WA: Grassroots activists boycott reconcilliation march

AAP General News (Australia)
12-04-2000
WA: Grassroots activists boycott reconcilliation march

A number of long-time Aboriginal activists say they boycotted yesterday's successful
reconciliation march in Perth because they were passed over by organisers.

An estimated 50,000 people took to the streets of the West Australian capital to demonstrate
their commitment to reconciliation, co-inciding with a larger march in Melbourne.

Speakers and participants alike hailed the Perth march a triumph, saying the turnout
was inspiring and far bigger than expected.

But not all Aborigines were in favour, saying university-educated Aborigines appear
to have had precedence over grassroots activists.

Swan Valley Nyoongar Community elder ROBERT BROPHO says the march seemed more like
an assimilation than reconciliation march, and he and other members of the community
stayed away because they felt unwelcome.

Mr BROPHO says it's sad the march hadn't been attended by all Aboriginal people.

AAP RTV lk/sd/et

KEYWORD: RECONCILE WA (PERTH)

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

FED: Court and Burke strongly defend mandatory laws

AAP General News (Australia)
04-15-2000
FED: Court and Burke strongly defend mandatory laws

By James Grubel, Chief Political Correspondent

MELBOURNE, April 15 AAP - Northern Territory Chief Minister Denis Burke and Western
Australian Premier Richard Court today launched a strong defence of their mandatory sentencing
laws at the federal Liberal Party convention.

The two leaders were applauded by the convention when they declared law and order issues
should not be subjected to federal interference.

Mr Burke, who forged a $5 million deal with Prime Minister John Howard to ease the
impact of mandatory sentencing on young people, said the laws were overwhelmingly supported
in the Northern Territory.

He said the NT government believed there was a place for the government to intervene
to force repeat offenders, including juveniles, into detention and rehabilitation programs.

Mr Court told critics in Victoria and New South Wales to look after their own problems
and stop telling WA what it should do.

"Mandatory sentencing is just simply not an issue in Western Australia," he said.

Mr Court said a survey in WA found 93 per cent of people in his state supported the laws.

"It's interesting listening to people from what we call the eastern states criticising
our legislation, saying that it is basically the issue that children are being put at
risk," he said.

He said more children were at risk of death and injury from crime in Victoria and New
South Wales.

"So I suggest you look after your home base first before you start telling us what
to do," he said.

Mr Burke said people in the eastern states did not understand the issues.

"In the Northern Territory it is widely supported within the community," he said.

"They understand the issue.

"In Territorians' minds, punishment has a real place in the justice system.

"At the end of the day, when you are dealing with recidivist criminals, there is a
place where you need direct intervention."

He said the judiciary believed politicians should not intervene on sentencing.

"We simply say there is a point, particularly when you are dealing with recidivist
criminals, particularly juveniles at a certain age, where the appropriate intervention
is necessary."

He said the intervention programs at the Don Dale detention centre in the NT were positive
and focused on rehabilitation.

New South Wales Liberal leader Kerry Chikarovski said mandatory sentencing laws were
not on her agenda for the next election.

But she fully supported the right of the NT and WA to make their own laws on the issue.

AAP jg/as

KEYWORD: LIBERALS MANDATORY.

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

Vic: Peter Reith should act on building campaign Bracks

AAP General News (Australia)
02-06-2000
Vic: Peter Reith should act on building campaign Bracks

MELBOURNE, Feb 6 AAP - Federal Workplace Relations Minister Peter Reith should negotiate
with unions over their bid for a 36-hour week rather than act as a "spoiler", Victorian
Premier Steve Bracks said today.

The campaign for shorter basic hours in the Victorian construction industry kicks off
tomorrow with a one-day state-wide stoppage, due to be repeated each month.

The state government has been fending off calls to oppose the campaign by saying it
has no industrial powers in the matter.

Building workers are on federal awards …

Vic: Great Victorian Bike Ride ends for 2,300 cyclists

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-1999
Vic: Great Victorian Bike Ride ends for 2,300 cyclists

More than 2,000 cyclists will ride into Melbourne today on the last leg of the 590-kilometre
Great Victorian Bike Ride.

The 54-kilometre stretch from Riddells Creek, north-west of Melbourne, to suburban
Moonee Ponds, completes the eight-day ride from Echuca on the Murray River.

The 2,300 cyclists range from under 10 to 84 years old.

Bicycle Victoria's NOEL REID says everyone's in a party mood and most are expected
to arrive at Queen's Park by midday.

AAP RTV imc/jmt

KEYWORD: BIKERIDE (MELBOURNE)

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

NSW: Search resumes for missing fishermen

AAP General News (Australia)
04-18-1999
NSW: Search resumes for missing fishermen

SYDNEY, April 18 AAP - A police helicopter was being called in as the search for two
fisherman believed swept off rocks at North Bondi late yesterday resumed this morning.

