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Coming up in the next fifteen minutes:Police officers suspended following drug raidsMelbourne starts planning for the year 2050The PM extends compensation for terrorism victimsAnd Buddy Franklin officially dons the red and white  CHAD: Good afternoon, I’m CHAD VAN ESTROP. ISABELLA: And I’m ISABELLA PETRUOLO. Welcome to SYN News at 4.   ISABELLA: Two members of VICTORIA POLICE have been suspended with pay following raids at 10 properties yesterday. The suspensions come following a crackdown on the suspected use of illegal drugs by Victorian police officers.  Two civilian men were also charged with possessing a drug of dependence and possessing unauthorised drugs. Growth hormones, synthetic steroids and two pill presses were among items seized.  Links to outlaw motorcycle gangs have not been ruled out as part of the investigations, with DEPUTY COMMISSIONER LUCINDA NOLAN warning of the dangers that come with officers associating with bikies. “Once our police members involve in illegal conduct, they do leave themselves open for compromise and compromise from groups whose dealings we really need to be worried about” Victoria Police would not confirm whether the raids were connected with task force Eagle, which aims to infiltrate links between bikies and police officers.    Chad: The state government has today launched its strategy for the state’s future growth, detailing plans to cater for a population of 8.4 million by 2050.  Planning Minister Matthew Guy told the ABC Plan Melbourne will introduce a permanent urban growth boundary to curb urban sprawl and increase density and investigate the possibility of a third airport for Melbourne’s South East. “Victoria can’t keep growing the way it has for the last 30 years, where Melbourne is coming larger and larger and larger at the expense of regional Victoria.”  Under the plan, population and employment growth will be encouraged in six regional towns, including Bacchus Marsh, Warragul and Wonthaggi.     “The best way best of managing our city’s growth is to build a state of cities and not just a city state. That’s just not a tagline but that’s what we have to do maintain a sustainable and livable Melbourne and Victorian into the future.”  Minister Guy says the plan will come into effect in January 2014 and will provide certainty on development rules. Under the plan, developer contributions may be used to buy land to create parks in Melbourne’s high-density suburbs.  It is expected Melbourne will need more than one million additional dwellings by 2050.  Chad:  A fatal tanker crash in New South Wales last week may have serious implications for motorists in Australia’s east.  Possible fuel shortages have been reported after an investigation found a mechanical defect in the tanker involved. The tank is owned by Victorian based transport company COOTES. Concerns surrounding the safety of COOTES trucks / have triggered inspections in several states / with more than 90 trucks being grounded. A spokesperson for petrol provider BP said supplies are dwindling in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. But ANDREW MCKELLAR from the AUSTRALIAN AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION speaking to the ABC’s 7.30 PROGRAM, said the disruption is minor.  “Well certainly we would urge against panic-buying. We believe that this is a manageable risk.” BP says it is investigating alternative ways to transport fuel, but warns shortages could last for up to a week.     ISABELLA: Prime Minister TONY ABBOTT has announced an extension of the Terrorism Compensation Scheme, which could see Australian victims of terrorism claim payments in excess of 70 thousand dollars.  The announcement came as the Prime Minister and his wife laid a wreath at the memorial of the 2002 Bali bombings in Kuta today, just three days from the anniversary of the attack.  The government expects the scheme to cost 30 million dollars and would allow Australian victims of terrorism attacks in New York, London and the recent massacre in Nairobi to benefit.    Chad: L-plater escapes penaltyA seventeen year old learner driver will escape penalty after accidentally killing two teenagers in New South Wales three years ago. EDDIE WILLIAMS explains. “The New South Wales Deputy Coroner today found that RHYS COLEFAX was under the influence of alcohol, and driving without a supervisor, when he reversed over nineteen year olds Eliza Wannan and Will Dalton-Brown. The two teenagers had been sleeping on the ground in a swag when they were killed on Australia Day 2010. But because the incident happened on a rural property or paddock, rather than a road, MR COLEFAX cannot face prosecution under New South Wales law. EDDIE WILLIAMS, SYN News.”    