NSW:Schools bureaucrat in $376,000 rort: ICAC

AAP General News (Australia)
08-22-2011
NSW:Schools bureaucrat in $376,000 rort: ICAC

SYDNEY, Aug 22 AAP - A former NSW education department bureaucrat allegedly recruited
staff from a company, of which he was a director and shareholder, as part of a $376,000
rort, a NSW corruption inquiry has heard.

David Johnson worked as a project manager for the NSW Department of Education and Training
(DET) between November 2007 and April 2009 and is said to have exploited a level of autonomy
in his job for financial gain.

The first day of an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) inquiry in Sydney
has heard that between January and July 2008 Mr Johnson recruited five contractors to
work on the DET's Smart 2 project, a computer program that helped analyse school exam
results.

Counsel assisting the inquiry, Michael Fordham, said the five contractors interviewed
and recommended for employment by Mr Johnson were all employees of or directly associated
with Ogawie Pty Ltd, a company for which Mr Johnson was a director and shareholder.

Mr Johnson is also alleged to have recommended that another company, Catalina IT, be
employed to carry out a project review for which the DET was later invoiced for more than
$68,000.

Catalina was an intermediary in a chain of transactions from which Ogawie ended up
with tens of thousands of dollars, while the web designer who actually did the work was
only paid $2,450, the ICAC was told.

"Mr Johnson made no declaration to the DET about his alleged conflict of interest or
of his involvement with Ogawie," Mr Fordham said.

"Mr Johnson exploited the system of contractor retention in order to profit from a
series of undisclosed conflicts of interest.

"The net benefit derived by Ogawie appears to have been $376,834."

In a further allegation, Mr Fordham said that in August 2008 Mr Johnson diverted DET
cash to pay computer programmers to develop an application which Ogawie intended to sell
back to the department.

"The evidence will suggest that Mr Johnson took advantage of the autonomy that went
with his position as a project manager to engage in three forms of corrupt conduct," Mr
Fordham said.

The ICAC inquiry would examine how Mr Johnson's alleged corrupt conduct went undetected
at the time and what the DET and other public authorities had done to minimise the risk
of it happening again, he said.

AAP mdg/wjf/it/de

KEYWORD: ICAC JOHNSON

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

NSSW: Kovco's roommate denies a pistol was ever pointed at him

AAP General News (Australia)
02-19-2008
NSSW: Kovco's roommate denies a pistol was ever pointed at him

A Baghdad roommate of Private JAKE KOVCO .. who told a military inquiry a soldier jokingly
pointed a pistol at him .. now says he can't remember any such incident.

Lance Corporal RAY JOHNSON was in the closed barracks room in Iraq where Private KOVCO
was fatally shot in the head with his own pistol on April 21 2006.

He was giving evidence today at Glebe Coroner's Court in Sydney .. where he was asked
about information he gave to a military investigator soon after the shooting.

Corporal JOHNSON confirmed he'd told investigators he'd seen .. at least once .. a
soldier mockingly pointing a pistol at another soldier and pulling the trigger of the
unloaded weapon.

However under cross-examination today by BRUCE LEVETT .. counsel for Private KOVCO'S
mother JUDY .. Corporal JOHNSON said he could not recall the incident.

He denied he was covering up the incident out of loyalty to fellow soldiers.

Corporal JOHNSON and Lance Corporal ROB SHORE were both in the closed room where Private
KOVCO was shot.

Both men say they did not see the fatal incident and nobody else entered the room before
the gun was fired.

A military board of inquiry found Private KOVCO accidentally shot himself while skylarking
with his pistol.

Corporal JOHNSON told the inquest today that was what he believed had happened.

Corporal SHORE is due to give evidence this afternoon at the inquest before Coroner MARY JERRAM.

AAP RTV pc/sg/wjf/bart

KEYWORD: KOVCO (SYDNEY)

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

WA:The home of Anzac Day remembers

AAP General News (Australia)
04-25-2011
WA:The home of Anzac Day remembers

By Josh Jerga

ALBANY, WA, April 25 AAP - On November 1, 1914, the West Australian coastal hamlet
of Albany was captivated by a convoy of ships berthed at Princess Royal Harbour and bound
for Gallipoli.

