Wednesday, February 29, 2012

QLD: Independent review into hospital claims


AAP General News (Australia)
02-05-2009
QLD: Independent review into hospital claims

The Queensland government has ordered an independent review into fresh claims of problems
at the Bundaberg Base Hospital.

Liberal National Party member for Burnett .. ROB MESSENGER .. has met three staff from
Bundaberg Base Hospital .. including a registered nurse who alleges she submitted more
than 100 official complaint reports to Queensland Health …

CHINA GROUP BUYING WEBSITES EAGER FOR LISTING


AsiaInfo Services
06-10-2011
China Group Buying Websites Eager for Listing

BEIJING, Jun 10, 2011 (SinoCast Daily Business Beat via COMTEX) -- Learning that Groupon has submitted an IPO application, Chinese online group buying Web sites unanimously speed up their pace of listing. For example, Lashou.com CEO Wu Bo has rushed to the US, preparing for the Web site's overseas listing.

By far, Lashou.com has totally raised USD 170 million. However, its aim to become the number one Chinese online group buying Web site faces challenge from domestic peer 55tuan.com. Lately, the latter held a press conference, saying that it has gained strategic investment from investors such as CDH Investments and Zero2ipo Capital and will start its pace of listing in the Nasdaq. It even invited Nasdaq Asia Pacific president and chief representative of China Region to attend the press conference.

Rampant talks also reveal that Meituan.com is busy preparing for a listing and aims to snatch the leading status in the Chinese online group buying market.

Forbes points out that listing has become the best choice for Chinese online group buying Web sites, which are eager to raise capitals. Lashou.com, the first of them to win venture capital investment, is considered as their typical representative.

Lashou.com kicked off the third round of financing just before its prepared listing. Earlier, Wu Bo unveiled that the financing will commence from June 2011 and the listing will be carried out within two years. Actually, both the financing and listing have been put forward.

Before March, 55tuan.com was still not considered as a mainstream online group buying Web site in China. However, its expansion has been quick through mergers and acquisitions of regional peers.

The planned IPO of 55tuan.com undoubtedly challenges the status of Lashou.com. Lately, reports said that the latter's more than 200 backbones left their posts and joined the former on May 19, 2011.

Investors are certainly unwilling to witness the challenge from 55tuan.com to Lashou.com. Allen Zhu, partner of GSR Ventures, believes that 55tuan.com is hyping to improve its brand influence, since Internet companies usually would not plan listing after three to four rounds of financing.

However, a top executive of 55tuan.com holds different opinions, saying that NetEase.com Inc. (Nasdaq: NTES) was even smaller than 55tuan.com when it kicked off IPO. The most important thing is to provide better service for customers and attract more institutional investors. An Internet expert agrees with the opinion, saying that even Youku.com Inc. (NYSE: YOKU), which is still suffering from losses, could have satisfying performance on the capital market.

(USD 1 = CNY 6.48)

Source: www.nf.nfdaily.cn (June 10, 2011)

KEYWORD: BEIJING INDUSTRY KEYWORD: Internet & Online Services & Media SUBJECT CODE: Internet & Online Services
E-commerce
SinoCast China Business Daily news
SinoCast China IT Watch
IPO
group buying
listing
US
Internet
financing

Copyright 2011 AsiaInfo Services (via Comtex). All rights reserved

Home Affairs minister backs refugee=2


AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2011
Home Affairs minister backs refugee=2

Labor stalwart Senator John Faulkner said the asylum-seeker vote was a matter for the delegates.

"I'm not in the business of making predictions," he told reporters in Sydney.

Mr Bowen said he expected the debate to be feisty.

"I'm looking forward to conference supporting the government's position," he told reporters.

MORE lpm tab/

KEYWORD: BOAT 2 BOAT

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

Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York Deploys Netpresenter Software


Wireless News
03-23-2011
Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York Deploys Netpresenter Software
Type: News

Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York has improved staff communication and the distribution of news by implementing Netpresenter software.

According to hospital officials, the software is now used to manage internal news centrally, publish this on almost 1,000 staff PCs (as a screensaver) and several large TV screens, continuously keeping staff members up-to-date. Visitors and patients are kept informed using a dozen TV screens in public areas such as the cafeteria. The same system is used to alert all instantly in the case of an emergency.
"We were looking for a way to further improve staff morale and cohesion, and we found it," said Eric Sommer, senior writer and editor at The Brooklyn Hospital Center. "Netpresenter has a huge effect on improving employee satisfaction, morale and on building a sense of community. It is easy to see why Netpresenter is so popular amongst staff. Everyone wants to be recognized for work well done. When a team does something noteworthy, they now know everyone on staff will be aware of their achievement. This makes the team feel appreciated."

