SYN Media

Coming up in the next fifteen minutes:

• Victorian Women’s Trust condemns treatment of Julia Gillard
• Work stops at Tecoma McDonalds site
• Stephen Milne appears in court
• And rumours surround Harry O’Brien’s absence from the Collingwood side

 Good afternoon, I’m SALLY WHYTE.Welcome to SYN News at 4. The top story on SYN today, The Victorian Women’s Trust has paid for a full page advertorial in today’s Age newspaper. The advertorial condemns the treatment of former Prime Minister Julia Gillard as a woman, and draws attention to the successful legislation passed by the minority government. ALLISON WORRALL reports. On page 7 of The Age today, Executive Director of the Victorian Women’s Trust, Mary Crooks, slammed the political environment and the media’s reporting during the Prime Ministership of Julia Gillard.The advertorial was paid for by non tax deductible donations from a small pool of women. The Trust  planned the piece a few weeks ago before Kevin Rudd replaced Julia Gillard as Prime Minister. Ms Crooks landed the advertorial in a metropolitan paper in spite of journalists and broadcasters who had been, in her words, “playing the political game” rather than dispassionately reporting facts.“I thought it would a nice irony in a way to have the message that is totally contradictory to what they’ve been doing appear in their paper.”The advertorial comes just weeks after an Age editorial called for Julia Gillard to stand down. Ms Crooks said it was important to get their statement on the public record before public discourse surrounding Australian politics changed. Allison Worrall – SYN News And for more of that interview with MARY CROOKS, stay tuned for Panorama at 4.30.Protesters against a McDonalds restaurant in Tecoma have had a small victory, with the fast food giant suspending construction at the site indefinitely.  About 400 people were at the picket line at the site this morning, after a week of protests, including four people who have planted themselves on the roof of the site since Monday. One woman says that she broke her fingers when she was pulled off the roof yesterday, but police say that she fell and will most likely be charged with trespassing.  McDonalds said in a statement to AAP that they could not say when construction would begin again. McDonalds did not respond to our enquiries before deadline, but a spokesperson told Fairfax yesterday that the delay would be temporaray.  Residents in Tecoma in the Dandenong Ranges have been protesting against the construction of the outlet, saying that it will be a bushfire hazard and damage local businesses.  The local council rejected the original bid from McDonalds but the decision was overturned by VCAT. Opposition Leader TONY ABBOTT says the Prime Minister must explain why he didn’t act to prevent the deaths of four young men during the government’s home insulation scheme in 2009 and 2010.  PRIME MINISTER RUDD has apologised unreservedly for the deaths, after a Queensland coroner ruled that workers were inadequately trained and were using inappropriate materials. “As the Prime Minister of the country, I am deeply sorry for what has occurred, and of course I apologise for these deaths, given that it was a government program.” But MR ABBOTT says the Prime Minister’s apology didn’t go far enough. “All very well that he’s apologised, but now he’s got to explain… why he did nothing to address these safety issues before these tragedies and disasters took place.” Three insulation workers died in Queensland, while another was killed in New South Wales. The family of one of the victims is also calling for MR RUDD to deliver a face-to-face apology.St Kilda footballer STEPHEN MILNE has made his first appearance in court since being charged with four counts of rape last month. The thirty-three year old was flanked by his wife MELISSA as he entered the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court for a hearing which lasted just four minutes. MILNE is accused of raping a nineteen year old woman in March 2004, at the home of his teammate LEIGH MONTAGNA. He will re-appear in court for a committal mention on September 13.MILNE has not played for the Saints since charges were laid, but could return in the next few weeks.Victorian Education Minister MARTIN DIXON has met with his federal counterpart BILL SHORTEN today, and is hopeful of an agreement over the Gonski schools funding reforms. MR DIXON says it’s “encouraging to be engaging in direct negotiations” with the Commonwealth, but Victoria is still insisting that the Federal government contribute SEVEN BILLION DOLLARS over six years. PRIME MINISTER RUDD has given the states until the end of next week to sign up to the reforms. But Deputy Prime Minister ANTHONY ALBANESE has criticised the Napthine government for not reaching an agreement earlier. “We have on the table plan for better schools that will lead to increased funding for every school… Denis Napthine’s saying, ‘I’m not sure I want more money for schools in Victoria,’ putting politics before the interests of kids in classrooms.”Meanwhile, staff