AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, Aug 4

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-2005
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, Aug 4
Breakfast Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 0430

Judges (SYDNEY)

A tax crackdown may result in the sacking of 16 judges who face criminal charges for
ignoring requests to lodge late returns.

The judges, based in courts across the nation, were yesterday warned by the Australian
Tax Office they would be charged for failing to comply with a request to file outstanding
tax returns for the 2003-04 financial year.

The offence could prompt parliaments to dismiss the judges.

A spokesman for New South Wales Attorney-General BOB DEBUS has told The Australian
newspaper that any of the state's judges charged with criminal offences should step aside.

Last week the tax office served 31 judicial officers, predominantly from NSW and Victoria,
to file late tax returns by Monday or risk facing prosecution.



Terror Aust (CANBERRA)

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says Australians authorities are keeping a watchful eye
on up to 60 suspected terrorists in their midst.

But the government has rejected calls for it to tighten its efforts against terrorism
by targeting suspicious people of Middle Eastern descent.

Australian Federal Police chief MICK KEELTY has backed claims by former spy MICHAEL
ROACH that up to 60 extremists, some of whom trained by terror groups overseas, are living
in Australia.

Mr ROACH, a former officer with the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation,
has urged the government to take a hard line to counter the threat.

He wants authorities to adopt extreme counter-terrorism measures, such as police and
security guards approaching men of Middle Eastern appearance who acted suspiciously.



Telstra (CANBERRA)

Communications Minister HELEN COONAN and Deputy Prime Minister MARK VAILE are heading
to regional New South Wales today to announce plans forcing Telstra to maintain a presence
in the bush once the government sells its stake in the telco.

The ministers will visit Kendall, on the state's mid north coast, where they will reveal
plans to help future-proof telecommunications services in rural and regional Australia.

They're also outlining ways to provide faster internet services for the nearby townships
of Lorne and Crescent Head.

Their visit follows a whirlwind two-day trip to regional New South Wales and Queensland
by new Telstra chief SOL TRUJILLO.

Mr TRUJILLO said he would not spend money on services in areas where it could not make a profit.



Indon Corby (DENPASAR)

SCHAPELLE CORBY has been dealt a blow by three Balinese judges who've shut down her
re-opened drugs trial, refusing to allow her lawyers more time to find new witnesses.

The 28-year-old Gold Coast woman has been sentenced to 20 years jail for smuggling
4.1 kilograms of marijuana into Bali last October.

At her re-trail -- which opened today -- one of the judges also ruled out the possibility
of evidence being given by videolink by Australian witnesses associated with drug trafficking.

He said witnesses must testify in Bali in person, which means they could be prosecuted
under Indonesian law.

It's likely CORBY'S defence team will now lodge a new appeal and ask for a time extension
from the Bali High Court.



Iemma (SYDNEY)

Newly installed New South Wales premier MORRIS IEMMA has announced his cabinet.

Mr IEMMA has anointed outspoken minister MICHAEL COSTA as the minister responsible
for reining in government spending.

He also gains infrastructure and keeps responsibility for the Hunter.

Mr COSTA has reported as saying it would make no difference if 20 per cent of the state's
public servants are sacked.

But he said today there would be no forced redundancies in the public service.



Korp (MELBOURNE)

Documents tendered to a Melbourne court show accused murderer JOE KORP threw a swingers
party at his mistress' house four days before she strangled his wife.

47-year-old Korp is committed to stand trial in the Victorian Supreme Court on eight
charges including attempted murder, conspiracy to murder and intentionally causing serious
injury.

He has entered pleas of not guilty on all counts.

KORP's former lover, 38-year-old TANIA HERMAN, has already admitted attempting to murder
Mrs KORP on February the 9th this year and is serving a minimum of nine years' jail.

KORP's brother, GUST KORP's statement to police was tendered in court today.



Economy (CANBERRA)

The Reserve Bank has kept home buyers happy by leaving interest rates unchanged.