The hospital also uses Netpresenter software to inform visitors and patients using multiple TV screens.

Netpresenter communication and alert software ensures hospitals' messages are seen and remembered, for example on compliance and training. The software can also automatically re-use information from existing intranets, CMS, databases, Excel and the internet, to allow publication of rosters, menu's or the latest healthcare news.

((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

Copyright 2011 Close-Up Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
n/a

VIC:Gillard backs Rudd over Wiki


AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-2010
VIC:Gillard backs Rudd over Wiki

MELBOURNE, Dec 8 AAP - Prime Minister Julia Gillard has given her full support to Foreign
Minister Kevin Rudd after leaked embassy cables revealed scathing criticism of him by
US diplomats.

A series of confidential cables obtained by WikiLeaks and published by Fairfax say
US officials saw Mr Rudd as a "control freak" while he was prime minister and criticised
him for making snap announcements without consulting other countries.

Speaking in Melbourne on Wednesday, Ms Gillard said Mr Rudd was a man devoted to foreign policy.

"Kevin Rudd is doing a fantastic job as foreign minister," she told reporters.

"What we're seeing is a grossly irresponsible release of thousands and thousands of cables."

Ms Gillard said it would be foolish to extrapolate a whole attitude of the US government
from one cable expressing various criticisms.

She added that US/Australia relations remained strong.

One cable revealed foreign ambassador Kim Beazley said Australia would side with the
US over China in the event of war, but Ms Gillard said it would be irresponsible for her
to comment on such hypotheticals.

AAP sbl/szp/gfr/jl

KEYWORD: WIKILEAKS GILLARD

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED:Diary Events Monday, August 2, 2010


AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-2010
FED:Diary Events Monday, August 2, 2010
EVENTS LISTED IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER AND LOCAL TIME UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED:


ADELAIDE


No items listed.


BRISBANE


0645 - Plastiki expedition leader David de Rothschild to speak at University Club, Bond
University. Gemma Alker 0420 927 941.

0900 - 19th World Congress Of Soil Science 2010 (Aug 1-6, 2010) Brisbane Convention &
Exhibition Centre. Website: http://www.19wcss.org.au/


CANBERRA


No items listed.


MELBOURNE
- Melbourne International Film Festival. Forum Theatre, 154 Flinders Street. Contact:
03 8660 4888. Website: www.melbournefilmfestival.com.au
0900-1700 - Oceania CACS2010 IT three-day conference: Masters of Change. Grand Hyatt,
Collins Street. Website: www.oceaniacacs2010.org
1015 - Melbourne Spring Fashion Week media launch, with Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle
who will announce MSFW 2010 Ambassador and Face. Melbourne Town Hall steps, Swanston Street.

Contact: Tara Brooks 03 8643 1638, 0414 527 238 or Jen Glynn 03 8643 1619, 0402 555 895.

1800-1930 - Leading contemporary artist Bill Henson to present the Melbourne Art Foundation
2010 Lecture, to open Melbourne Art Fair. BMW Edge, Federation Square. Contact: Carolyn
Logan 0400 441 025.

1800 - Nominations for the 2010 Helpmann Awards, announced concurrently in Sydney and
Melbourne. Amcor Lounge, Arts Centre. Contact: Kerry O'Brien 03 9510 4777. Website: www.helpmannawards.com.au


PERTH


No items listed.


SYDNEY


0830 - NSW Labor MP Linda Burney and Federal Labor MP Jenny Macklin, as well as mental
health expert Patrick McGorry, to address the Association of Children's Welfare Agencies
national conference. Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour. Contact:
Libby McCalman, communications for Association of Children's Welfare Agencies 0409 221
414.

0900 - Public Interest Advocacy Centre, homeless people speak out. Minter Ellison, Level
19, Aurora Place, 88 Phillip Street, Sydney. Contact: Julie Hourigan Ruse 0407 950 726.

