NT: More than a trillion tonnes of coal on SA/NT border: report

AAP General News (Australia)
02-17-2009
NT: More than a trillion tonnes of coal on SA/NT border: report

DARWIN, Feb 17 AAP - More than a trillion tonnes of coal could be extracted from land
on the border of South Australia and the Northern Territory, says a new report.

Commissioned by energy explorer Central Petroleum Ltd, the independent report described
the Pedirka Basin in the Simpson Desert as "sufficiently promising".

It found potential for up to 1.3 trillion tonnes of coal above 1,000 metres and more
than 2 trillion tonnes when including deeper coal sections.

"This is a significant conclusion," Central Petroleum's managing director John Heugh
said on Tuesday.

"This is a further step along the confidence path to vindicate substantive coal focused
drilling throughout the basin."

On the back of the report's findings, Central Petroleum said it would now explore the
potential for various technology applications, such as underground coal gasification,
coal bed methane and gas-to-liquids.

"We are ... encouraged and heartened at many levels about the near term coal technology
options for the Pedirka Basin," said Mr Heugh.

The Perth-based company commissioned the report after discovering over 100 metres of
cumulative coal seams in the Purni Formation late last year.

AAP tr/maur

KEYWORD: COAL

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Parthenon Capital Partners and Wells Fargo & Company Enter Definitive Agreement

Wireless News
07-05-2011
Parthenon Capital Partners and Wells Fargo & Company Enter Definitive Agreement
Type: News

Parthenon Capital Partners and Wells Fargo & Company announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement for Parthenon Capital Partners to acquire Wells Fargo's H.D. Vest Financial Services business.

According to a release, following the transaction, H.D. Vest's existing management team, led by Roger Ochs, will continue to operate the business. Founded in 1983 and based in Irving, TX, H.D. Vest provides independent financial solutions to over 1.8 million retail investors through an advisor base of over 4,800 securities- licensed tax professionals.
H.D. Vest's CEO, Roger Ochs, stated: "We are excited to partner with Parthenon Capital Partners to complete the purchase of H.D. Vest from Wells Fargo. As a standalone entity under this new ownership structure, H.D. Vest will benefit from Parthenon's expertise within the financial services industry as well as Parthenon's significant financial and strategic resources. Both the management team and Parthenon are committed to investing in the future growth of H.D. Vest and have high expectations for the company's potential. The executive leadership team of H.D. Vest, Wells Fargo, and Parthenon are each committed to ensuring a smooth and seamless transition for our advisors and our clients. There will be no changes to the H.D. Vest leadership team or home office staffing levels as a result of this transaction. Additionally, our advisors will continue to have access to the same products, services, and tools to offer clients as they do today. Wells Fargo's clearing business, First Clearing Correspondent Services, will continue to provide brokerage clearing services for H.D. Vest. We are excited to have Parthenon as our strategic partner and look forward to working together to achieve our goals."

Andrew Dodson, a Partner at Parthenon Capital Partners who is involved in the firm's financial services investments, commented, "We are excited to have the opportunity to partner with Roger Ochs and the executive team at H.D. Vest to execute the company's growth strategy. H.D. Vest is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for independent financial advice, particularly as the country's large Baby Boomer population begins to reach retirement age. After years of thorough industry benchmarking, we concluded that H.D. Vest has a uniquely attractive operating model serving a large, but specialized market."

Wells Fargo noted that its decision to sell H.D. Vest followed a strategic assessment that determined that the firm's business does not align precisely with the business model of Wells Fargo Advisors, Wells Fargo's retail brokerage unit, which is centered on supporting full time financial advisors who are focused primarily on serving and advising affluent and wealthy clients. Danny Ludeman, president and CEO of Wells Fargo Advisors, noted that the agreement to sell H.D. Vest does not reflect a change in the brokerage firm's approach to serving independent advisors through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network (FiNet). "Wells Fargo Advisors remains firmly committed to serving financial advisors though multiple channels, including FiNet, which is an integral part of our business model," Ludeman said.

