Qld: Electricity prices can be managed: Wilson

AAP General News (Australia)
02-27-2008
Qld: Electricity prices can be managed: Wilson

By Kate Wilson

BRISBANE Feb 27 AAP - The Queensland government says it doesn't expect the full cost
of managing climate change would be passed on in higher electricity charges.

Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson told state parliament today the interim report
by federally commissioned expert Professor Ross Garnaut showed significant action was
required to stop climate change.

"It rightly points out that as a nation we cannot keep doing what we're doing without
substantial cost to the environment, our economy and our living standards," Mr …

EU anti-Semitic acts dropped 46% in 2010. TAU study links Gaza offensive with 2009 upsurge in incidents

BEN HARTMAN
Jerusalem Post
05-02-2011
EU anti-Semitic acts dropped 46% in 2010. TAU study links Gaza offensive with 2009 upsurge in incidents
Byline: BEN HARTMAN
Edition: Daily
Section: News
Type: News

There was a significant drop in the number of anti-Semitic incidents in 2010 compared to 2009, according to a study released on Sunday.

Titled "Anti-Semitism Worldwide 2010," the study cites a 46 percent drop in major incidents of physical violence, threats, and major acts of vandalism, down from 1,129 in 2009 to 614 in 2010.
Nonetheless, the study, which was compiled by Tel Aviv University's Stephen Roth Institute for the Study of Contemporary Anti-Semitism and Racism and the Kantor Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry, said that 2010's total of anti-Semitic incidents is still the third-highest since efforts to record such statistics first began in the 1980s.

The report draws a direct link between the high level of anti- Semitic incidents in 2009, a peak year for such events, and the IDF's offensive against Hamas in January 2009.

"It should be recalled that 2009 was an extraordinary year in terms of numbers of anti-Semitic incidents, primarily due to Operation Cast Lead, Israel's war in Gaza which, especially in the first months of the year, provoked unprecedented anti-Jewish activity worldwide," the report, timed to coincide with Holocaust Remembrance Day, stated.

"Since Jews and Israelis are often conflated into a single collective, events in the Middle East often provoke anti-Jewish groups and individuals into perpetrating hostile activities against local Jews."

The report mentions that while world opinion was largely against Israel for the 2010 raid on the Gaza protest flotilla that left nine Turkish citizens dead on the Mavi Marmara, the event did not lead to a marked upswing in anti-Semitic acts like Cast Lead did, largely because the confrontation was short-lived and included a relatively small number of casualties.

European Jewish Congress President, Dr. Moshe Kantor said, upon release of the report Sunday morning at the university, that "if one were to remove the spike resulting from Operation Cast Lead from the 2009 report then the 2010 report demonstrates many similarities in terms of numbers and types of anti-Semitic attacks as previous years."

He added that such figures show that "anti-Semitism has not decreased in a noticeable fashion across the European continent. On the contrary, the reduction is minimal compared to the massive rise that has taken place over the previous two decades."

The European Jewish Congress president criticized what he called the rise of "respectable anti-Semitism," which he described as anti- Semitic statements and accusations "made by prominent and respectable officials whose words are heard by millions on TV screens and the radio, in newspapers and books and on the Internet," as opposed to anti-Semitic remarks that emerge from the margins of European society.

The study found that the highest number of violent incidents in 2010 took place in the UK, France and Canada, representing around 60% of incidents worldwide. While the study found that in France there was a 44% drop in all types of anti-Semitic incidents, there was an increase in the number of violent street attacks against French Jews, from 37 in 2009 to 57 in 2010.

The report also states that 2010 saw a decline in violent anti- Semitic incidents in the countries of the former Soviet Union, especially in Russia. The report says that the majority of racist attacks in these countries were directed at foreign workers, mainly from Central Asia and the Caucasus.

At the same time, the report says that the second half of 2009 saw an increase in attacks on Jewish sites in Latin America, which it says could be linked to the raid on the Gaza flotilla. Such activity was "particularly evident" in Chile, home of the world's fourth largest Palestinian diaspora. Anti-Semitic allegations also rose during the same time in Venezuela, where the report says "anti- Semitic allegations are an integral part of the extreme anti-Israel propaganda of governmental and pro-Chavez circles."

The report says that recent years have seen "the continued strengthening of extreme right and populist parties in Europe," though it concludes that such parties devote their campaigns mainly against Muslims and Roma, and not towards Jews.

(c) Copyright Jerusalem Post. All rights reserved.

