SYN Media

Coming up in the next fifteen minutes:

• Victorian farmers gain access to low interest loans
• Billionaire Clive Palmer banned from flying out of Brisbane airport
• Victorian Police concerned over sexting cases
• and the state government is urged to address long waiting times in emergency departments

 Good afternoon, I’m SAM CUCCHIARA.And I’m SARAH MAUNDER. Welcome to SYN News at 4. The top story on SYN today, police have raised serious concerns over the recent spate of teenage sexting cases. EDDIE WILLIAMS has more. Police in Victoria’s north east are investigating several incidents in the Wangaratta area.  It follows the arrests of four teenagers in a similar case of sexting in Melbourne’s west last week.   Detective Senior Constable RO-MINA MC-EWAN says many teens are not aware sharing explicit images via mobile phones or online websites is a legal offence.  Constable MC-EWAN says penalties include a maximum of ten years in jail, although not all cases are prosecuted.  She says education about the dangers of sexting is paramount and has called on schools to inform young people about the dangers and long term consequences of sharing explicit images.  This comes just a month after a Victorian parliamentary committee recommended changes to the law to prevent minors from being charged with child pornography as a result of sexting. Eddie Williams, SYN News.SAM: Billionaire Clive Palmer was banned from flying out of Brisbane airport last night after refusing to consent to a body scan.  But the United Australia Party leader and aspiring PM hit back at Brisbane airport, accusing them of setting him up.  Palmer says he already went through the security check to catch his private plane before having to switch to a commercial flight because of scheduling issues. He says his staff were not subject to a second scan.  Witnesses say he became aggressive after being asked to submit to a second screening.  Palmer says his doctor advised him against heavy doses of radiation.  Palmer’s first wife died of cancer which he contributes to visiting Russia in the wake of the CHERNOBYL disaster.  Palmer says he would ban full body scanners at international airports if he were elected prime minister.  A spokeswoman for Brisbane Airport says security staff followed federal procedures and the full body scan selection was random. SARAH: The State Government is being urged to address long wait times in emergency departments following the death of a SEVENTY ONE YEAR OLD man, who was forced to wait more than TWO hours for medical attention after experiencing chest pains.  The man’s widow praised emergency staff, but says extra funding and staff are needed.  The man was taken by ambulance to the Frankston hospital but died while being transferred to the Monash Medical Centre for further treatment.  Paramedics say this scenario is common, with sick patients frequently having to wait for hours with ambulance crews until hospital beds are available.  Victorian health minister David Davis says the government is working to address the issue.  He says additional staff are needed to allow paramedics to discharge patients in a timely way. SAM: Victorian farmers will be able to access low-interest loans, following an agreement between the state and federal governments. Many farmers are struggling with debt, as they deal with the consequences of a dry summer and a cold start to winter. The state and Commonwealth governments will contribute sixty million dollars over two years, with farmers able to access loans of up to six hundred and fifty thousand dollars. But Farm Power president CHRIS GLEESON told News Limited the loans are simply a “bandaid” solution. SARAH: The man in charge of building and running Australia’s National Broadband Network has resigned from the job. N-B-N Co chief MIKE QUIGLEY says he will retire from corporate life, but will remain CEO until the board appoints a replacement. MR QUIGLEY had led NBN Co for four years, and his resignation comes just months after signing a new three-month contract. Meanwhile, the Darwin CBD has today become the latest part of Australia to be connected to the NBN.SAM: A man accused of raping and assaulting a Dutch tourist has appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court this morning. Forty-six year old AL-FIO ANTHONY GRAN-ATA attended a mention hearing, facing 179 different charges, including 62 counts of rape, 94 counts of assault and 10 counts of threatening to kill. The court heard that GRANATA held the tourist hostage in an apartment for six weeks, where he allegedly bashed and raped her repeatedly. GRAN-ATA was remanded in custody to re-appear on August 30.SARAH A man has died after a drive-by shooting in Sydney’s south-west.  The man was shot several times just after ten o’clock, and died after suffering a heart attack. This is the second drive-by shooting in Sydney this week.SAM: Pakistani schoolgirl and rights campaigner MALALA YOUSAFZAI will lead a youth takeover of the UN General Assembly today.MALALA will mark her sixteenth birthday by calling for education to be prioritised in failing states around the world.MARRYUM KAHLOON, former UNICEF Australia Youth Ambassador, says MALALA is an icon for many young women.