A police spokesman said officers recovered fishing tackle that may belong to the men from
rocks at Ben Buckler Point, North Bondi, early this morning.

Another angler, who had been fishing separately nearby yesterday, raised the alarm after he
was swept into the sea but managed to clamber back onto land.

The man reportedly saw two fishermen standing nearby before he was swept off the rocks.
When he clambered out of the water and back onto the rocks, the other men were no longer
there, but their fishing gear was, including an illuminated torch.

The spokesman said a police officer last night reported seeing a body floating under the
water near the scene but the sighting had not yet been confirmed and no one had been reported
missing.

A police search last night was hampered by rough seas.

"We have recovered some items of fishing tackle from the rocks, but so far all we have is a
report from this other person who was swept off the rocks," the spokesman said.

"There were other fisherman nearby who weren't aware of this mystery pair.

"We'll have the police Rescue Squad, Water Police and a helicopter out there this morning
although it's still fairly dangerous; there's a three-metre swell."

AAP fp/kr

KEYWORD: FISHERMEN LEAD

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

NSW: Investigations continue into health dept break in

AAP General News (Australia)
01-10-1999
NSW: Investigations continue into health dept break in

SYDNEY, Jan 10 AAP - Offices broken into at the New South Wales Health Department's
headquarters in Sydney housed confidential patient and staff files, a department spokeswoman
said today.

A door lock to the offices on the eighth floor of the building in Miller Street, North
Sydney, was smashed between 7.25pm and 7.50pm yesterday, police …

VIC:Molly Meldrum in fight for his life

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-2011
VIC:Molly Meldrum in fight for his life

By Joel Cresswell, Mariza O'Keefe and Charisse Ede

MELBOURNE, Dec 16 AAP - Molly Meldrum remains in a fight for his life as doctors keep
him in a coma, but his loved ones are hopeful he will recover.

The music industry veteran is in a critical but stable condition in Melbourne's The
Alfred hospital, where doctors are working to ease swelling on his brain.

The 65-year-old fractured his skull when he fell three metres down stairs around a
spa in the backyard of his Richmond home on Thursday night, as he was putting up Christmas
decorations.

His brother Brian said Meldrum was making "little steps forward", but his life remained
in the balance.

He was likely to remain sedated until early next week, after undergoing surgery on
Thursday night.

"With bruising that will get probably worse before it gets better ... they need him
under sedation until that happens," Mr Meldrum told reporters outside the hospital on
Friday afternoon.

"At the moment there's little steps forward, but there's nothing to say that things
couldn't go backwards, so in that respect he's not out of danger as far as his life goes.

"But at the moment things are progressing along the way they (doctors) want it to go.

It's only minute but it's going the right way."

The Alfred's director of neurosurgery, Jeffrey Rosenfeld, said it was too early to
predict the chances of a full recovery and the next 24 hours would be critical.

"We're really concerned for his life, it's a life-and-death matter," Dr Rosenfeld said.

"Here he was, perfectly well yesterday, and here he is today fighting for his life.

We're fighting that battle with him and for him."

Meldrum's manager Mark Klemens said he was confident he would recover.

"He's an absolute trouper and whenever he's been down before he gets straight up, so
I would be hopeful and confident that he'll be back looking down the lens saying, 'Do
yourself a favour,'" he said.

"I've looked after Molly for a long time and he's a great mate, so I'm totally optimistic.

"He's a person that endears himself to people and he's iconic. He's a very special man."

Meldrum's injury sparked a flood of tributes from around the world.

Music industry figures, including Kylie Minogue and Boy George, actors and fans took
to social media sites with messages of support.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard joined the well-wishers.

"I know Molly well, and I just want to say I'm thinking of him and wishing him all
the best," she said.

Cricket great Shane Warne, like Meldrum a high-profile supporter of St Kilda AFL club,
said his heart went out to his great mate.

"Everyone all over Australia knew Molly Meldrum. Growing up with Countdown and all
those sorts of things ...

"Everything's crossed and our heart goes out to him very much and we hope he pulls through."

Brian Meldrum said his brother would be blown away by the support he'd received from the public.

"He's very rarely overwhelmed by anything. Probably Prince Charles is the only person
that's overwhelmed him," Mr Meldrum said.

"He would be totally and utterly overwhelmed by the amount of support that's come from
all around this country and over the world."

Meldrum is suffering from a broken shoulder, broken ribs, a punctured lung and cracks
to his vertebrae, in addition to his head injuries.

AAP jcr/mn/jl/wjf

KEYWORD: MELDRUM WRAP (WITH PIX, VIDEO)

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