AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, Feb 18

AAP General News (Australia)
02-18-2011
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, Feb 18
EVENING ROUND-UP: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1630


FLOODS LEVY WILKIE (HOBART)

Independent MP ANDREW WILKIE says he'll support the federal government's proposed flood levy.

Mr WILKIE says the government has agreed to his proposal on the solar flagships program
and an education program .. that were flagged for budget cuts.

His vote ensures the bill's passage through the House of Representatives.

Mr WILKIE says they need to get on with the rebuilding and is urging Senator NICK XENOPHON
.. who holds the remaining vote the government needs to pass the levy in parliament ..

to get on board.

Mr WILKIE denies his vote has been bought.



CLIMATE (CANBERRA)

The federal government says a decision on how to price carbon is still months away.

The multi-party climate change committee .. chaired by Prime Minister JULIA GILLARD
.. met in Canberra today to discuss options for a carbon price.

Ms GILLARD and Climate Change Minister GREG COMBET were widely expected to unveil their
preferred model after the meeting.

However .. a communique released this afternoon says a final design of a carbon price
can only be achieved when all details are known.



POLLNSW MULTICULTURAL (SYDNEY)

The New South Wales government wants Opposition Leader BARRY O'FARRELL to say where
he stands on multiculturalism.

The call comes after federal opposition immigration spokesman SCOTT MORRISON questioned
whether taxpayers should pay for flying 22 refugee family members from Christmas Island
to Sydney for the funerals of their loved ones.

Mr MORRISON's also denied reports he's urged shadow cabinet to capitalise on the electorate's
concerns about Muslim immigration.

The state government also wants opposition leader BARRY O'FARRELL to ban Mr MORRISON
from the Coalition's election campaign launch.



RESHUFFLE (BRISBANE)

Premier ANNA BLIGH has promised Queensland voters there won't be an early election
.. despite a serious reshuffle of her government following the departure of three ministers.

Yesterday .. Public Works Minister ROBERT SCHWARTEN and Local Government Minister DESLEY
BOYLE announced they'd be quitting politics at the next election .. while Tourism Minister
PETER LAWLOR's concentrating on his constituency.

The Labor caucus met today .. with Yeerongpilly MP SIMON FINN .. Whitsunday MP JAN
JARRATT and Mulgrave MP CURTIS PITT all elevated to the ministry.



SHARK FRIEND (PERTH)

A friend of an experienced diver .. who's been killed by two sharks off the South Australian
coast .. says he wouldn't have wanted Great Whites hunted down and killed.

PETER CLARKSON was attacked as he surfaced after diving for abalone at Perforated Island
near Coffin Bay yesterday.

The boat skipper who witnessed the attack .. believed to be by Great Whites .. has
been treated for shock after failing to find the 49-year-old diver and returning to shore.

A friend and fellow abalone diver .. MARK PAYNE .. says abalone divers have had an
encounter or two with Great Whites.



BORDERS CONROY (SYDNEY)

Communications Minister STEPHEN CONROY has described the collapse of Australia's largest
booksellers as a tragedy .. but says new jobs will be created as the internet evolves.

Borders and Angus & Robertson went into administration yesterday .. sending shockwaves
through Australia's retail and publishing world.

Senator CONROY .. the minister for Communications and the Digital Economy .. says technology
changes industries and new jobs are often created.



JAPAN WHALING (TOKYO)

It's been confirmed .. the Japanese government's withdrawing its Antarctic whaling
fleet this season .. because of pressure from the Sea Shepherd environmental group.

Activists from the US-based militant group have pursued the Japanese fleet for months
to stop its harpoon ships from whaling.

Farm and fisheries minister MICHIHIKO KANO says the ships are being called home to
ensure the safety of the whaling crew amid the continuing harassment.

Both the federal government and the opposition have welcomed the decision .. while
Australian Greens leader BOB BROWN says February 9 .. the day the last whale was killed
by the hunters .. will be remembered.