Based in Irving, Texas, H.D. Vest is an independent broker/ dealer providing investment and financial advisory solutions to retail investors through tax professionals located throughout the United States.

Parthenon Capital Partners is a mid-market private equity firm based in Boston and San Francisco.

Wells Fargo & Company is a nationwide, diversified, community- based financial services company. Headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 9,000 stores, 12,000 ATMs, the Internet, and other distribution channels across North America and internationally.

First Clearing Correspondent Services provides a suite of solutions to help full-service and independent retail broker- dealers run more efficiently, grow more confidently and protect more effectively. These include trade execution and clearance, securities settlement, record keeping, advisor workstation technology, access to a full range of advisory investment products and services, and a growth-consulting program to help correspondent firms and advisors take their businesses to the next level.

More Information:

hdvest.com

parthenoncapitalpartners.com

wellsfargoadvisors.com

firstclearing.com

((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

Copyright 2011 Close-Up Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
n/a

FED:Diary Events, Wednesday December 7, 2011

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-2011
FED:Diary Events, Wednesday December 7, 2011
EVENTS LISTED IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER AND LOCAL TIME UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED:


ADELAIDE


1030 - Cancer Council to launch its annual summer campaign urging people to be sun smart.

Interviews with council chief executive Brenda Wilson and melanoma survivor Donna Schwartz.

Info: Alana 8291 4119.


BRISBANE


1130 - Innovation in Australia: People Making the Difference, Brisbane Convention and
Exhibition Centre. Contact: 02 6277 7580.

1200 - Drew Hutton, President of the Lock the Gate Alliance, appearing in Dalby Magistrates
Court over CSG protest.

1230 - Indigenous Justice Strategy launch live stream http://www.phizTV.com
1900 - Katter's Australian Party address. Dalby RSL, Drayton St, Dalby. Contact: Scott
Barrett 0434 740 698/3267 7799.

- International Gas Symposium (Dec 7-8). Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Contact:
3224 5982.


CANBERRA


0945 - ABC Garran to re-launch as Goodstart Early Learning this follows announcement by
Kate Ellis in mid November that ABC Centres will be re-branded. 15 Robson St Garran.

Contact: Melanie Loy 0488 714 871.

1015 - High Court judgment to be delivered in Moti V The Queen. High Court. Contact: Hanna
Jaireth 0415 144 283.

1215 - Who's Afraid of Human Rights? a presentation by Jon Stanhope. Theatre, Parliament
House. Contact: Senate Procedure Office 6277 3074.

1230 - Michael Devereux, President of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries addressing
"Make it in Australia - why car manufacturing matters". National Press Club. Contact:
Reception 6121 2199.

1730 - No Honour in Killing: Art makes visible buried truth a presentation by Niilofur
Farrukh, Director if Research at Foundation for Museum of Modern, Art History Documentation
Centre. Karachi. Hedley Bull Centre, Theatre 1. Contact: cais@anu.edu.au


DARWIN


- No items listed.


HOBART


- No items listed.


MELBOURNE


- Victorian parliament sits.

- Toyota launches new model Camry.


PERTH


- No items listed.


SYDNEY


1000 - Federal Small Business Minister Nick Sherry and Qantas CEO Alan Joyce to address
the Australian Tourism Export Council's annual meeting. Hilton Sydney, George Street.

Contact: Julie Smith 02 8262 5501, 0421 029 353.

1030 - Ron Delezio, Steve Waugh, David Campbell and others to attend Take 5 Magazine's
Brave Kids awards. Terrace Room, Australian National Maritime Museum, 2 Murray St, Darling
Harbour. Contact: Kate Kirsten 0450 360 743.

1030 - Oasis' Drive for Life. Oasis Youth Support Network, 365 Crown St, Surry Hills.

Contact: ceo@carsguide.com.au
1330 - Cricket great Steve Waugh to launch celebrity cricket charity match Battle of the
Smashers. Drummoyne Oval, Bayswater St, Drummoyne. Contact: Sharon Kelly 0449 953 070.

1830 - Dymocks to launch new web-based publishing service to allow Australians to create
their own books. Dymocks Sydney, 424 George St. Contact: Christine Nguyen 0415 129 630,
Annike 0411 425 549.

