AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, Aug 6

AAP General News (Australia)
08-06-2001
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, Aug 6
Evening Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1630

Cars Intervene (CANBERRA)

Workplace Minister TONY ABBOTT says the federal government will intervene in the industrial
relations commission hearing into the Tristar automotive industry dispute under way this
afternoon.

Mr ABBOTT says the government wants a return to work order to get more than 10,000
affected employees back on the job.

More than 350 Tristar workers today voted unanimously to continue their 13-day strike
to force the company to sign on to the union trust fund Manusafe to protect $17 million
in entitlements.

The Australian Industrial Relations Commission in Sydney has begun hearing a report
after a weekend of lengthy negotiations between unions and car component company Tristar
Steering and Suspension.

Australian Manufacturing Workers Union national secretary DOUG CAMERON has told AIRC
Commissioner BOB REDMOND about 17 hours had been spent at two separate weekend meetings
trying to settle the dispute.

But Mr CAMERON says he believes the company -- led by the Australian Industry Group
-- has not been not genuine at the negotiating table.



Skase Assets (CANBERRA)

The federal government will consider whether to turn its attention to PIXIE SKASE after
the death of her fugitive husband CHRISTOPHER SKASE.

Mr SKASE died this morning Australian time, succumbing to cancer with charges related
to the collapse of his former Qintex media empire still outstanding.

He was wanted in Australia on more than 60 serious criminal charges and the misappropriation
of more than $10 million from Qintex shareholders.

He left debts of more than $177 million.

Attorney-General DARYL WILLIAMS says the criminal charges will now be withdrawn, but
the government remains committed to hunting down Mr SKASE's assets.

He says the government will investigate whether Mrs SKASE can now be held legally responsible.

Justice Minister CHRIS ELLISON says Australian authorities have not been informed about
funeral arrangements for Mr SKASE.

He says the government will examine any request to return his body to Australia.



Tax parly (CANBERRA)

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says the coalition will return any surplus to taxpayers
through income tax cuts, whereas Labor intends to spend it.

Mr HOWARD told federal parliament that if there is an available surplus the government
will give it back via an income tax cut.

But he says Opposition leader KIM BEAZLEY would spend a surplus.



Gunman Body (DARWIN)

Police investigating the disappearance of British tourist PETER FALCONIO in the Northern
Territory say the body of a Caucasian man has been found in scrub south of Alice Springs.

Police say the body was not dressed in the clothes Mr FALCONIO, 28, was wearing when
he was shot on July 14 by an unknown assailant who attempted to abduct his 27-year-old
girlfriend, JOANNE LEES.

A spokesman says at this stage police don't believe it's Mr FALCONIO's body, but they've
yet to identify the body or the cause of death.



Crane body (MELBOURNE)

The body of a 53-year-old man killed in a worksite accident in Melbourne yesterday
has been recovered, more than 24 hours after he was crushed to death.

The man was in a hoist on the side of the apartment block site in South Melbourne when
a steel counterweight fell from a tower crane 10 storeys up.

It demolished four balconies and crushed the man as it fell.

Unions leaders today revealed the man -- whose name has not yet been released -- may
have been conscious for 90 minutes after the accident.

He could not be reached as loose concrete panels and unstable floors hampered the rescue.



Job ads (SYDNEY)

A survey from the ANZ Banking Group says the number of job advertisements appearing
in Australian newspapers in July was up 2.0 per cent on June.

The survey shows job ads have fallen 31.4 per cent during the past 12 months but this
is the smallest in annual terms since the year ending February 2001.

The results suggest the weakness seen in the employment market may be drawing towards a close.



AND IN BRIEF:

The Israeli army has shelled three Palestinian security posts in the West Bank in retaliation
for an attack that left one settler dead and four wounded.


Japan has marked the 56th anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima in World War
II as the city renews its appeal for a nuclear-free world.


A Perth court has been told a man involved in a car crash with ROBERT HUGHES promised
to tell a court he could not recall anything about the accident in return for money or
a car from the art critic.


As part of National Missing Persons Week, families of missing people are being urged to
submit DNA samples as a way of establishing whether their loved ones are still alive.


Women and children asylum seekers will be released from the Woomera detention centre into
the community tomorrow.



AND IN SPORT:


Tennis Masters (Montreal, Canada)

Unseeded Romanian ANDREI PAVEL needed only one service break to upset PATRICK RAFTER
in three sets in the final of the Tennis Masters Series in Montreal.

PAVEL broke the ninth-seeded RAFTER for a 5-3 lead in the final set and served out
the match to win 7-6 2-6 6-3.



Cricket Aust (Nottingham, England)

STEVE WAUGH has been encouraged to stay on Australia's victorious cricket tour of England
by his pregnant wife, LYNETTE.

WAUGH he tore his left calf muscle at Trent Bridge and his first thought was to jet
back to his Sydney home in suburban Bankstown.

LYNETTE is expecting the couple's third child on September 21.



Aths World 100 (Edmonton)

Olympic champion MAURICE GREENE has won his third consecutive 100 metre world title
despite crossing the line in pain because of a knee injury.

GREENE led a US sweep of the medals with TIM MONTGOMERY taking silver and BERNARD WILLIAMS
the bronze.

GREENE clocked 9.82 seconds, just three one-hundredths of a second off his 1999 world
record of 9.79.

Australian MATT SHIRVINGTON has bowed out of the world championship 100 metres at the
semifinal stage.

Aths World Aust (Edmonton)


Aths World Aust (Edmonton)

NOVA PERIS is considering retiring from professional sport after a poor run in the
400m heats at the world championships in Edmonton, Canada.

The 30-year-old PERIS finished sixth in 53.55 seconds, more than two and a half seconds
slower than her personal best.



League Judiciary (Sydney)

Newcastle halfback ANDREW JOHNS faces up to two weeks suspension after being charged
with striking by the National Rugby League match review committee.

JOHNS has been hit with a grade three striking charge stemming from a tackle on Sharks
five-eighth ADAM DYKES on Sunday.



AFL Bombers (Melbourne)

Essendon are expected to find out today the full extent of the ankle injury to captain
JAMES HIRD.

He's thought to have damaged ligaments in the joint in yesterday's loss to Carlton
but the club is confident there is no break.




ENDS EVENING ROUND-UP
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