AAP General News (Australia)
04-21-2011
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, April 21
EVENING ROUND-UP: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1630
Villawood Gillard (TOKYO)
Prime Minister JULIA GILLARD has warned detainees at Sydney's Villawood Detention Centre
that rioting and violence will not help their visa claims .. while Opposition Leader TONY
ABBOTT wants protesters denied permanent residency in Australia.
A group of six detainees are still on the roof of a building .. demanding their freedom
in return for ending their protest .. after several buildings were burnt down overnight.
Speaking via mobile phone to Social Justice Network spokesman JAMAL DAOUD .. one Iranian
detainee has said he's been in the centre for 20 months .. describing it as prison.
Opposition immigration spokesman SCOTT MORRISON has repeated calls to halt the visa
process for any detainees involved in the riot .. and says he's concerned police weren't
able to immediately take control of the situation.
The federal government has announced an investigation into the riots.
DETENTION (HOBART)
As the national debate continues about what to do with asylum seekers .. Tasmanian
Premier LARA GIDDINGS has asked residents near a proposed immigration detention centre
to calm down.
The federal government will build a temporary detention centre at a former army barracks
at Pontville .. north of Hobart .. to house 400 detainees for around six months.
At a meeting with Immigration officials last night .. around 130 people expressed concerns
about the centre .. including the ability of operators to control a riot.
But Ms GIDDINGS says there's no reason for residents to be fearful as the same area
hosted Kosovar refugees after the NATO intervention in 1999.
MENTAL GILLARD (TOKYO)
The federal government is expected to match the coalition's boosted commitment to mental
health by setting aside two billion dollars in the May budget .. even though Prime Minister
JULIA GILLARD says the coalition's promises can't be trusted.
Opposition Leader TONY ABBOTT has unveiled details of a new 430 million dollar mental
health plan .. taking the coalition's total commitment the issue to almost two billion
dollars.
Mr ABBOTT has outlined the plan three weeks ahead of the May 10 budget .. tipped to
contain a major mental health announcement from Labor.
Ms GILLARD has refused to confirm if the government is to announce its own plan ..
but Health Minister NICOLA ROXON has confirmed funding for the area will be set aside
in the budget .. although she wouldn't comment on the reported two billion dollar figure.
GILLARD (TOKYO)
Japan's Emperor has personally thanked Prime Minister JULIA GILLARD for Australia's
support in the wake of last month's devastating earthquake and tsunami.
Ms GILLARD and her partner TIM MATHIESON have today met with Emperor AKIHITO and Empress
MICHIKO in Tokyo .. in what's believed to be the first de-facto couple to call on the
figureheads.
Ms GILLARD says it was a great privilege to meet with them.
She says they expressed their gratitude for the work Australia's done to assist Japan
since the twin disasters.
Meanwhile .. Japan's Prime Minister NAOTO KAN has declared the 20-kilometre evacuation
area around the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant a legal no-entry zone from midnight tonight
local time.
BUDGET11 WONG (CANBERRA)
The federal government says it's seeking 465 million dollars in savings in next month's
budget by increasing the efficiency dividend for two years.
Under this measure .. the efficiency dividend will rise from 1.25 per cent to 1.5 per
cent in 2011-12 and 2012-13 .. before returning to 1.25 per cent for the next two years.
Finance Minister PENNY WONG says the dividend is a mechanism to drive greater efficiencies
in how government does its business.
PATEL (BRISBANE)
Lawyers for JAYANT PATEL have indicated the convicted doctor's case may be bound for
the High Court.
Queensland's Court of Appeal today dismissed a bid by PATEL to have his conviction quashed.
The court also refused an appeal by PATEL against what he described as a manifestly
excessive seven-year sentence for manslaughter and causing grievous bodily harm.
Last July the former Bundaberg surgeon was jailed after a jury found him guilty of
the manslaughter of GERRY KEMPS .. JAMES PHILLIPS and MERVYN MORRIS .. and causing grievous
bodily harm to IAN RODNEY VOWLES.
Meanwhile .. Queensland's Acting Premier PAUL LUCAS says he's pleased JAYANT PATEL'S
seven-year sentence has been upheld .. although he's disappointed it wasn't increased.
POLICE (MELBOURNE)
Victoria's police chief is under mounting pressure to fix significant problems in the
force as the opposition accuses the state government of running a campaign to oust the
Labor-appointed leader.
Premier TED BAILLIEU says he has confidence in Police Commissioner SIMON OVERLAND ..
but there are fundamental failures he expects the command to fix including an IT bungle
and its handling of child protection issues.
But opposition police spokesman JAMES MERLINO says senior government sources are secretly
backgrounding journalists in their effort to get rid of Mr OVERLAND.
LIBYA JOURNALISTS (BENGHAZI)
Two award-winning Western photojournalists have been killed in the besieged Libyan
city of Misrata.
TIM HETHERINGTON .. an Oscar-nominated British film director and war photographer ..
and New York-based photographer CHRIS HONDROS were killed .. and two other Western journalists
have been wounded .. while covering battles between rebels and government forces.
Meanwhile .. the Libyan military says seven civilians have been killed and 18 wounded
in a NATO air raid in the capital Tripoli.
BROWSE (PERTH)
West Australian Premier COLIN BARNETT has reassured traditional owners the government
won't go ahead with compulsory acquisition of land near Broome for a proposed gas hub
.. until they've met and made a final decision.
The reassurances come after traditional owners walked out of a briefing meeting with
government representatives over the planned 30 billion dollar liquefied natural gas hub
to be built at James Price Point.
Indigenous land groups will meet in two weeks to decide whether or not they'll enter
into the native title agreement .. which would ease the way for the Woodside Petroleum-led
gas hub.
BRIEFLY IN OTHER NEWS ..
BLOOD (MELBOURNE)
Victoria's air ambulances will carry blood onboard in a world-first medical breakthrough
that will deliver life-saving treatment to patients faster.
UK RESERVOIR (LONDON)
An early Easter holiday has turned to horrific tragedy in Britain .. after a car carrying
a family of five plunged into a reservoir .. killing four.
WHALE (BRISBANE)
A whale has been put down after beaching itself on Queensland's Sunshine Coast this morning.
IN SPORT ..
RL TIGERS (SYDNEY)
Wests Tigers fullback WADE MCKINNON remains in doubt for tomorrow's Good Friday clash
against Brisbane due to a hamstring complaint.
But BEAU RYAN, LIAM FULTON and prop KEITH GALLOWAY are all certain to return from injury
for the clash against a Brisbane side flying high with five wins from six games this season.
RL STORM (MELBOURNE)
In-form NRL side Melbourne's forward depth is set for another huge test with BRYAN
NORRIE and ADAM WOOLNOUGH in doubt for the Anzac Day clash with the Warriors.
Both players failed to train fully today and coach CRAIG BELLAMY says they will be
given until match eve to prove their fitness for Monday's AAMI Park clash.
AFL CATS (GEELONG, Vic)
Geelong could welcome back three players from injury for Tuesday's big AFL clash against
Hawthorn.
Coach CHRIS SCOTT says key forward TOM HAWKINS is certain to be available, while MATHEW
STOKES and MITCH DUNCAN are also strong candidates for recalls.
AFL KANGAROOS (MELBOURNE)
Kangaroos captain BRENT HARVEY says he stands by his public criticism of the team following
their round two loss to Collingwood.
ENDS EVENING ROUND-UP
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