HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:30, Aug 29

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2009
HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:30, Aug 29

CANBERRA - Governor-General Quentin Bryce will travel to East Timor this weekend to
represent Australia at celebrations to mark the 10th anniversary of independence. (Timor
GG)



CANBERRA - The number of Australians taking up the federal government's first home
owners grant is declining ahead of the scheme's rollback next month. (Housing)



CANBERRA - A boat believed to be carrying 52 suspected asylum seekers has been intercepted
off Australia's northwest coast. (Boat)



SYDNEY - It's been revealed that Hambali, the terrorist mastermind believed to be behind
the Bali bombings, is set to escape justice for his role in the 2002 attacks that killed
202 people, including 88 Australians. (Hambali)



CANBERRA - The Australian Greens say the oil and gas spill off Western Australia's
Kimberley Coast is spreading. (Spill to come)



CANBERRA - The Australian Greens have urged federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon to
intervene in Queensland's abortion debate. (Abortion)

Abortion Wrap to come



CANBERRA - The federal government has placed a temporary ban on sky lanterns. (Lantern)



SYDNEY - Federal cabinet is split over an upcoming decision that could lower the price
of overseas books sold in Australia. (Books)

Books Update to come



MILANG, SA - When the sun is shining it's happy hour - it says so on a sign hanging
in the public bar at the Pier Hotel. (Milang AAP Feature)

To come: A story on the mass exodus of farmers from the Lower Lakes region (Murray
to come late Saturday afternoon)



SYDNEY - A teenage boy who is believed to have been involved in a schoolyard brawl
on the NSW north coast has died in hospital. (Boy) (seeking more)



SYDNEY - Two NSW government ministers have rallied behind Premier Nathan Rees, saying
there won't be a leadership spill to oust him. (Leadership NSW)

Leadership NSW Update to come



SYDNEY - The NSW government says a pay rise for police officers is within the state's
budget and has denied rushing the negotiations to stop a mass protest. (Police NSW to
come)



SYDNEY - Large uncontained bushfires burning on the NSW south coast have been declared
an emergency, the Rural Fire Service says. (Bushfires NSW to come)



SYDNEY - The NSW government says its decision to axe stamp duty on caravans has resulted
in a boom for the local tourism industry. (Caravans)



SYDNEY - Police are appealing for the public's help to identify a pedestrian who was
struck and killed by a car in Sydney's southwest. (Toll NSW)

Toll NSW Update to come



SYDNEY - Staff at a western Sydney hotel have been locked in a cold room during a robbery,
police say. (Cold)



SYDNEY - Two people have been threatened with a gun during separate hold ups at shops
in Sydney's west, police say. (Gun)



MELBOURNE - Homicide detectives have charged a 33-year-old woman with one count of
murder over the bashing death of an elderly man in Melbourne. (Assault)



MELBOURNE - A register of lobbyists and new code of conduct has been introduced in
Victoria in a bid to strengthen transparency within the industry. (Lobbyists)



BRISBANE - Bundaberg Sugar workers have ended their strike action and will return to
work after accepting a new pay offer. (Sugar Update)



BRISBANE - A taxi driver is being credited with preventing a tragedy after stopping
a drunk driver who was more than five times over the limit on a Cairns highway. (Taxi)



BRISBANE - Firefighters are battling to contain a blaze at Mareeba on the Atherton
Tablelands, in north Queensland. (Bushfires Qld)



BRISBANE - Premier Anna Bligh's promise of public consultation before the Queensland
government introduces tough new anti-bikie laws has been exposed as a hollow sham, a motorcycle
group says. (Bikies Qld)



BRISBANE - A police officer has allegedly had his eye gouged and been punched in the
kidneys in the central Queensland town of Mount Isa. (Punch)



SYDNEY - Warwick Thornton's highly acclaimed film `Samson and Delilah' has taken out
the top gong at this year's Australian Writer's Guild (AWGIE) awards. (AWGIES)



EDINBURGH - Australia will take a hired gun who finally looks like firing into their
two Twenty20 matches against old cricketing foe England this week. (Cricket Aust Wrap)



SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium - Mark Webber has warned his world title challenge could
be beaten by the street-wise advantages enjoyed by his Brawn GP rivals Jenson Button and
Rubens Barrichello. (Motor Prix Wrap)

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