0930 - ICAC inquiry into lobbying of public officials and authorities in NSW. ICAC hearing
room, level 21, 133 Castlereagh St, Sydney. Contact: Nicole Thomas 0417 467 801.

1000 - Federal Minister for Housing Tanya Plibersek MP to launch National Homeless Persons'
Week in Sydney. Caretaker's Cottage, Youth Refuge, 96 Bondi Road, Bondi Junction. Contact:
Narelle Clay, chairperson of Homelessness Australia's National Chairperson 0412 999 960.

1100 - Protest on Sydney Town Hall steps over the development at Barangaroo. Contact:
Marcelle Hoff 9265 9358.

1145 - Ability Awareness Week launch with Labor MP Bill Shorten. ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic
Park. Contact: Clare Collins 0414 821 957.

1800 - Australian composer Simone Young to host forum for ideas on creation and performance
of Australian music. The Mint, Macquarie Street, Sydney. Philippa Horn 0411 606 077.

1800 - Nominations for the 2010 Helpmann Awards, recognising excellence and achievement
in Australian live performance, to be announced. Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House. Contact:
Michelle Guthrie 0412 547 297.

- Launch of the Canadian Film Festival - Possible Worlds - in Sydney. Various venues.

Contact: Michelle Guthrie 0412 547 297.


SPORT


RUGBY LEAGUE - NRL -
Rnd 21 - to August 2
1900 - Newcastle v Manly, Energy Aust. Std

SHOOTING - World C'ships - to August 11
Munich, Germany

GALLOPS -
Forbes
Echuca
Darwin
Sth Africa
England
UK

TROTS -
Menangle
Maryborough
Albion Park
Globe Derby
Pinjarra

GREYHOUNDS -
Bulli
Shepparton
Albion Park
Angle Park
Warragul
Northam
Cranbourne
Bathurst
Launceston
New Zealand



AAP nep/tr/jel

KEYWORD: DIARY EVENTS MONDAY AUGUST 2, 2010

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Homes lost in bushfires


AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-2009
NSW: Homes lost in bushfires

Homes have been lost as bushfires rage across New South Wales.

Rural Fire Service Assistant Commissioner ROB ROGERS has told the Nine Network four
properties have been lost in the Gerogery blaze north of Albury .. three southwest of
Tumbarumba near the Victorian border .. and there's been three losses near Michelago south
of Canberra.

He says yesterday's very high winds and temperatures made it a particularly bad day
for firefighters.

Today's cooler temperatures and a bit of rain is expected to help the firefighting
efforts .. with the blaze burning at Londonderry in Syndey's northwest now contained.

AAP RTV cdh/cjb/sw

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES NSW RFS (SYDNEY)

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, Aug 10


AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2009
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, Aug 10
Breakfast Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 0430


Iraq Contractors (BAGHDAD)

An Australian man has been identified as one of two murder victims in Iraq.

A spokesman for ArmorGroup Iraq has confirmed two employees of the group .. identified
as DARREN HOARE of Australia .. and PAUL MCGUIGAN of Britain .. were killed yesterday
in a firearms incident.

Iraqi authorities have charged a British contractor with murder over the shooting deaths
in Baghdad's protected Green Zone.



China Rio Tinto (BEIJING)

China says mining giant Rio Tinto has committed economic espionage for six years ..

forcing Chinese steel companies to pay 121 billion dollars more for imported iron ore
than they otherwise would have.

The State Secrets Bureau says data obtained from Rio Tinto's computers show the company
used all possible means to obtain secret information .. including bribery.

The report comes amid investigations by China into an industrial spying case against
employees of Rio Tinto .. four of whom were detained on July 5 on espionage charges.

Rio Tinto has declined to comment.



Indon Shooting Aust (MELBOURNE)

Doubts are emerging about whether a man killed in Indonesia over the weekend is South-East
Asia's most wanted terror suspect .. NOORDIN MOHAMMED TOP.

It's believed NOORDIN was killed during a police raid at a suspected militant hide-out
in Central Java on Saturday .. but a police spokesman says DNA results could take up to
two weeks.



McCann (LONDON)

The widow and daughter of Australian property tycoon BILL WYLLIE have rejected suggestions
they're involved in the disappearance of British toddler MADELEINE MCCANN.

Private detectives searching for the youngster want to interview Perth socialite RHONDA
WYLLIE and her 31-year-old daughter MELISSA KARLSON.

