AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, Feb 13

AAP General News (Australia)
02-13-2009
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, Feb 13
Breakfast Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 0430


Bushfires Vic Wrap (MELBOURNE)

Police in Victoria are hunting a firebug whose actions briefly threatened the Mornington
Peninsula town of Baxter last night .. while the Nine Network aired its bushfire relief
telethon.

Country Fire Authority crews put out the fire before it took hold .. but police say
it had the potential of becoming a major fire in the area.

Meanwhile a spell of cool .. calmer weather has allowed firefighters to build new control
lines and extend others as the bushfire crisis enters its sixth day with 15 blazes still
out of control.

The Department of Sustainability and Environment says fire crews have been able to
backburn .. fortify control lines and black out areas they haven't previously been able
to reach.

But the race is on to get on top of the blazes before next week's expected extreme
temperatures and hot northerly winds.

And KEVIN RUDD says it's important for the nation to grieve .. as it struggles to come
to grips with the devastation wrought by the weekend's horror bushfires.

The PM's told parliament there will be a national memorial service and day of mourning
to remember the victims of the fires .. with the date to be announced soon.



Stimulus (CANBERRA)

The Rudd government will have a second crack at getting its 42 billion dollar economic
stimulus package through the Senate today .. after a new version passed the lower house
late last night.

The amended package will see cash handouts to low and middle-income earners and single-income
families cut by 50-dollars .. a concession won by the Australian Greens.

The original package was torpedoed yesterday .. after independent Senator NICK XENOPHON
sided with the coalition when the government refused to fast-track funds allocated for
improving the Murray-Darling Basin.

Senator XENOPHON says he's willing to return to the negotiating table.



Climate (CANBERRA)

Plans for emissions trading appear to be up in the air after the federal government
called a fresh inquiry into the scheme.

The surprise move has sparked speculation the government could delay .. overhaul or
ditch its main plan to tackle climate change.

Labor has promised to start emissions trading next year and has finished an intensive
process to design the scheme.



Floods (BRISBANE)

The Governor General flies into the Queensland town of Ingham this morning for a first
hand look at the region's flood damage.

QUENTIN BRYCE will arrive by chopper just before 10 am (AEST) to be briefed on the
flood status .. before inspecting disaster control and SES centres and meeting community
members.

She'll host a sausage sizzle at the Shire Hall at the end of the day.



Sorry Rudd (CANBERRA)

The prime minister's own assessment of last year's apology to the stolen generations
warns .. the historic event risks becoming a dead letter .. unless the government successfully
tackles indigenous disadvantage.

KEVIN RUDD says the apology .. delivered on February 13 last year .. built a bridge
of respect from non-indigenous people towards indigenous Australians.

He says having crossed that bridge .. the land on the other side of it is all about
closing the gap.



Shark Bondi (SYDNEY)

A man attacked by a shark at Bondi last night is the first victim of a shark attack
at the beach in 80 years.

Police say the 33-year-old Dover Heights man was surfing at the southern end of the
beach about 7.30 pm (AEDT) when he felt something bite him on the arm.

He's been taken to St Vincents Hospital with severe injuries to his left arm.

Police say the man was fortunate to receive assistance from a number of off-duty doctors
who were on the beach at the time he was bitten .. and helped stem the massive bleeding.

Fairfax newspapers report there have been no shark attacks at Bondi since 1929.



Patel (BRISBANE)

Staff from the Bundaberg Base Hospital will continue to give evidence today at JAYANT
PATEL's committal hearing in Brisbane.

The hearing was told yesterday .. the former head of surgery at the hospital was a
difficult man who'd lie to families about the success of operations .. even when his patients'
health was deteriorating.

A nurse told the court on video link she heard PATEL telling a patient's family he
was stable after an operation .. when in fact he was deteriorating and died days later.



Briefly in other news ..



Babies (CANBERRA)

A lesbian couple .. who said having two IVF babies instead of one damaged their relationship
.. have won an appeal against their doctor .. and awarded 317-thousand dollars in compensation.



Vatican Fischer (LONDON)

Pope BENEDICT the 16th has personally welcomed TIM FISCHER as Australia's new ambassador
to the Vatican .. telling him he's praying for the victims of the Victorian bushfires.



in Sport ..



AFL Bulldogs (MELBOURNE)

The AFL are hoping for a record crowd when the Western Bulldogs and Essendon meet in
an NAB Cup match which will double as a fundraiser for bushfire relief at Telstra Dome
tonight.

All money from ticket sales will go towards the relief effort .. while players from
all 16 AFL clubs will be collecting donations at the ground.



Cricket Aust (BRISBANE)

Australia's cricketers are sweating on the fitness of vice-captain MICHAEL CLARKE who
is battling a back injury ahead of today's Chappell-Hadlee series decider against New
Zealand at the Gabba.

Captain RICKY PONTING says CLARKE will be given every chance to play the day-night
match .. with a decision to be made later this morning.

Queensland all-rounder JAMES HOPES is in the running for CLARKE'S opening position
while West Australian ADAM VOGES looms as a possible call-up to the middle-order.



Cup Vic (MELBOURNE)

Victoria must gain a bonus point in tonight's one-day cricket match against New South
Wales at the MCG if they're to have any chance of hosting the domestic competition's final.

The Bushrangers have regained opening batsman CHRIS ROGERS .. but will be without paceman
CLINT McKAY due to injury.


Golf Women (MELBOURNE)

KARRIE WEBB will take a comfortable three-shot lead into today's second round of the
Women's Australian Open at Melbourne's Metropolitan course.

She's ahead of Spain's TANIA ELOSEGUI and one shot ahead of a group of four players
three under the card.

WEBB is aiming for her third straight Australian Open and her fifth overall.



Super (PERTH)

Western Force skipper NATHAN SHARPE says the player group is closer than ever following
the Super 14 club's drama-filled off-season.

Coach JOHN MITCHELL was temporarily stood down last December during an independent
inquiry into his behaviour but SHARPE says the turmoil has strengthened the group.

The Force kick off their season against New Zealanders the Blues at Subiaco Oval tonight

.. while the Brumbies are taking on the Highlanders in Dunedin.



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