AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, Dec 16

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AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, Dec 16Midday Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1130

ABARE Drought (CANBERRA)

The nation's chief commodities forecaster says almost two-thirds of Australian broadacrefarmers are in drought.

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics says 62 per cent of farmerssurveyed say their properties are in drought.

That's the highest number since the 1982 drought.

And ABARE says the Australian sheep flock will fall below the 100-million mark to itslowest level since the 1920s.

ABARE also says the drought will slash farm exports by 13 per cent this financial year.

It says the gross value of farm production will be cut 21 per cent to $30.4 billionbecause of the drought.

The bureau's executive director, BRIAN FISHER, says the drought will hit all types of farming.

Drought banks (CANBERRA)

The Australian Bankers' Association says banks want to help farmers who are sufferingthrough one of the worst droughts in living memory.

Deputy Prime Minister JOHN ANDERSON is meeting bank chief executives today to remindthem of their obligation to rural Australia.

Banks were blamed for forcing many farmers off the land in the early 1990s.

As part of its $368 million drought assistance package, the government will providean interest rate subsidy on loans of up to $100,000 for stock support and drought recovery.

ABA chief executive DAVID BELL has told ABC radio the banks are already making an effortto help farmers.

Banks ACCC (SYDNEY)

The consumer watchdog has rejected plans by 10 Australian banks to offer a basic bankaccount because it could lead to a lessening of competition.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) says it proposes to denyauthorisation to the banks' plan to collectively offer a basic bank account with minimumfeatures.

Commission chairman ALLAN FELS says the ACCC is concerned the current proposed structurehas the potential to dampen competition between the major banks and result in the proposedminimum features becoming the industry standard.

ASIO Williams (SYDNEY)

Attorney General DARYL WILLIAMS says there's no point recalling parliament to resolvethe stalemate over the ASIO bill.

He's told Sky News he doesn't think there's any point getting parliament back if Labor'sgoing to be as intransigent as it has been.

The proposed new laws for the domestic spy agency remain in limbo after a marathon27-hour sitting of parliament ended last Friday morning without a resolution.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman KEVIN RUDD says parliament should be recalledto resolve the stalemate.

Meanwhile, Mr WILLIAMS says ASIO is continuing to monitor the activities of Australianswith known links to overseas terrorist organisations.

Yesterday's Sunday Herald-Sun reported that two highly-trained and dangerous al-Qaedaoperatives are at large in Australia.

Terror Airlines (CANBERRA)

Transport Minister JOHN ANDERSON says upgrading security at airports to allow all baggageto be screened will help the tourism industry, not harm it.

Virgin Blue has called on the government to fund the $180 million security upgradeout of the $5.5 billion windfall it made from the sale of Sydney Airport.

It's warned ticket prices will likely rise as airlines seek to recoup the extra costsof the two-year upgrade, further damaging the struggling tourism industry.

But Mr ANDERSON says the extra security will attract more passengers.

And he's told ABC radio the proceeds of the Sydney Airport sale have already been usedto retire debt.

Smallpox (CANBERRA)

Health Minister KAY PATTERSON will discuss Australia's approach to the smallpox terrorismthreat with departmental officials this week.

Australia acquired 50,000 doses of smallpox vaccine last week under an $11.4 millionprogram to stockpile vaccines to deal with a bioterrorism attack.

The government expects to receive another 50,000 to 100,000 doses in the first partof the new year.

A spokesman for Senator PATTERSON says chief medical officer RICHARD SMALLWOOD andothers will brief the minister about the smallpox issue and plans of readiness later thisweek.

Ansett Howard (SYDNEY)

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD has promised to put pressure on Ansett administrators tospeed up payments to former staff of the collapsed airline.

Mr HOWARD has told angry Ansett workers protesting outside his Sydney residence thathe'll discuss the issue today with Transport Minister JOHN ANDERSON.

He says he'll ask Mr ANDERSON to investigate what can be done to ensure faster paymentof workers' entitlements.

But he says the government is as much at the behest of the administrator as the workers are.

Administrators are awaiting a decision on a Victorian Supreme Court case to decidewhether $200 million from the airline's assets should be paid to the Ansett Ground StaffSuperannuation Fund, rather than to former employees.

