Fed: Oly hospitality row highlights need for ethics counsellors

AAP General News (Australia)
08-28-2000
Fed: Oly hospitality row highlights need for ethics counsellors

An ethics expert says the row over politicians accepting Olympic hospitality packages
has highlighted the need for ethics counsellors to be appointed to Australian parliaments.

Professor NOEL PRESTON says without independent ethical advice, it's too easy for politicians
to rationalise accepting the offers, worth up to $10,000, to suit their circumstances.

Communications giant Telstra has been accused of trying to curry favour with its opponents
by offering free Olympic tickets and accommodation.

Some of the telecommunications company's biggest critics, such as federal independent
MP PETER ANDREN, NSW Country Labor's TONY KELLY and Queensland National DE-ANNE KELLY
have all rejected Telstra's overtures.

Other politicians have confirmed they'd accepted similar packages by News Ltd and Fairfax.

Prof. PRESTON says rather than conduct government business on the terms of the hospitality
of multi-national corporations, public trust is served by government business being conducted
at government expense.

AAP RTV jhm/sc/jn d

KEYWORD: HOSPITALITY ETHICS (BRISBANE)

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

WA: Boy wins refugee status

AAP General News (Australia)
04-13-2000
WA: Boy wins refugee status

A three-year-old boy born to Chinese parents in Western Austrlaia's Port Hedland immigration
detention facility has won a lengthy battle to stay in the country.

The High Court ruled today that SHI HAI CHEN be granted refugee status, overturning
an April 1999 decision by the full court of the Federal Court that found he wasn't eligible.

The boy's parents, CHEN REN BING and TANG DE TING, illegally entered Australia by boat
in November 1994 with their first son, leaving a daughter behind in China.

SHI HAI was born in 1996.

The High Court found that he'd face discrimination and persecution if forced to return
to China because his parents had contravened China's one-child policy.

The boy's parents and brother will also be allowed to remain in Australia.

AAP RTV alm/as/rt

KEYWORD: CHEN (PERTH)

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

Vic: Grounded pilots greet compensation package

AAP General News (Australia)
01-18-2000
Vic: Grounded pilots greet compensation package

Pilots grounded by the fuel contamination crisis have welcomed Mobil's new $15 million
compensation package.

The spokesman for the Moorabbin Operators Group, MAX QUARTERMAIN, says he will be speaking
to a Mobil agent at Moorabbin Airport to determine full details of the package compensating
Avgas customers tomorrow.

The fuel contamination crisis, described as the worst of its type in the world, has
grounded 5,000 aircraft across Australia.

Mr …

WA: Students tell of "miracle" escape from flat after storm

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-1999
WA: Students tell of "miracle" escape from flat after storm

By Andrea Mayes

FREMANTLE, WA, Aug 25 AAP - In the middle of her morning shower, Rahini Telang looked up
and saw her bathroom ceiling was gone - ripped off by a sudden and vicious storm.

"The wind was getting stronger and I heard this big whoosh noise," the 23-year-old Curtin
University student said today.

"I suddenly realised the roof was gone and all this wind and rain was coming in."

The mini-cyclone, known to locals as a "cockeyed bob", struck East Fremantle without
warning just after 6am.

It lasted only a minute, but unroofed four houses, Ms Telang's eight-storey apartment block
and tore up some trees.

Emergency services arrived to find the apartment block's roof a mass of twisted metal and
collapsed walls.

Three people on the wrecked top storey were trapped by the debris, including Ms Telang, a
23-year-old Canadian, and her flatmate, physiotherapy student Sarah Fletcher.

They escaped unhurt but their elderly neighbour was later taken to hospital with minor
injuries.

Ms Fletcher was trapped by falling debris in her bedroom.

"I heard the wind get louder and louder so I put the blankets over my head and then the
whole ceiling fell down on top of me," Ms Fletcher said, still dressed in her pyjamas.

"It was really, really frightening, I've never been so scared."

Ms Fletcher crawled through debris to reach Ms Taleng and together they climbed out of a
window and into the flat of their elderly neighbour, who was also trapped.

It took 30 minutes before emergency services could rescue them.

""It really is a miracle," said a shaken but unharmed Ms Fletcher.

"I said a prayer because I don't know how we could possibly be alright after that."

Police said all residents of the 66-unit apartment block had been evacuated and structural
engineers would assess the building.

"Nobody was seriously injured, we're very lucky that it was only the roof that was pulled
back," said a police spokesman.

East Fremantle Mayor Andrew Smith said the "cockeyed bob" storm woke thousands of residents
as it swept along a narrow path for about two to three kilometres.

"It was very intense. It is pretty scary when it happens," he said.

AAP alm/km/sp/dmc/br

KEYWORD: APARTMENT NIGHTLEAD

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

VIC: Kennett meets unions over Geelong cement

AAP General News (Australia)
04-07-1999
VIC: Kennett meets unions over Geelong cement

Unions representing Geelong cement workers who face retrenchment after a multinational
takeover deal are expected to meet Victorian Premier JEFF KENNETT today.

The meeting follows a rowdy confrontation between the workers and Mr KENNETT last week when
they gatecrashed the opening of the International Fibre Centre at Deakin University.

Adelaide Brighton, owners of the Geelong Cement works, has told 150 workers they will lose
their jobs after a merger with Britain's number two cement maker, Rugby PLC.

AAP RTV ag/er/wz/am

KEYWORD: CEMENT KENNETT (MELBOURNE)

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

Vanstone says Skase chase moves a step forward

AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-1998
Vanstone says Skase chase moves a step forward

CANBERRA, Dec 18 AAP - A Spanish court has lifted an order
suspending moves to expel fugitive Australian businessman
Christopher Skase from his safe haven in Majorca, Justice Minister
Amanda Vanstone said today.

"I am informed that this means that Spanish authorities can now
proceed to issue an order that Mr Skase leave Spain," Ms Vanstone
said in a statement.

"I must stress again that future action in this process is a
matter for the Spanish government and for Spanish Courts.

"I am not able to predict the outcome.

"However, this latest court decision is clearly another setback
for Mr Skase in his efforts to cling to a safe haven in Majorca."

Skase fled Australia in 1991 to escape court action and massive
debts after his Qintex media empire crumbled.

He has since evaded Australian attempts to extradite him from
Majorca on the basis of poor health.

Spanish authorities seized his Australian passport earlier this
year and refused to renew his residency visa in July.

Skase then made a new residency application after he obtained
citizenship of the Caribbean island of Dominica.

This application was rejected in November but Skase's appeal is
still before the Spanish courts.

AAP

KEYWORD: SKASE VANSTONE

1998 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

QLD:Policeman injured in Brisbane blue

AAP General News (Australia)
02-26-2011
QLD:Policeman injured in Brisbane blue

BRISBANE, Feb 26 AAP - A police officer has been hospitalised following an alleged
assault in Brisbane's party district on Saturday morning.

Police say a 24-year-old South Brisbane man knocked the 29-year-old officer to the
ground when he and another officer tried to intervene in an altercation between two men
in Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley, about 3.45am (AEST).

The man then allegedly jumped on the officer while he was on the ground, continuing
to hit and punch him, a statement said.

A second officer used capsicum spray as he came to the …