That morning, crowds excitedly flocked to the shores and to the top of Mount Clarence
to send off the 30,000 Australian men for what they believed was a great adventure.

The mountain was the last glimpse many young, ordinary men would see of Australia.

Nine years later, the Reverend Arthur Ernest White led a group of parishioners to the
top of Mount Clarence where he conducted Australia's first dawn service.

On Monday, servicemen and women, veterans and their relatives continued the tradition
despite the rain and stood at the top of the mountain to pay their respects.

Flares shot out over the harbour and King George Sound and lit up amid the mist to
commemorate the troops who boarded those ships headed for Egypt and later the Dardanelles.

Reverend David Hosking led the prayer of remembrance to honour the "sons of the battlefield".

"We remember those who paid the supreme sacrifice and all those buried in distant lands,"

Rev Hosking said.

"The sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, lovers and relatives,
all those who served this nation in time of war."

The service listened as Banjo Paterson's We're All Australians Now was recited, telling
how "from shearing shed and cattle run from Broome to Hobsons Bay, each native-born Australian
son, stands straighter up today."

During the four years of the First World War, almost half of Albany's then 4500-strong
population enlisted to fight.

A memorial in the town states: "None returned unchanged by the experience, many did
not return at all."

As the morning went on, the weather got bleaker but the veterans and those hometown
men and women still serving did not lose their resolve to march.

Locals lined the streets to honour those who served Australia in wars and conflicts
that followed those years at Gallipoli.

Rev Hosking enunciated the sentiments shared by many in Albany.

"We thank the ordinary men of all parts of society in many nations who responded to
resist aggression and fight evil, to stand for righteousness and defend our freedom,"

he told the Anzac Day service.

Former defence force chief General Peter Gration had a message to the younger generations.

He urged them to seek out those who fought on the Western Front or served in Korea
or battled at Long Tan and hear their stories.

"There are some things in life that are a matter of luck," General Gration said.

"You can't do much about who you're parents are or where you were born, you've got
to accept it, they're given to you.

"As Australians we're given something else which I call an inheritance, a history,
something about where you come from.

"If you call yourself an Australian, you are the owners of this inheritance."

AAP jsj/jel/de

KEYWORD: ANZAC ALBANY WRAP (PIX TO COME)

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

TAS:Giddings wields axe on Tas public sector

AAP General News (Australia)
02-10-2011
TAS:Giddings wields axe on Tas public sector

By Patrick Caruana

HOBART, Feb 10 AAP - Tasmanian Premier and Treasurer Lara Giddings has wielded the
axe on the state's public sector, and foreshadowed further cuts.

With the release of the government's mid-year financial report on Thursday, Ms Giddings
announced the government would look to make savings from the public sector equivalent
to the wages of 2,300 workers.

A raft of election promises will be deferred or abandoned, including a new specialised
sports school and a helicopter emergency medical service.

Ms Giddings also unveiled plans for state owned businesses to carry around $100 million
of debt and capital expenditure.

The figures show a $200 million drop in expected GST revenue for the state, and a further
$100 million drop from state taxes.

Ms Giddings said the drastic measures were needed to stop the state from going into net debt.

"The global financial crisis is having a lasting and profound impact on the government's
finances," she told reporters in Hobart on Thursday.

"The simple fact to face is that we no longer have the income to support our expenditure
across government.

"This means we have to take our own hard decisions now to make sure we don't have to
have even harder decisions made for us."

Head of the state's Treasury Martin Wallace said the time was right to reassess Tasmania's
budget.

"This isn't a crisis, this is an unsustainable position that if no action is taken
will lead to crisis," he said.

"It is important to prevent this situation happening."

Head of Unions Tasmania Kevin Harkins said the government was now on a "collision course"

with the public sector.

"The premier has now put every public servant in Tasmania on notice that they might
be sacked," he said.