ISABELLA:  The median wealth of Australians is the highest in the world according to a new report by a leading financial services company Credit Suisse. The Global Wealth report says that median wealth of adult Australians stands at more than $233,000. Median wealth is the midpoint between richest and poorest, meaning that 50 per cent of the population has more than $233,000 and 50 per cent less than that. Australians are second in terms of average wealth with more than $426,000 per person. The Swiss came are the world’s richest, with an average of $544,00.   Chad: A former Victorian school teacher is suing the state government for damages, after claims he was unfairly allocated to unruly students.   Peter Doulis says he suffered a major psychological breakdown after he was threatened while teaching at Werribee Secondary College between 1998 and 2004. The trial before Justice Timothy Ginnane is expected to last four weeks and hear from 42 witnesses including teachers and psychiatrists.    Chad:An eyewitness account has emerged of the final stages of the Kelly Gang’s last stand at Glenrowan.  In the letter dated July 1880, Scottish immigrant Donald Sutherland tells of seeing Ned Kelly lying wounded on a stretcher after he was shot and captured. Sutherland – a young bank clerk at the time – sent the letter detailing the events back to his parents in Scotland. It has since been handed down to relatives in Scotland, England and Canada.  Now the letter has been donated to the State Library of Victoria and will be on display from next week.    ISABELLA: Heading overseas now andMore human remains have been discovered on the wreck of the capsized cruise ship The Costa Concordia. The remains of Italian passenger Maria Trecarichi and an Indian waiter, Russel Rebello are yet to be discovered.Italian salvagers say that while DNA testing is still required, they believe the remains found on the vessel’s third bridge, are that of Mr. Rebello, whose family has been advised of the discovery. More than 30 people were killed when the cruise ship capsized off the coast of the island of Giglio (gee-lee-oh) in January 2012.   Chad: The Turkish government has lifted a controversial ban on headscarves for female civil servants, ending a longstanding restriction that has polarised Turkish society. The change, effective immediately, was introduced among aims to bolster democratic standards in the country.   Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan sought to address the concerns of observant Muslims who helped sweep him to a parliamentary majority in 2002.  Some secular critics are doubting the democratic value behind the move, seeing it more as an attempt by the government to push an Islamic agenda.     ISABELLA: Italian authorities have detained the captain of a refugee boat which capsized near the shore of the Sicilian island of Lampedusa last week.  35-year-old KHALED BENSALAM was identified by the migrants as one of the people smugglers, as well allegedly captaining the vessel.  Police transported the TUNISIAN man from a reception centre being used to house survivors, to AGRIGENTO PRISON, where he faces possible charges of homicide, human trafficking and causing a shipwreck. The death toll currently stands at 235, with that number expected to climb as bodies continue to be removed from the Mediterranean Sea.    Chad: Back home now, and the Ernie Awards will be handed out tonight, for the most sexist remarks of the year. Nominees include Prime Minister TONY ABBOTT, former Labor leader MARK LATHAM, and radio shock jocks HOWARD SATTLER and ALAN JONES. Award organiser MEREDITH BURGMANN says sexist comments by high-profile Australians have worsened in recent years. “And sometimes what they say is very funny, but also sometimes what they say is just horrible, and you’ve really got to call it out. This year and last year were the two worst years I’ve known, in terms of the nastiness of the quotes, and I’m sure it’s because of the fact that we had a woman prime minister.” And you can hear more about the Ernies, including a full interview with MEREDITH BURGMANN, on Panorama after 4.30.   Chad:To science now and the men who who discovered the so-called ‘God particle’ have taken out this year’s Nobel Prize for Physics. PETER HIGGS and FRANCOIS  ENGLERT will share 1.3 million dollars in prize money for the discovery of the Higgs Boson. The official citation says the two Professors won the prize…“For the theoretical discovery of a mechanist that contributes to our understanding of the origin of mass of subatomic particles.” That audio courtesy of Fairfax Media.   