HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 15:30, Dec 16

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-1999
HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 15:30, Dec 16



SYDNEY - One of the first tasks of a new ministerial council on gambling would be to
examine the feasibility of banning Internet gambling, Prime Minister John Howard said
today. (Gambling Howard. See also Gambling Beazley, Gambling ACT.

(To come - Gambling Nightlead, Gambling Report, Factbox, plus state reaction.)



CANBERRA - Victorian ATSIC commissioner Geoff Clark today defeated Gatjil Djerrkura
to become the peak indigenous agency's first elected chairman. (ATSIC chairman. N/L to
come.)



PERTH - As towns across Western Australia's Pilbara began cleaning up in the wake of
cyclone John, flooding emerged as the latest problem for the battling communities. (John.

Second N/L to come.)



MELBOURNE - Another airline is entering the domestic market, with Spirit Airlines today
announcing a "no-frills" service starting next June. (Spirit. See also Virgin. N/L and
factbox to come.)



CANBERRA - Long term unemployment fell sharply in November to the lowest number in
more than eight years. (Jobs Longterm, Skilled. Jobs N/L to come.)



BRISBANE - The mother of a convicted murderer was committed today to stand trial over
the alleged extortion of Arnott's Biscuits Limited. (Arnotts)



SYDNEY - The man accused of kidnapping and murdering Sydney mother Kerry Whelan was
today committed to stand trial. (Burrell. N/L to come.)



SYDNEY - New obstacles have been thrown in the way of a trial heroin injecting room
in Sydney's Kings Cross, with the New South Wales Police Commissioner rejecting one potential
site and another already being leased. (Heroin)



CANBERRA - Australia's 31 major performing arts companies will get an extra $50 million
over the next three years in a funding shakeup to improve their financial health, if governments
accept findings of the Nugent report. (ARTS to come. N/L to come, plus Arts Council to
come.)



HOBART - Arnie, the Hobart Airport sniffer dog, has been attacked and threatened by
passengers. (Sniffer)



SYDNEY - Shareholders in GIO Holdings Ltd have voted in favour of a scheme of arrangement
which will see AMP Ltd recapitalise the ailing insurer. (GIO)



HOBART - Captain Sachin Tendulkar played a verbal straight bat today as the Indian
cricket camp doused concerns about Australian umpires. (Cricket Aust)



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