British newspapers report their family's luxury yacht could be linked to MADELEINE'S
disappearance from a holiday resort in Portugal in May 2007.

About three days after MADELEINE disappeared .. a woman aged in her 30s with an Australian
or New Zealand accent reportedly asked a British businessman at the marina if he was there
to deliver her new daughter.



Newspoll (SYDNEY)

Dissatisfaction with the way Opposition Leader MALCOLM TURNBULL is doing his job has
risen significantly .. after he admitted being fooled by a fake document at the centre
of the OzCar scandal.

The latest Newspoll .. published in The Australian newspaper .. shows Mr TURNBULL'S
dissatisfaction rating has risen seven percentage points to 57 points.

And a week after Treasury official GODWIN GRECH admitted he faked an email .. which
Mr TURNBULL used as evidence to call for the prime minister's resignation .. the opposition
leader's satisfaction rating fell to just 26 per cent.

The Australian says the slump in Mr TURNBULL'S personal standing has wiped out all
the gains he's made in the past six weeks .. and will add pressure to his leadership as
he faces a Coalition partyroom meeting when parliament resumes tomorrow.



Parly Preview (CANBERRA)

Debate on an Emissions Trading Scheme will heat up in Parliament this week .. with
debate on the legislation starting tomorrow in the Senate.

The legislation is almost certain to be voted down by all non-government senators during
a vote on Thursday.

The Australian Greens say the scheme is too timid .. the coalition says any decision
should wait until after global talks in Copenhagen at the end of the year .. and Family
First's STEVE FIELDING is yet to be convinced that climate change is being caused by human
activity.



Drivers (SYDNEY)

A study into Australian driving etiquette and behaviour shows drivers from New South
Wales are the worst in the country .. while those from Western Australian are the best.

The survey of more than 13-hundred Australians .. commissioned by car insurer 1Cover
.. found South Australian drivers were the second worst drivers in the country .. followed
by Queensland drivers.

Confirming what many women have always suspected .. men were universally found to be
more reckless drivers than women .. and have more accidents.

However .. a quarter of drivers surveyed believed driver behaviour was better during
school holidays .. when mums were not on the road dropping their kids to and from school.



BRIEFLY IN OTHER NEWS:


Anderson (DARWIN)

The Northern Territory government is expected to be kicked out this week .. with the
opposition planning to introduce a no confidence motion today.



RU486 (MELBOURNE)

The abortion pill RU486 will become more widely available in Australia .. after a not-for-profit
sexual health group was approved to use the drug in its clinics.



Spain Bomb (PALMA DE MAJORCA)

Bombs have exploded in two restaurants on the Spanish island of Majorca .. hours after
the armed Basque separatist group ETA claimed earlier deadly attacks.



Jackson Kids (LONDON)

Former child acting star MARK LESTER says he believes he's the biological father of
MICHAEL JACKSON'S daughter .. telling News of the World .. he gave JACKSON his sperm so
that he could have kids.



IN FINANCE:


Economy Preview (CANBERRA)

The nerves of homeowners are sure to be tested today .. with new data on mortgages
being released.

Official housing finance figures for June are expected to show a 1.8 per cent rise
.. with home mortgage numbers already having risen for the past eight months.

This could be bad news for home owners .. possibly signaling future interest rate rises.

The Reserve Bank of Australia indicated twice last week that rates were more likely
to go up than down .. as the chances of a recession diminish.



Markets Preview (SYDNEY)

The Australian share market is expected to open higher today .. boosted by a US report
that shows the unemployment rate unexpectedly fell .. adding to signs the world's largest
economy is pulling out of recession.

CMC Markets analyst DAVID TAYLOR says after a strong opening today .. the stock market
is likely to become a bit subdued .. ahead of earnings reports on Wednesday from the country's
two biggest companies by market value .. BHP Billiton and Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

On the Sydney Futures Exchange on Friday .. the September share price index contract
closed 41 points higher at 4303.

On Friday .. the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index fell 26.9 points .. or 0.62 per cent ..

to 4,299.4 and the broader All Ordinaries index declined 27.9 points .. or 0.64 per cent
.. to 4,303.1.



AND IN SPORT:


CRICKET AUST (LEEDS)

Australian captain RICKY PONTING says he must temper his players' excitement levels
following last night's thumping Ashes win over England at Headingley.

