AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, April 22

AAP General News (Australia)
04-22-2009
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, April 22
Midday Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1130


IMF Swan (CANBERRA)

WAYNE SWAN says the latest IMF report paints a sobering picture .. with the global
economy now expected to contract in 2009 for the first time in 60 years.

The International Monetary Fund's raised its estimate of losses from the global financial
and economic crisis to more than four trillion US dollars ($A5.7 trillion) .. due to writedowns
on soured credit.

Its previous update in January was about half that .. 2.2 trillion US dollars ($A3.15 trillion).

The federal treasurer says the global financial system remains under severe stress
despite the efforts of governments worldwide to provide policies to stimulate growth.



Vacancies (CANBERRA)

Figures out today show skilled job vacancies dropped 8.9 per cent in April compared to March.

The Department of Education .. Employment and Workplace Relations says vacancies fell
in all three occupational groups monitored.

Trade vacancies declined 10.4 per cent .. associate professionals fell 8 per cent and
professionals dropped 7.2 per cent.

All states and territories experienced decreases in skilled vacancies in April .. the
largest drop being 16.9 per cent in Western Australia.



Economy Qld (BRISBANE)

Queensland's treasurer has told parliament the state's standing on the cusp of recession
.. recording growth of just 0.3 per cent in the December quarter.

He says the state's economic outlook's also challenged by further deterioration among
trading partners .. with many now expected to contract by 2.5 per cent this year.



Corps (PERTH)

The prime minister will reportedly announce the formation of a civilian corps .. where
everyday Australians will be deployed to assist in war zones and natural disasters.

The West Australian reports it's one of nine initiatives from last year's 2020 summit
being revealed by KEVIN RUDD today at a regional Cabinet meeting in Perth.

The army will be expected to mobilise .. deploy and sustain the corps in a range of
threat situations and physical environments.

It's expected to be operational by mid this year.



Boat (CANBERRA)

The Department of Immigration is warning potential asylum seekers .. sabotaging their
boats and putting their lives at risk won't guarantee them transport to mainland Australia.

The comments come following news 13 asylum seekers from Thursday's boat explosion will
be able to apply for refugee status immediately because they were taken to mainland Australia
for treatment.

A Spokesman for Immigration Minister CHRIS EVANS has told Fairfax newspapers it's a
very unusual case.

He says 29 of the 42 asylum seekers injured in the explosion near Ashmore Reef were
taken to an oil rig that has been excised from Australia.

The group won't have their applications heard for months and can't appeal .. should
their claims be denied.

The opposition says they should not be given preferential treatment.



Pratt (MELBOURNE)

RICHARD PRATT'S lawyer says the ailing industrialist doesn't want criminal charges
dropped because he's dying .. but because he believes he's innocent.

The 74-year-old cardboard king and philanthropist is close to death with prostate cancer.

He's currently facing criminal charges of giving false or misleading evidence to the
ACCC over allegations of price fixing with rival Amcor.

His company Visy has already been fined 36 million dollars after Mr PRATT admitted to the cartel.

The Federal Court's still deciding whether the evidence he gave in the 2007 civil case
can be used in his criminal trial.

Meanwhile .. AFL legend RON BARASSI .. Federal Trade Minister SIMON CREAN and America's
Cup hero JOHN BERTRAND have visited PRATT at his Melbourne mansion Raheen this morning.



Meals (SYDNEY)

The opposition's slamming Kevin Rudd for ordering gourmet meals on board official flights.

News Limited papers report Australian taxpayers are paying thousands of dollars to
ensure the prime minister's served a three-course meal on every RAAF VIP flight .. including
from Sydney to Canberra.

Defence overhauled the catering arrangements after an outburst by Mr RUDD on board
a flight from Port Moresby to Canberra.

MALCOLM TURNBULL's told the Seven Network .. Australians want to know what the government's
doing to promote jobs .. and they want to know why money isn't being better and more effectively
spent.



SriLanka Aust (SYDNEY)

Hundreds of Sri Lankan Tamils will rally in Sydney's west today .. following a sombre
overnight candlelight vigil in the CBD.

They'll be gathering from 12.30 pm (AEST) at Parramatta .. home of one of Sydney's
largest Tamil communities.

The Tamils are urging their federal Labor MP JULIE OWENS to take their concerns about
the growing unrest in Sri Lanka to Prime Minister KEVIN RUDD.

It follows a vigil in Martin Place in the inner city overnight to mourn the loss of
civilians killed in the island nation's conflict between Tamil rebels and government forces.



Briefly in other news ..



Weller (BRISBANE)

The Queensland government says it'll abolish more than 100 of its boards and other
bodies .. in sweeping reforms designed to cut back on red tape and saving at least 18
million dollars a year.



Bushfires SA (ADELAIDE)

While it's only a few weeks until winter .. fire bans have been declared for the west
coast of South Australia and the lower Eyre Peninsula today with high temperatures and
strong winds forecast.



Toll NSW Truck (SYDNEY)

Traffic on the F3 will be diverted north of Sydney again tonight .. as crews work to
recover the wreck of a truck which plunged 80 metres off the roadway.



US Jackman (HOLLYWOOD)

Australia's HUGH JACKMAN has cemented his place in history alongside Hollywood royalty
MARILYN MONROE .. FRANK SINATRA .. and HUMPHREY BOGART on Hollywood Boulevard's Walk of
Fame.



Mideast US (WASHINGTON)

A US official says ISraeli Prime Minister BENJAMIN NETANYAHU .. Palestinian leader
MAHMUD ABBAS and Egyptian President HOSNI MUBARAK will visit the White House in coming
weeks.



in Finance ..



Finance Markers RADIO MORNING

At 11.08am (AEDT) .. the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was UP 6.1 points at 3683.5 while
the broader All Ordinaries Index ROSE 8.7 points to 3641.8.

The Australian dollar was at 70.69 US cents .. UP from yesterday's local close of 69.95 US cents.

It was at 54.7 euro cents .. UP from 54.21 euro cents yesterday.

The spot price of gold in Sydney was $US883.00 .. DOWN $6.20 from $US889.20 per fine
ounce yesterday.



in Sport ..



Super Waratahs (SYDNEY)

Waratahs skipper PHIL WAUGH has reportedly re-signed with the Super 14 franchise for
a further two-years .. turning his back on several international offers.



Super Blues (WELLINGTON)

Auckland Blues player RENE RANGER is being investigated for alleged assault after a
late-night street brawl.

The 22 year old Blues newcomer was spoken to by police yesterday over an incident last
Sunday in Matakana .. in the Rodney district .. that left a man unconscious.

Emergency services were called to the scene about 1.50am and one person was taken to
North Shore Hospital.



ENDS MIDDAY ROUND-UP

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