Compiled for Reuters by Media Monitors. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
THE AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW (www.afr.com)
The Rudd Government will attempt to shore up support in the Senate for its industrial work place reforms. Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard is set to meet today with Greens senators, Family First senator Steve Fielding and South Australian independent Nick Xenophon, in an effort to secure passage of its Fair Work Bill which is scheduled to begin on July 1. Ms Gillard has previously maintained that she will only accept 'technical amendments' to the workplace reforms. Page 1.
The chief executives of some of Australia's biggest companies are due to meet this week at financial services company Citigroup's conference in London. The 38 companies and 230 investors expected to attend will want to 'make a judgement call about how Australia stacks up relative to other markets in the region' says Citigroup's Edward Delany. The chief executives of conglomerate Wesfarmers, airline Qantas Airways and oil and gas producer Woodside Petroleum are among those due to attend today and tomorrow. Page 1.
The Rudd Government has signalled it will close a loop hole that allows investors to shield their stake in a company using derivatives, following concerns by the Federal Treasury of market manipulation. Corporate Law Minister Nick Sherry is looking at amending the Corporations Act to extend the disclosure laws to include equity swaps, contracts for difference and debt instruments. 'There is an urgent need for the Corporations Act to be amended,' says Ian Matheson, chief executive of the Australasian Investor Relations Association. Page 3.
Bakery franchise Bakers Delight is considering hiring more apprentices than initially planned after receiving 6000 applications in four weeks. Bakers Delight was 'performing well' despite the current economic downturn, according to general manager Chris Caldwell, saying 'our business model is a bit more resilient to the economic cycle.' The bread making business is also preparing to launch an advertising campaign aimed at encouraging people to pack their own lunch as a way of saving money. Page 3.
THE AUSTRALIAN (www.theaustralian.news.com.au)
The Australian Defence Department is to review the rules of engagement for Australian troops serving in Afghanistan following the deaths of five children in a recent covert operation against the Taliban. An investigation into the deaths of the children, which occurred during a firefight in a village near the provincial capital of Tarin Kowt on February 12, is already underway. However, Federal Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said on the weekend that he 'has no reason to doubt' that the troops were operating 'in conformity with international law.' Page 1.
The numbers of apprentices being taken on in Western Australia (WA) has almost halved, according to figures released yesterday by the WA Government. Only 365 apprentices started in the trades of metals, manufacturing and service areas in January, compared with 638 in the corresponding period last year. Overall almost 900 fewer apprentices started in January. 'We don't want to undo all the good work from during the boom time,' Group Training Australia's Iain McDougall said. Page 2.
Queensland's central coast was lashed by winds of up to 260 kilometres per hour from Cyclone Hamish yesterday. The Bureau of Meteorology's Jim Davidson has warned that Hamish, despite being downgraded to a category four from the highest level of category five, is the type that is often the most destructive. Yesterday, 1000 campers on Fraser Island were evacuated as the island appeared it might be one of the worst places affected, with the coastline between Yeppoon and Gladstone facing a possible storm tide and destructive waves. Page 1.
Human rights organisation Amnesty International has criticised the Federal Government over its human rights record. In its briefing to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, Amnesty criticised the Government over its failure to provide compensation to the Stolen Generations, the continued suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act and the ongoing delay in appointing a new indigenous body. However, the report praised Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's apology to indigenous Australians and new laws removing discrimination against same-sex couples. Page 4.
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD (www.smh.com.au)
Australian National Rugby League star Brett Stewart is to be kept on by his club, the Manly Sea Eagles, while the police investigate him over an alleged sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl. The club's chief executive, Grant Mayer, has denied the allegation, while scientific results from the police investigation are not due until the end of this week. The girl's father, who found his daughter with Stewart outside their Manly home on Friday night, says the family are planning to relocate over fears of retaliation from the club's supporters. Page 1.
Australian Governor-General Quentin Bryce's upcoming tour of Africa has been described as 'absolutely essential' by the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Stephen Smith. Ms Bryce is to visit nine countries over 19 days in an effort to promote AustraliaÂ’s bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council. Mr Smith yesterday sought to defend claims from the Opposition that the Governor-GeneralÂ’s role was becoming too politicised, saying 'we have to engage for very good economic, political, foreign policy and strategic reasons.' Page 2.
The Federal Opposition has called for a public inquiry into the Department of Corrective Services following concerns of a cover-up over a number of prison inmate deaths. Former Corrective Services investigator William Beale last week said that his reports into the deaths of indigenous inmate Adam Shipley and 'Granny Killer' John Wayne Glover, who both hanged themselves, were altered by the investigations branch director, John Crawford. However, Mr Crawford maintained that he had found Mr Beale's reports 'unbalanced with self-opinion.' Page 3.