The tourists levelled the series at 1-1 with their innings and 80-run victory before
the fifth and final Test at The Oval starting on Thursday week.

PONTING says the players need to keep a lid on what they've done and focus on a practice
game against the England Lions at Canterbury later this week.



AFL DOCKERS (PERTH)

The race for eighth spot in the AFL remains wide open with Port Adelaide suffering
an insipid 42-point loss to Fremantle at Subiaco Oval.

The Dockers booted 11 goals to four in a blitzing first half to set up a 17.14 (116)
to 11.8 (74) triumph.

Dockers youngster GREG BROUGHTON led the way with 37 possessions, while CHRIS MAYNE
booted four goals.

Port's 10th loss of the season leaves them just half a game clear of ninth-placed Essendon,
with Hawthorn and Sydney also hovering in the wings.



LEAGUE WRAP (SYDNEY)

Wests Tigers stepped into the top eight for the first time in three months yesterday
with a 17-10 victory over the Sydney Roosters as the fight for the NRL finals became even
tighter.

Parramatta upset Newcastle 40-8 to drop the Knights out off the top eight for the first
time since round three while also yesterday the Gold Coast virtually secured a finals
debut with a 30-10 win over the Warriors.



SOCCER ENGLISH (LONDON)

Chelsea have beaten Manchester United 4-1 in a penalty shoot-out to win the Community
Shield - the traditional curtain-raiser to the English football season at Wembley Stadium
- after the two sides were level at two-all after 90 minutes.



SWIM AUST (HOBART)

Veteran New South Welshman ADAM PINE has carried his good form into the final of the
100m butterfly at the Australian short-course swimming titles in Hobart, winning in a
new Commonwealth record time of 49.71 seconds.



ENDS BREAKFAST ROUND-UP

Broadcast Desk inquiries 24 hours: 02 9322 8714

AAP RTV psm/

KEYWORD: BREAKFAST ROUND-UP

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Churches unite for fire victims


AAP General News (Australia)
02-15-2009
Vic: Churches unite for fire victims

Melbourne's Christian churches have united to pray for people affected by Victoria's
devastating bushfires.

Several hundred people from 17 churches across the city have converged in the Fitzroy
Gardens today after normal church services.

They prayed for those who died in the fires and those who lost their homes .. together
with prayers of thanks for the many volunteers and workers who've fought the fires and
looked after those affected by the tragedy.

AAP RTV df/gfr/tm

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES VIC (MELBOURNE)

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Poll shows baby boomers want alternate nursing homes


AAP General News (Australia)
08-27-2008
Fed: Poll shows baby boomers want alternate nursing homes

A new poll's found most of Australia's baby boomers have no intention of moving into
a nursing home when they get frail.

The Galaxy Poll .. commissioned by charity organisation Benevolent Society .. surveyed
one thousand people aged over 50 in NSW.

It found 75 per cent of respondents would move into a nursing home as a last resort
.. but expected governments to develop alternative forms of aged care.

More than 80 per cent want new style accommodation and care for older people.

AAP RTV sld/rl/crh/bart

KEYWORD: AGED POLL (CANBERRA)

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Autobiography "could propel Costello to Libs leadership"=2


AAP General News (Australia)
04-22-2008
Fed: Autobiography "could propel Costello to Libs leadership"=2

Shareholder activist and commentator Stephen Mayne, who ran against Mr Costello for
the Melbourne seat of Higgins, said he hoped the book was not being written on taxpayers
time.

"I was surprised to hear that he might be writing it while still in the parliament,"

Mr Mayne told ABC radio.

Mr Mayne said Mr Costello should not be taking a six-figure advance to write a book
this year while he is also collecting a six-figure taxpayer-funded salary to be an MP.

Mr Mayne said: "It will be a cracking book" and if Mr Costello goes for the jugular
it will be `one the great reads'."

AAP pc/it/bwl

KEYWORD: COSTELLO LEADERSHIP 2 SYDNEY

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Stabbed man dumped at hospital, dies


AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-2007
Vic: Stabbed man dumped at hospital, dies

MELBOURNE, Dec 18 AAP - A man has died after being dumped with stab wounds at a Melbourne
hospital, police say.

The 36-year-old man was dumped at the Western Hospital in Footscray, in the city's
west, at about 12.30am (AEDT) today but died a short time later, a police spokeswoman
said.

