AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, Aug 29

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2008
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, Aug 29
Midday Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1130


US Vote (DENVER)

BARACK OBAMA's about to take the stage at the Democratic convention .. to claim the
prize of becoming the first black presidential nominee of a major US political party.

Before an expected audience of 75 thousand people in Denver .. OBAMA's accepting his
nomination .. on the 45th anniversary of MARTIN LUTHER KING's .. I have a dream .. speech.

Motown icon STEVIE WONDER's already sung for the presidential hopeful .. while Oscar
winner JENNIFER HUDSON will sing the national anthem.

Meanwhile OBAMA's republican rival JOHN McCAIN is expected to announce his running
mate today .. in an attempt to draw some attention away from the Democrats.



Alcopops (CANBERRA)

Distillers say they don't want the federal government to return the 200 million dollars
that's been collected so far from a tax increase on alcopops.

Prime Minister KEVIN RUDD says the industry will be looking for a windfall profit ..

if the government can't get the Senate to approve its measure to address binge-drinking.

The coalition's indicated it will oppose the tax which the government estimates will
raise about two billion dollars.

STEPHEN RIDEN from the Distelled Spirits Industry Council of Australia says all the
revenue gained from the Rudd government's poorly conceived tax trial should be used to
fund alcohol-related harm minimisation programs.



Economy Rudd (CANBERRA)

The Prime Minister says economic growth should begin to improve next year.

KEVIN RUDD has told Fairfax Radio forecasts by the Reserve Bank indicate economic growth
should improve by the 2009 June quarter.

In the meantime Mr RUDD has warned of tough times ahead saying Australia isn't immune
to what's going on around the world.

He says the US financial crisis has created a big challenge for our economy.

Mr RUDD admits it's a really difficult time for Australians and says that's why the
government's focussed on creating a budget position to enable the Reserve Bank to cut
interest rates.



Electricity Gibson (SYDNEY)

New South Wales Premier MORRIS IEMMA has been branded unethical by one of his own backbenchers
.. following his continued push to privatise parts of the state's electricity sector.

Member for Blacktown PAUL GIBSON has told ABC Radio the premier's continuing to oppose
the will of his party and hopes the head office of the Labor Party has a strong look at
it.

The IEMMA government yesterday withdrew legislation when it appeared set for defeat
in the parliament .. instead announcing a partial sell-off of the state's electricity
sector to allow the sale to proceed without legislation.



Fairfax (MELBOURNE)

Printers at Fairfax are continuing to work despite the company's journalists going on strike.

The Australian Manufacturers and Workers Union says they're monitoring the situation
but its members will keep working.

Journalists from The Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne's The Age yesterday voted
to stay on strike until Monday.

The walkout comes just days after Fairfax Media announced it would cut 550 jobs under
a business improvement program and Wednesday's sacking of editor ANDREW JASPAN.



Wriedt (HOBART)

Tasmanian Labor minister PAULA WRIEDT has spoken publicly for the first time following
her suicide attempt earlier this month.

The 39 year-old mother of two says as part of her recovery she's been visiting family
.. friends and staff.

She says she appreciates the strong support she's received from her parents and sister
SONJA .. and in particular the strength .. friendship and assistance from her estranged
husband DALE .. despite the tremendous pressures he's under.



Turf Jockeys (CANBERRA)

Australia's jockeys will launch a national campaign to win a better deal for riders.

The Australian Jockeys' Association wants a one per cent increase in prize money to
fund an insurance and personal accident scheme.

It plans to lobby the racing industry for better protection for riders and a fund to
help the families of jockeys who are injured or killed.



Briefly in other news ..



A Zimbabwean man has been charged with attempting to smuggle heroin internally on a flight
from South Africa to Perth.



Cast and crew of the TV series All Saints are planning to return to filming the series
today .. after calling it off yesterday following the sudden death of fellow actor MARK
PRIESTLEY.



Russian Prime Minister VLADIMIR PUTIN has today accused the White House of sparking the
conflict in Georgia in order to benefit its favoured candidate in the November 4 US elections.



in Finance ..



Home Sales (SYDNEY)

The property market continues to struggle with high interest rates and a slowing economy
.. with a new study showing new home sales falling in July.

The Housing Industry Association survey's found new home sales dropped 7.2 per cent
.. detached houses fell 7.5 per cent .. and multi-unit sales went down 5.2 per cent.



Centro (MELBOURNE)

Two big Australian investment companies have announced massive losses around the two
billion dollar mark this morning.

Centro Properties Group .. which owns major shopping centres around Australia .. has
announced an annual net loss of 2.06 billion dollars .. saying it's taking steps to stabilise
its business.

And troubled investment fund .. Allco Finance Group .. has reported a loss of more
than 1.7 billion dollars .. saying it'll restructure .. sell non-core assets and get out
of some of its businesses.



At 1126 AEST, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was UP 54 points to 5,120.5, while the All
Ordinaries Index was UP 52.3 points at 5,195.6.

The Australian dollar was at 86.43 US cents, DOWN from Thursday's local close at 86.76 US cents.

It was at 58.71 euro cents, UP from 58.64 euro cents on Thursday.

In Sydney, the spot price of gold was $US833.65 per fine ounce, DOWN $US1.15 from Thursday's
close of $US834.80.



in Sport ..



Tennis Open (NEW YORK)

French qualifier JULIE COIN has claimed the biggest upset in US Open women's history
.. sending world number one and top seed ANA IVANOVIC crashing out in the second round.

Ranked 188th in the world .. COIN's beaten IVANOVIC 6-3 4-6 6-3.

The 25-year-old upset Australia's CASEY DELLACQUA in the opening round .. in making
her grand slam debut.



ENDS MIDDAY ROUND-UP

Broadcast Desk inquiries 24 hours: 02 9322 8714

AAP RTV tm

KEYWORD: MIDDAY ROUND-UP

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.