- NSW Auditor-General Peter Achterstraat to release his financial audit reports on government
agencies in education and community sectors. Contact: Barry Underwood 02 9275 7220, 0403
073 664.


SPORT


CRICKET - One-Day Cup - to January 25
VIC v QLD, MCG

CRICKET - Sheffield Shield - to March 20
WA v SA, WACA - to December 8
NSW v TAS, Manuka Oval - to December 9

SOCCER - A-League 2022/12 season - to April 22
Week 9 - to December 7
1930 - Sydney FC v Perth Glory, Campbelltown Std

BASKETBALL (Women's) - WNBL - to February 18
Rnd 10 - to December 11
1930 - Bendigo v Bulleen, Bendigo Std, Vic

SAILING - ISAF World C'ships & Olympic qualifying event - to December 18
Perth, WA

HOCKEY (Men's) - Champions Trophy - to December 11
[competing nations: Australia/Great Britain/Spain/Germany/Sth Korea/The Netherlands/Pakistan/New
Zealand], Auckland, NZ
Rest day

HOCKEY - Australian Country Under 21 Oceania Pacific Cup - to December 14
[competing nations: Australia/Fiji/Papua New Guinea/Samoa/New Zealand], Suva, Fiji

SURFING - ASP Specialty Event - to February 28
Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau, Waimea Bay, Oahu, Hawaii

GALLOPS -
Warwick Farm
Sale
Gawler
Eagle Farm
Ascot
New Zealand
Hong Kong
Sth Africa
UK

TROTS -
Geelong
Shepparton
Parkes
Redcliffe
New Zealand

GREYHOUNDS -
The Gardens
The Meadows
Angle Park
Rockhampton
Shepparton
Albion Park
Nowra
Cannington
Ballarat
New Zealand

AAP ra

KEYWORD: DIARY EVENTS WED DEC 7, 2011

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

QLD:Water reform first priority for Newman

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2011
QLD:Water reform first priority for Newman

GOLD COAST, April 2 AAP - Liberal National Party leader-in-waiting Campbell Newman
may have wiped the party's policy slate clean earlier this week, but he's wasting no time
starting to fill it up again.

On the Gold Coast to support federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's Pollie Pedal charity
bike ride and local LNP MPs and candidates, Mr Newman said water reform will be one of
his first priorities.

He said the LNP has a plan that would be discussed in the coming week.

"I'm putting it forward as the lord mayor of Brisbane still, but these guys seem pretty
enthusiastic about it," Mr Newman told reporters at Burleigh Heads, surrounded by the
local LNP MPs.

He said it was a four-point plan to "unravel the Bligh-Fraser water mess".

Mr Newman said the first thing the party would do was combine the five state water
entities into one entity, saving a huge amount of money in overheads, administration
and "fat cat salaries".

Second, he said it would write off infrastructure that was not performing and quarantine
the debt so it could be properly managed.

Mr Newman said the third part of the plan was "very important".

He said it involved a longer-term payment schedule to pay back that debt, rather than
the accelerated way the government is doing, to ease pressure on the state budget.

The final point of the plan was aimed at accountability.

"Local government need to run distribution and retail (for water). They should be taking
political accountability."

Mr Newman said this included unravelling the existing water entities including the
controversial Allconnex, which is responsible for water on the Gold Coast.

He said if the responsibility was handed back to mayors and councillors it would take
the pressure off water bills.

Mr Newman said it was an important thing to do for the people of southeast Queensland.

"It's a very big part of the increase in the cost of living, the price of water."

Mr Newman also made it clear the policy still had to be ratified by members of the
party, which he expected to happen at a party meeting in the coming week.

He also said he was prepared to contest an election whenever the premier was ready to call it.

"I have high energy, I have leadership, and this is a great team of people, not just
here on the Gold Coast but throughout the state.

"Queenslanders have a real alternative and we're ready to fight a long campaign if
that's what the premier does."

Mr Newman is due to be confirmed as the LNP candidate for Ashgrove on Sunday, after
which he would officially become the party leader.

