PRESS DIGEST-Australian General News - Apr 7

Compiled for Reuters by Media Monitors. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

THE AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW (www.afr.com)

--The Rudd government has signalled that loans made by the proposed Australian Business Investment Partnership will charge a premium over market rates. The amendment to the joint government-bank scheme, set up to aid funding shortfalls in the commercial property sector, has been prompted by criticism from the Federal Opposition Party that the joint partnership was an attempt to bail-out the commercial property market. Page 1.

--Australia's major private health-care companies are considering a range of cost-cutting measures in the event of a drop in federal funding following next month's budget. Health-care operators Sonic Healthcare (SHL.AX), Primary Health Care, Healthscope (HSP.AX) and I-Med warn that they may have to close their less-profitable radiology centres, raise co-payments for pathology services and decrease the amount of bulk billing for visits to general practitioners. Page 1.

--Shares in toll-road operator BrisConnections BCSCA.AX have been suspended following a last-minute attempt by investment bank Macquarie Group (MQG.AX) to secure a deal that would prevent BrisConnections' retail investors voting to wind the company up on April 14. Macquarie is in talks with fellow underwriter Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) and major investors QIC and Capital Group over a proposal that would relinquish the smaller investors of their obligation to pay the A$780 million they owe on their partly paid units. Page 1.

--The Rees government's proposed A$6 billion sale of New South Wales' (NSW) energy retailers may lead to reduced wages and job losses, according to unions. Unions NSW claims that plans for state-owned generators to sell long-term power supply contracts to private trading companies for a fixed price could result in a cutback in the generators spending. "If they make a mistake in the selling of the contract in five years time, they will not be able to lift wages," says Steve Turner, of the Public Service Association of NSW. Page 1.

THE AUSTRALIAN (www.theaustralian.news.com.au)

--Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has continued to maintain his near-record levels of popularity despite his recent outburst at a Royal Australian Air Force cabin attendant, according to a new poll. Mr Rudd has maintained his lead in the preferred prime minister stakes, securing 67 percent of the vote in the latest Newspoll survey. However, Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull's rating as preferred prime minister has fallen to a new low of 18 percent. Page 1.

--The Reserve Bank of Australia is under increasing pressure to further cut interest rates at its board meeting today following a significant deterioration in the jobs outlook. The number of newspaper job advertisements has fallen 30 percent in the past two months, according to a survey by the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group. "I don't see any sign of labour demand bottoming out in the data, and that has to concern the Reserve Bank," says UBS interest rate strategist Matthew Johnson. Page 1.

--The Federal Opposition has blamed a softening of immigration laws for a recent increase in the number of boatpeople attempting to gain entry into Australia. A boatload of 63 unauthorised arrivals was intercepted south-west of Ashmore Island last Thursday. The number of unauthorised asylum seekers to arrive so far this year is now greater than the total for the whole of last year. Opposition immigration spokeswoman Sharman Stone said people-smugglers had noted the Government's changes to immigration policy, saying "we're back on the map." Page 2.

--Australia is preparing to send a further 250 army trainers and supporting troops to Afghanistan, according to defence analysts. Australia has an estimated 1100 troops in Afghanistan, including a task force that assists in the training of the Afghan National Army. The move comes after the North American Treaty Organisation announced plans to send another 5000 combat troops to the region, in an effort to contain a growing Taliban insurgency ahead of Afghanistan's presidential elections in August. Page 2.

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD (www.smh.com.au)

--A secret meeting between Australia's outlaw bikie gangs has been held in an attempt to draw up a new charter aimed at preventing further bikie-related violence. The Queensland meeting, which was prompted by the recent fatal brawl at Sydney Airport, was attended by the Rebels Motorcycle Gang national president Alessio "Alex" Vella, considered to be the nation's most powerful outlaw bikie. "It's trying to sort out some headaches, you know," Mr Vella said yesterday. Page 3.

--Anaemia rates for over half the Aboriginal children in a large part of the Northern Territory are worse than many third-world countries, according to health experts. The number of Aboriginal children under five with anaemia has almost trebled over the last two years, despite the Federal Government's A$1.5 billion indigenous intervention aimed improving welfare in Aboriginal communities. "The intervention has failed to address a severe health problem that appears to be further deteriorating," says Sunrise Health Service's Irene Fischer. Page 3.

--Australian police should be allowed to use video evidence given by all victims of domestic violence, according to independent Member of Parliament Richard Torbay. Under current laws, only children and mentally impaired people are considered "vulnerable" and allowed to admit video evidence rather than a written statement. "If a woman suffering domestic violence isn't a vulnerable person in terms of being displaced and homeless… I don't know what a vulnerable person is?" says Mr Torbay. Page 7.

--The number of doctors in Australia prescribing potentially addictive drugs is increasing, according to a report by the Professional Services Review released yesterday. The Medicare watchdog has found cases of doctors prescribing up to five different mood-altering benzodiazepine drugs to illicit-drug users, along with narcotics such as morphine. "This behaviour is entirely contrary to accepted medical practice," said the report's author, Tony Webber. Page 7.