"This is extraordinary behaviour from a Labor premier, and the union movement will
act to support and defend working Tasmanians and their families."

But Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Robert Wallace welcomed the cuts.

"The status quo is not an option for the government, because the state will go deeply
into debt and lose its AA+ credit rating," Mr Wallace said.

"The premier's announcements today are the start of a long but necessary journey so
that the government can build a strong budget."

AAP pbc/it

KEYWORD: BUDGET TAS (WITH FACTBOX)

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

NSW:Mother and two sons missing: police

AAP General News (Australia)
08-27-2010
NSW:Mother and two sons missing: police

SYDNEY, Aug 27 AAP - Police are looking for a missing woman and her two children, who
were last seen in Sydney's west on Tuesday.

Lisa Nixon, 34, and her two sons, Maximilian and Joshua, aged eight and four, were
reported missing to Green Valley police by concerned family members on Wednesday morning.

They were last seen at Thomas Hassall Primary School, in West Hoxton, about 11.30am
(AEST) on Tuesday.

Police believe they may be travelling in a 2004 purple Mitsubishi Magna with NSW registration
AF28NW.

Police hold concerns for their welfare because they say it is out of character for
Lisa not to contact family.

She is described as being of Caucasian appearance, is about 175cm tall, is of a thin
build and has brown hair.

Maximilian is described as being of Caucasian appearance, with olive complexion, is
about 110cm tall, weighs about 30 kg and has short dark hair.

Joshua is described as being of Caucasian appearance, with a fair complexion, and is
about 90cm tall.

He has a thin build and short dark hair.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the three is urged to contact Green
Valley Police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

AAP bc/rs

KEYWORD: NIXON

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

Fed: Victoria and WA still holding out on agreement with feds

AAP General News (Australia)
04-20-2010
Fed: Victoria and WA still holding out on agreement with feds

CANBERRA, April 20 AAP - Victoria and Western Australia remain the only states holding
out on a deal with the federal government over its hospitals and health reforms.

The premiers of both states have not been swayed by a deal their NSW counterpart Kristina
Keneally garnered during one-on-one discussions with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Tuesday.

"There's more to go in these negotiations," Victorian Premier John Brumby told reporters
ahead of a second day of negotiations in Canberra.

"It's hard to tell exactly how today will turn out."

The planned clawback of GST revenue, which the federal government intends using to
become the dominant funder of public hospitals, remains the biggest obstacle for Victoria
and WA.

Earlier Ms Keneally announced her state had agreed to allow the commonwealth to retain
almost a third of NSW's GST revenue to directly fund the state's public hospitals system.

As part of the deal, NSW would put 30 per cent of its GST revenues into a federal-state
funding pool instead of giving the funds directly to Canberra.

The deal is subject to safeguards and "appropriate" governance arrangements that included
state participation in the pool.

"We are in a position to be able to have the commonwealth retain a third of our GST
for direct funding of hospitals in NSW," Ms Keneally told reporters.

She said NSW thought "we were there" in reaching an agreement with the federal government.

MORE rl/bwl

KEYWORD: HOSPITALS 2ND UPDATE

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

Fed: Tony Abbott passes first major test as Liberal leader

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-2009
Fed: Tony Abbott passes first major test as Liberal leader

The Greens are celebrating their best results ever in the Liberal strongholds of Higgins
in Melbourne and Bradfield in Sydney .. but the Liberals aren't unhappy with their results
either.

The two by-elections yesterday were expected to be a big test for new opposition leader
TONY ABBOTT .. who tossed out MALCOLM TURNBULL and Labor's emissions trading scheme last
week.

But there were no surprises and the Liberal candidates won comfortably.

KELLY O'DWYER took over from PETER COSTELLO in Higgins .. with a 15 per cent margin
on a two party preferred basis .. while PAUL FLETCHER has replaced BRENDAN NELSON in Bradfield
with a two party-preferred lead of 27 per cent.