AAP crh/jhp

KEYWORD: LNP PICS AND VIDEO TO COME

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED:Australia 'left behind' after Cancun deal

AAP General News (Australia)
12-11-2010
FED:Australia 'left behind' after Cancun deal

SYDNEY, Dec 11 AAP - Australia risks being left behind the emerging low pollution economy
as the UN climate conference deal in Cancun cements a multi-billion dollar industry, campaigners
say.

A host of agreements including plans to create a "green" fund for developing countries
have set the stage for Australia's 2011 year of action, campaigners say.

But the Climate Institute warned the nation could be left behind unless it invests
more in low pollution technology to improve the country's efficiency.

The country could attract more green industries by setting caps on emissions and doing
more in terms of carbon trading, the institute added on Saturday.

While welcoming the deal in Cancun, the institute called on Australia to seize the initiative.

"This is the first time we've seen the US together with China and all other major emitters
anchoring their national pollution targets in a formal UN agreement - the significance
of this should not be underestimated," a spokesman told AAP on Saturday.

"Without a domestic pollution limit and price, Australia can't cooperate fully internationally
as it cannot meet the commitments made in Cancun. Without a domestic pollution price we
will continue to be left behind by countries dominating the emerging low pollution economy;
the agreements at Cancun leave no excuse for inaction in 2011.

"A limit and price on pollution remains central to our economic prosperity and without
domestic action in 2011 Australia risks being left behind the emerging low pollution economy
which has received a boost from the Cancun outcome."

AAP tcm/msk

KEYWORD: CLIMATE CANCUN AUST

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW:Obesity charity has licence cancelled

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-2010
NSW:Obesity charity has licence cancelled

A charity which pledged to solve the country's obesity problem has had its licence
cancelled due to breaches of NSW charity laws.

The State Government says members of the public should no longer make donations to
Solutions to Obesity Problems or STOP.

An investigation found the 15-hundred dollars raised by the charity during Derby Day
at Randwick Racecourse this year could not be accounted for and there's no evidence it
was spent in accordance with the charity's objectives.

AAP RTV lxs/klm/jkl/crh

KEYWORD: CHARITY (SYDNEY)

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Copenhagen summit hasn't changed government policy - Rudd

AAP General News (Australia)
12-22-2009
Fed: Copenhagen summit hasn't changed government policy - Rudd

SYDNEY, Dec 22 AAP - Amid claims that China hijacked the Copenhagen climate change
summit, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has defended the meeting's outcome while standing firm
on his policy.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said climate change negotiators were held to
ransom by a handful of countries, including China, and Britain's climate change secretary
Ed Miliband singled out China for blame.

Mr Rudd was less critical of the summit.

"The negotiations among many countries proceeded very effectively, and with various
other countries did not proceed effectively," he told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday.

"There were many countries in the Copenhagen negotiations who wanted to land a deal
on climate change which was comprehensive. We had some resistance from various developing
countries against that.

"The important thing, however, is that the alternatives at the end of the day were
this, the complete collapse of negotiations and no deal whatsoever, or the deal that we
were able to deliver which provides three specific breakthroughs for the future."

Earlier, Mr Rudd also referred to last week's Copenhagen summit during a public engagement
near Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

"It's great to see a friendlier crowd than in Copenhagen," he commented on Tuesday morning.

Asked what impact the outcome of the Copenhagen negotiations had had on the Australian
government's climate change policy, Mr Rudd replied: "None."

"(Climate Change) Minister Penny Wong has been very clear cut about the government's
position, which has not changed," he said.

"Our targets - five, 15, 25 (per cent reductions in carbon emissions) - are identical
with the Liberal Party. What is different between us and the Liberal Party is that we
have put forward a concrete policy by which you get there - they have not."

Questioned about the possibility that business would seek more compensation than currently
offered in government policy, Mr Rudd said business had asked for clear guidelines and
the government had provided them.

"The key thing for the business community is a certainty for the future," he said.

"We offer the certainty of a emissions trading scheme - a carbon pollution reduction
scheme - which has been consulted with business now for the better part of a year."