Die (SYDNEY)

Euthanasia advocate Dr PHILIP NITSCHKE says an 80-year-old woman with no terminal illnesswouldn't have committed suicide had she had the option of euthanasia.

The woman, known only as RUTH, took a lethal overdose of a drug at her home in thecompany of friends last week.

Her death has prompted opponents of outlawed euthanasia to demand police stop Dr NITSCHKE'sactivities.

Dr NITSCHKE says RUTH had been planning her death for some time after suffering lossof vision and other ailments.

He's told Channel Seven that RUTH probably wouldn't have moved so prematurely had shehad the option of euthanasia if she'd become more infirm.

Budget Costello (CANBERRA)

Treasurer PETER COSTELLO says the government's top Budget priorities are still defenceand national security.

Today's Australian Financial Review reports senior ministers have formally endorseda Budget strategy for 2003-04 involving no new spending outside the two key areas.

Mr COSTELLO has told reporters in Sydney the government's priorities haven't changed.

US targets (NEW YORK)

US President GEORGE W BUSH has reportedly given the CIA permission to kill about twodozen terrorism suspects whom it believes are plotting to attack American interests.

The New York Times says OSAMA BIN LADEN and other al-Qaeda leaders top the list.

The Times says BUSH has given the CIA the go-ahead to kill the listed suspects if it'simpractical to capture them and if civilian casualties can be minimised.

Iraq Aziz (WASHINGTON)

Iraq's deputy prime minister TAREQ AZIZ has warned US-led forces will meet stiff resistanceif they invade his country.

He says any invasion will destabilise the region and result in many US casualties.

AZIZ says Iraqi forces will fight capably and fiercely, adding that the US push forwar is so strong it will be a miracle if they didn't attack Iraq.

Meanwhile, US and British warplanes have attacked Iraqi air defence facilities afterIraqi artillery fired at allied aircraft patrolling the no-fly zone in the country's south.

PNG Crash (PORT MORESBY)

A plane crash in Papua New Guinea has killed all eight on board.

Deputy Governor of Madang JOE TOLA and a radio journalist were among those killed whenthe twin-engine Britten Norman Islander slammed into a cliff shortly after takeoff onSaturday afternoon.

BRIEFLY............

The arrest of three Pakistani militants plotting an attack on US diplomats in Karachihas led to what police say is the nation's largest ever seizure of explosives.

ARIEL SHARON says his arch-rival, YASSER ARAFAT, will be banned from attending midnightmass in Israeli-occupied Bethlehem for a second Christmas. And Israeli authorities haverevealed a failed Palestinian attempt to blow up the premier's helicopter.

An Israeli court has sentenced a Palestinian to 35 life terms for masterminding threebombings that killed 35 people, including five US citizens.

NSW police say two men have been found dead in their bedrooms in separate suspectedmurders in Sydney and the south coast over the past 24 hours.

FINANCE............

At 1124 AEST the all ordinaries index FELL 20.4 points to 2920.8 while the Standard& Poor's ASX/200 index DUMPED 22.7 points to 2948.6.

The Australian dollar was marginally STRONGER at 56.56 US cents compared to its closehere on Friday of 56.54 US cents.

The local currency was WEAKER at 55.27 euro cents compared to its close here on Fridayat 55.53 euro cents.

Gold in Sydney was trading 40 US cents AHEAD at $US332.90 an ounce.

AND IN SPORT............

Tri Aust Warne (MELBOURNE)

SHANE WARNE will undergo exploratory surgery today to determine the extent of his shoulderinjury.

The champion legspinner will be out of cricket for at least a month after dislocatinghis right bowling shoulder in last night's 89-run win over England in a one-dayer at theMCG.

He suffered the injury while fielding a ball off his own bowling.

There are fears WARNE could miss the World Cup from February in South Africa.

Meanwhile, wicketkeeper ADAM GILCHRIST will miss Australia's next tri series one-daycricket match against Sri Lanka because of groin strain.

Surfing Women (HONOLUA BAY)

Australian LAYNE BEACHLEY has claimed a record fifth world surfing title in Hawaii today.

The 30-year-old from Sydney won the title - and the record of the most successful femalesurfer ever - after her last remaining challenger LYNETTE MACKENZIE was eliminated inthe quarter finals of the Billabong Pro.

ENDS MIDDAY ROUND-UP

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KEYWORD: MIDDAY ROUND-UP