(Copyright 2011 The Jerusalem Post)

NSW:Firies testing gets O'Farrell's support

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2011
NSW:Firies testing gets O'Farrell's support

NSW Premier BARRY O'FARRELL has given his tentative support for plans to random drug
test firefighters, saying he backs any moves to improve public services.

The Fire Brigade Employees' Union has lashed out at a Fire and Rescue NSW draft policy
for alcohol and drug testing of the state's seven thousand firefighters, saying it'll
be an invasion of privacy and a waste of money.

But Mr O'FARRELL says he'll always back those who seek to get better outcomes from
our public services.

AAP RTV ab/tr/wf

KEYWORD: FIREFIGHTERS (SYDNEY)

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vanguard Natural Resources Schedules Release of 4Q and Year-End 2010 Earnings

Wireless News
02-18-2011
Vanguard Natural Resources Schedules Release of 4Q and Year-End 2010 Earnings
Type: News

Vanguard Natural Resources announced it will release its fourth quarter and year-end 2010 financial results and outlook for 2011 before the market opens on Tuesday, March 1.

According to a release, in conjunction with the release, Vanguard has scheduled a conference call that will be broadcast live over the Internet on Tuesday, March 1, starting at 11 a.m. Eastern Time (10 a.m. Central). Prepared remarks by Scott Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Richard Robert, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will be followed by a question and answer period.
Live via phone by dialing 1-877-941-8632 or 480-629-9820, for international callers, and ask for the Vanguard Natural Resources call a few minutes prior to the start time. Investors may also listen to the conference call live on the Vanguard corporate website, vnrllc.com. The webcast can be accessed from the investor relations' tab on the home page.

For those unable to listen to the live call, a replay will be available through April 1, by calling 303-590-3030 using pass code 4407127#. Also, an archive of the webcast will be available shortly after the call on the investor relations portion of the company's website for approximately 30 days.

Vanguard Natural Resources is a focused on the acquisition, production and development of oil and natural gas properties.

((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

Copyright 2011 Close-Up Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
n/a

SOC:Gillard 'on edge of seat' over WC=2

AAP General News (Australia)
12-02-2010
SOC:Gillard 'on edge of seat' over WC=2

Ms Gillard later autographed a soccer ball after playing with children at Redcliffe's
Peninsula Power soccer club.

She said the World Cup bid team was "cautiously optimistic" about Australia's chances.

Club president Craig Feuerriegel promised to display the ball on Friday when the result
was announced.

AAP jmm/pjo/sb/was

KEYWORD: WC22 GILLARD 2 REDCLIFFE (REOPENS)

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

Qld: Female pedestrian hit by vehicle dies

AAP General News (Australia)
04-27-2010
Qld: Female pedestrian hit by vehicle dies

BRISBANE, April 27 AAP - A female pedestrian has died after being struck by a vehicle
south-east of Brisbane.

A Department of Community Safety spokeswoman said the accident happened near the corner
of Finucane and McDonald roads in Alexandra Hills about 5.10am (AEST) on Tuesday.

She said emergency crews performed CPR on the woman but she died at the scene.

Police are investigating and are advising motorists to expect traffic delays.

AAP djb/rs

KEYWORD: TOLL QLD

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

NSW: Police hope Operation Unite sends a strong message

AAP General News (Australia)
12-13-2009
NSW: Police hope Operation Unite sends a strong message

New South Wales police hope the arrest of 640 people in a two-day crackdown on alcohol-related
violence and other crime .. sparks community debate.

Deputy Commissioner DAVE OWENS says he's disappointed at the high numbers .. despite
police warnings in the lead-up to the nationwide blitz called Operation Unite.

But he says he knows 640 people who have now got the message that drink driving ..

assault and anti-social behaviour is unacceptable .. and he hopes it'll get others talking
too.

More than 14 hundred extra police were put on NSW streets for the operation that resulted
in 640 arrests .. more than a thousand charges laid .. and 374 people caught drink driving.

Police Minister MICHAEL DALEY says there aren't enough resources to repeat the operation
every weekend but he hopes people hear the message that it's okay to go out .. have a
few drinks and a great time .. but not to get smashed and behave like a moron on your
way home.

AAP RTV sg/jmt

KEYWORD: BLITZ NSW (SYDNEY)

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

Fed: Terrorism "alive and well": Brumby

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-2009
Fed: Terrorism "alive and well": Brumby

MELBOURNE, Aug 3 AAP - The foiled terrorist attack allegedly planned on Australian
soil shows terrorism is alive and well, Victorian Premier John Brumby says.

Mr Brumby said he was briefed on the covert police operation just over a week ago and
congratulated police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland on Tuesday on an "extremely well-coordinated
effort".

