Main stories in Tuesday's AM program

AAP General News (Australia)
04-13-2010
Main stories in Tuesday's AM program

SYDNEY, April 13 AAP - Main stories in Tuesday's AM program:

* The federal government on Monday night rushed out the final details of the health
and hospital plan, making $650 million available to cut elective surgery waiting lists.

* The federal government continues its hard sell of the deal and Prime Minister Kevin
Rudd is in northern NSW on Tuesday.

* Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says states and territories should not sign
up to the federal government's health package until they get more details.

* Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard has set up an inquiry into rorts and other problems
involved with the federal government's $16.2 billion education building program. A taskforce
with a $14 million budget has been established to investigate complaints and ensure projects
are delivering value for money.

* Thirty Sri Lankan asylum seekers, part of a larger group that refused to leave their
boat in the port of Merak, have run off, reportedly in response to the federal government
announcement that refugee applications from Sri Lankans have been suspended.

* British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has told voters that he is the man for the future.

With general elections three-and-a-half weeks away, the Labour leader has launched his
party's manifesto, asking voters to look ahead.

* As Barack Obama's summit of world leaders begins in Washington, a prominent US physicist
is warning that an Australian invention poses a significant threat to global security.

A revolutionary uranium enrichment process, invented in Sydney, will allow people, including
terrorists, to conceal any nuclear program.

* Australian orchardists are worried that parts of the industry could be wiped out
if apple imports from New Zealand are allowed. Media reports claim that a World Trade
Organisation report says Australia's quarantine restrictions breach world trade rules,
by banning the import of apples from New Zealand.

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