspector Andrew Fogarty said four protesters secured themselves to logging vehicles.

Three others climbed operational equipment used to distribute wood chips into stock
piles where they secured themselves to the railing, he said.

"The seven protesters were removed from their positions by specially trained Search
and Rescue personnel using cutting equipment," Insp Fogarty said.

"The seven protesters were arrested by police and taken to Bellerive Police Station
where they were charged with trespassing.

"All were bailed to appear at Hobart Court of Perry Sessions on February 10."

Insp Fogarty said the protesters present at the mill were "extremely well behaved and polite".

"There was no conflict between any of the parties today and this was because the protesters,
logging contractors, police and Gunns staff behaved very well and avoided potential problems".

Ms Majewski said Tuesday's action was aimed protesting the federal government's white
paper on climate change and Gunns Ltd's continued decimation of Tasmania's extremely carbon-dense
forests.

"We think that the Australian government's targets are absolutely pitiful and the Rudd
and Bartlett governments need to take real action on climate change, she said.

"One very good way they can do this is immediately legislate to protect all of Tasmania's
old-growth and high-conservation-value forests."

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Monday said his government would seek to reduce the nation's
carbon emissions by five per cent of 2000 levels by 2020.

The target would rise to 15 per cent if a global pact on climate change, including
major emitters, is signed.

The targets are well below what scientists say nations must achieve to avert catastrophic
climate change.

A Gunns Ltd spokesman said the company planted about 15 million tree seedlings a year,
more than any other company in Australia.

AAP pc/bwl

KEYWORD: CLIMATE PROTEST TAS WRAP (PIX AVAILABLE)

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED: Drug experts warn about safe use of sleeping pills

AAP General News (Australia)
08-11-2008
FED: Drug experts warn about safe use of sleeping pills

By Tamara McLean, Medical Writer

SYDNEY, Aug 11 AAP - Insomniacs have once again been warned about safe use of the controversial
sleeping pill Stilnox in a new report released today.

Australia's drug prescribing experts have issued a position statement on hypnotic drugs
in the wake of reports last year of hundreds of Australians driving, binge-eating and
displaying other bizarre behaviour after popping a Stilnox tablet.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration upgraded warnings on Stilnox packs alerting patients
to "potentially dangerous sleep-related behaviours" and recommending it not be taken with
alcohol and use cautiously with antidepressants.

The drug regulator also recommended the drug not be taken for any longer than four weeks.

But the National Prescribing Service (NPS), which gives advice on safe use of medicines,
today said treatment should be limited to two weeks.

"For all hypnotics, use the lowest dose for the shortest time possible, ideally for
less than two weeks, and re-evaluate within seven to fourteen days of starting therapy,"

NPS deputy chief executive Karen Kaye said.

She warned not to exceed the recommended dose "even if it does not appear to work",
but said there were reports of people taking the drug within all guidelines and still
having sleep reactions.

"While these events are rare, they can have serious consequences, so consumers and
their prescribers should weigh this up when deciding on how to manage sleep problems,"

Ms Kaye said.

The NPS said non-drug treatments, like sleep restriction therapy, cognitive behavioural
therapy and relaxation therapies, should always be used in the first instance for insomnia.

There were also simple strategies that might help sleep disturbances, including only
going to bed when sleepy, avoiding caffeine, nicotine, alcohol or reading and watching
television in bed, Ms Kaye said.

Experts also advise getting up at the same time each morning and avoiding daytime sleeps.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare statistics released last week showed 14
per cent of the 10 million mental health-related doctor's visits last year were to seek
help for sleep disturbance.

AAP tam/maur/de

KEYWORD: STILNOX

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

ACT: Main stories in today's Canberra newspapers

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2008
ACT: Main stories in today's Canberra newspapers

CANBERRA, April 2 AAP - The main stories in The Canberra Times today:

Page 1: David Furner will replace Neil Henry as coach of the Canberra Raiders next
year. The federal treasurer says the ACT should expect "pain" in the federal budget. Defence
will consider transforming a former naval site into a museum and wildlife park. Police
are likely to launch a murder investigation into the death of Queanbeyan man Danny Ralph.

Page 2: Swimmer Nick D'Arcy has apologised for how things turned out following an alleged
bar brawl.

Page 3: The Reserve Bank has put interest rates on hold.

World: Zimbabwe's ruling party has fallen behind the opposition with half the election
results issued.

Finance: The receiver of collapsed broker Opus Prime cannot assure that clients will
get their money back.

Sport: The Canberra Raiders will stand by coach Neil Henry for the rest of the season
after he cut his contract short.

AAP sld/evt

KEYWORD: MONITOR FRONTERS ACT

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NT: Two people die in crash near Alice Springs

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2007
NT: Two people die in crash near Alice Springs

DARWIN, Aug 31 AAP - Two people died outside Alice Springs when the car they were travelling
in swerved off the road, hit a power pole and burst into flames.

The accident happened about 6.30pm (CST) yesterday on Ilparpa Road, when the driver
lost control of the car on a right-hand bend adjacent to Temple Bar Caravan Park, police
said.

The vehicle veered off the road and through a drain before crashing into a power pole,
killing two passengers.

Police said the male driver, who was thrown from the car, was helped by locals who
heard the crash. He was later taken to Alice Springs Hospital.

The intensity of the fire meant the passengers stood no chance.

The deaths bring the territory road toll to 32 compared to 31 for the same time last year.

AAP tr/jm/sp

KEYWORD: TOLL NT

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Australian student told of mass shooting = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
04-17-2007
Fed: Australian student told of mass shooting = 2

Ms Garard told ABC Radio in Queensland the shooting would not scare her away from finishing
her communications degree at Virginia Tech.