"Regrettably, on the briefings I had, it shows that terrorism activity is alive and
well across the world," Mr Brumby told reporters in Melbourne.

"The fact that this (police) effort was so well coordinated today, I think has ensured
that our state and our nation will be safe from terrorism activity."

Mr Brumby stressed that the terrorist threat was borne of extremists and did not reflect
on any particular ethnic communities.

"This has been a very well-conducted and carefully-planned operation," he said.

"It is ongoing but what police would assert was, obviously, (that it was) a well-coordinated
threat to our nation. A threat to army bases has been averted and there is no cause for
concern by Victorian or Australian citizens."

AAP cmb/pmu/cdh

KEYWORD: TERROR VIC BRUMBY

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

NSW: Convicted Westpoint promoter loses appeal but avoids jail

AAP General News (Australia)
02-10-2009
NSW: Convicted Westpoint promoter loses appeal but avoids jail

SYDNEY, Feb 10 AAP - A former promoter of the failed Westpoint property group has lost
an appeal to have his conviction overturned, but will not serve any jail time because
the NSW Supreme Court has also dismissed an appeal by the crown.

Neil Austin Burnard, 47, from Mosman in Sydney's north, was found guilty in May last
year of nine charges, resulting from an Australian Securities and Investments Commission
(ASIC) probe into Westpoint's collapse.

During the court case, it emerged that Burnard told self-funded retirees he was a director
of the non-existent "Kebbel Investment Bank".

The charges related to six investors who handed over a total of almost $1.2 million,
much of which was lost in the collapse of the property group.

In August last year Burnard was given a 12-month good behaviour bond and fined $50,000.

He appealed the conviction in the Supreme Court and ASIC called on the Commonwealth
Director of Public Prosecutions to appeal against the leniency of the sentence.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday handed down its decision, dismissing both appeals.

AAP vpm/pbc/wjf/maur

KEYWORD: BURNARD

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

VIC: Main stories in today's Melbourne newspapers =2

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2008
VIC: Main stories in today's Melbourne newspapers =2

THE HERALD SUN

Page 1: Australian walker Jared Tallent strides into history as first Australian man
in 102 years to win multiple athletic medals at the same Olympic Games.

Page 3: Boeing to slash 300 jobs from its Melbourne plant by the end of the year.

Page 4: Four men who bashed a Sudanese youth unconscious walk free from court. Victoria's
ski season extended into October as bumper snow season continues.

Page 5: Sydney community angry as wildlife authorities euthanase baby whale.

World: Barak Obama and John McCain about to enter final stages of endurance race for
next US president.

Finance: ANZ purges executives as a review reveals the bank's board did not know of
its exposure to Opes Prime.

Sport: St Kilda goalsneak Stephen Milne in miracle recovery to line up for game against
Adelaide tomorrow.

AAP jxt/srp

KEYWORD: MONITOR FRONTERS VIC 2 MELBOURNE

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

Vic: Car believed to be gangland lawyer's burns

AAP General News (Australia)
04-17-2008
Vic: Car believed to be gangland lawyer's burns

MELBOURNE, April 17 AAP - A luxury car reportedly owned by prominent Melbourne gangland
lawyer Nicola Gobbo has been destroyed in a suspicious fire.

Firefighters were called to a hotel on the corner of York and Clarendon streets in
South Melbourne where a BMW convertible was on fire shortly after 9pm (AEST) yesterday.

Metropolitan Fire Brigade spokeswoman Heather Stockton said the owner of the car was
not at the scene of the fire.

"Police attended because the circumstances were considered suspicious and an amount
of cash was found and police needed to be advised," she said.

Detectives from the South Melbourne criminal investigation unit were investigating
how the fire was started including whether the car was firebombed.

Ms Gobbo's underworld clients include crime boss Tony Mokbel and gangland killers Carl
Williams and Nicholas Ibrahim, crime boss Lewis Moran and Mokbel's wife Danielle McGuire.

Victoria Police spokesman Senior Constable David Fitzgerald confirmed the fire but
not who owned the car.

However, News Ltd said in an online report it was owned by Ms Gobbo.

She could not be immediately contacted for comment.

AAP gr/gfr/apm/mn

KEYWORD: CAR

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

Events Diary for Thursday, December 13, 2007

AAP General News (Australia)
12-13-2007
Events Diary for Thursday, December 13, 2007
EVENTS LISTED IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER AND LOCAL TIME UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED:

ADELAIDE

BRISBANE
- No items listed.