ISABELLA:  A 24-year-old woman has been taken to hospital in the UK with burns to her forehead, cheeks and chest after a flaming cocktail exploded in her face.  The woman was drinking a ‘flaming sambuca,’ the signature cocktail at LOLA’S in MANCHESTER, when eyewitnesses said her hair caught alight.  A spokesperson for the venue apologised for what they called a ‘freak accident’ saying they have revisited their health and safety procedures in order to prevent the incident from occurring again.    ISABELLA: And now here’s ALEX SPANGARO with sport.ALEX:Thanks ISABELLA. Two-time Hawthorn premiership player LANCE FRANKLIN has been greeted by boisterous fans and a massive media contingent in Sydney, after the AFL approved his deal to join the Swans on a nine-year contract. The Swans officially welcomed their star recruit at the SCG today, and BUDDY says he’s looking forward to playing alongside his idol, ADAM GOODES. “I remember lining up here, Round One, debut season, and him coming to me and playing on me, and now I get the chance to actually play alongside Goodesy. It’s something that I’m looking forward to and I can’t wait to get out there.” But despite his ten million dollar contract with the Swans, the 26 year-old power forward hasn’t forgotten about his old club. “Obviously gonna miss my um… my teammates.”In other AFL news and trade week is in full swing with out of contract Geelong players James Podisadly and Paul Chapman dominating the discussion today. A number of clubs have expressed interest in the pair, with both the Adelaide Crows and Carlton interested in forward Podsiadly, who kicked 169 goals in four seasons with the Cats. Crows’ list manager David Noble told SEN this morning that the club is looking to regain some ‘firepower’ in their forward line, and Podsiadly is an option they are exploring. Fellow delisted Cat Chapman is also generating some interest, with Carlton considering the tough midfielder after Richmond today announced they were no longer interested in the 31 year old. Briefly, another veteran of Kardinia Park, Joel Corey, has today announced his retirement. After playing 276 games with the Cats, including four grand finals, 33 year old Corey said playing for the club had been a “privilege.” Turning to Rugby League now, and Sonny Bill Williams has confirmed he has put him up self-up for selection for New Zealand’s World Cup squad. Williams, who had originally told selectors he was unavailable for the tournament, informed coach Stephen Kearney yesterday that he would be available to play. The second rower’s inclusion in the extended 24 man squad has forced Melbourne Storm forward Tohu Harris out of the side. Williams’ u-turn has been met with widespread criticism, but Kiwi selector Richard Barnet has defended the decision. “From a selectors point of view we have always wanted Sonny Bill in the squad. Unfortunately it’s less than 24 hours later than what we would like, but our intention was to have this guy involved in the squad.”  The second last stop on the surfing world tour is set to get underway in Portugal this evening with 11 Aussies in contention to take out the $450,000 [four hundred and fifty thousand dollar] prize. Australia’s own Mick Fanning will be looking to defend his current number one ranking, with 11 time World Champion Kelly Salter close behind him in the overall points race to be crowned 2013 World Champion.   Australian Julian Wilson will kick things off in Heat 1 when he takes on Freddy Patacchia and Yadin Nicol later this evening Australian time if conditions permit. Now back to ISABELLA with the forecast  ISABELLA: Thanks Alex. We’re heading for an overnight low of 17, before a cloudy day tomorrow with scattered showers and a top of 22. Showers will clear on Friday, with a top of 19. We’ll kick off the weekend with a sunny morning on Saturday with a developing shower or two and 24.Right now in the city, it’s 24 degrees. CHAD: And for those on public transport, Metro is advising a fire beside train lines has suspended the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines between Westall and Dandenong. Rail replacement buses will operate in both directions between Westall and Dandenong. On the Sunbury line buses are currently replacing trains between Albion and Footscray while works on the Regional Rail Link continue.    ISABELLA: To recap our top stories this afternoon,

• Victoria Police raid  the homes of police officers on drug suspicions

CHAD: The state government starts planning for the Melburnians of 2050ISABELLA: Tony Abbott pledges more compensation to terrorism victimsCHAD: Buddy now officially the 10 million dollar man.    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 @NewsSYN.Panorama’s coming up at 4.30 and we’ll be back with an update at 5pm.