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)
--Unions have secured changes to recommended national workplace safety laws that will allow better protection to employee representatives and prevent companies objecting against entry permits for union officials. Other changes that were settled at a private meeting last month between employers, unions, and politicians who are drafting the new laws, will compel employers to provide employees leave to attend safety training courses of their choice, which may be organised by unions. Page 1.
--Marginal electorates and federal Labor seats that were successful in 2007 have profited disproportionately from the A$550 million community infrastructure program provided by the Rudd government. Analysts report that in New South Wales, the government provided three times more money to Labor seats, with the biggest winners being the Labor party marginal seats of Bennelong and Eden Monaro. This pattern has been repeated across the rest of the country in Western Australia, Queensland and Victoria. Page 1.
--Superannuation funds are requesting companies to provide the capital markets with records on a broader scope of their activities, including their performance in the environment, which they believe will lead to increased share prices in the long term. VicSuper chief executive Bob Welsh advised that companies needed to report more regularly on non-financial matters. Cbus chief executive David Atkin said that superannuation funds have requested fund managers to report on matters such as how climate change impacts on their decisions. Page 1.
--Australian job vacancies increased for the first time in 18 months, as employers become more confident amid expectations of a rise in production and sales. Job advertisements evaluated by the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group increased 4.1 per cent this month, the first time it has improved since April 2008. However, demand for workers remains weak, with the expected loss of jobs predicted to be around 15,000 for the month, which will push the Australian unemployment rate to 5.9 per cent. Page 3.
THE AUSTRALIAN (www.theaustralian.news.com.au)
--The Australian Federal Government is receiving pressure to provide alternatives for young women who want medical check ups for breast cancer, but are soon to be excluded from Australia's free mammogram service. Analysts reported yesterday that BreastScreen Australia no longer wanted to accept women under the age of 45 or over the age of 75. An evaluation report proposes that federal and state governments which manage the program focus more on a target group where more lives can be saved. Page 1.
--Tony Negus, the Australian Federal Police's (AFP) newest commissioner, yesterday said that fighting organised crime will require better co-operation between Australia's state and federal security agencies, and also closer relations with law enforcement partners internationally. He further reported that serious organised crime and the threat of terrorism would continue to be the main focus of the AFP. Analysts say that organised crime costs Australians around A$15 billion each year. Page 2.
--Former New South Wales health minister John Della Bosca was prevented from entering his former ministerial office yesterday by armed guards, as he attempted to retrieve his belongings. Mr Della Bosca's 14 ministerial staff also discovered that their security passes were no longer in use when they arrived at work.
They were stopped by guards despite being made aware that they could have access to their work stations until the end of this week. One staff member described the experience as 'totally disgraceful and demeaning.' Page 2.
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD (www.smh.com.au)
--The New South Wales (NSW) Government has rejected a proposal from the Federal Government which would require the state to spend more than A$1.4 billion on a public health crisis before it was entitled to assistance from Federal Government.
NSW Treasurer Eric Roozendaal last week ignored a 48-hour deadline for agreeing to the proposal, instead putting the state's refusal in writing, saying the proposed thresholds for assistance 'will place considerable economic strain on the states and territories.' Page 1.
--The Federal Government is being called on to reform oversight of medical devices. The Australian Orthopaedic Association says the current regulatory system is not strong enough, and relies on 'companies reporting faults in their own products.' The Consumers Health Forum of Australia says patients could be at risk if 'adverse reactions are not systematically followed up.' The calls come as it has emerged that a medical device company flew surgeons and health executives to Germany and gave them tickets to the football World Cup in 2006. Page 1.
--University of Sydney Students Representative Council president Noah White is suspicious that the university's move to become a 'world-leading research centre' will result in indiscriminate job cuts and the closure of expensive courses.
Vice-Chancellor Michael Spence announced on Monday that reducing the student intake was a possibility, and the need to make the university a research centre meant all options have to be considered. Students fear that reforms will see more than 10 percent of the current 48,000 students cut from admission. Page 3.
