AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, April 17

AAP General News (Australia)
04-17-2008
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, April 17
Evening Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1630


Plastic Levy Meeting (MELBOURNE)

Australia won't have a national levy on plastic bags .. after the nation's environment
ministers failed to reach agreement on the scheme.

Federal Environment Minister PETER GARRETT says the ministers believe it'd be wrong
to impose an extra cost on struggling households.

He says state governments will instead accelerate their work with industry .. in an
effort to reduce plastic bag waste.



Timor Horta Arrive (DILI)

East Timorese President JOSE RAMOS HORTA has made an emotional homecoming .. two months
after he was shot by rebels.

After arriving in Dili from Darwin .. he urged those blamed for the attack to surrender
immediately.

Thousands of flag-waving supporters greeted his return .. and a military parade was
staged for the homecoming.

Among those welcoming him back was Prime Minister XANANA GUSMAO .. who was also targeted
in the attacks but escaped unhurt.



Petrol Bowen (SYDNEY)

The federal government denies its plan for a FuelWatch scheme has sparked a backlash
from fuel companies .. which have raised petrol prices by up to 15 cents this week.

Consumer Affairs Minister CHRIS BOWEN says the reasons for petrol price fluctuations
are largely unknown.

He says oil companies maintain it's world oil prices that have the biggest impact on
Australian petrol prices.

But Mr BOWEN says world oil prices didn't go up just today .. so he's questioning the
big increase.



Summit Centres CAA (CANBERRA)

The private childcare sector is welcoming KEVIN RUDD'S proposal to introduce universal childcare.

Community childcare groups have slammed the proposal .. saying commercialising the
sector won't work.

But Childcare Associations Australia says the plan encourages and supports key stakeholders
to work together in the interest of young children.

The proposal will be discussed at the 2020 Summit in Canberra this weekend.



Fisher Paykel Union (BRISBANE)

A union boss claims Fisher and Paykel told workers only three weeks ago that its Brisbane
plant wouldn't shut down.

ANDREW DETTMER from the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union says he's shocked the
New Zealand-based whitegoods giant has decided to move facilities offshore.

He says the company recently assured the union the Cleveland plant had a long-term
.. on-going existence.

310 jobs will be lost by March 2009 when the plant moves to Thailand.



US Mulesing (LOS ANGELES)

Australia's wool industry has been dealt yet another economic blow .. with European
fashion giant IC Companys announcing a boycott of wool from mulesed sheep.

IC Companys has 11 clothing brands and more than 680-million dollars in annual sales
from more than 40 countries.

The Denmark-based retailer plans to stop using wool sourced from mulesed sheep within six months.



Stallions NZ (WELLINGTON)

New Zealand biosecurity officials have lifted the ban on trans-Tasman horse imports
.. imposed when equine influenza broke out in Sydney last August.

They say new import requirements will ensure horse imports don't present a biosecurity risk.

Horses must be vaccinated against equine influenza at least 42 days before travelling.

They must be held in quarantine for 21 days before they leave .. and for at least 14
days after they cross the Tasman.



China Tibet (BEIJING)

A Tibet Tourism official says China has abandoned plans to reopen riot-hit Tibet to
visitors on May 1.

The unnamed official says the decision's been made amid reports of simmering tension
there .. and a new date is yet to be set.

Chinese authorities began clearing Tibet of foreign tourists after riots erupted in
Lhasa on March 14.



BRIEFLY IN OTHER NEWS:


New South Wales Premier MORRIS IEMMA says he has no problem with Housing Minister MATT
BROWN owning 14 investment properties.



Queensland's Crime and Misconduct Commission has been asked to investigate a rush of more
than 300 applications for new poker machines .. a day before a moratorium was announced.



Olympic medallist SCOTT MILLER and the son of Wallabies legend KEN CATCHPOLE have been
charged with drug offences .. following raids on Sydney's northern beaches.



Two passing motorists are to be commended for a bravery award .. after coming to the aid
of a Victorian policeman who was being attacked by a drunken man.



The first pipe's been laid at the site of the desalination plant in Kurnell .. as construction
of the New South Wales government's controversial project gets underway.



About a thousand protesters have kicked off their own torch relay in New Delhi .. hours
before the Olympic flame is set to be taken on a short and high security jog in the city.



IN SPORT:


League Raiders (SYDNEY)

Canberra have re-signed talented youngster BRONX GOODWIN until the end of the 2011 NRL season.

The Raiders hope the son of St George great TED GOODWIN will emerge as a long-term
solution at fullback .. when WILLIAM ZILLMAN joins the Gold Coast next year.



AFL Swans (SYDNEY)

Forward NICK DAVIS and debutant NICK SMITH have been promoted to the Sydney lineup
for Saturday's clash with Geelong.

DAVIS replaces the suspended BARRY HALL and young defender SMITH comes in for LUKE BRENNAN.

Sydney coach PAUL ROOS says he's disappointed by reports that the Swans leadership
group will fine HALL .. after he was suspended for punching West Coast's BRENT STAKER.

He says that the notion is ridiculous.



Super Brumbies (CANBERRA)

Brumbies skipper STIRLING MORTLOCK has been ruled out of Saturday night's Super 14
crunch match against the high-flying Sharks at Canberra Stadium.

MORTLOCK'S absence is the only change to the side which upset the Blues 16-11 last
weekend when the powerful centre sustained an accidental knee to the head.

Fellow Wallabies incumbent ADAM ASHLEY-COOPER shifts to outside centre while FRANCIS
FAINIFO has been promoted from the bench onto the left wing and flanker GEORGE SMITH takes
back the captaincy.



ENDS EVENING ROUND-UP

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