"I just can't wait to get home, but I'm not going to let this scare me away from finishing
my semester," she said.

"I love Blacksburg, I love the town, so I'm going to finish up and then I'm going to
come home as fast as I can."

Ms Garard said she was yet to leave her dorm room since the shootings, but intended
to have a look around the campus shortly.

"I'm actually wanting to go down and perhaps leave some flowers or something down in
Norris Hall, and just go down and see if I can support any of the students down there
that I know," she said.

Ms Garard's mother said she was still shaken by the incident.

"It's going to take me a while to get over it," her mother told Seven.

"I just feel sick, I really do, I really feel sick."

Australian diplomats in Washington are seeking information on eight other Australians
believed to be enrolled at Virginia Tech.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said there were no reports yet of any Australian
casualties.

"We are not aware of any Australians caught up in the situation and the embassy in
Washington is investigating," a DFAT spokesman said.

AAP mfh/cjh/bwl

KEYWORD: US CAMPUS AUST LEAD 2 SYDNEY (REOPENS)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

SA: The main stories in the 1200 ABC SA news

AAP General News (Australia)
12-15-2006
SA: The main stories in the 1200 ABC SA news

ADELAIDE, Dec 15 AAP - The main stories in the 1200 ABC SA news:

- A five-month old boy resuscitated after he almost drowned when he fell into the River Torrens.

- The federal government is considering $200 back-up plan to replace ageing F1-11 fighter
planes.

- Residents and fire fighters mopping up after the fires in northern Victoria.

- A local council calling for a curfew of teenagers in the northern suburbs.

- Israel blocks a Palestinian Minster from carrying cash across the border.

- Adelaide parklands to expand by 5ha after removal of depot.

AAP tkc

KEYWORD: MONITOR 1200 ABC SA

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Only thing worse than divorce is death, says Lachey

AAP General News (Australia)
08-06-2006
Fed: Only thing worse than divorce is death, says Lachey

By Erin McWhirter

MELBOURNE, Aug 6 AAP - American-based singer and television star Nick Lachey says the
only thing worse than his public split and divorce from Hollywood star Jessica Simpson
is death.

"That was a hard time and one of the hardest (in my life) for sure," said the 32-year-old.

Lachey is currently in Australia to promote his latest album, What's Left Of Me.

"The only thing I can think of that can be harder would be losing someone. This has
been such a drawn out, long thing, that it really is a difficult thing to go through,
not just for me, but for anyone that has ever gone through it."

Simpson and Lachey married in October 2002 and, for the first 18 months of their marriage,
they filmed a fly-on-the-wall reality program, Newlyweds.

But the pair split last November. Their divorce was finalised last month.

Lachey, formerly of US boy band 98 Degrees, says his latest album reflects the heartache
and pain he felt while going through a highly public separation.

"It (the album) was inspired by personal experience and a snapshot of that period of
time in my life and my relationship," he said.

"So it's very, very personal and very honest."

While most people might turn to therapy to deal with their marriage breakdown, Lachey
said music helped him heal.

"In a lot of ways when you go through something like that it's important to get that
stuff out and express those emotions," he said.

"Music was my therapy and being able to channel that through my lyrics was a very healthy
thing for me.

"The timing couldn't have been better. It was a real blessing to focus on that and
use that as a way to express myself."

Raw emotion runs rampant through the album as Lachey dissects the turbulent ups and
downs of his marriage to Simpson.

He says how his ex-wife or others feel about the songs and their meanings isn't his concern.

"I really didn't care (what others thought)," he said.

"I felt that in order for me to make a great album I had to be honest with myself and
my feelings.

"It wasn't like I was revealing some great secret.

"Everyone knew what was going on with me and with us.

"For me to come out and do a song about how great love is, that would have been something
people could have criticised because that's not where my head was at."

Rumoured to be dating MTV host Vanessa Minnillo, Lachey says he is enjoying single life.

Dating an Australian girl isn't out of the question.

"I'm into girls in general," he laughed.

"Doesn't matter where they are from. Obviously, I am single again and the whole dating
thing is very interesting and a reinvented frontier."

Emotionally drained after recording the album, Lachey says, "There is a whole lot left of me.

"I feel like I have a whole new lease on life. I have an album I am really proud of
and my personal life is in a great place. For me it's all about looking forward and working
hard at what I am doing.

"It's time to move on. That's my resolution."

AAP em/pc/pe/de

KEYWORD: LACHEY (PIX AVAILABLE)

) 2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

VIC: Main stories in today's Melbourne newspapers=2

AAP General News (Australia)
04-03-2006
VIC: Main stories in today's Melbourne newspapers=2

THE AGE

Page 1: Fernando Alonso has won the Australian Grand Prix; Wills do not necessarily
deliver a quick-rich solution, economists have shown; A two-year-old broke his elbow while
under supervision of childcare workers; Business operators have been warned to abide by
industrial relations laws related to sackings.

Page 2: Chinese premier Wen Jiabao told a resources briefing in Perth yesterday that
Australia and China would set up a price formation mechanism that is up to international
law.

Page 3: Victorian hospitals are calling for a new approach to funding.

World: Thais use their "no vote" at the election yesterday to oust Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra.

Finance: The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has signalled further
moves to crackdown on conflicts of interest over investment banking.

Sport: Melbourne were sunk by an on-song Carlton at the Telstra Dome, as they celebrated
Anthony Koutoufides' 250th AFL game.

AAP jat/lb

KEYWORD: MONITOR FRONTERS VIC 2 MELBOURNE

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.