AAP RTV goc/jl/wz/crh

KEYWORD: BRADFIELD HIGGINS (CANBERRA)

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

Fed: First taste of Masterchef draws viewers and mixed reaction

AAP General News (Australia)
04-28-2009
Fed: First taste of Masterchef draws viewers and mixed reaction

By Katherine Field, National Entertainment Writer

SYDNEY, April 28 AAP - MasterChef Australia has attracted a huge number of viewers
on its first outing, but reaction has been mixed with many saying it isn't as good as
the UK original.

A strong audience of 1.42 million watched the one-hour debut of the Australian cooking
show on Monday night.

The audience peaked at 1.91 million.

It easily beat rival shows including How I Met Your Mother and Scrubs on Seven, and
You Saved My Life and Missing Pieces on the Nine Network.

But it's not clear if Ten will retain the viewers, with some taking to the official
website to slam the episode featuring wannabe chefs auditioning in Sydney and Adelaide.

One viewer called it "very boring" while others said it failed to live up to the UK version.

"Anybody who has been a fan of masterchef from the uk will not watch this rubbish,"

one viewer wrote.

Some complained there were too many cooking shows on television while another said
"Masterchef.......? it's more like australian chef idol."

Nevertheless, others have warmed to the show.

On the social networking site Facebook, groups and fan pages have started up, with
the official fan page having more than 400 members.

Hosted by former journalist Sarah Wilson and featuring chefs George Calombaris and
Gary Mehigan and food critic Matt Preston as judges, it aims to find Australia's top amateur
chef.

It will screen six nights a week and is Ten's big ratings hope for the year, as a replacement
for the axed reality show Big Brother.

More than 7,500 Australians tried out to be in the contest.

Ten's chief programming officer David Mott said he was pleased with the result.

"This is a strong start for MasterChef Australia," Mott said.

"It's an entirely new format on Australian television.

"These numbers suggest viewers will share our passion for the delicious combination
of food and individual achievement."

The debut came as Ten had its best ratings result for the year so far with a 32 per
cent audience share on Monday night, with thanks also to the finale of The Biggest Loser.

More than two million viewers tuned in to watch Perth's Bob Herdsman be crowned the
winner after losing 87.6kg, more than half his weight.

It was easily the most watched show of the night to pip high-rating crime drama Underbelly
on Nine.

AAP kaf/ht

KEYWORD: MASTERCHEF (FILE PIX AVAILABLE)

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

NSW: Main stories in today's Sydney newspapers =2

AAP General News (Australia)
12-24-2008
NSW: Main stories in today's Sydney newspapers =2

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

Page 1: Mohamed Haneef holds no grudges against senior Australian security officials
following a scathing report into the botched arrest of the Gold Coast doctor.

Page 2: NSW Premier Nathan Rees has asked for a review by the independent pricing tribunal
of every major NSW climate change program.

Page 3: A prominent Sydney medical researcher has been caught up in a US Senate investigation
into claims that big pharmaceutical companies are paying for product favouritism in industry
articles.

World: The former Soviet republic Georgia has accused Russia of seeking to hide war
crimes (Moscow).

Finance: Hedge fund investment group HFA Holdings has frozen $1 billion of deposits
in three of its managed funds.

Sport: Veteran cricketer Matthew Hayden says he has no plans to retire.

MORE vpm/apm

KEYWORD: MONITOR FRONTERS NSW 2 SYDNEY

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

FED: Obesity to be treated like smoking to beat cancer

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2008
FED: Obesity to be treated like smoking to beat cancer

Cancer experts want a hard-hitting approach to obesity .. similar to the anti-tobacco
campaign .. to stop the fat epidemic driving up breast and bowel cancer rates.

The Cancer Council Australia says obesity's already a well-known to trigger type two
diabetes .. hypertension .. heart disease and stroke.

But the council says there's fast-growing evidence it's also contributing to Australia's
growing cancer rates.

Chief executive .. Professor IAN OLVER .. says we need to recognise this now and act
with tough measures to turn it around.

A recent review's found Australia has overtaken the US as the fattest nation in the
world .. with 26 per cent of adults now obese.

The call for tough anti-obesity measures is in an editorial .. in the Medical Journal
of Australia.