Australian employees at workplaces affected by mass redundancies are substantially less motivated, according to a new study by international recruiting agency Drake. The survey of 6300 employees found that 40 percent of workers were less motivated following staff culls, while productivity also slumped in 80 percent of workplaces hit by mass sackings. 'Staff motivation and productivity are clearly related,' says study author David Edwards. Page 7.
THE AGE (www.theage.com.au)
Rail operator Connex has admitted that Melbourne's existing city rail network could handle over twice the number of trains it currently runs. Documents produced in 2006 indicate that the City Loop is designed to handle 240 trains during the rush hour, against the current rate of 100. The revelation contradicts last weekÂ’s comments by Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky, who said that 'we don't have the capacity for the expansion of a lot of extra services.' Page 1.
Melbourne's proposed A$3.1 billion desalination plant is facing a funding shortfall of between A$1 billion and A$2 billion due to the global credit crisis, according to banking sources. The two French company-backed consortiums competing for the contract, Bass Water and Aquasure, have said that they have not yet secured the funds necessary to construct the plant to be built at Williamsons Beach near Wonthaggi. However, Victorian Government spokesman Matt Nurse maintained yesterday that the project 'is on track.' Page 1.
Infamous Victorian child killer Derek Ernest Percy is to be called to give evidence at an inquest into the murder of a seven-year-old girl who was last seen 41 years ago. Percy has been linked to the case of Linda Stilwell, who went missing from the St Kilda foreshore in 1968, following a two-year police investigation which named him as a suspect in the cases of nine children that were murdered or went missing. 'The inquest will be important for our family as it will be the only closure we will get,' says Linda Stillwell's brother, Gary. Page 3.
Residents of the bushfire-ravaged town of Victoria's Marysville will have to wait at least two weeks before they can return to their community. Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe said yesterday that the search for victims' remains at Marysville would take a number of weeks to conclude. The victim identification teams were aiming to be finished by March 20, according to Senior Constable Marty Beveridge, with 45 people confirmed dead in the bushfires that destroyed the town. Page 4.
Keywords: DIGEST AUSTRALIA GENERAL (Sydney Newsroom +61-2 9373 1800; sydney.newsroom@reuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
THE AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW (www.afr.com)
The Rudd Government will attempt to shore up support in the Senate for its industrial work place reforms. Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard is set to meet today with Greens senators, Family First senator Steve Fielding and South Australian independent Nick Xenophon, in an effort to secure passage of its Fair Work Bill which is scheduled to begin on July 1. Ms Gillard has previously maintained that she will only accept 'technical amendments' to the workplace reforms. Page 1.
The chief executives of some of Australia's biggest companies are due to meet this week at financial services company Citigroup's conference in London. The 38 companies and 230 investors expected to attend will want to 'make a judgement call about how Australia stacks up relative to other markets in the region' says Citigroup's Edward Delany. The chief executives of conglomerate Wesfarmers, airline Qantas Airways and oil and gas producer Woodside Petroleum are among those due to attend today and tomorrow. Page 1.
The Rudd Government has signalled it will close a loop hole that allows investors to shield their stake in a company using derivatives, following concerns by the Federal Treasury of market manipulation. Corporate Law Minister Nick Sherry is looking at amending the Corporations Act to extend the disclosure laws to include equity swaps, contracts for difference and debt instruments. 'There is an urgent need for the Corporations Act to be amended,' says Ian Matheson, chief executive of the Australasian Investor Relations Association. Page 3.
Bakery franchise Bakers Delight is considering hiring more apprentices than initially planned after receiving 6000 applications in four weeks. Bakers Delight was 'performing well' despite the current economic downturn, according to general manager Chris Caldwell, saying 'our business model is a bit more resilient to the economic cycle.' The bread making business is also preparing to launch an advertising campaign aimed at encouraging people to pack their own lunch as a way of saving money. Page 3.
THE AUSTRALIAN (www.theaustralian.news.com.au)
The Australian Defence Department is to review the rules of engagement for Australian troops serving in Afghanistan following the deaths of five children in a recent covert operation against the Taliban. An investigation into the deaths of the children, which occurred during a firefight in a village near the provincial capital of Tarin Kowt on February 12, is already underway. However, Federal Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said on the weekend that he 'has no reason to doubt' that the troops were operating 'in conformity with international law.' Page 1.
