AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, Feb 13

AAP General News (Australia)
02-13-2008
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, Feb 13
Midday Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1130



Today's apology to the stolen generations has been greeted with tears .. cheers ..

and in some cases jeers.

Indigenous men and women gave federal parliamentarians a long standing ovation after
MPs formally apologised for the pain and suffering inflicted on the stolen generations.

Hundreds of people .. including members of the stolen generations .. packed into the
House of Representatives for the historic apology delivered by Prime Minister KEVIN RUDD.

Some people in the public gallery .. indigenous and non-indigenous .. wept as Mr RUDD
read out the 344 word apology.

Some coalition MPs were obviously displeased with the apology.

One Liberal MP .. CHRIS PEARCE .. read a magazine during the motion and the speeches
.. refusing to get to his feet for several standing ovations.

He stood begrudgingly only when MPs were asked to vote on the motion.

Outspoken West Australian Liberal MP Wilson Tuckey was present in the house for a prayer
before the apology .. but left when Mr RUDD rose to his feet.




The broadcast of Opposition leader BRENDAN NELSON'S reply to the Prime Minister's apology
was cut in Perth .. as Aboriginal people clapped to drown him out.

Midway through Mr NELSON'S speech an Aboriginal woman .. CATHERINE COOMER .. started
yelling out that the Opposition leader was degrading Aboriginal people.

Ms COOMER stood up and turned her back to the screen .. the crowd then began clapping
loudly .. and the broadcast was unplugged.




Thousands of people also turned their backs on BRENDAN NELSON in Melbourne's Federation Square.

After KEVIN RUDD said the words .. "I am sorry" .. the crowd .. many hugging children
and wrapped in Aboriginal flags .. erupted in applause and cheers.

But as the opposition leader gave his response .. the crowd booed .. and then turned
their backs on Dr NELSON halfway through his speech.




Tears of joy flowed in Sydney's Aboriginal community in Redfern.

Hundreds braved heavy rain while they listened intently to the Prime Minister.

The crowd cheered each of the three times KEVIN RUDD said sorry .. and Aboriginal man
GRAHAM MOONEY from Mackay says the rain that fell steadily throughout the broadcast in
Sydney .. was the ancestors watching and smiling.

He says people are still trying to find their families .. but he thinks today will
heal a lot of people.




Like many today .. Queensland Premier ANNA BLIGH teared up .. as she told guests at
a special meal in state parlkiament today would rewrite history books.

Elder .. Uncle HUGHIE KIRK .. spoke of his grandparents who were taken from their parents
.. before playing Advance Australia Fair on a gumleaf.




And a law group says compensation claims aren't likely to flood in .. after today's apology.

Law Society of New South Wales president HUGH MACKEN .. says the right of indigenous
Australians to bring compensation claims is the same as it's always been.



In other news ..



Consumer Westpac (SYDNEY)

Consumer confidence has turned to pessimism .. since the Reserve Bank of Australia
raised interest rates this month.

The Westpac-Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment index slipped 5.5 per cent to 97.4
index points in February .. from 103.1 in January.

Westpac chief economist BILL EVANS says the RBA's recent decision to raise interest
rates to seven per cent has hurt consumer sentiment.



Terror Vic Protest (MELBOURNE)

Protesters calling for Australia's terrorism laws to be repealed have staged a peaceful
vigil outside a Melbourne court .. ahead of the trial of 12 men on terrorism charges.

The Supreme Court trial of the 12 Melbourne men is being held at the County Court building
for security reasons.

They have all pleaded not guilty to a charge of being a member of a terrorist organisation
and to a string of other terrorism-related charges.

More than 25 barristers and solicitors are representing the 12 men at the trial which
is expected to go for nine months.

The Crown's opening is expected to go for several days.



Teachers Vic (MELBOURNE)

A survey of school principals by Victoria's teachers union released today .. shows
a third of public schools have reduced the subjects they offer .. because of a teacher
shortage.

The survey's been released ahead of a teachers strike tomorrow .. with a record number
of schools expected to close across Victoria as teachers seek more pay.



Missing (BRISBANE)

Police and emergency services have resumed their search for a 17-year-old boy .. missing
in a flooded weir in central Queensland.

It's believed the teenager slipped and fell into the Marian Weir .. west of Mackay
.. about 4pm (AEST) yesterday.



Hilton (SYDNEY)

The three people killed in a bomb blast at Sydney's Hilton hotel 30 years ago .. will
be remembered at the site of the attack today.

New South Wales Police Minister DAVID CAMPBELL will re-dedicate a plaque commemorating
the victims at 2.30 this afternoon.



Oly08 Spielberg (WASHINGTON)

US film maker STEVEN SPIELBERG has abandoned his artistic role in the opening and closing
ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics.

He's accused China of not doing enough to press its ally Sudan to end the devastating
violence in Darfur.



Net Valentine (WASHINGTON)

The FBI warns Valentine's Day e-greetings from a stranger can deliver more than the
recipient bargains for .. in the shape of a destructive Trojan horse that hijacks computers.

The agency says internet users should be on the lookout for spam emails spreading the
Storm Worm malicious software.

The bogus email directs the recipient to click on a link to retrieve an electronic
Valentine's Day card.



in Finance ..




At 1122 AEDT, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index was DOWN 14.1 points at 5,594.0, and
the all ordinaries index was DOWN 6.1 points at 5,663.3.

The Australian dollar was at 90.35 US cents, DOWN from Tuesday's close at 90.38 US cents.

It was at 61.97 euro cents, DOWN from Tuesday's close at 62.22 euro cents.

In Sydney, the spot price of gold was $US906.00 per fine ounce, DOWN $US15.63 from
$US921.63 on Tuesday.



in Sport ..



AFL Swans (SYDNEY)

Sydney coach PAUL ROOS has announced CRAIG BOLTON as the club's third captain for the
upcoming AFL season.

Bolton will join co-captains LEO BARRY and BRETT KIRK in the Swans leadership group,
replacing BARRY HALL, who opted to step down from the role.

ROOS says BOLTON has shown outstanding leadership qualities since he joined the club in 2002.



Golf Scott (LONDON)

TIGER WOODS's former coach BUTCH HARMON believes Australian ADAM SCOTT is the only
young player capable of giving the American a run for his money at the top of the world
rankings.

HARMON says SCOTT is the best player aged under 30 in the world "by far" and the only
young player who has what it takes to get close to WOODS.



Tennis Safin (SAN JOSE, California)

Russian MARAT SAFIN has pulled out of next week's ATP event in San Jose with a stress
fracture in his right leg.

SAFIN, a former US Open and Australian Open champion, had already been forced to miss
Russia's Davis Cup win over Serbia last weekend with the injury.

San Jose organisers say the 28-year-old is also battling stomach flu.

SAFIN also will have to skip Monday's scheduled exhibition match against Hall of Famer
PETE SAMPRAS with former world number two TOMMY HAAS to fill in for the Russian.



ENDS MIDDAY ROUND-UP

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