
AAP General News (Australia)
12-13-2010
FED:HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 19:30, Dec 132010
CANBERRA - Australia's central bank chief says banking competition is actually better
now than it was in the mid-1990s as the government moves to tackle the power of big lenders.
(Banking Wrap)
CANBERRA - An elderly man with a walking stick has heckled National Australia Bank
executives at a Senate hearing in Sydney. (Banking Heckler)
SYDNEY - Seconds after a Sydney jury found she had murdered her newborn baby, Keli
Lane screamed "oh no" and collapsed with a thud on the dock floor. (Lane Wrap). See also
Backgrounder and Timeline.
MELBOURNE - Shane Warne says he recently broke up with his ex-wife, amid speculation
of an alleged tryst between the Australian spin bowler and British actress Liz Hurley.
(Warne 2nd Wrap). See also Warne Backgrounder.
SYDNEY - Her every move in Australia has been subject to the most intense scrutiny
imaginable and organised with military-like precision. (Oprah Wrap)
CANBERRA - Economists are concerned that home lending faces a downturn as buyers wait
for the federal government's
new banking laws to be enacted, particularly the abolition
of mortgage exit fees. (Economy Wrap)
CANBERRA - The positives of free trade agreements have been oversold and the way the
deals are done needs to be improved, the Productivity Commission has found. (Trade)
BRISBANE - A convicted killer who lied to police about abducting Daniel Morcombe has
told a court the real kidnapper will reveal his identity this week. (Morcombe Wrap)
PERTH - Finks motorcycle gang members have been found guilty of contempt for refusing
to answer questions about a vicious brawl at the Perth Motorplex, but have been given
an opportunity to reconsider their position. (Finks Wrap)
PERTH - A West Australian officer who tasered Aboriginal man Kevin Spratt 10 times
at Perth Watchhouse has told a corruption hearing that given the choice he would never
carry a Taser again. (Spratt Wrap)
SYDNEY - Large parts of NSW are preparing for more floods as another four areas join
the list of natural disaster zones, in the state's most expansive flooding in 30 years.
(Floods NSW Wrap)
CAIRNS - A Sunday afternoon visit to a north Queensland waterhole turned to tragedy
for a group of Townsville teenagers when a heart-breaking chain of events led to one of
them drowning. (Floods Qld Wrap)
BRISBANE - Water authorities have opened a spillway at Wivenhoe Dam to empty the flood
storage compartment in preparation for further heavy downpours in southeast Queensland.
(Floods Qld Wivenhoe)
CANBERRA - Banks, miners, the Greens, Julia Gillard and Bob Brown have all had a good
year, which is more than can be said for former political leaders, a
new survey suggests.
(Essential)
CANBERRA - Internet blogging is often described as the future of popular media, but
a
new survey suggests that few people actually read blogs or, worse still, believe them.
(Essential Media)
IN FINANCE
SYDNEY - Receivers have been appointed to Pike River Coal Ltd, following the company's
decision that it needs to focus on solvency before major debts are due. (Pike River Wrap)
SYDNEY - Tabcorp Holdings Ltd says it's executed a deal with the Queensland government
to boost expansion plans in Queensland to $625 million in return for more gaming machines
and tables. (Tabcorp 2nd Wrap)
BRISBANE - A redistribution of 500 unallocated pokie machines to Queensland casinos
won't address community harm, a welfare group says. (Tabcorp QCOSS)
IN SPORT
PERTH - Reminded of England's fallibility by Victoria, Australia's pace bowlers will
use intelligence from the MCG tour match as they set about the task of taking 20 Ashes
wickets on a potentially lively WACA surface. (Cricket Aust Wrap)
PERTH - A confident and settled England desire a lively pitch for the Perth Ashes Test
just as much as the cornered Australians. (Cricket England)
more
KEYWORD: HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL UPDATE
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