“Malala, she’s really been quite an inspirational figure, in a sense that a lot of girls can identify with another 16 year old girl, but then they see the struggles that she’s gone through, just to get something which we all take for granted, which is a basic education.”And to find out more about Malala Day, including more of that interview with MARRYUM KAHLOON, tune in to Panorama after 4.30.SARAH: Indonesian Police say at least five people, including two guards, are dead following a mass prison escape in the North Sumatra province. More than 150 prisoners escaped from the prison after a riot broke out late on Thursday. Inmates set fire to an administration room following a power blackout. The Age reports 35 of the escapees have been detained.SAM: To Ireland now, and MP’s have voted for new legislation allowing women to seek an abortion in limited cases if their life is at risk. Abortion laws in Ireland, which is predominantly Catholic, became the focus of worldwide debate last year when a woman died of sepsis from a miscarriage.  The woman had sought an abortion when she was told she would miscarry, but her request was refused because her life was not in danger at the time.  The bill will now be voted on in the Upper House, where the government has the majority.SARAH: New data shows that more and more Victorian students are enrolling in vocational education. From 2011 to 2012, the number of students undertaking vocational education and training subjects – known as VET- increased by more than sixty thousand. Most of the students choose to study part-time, although there was a twelve per cent increase in the number of full-time students.SAM: Australian workers have the ninth-best work-life balance in the world, according to a study of ninety countries. Mexicans have the best work-life balance, followed by Indian and Brazilian workers. Australia’s ranking was just above the UK, but slightly behind the US.SARAH: And you may want to think twice before giving a toddler free rein of your smartphone.   A 14-month old girl in the US used her father’s phone to go on a shopping spree, purchasing a car from eBay.  The man was shocked to receive an email congratulating him on the purchase.  He contacted the seller to see if there were any other interested bidders, but decided to keep the car.  He says he plans to restore the car and give it to his daughter as a present when she is old enough to drive. SARAH: And now here’s EDDIE WILLIAMS with sport.EDDIE: Thanks SARAH. Cricket fans are still recovering from shock, after nineteen year old debutant ASHTON AGAR made 98 runs batting at number eleven, to put Australia in a competitive position at stumps on Day 2 of the first Ashes Test. ASHTON told Cricket Australia TV that he was over the moon with his innings. “A great day. I am absolutely thrilled, that’s the best way to put it. I’m not overly disappointed that I didn’t get my hundred, that wasn’t what it was about, so I’m very, very happy.” AGAR smashed multiple records, making the highest score ever by a Test number eleven, and sharing the highest ever tenth wicket partnership with batsman PHILLIP HUGHES. AGAR is also looking forward to some success with the ball. “Because I’ve been put into the side to take wickets, I’m still very, very hungry for that first wicket… I like to think I’m a bowling allrounder, but to get that wicket will be an extra special moment.” Australia went all out for 280, after earlier collapsing to nine for 117. At stumps, England was two for eighty in its second innings, leading by fifteen runs.Meanwhile, Australia’s Under Nineteen side has suffered a heavy loss to India in a tri-series final, losing by eight wickets. Australia was all out for 75, before India chased down the total in less than sixteen overs.AFL CEO ANDREW DEMETRIOU says St Kilda’s STEPHEN MILNE should be able to play in the AFL, despite facing four charges of rape. MILNE has missed the Saints’ previous three matches since charges were laid, but will return to the side against Carlton tomorrow night. Speaking on the ABC today, DEMETRIOU said Milne is “entitled to be judged innocent until proven guilty.” The rape charges relate to an alleged incident in 2004.To soccer, and WAYNE ROONEY will miss Manchester United’s clash with the A-League All-stars next week. ROONEY injured his hamstring during Man United’s tour of Asia, and has returned to England for rehabilitation.And finally, to my tips for this weekend’s AFL action: (selections in bold)Collingwood v AdelaidePort v HawthornGeelong v MelbourneRichmond V Gold CoastCarlton V St KildaBrisbane V North MelbourneSydney V GWSWestern Bulldogs v EssendonWest Coast v FremantleAnd just two matches in the VFL this weekend: Sandringham is hosting Williamstown, while Werribee is taking on Casey.And now back to SAM with the weather. SAM: Thanks EddieTo the weather, And right now in the city, it’s 16 degrees. We’re headed for an overnight low of 7, before a rainy day tomorrow, a top of 17 degrees.  Saturday will be rainy and 17Sunday will also be rainy, a top of 18And Monday there will be a chance of rain, a top of 19.SARAH: And For those on public transport, there is a disruption on the citybound 86 tram near Greenhills road and Plenty Road. SAM: To recap our top stories this afternoon:

• Financial relief for Victorian farmers,
• SARAH: Renewed calls to fix up emergency departments,
• SAM: Clive Palmer vows to ban airport body scanners if elected PM,
• SARAH: and Milne to return for the clash against Carlton tomorrow night

SAM: That’s all for our bulletin this afternoon. But when we’re off air, you can keep up with the news by following us on twitter at News SYN.Panorama’s coming up at 4.30 and we’ll be back with an update at 5pm.