The victim, from Heidelberg in Melbourne's north-east, had suffered multiple stab wounds.

Homicide detectives are investigating, the spokeswoman said.

AAP md/gfr/sp

KEYWORD: STABBED

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Biographer says Howard should step aside


AAP General News (Australia)
08-06-2007
Fed: Biographer says Howard should step aside

CANBERRA, Aug 6 AAP - In a fresh blow for Prime Minister John Howard, his official
biographer and one of his staunchest supporters says he should step aside for the good
of the country.

Mr Howard has been under pressure from a resurgent Labor since Kevin Rudd became federal
opposition leader late last year.

A leaked Liberal dossier today showed that voters saw Mr Howard as old and dishonest,
while Mr Rudd was seen as genuine and a chance for generational change.

David Barnett, the husband of NSW Liberal MP Pru Goward, said Mr Howard should consider
his political future before his colleagues made up his mind for him.

"It's a great tragedy. He's the best prime minister we have ever had, but the great
financial and economic programs that have transformed Australia have all been put in place,"

Mr Barnett wrote in a column in The Canberra Times.

"The challenge now is to protect them from being dismantled by a resurgent ALP under
the glib leadership of Kevin Rudd.

"The polls are telling the coalition parties that Howard is not the man to do this."

Mr Barnett said that hope was fading for a turnaround in the polls and the coalition
now had to focus on retaining office.

"Australia owes him a lot, but it doesn't owe him the privilege of going down with
the ship, of retiring to the shadows asserting that, in the end, the country wasn't worthy
of him," he said.

"As Howard himself has said, to serve as prime minister is a great honour and privilege.

He would serve it best now by stepping aside."

AAP mfh/sb/jt/sp

KEYWORD: HOWARD POLL BARNETT

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Bracks issues footy flag challenge to Rann


AAP General News (Australia)
02-13-2007
Vic: Bracks issues footy flag challenge to Rann

MELBOURNE, Feb 13 AAP - Victorian Premier Steve Bracks says he is confident Melbourne
Victory players will restore some pride to Victoria's AFL football fans in their soccer
final against Adelaide United on Sunday.

And he has challenged the South Australian Premier Mike Rann to fly the Victory flag
if Melbourne wins.

"I know that we've had some unhappy and unpleasant experiences in the AFL more recently
in relation to interstate games and finals, but I think we're going to address the balance
this Sunday night," Mr Bracks said.

"And yes, I challenge the South Australian Premier to fly the Melbourne Victory flag
on the executive building in Adelaide," he told Southern Cross Broadcasting.

"Of course I will reciprocate, but I think the (Melbourne Victory) flag will be flying
in Adelaide."

The last time a Victorian team won the AFL grand final was in 2000.

Last year, rugby league team Melbourne Storm lost the NRL grand final to the Brisbane Broncos.

The A-League final kicks off at Telstra Dome in Melbourne at 6pm (AEDT) on Sunday.

AAP kl/gfr

KEYWORD: SOCCER AL BRACKS

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

SA: Liberals reveal taxi industry security policy


AAP General News (Australia)
08-27-2006
SA: Liberals reveal taxi industry security policy

ADELAIDE, Aug 27 AAP - South Australia's Liberal opposition has unveiled its taxi industry
security policy, following a series of alleged assaults on passengers by drivers in recent
months.

Opposition transport spokesman Martin Hamilton-Smith called for upgraded security cameras
and global positioning technology in cabs, as well as improved training for drivers.

"The training should be redesigned with a focus to be put on language prerequisites
and cultural awareness training for drivers so as to ensure they fully understand Australian
standards of behaviour and Australian laws," he said.

He said cameras currently used in cabs retained images for only up to four hours, which
was "vastly inferior to the systems being fitted on buses at government expense".

Mr Hamilton-Smith also said a Liberal government would increase the number of government
taxi inspectors on the road, including inspections out of normal business hours.

Currently, only four government inspectors operate mostly in business hours, he said.

"The confidence of the travelling public has been shaken by events of the last two
months and, unless the problem is faced head-on, further damage to the reputation of a
good industry comprised of many hard working cab drivers will be at risk," he said.

Mr Hamilton-Smith said there were a number of choices for funding the improvements:
either through a levy on fares, a state government contribution, federal funding under
counter-terrorism provisions, or money from the cab companies.

