SYN News at 4: 2 October 2013
Coming up in the next fifteen minutes:Workers Union pressures Labor on same-sex marriageDerryn Hinch facing possible jail time, againThe PM’s first visit to Indonesia yields a boost for live exportsAnd Obama pushes on with healthcare reforms despite the shutdown of congress Good afternoon, I’m CHAD VAN ESTROP. And I’m ISABELLA PETRUOLO. Welcome to SYN News at 4. Former broadcaster Derryn Hinch has been found in contempt of court for breaching a suppression order regarding the Jill Meagher murder case. The 69-year-old took to his blog and personal twitter account in April to detail the criminal history of convicted murderer, Adrian Ernest Bayley, revealing he was on parole at the time of the murder. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Kaye said allegations published by Hinch directly contravened a court suppression order and frustrated the course of justice . A second contempt of court charge was dismissed, with Justice Kaye finding it did not breach common law contempt. Speaking outside the Victorian Supreme Court, Hinch maintained his innocence saying he is a scapegoat for the media. “I do have a feeling, I’m sick of walking in an out of court for crimes I’ve supposedly committed but umm, I haven’t robbed a bank I haven’t stolen money and I haven’t committed any other offences, anything I’ve ever done, I’ve tried to do it for the good of the community I think” The case returns to court on October 11. Chad: The head of the Australian Workers Union / is urging Labor Party MPs to vote in favour of marriage equality. EDDIE WILLIAMS explains. “Speaking to the ABC’s AM program, PAUL HOWES has argued that a conscience vote on the issue of same-sex marriage is no longer appropriate. Previously, MR HOWES had supported and helped to engineer the conscience vote. Now, he says it’s a cop-out. “A conscience vote is a non-sensible decision for Labor to adopt, and a conscience vote will never allow this important last step of reform in removing all forms of discrimination against people in same-sex relationships to be achieved.” Greens MPs are already bound to vote in favour of marriage equality, and South Australian Senator Sarah Hanson-Young agrees it’s time for Labor to follow suit. But ALP leadership candidate BILL SHORTEN has indicated he will oppose any moves to abolish the conscience vote, and Rudd-Gillard government minister TONY BURKE has told the ABC that changing the party’s stance could harm Labor’s standing in the community. Liberal MPs are currently bound to vote against same-sex marriage legislation. PAUL HOWES will continue his push for change in the Labor Party when he addresses the Australian Marriage Equality Forum in Sydney tonight. EDDIE WILLIAMS, SYN News.”Chad: The former Afghan sergeant suspected of killing three Australian soldiers in Afghanistan last year has been captured and is expected to stand trial for murder. Chief of the Defence Force David Hurley told reporters today that he had received confirmation overnight former sergeant Hekmatullah was now in custody in Afghanistan. We now expect him to face trial for the murder of Lance Corporal Stjepan Milosevic, Sapper James Martin and Private Robert Poate, during an insider attack at patrol base Rahab in Afghanistan. Two other Australian soldiers were also wounded in the cowardly attack. General Hurley said Pakistani authorities had been working to establish an appropriate transfer agreement with Afghanistan after Hekmatullah was taken into custody in February this year. The families have express their sincere gratitude for those Australians who have worked diligently and relentlessly to ensure the man accused of murdering these three Australians faced justice. I echo their thanks, not only to those ADF member involved, but to those from other agencies who have provided crucial support. General Hurley said Australia did not have a formal indication why Hekmatullah attacked the soldiers adding it was mere speculation he was a member of the Taliban.ISABELLA:Tony Abbott’s first visit to Jakarta as Prime Minister has resulted in a boost to the live export trade. Indonesia will accept an additional 53 000 animals in the December quarter bringing the annual quota close to 300 000. Agricultural Minister Barnaby Joyce has told the ABC that this is an important step towards restoring exports to the 700 000 imported by Indonesia prior to the live export ban in 2011. “This is something that is vitally important, it’s vitally important for the Australian agricultural outcomes, its vitally important for our relationship with indonesia, good trade relationships and most importantly,for my number one goal, which is getting a better return back to the farm gate” Chad:Victorian police have charged five members of the Comancheros bikie gang and three members of the Hells Angels over a recent spate of shootings in Melbourne’s south-east. Yesterday more than 180 police raided and searched 10 properties connected with outlaw motorcycle gangs including the clubrooms of the Comancheros and Hells Angels. All eight members faced an out of session court hearing this morning With charges relating to extortion, blackmail and firearms offences.ISABELLA: Former AFL star BRENDAN FEVOLA has been declared bankrupt. The Brisbane Federal Circuit Court heard that FEVOLA accumulated more than sixty thousand dollars’ worth of unpaid debts. The former Carlton and Brisbane forward did not attend today’s hearing.ISABELLA: CLIVE PALMER’s political power continues to grow, with his party picking up a third Senator. EDDIE WILLIAMS reports. “In results confirmed by the Australian electoral Commission today, Palmer United Party candidate ZHENYA WANG has won the sixth Senate seat in Western Australia, ahead of former Greens’ Senator SCOTT LUDLAM. MR WANG becomes the third Palmer United Senator, after wins for the party in Queensland and Tasmania. Meanwhile, a recount of MR PALMER’s Fairfax seat in Queensland begins tomorrow, after just seven votes separated him from the Coalition’s Ted O’Brien following the full distribution of preferences.” Chad:A controversial new television ad has been launched to warn of weight gain associated with consuming excessive sugary drinks. Launched by The Rethink Sugary Drinks Forum / the ad depicts a man drinking a glass of liquid fat. The Australian Food and Grocery Council has defended the sale of sugary beverages saying that the ad demonises soft drinks. The forum hopes to decrease the marketing of sugary drinks to