AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, Dec 12

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-2011
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, Dec 12
Evening Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1630


Ministry (CANBERRA)

Prime Minister JULIA GILLARD has denied opposition claims that a new cabinet reshuffle
has been crafted to put her leadership on a more solid footing.

Ms GILLARD announced a raft of changes to her ministerial line-up today, which she
says will give Labor new focus and energy heading into 2012.

Of the big winners, BILL SHORTEN will replace CHRIS EVANS as workplace relations minister,
current Health Minister NICOLA ROXON will become Australia's first female attorney-general
and TANYA PLIBERSEK will come in as her replacement in Health.

GREG COMBET has added industry and innovation to his already heavy portfolio of climate
change, and will lead a newly expanded department of industry, innovation, science, research
and tertiary education with Senator EVANS.



ICAC Kelly (SYDNEY)

New South Wales Labor leader JOHN ROBERTSON has called for TONY KELLY's to be expelled
from the party after the former MP was found to have acted corruptly over a land deal.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption has found that the former NSW lands minister
engaged in corrupt conduct over a multi-million property deal involving a former union-owned
retreat in Sydney's northern beaches.

In it's decision released today, the ICAC says Mr KELLY's corrupt behaviour related
to a backdated letter that was used to claim authority to buy the Currawong property at
Pittwater.

It's found former chief executive of the Land and Property Management Authority WARWICK
WATKINS and the authority's former chief financial officer ROBERT COSTELLO had also acted
corruptly in relation to the letter.

The ICAC has recommended the DPP investigate the laying of criminal charges against
all three men.



Environment (CANBERRA)

A report card into Australia's environment has given the federal government poor marks
for biodiversity, heritage and land management.

The 900 page independent report says there's been "limited federal leadership" in implementing
a national system to tackle manage coastal marine ecosystems and biodiversity.

Environment minister TONY BURKE said the independent assessment had the rated the government
as "most improved" and would help shape environmental policy at all levels.



Naden (NEWCASTLE)

Police say fugitive MALCOLM NADEN may have hidden out in unused bush cabins near where
an officer was shot in the arm in a remote part of northern New South Wales.

Authorities have been unable to find NADEN after the 33-year-old officer took a rifle
shot to the shoulder from an unseen gunmen who slipped away.

The accused murderer and rapist has been on the run since 2005 and is known for his
bush survival skills.

Assistant Commissioner CARLENE YORK, who is heading the search, says a fingerprint
lifted from the Nowendoc camp near the shooting belonged to NADEN.

Police have received about 50 calls to Crime Stoppers about NADEN since Wednesday's shooting.



Health QLD (BRISBANE)

Premier ANNA BLIGH has announced she will dismantle Queensland Health and set up two
new agencies in its place.

Ms BLIGH says one entity will focus on frontline services and manage hospitals while
the second will be a support agency to provide corporate services, like finance and human
resources.

She says there will be no loss of jobs


Millions LNP (BRISBANE)

Queensland public servants who handle large sums of money could be subjected to international
criminal checks under a Liberal National Party government.

The Queensland government is embroiled in another staffing scandal after state government
executive HOHEPA MOREHU-BARLOW, also known as JOEL BARLOW, allegedly scammed $16 million
from Queensland Health.

The government believes the money had been directed into private accounts for the past
three years and $11 million went missing in one transaction in the last two weeks.

The 36-year-old was arrested this morning as ge tried to enter his inner Brisbane home
at New Farm.

He is under police guard at Royal Brisbane Hospital and is expected to be charged with
fraud later today.



Criminal (BRISBANE)

A national database that is used to check criminal histories could soon include people
convicted of crimes in New Zealand.

It comes after Queensland government executive and New Zealand national HOHEPA MOREHU-BARLOW
allegedly scammed $16 million from Queensland Health.

It has been reported that Mr BARLOW has a criminal history in his native country.

Currently background checks via the federal government's CrimTrac national database
are limited to Australian jurisdictions only.

Queensland Premier ANNA BLIGH spoke with prime minister JULIA GILLARD and New Zealand
prime minister JOHN KEY this morning to discuss how they can work together to include
New Zealand's criminal records database on CrimTrac.



Illegals (CANBERRA)

Employers face penalties of up to $50,000 if they hire illegal workers under new draft
laws the government will introduce to parliament in 2012.

Immigration Minister CHRIS BOWEN says the government is determined to crack down on
recalcitrant employers.

He says the move addresses deficiencies in existing law and establishes penalties of
up to $50,000 and fines of up to $10,000 for corporate bodies for employing or referring
illegal workers.



Rail (SYDNEY)

Sydney's North West Rail Link will include a four kilometre skytrain and two extra
stations under plans lodged by the New South Wales Government.

NSW Premier BARRY O'FARRELL has unveiled plans for the 23 kilometre rail line through
northwest Sydney today.

It's expected to cost somewhere between 7.5 and 8.5 billion dollars and be completed
in around a decade.



Briefly in other news ..



Thiess (SYDNEY)

Leighton subsidiary Thiess has won a $140 million contract from the nation's largest
electricity distributor, Ausgrid, to deliver infrastructure for Sydney's electricity requirements.



Police (SYDNEY)

New South Wales Police Minister MICHAEL GALLACHER says Sydney won't lose any of its
police officers in a major overhaul of the state's force.



in Finance ..



Trade (SYDNEY)

Falling commodity prices and growing demand for imports saw Australia's trade surplus
narrow in October.

Figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics today show the trade surplus
narrowed to $1.595 billion in October compared to $2.249 billion for the previous month.

The October figure was below economists' predictions of a $2 billion surplus.

Nomura chief economist STEPHEN ROBERTS says the weaker than expected result reflected
a drop in commodity prices.

Most economists expect Australia to continue posting solid trade surpluses in the coming
months although they may continue to narrow.



in Sport ..



Cri Aust (HOBART)

New Zealand have won a Test match in Australia for the first time since 1985.

The Blacks Caps beat the home side by just seven runs in a thrilling finish after Australia's
batting collapsed on day four in Hobart, at one stage losing seven for 40.

MICHAEL CLARKE and MIKE HUSSEY made ducks, while RICKY PONTING and PHIL HUGHES also
failed to make big contributions as they looked to try and extend their Test careers.

Opener DAVE WARNER avoided complete embarrassment for Australia with an unbeaten 123.

The series finishes one-all.



BBL Stars (MELBOURNE)

BRAD HODGE has a hamstring tear, while SHANE WARNE is nursing a burnt hand and wounded
pride ahead of cricket's Big Bash League.

HODGE will miss the Melbourne Renegades' first two games of the revamped domestic Twenty20
competition after he hobbled off during today's MCG trial match against the Melbourne
Stars.

There was drama before the game even started when WARNE tweeted a photo of his burnt
bowling hand.

Officials said WARNE suffered the ugly-looking blisters while cooking some bacon.

But he is expected to bowl on Wednesday in an intra-club trial game and the Stars are
confident he will play in Saturday night's opening match against Sydney Thunder at the
MCG.



ENDS EVENING ROUND-UP

Broadcast Desk inquiries 24 hours: 02 9322 8714

AAP RTV ar

KEYWORD: EVENING ROUND-UP

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