CANBERRA
1000 - Media preview of Max Dupain On Assignment exhibition, National Archives of Australia,
Queen Victoria Terrace, Parkes, ACT. Contact: Elizabeth Masters 02 6212 3957 or 0427 853
664.

1100 - Media preview cartoonist exhibition Behind the Lines:The Year's Best Cartoons,
National Museum of Australia, Acton Peninsula, ACT. Contact: Dennis Grant 02 6208 5351
or 0409 916 481.

1100 - Memorial service for journalist Matt Price, Great Hall, Parliament House. Speakers
include Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

DARWIN
- No items listed.

HOBART
- No items listed.

MELBOURNE
0600-1500 - Southbank to be transformed into a `lunch lawn', as part of Spring Valley
JuiceSpa campaign to entice office workers to take a break. Southbank (at base of footbridge).

Contact: Stephanie Keane 03 8420 6000, 0418 137 699.
0900 - Minister for Trade and Industry Theo Theophanous, Tim Anderson (general manager
Avalon Airport) and Alan Joyce (ceo Jetstar) to launch Avalon Airport's domestic terminal
and announcement by Jetstar. Jetstar check in, Avalon Airport. Contact: Robyn Brown 03
9670 8350, 0408 100 929 or Simone Pregellio 03 8628 3529, 0418 981 470.

1000 - Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service's (AQIS) retirement party for three
detector dogs. AQIS Melbourne Airport Office. Contact: Michael Scammell 03 8318 6729,
0408 467 357. Website: www.agis.gov.au
1030 - Launch of City of Melbourne's strategy for Docklands: Delivering for Docklands
(2007-2010). Melbourne Yacht Club Hotel, Waterfront City, 439 Docklands Drive, Docklands
(Melway 2E D4). Contact: Tamara Hain 03 9658 9913, 0407 092 373.

1100 - Media conference with Radhika Coomaraswamy, United Nation's Special Representative
of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, who will be delivering Human
Rights lecture. Conference Centre, Level 10 Boardroom, Melbourne Law School; 1800-1900
- Radhika Coomaraswamy to deliver Human Rights Lecture on protection of women and children
in armed conflict. University of Melbourne, Carrillo Gantner Theatre, Sidney Myer Asia
Centre. Contact: 0402 460 147.

1530 - The Royal Society of Victoria to unveil painting of Australian Antaractic explorer
Dr Phillip Garth Law, painted by Russian Master Vladimir Sobelev. Phillip Garth Room,
Royal Society Victoria, 9 Victoria Street, Melbourne. Contact: Janene Blanchfield Brown
0423 567 779, 5678 0683. Website: www.VladimirSobolev.com
1800 - City of Port Phillip statutory planning committee to consider reports on changes
to St Kilda triangle development. St Kilda Town Hall, cnr Brighton Road and Carlisle Street.

Contact: Jason Cameron 0419 317 000. Website: www.portphillip.vic.gov.au

PERTH
- No items listed.

SYDNEY
0930 - The Summer Blood Challenge Media Launch, NSW Police vs Motorcyclists. NSW Police
Commissioner Andrew Scipione to attend. Elizabeth St Donor Centre, 20 Elizabeth St, Sydney.

Contact: Daniel Cutlack 9229 4039 or 0424 441 386.

1015 - Launch of a new touring route in NSW, The Greater Blue Mountains Drive. Glenbrook
Visitor Information Centre, Great Western Hwy, Glenbrook. Contact: Kate Bromley 9489 9783.

1100 - Media conference launching 'Flight Closed' report into how airlines discriminate
against people with disabilities. T2 Function Centre, Sydney Airport. Contact: Mark Warren
0414 617 806
1100 - NSW Fire Brigades Station officers graduation. NSW Fire Brigade state training
college, 189 Wyndham Street, Alexandria. Contact: Craig Brierley 0417 293 852 or Samantha
Kelliher 0408 962 957.

1230 - NRMA head of roadside assistance operations Gary Campbell to present cheque and
100 pairs of safety overalls to handbrake turn manager Ed McCarthy. Hand Brake Turn, 10
Dignity Crescent, West Gosford. contact: Kimberley Rigby 0439 133 092.

1600 - Ergonomic Interest Group of Australia AGM. UTS. Contact: AUZspec 1800 287 374.

1700 - Sex workers and supporters protest brothel closure laws. Local Government and Shires'
Association, 28 Margaret St, Sydney. Contact: Janelle Fawkes 0411 985 135.