--Louise Adler, chief executive of Melbourne University Press, has told Prime Minister Kevin Rudd that any move to take away import restrictions will see good quality books lose to 'teenage vampire novels.' 'Customers choice will be determined by the biggest players with big buying power if the neo-liberals and economic fundamentalists of the Productivity Commission win out,' said Ms Adler. Federal cabinet is divided on the issue, but the Coalition is inclined to support the commission's recommendation. Page 3.
THE AGE (www.theage.com.au)
--The Victorian State Government agreed to provide Crown Casino 150 extra gaming tables without assessing how it may impact problem gambling and how it would benefit taxpayers.
Several months after the agreement was struck, the Government is now being forced to ask Victoria's gambling authority to consider the social and economic impact of its decision, in order for the deal to get through Parliament. Executive Commissioner Peter Cohen advised that he was asked to conduct a social and economic impact study. Page 1.
--Senior Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) officers assessed the fire that destroyed Marysville and other towns in Victoria to have 'significant potential' between 3pm and 4pm on Black Saturday, just hours before 34 people were killed in Marysville. Alen Slijepcevic, DSE's second-top fire officer at the state's emergency co-ordination centre on Black Saturday, advised to the Bushfires Royal Commission that this view was adopted because the fire had 'escaped initial attack and was moving into the Black Range.' Page 2.
--Victorian taxpayers will pay an A$11 billion infrastructure bill for Melbourne's urban expansion, a state parliamentary committee has been advised. Planning Minister Justin Madden reports that the growth areas tax, of up to A$95,000 a hectare, will raise A$2 billion in the next 20 years. However, Peter Seamer, the chief executive of Victoria's Growth Areas Authority, said that this would only cover 15 per cent of the cost of providing the infrastructure. Mr Seamer said that the other 85 per cent would presumably be paid by taxpayers. Page 4.
--Jimmy Barnes became the most successful local artist in the chart history of Australia when his new album The Rhythm and the Blues became his ninth No. 1 solo album. Mr Barnes was previously tied on eight No. 1 solo albums with John Farnham, who recently came out of retirement. If Barnes' two No. 1 Cold Chisel albums are included, he now shares the overall lead with U2 for most No. 1 albums. His new album follows the roots of rock from the late 1940s through to the 1960s. Page 3.
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)
--Unions have secured changes to recommended national workplace safety laws that will allow better protection to employee representatives and prevent companies objecting against entry permits for union officials. Other changes that were settled at a private meeting last month between employers, unions, and politicians who are drafting the new laws, will compel employers to provide employees leave to attend safety training courses of their choice, which may be organised by unions. Page 1.
--Marginal electorates and federal Labor seats that were successful in 2007 have profited disproportionately from the A$550 million community infrastructure program provided by the Rudd government. Analysts report that in New South Wales, the government provided three times more money to Labor seats, with the biggest winners being the Labor party marginal seats of Bennelong and Eden Monaro. This pattern has been repeated across the rest of the country in Western Australia, Queensland and Victoria. Page 1.
--Superannuation funds are requesting companies to provide the capital markets with records on a broader scope of their activities, including their performance in the environment, which they believe will lead to increased share prices in the long term. VicSuper chief executive Bob Welsh advised that companies needed to report more regularly on non-financial matters. Cbus chief executive David Atkin said that superannuation funds have requested fund managers to report on matters such as how climate change impacts on their decisions. Page 1.
--Australian job vacancies increased for the first time in 18 months, as employers become more confident amid expectations of a rise in production and sales. Job advertisements evaluated by the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group increased 4.1 per cent this month, the first time it has improved since April 2008. However, demand for workers remains weak, with the expected loss of jobs predicted to be around 15,000 for the month, which will push the Australian unemployment rate to 5.9 per cent. Page 3.
THE AUSTRALIAN (www.theaustralian.news.com.au)
--The Australian Federal Government is receiving pressure to provide alternatives for young women who want medical check ups for breast cancer, but are soon to be excluded from Australia's free mammogram service. Analysts reported yesterday that BreastScreen Australia no longer wanted to accept women under the age of 45 or over the age of 75. An evaluation report proposes that federal and state governments which manage the program focus more on a target group where more lives can be saved. Page 1.