As part of its response to the recent incidents in cabs, the Labor government has introduced
a personal identification number for drivers, which will be in place by October.

AAP njl/srp/sd

KEYWORD: TAXI

) 2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Yarra rejuvenation plan will do little, opposition


AAP General News (Australia)
04-20-2006
Vic: Yarra rejuvenation plan will do little, opposition

The Victorian opposition says a plan to pump back an extra 20 billion litres of water
into Melbourne's Yarra River each year .. will do little to solve serious pollution problems.

Opposition environment spokesman DAVID DAVIS says the scheme .. to be detailed by acting
premier JOHN THWAITES today .. fails to address the ongoing problem of sewage in the river.

Under the plan .. the amount of water that's able to be taken from the Yarra for drinking
and irrigation will be cut.

The saved water will be stored .. and then sent back down the river at different times
of the year to help the environment.

AAP RTV nl/gfr/wf/tm

KEYWORD: YARRA (MELBOURNE)

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Fed: PM says unions will not be strangled by IR reform


AAP General News (Australia)
12-15-2004
Fed: PM says unions will not be strangled by IR reform

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says the union movement will not be strangled by proposed
industrial relations changes due to come before the Senate next year.

But Mr HOWARD says he wants to put an end to predatory union practices he says still
exist in Australia, when the coalition takes full control of the Senate on July the 1st
next year.

Since his election victory, Mr HOWARD has made it clear that that industrial relations
reform, after numerous setbacks in the Senate, is his first priority.

Speaking in Perth, the Prime Minister reiterated that he wants to ease the burden on
small business, while rejecting claims he is an extremist, out to destroy unionism.

He has told 6PR radio that people have a right to belong to unions, and unions have
a right to organise and advocate the interests of their members, but that people should
have free choice.

Mr HOWARD has also ruled out abolishing the Industrial Relations Commission, and says
the government won't make it impossible for unions to operate.

AAP RTV tc/wz/rt

KEYWORD: HOWARD UNIONS (PERTH)

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Isovia Names Charles Frankston Chief Technology Officer.

Member of XML founding team will bring more than 25 years experience to role

BOSTON, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire/ --

Charles Frankston has been named chief technology officer of Isovia, a global provider of m-business solutions and wireless applications that enable supply chain and customer relationship management in a mobile environment. Bringing more than 25 years of software development experience to the company, Frankston is charged with continuing to solidify Isovia's position in the enterprise application space. Drawing on his extensive management skills, strength in application development and software globalization experience, Frankston will drive the technology leadership and vision for the company.

"Charles brings an extraordinary background in both software development and management in technology companies," said Isovia's Founder and CEO, Hemant Taneja. "I'm pleased to have Charles join our management team, as his extensive XML and software globalization background will enable Isovia to expand our current applications and continue to fulfill our goals for future growth in other vertical markets."

"I was drawn to Isovia because I'm impressed with the quality of their team and their innovative technology is filling a real need in the wireless marketplace," said Charles Frankston. "I'm excited to be coming on board with a company which is pioneering the use of XML and is so poised to become a leader in this space."

Prior to joining Isovia, Frankston worked for Microsoft Research and Microsoft Component Applications Group, where he worked on component software technology. During his three years spent at Microsoft, Frankston also held various other positions, where his work included participating in the definition of XML, serving as Microsoft's representative to several World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) XML working groups, and developing the client-side data binding features of Internet Explorer 4. Frankston defined the XML schema language (XML Data Reduced) currently used by several Microsoft products including Biztalk Server, and SQL Server 2000. Frankston co-authored "Document Content Description for XML," a submission to the W3C XML schema working group.

In addition to his experience at Microsoft, Frankston was the CEO and founder of Charles View Software, Inc., a software company specializing in contract software development and software internationalization. In 1996, Charles View Software was acquired by Microsoft. Frankston received a bachelor's of science in computer science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

About Isovia

Isovia provides wireless applications that enable supply chain and customer relationship management in a mobile environment. Isovia has assembled a core team of experts in enterprise applications, wireless technologies and speech recognition to deliver a comprehensive set of m- business applications that maintain operability in today's market. Isovia's application suite, which leverages wireless connectivity and intelligent sync- based technologies, extends mobility to all devices, including smart phones, PDAs, two-way pagers and voice interfaces. For more information, visit Isovia's web site at www.isovia.com.