The official cash rate remains at 5.5 per cent.

It's the fifth consecutive month that the bank has left rates on hold.

With inflation within the bank's target range, and with high oil prices keeping a lid
on spending, analysts are not surprised by the decision.

And Treasurer PETER COSTELLO says with inflation under control, there's no reason for
any interest rate rise.



Palm (TOWNSVILLE)

Family and friends of a Palm Island man who died in police custody have sat through
disturbing footage of his final moments at an inquest.

The inquest into the death on November the 19th last year of 36-year-old MULRUNJI has
resumed in the Townsville Supreme Court yesterday after two days of hearings this week
on Palm Island.

Autopsy results released a week after MULRUNJI'S death, which showed he suffered broken
ribs and a ruptured spleen, sparked riots at the north Queensland indigenous community.

A DVD, which ran for an hour, showed MULRUNJI lying flat on his back in a cell yelling
out occasionally and slightly moving his legs.

As time passed a police officer walked into the room and nudged MULRUNJI with his foot
but he failed to move.



Cycling Gillett (CANBERRA)

Two Australian cyclists critically injured in a freak road accident in Germany have
been moved out of an intensive care unit.

ALEXIS RHODES, who's 20, and 23-year-old LOUISE YAXLEY were seriously injured when
an out-of-control teenage driver hit the Australian cyclists.

The accident happened during a training session on July the 18th, and resulted in the
death of the pair's teammate AMY GILLETT.

They are now recovering in hospital with two other teammates.

Australian Institute of Sport director PETER FRICKER says it will be some weeks before
RHODES and YAXLEY are ready to be flown home to Australia.



UK Sceats (LONDON)

An Australian student accused of triggering an airport bomb scare in England with a
text message has been cleared of any crime, but left with a hefty legal bill.

ANGELA SCEATS, who's 19, was found not guilty of false communication after a two-day trial.

But a judge has ruled that she should pay her own legal costs, estimated at nearly $A35,000.

SCEATS spent 10 days in prison after being remanded in custody by magistrates following
her arrest in November.

She says the incident was an unfortunate misunderstanding.



UK Tube (LONDON)

British police say they have charged a suspect arrested in connection with the attempted
July the 21st London bombings.

Scotland Yard says 23-year-old ISMAEL ABDURAHMAN has been charged and will face court tomorrow.

It is the first formal charges to come from a string of arrests following the attack.



US Shuttle (HOUSTON)

US astronaut STEPHEN ROBINSON has carried out repairs to the shuttle Discovery by pulling
out two ceramic fibres that experts feared could have caused the shuttle to overheat when
it returns to Earth.

But experts have still not decided what to do about a thermal blanket below the cockpit
that is also causing concern.

ROBINSON easily pulled out the two problematic protruding pieces of ceramic fibre under
the nose of Discovery within minutes of each other.

Discovery -- carrying Australian ANDY THOMAS among its crew -- is the first shuttle
mission since the Columbia burned up in 2003, killing all seven astronauts on board.

Meanwhile, no decision has been taken over what to do about the thermal blanket below
Discovery's cockpit.



AND IN SPORT:


CRICKET AUST (BIRMINGHAM)

England captain MICHAEL VAUGHAN has been passed fit for the second Ashes Test at Edgbaston
after overcoming an elbow injury.

VAUGHAN proved his fitness with a 25-minute session in the nets and will bat at No.3
in the batting order.

England has decided to release PAUL COLLINGWOOD from the team presenting under-pressure
spinner ASHLEY GILES with another opportunity to answer his critics.



AFL TEAMS (Melbourne)

Geelong could be without another key player for tomorrow night's AFL match against
St Kilda, with key defender CAMERON MOONEY in doubt with an injured back.

The Cats lost captain STEVEN KING earlier this week because of a broken finger and
are battling a long injury list.

St Kilda boasts the most prolific attack in the league and Geelong can ill-afford to
be without MOONEY for the match.



ENDS BREAKFAST ROUND-UP

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