--Tony Negus, the Australian Federal Police's (AFP) newest commissioner, yesterday said that fighting organised crime will require better co-operation between Australia's state and federal security agencies, and also closer relations with law enforcement partners internationally. He further reported that serious organised crime and the threat of terrorism would continue to be the main focus of the AFP. Analysts say that organised crime costs Australians around A$15 billion each year. Page 2.
--Former New South Wales health minister John Della Bosca was prevented from entering his former ministerial office yesterday by armed guards, as he attempted to retrieve his belongings. Mr Della Bosca's 14 ministerial staff also discovered that their security passes were no longer in use when they arrived at work.
They were stopped by guards despite being made aware that they could have access to their work stations until the end of this week. One staff member described the experience as 'totally disgraceful and demeaning.' Page 2.
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD (www.smh.com.au)
--The New South Wales (NSW) Government has rejected a proposal from the Federal Government which would require the state to spend more than A$1.4 billion on a public health crisis before it was entitled to assistance from Federal Government.
NSW Treasurer Eric Roozendaal last week ignored a 48-hour deadline for agreeing to the proposal, instead putting the state's refusal in writing, saying the proposed thresholds for assistance 'will place considerable economic strain on the states and territories.' Page 1.
--The Federal Government is being called on to reform oversight of medical devices. The Australian Orthopaedic Association says the current regulatory system is not strong enough, and relies on 'companies reporting faults in their own products.' The Consumers Health Forum of Australia says patients could be at risk if 'adverse reactions are not systematically followed up.' The calls come as it has emerged that a medical device company flew surgeons and health executives to Germany and gave them tickets to the football World Cup in 2006. Page 1.
--University of Sydney Students Representative Council president Noah White is suspicious that the university's move to become a 'world-leading research centre' will result in indiscriminate job cuts and the closure of expensive courses.
Vice-Chancellor Michael Spence announced on Monday that reducing the student intake was a possibility, and the need to make the university a research centre meant all options have to be considered. Students fear that reforms will see more than 10 percent of the current 48,000 students cut from admission. Page 3.
--Louise Adler, chief executive of Melbourne University Press, has told Prime Minister Kevin Rudd that any move to take away import restrictions will see good quality books lose to 'teenage vampire novels.' 'Customers choice will be determined by the biggest players with big buying power if the neo-liberals and economic fundamentalists of the Productivity Commission win out,' said Ms Adler. Federal cabinet is divided on the issue, but the Coalition is inclined to support the commission's recommendation. Page 3.
THE AGE (www.theage.com.au)
--The Victorian State Government agreed to provide Crown Casino 150 extra gaming tables without assessing how it may impact problem gambling and how it would benefit taxpayers.
Several months after the agreement was struck, the Government is now being forced to ask Victoria's gambling authority to consider the social and economic impact of its decision, in order for the deal to get through Parliament. Executive Commissioner Peter Cohen advised that he was asked to conduct a social and economic impact study. Page 1.
--Senior Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) officers assessed the fire that destroyed Marysville and other towns in Victoria to have 'significant potential' between 3pm and 4pm on Black Saturday, just hours before 34 people were killed in Marysville. Alen Slijepcevic, DSE's second-top fire officer at the state's emergency co-ordination centre on Black Saturday, advised to the Bushfires Royal Commission that this view was adopted because the fire had 'escaped initial attack and was moving into the Black Range.' Page 2.
--Victorian taxpayers will pay an A$11 billion infrastructure bill for Melbourne's urban expansion, a state parliamentary committee has been advised. Planning Minister Justin Madden reports that the growth areas tax, of up to A$95,000 a hectare, will raise A$2 billion in the next 20 years. However, Peter Seamer, the chief executive of Victoria's Growth Areas Authority, said that this would only cover 15 per cent of the cost of providing the infrastructure. Mr Seamer said that the other 85 per cent would presumably be paid by taxpayers. Page 4.
--Jimmy Barnes became the most successful local artist in the chart history of Australia when his new album The Rhythm and the Blues became his ninth No. 1 solo album. Mr Barnes was previously tied on eight No. 1 solo albums with John Farnham, who recently came out of retirement. If Barnes' two No. 1 Cold Chisel albums are included, he now shares the overall lead with U2 for most No. 1 albums. His new album follows the roots of rock from the late 1940s through to the 1960s. Page 3.
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.