Fed: Abbott says he's happy to fight poll on climate change

AAP General News (Australia)
04-27-2010
Fed: Abbott says he's happy to fight poll on climate change

BRISBANE, April 27 AAP - Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says he's more than willing
to fight the federal poll on climate change.

Visiting the marginal Liberal Brisbane-based seat of Dickson on Tuesday, Mr Abbott
said voters had recognised Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's answer to climate change was a
"great big new tax on everything".

"He has run away from what he's said was the greatest moral challenge of our time,"

Mr Abbott said.

He said Mr Rudd needed to outline details of his climate change policy.

The federal government planned to start its carbon pollution reduction scheme (CPRS,
also known as an emissions trading scheme) by July 2011, but reportedly has pushed it
back to 2013 at the earliest, due to budget priorities.

AAP stg/pjo/cdh

KEYWORD: CLIMATE ABBOTT

2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NT: Australia's northwest on cyclone alert

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2009
NT: Australia's northwest on cyclone alert

Communities along West Australia's north coast have been put on alert as the first
cyclone of the season bears down on the Kimberley.

Cyclone LAURENCE .. which formed yesterday .. was 230 kilometres north northeast of
Kalumburu .. and 480 kilometres northeast of Kuri Bay .. and moving northwest at seven
kilometres an hour last night.

Winds at the centre of the slowly intensifying cyclone are estimated at 95km/h.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a cyclone warning for Wyndham to Kuri Bay .. while
further west .. a cyclone watch has been issued for coastal communities from Kuri Bay
to west of Cape Leveque.

Heavy rain and wind gusts to 100km/h are expected to cause localised flooding across
the region today and tomorrow if the cyclone moves closer to the coast.

AAP RTV jrd/psm/

KEYWORD: LAURENCE (BRISBANE)

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Three stabbed in Parramatta brawl: police

AAP General News (Australia)
08-05-2009
NSW: Three stabbed in Parramatta brawl: police

SYDNEY, Aug 5 AAP - Three men have been stabbed after being confronted by 15 men in
Sydney's west.

The trio, aged 19, 18 and 16, were approached by the group on Argyle Street, Parramatta,
at about 2.20pm on Tuesday.

A brawl ensued and the three men sustained stab wounds to their torsos, police say.

They have all been released from hospital.

Earlier on Tuesday police responded to reports of a brawl at a fast food restaurant
on Darcy St, Parramatta, but did not find anyone at the scene.

On a patrol of the area, police say they found a bag containing knives and a machete.

A 16-year-old boy was found a short time later allegedly carrying a bag with similar contents.

He was arrested and taken to Parramatta Police Station and will be formally cautioned
at a later date.

Police are urging anyone with information about either incident, including mobile phone
footage, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

AAP sg/jl

KEYWORD: BRAWL

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Union protest greets new Manly fast ferry service

AAP General News (Australia)
02-10-2009
NSW: Union protest greets new Manly fast ferry service

SYDNEY, Feb 10 AAP - Protesters have greeted the new fast ferry service between Manly
and Sydney's CBD, with unions concerned about passenger safety and workers' wages.

The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) organised the demonstration on Tuesday to coincide
with Bass and Flinders beginning the private service after the NSW government axed the
Manly Jetcat in last November's mini-budget.

The union said the operator's fleet was designed for whale watching and not high-speed
commuter services.

It is concerned Bass and Flinders is yet to demonstrate it has provided appropriate
passenger and vessel security training to staff.

The MUA said the company had also slashed wages.

"Bass and Flinders have given the people of Sydney a second class service," MUA branch
secretary Warren Smith said.

"They are slashing wages by 25 per cent and the operation has serious safety issues
that have not been properly addressed."

NSW Maritime has rejected claims the service is unsafe.

Bass and Flinders said skippers of its vessel had had proper training.

"They've travelled these waters and rougher waters all the time," managing director
Richard Ford told ABC Radio.

"Our drivers are all certified by NSW Maritime, which is the regulatory body."

Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell has told the MUA to get out of the way and give the
new operators a go.

"Union bosses want to condemn the new ferry service before it's begun," Mr O'Farrell
told reporters.