The numbers of apprentices being taken on in Western Australia (WA) has almost halved, according to figures released yesterday by the WA Government. Only 365 apprentices started in the trades of metals, manufacturing and service areas in January, compared with 638 in the corresponding period last year. Overall almost 900 fewer apprentices started in January. 'We don't want to undo all the good work from during the boom time,' Group Training Australia's Iain McDougall said. Page 2.
Queensland's central coast was lashed by winds of up to 260 kilometres per hour from Cyclone Hamish yesterday. The Bureau of Meteorology's Jim Davidson has warned that Hamish, despite being downgraded to a category four from the highest level of category five, is the type that is often the most destructive. Yesterday, 1000 campers on Fraser Island were evacuated as the island appeared it might be one of the worst places affected, with the coastline between Yeppoon and Gladstone facing a possible storm tide and destructive waves. Page 1.
Human rights organisation Amnesty International has criticised the Federal Government over its human rights record. In its briefing to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, Amnesty criticised the Government over its failure to provide compensation to the Stolen Generations, the continued suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act and the ongoing delay in appointing a new indigenous body. However, the report praised Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's apology to indigenous Australians and new laws removing discrimination against same-sex couples. Page 4.
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD (www.smh.com.au)
Australian National Rugby League star Brett Stewart is to be kept on by his club, the Manly Sea Eagles, while the police investigate him over an alleged sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl. The club's chief executive, Grant Mayer, has denied the allegation, while scientific results from the police investigation are not due until the end of this week. The girl's father, who found his daughter with Stewart outside their Manly home on Friday night, says the family are planning to relocate over fears of retaliation from the club's supporters. Page 1.
Australian Governor-General Quentin Bryce's upcoming tour of Africa has been described as 'absolutely essential' by the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Stephen Smith. Ms Bryce is to visit nine countries over 19 days in an effort to promote AustraliaÂ’s bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council. Mr Smith yesterday sought to defend claims from the Opposition that the Governor-GeneralÂ’s role was becoming too politicised, saying 'we have to engage for very good economic, political, foreign policy and strategic reasons.' Page 2.
The Federal Opposition has called for a public inquiry into the Department of Corrective Services following concerns of a cover-up over a number of prison inmate deaths. Former Corrective Services investigator William Beale last week said that his reports into the deaths of indigenous inmate Adam Shipley and 'Granny Killer' John Wayne Glover, who both hanged themselves, were altered by the investigations branch director, John Crawford. However, Mr Crawford maintained that he had found Mr Beale's reports 'unbalanced with self-opinion.' Page 3.
Australian employees at workplaces affected by mass redundancies are substantially less motivated, according to a new study by international recruiting agency Drake. The survey of 6300 employees found that 40 percent of workers were less motivated following staff culls, while productivity also slumped in 80 percent of workplaces hit by mass sackings. 'Staff motivation and productivity are clearly related,' says study author David Edwards. Page 7.
THE AGE (www.theage.com.au)
Rail operator Connex has admitted that Melbourne's existing city rail network could handle over twice the number of trains it currently runs. Documents produced in 2006 indicate that the City Loop is designed to handle 240 trains during the rush hour, against the current rate of 100. The revelation contradicts last weekÂ’s comments by Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky, who said that 'we don't have the capacity for the expansion of a lot of extra services.' Page 1.
Melbourne's proposed A$3.1 billion desalination plant is facing a funding shortfall of between A$1 billion and A$2 billion due to the global credit crisis, according to banking sources. The two French company-backed consortiums competing for the contract, Bass Water and Aquasure, have said that they have not yet secured the funds necessary to construct the plant to be built at Williamsons Beach near Wonthaggi. However, Victorian Government spokesman Matt Nurse maintained yesterday that the project 'is on track.' Page 1.
Infamous Victorian child killer Derek Ernest Percy is to be called to give evidence at an inquest into the murder of a seven-year-old girl who was last seen 41 years ago. Percy has been linked to the case of Linda Stilwell, who went missing from the St Kilda foreshore in 1968, following a two-year police investigation which named him as a suspect in the cases of nine children that were murdered or went missing. 'The inquest will be important for our family as it will be the only closure we will get,' says Linda Stillwell's brother, Gary. Page 3.
Residents of the bushfire-ravaged town of Victoria's Marysville will have to wait at least two weeks before they can return to their community. Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe said yesterday that the search for victims' remains at Marysville would take a number of weeks to conclude. The victim identification teams were aiming to be finished by March 20, according to Senior Constable Marty Beveridge, with 45 people confirmed dead in the bushfires that destroyed the town. Page 4.
Keywords: DIGEST AUSTRALIA GENERAL (Sydney Newsroom +61-2 9373 1800; sydney.newsroom@reuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.