MARRIAGE (SYDNEY)

The Greens say New South Wales has the power to legally recognise same-sex marriage
and if it doesn't happen at a federal level .. state parliament should ensure people can
marry who they love.

NSW Greens upper house MP CATE FAEHRMANN says legal advice indicates it's possible
for state parliaments to pass legislation recognising same-sex marriage.



BOAT BOY (CANBERRA)

Immigration Minister CHRIS BOWEN has defended sending an Iranian boy orphaned by the
Christmas Island shipwreck back to the island's detention centre .. even though he's to
return to Sydney next week.

Nine-year-old SEENA was one of 22 survivors flown from the island to Sydney this week
to attend family funerals.

Mr BOWEN says the advice to him was that it would be better not to break him up from
the family members who've been looking after him on Christmas Island .. which include
his aunty and cousins.

SEENA is one of 11 survivors of the Christmas Island boat accident .. including two
other children .. who'll be released next week.



US BROWN (PROVO)

The US father of a classical music group has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing his
daughters when they were children .. in a deal that will send him to prison for at least
10 years.

With scratches and bruises on his face from a recent car crash .. 55-year-old KEITH
BROWN entered his plea to three felony counts in a Utah court.

BROWN's three daughters and two sons are part of the classical piano group The 5 Browns
.. whose albums have topped the classical music charts and who have appeared on Oprah
and other shows.



CANBERRA (CANBERRA)

The navy's first amphibious landing ship .. and the largest ship it's had .. has been
launched in Spain.

Able to carry helicopters .. tanks and other heavy equipment .. the Canberra class
ship also boasts a complete hospital where complex surgery can be carried out.



BRIEFLY IN OTHER NEWS ..



FLU (ADELAIDE)

A universal flu vaccine delivered by a simple nasal spray is a step closer after a
positive research trial at the University of Adelaide.



TRENOUTH (PERTH)

The West Australian opposition says it's extremely disturbing that a policeman's under
investigation for allegedly putting photographs on Facebook of drunk Aboriginal men in
custody.



ROYALS WEDDING HUNGER (MEXICO CITY)

A Mexican woman is in the ninth day of a hunger strike to demand an invitation to Prince
William's wedding.



UK TRAFALGAR (LONDON)

A mass brawl among people .. believed to be from Eastern Europe .. has broken out in
front of shocked tourists in London's Trafalgar Square .. with three men stabbed and 19
others arrested.



IN SPORT ..



SOCCER AL (MELBOURNE)

Central Coast have been given a boost on the eve of their A-League major semi-final
clash against Brisbane with leading goalscorer MATT SIMON expected to start.

The finals begin tonight with an eliminator in Adelaide where third-placed United host
sixth-placed Wellington Phoenix.



SUPER REBELS (MELBOURNE)

The Melbourne Rebels make their Super Rugby debut tonight .. hosting the highly-fancied
NSW Waratahs in the opening round.

Meanwhile, Wallabies winger JAMES O'CONNOR has been thrust into the five-eighth role
for Western Force's opening clash with Queensland on Sunday following the withdrawal of
New Zealand import WILLIE RIPIA.



AFL CUP (SYDNEY)

New Sydney coach JOHN LONGMIRE admits he has little idea what to expect when the Swans
take on AFL newcomers the Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney in the pre-season competition
tomorrow night.

The action begins tonight in Melbourne with the contest involving Essendon .. Brisbane
and St Kilda.



GOLF PGA (LOS ANGELES)

An amazing nine players share the lead after the first round of the US PGA Tour event
in Los Angeles.

Australians ROBERT ALLENBY .. AARON BADDELEY and JOHN SENDEN are among those leaders
at four under.



ENDS EVENING ROUND-UP


BROADCAST DESK INQUIRIES 24 HOURS: 02 9322 8714


AAP RTV wz/tm

KEYWORD: EVENING ROUND-UP

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