1730 - Public lecture on the disappearance of industrial memories, given by Associate
Professor Lucy Taksa. Annie Wyatt room, National Trust Centre, Watson Road, Observatory
Hill. Contact: Mara Barnes 9258 0161.

1730 - Networking women in finance forum. Shangri-La Hotel, The Rocks, Sydney. Contact:
Jared Reed 9385 6174 or 0408 293 282.

1730 - Manly Council Christmas Choral Spectacular. Manly Oval. Contact: Chris Parsons 9976 1510.

SPORT
CRICKET - Pura Cup - to December 13
TAS v VIC, Bellerive Oval
ATHLETICS - Zatopek Track & Field Classic -
Olympic Park, Melbourne
GOLF - PGA Tour - Australian Open C'ship - to December 16
Australian Golf Club, Sydney
BOWLING - Trans Tasman test series - to December 13
Christchurch, NZ
TABLE TENNIS - Olympic test event - to December 19
ITTF Pro-Tour Grand Finals, Peking University Gymnasium, China
GALLOPS -
Wagga
Bendigo
Geraldton
New Zealand
Sth Africa
TROTS -
Geelong
Gold Coast
Ballarat
GREYHOUNDS -
Dapto
Sandown
Albion Park
Angle Park
Bendigo
Maitland
Mandurah
Hobart
New Zealand

AAP RTV nap/it/wz/crh

KEYWORD: DIARY EVENTS THURSDAY DECEMBER 13, 2007

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

Fed: Billson says macho culture may stop soldiers seeking help

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2007
Fed: Billson says macho culture may stop soldiers seeking help

Veterans Affairs Minister BRUCE BILLSON has defended the government's support services
for returning soldiers.

He's told ABC radio a macho defence culture and a stigma about seeking help could be
preventing some personnel from getting the counselling they need.

But Mr BILLSON's urged serving and former soldiers to take full advantage of the services
on offer for combat stress.

His comments follow the Australian Medical Association's call for more to be done to
help soldiers deal with the emotional fallout from being in war zones.

Two soldiers have reportedly killed themselves after returning from the Middle East
.. while dozens more have been medically discharged due to mental illness.

AAP RTV mb/wf/jmt

KEYWORD: STRESS BILLSON (CANBERRA)

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

Fed: Saddam should not have been executed: Rudd

AAP General News (Australia)
12-30-2006
Fed: Saddam should not have been executed: Rudd

KEVIN RUDD says former Iraqi dictator SADDAM HUSSEIN deserved severe punishment for
his crimes against humanity .. but not the death penalty.

The ousted Iraqi president was executed in Baghdad today.

The execution came just four days after an Iraqi court upheld the death sentence handed
down after SADDAM was convicted for the 1982 massacre in the Iraqi city of Dujail.

The Labor leader says the former dictator had committed mass murder and deserved appropriate
punishment .. but he doubts whether his death will have any impact on the unrest in Iraq.

AAP RTV kc/crh

KEYWORD: IRAQ SADDAM RUDD (CANBERRA)

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Hopes high for Ajax deal to avert car stand-downs 2

AAP General News (Australia)
08-22-2006
Fed: Hopes high for Ajax deal to avert car stand-downs 2

Mitsubishi is the latest company to join the rescue package.

It buys only one part directly from Ajax .. but is supplied with brake components by
PBR for the Mitsubishi 380 sedans built at its Tonsley Park plant in Adelaide's south.

Mitsubishi says it has a couple of weeks of parts in stock.

AAP RTV jrd/gfr/bart

KEYWORD: AJAX MELB (REOPENS)

) 2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Federal govt opposes adult internet domain

AAP General News (Australia)
04-15-2006
Fed: Federal govt opposes adult internet domain

SYDNEY, April 15 AAP - The federal government has written to the international internet
domain name body to protest against moves by a United States company to establish the
adult content domain .xxx.

A Florida-based company has applied to set up the .xxx internet address, saying it
would make it easier to identify and block adult sites, which may currently use .com or
.net.

But Communications Minister Helen Coonan opposes the idea, saying it will increase
the availability of pornography while offering no new protection for children, Fairfax
newspapers reported today.

The government was also concerned .xxx could become a money-making scheme - with prominent
people having to buy their own names to prevent them becoming the names of adult sites.

Senator Coonan has written to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
asking for it to delay its decision on .xxx until there was better evidence of its benefits.

"I am yet to be convinced that there are any real benefits from the creation of this
domain that would outweigh the risk of legitimising this offensive material," Senator
Coonan told Fairfax.

AAP nr/lb

KEYWORD: DOMAIN

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.