AAP ad/wjf/jl/de

KEYWORD: SUMMIT RUDD

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED: Aust calls in Burmese ambassador, supports global arms ban

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-2009
FED: Aust calls in Burmese ambassador, supports global arms ban

By Julian Drape

CANBERRA, Aug 12 AAP - The Australian government has called in the Burmese ambassador
to protest the ongoing detention of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi following her
conviction and sentence on Tuesday.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith says Canberra will also support calls for a United Nations
global arms embargo against Burma.

Ms Suu Kyi was sentenced to three years jail but the ruling junta signed an order commuting
the term to 18 months house arrest.

She was charged following an incident in which an American man swam to her lakeside
residence in May.

Mr Smith said Australia condemned the conviction and called for Ms Suu Kyi's release.

"On my instruction today the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade called in the
Burmese ambassador, at lunchtime, and relayed these strong messages on behalf of the Australian
government and the Australian people," he told parliament.

"Our ambassador in Burma is doing likewise."

Mr Smith said he would contact his Thai counterpart, chair of the Association of South-East
Asian Nations (ASEAN), to discuss action the international community could take.

The government will review existing autonomous financial sanctions which target senior
members of the regime, their associates and family members, and consider including senior
members of the judiciary, he said.

Australia has maintained its own ban on defence exports to Burma since 1991.

Mr Smith said the government would now support a global arms ban.

"Australia would support any action before the Security Council to place a global arms
embargo on Burma as urged by United Kingdom Prime Minister Gordon Brown."

The Australian Greens welcomed the news Labor was apparently working with other countries
to impose a global arms embargo on Burma.

"Answering on behalf of the foreign minister, Senator John Faulkner stated (in the
Senate) that the government was working with other governments to advance the global embargo
through the UN Security Council," West Australian senator Scott Ludlam said in a statement.

"This is the first time we have heard the Rudd government say it will take the crucial
step towards protecting the oppressed people of Burma by imposing a global arms embargo
on the regime."

AAP jcd/sb/ash

KEYWORD: BURMA SMITH

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NT: Powerful Aboriginal leader fights for return of gun licence

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2009
NT: Powerful Aboriginal leader fights for return of gun licence

By Tara Ravens

DARWIN, April 2 AAP - Galarrwuy Yunupingu is adamant he can tell his pet croc from
the rogues at his remote Arnhem Land home.

Even so, they're all shifty creatures, and he can't be sure his pet reptile wasn't
the one that recently made a meal of his dog.

With crocs around, and charging buffaloes to boot, you've simply got to have a gun,
the Aboriginal leader has told a tribunal where he's fighting for the return of his shooter's
licence.

The 61-year-old wants the Northern Territory Firearms Tribunal to restore his right
to have guns so he can protect and provide for 30 family members who live with him at
the Dhanaya outstation.

The former Australian of the Year, considered the Northern Territory's most influential
Aboriginal leader, told the tribunal that crocs in particular were a constant threat.

"My little puppy dog was taken in front of my house, a little dog for my kids," he
told the hearing on Thursday.

"Since my gun was taken away I have to sit out there with a spear and keep an eye on
the little ones and make sure there is no danger."

Mr Yunupingu had his firearms licence revoked as part of a restraining order in 2006.

The order was later quashed but he was forced to surrender his licence and firearms
after it emerged a number of them were missing - given away to friends or family while
others were discarded in billabongs or swamps.

The prominent Arnhem Land leader, who is the head ceremonial man for up to 1,000 Yolngu
people, sought to have his licence reinstated in 2008.

But his application was denied and he's now appealing the decision and seeking a shooter's
licence at the tribunal in the Darwin Magistrates Court.

Mr Yunupingu said he was responsible for funerals, marriages and sickness ceremonies
and that it was his "job" to provide for the clans.

"I take full responsibility for leadership," he said, adding he needed to use firearms
"to hunt fresh meat and for protection".

"I can't protect myself if there is a charging bull because I simply won't have a weapon
..." he said.