AAP RTV tam/wz/tm

KEYWORD: OBESITY (SYDNEY)

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

Vic: Police find man's torso buried in backyard

AAP General News (Australia)
04-09-2008
Vic: Police find man's torso buried in backyard

By Katie Bradford

MELBOURNE, April 9 AAP - A homicide inquiry has been launched after a man's torso was
found buried in the backyard of a house in northern Victoria.

The grisly discovery was made this morning at an address in Williams Street, Mooroopna.

Detective Senior Sergeant Jeff Maher, of the Victorian homicide squad, said the remains
belonged to a 34-year-old man who lived at the house with his de facto partner and their
three children.

The man was last seen in mid-March and was reported missing to police on April 4th.

Mr Maher said he was last seen in the vicinity of the house.

"But it was very unusual for him to go missing like this," he added.

It's not yet known how or when the man died and police are still searching for other remains.

"We are doing a slow methodical search of the crime scene. We have uncovered the torso
but we're still digging," Mr Maher said.

The remains were discovered buried about half a metre underground.

Mr Maher said detectives went to the house this morning in relation to the man's disappearance.

"They were doing a bit of poking around when the torso was discovered," he said.

Police, a pathologist and forensic experts remain on the scene and will work through the night.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

AAP kb/sjm/af/de

KEYWORD: BONES LEAD

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

WA: Man was stuffed in boot and dumped after nightclub fight

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-2007
WA: Man was stuffed in boot and dumped after nightclub fight

Police say a West Australian man was assaulted before being stuffed in a car boot and
dumped .. after a fight at a nightclub.

They say he was punched and kicked to the ground during a fight outside the Vibe Night
Club in Rockingham .. south of Perth .. on December 1.

The 25 year old was then bundled into the back of a Commodore and eventually dumped
in bush at Orelia where he walked to a nearby house and called police.

Detectives want to speak to anyone who witnessed the fight.

AAP RTV ah/jec/bart

KEYWORD: BOOT (PERTH)

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

Vic: Cyberspace suicide poems posted before deaths

AAP General News (Australia)
04-23-2007
Vic: Cyberspace suicide poems posted before deaths

By Kellee Nolan, Jamie Duncan and Catherine Best

MELBOURNE, April 23 AAP - One of the two teenage girls who died in a suspected joint
suicide pact posted a series of suicidal poems on the internet in the months before her
death.

Jodie Gater and Stephanie Gestier, both 16-year-old students at Melbourne's Upwey High
School, were missing for a week before their bodies were found yesterday, hanging from
a tree in the Dandenong Ranges National Park.

From last December to February, on one of her websites, Jodie posted three odes to
suicide, the second one titled Suicide in the Night.

It reads: "It's over for me, I can't take it! I hear it over and over again, It feels
like it always rains."

Another of Jodie's Myspace websites reads: "Let Steph n me b free."

Meanwhile, Stephanie also posted a series of photos on a website on March 28 and 29,
just over three weeks before she was found dead.

Her website profile said: "i dont wanna know how many friends you have cuz i dont have
any anymore (sic)."

Stephanie's grieving mother is also believed to have used the internet early today
to post a letter of farewell to her daughter.

The author of the note, identified by Southern Cross Broadcasting as Stephanie's mother
Juli, (Juli) a transit police officer, says her daughter, her only child, "was found with
her friend hanging from a tree".

"Stephanie, why didn't you tell me you were so upset? Why didn't you just come home?"

the note asked.

"You had only just turned 16. You were always such a quiet girl who spent time listening
to music and surfing the internet.

"There is nothing that couldn't have been sorted out. You were my only child and can
never be replaced. Bye bye, my little girl."

The teenagers also appear in footage on a YouTube website, dancing with two other girls
in what appears to be a school hall.

The girls were in a four-member, all-girl band called Bitchy.

Upwey High School principal Greg Holman said today the school community was "devastated"

by the girls' deaths and that counsellors were working with students and staff.

Adolescent psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Greg said a joint suicide pact between girls was rare.

