AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, Feb 11Evening Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1630
Boat Labor (CANBERRA)
Federal Labor MPs have begun debating the ALP's support for the government's hard-lineon asylum seekers amid opposition to the policy from both the front and back bench.
In what's shaping up to be a fiery debate, Labor MPs filed into caucus in Canberrain the leadup to tomorrow's resumption of parliament.
Labor Aboriginal affairs spokeswoman CARMEN LAWRENCE is expected to lead the chargeto abolish the ALP's support for immigration detention, backed by Tasmanian backbenchersDUNCAN KERR and HARRY QUICK, and veteran NSW MP LEO MCLEAY.
But New South Wales frontbencher MARK LATHAM will oppose any attempt to water down the policy.
Opposition Leader SIMON CREAN says he wants management of immigration detention centresreturned to the Australian Protective Services, while Woomera would be mothballed.
Meanwhile, a new book claims the HOWARD government planned for months to board a boatcarrying asylum seekers to Australia before last year's federal election.
Journalist and author PETER CHARLTON says he's convinced the government was planningto turn a ship around and it just happened to be the Tampa at that time.
Mr CHARLTON, who makes the claim in a new book about last November's election calledHoward's Race, says his SAS sources are absolutely spot on.
Ansett Virgin (MELBOURNE)
Virgin Blue has downplayed talk of a merger with would-be Ansett owners, Tesna, asnegotiations between the parties continue.
A joint statement released today confirmed talks would continue this week, but refusedto elaborate in which direction.
Meanwhile, speculation continues over the possibility of joint financial ventures,working agreements to challenge Qantas' stronghold, and shared use of Ansett's airportterminals.
Virgin Blue's commercial activities head DAVID HUTTNER says reports of merger talksat Friday's meeting in London between Virgin boss RICHARD BRANSON and Tesna founders LINDSAYFOX and Solomon Lew were speculation.
PollSA Despoja (CANBERRA)
Australian Democrats leader NATASHA STOTT DESPOJA says the nine percentage point dropin votes for her party in the South Australian election isn't a reflection on herself.
Senator STOTT DESPOJA says her party may have lost votes and lost a seat, but the Democratsalso sustained a solid performance in the midst of a difficult campaign.
She says she retains the party's total support but will embark on a full-scale reviewof the party's direction.
The review, to be conducted over three to six months, will assess its dismal performancein recent elections and devise a plan for the future.
Still on the South Australian election, state Democrats deputy leader SANDRA KANCKsays she won't contest the state leadership position.
And ratings agency Standard and Poor's says the incoming government will inherit amixed fiscal environment which will require disciplined management.
Speaker Jull (CANBERRA)
Liberal MP DAVID JULL says that if he doesn't win the position of Speaker of the Houseof Representatives, he won't contest the deputy position.
The incumbent Speaker, NEIL ANDREW, faces challenges from Mr JULL, Queensland MP ALEXSOMLYAY and Victorian Liberal DAVID HAWKER for the post which comes with a big officeand a $95,000 base wage with a 75 per cent bonus.
Government MPs vote on the position later today.
Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD has thrown his support behind Mr ANDREW.
NZ Aust (WELLINGTON)
Efforts to counter people-smuggling will be among topics discussed by New Zealand PrimeMinister HELEN CLARK and JOHN HOWARD when they meet in Sydney on Friday for annual talks.
The two leaders will discuss a range of bilateral, regional and international issues,including responses to terrorism, peacekeeping, the implementation of the social securityagreement that was announced at their meeting last year.
CLARK says she'd be interested to hear about HOWARD'S recent visit to Indonesia andto the World Economic Forum in New York.
RBA economists (SYDNEY)
Economists say the Reserve Bank has placed Australia's economy on an even footing forthis year, implying a neutral stance on interest rates.
Australia's economy looks like being maintained in 2002, provided the global economicrecovery gains momentum and there are no major world crises.
The RBA says while a significant global recovery this year isn't yet assured, it doesappear more likely than was the case a few months ago.
ANZ Bank senior economist KAREN PRINGLE says the RBA is on hold with no easing bias.
Caucus Vic (MELBOURNE)
Victorian Premier STEVE BRACKS has announced major changes to his ministry - includingthe demotion of two underperforming ministers - ahead of a possible state election thisyear.
Embattled minister CHRISTINE CAMPBELL loses her controversial portfolio of CommunityServices to undertake the lower profile role of Minister for Consumer Affairs and SeniorVictorians.
She'll be replaced by BRONWYN PIKE.
Industrial Relations Minister MONICA GOULD loses her job to ministry newcomer JOHNLENDERS who also takes on the finance portfolio from LYNN KOSKY.
And Ms KOSKY has been given a new Education super portfolio after MARY DELAHUNTY requesteda changed role following the death of her husband JOCK RANKIN last month.
IN INTERNATIONAL NEWS...
Royals Margaret funeral (LONDON)
Princess MARGARET's royal funeral will be a private occasion for family and friends.
State funerals with full pomp and ceremony are generally limited to sovereigns butmay be extended to exceptionally distinguished people.
Ceremonial royal funerals are for those members of the royal family who hold high militaryrank, for the consort of the sovereign, and for the heir to the throne.
But Princess MARGARET's funeral at St George's Chapel, Windsor, on Friday falls intoa third category of royal funerals.
No burial place has yet been announced for the Princess although there is royal precedencefor burial at Frogmore, Windsor.
Mideast Tanks (NABLUS)
Israeli tanks have entered the West Bank city of Nablus surrounding Joseph's Tomb,a Jewish religious site abandoned early in the current round of fighting.
Palestinians say the Israeli invaders encountered heavy resistance and gunfire.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment.
BRIEFLY...
A group of Australian veterans have left for Singapore to commemorate the sacrifice ofprisoners of war in one of World War II's most costly Allied defeats.
Australia's tourist industry will try to shed its laid-back image with the establishmentof a new business-like strategy.
Officials say Indonesian state prosecutors will soon send a team to East Timor to investigatethe murder of a foreign journalist in September 1999.
A new study shows chronic work stress and divorce can be a deadly combination for men.
IN SPORT...
CRICKET MEDAL (MELBOURNE)
MATTHEW HAYDEN is the hot favourite to win the Allan Border Medal for Australian cricketerof the year tonight.
HAYDEN is a certainty to be named the Test player of the year at the gala awards ceremonyin Melbourne and is also expected to take the overall Border Medal based on his one-dayinternational contributions in India.
TENNIS DAVIS AUST (BUENOS AIRES)
Australia has lost a Davis Cup tennis tie 5-0 for the first time in 10 years aftercrashing out to Argentina in their world group first round clash at Buenos Aires.
With SCOTT DRAPER and ANDREW ILIE both losing their reverse singles rubbers it wasAustralia's first 5-0 loss since bowing out to Sweden in the 1992 quarterfinals at Lund.
OLY AUST STEGALL (SALT LAKE CITY)
Australia's greatest ever alpine skier ZALI STEGGALL has announced she will retireafter the Salt Lake City Olympics.
The 27-year-old is the only Australian to have won an individual Winter Olympics medal,having claimed bronze in the slalom at the 1998 Games.
STEGGALL is entered in both the slalom and the giant slalom at the 2002 Olympics, butis likely to only compete in her pet event.
Ends evening bulletin
AAP RTV sal/klw
KEYWORD: EVENING ROUND-UP
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