HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:30

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2010
HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:30

AUCKLAND - A fire is still raging in the New Zealand mine shaft where 29 men, including
two Australians, lie entombed. (NZ Mine)



AUCKLAND - After years of stiff peaks of competition, Australia has been creamed in
the great pavlova palaver. (NZ Pavlova)



AUCKLAND - Vanuatu's Prime Minister Edward Natapei has been ousted from power by his
deputy in a no-confidence vote in the nation's parliament. (Vanuatu PM)



SYDNEY - A large shipment of toxic waste due for export from Australia to Denmark has
been postponed after protest action by Greenpeace. (Toxic with pix)



CANBERRA - The peak national advisory body on water issues has warned the coal seam
gas industry could have a "significant" impact on surface and groundwater if not managed
properly. (CSG)



CANBERRA - Doctors, health professionals and patients ripped off Medicare to the tune
of $10 million in the last financial year, $4 million more than in 2008/09. (Medicare)



CANBERRA - How many public servants does it take to run Australia? No one really knows. (Public)



SYDNEY - Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says he has no plans to make any major
changes to Labor's workplace laws. (IR Abbott)



CANBERRA - Millions of visually and hearing impaired Australians are set to benefit
from proposed changes to television and media services. (Captions)



CANBERRA - A visit to an art gallery or museum is an experience many of us enjoy, but
for the visually impaired the outing can be daunting. (Braille with pix and video)



CANBERRA - Christmas shoppers who buy banned or restricted imports online can expect
to have them intercepted and confiscated by Customs, the government has warned. (Banned)



CANBERRA - Want to help out those far from home this Christmas? The government has
invited Australians to send care packages to troops on duty in the Middle East, East Timor
and the Solomon Islands. (Troops)



SYDNEY - An emotional Frank Sartor, currently NSW Environment Minister, has announced
he will retire at the next state election, saying he wants to focus more on his young
family. (Sartor 2nd Update)

Sartor Wrap to come with pix



SYDNEY - Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says it was disappointing that the NSW
Liberal Party couldn't take advantage of the big swing to the coalition in the federal
election. (Liberals Abbott)



SYDNEY - Tax breaks will be extended to employers hiring disabled people as part of
a $2 billion funding boost for the sector, the NSW government has announced. (Disabled
NSW)



SYDNEY - More than 400 people have been evacuated as their homes are threatened by
dangerous fumes caused by a fire at a large fish processing plant on the far south NSW
coast. (Fire Update)



SYDNEY - NSW police analyst Terry Gregoriou has been found guilty of leaking confidential
information to his best mate, who has alleged links to a bikie gang. (Gregoriou)



SYDNEY - Four men have been arrested over the supply of high-grade amphetamine drugs
across Sydney. (Amphetamines)



SYDNEY - A young man has been charged with the stabbing murder of another teenager
in a street fight in Sydney's west. (Stab)



SYDNEY - A woman, her sister and her mother have pleaded not guilty to murdering her
estranged grazier husband in northwest NSW. (Ryan)



SYDNEY - A man and his former girlfriend have pleaded not guilty to murdering an 82-year-old
grandmother in her NSW Hunter Valley home. (Allen)



SYDNEY - Two men have pleaded not guilty to murdering a young Sydney woman whose skeletal
remains were found in a shallow bushland grave. (Scott)



SYDNEY - A Sydney builder has been discharged over the murder of his wife, after two
juries failed to reach a verdict. (Haschka)



MELBOURNE - Victorian Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews has painted himself as an ordinary
family man who will work hard to hold Premier Ted Baillieu accountable for his promises.

(Labor Vic Update)

Labor Vic Wrap to come with factbox, pix and video



MELBOURNE - Two Victorian police officers who were involved in a relationship will
face court next year to face criminal drug charges. (Police Vic)



MELBOURNE - Victoria's first bushfire roadshow is set to tour the state to assist at-risk
communities cope with the 2010-2011 fire season. (Bushfires Vic)



MELBOURNE - Four people have presented themselves to police following the death of
a 48-year-old man at a Victorian hotel. (Hotel Update)



MELBOURNE - A 46-year-old man has died after a truck and trailer fell on him in a farming
accident north of Bendigo. (Farm)



BRISBANE - The Queensland government has announced a panel of victim advocates and
legal minds who'll now be asked to direct judges on minimum sentences for serious crimes
like murder and rape. (Sentences)



GOLD COAST - A sick crew member has been winched from a fishing trawler by a rescue
helicopter off the central Queensland coast. (Trawler)



PERTH - Two young brothers are dead, a 45-year-old woman killed and two children pulled
from a fiery wreckage after a collision near Halls Creek in northern Western Australia.

(Toll WA)



ADELAIDE - A 17-year-old youth has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving
after another teenager was killed in a drag race in Adelaide's western suburbs. (Toll
SA)



ADELAIDE - Three Adelaide men have been arrested and charged with trafficking abalone
following raids on 21 homes and businesses across the northern suburbs. (Abalone)



SYDNEY - Chris Lilley will make his long-awaited return to television in 2011 with
a new ABC comedy titled Angry Boys. (ABC with pix and video)



NEW YORK - Australian actress Jacki Weaver has been named best supporting actress by
the National Board of Review (NBR) which is widely considered a major indicator to success
at the Academy Awards. (US Board)



LOS ANGELES - Two Australia films have been selected to compete at Robert Redford's
showcase for independent cinema, the Sundance Film Festival, next month. (US Sundance)



SYDNEY - Keith Urban could make it back-to-back wins at next year's Grammy awards after
he was nominated for best male country vocal performance. (Grammy Urban)

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KEYWORD: HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL 2 SYDNEY

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