AAP National News Wire Round Up for Midday, April 6

AAP General News (Australia)
04-06-2001
AAP National News Wire Round Up for Midday, April 6
Midday Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1130


Howard Economy (SYDNEY)

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says the federal government's economic reforms are providing
short-term difficulties but will lead to long-term benefits.

Mr HOWARD says his role as leader is to try to mould and create change for the future
benefit of Australians.

He says the government has taken some decisions that will secure great advantage in
the medium to longer term.

But Mr HOWARD says in the shorter term there may be some transitional challenges and
difficulties.

Mr HOWARD was addressing staff of a company at the opening of their expanded research
facility in his Sydney electorate of Bennelong.

Meanwhile, Mr HOWARD says PETER COSTELLO is a very good treasurer and is welcome to
remain in the job for as long as he wants.

Mr HOWARD says his aim is to see Mr COSTELLO go on being treasurer in his government
up to the election later this year.



Riot Howard (CANBERRA)

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says Australia is not hard-hearted in its approach to refugees
but does not want the world to believe it has a soft touch.

Mr HOWARD'S comments come in defence of his government's decision to boost the powers
of detention centre guards.

The decision was made after rioters torched buildings at the Curtin facility in Western
Australia this week.

Laws have been introduced to parliament to beef up security at detention centres and
give guards the power to strip search inmates -- including children -- suspected of concealing
weapons.

Mr HOWARD has told Melbourne radio 3AW the legislation may sound authoritarian but
says when dealing with situations where people are using children in an exploitive way,
he believes it is justified.



Democrats Macklin (CANBERRA)

Australian Democrats president MICHAEL MACKLIN has refused to speculate on the outcome
of tonight's leadership contest.

He also denies the battle is harming the party in the electorate.

Counting of votes from the party's membership will decide if incumbent MEG LEES holds
her job from deputy leader NATASHA STOTT-DESPOJA.

Dr MACKLIN has told ABC radio the leadership battle is an indication of the political
climate in Australia that all parties are experiencing.

He says the exercise shows the electorate is volatile and any political party which
doesn't take note of that is mad.

Dr MACKLIN says the ballot hasn't harmed the Democrats' electoral chances, as the party
is going through a transparent member-driven exercise.

The leadership of the party is dependent upon the votes of members of the party, not
simply the parliamentary representatives.

A decision on the vote is not expected until 10.30pm (AEST).



Heroin Howard (CANBERRA)

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD has refused to amend the law to allow the importation of
heroin for the operators of Australia's first legal heroin injecting rooms in Sydney.

The nation's first legal heroin injecting rooms are set to open within weeks in Sydney's
red-light district.

Mr HOWARD has told Melbourne radio 3AW he could not stop the rooms from opening but
has vowed not to provide the operators with any help.

He says he does not agree with heroin injecting rooms or galleries.

Mr HOWARD says presumably the centre will have capacity to get heroin without Federal
Government assistance.



China plane Jiang (SANTIAGO)

Chinese President JIANG ZEMIN says China and the United States should place the highest
priority on bilateral relations in resolving their spy plane dispute.

JIANG -- in Chile at the start of a Latin American tour -- says Chinese and US leaders
should manage the situation with maximum interest in bilateral relations to find a solution.

JIANG, asked when China would release the crew of the US plane stranded on Hainan
Island, said the airplane was in the airport in Hainan province and the 24 crew members
safe and sound.

The US plane made an emergency landing after a midair collision with a Chinese fighter
jet which was shadowing it over the South China Sea.

Washington has demanded the immediate release of the plane and its crew, but China
has insisted on an apology.



Logging (MELBOURNE)

Forestry protesters have attached themselves to machinery overnight in a bid to stop
logging in Otway Ranges state forest, south-west of Melbourne.

Otway Ranges Environment Network spokesman GAVAN MCFADZEAN says about 30 network members
entered the 21-hectare area at Wait-A-While, near Lavers Hill, at 3am (AEST).

Six protesters have attached themselves to machinery, including a log loader and two bulldozers.

The machinery was moved in to the area yesterday, despite it being contentious under

an agreement Mr MCFADZEAN says exists between the environment network and the state government.



UK Eastenders (LONDON)

A soccer match in Spain has been delayed so British fans could find out who shot TV
villain PHIL MITCHELL in the climax of the soap opera EastEnders -- and then watch the
match live.

The kick-off of the UEFA Cup semi-final first leg between Liverpool and Barcelona was
delayed by 10 minutes so millions could watch the episode.



AND IN BRIEF:



The bush has come to town for the next 14 days, with the opening of the 2001 Sydney
Royal Easter Show today.



Adelaide businessmen GREG PERKS and JUSTIN HOGAN leave today to tackle Mount Everest
in an expedition aiming to put the first South Australian on top of the world.



Students and workers at about 800 sites around Australia are expected to don boardshorts
in a bid to raise funds to prevent youth suicide.



FINANCE MARKERS:


KEY FINANCE MARKERS:

At 1110 AEST the all ordinaries index was UP 17.8 points to 3181.9.

The Standard & Poor's ASX 200 index was UP 18.6 points at 3239.1.

The Australian dollar was buying 49.14 US cents, DOWN from 49.24 at the close yesterday.

The Australian dollar was also trading at 54.87 euro cents, UP from 54.38 at yesterday's close.

Gold is trading 65 US cents weaker at $US258.00 an ounce.



AND IN SPORT:


Golf Masters (Augusta)

Based on his mood, you wouldn't know GREG NORMAN was running out of chances to win the Masters.

The perennial Masters bridesmaid was remarkably relaxed after a one-under-par 71 in
the opening round at Augusta National, perhaps because he was rarely in trouble during
a solid journey that included one eagle, one birdie and two bogeys.



Cricket Aust (Goa)

There is a small chance rain may disrupt the deciding one-day cricket match match between
Australia and India at Goa today.

The teams go into the final locked at two-all after alternating heavy wins in the previous
four matches.

Australian captain STEVE WAUGH says Australia will continue to rotate in fresh players
despite the comprehensive 93-run win in the fourth match on Tuesday.

The team will not be named until just before the start of the match at 1.30pm (AEST).


Tennis Davis Aust (Brazil)

PAT RAFTER says he's confident of starting Australia off on a winning note in its Davis
Cup tennis quarter final against Brazil in Brazil tomorrow (Friday night, AEST).

RAFTER has been in fine form in recent weeks, making the semi-finals at Miami last week.

But the world No.8 will start as underdog in the first match of the tie against second-ranked
GUSTAVO KUERTEN, given the clay court and the Brazilians' advantage of 10,000 home fans.



Slipper (SYDNEY)

GAI WATERHOUSE's two-year-old TIME OUT has been scratched from tomorrow's two-and-a-half
million dollar Golden Slipper at Rosehill.

The gelding was today discovered to be suffering from a foot abscess.

But WATERHOUSE will still have have five runners in the world's richest juvenile race,
with her colt NEWQUAY, previously the first emergency, now gaining a run with GLEN BOSS
to take the ride.

WATERHOUSE, who is bidding to become the first woman to train the winner of the Slipper,
will saddle up the favourite ROYAL COURTSHIP, to be ridden by BRIAN YORK.

Second favourite EXCELLERATOR who will have CHRIS MUNCE aboard.



ENDS MIDDAY ROUND-UP

AAP RTV /pc/jtb

KEYWORD: MIDDAY ROUND-UP

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.