at the Australian National University are considering strike action, after the uni’s announcement that it would cut more than 200 jobs in an effort to cope with decreasing government funding. DEBORAH VENESS from the National Tertiary Education Union says staff are concerned about the cuts, and a union meeting will be held to determine whether strike action is necessary. ANU announced the job cuts in preparation for a loss of more than $50 million in funding over the next two years, as part of the federal government’s plan to fund the National School Improvement Plan.A man has appeared in court today, charged with the murder of a self-professed vampire in 2003. MARK ADRIAN PERRY was arrested in Perth on Wednesday, and was extradited to Melbourne yesterday. Police allege that PERRY organised the killing of SHANE CHARTRES-ABBOTT in a revenge attack. CHARTRES-ABBOTT was due to face court over the assault of PERRY’s former girlfriend, but was killed before he could face court. PERRY did not apply for bail and will appear in court again for a committal mention in August. Heading overseas now:The New Zealand Teachers’ Council has had to discipline one of its teachers, who was caught stealing lunch from her students.CCTV footage showed the woman going through children’s lunchboxes and taking food.She has not denied the allegations, and the Teachers’ Council has now put limits on her teaching certificate. And it’s going to be a big weekend in North Queensland, as the Cairns Ukulele Festival attempts to break the world record for the largest ukulele ensemble.  Organisers are hopeful they will have enough participants to break the old record of TWO THOUSAND, ONE-HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FOUR people, which was set in Japan. But the day isn’t just about setting a new world record, and organiser GABIE TOMASZ told the ABC, “It’s going to be a good day no matter what.”SALLY: And now here’s MICHAEL THOMPSON with sport.MICHAEL: Thanks SALLY. Tonight’s blockbuster at the MCG between Collingwood and Carlton is being overshadowed by a rumoured falling out between backman HARRY O’BRIEN and Coach NATHAN BUCKLEY. O’BRIEN was left out of the side to take on the Blues due to an ankle injury, but there’s speculation that his omission is due to a rift between player and coach. This comes six weeks after O’ BRIEN blasted EDDIE MCGUIRE for his infamous King Kong comments about ADAM GOODES.. Both Carlton and Collingwood have so much to play for tonight, with Collingwood looking to make it impossible for anyone in the bottom eight to climb in, while Carlton need to win to keep their finals chances alive for season 2013.Meanwhile, Hawthorn are thinking of bringing returning forward CYRIL RIOLI as a sub in tomorrow night’s top of the table clash against Geelong. RIOLI has been out of the team since round 5 when he tore his hamstring against North Melbourne.The women’s final in Wimbledon is set in stone, as 15th Seed Frenchwoman MARION BARTOLI will take on giant killing 24th seed German SABINE LISICKI. BARTOLI beat Belgian KRISTEN FLIPKENS 6-2, 6-1. While LISICKI took out 4th seed Polish AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA 6-4, 2-6, 9-7. Tonight will see the men’s semi finals take place with top seed NOVAK DJOKOVIC facing 9th seed Argentine JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO. While hometown hero 2nd seed ANDY MURRAY takes on Polish 24th seed JERZY JANOWICZ.Wallabies vice-captain WILL GENIA has denied claims that they’ve rushed veteran GEORGE SMITH back in time for the deciding test against the British & Irish Lions this saturday night at ANZ Stadium. Tomorrow night will see 80,000 people pack ANZ Stadium to see who will claim the test and trophy.Australian’s Orica-GreenEDGE have retained the yellow jersey but Aussie rider SIMON GERRANS has handed his jersey off to teammate DARYL IMPEY. GERRANS finished 48th overall in stage six, which was won by ANDRE GREIPEL. Other Aussie CADEL EVANS is now 23 seconds behind the leaders.And finally to some news from the English Premier League, Football veteran NICHOLAS ANELKA has returned to the Premier League, signing a one year deal with club West Bromwich Albion. This will be the 34 year old French striker’s sixth Premier League club after playing with Arsenal, Manchester City, Bolton and Chelsea, and being on loan at Liverpool.And now back to SALLY with the weather. SALLY: Thanks MICHAELTo the weather, Right now in the city, it’s thirteen degrees. We’re headed for an overnight low of eight, before a shower or two tomorrow, with northwesterly winds and a top of thirteen degrees. For those on public transport, Metro is reporting good services on all lines, and there will be extra services for those heading to the MCG tonight.To recap our top stories this afternoon:

• Work stops at Tecoma McDonald’s site
• PRIME MINISTER RUDD apologises for insulation scheme deaths
• Victorian Education Minister “hopeful” of Gonski agreement
• And DARYL IMPEY takes the Yellow Jersey in the Tour de France

SALLY: 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.