But lawyer Peter Barr, representing the Northern Territory police, told the tribunal
that Mr Yunupingu was known to feed a pet crocodile on the beach near his community.

"You are courting, to some extent, the hazard that you are using to justify your need
for a shooter's licence," he said.

Mr Yunupingu replied: "I can identify my pet crocodile, I can identify the wild ones
- not that I would feed my pet dogs to them!"

But he added: "You can't trust them, they don't think like us."

Mr Yunupingu told the tribunal he now realised he needed to take particular care with
his weapons and had not realised he'd breached any gun laws in the past.

He said he would not let the same situation happen again.

"I have learnt a lot of lessons. I think I have not enjoyed (my time) without guns," he said.

"I will tell all my people and my family to leave my guns. I will protect my guns."

Mr Yunupingu's lawyer John Lawrence said his client intended to store his firearms
in a locked safe in his house.

"He totally accepts that in the past he has transgressed the act ... mainly giving
them (guns) to people and the method he disposed of them," he said.

"He has a number of responsibilities: personal, cultural and national."

The tribunal, chaired by Magistrate Dick Wallace, continues on Friday.

AAP tr/tnf/de

KEYWORD: YUNUPINGU WRAP

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Abseiler injured after seven-metre fall

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2008
NSW: Abseiler injured after seven-metre fall

SYDNEY, Aug 30 AAP - An abseiler has head and arm injuries after falling seven metres
onto a rock landing north-west of Sydney, paramedics say.

The 18-year-old man was part of a group abseiling near Vision Valley Road in Arcadia
when he fell onto hard rocks just after 3pm (AEST) today, an Ambulance Service of NSW
spokeswoman said.

He was stabilised and then taken to Westmead Hospital by helicopter, suffering head
and arm injuries.

A second abseiler also fell seven metres but was not injured, a spokesman for the ambulance
service later said.

He was taken to Westmead Hospital by helicopter as a precautionary measure.

AAP krc/srp/de

KEYWORD: ROCK LEAD

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED: People of all ages gather at Melbourne's war memorial

AAP General News (Australia)
04-25-2008
FED: People of all ages gather at Melbourne's war memorial

MELBOURNE, April 25 AAP - Tens of thousands of people attended Melbourne's Anzac Day
dawn service at the Shrine of Remembrance today.

People who began arriving well before 4am (AEST) for the 5.45am service, stood in respectful
silence as flags flew at half mast in tribute to Australian and New Sealand war heroes.

The air force band and a choir performed the hymn Be Still My Soul in tribute to those
who were lost.

People young and old were reminded that Australian soldier were buried in 78 countries
around the world.

The service began in darkness with the playing of the Last Post and ended in the dawn
light with a sole bag piper playing on top of the Shrine.

Governor David de Kretser led an official party to lay a wreath in the shrine on behalf
of all Victorians and thousands then made their way inside to lay a poppy in tribute and
gratitude to those who fought.

AAP kn/jlw

KEYWORD: ANZAC VIC

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Sex offender Cornwall recaptured

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-2007
NSW: Sex offender Cornwall recaptured

Child sex offender RAYMOND BARRY CORNWALL has been recaptured by police near Wollongong.

Police say CORNWALL was spotted by an undercover officer at Stanwell Park and arrested
at 8.20 (AEDT) this morning.

He's been taken to Wollongong police station.

On Wednesday .. CORNWALL breached the tough conditions of his release by absconding
from his Parramatta accommodation .. just 30 minutes after being fitted with an electronic
ankle monitor.

MORE RTV ab/was/bart

KEYWORD: CORNWALL CAUGHT (SYDNEY)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed:Wages increasing, but not at an alarming rate

AAP General News (Australia)
08-15-2007
Fed:Wages increasing, but not at an alarming rate

Wages are still growing at a solid pace due to a tight labour market .. but not at
a rate that'd alarm the Reserve Bank into another imminent interest rate rise.

The latest labour price index shows quarterly wages grew by a seasonally adjusted 1.1
per cent in the June quarter.

This saw the annual rate of wages at four per cent in the year to June .. comfortably
below the Reserve Bank's line in the sand .. at 4.5 per cent.