"For far too long the cosy deal between transport unions and the NSW government has
stood in the way of improved public transport services.

"It's time that deal was ended and the state government put the interests of commuters
first for a change."

AAP nr/evt/jpm

KEYWORD: FERRIES

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Govt must work with manufacturing industry, opposition says

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2008
Vic: Govt must work with manufacturing industry, opposition says

MELBOURNE, AUG 23 - The state government must interact with the manufacturing industry,
after yet more job losses, the Victorian opposition says.

Boeing is to slash more than 500 jobs at the Fishermans Bend Hawker de Havilland site
over 18 months, with up to 350 going from the Melbourne plant by the end of the year as
some production is moved to Sydney.

The news comes a day after Ford announced plans to axe up to 350 jobs at its two Victorian
plants.

Speaking at the Liberals' State Council meeting in Geelong today, Opposition Leader
Ted Baillieu said every job loss in Victoria was devastating.

"It's now incumbent on (Premier) John Brumby to indicate whether there has been any
engagement with the company on the issue and whether the government could have done more
to retain these jobs," Mr Baillieu told reporters.

"Obviously, job losses in Victoria are mounting. We've had Ford, we've had SPC, we've
had Don Smallgoods and now with the announcement about Boeing, that's a big concern."

He said job losses did not just affect families and communities, but had downstream
effects on other businesses.

Mr Brumby congratulated himself when things were going well, Mr Baillieu said, but
when times got tough, he got going.

"This is the problem with John Brumby, he can't have it both ways.

"He can't be out there patting himself on the back when there are new jobs and then
vanishing - as he has done - when the jobs start disappearing themselves.

"That's not a legitimate way to approach it, it's a very cynical approach."

The government must make some specific statements about where it was taking the economy,
Mr Baillieu said.

AAP kb/cjh/cdh

KEYWORD: BOEING BAILLIEU

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

Qld: Free coach travel anywhere in Australia for veterans

AAP General News (Australia)
04-17-2008
Qld: Free coach travel anywhere in Australia for veterans

BRISBANE, April 17 AAP - Australian war veterans have been offered free coach travel
throughout the country so they can spend Anzac Day with their mates.

Greyhound says it will give veterans of any conflict involving Australia a free ride
to any destination in the company's network from April 24 to April 26.

"Australians from all over the country fought together to defend this nation and we
want to bring mates, spread out across this great land, back together again on Anzac Day,"

Greyhound chief executive Robert Thomas said in a statement today.

To take up the offer, veterans must contact Greyhound on 1300 473 946 and introduce
themselves as a veteran.

AAP ews/pjo/apm/mn

KEYWORD: ANZAC TRAVEL

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

NSW: Power will be sold off, but we can still talk: govt

AAP General News (Australia)
12-13-2007
NSW: Power will be sold off, but we can still talk: govt

SYDNEY, Dec 13 AAP - Moves to privatise NSW electricity services are afoot, but Premier
Morris Iemma says that doesn't mean consultation with opponents of the scheme will end.

Visiting the state's newest, $350 million, gas-fired power station, south of Wollongong,
Mr Iemma today reiterated the privatisation plan would ensure jobs and prosperity.

"This is a great example of the balance that we can achieve ... between saving the
planet and guaranteeing jobs and prosperity," Mr Iemma said of the facility, which will
generate enough electricity to supply 200,000 homes and businesses from August next year.

"The government has made its decision (on privatisation), but in making its decision
the government has said that it will continue to consult with stakeholders and the union.

"We are placing ads ... to assist with the technical advice and expertise that's required
to undertake a process that will take time, it's not going to happen overnight."

Two state ministers met with union officials yesterday and Mr Iemma said there would
be more meetings.

"We will continue to meet ... it's a good relationship and we take consultation seriously,"

he told reporters.

Funds raised and saved by the energy privatisation scheme would go toward other areas
including health, roads and education, Mr Iemma said.

However, an indication of how the funds would be distributed will not be made available
until next year, he said.

AAP ad/nap/hn/cjh/mn

KEYWORD: ELECTRICITY IEMMA

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.