"It's very, very unusual to have girls kill themselves and particularly kill themselves
in this way," he said.

Meanwhile he warned friends of the girls should be monitored.

"Yes, this puts all their friends at huge risk," he told Southern Cross Broadcasting.

"We know that having someone close to you commit suicide is a risk factor in and of
itself... I'm sure there's people working out there with the young people to make sure
they understand that suicide is not a solution."

Cyber friends left tributes on Jodie's website.

One contributor, Matt, said: "R.I.P girl. Gonna miss you lots. I love you and i'll
never forget you".

Another said: "if it's true R.I.P. ill miss you and all the memories from primary skool. xoxo".

Jodie's final website update was on April 14, a day before she and Stephanie went missing.

Her final message was to her boyfriend, Allan, next to a picture of them kissing.

"I luv you sooo soo much Allan, Miss u heaps and heaps xoxoxo I will always remember
u," she wrote.



(Counselling for troubled young people is available on the following numbers:

- Lifeline - 131 114 (cost of a local call)

- Kids Help Line - 1800 55 1800 (free call)

- Suicide Prevention Crisis Line - (02) 9331 2000.)



AAP kn/sjm/sp

KEYWORD: BODIES NIGHTLEAD (PIX AVAILABLE)

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

Qld: Man sexually assaults teen during walk

AAP General News (Australia)
12-22-2006
Qld: Man sexually assaults teen during walk

Police are searching for a man who sexually assaulted a teenage girl .. as she walked
with a female friend in Brisbane's bayside.

They say the 15-year-olds were walking along Kennedy Drive at Capalaba about 1.30 yesterday
afternoon .. when they were approached from behind by a man .. who grabbed one of the
girls on the breast.

When she tried to break free .. the man wouldn't let go .. but her friend managed to
pull her away.

The man then ran off towards Wentworth Drive.

Police say he's caucasian .. in his 20s .. with a slim build and dark brown short hair.

AAP RTV rm/tm/cp

KEYWORD: ASSAULT (BRISBANE)

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

Fed: Govt not over barrel on Telstra sale: Costello

AAP General News (Australia)
08-15-2006
Fed: Govt not over barrel on Telstra sale: Costello

Treasurer PETER COSTELLO says the federal government won't be forced into selling its
share in Telstra.

Mr COSTELLO says the government doesn't necessarily need the money from the Telstra
sale .. adding it'll deal with the shares when it's in the interests of other shareholders
and taxpayers.

He says if the conditions don't suit .. the shares could be held in the Future Fund.

It comes after speculation whether the government will push ahead with its sale of
its majority shareholding in the telco .. with growing concerns over Telstra's sharp dip
in its shareprice.

AAP RTV sw/sb/es/bart

KEYWORD: TELSTRA COSTELLO (CANBERRA)

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

Fed: Ellison says govt prepared to turn back Papuan boats

AAP General News (Australia)
04-09-2006
Fed: Ellison says govt prepared to turn back Papuan boats

Justice Minister CHRIS ELLISON says the federal government is prepared to force boats
carrying Papuan asylum seekers back to Indonesia.

Senator ELLISON says circumstances in which they intercept people will determine whether
the government will send boats carrying Papuans back.

And he says Australia will deal with Papuans as with any other illegal arrivals.

Relations have been strained between Indonesia and Australia over the granting of temporary
protection visas to 42 Papuan asylum seekers.

But Senator ELLISON rejects claims that forcing a refugee back to a place of persecution
is a breach of international laws to which Australia is a signatory.





The comment's in an interview with Senator ELLISON WILL .. which will be broadcast
on ABC Radio National at midday today.

AAP RTV ag/wz/smt

KEYWORD: PAPUA ELLISON (SYDNEY)

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

Fed: Pick a team and stick with it, says former Today co-host

AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-2005
Fed: Pick a team and stick with it, says former Today co-host

By Amy Fallon, TV Writer

SYDNEY, Aug 8 AAP - Former Today show co-host Steve Liebmann says the Nine Network's
breakfast program does not need a new line-up.

