AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, Aug 31

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2009
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, Aug 31
Breakfast Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 0430


Bushfires NSW (SYDNEY)

Firefighters are bracing for erratic winds that could push bushfires closer to homes
already under threat on the New South Wales south coast.

A forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology says gusts up to 60 kilometres an hour are
forecasted to lash the Illawarra and south coasts into this morning.

And a Rural Fire Service spokesman says changing winds may shift the fires in a multitude
of directions, making it difficult to protect homes under threat.

Residents of Dolphin Point and Lake Tabourie .. in the Shoalhaven .. have been advised
by the Rural Fire Service to prepare their properties against flying embers and smoke.

The Princes Highway has been closed south of Burrill Lake.



Stimulus (SYDNEY)

The Treasury has advised the federal government not to pull back on unspent money from
Labor's 42 billion dollar economic stimulus package.

The advice .. prepared a week ago .. says the stimulus package may prove more effective
than first thought.

Fairfax Newspapers report it also states that unemployment is unlikely to hit the 8.5
per cent figure forecast in the federal budget in May.

The Treasury advice states it would be wrong to conclude the success of the stimulus
to date is an argument for winding back the stimulus still in the pipeline .. adding that
withdrawing it more quickly would risk stalling the economy and causing a steeper rise
in the the unemployment rate.

Meanwhile .. Treasurer WAYNE SWAN has told The Australian the government is committed
to its spending plans .. which he credits with helping Australia avoid recession.



Japan Vote (TOKYO)

Japan's Prime Minister TARO ASO has conceded defeat in elections .. as media exit polls
indicate the opposition has won by a landslide.

The win will send the conservatives out of power after 54 years of nearly unbroken
rule .. amid widespread economic anxiety and desire for change.

In a news conference at party headquarters .. ASO has conceded his party is headed
for a big loss .. suggesting he'll resign as party president.



Israel Olmert (JERUSALEM)

Israeli legal authorities have indicted former Israeli prime minister EHUD OLMERT on
corruption charges.

The indictments .. filed yesterday .. charge OLMERT with illegally accepting funds
from an American backer .. and double-billing for trips abroad.

He faces charges including fraud and breach of trust.

He denies any wrongdoing.



Bomber (CANBERRA)

A ceremony is being held this morning in New South Wales .. to mark the return of Australia's
last two servicemen missing in action from the Vietnam war.

The remains of Flying Officer MICHAEL HERBERT and Pilot Officer ROBERT CARVER are due
to arrive at 10.30 (AEST) .. at the RAAF Base Richmond .. northwest of Sydney.

The officers' remains were found near Vietnam's border with Laos last month .. more
than 30 years after their plan went down.

Private family funerals will be held later in the week in Adelaide and Toowoomba.



Rates Survey (SYDNEY)

Economists expect the Reserve Bank will leave interest rates unchanged for the fifth
straight month this week .. but some warn rates could start going up before Christmas.

All 18 economists surveyed by AAP believe the central bank will keep the cash rate
at a 49-year low of three per cent at tomorrow's monthly board meeting.

However .. opinions differ on when .. and how quickly .. the RBA will start lifting
rates again as the economy recovers .. with the NAB predicting they'll rise by 50 basis
points in the December quarter .. while the Commonwealth .. ANZ .. and Westpac banks expect
the first rate hike will come early next year.



Women (SYDNEY)

A new alliance has called on the federal government to support equal pay for women.

The Equal Pay Alliance has formed to coincide with Equal Pay Day tomorrow .. with 135
community .. business and peak welfare bodies now members.

Australian Council of Trade Unions president SHARON BURROW says it's unacceptable working
women are still being short-changed.

She says a woman must work 14 months to earn the same that a man would make in a year
.. and still earn 17 per cent less over their lifetime.



Tracking (SYDNEY)

More sex offenders will be monitored in New South Wales communities .. following a
move by the state government to double the capacity of its tracking program.

Another 20 GPS anklet devices have been purchased to monitor serious sex offenders
after they're released from prison .. with Corrective Services Minister JOHN ROBERTSON
saying they'll allow police to monitor every movement in the community.



Teague (MELBOURNE)

The Victorian government is set to announce a new megafire danger warning .. as part
of a raft of policy changes in response to the bushfire royal commission's interim report.

The Herald Sun newspaper reports a new warning system .. based on cyclone category
warnings .. will be introduced for the coming fire season to give clearer guidance on
conditions.



BRIEFLY IN OTHER NEWS:


Paddle (CANBERRA)

A police search will resume at first light .. for a man who went missing while paddling
a surf ski on Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra yesterday afternoon.



PNG Plane (BRISBANE)

A memorial service will be held at 11.30am (AEST) at the Sunshine Coast University
in Queensland .. for Dr JUNE CANAVAN .. one of the victims from the Papua New Guinea plane
crash.



IN FINANCE:


GDP Survey (SYDNEY)

Economists expect Australia will post a second consecutive quarter of economic growth
this week .. following a run of better-than-expected economic data.

The median of 14 economists surveyed by AAP suggests the national accounts .. due out
on Wednesday .. will show gross domestic product grew by 0.7 per cent in the June quarter.

The median forecast for annual GDP growth is for an expansion of 0.7 per cent .. above
the Reserve Bank's mid-August prediction of 0.25 per cent in the year to June.

A positive GDP number for the June quarter would be the second in a row for the nation
.. which just avoided a recession in the three months to March when it posted 0.4 per
cent growth.



Markets Preview (SYDNEY)

The Australian sharemarket is expected to open flat today .. after US equities were
little changed .. and in anticipation of the Reserve Bank of Australia interest rate decision
this week.

CommSec chief economist CRAIG JAMES says investors will be cautious ahead of the RBA
board meeting tomorrow .. and the local sharemarket is likely to open flat after a mixed
lead from the US.



AND IN SPORT:


LEAGUE WRAP (SYDNEY)

Newcastle can book a place in the NRL finals with a win at Canberra Stadium tonight.

The Bulldogs took a step closer to the minor premiership yesterday with a 40-20 win
over the Warriors.

But playmaker BRETT KIMMORLEY copped a fractured cheekbone and will miss at least three
games .. but his season could be over if there's damage to the eye socket.

Manly had a late 18-16 escape over Cronulla .. with the Sharks playing with 12 men
for more than half the game and leading until the final minute.



AFL WRAP (MELBOURNE)

The Western Bulldogs snatched third place on the AFL ladder from Collingwood last night,
beating the Magpies by 24 points.

Both finished the season with 15 wins .. the Bulldogs half a point ahead on percentage.

Geelong and the Bulldogs meet in a qualifying final on Saturday and minor premiers
St Kilda and Collingwood play the other qualifying final Sunday ... both at the MCG.

The two eliminators are night games ..... Adelaide hosting Essendon Friday night and
the Brisbane Lions welcoming Carlton Saturday night.



SOCCER AL (SYDNEY)

Sydney FC replaced Gold Coast United on top of the A-League ladder after a hard-fought
2-0 win over Wellington.

Sydney are the only unbeaten side after four rounds.

Earlier, Gold Coast suffered a shock 1-0 loss at Newcastle, with Jets coach BRANKO
CULINA earning bragging rights over son JASON, the Gold Coast captain.



CRICKET AUST (MANCHESTER, England)

Rain ruined the Twenty20 cricket match between Australia and England at Old Trafford.

CAMERON WHITE scored 55 off 36 balls as Australia reached 4-145 from their 20 overs
after losing the toss.

The tourists had England reeling at 2-4 after just seven balls when rain set in.



ENDS BREAKFAST ROUND-UP

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