children and to limit accessibility from vending machines. CHAD: You are listening to SYN News. ISABELLA: Heading overseas now andGun related violence is again the topic of conversation in America after three teenages playing basketball were shot in The Merril Park Playground south-east of Chicago. An unidentified shooter opened fire in the park just before 9pm local time before fleeing on foot. The three victims were hospitalised in serious-to-critical conditions.Chad: American President Barack Obama is moving forward with his flagship health care program despite the ongoing government shutdown. Obama introduced new insurance exchanges to expand access to healthcare for millions of Americans during a speech in Washington this morning local time. The program dubbed Obamacare is expected to offer more choices increase competition and lower healthcare prices. It is now more than 12 hours since a funding stalemate on Obama’s signature reforms brought about the government shut down. ISABELLA:The world’s population will rise to 9.7 BILLION by the year 20-50, according to a report by the French Institute for Demographic Studies. The study shows that India will overtake China as the world’s most populous nation, while Nigeria is expected to overtake the US. China’s population is predicted to remain steady at 1.3 billion people. At the moment, the global figure sits at just over seven billion, having reached the milestone in October 2011.Chad: Back home, and a historic hearing of the Federal Court took place in the South Australia’s remote north today where traditional owners of the De Rose Hill Station were awarded the first financial compensation for their native title rights being overlooked. The native title holders first had their claim recognised after a lengthy trial in 2005 and in 2011 demanded compensation from the South Australian government saying the extinguishing of their title rights have harmed some sacred sites. The claimants are yet to decide how to spend the money.Chad:In science news, paleontologists have discovered the fossil of a giant prehistoric wombat at Sorrento. The fossil is believed to be up to one hundred thousand years old, and is as big as a rhinoceros.ISABELLA:Producers of the longest running comedy series The Simpsons have announced they will kill off one of it main characters. The show has just launched its 25th season in the US. Furious speculation has commenced with producer Al Jean hinting the character is voiced by an actor who has won an Emmy for their work. For dedicated fans, this clue is relatively useless as many actors on the show voice a plethora of various Springfield residents. ISABELLA: And now here’s ALEX DARLING with sport.ALEX:Thanks ISABELLA.And let me say I had my work cut out for me trying to find out exactly which club Lance Franklin is going to and for how much.Currently, it looks like GWS have dropped their bid, while Sydney is believed to have offered him a 9 year contract worth $10 million. Under the deal, Franklin would play until he is 35 years old.The Swans would need to make considerable room in their salary cap to accommodate the Franklin deal, but are helped by the retirement of Jude Bolton and Marty Mattner, as well as the controversial cost of living allowance. This payout by the AFL gives Sydney a 9.8% increase on their salary cap, and club presidents in Melbourne have been quick to criticise the extra buying power it gives the Swans over trade period. Collingwood Pres Eddie McGuire called the allowance a “rort” on SEN radio today, saying Melbourne clubs “can’t get at these third-party deals because the AFL is all over us.” The AFL is currently reviewing the allowance and looks set to scrap it because of the Franklin/Sydney deal. The league confirmed today it would also investigate the deal itself to ensure it falls within the rules of the league’s Total Player Payments. The deal includes a $4 million payout to Franklin if he stops playing before the contract ends, and the league is apparently prepared to block the deal or have it significantly altered as this arrangement could destroy Sydney’s playing list. Amongst all the chest beating and seven figure sums, Buddy himself actually had a say in his move to Sydney today, saying he only made the decision to leave after winning his second premiership with Hawthorn last Saturday. But, Buddy isn’t the only player looking to switch clubs this trade period.Earlier today, St.Kilda’s head of football Chris Pelchen tweeted club stars Nick Reiwoldt and Joey Montagna will stay, St.Kilda has also signed the 203cm, 104kg former US basketballer Jason Holmes as their international rookie.Meanwhile, restricted free agent Eddie Betts is almost a certainty to leave Carlton, the Blues unable to offer a contract as long or lucrative as the ones currently on the table from Adelaide and North Melbourne. Instead, as expected, the Blues have made a play for Collingwood’s Dale Thomas, with recruiting manager Shane Rogers telling Trade Radio the club had put an offer to Thomas and expect an answer over the weekend. Ahead of the NRL Grand Final between the Manly Sea Eagles and Sydney Roosters, Roosters centre lock Sonny Bill Williams has sat out todays training session. In his place, Boyd Cordner ran with the squad, making him a likely starter this Saturday. The ins and outs are likely to be crucial for the top of the table Roosters leading into the Final, as they look to break their premiership drought of 11 years against the Sea Eagles. There might not be Victorian teams in the league Grand Final but we won’t go home empty handed, after the Storm’s half back Cooper Cronk took out the Dally M medal as the best NRL player of 2013 last night. Cronk narrowly edged out fellow playmakers Jon Thurston, Daly Cherry-Evans and Todd Carney to become the third Storm player to win the medal. Now back to ISABELLA with the forecastISABELLA: Thanks Alex, it’s currently 15 degrees, after a few showers and that crazy wind. Melbourne reached a top of 17 today. We’re heading for an overnight low of 7, before a few showers tomorrow and a top of 16. Friday will be mostly sunny with a top of 22 degrees. CHAD: And for those on public transport, a reminder that the 4:07 city train to Lilydale, the 4:39 to Cragieburn and the 5:51 to Glen Waverley have been cancelled due to METRO’s modified timetable.ISABELLA: That’s all for our bulletin this afternoon. 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.
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