However, the veteran journalist, who fronted the show for 20 years before retiring
in February this year, has urged the broadcaster to "settle on a format, settle on a team
and stick with it".

Rumours have plagued the morning program, currently hosted by Tracy Grimshaw and Karl
Stefanovic, since the beginning of this year, due to falling ratings.

Grimshaw and Stefanovic have struggled in the ratings against the Seven Network's Sunrise
hosts Melissa Doyle and David Koch.

There had been speculation that Grimshaw would be replaced with ABC newsreader Juanita Phillips.

Phillips, who is on maternity leave from the ABC, has since denied that she would be
moving to Nine, saying she is happy at the national broadcaster.

There has also been media speculation that Network Ten newsreader Jessica Rowe and
her husband, 60 Minutes presenter Peter Overton, had turned down an offer to take over
the show.

Today Liebmann said he had heard the rumours regarding a new line-up but had "no idea"

what was happening with the show.

"As for all the rumours, I know no more than you do from the papers," said Liebmann,
who began on Today in 1982 and will soon start work for three new Foxtel shows.

However, he couldn't see any need to replace Grimshaw and Stefanovic as hosts.

"I think the team they've got is terrific," Liebmann said.

"But listen, I'm out of it, so it's not for me to decide."

But Liebmann had one piece of advice for the network.

"The only piece of advice I'll give is settle on a format, settle on a team and stick
with it," Liebmann said.

He said "chopping and changing, especially in breakfast television" never worked.

"People become comfortable and familiar with a team. It doesn't matter who it is," he said.

"And if you keep chopping and changing that team you break the comfort factor."

He pointed out that Today's ratings were getting better all the time.

"I think and I understand their numbers are getting better ... if you look at the last
hour of the Today program against Sunrise, Today is winning again," Liebmann said.

He said part of this was due to the fact that the program had taken a harder approach
to news over Sunrise.

"Now it looks like they've come back to hard news content and it's starting to pay off," he said.

"I've always said to them - listen, we know what we do best and that's news.

"But others have different ideas."

A Nine spokeswoman "categorically denied" that a change in line-up at Today was pending.

She also pointed out that since former news man Anthony Flannery had joined the show,
Today had been winning the last hour and a half in Sydney over the past two months.

AAP af/cat/bwl

KEYWORD: TODAY (FILE PIX AVAILABLE)

2005 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

ACT: Motorcyclist dies after crash

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2005
ACT: Motorcyclist dies after crash

CANBERRA, April 2 AAP - A motorcyclist has died in hospital from injuries sustained
in an accident in Canberra's northern suburbs.

An ACT Policing spokesman said the 33-year-old man from McKellar fell from his motorbike
after travelling at high speed around a corner on Strayleaf Crescent, Gungahlin, about
3.10pm (AEST) yesterday.

He suffered serious injuries and was treated by paramedics before being transported
to hospital in a critical condition.

He died a short time later.

The accident brings the ACT's road toll this year to five.

AAP pjo/apm

KEYWORD: TOLL ACT

2005 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

security

security
1. An asset or assets to which a lender can have recourse if the borrower defaults on the loan repayments. In the case of loans by banks and other moneylenders the security is sometimes referred to as collateral.

2. A financial asset, including shares, government stocks, debentures, bonds, unit trusts, and rights to money lent or deposited. It does not, however, include insurance policies. See also bearer security; dated security; fixed-interest security; gilt-edged security; listed security; marketable security.

3. Precautions taken in e-commerce to ensure that the following attributes are safeguarded: • Authentication. Are parties to a transaction who they claim to be? This is achieved by using digital certificates. • Privacy and confidentiality. Is transaction data protected? The consumer may want an anonymous purchase. Are all non-essential traces of a transaction removed from the public network and have all intermediary records been eliminated?. • Integrity. Are the messages sent complete? Checks are needed to ensure that messages have not been corrupted. • Non-repudiability. Could the sender deny sending the message? It is essential measures are in place to protect against repudiation. • Availability. How can threats to the continuity and performance of the system be eliminated?