Vic: Premier defends government on Waverley heritage moves

AAP General News (Australia)
08-27-2000
Vic: Premier defends government on Waverley heritage moves

MELBOURNE, Aug 27 AAP - Premier Steve Bracks today defended his government's efforts
to save the beleaguered Waverley Park football ground, ahead of this week's decision on
whether it will be heritage-listed.

The listing is opposed by the park's owner, the Australian Football League (AFL), which
wants to sell it and its carpark for $85 million.

Mr Bracks comments came as the ground, in Melbourne's outer east, returned to life
to host the state's second football competition, the Victorian Football League (VFL) grand
final between North Ballarat and Sandringham.

He rejected accusations by opposition leader Denis Napthine that the government had
not done enough to save the park.

Speaking before the grand final, Mr Bracks told reporters his government had had five
meetings with the AFL since coming to office, while the opposition had not met them once.

"The future of Waverley Park is now before Heritage Victoria, so it is not appropriate
for the government to meet the AFL on this issue (now)", Mr Bracks said.

"The government is committed to doing what it can to see if the future of Waverley
can be secured."

Waverley Park was built in 1970 as a state-of-the-art football venue and was the showpiece
of what is now the AFL. It can hold about 120,000 people.

The AFL decided to close it as a football venue after this year's pre-season competition,
moving games to the new Colonial Stadium at Docklands. The last AFL game was played there
in February.

In a move generally regarded as retaliation for the closure, the City of Greater Dandenong
then nominated Waverley Park for inclusion on the Victorian Heritage Register, citing
its architectural, cultural and social significance and calling it a "national sporting
icon".

Heritage Victoria has said the site is of "national and state cultural significance".

It is one of the most advanced examples of reinforced concrete structures in Australia.

If the park is added to the register, it would be legally protected and its owners
would need permits from Heritage Victoria to alter, subdivide or demolish it.

AAP sjg/imc/rs

KEYWORD: AFL WAVERLEY NIGHTLEAD

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: More anaesthetists give rural life a go, but on the coast

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2000
Fed: More anaesthetists give rural life a go, but on the coast

BRISBANE, April 12 AAP - A drive to place anaesthetists in rural areas with shortages
had attracted almost 100 specialists Australia-wide, the recruitment team said today.

However, Rural Anaesthetic Recruitment Service (RARS) chairman Dr Daryl Catt said not
surprisingly the popular vacancies had been in coastal areas of Queensland.

The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists is using a federal government
grant to try to lift coverage in rural areas, where 32 per cent of Australians are serviced
by only 14 per cent of anaesthetists.

Dr Catt said the RARS was filling locum vacancies in small-town hospitals and practices
where it was difficult for anaesthetic staff to get away for holidays or to advance their
skills.

The program was also seeking full-time and part-time anaesthetists for salaried positions
in hospitals and permanent private practice positions.

So far 96 anaesthetists from metropolitan areas and New Zealand had registered as potential
recruits.

RARS was stepping up promotion with an information web-site (http://www.medeserv.com.au/anzca/open/c_news/rural_interest.htm)
and a request to 250 hospitals to promote the scheme.

So far six anaesthetists have been "married" to locum jobs.

Half the positions currently available, and half of those already filled, were in regional
and coastal Queensland, Dr Catt said.

The next most popular area was regional Victoria, followed by South Australia, New
South Wales and the Northern Territory.

Dr Catt said anaesthetists surveyed by RARS had cited a variety of reasons for seeking
rural work including lifestyle, "feeling more useful in rural areas", gaining extra experience
outside normal daily practice and "change of scenery".

AAP rr/sc/sk

KEYWORD: ANAESTHETISTS

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

HEART (SYDNEY)

AAP General News (Australia)
01-15-2000
HEART (SYDNEY)

Parramatta Sergeant EDDIE DRIES says the boy was attacked by his mother at Ross Street,
North Parramatta, in Sydney's west about 9pm (AEDT) with a 16cm long kitchen knife.

The boy has undergone emergency surgery for the stab wound to the heart in Sydney's
Westmead Children's Hospital, and is considered serious but stable.

Police say the woman and her son were Yugoslav nationals, in Australia on refugee status.

Sgt DRIES …

QLD: Qld government to consider Sharples request

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-1999
QLD: Qld government to consider Sharples request

BRISBANE, Aug 25 AAP - The Queensland government is considering a request from former One
Nation member Terry Sharples to take over his legal battle with the party.

Mr Sharples, who led the court challenge resulting in the deregistration of One Nation in
Queensland, said he could not go further following One Nation's decision to appeal the Supreme
Court ruling that it used fraud and misrepresentation to register as a political party.

He said the 15-month case had already cost him $25,000 personally and he was facing more
than $70,000 in additional legal costs.

"I have promised my wife we would not spend a cent more on this ... and if that means that
the appeal fails, then (the government) will have to answer to the people," Mr Sharples said.

"The attorney general should now fund the case completely, if not take it over ... It's
really a case that he should have always run on behalf of this state."

Mr Sharples accused the state government of "riding on his coat tails" by considering
challenging the election of 11 One Nation MPs to state parliament.

"My decision was to fight on and I have been vindicated by that through the courts, but I
am not going to put my family under any more pressure. I am not going to spend any more money
privately to do that."

A spokesman for Attorney-General Matt Foley said Mr Sharples' request was being considered.

AAP jfs/jnb

KEYWORD: NATION SHARPLES DAYLEAD

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Woods retains Clarence

AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-1999
NSW: Woods retains Clarence

SYDNEY, April 5 AAP - The Minister for Regional Development, Harry Woods, has retained his
New South Wales seat of Clarence on the north coast.

A spokeswoman for the Grafton electoral office said a recount for the seat that finished
tonight had the Labor sitting member winning by only 100 votes.

AAP knr

KEYWORD: POLLNSW CLARNENCE RESULT

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

VIC: Iraq attack will have repercussons, says Kennett

AAP General News (Australia)
12-17-1998
VIC: Iraq attack will have repercussons, says Kennett

MELBOURNE, Dec 17 AAP - Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett today described the American-British
attack on Iraq as "extraordinary" and said it would have repercussions around the world.

Mr Kennett said he "hoped to God" British Prime Minister Tony Blair and United States
President Bill Clinton knew what they were doing.

He was commenting after British Prime Minister Tony Blair addressed reporters about the
Operation Desert Fox attack, launched at 9am (AEDT) today.

The White House announced the attack, but Mr Blair has spoken before United States
President Bill Clinton.

"It would be hard to remember another occasion when the defender of the free world has not
led the debate, or broken the news, I suppose," Mr Kennett told radio 3AW.

"But let's hope to God, they both know what they are doing.

"I mean, it is extraordinary. It is absolutely extraordinary.

"It is not just going to affect that part of the world.

"These communities have their friends and fellow travellers.

"And the repercussions, the ramifications right around the world will be extraordinary."

Mr Kennett said the attack reinforced that Australia was "but a very small drop in the
bucket" and an observer.

"It's very hard for us, here in Australia, to understand what the blazes is going on," he
said.

He said he had a sense of de ja vu about the attack.

AAP lmw/ra

KEYWORD: IRAQ KENNETT

1998 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED:Health fund premiums to jump by 5.57 pct

AAP General News (Australia)
02-25-2011
FED:Health fund premiums to jump by 5.57 pct

Private health funds have been given the green light to raise their premiums by an
average five-and-a-half per cent.

Health Minister NICOLA ROXON has today announced she has approved a hike in premiums
for 34 our of 35 funds .. which will see costs increase by an average one-dollar-60 a
week for individuals .. and three-dollar-20 a week for …