National Radio Midday Report

S11 Protests – Auckland Free Trade Protests – Singapore Trade Deal – Export Price Rise – Opec Agreement – Gaenocologist’s Failure – Sierra Leone Rescue – West Timor Refugees – Medical Reporting – Cervical Cancer Inquiry – No Home Detention – House Evacuated – Footprints Found

S11 PROTESTS: Police are struggling to keep thousands of protesters at the World Economic Forum in Melbourne under control. Protesters have prevented most delegates from entering the forum. There have been running scuffles between police and protestors. One officer has been injured and is in a stable condition, while several protesters have suffered minor injuries.

New Zealand Green MP Sue Bradford, who is amongst the protesters, said the main tactic has been to peacefully block the entrances. She said she was impressed that the protesters had remained largely peaceful.

AUCKLAND FREE TRADE PROTESTS: A Small group is gathering in Auckland to protest against the World Economic Forum in Melbourne. A spokesperson said they’re concerned about the effects of global free trade on New Zealand workers.

SINGAPORE TRADE DEAL: Labour and Alliance ministers are likely to clash over a free trade deal with Singapore in cabinet today. The Alliance have foreshadowed that they may break ranks and oppose the deal, invoking a condition in the coalition agreement which allows the parties to agree to disagree. The deal is expected to get through cabinet today, and go to a select committee.

EXPORT PICE RISE: Export prices rose by the biggest margin in more than a decade in the three months to June.

OPEC AGREEMENT: Oil companies in New Zealand say the Opec agreement to increase oil supply has delayed another likely petrol price rise.

GAENOCOLOGIST’S FAILURE: A woman who complained that her gaenocologist failed to diagnose cervical cancer said she feels let down by both her specialist and the health system. Her gaenocologist is facing a charge of disgraceful conduct. The woman said he shouldn’t be in practice because of the amount of mistakes he’s made.

SIERRA LEONE RESCUE: The British Government said it sent troops in to a Sierra Leone militia base because of repeated death threats they had received. The troops rescued seven hostages, but lost a soldier in the mission. 25 members of the “West Side Boys” militia were killed in the operation.

WEST TIMOR REFUGEES: With food and medicine running low at West Timor refugee camps, refugees want UN aid workers to return, but the UN says they won’t return until all pro Indonesian militia, who killed three UN workers prompting the UN withdrawal, are disbanded.

MEDICAL REPORTING: A proposal for standardised reporting of medical mishaps has been widely embraces by health professionals, but they’re warning that it should not point the finger at individual workers.

CERVICAL CANCER INQUIRY: The Cervical Cancer Inquiry is holding a special sitting in Gisborne today. The inquiry head is giving lawyers the chance to make submissions on whether the High Court should decide if the Director General of Health must provide the inquiry with specific information from the Cervical Screening Register.

NO HOME DETENTION: A Wellington couple who pleaded guilty to 22 charges of child abuse, have had their request to serve their sentences under home detention turned down. The former pastor and his wife will serve their 15 month sentences in custody.

HOUSE EVACUATED: Heavy rain and high seas over the weekend have forced the evacuation of a home at shag point in North Otago.

FOOTPRINTS FOUND: Footprints have been found in the area where a tramper is being looked for, on Mt Blenheim near Nelson.

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