ZEDLINES 23/2/2009

In New South Wales the Greens are putting pressure on the state government to introduce gross tariff for solar power in houses.
Greens MP Dr John Kaye says the overall cost of implementing a tariff would be minimal, predicting an increase in electricity bills equal to one cup of coffee in a year.
Dr Kaye believes kickstarting the solar power industry could also create thousands of new jobs.

The support group fighting to save the Mary River says scrapping the plan for the Traveston Crossing Dam could help Queensland’s budget deficit.
After Queensland Treasurer Andrew Fraser announced a one and a half billion dollar budget deficit over the weekend, the Save the Mary Brisbane Group has said that dropping the proposed two point five billion dollar Traveston Crossing Dam would help bring money back into the state.
The Australian Government would receive a return of $2.32 for every $1 spent on an annual skin cancer awareness campaign over the next twenty years, according to new research commissioned by the Cancer Council Australia.
Completed by Deakin University, the research analysed the results of previous campaigns and calculated projected growth in Australia's skin cancer burden, finding the money the government spends on awareness would be more than doubled as a return - in the form of reduced health costs. In addition, awareness campaigns would save round 69,000 skin cancers over the next two decades. Cancer Council Australia CEO, Professor Ian Olver, says there needs to be an ongoing funding committment from the government.

Food outlets at the University of Woolongong will now be using only free range eggs in their products, as a result of a student initiative against the battery hen industry.
The move follows last year's decision by the University of Newcastle to ban cage eggs from catering, in the same way more than 350 American University campuses have done so in recent years. Animals Australia Executive Director, Glenys Oogjes, says the students should be applauded for committing to support humane methods of egg production over battery eggs, a problem which Australian politicians have largely ignored.

A media adviser for the state opposition party has been reprimanded for derogatory comments about the Premier.
Liberal National media adviser Katherine Smith posted comments about Anna Bligh on a Facebook page insulting her intelligence and physical appearance.The Deputy opposition leader Mark McArdle says the staff member will be writing an apology to the Premier, but the Facebook page is still online.
Caritas Australia in conjunction with AusAID will begin a multimedia exhibition examining global poverty in Brisbane today.
The exhibition, titled "Blueprint for a Better World: The Millennium Development Goals", uses interactive audiovisual elements to communicate themes of global poverty and invite public action, and will be at the Francis Rush Centre in Elizabeth Street until FridayCaritas Regional Co-ordinator for Community Engagement, Patricia Ryan, says the exhibition's interactive approach is what makes it unique in its' efforts to educate viewers.

The Ingham Community Recovery Centre for flood victims has stayed open longer than it was orignally intended, while support staff continue to provide assistance to residents.
The Recovery Centre was due to close this Saturday the 28th of February but staff will still visit properties and inspect properties. The Disaster Recovery Hotline is still open for those seeking information about grant eligibility, and the number to call is 1800 173 349.

In Cairo yesterday, a bomb in the city’s bazaar has killed one tourist and wounded twenty-two.
According to witnesses, two grenades were thrown into the street from a nearby rooftop.
The only casualty was a French tourist who died in hospital.

Greenhouse gasses could be reduced by a further 150 million tonnes, according to opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull.
Mr Turnbull described Labor's current model as too costly, too complex and ineffectual, but was unable to offer any other details of the oppposition's alternative approach when questioned by journalists. A Senate Inquiry will be persued by the opposition today into the emmissions trading scheme, an inquiry he labelled as the event Labor has been “too frightened to have.”

The search for a Brisbane man missing in a Japanese skiiing town has been thwarted by extreme weather.
The 27-year-old, whose identity is yet to be confirmed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, was last seen drinking with his friends early on Friday morning in the town of Niseko. Police, residents and friends are now involved in the search. Digging equipment was brought in to clear the heavy snow, but the search was also affected by strong winds and sub-zero temperatures.

In Pakistan the government in the north-west region plans to arm its rural citizens with rifles against Taliban forces.
Thirty-thousand rifles will be handed out to residents of the area which has been experiencing problems with the extremist groups, in what is called the Village Defence Rifle Program.
In the last two years, extremist attacks killed about sixteen hundred people in Pakistan.

Reported by Jamie, Elena