Economists had expected a quarterly increase of one per cent.

AAP RTV cb/sb/jmt

KEYWORD: ECONOMY LABOUR (CANBERRA)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Man killed, woman injured in crash

AAP General News (Australia)
02-16-2007
Qld: Man killed, woman injured in crash

A man's been killed and a woman seriously injured in a crash at Redcliffe .. north of Brisbane.

Police say the vehicle left the road at the intersection of Elizabeth and Anzac Streets
before crashing into a tree.

The 24-year-old male passenger died at the scene .. while the female driver was taken
to Royal Brisbane Hospital in a serious condition.

AAP RTV ews/rt

KEYWORD: TOLL QLD (BRISBANE)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Main stories in today's 0900 ABC News

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2006
Main stories in today's 0900 ABC News

PERTH, August 30 AAP - The main stories in the 0900 ABC news:

- The wife of an Israeli soldier whose kidnapping sparked a month-long war in Lebanon
said she was happy for a prisoner exchange to take place to get her husband home.

- The Treasurer Peter Costello denies he is at odds with the Reserve Bank Governor
Ian Macfarlane over the latest round of tax cuts.

- The mining industry is concerned that a scheme to entice workers from areas with
high unemployment could see incompetent workers brought into the state.

- A polygamist sect leader who has been on the United States most wanted list has been arrested.

- The Liberal MP Bronwyn Bishop says the Federal Government should consider expanding
child care subsidies to cover nannies.

- Media outlets have been unsuccessful in their attempts to publish the names of AFL
players who have failed drug tests twice.

AAP den

KEYWORD: MONITOR ABC 0900

) 2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Iemma says desalination is still a last resort option

AAP General News (Australia)
04-23-2006
NSW: Iemma says desalination is still a last resort option

The NSW government says it has no immediate plans to build a desalination plant in
Sydney .. even though it's called for expressions of interest for the project.

In February .. Premier MORRIS IEMMA suspended plans to build a plant to purify salt
water at Kurnell in Sydney's south .. deciding instead to draw water from underground
aquifers and boost recycling.

But an advertisement calling for expressions of interest for the planning phase of
a desalination plant .. has sparked claims the government will proceed with construction.

Mayor of Sutherland Shire .. KEVIN SCHREIBER .. says it's outrageous to put the plant
back on the agenda .. after being told it's been shelved.

Mr IEMMA says it's just one measure out of many .. the government's taking to secure
Sydney's water supply.

AAP RTV pj/cp

KEYWORD: DESALINATION (SYDNEY)

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

GRIC and NHancement Join to Enable Globally Accessible Unified Communications Solution Powered by GRICtraveler.

First Step in Strategic Relationship

MILPITAS, Calif., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ --

GRIC Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: GRIC), the leading provider of multiple value-added Internet services for service providers and corporate enterprises, and NHancement Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: NHAN), a leading provider of unified communications and unified information (UC/UI), today announced their plans to jointly provide service providers and corporate customers with what is believed to be the first globally accessible unified communications connectivity solution.

NHancement plans to integrate GRIC's global Internet remote access solution, GRICtraveler(TM), with its UC/UI portal. By integrating GRICtraveler (including a customized version of GRIC's dialer software) with NHancement's leading UC/UI portal, NHancement plans to deliver a new solution that enables corporate enterprise users to access their e-mail, voice mail, and fax messages easily, inexpensively and securely via the Internet, from more than 150 countries. This new integrated service offering is expected to be available initially for users in North America during the first quarter of 2001.

Unified communications is the convergence of telephony services, such as voice mail, telephony, and fax, and Internet services, such as e-mail. In a recent research report, U.S. Unified Messaging Markets, the research firm of Frost and Sullivan estimated the market for these types of services in the U.S. alone would grow to more than $5 billion by 2006 from less than $400 million in 1999.

The agreement recently concluded by the companies is the first step in a broader strategic relationship intended to leverage GRIC's other IP-enhanced service capabilities and NHancement's UC/UI portal to deliver global IP connectivity and communication solutions to corporations. The companies are exploring programs for jointly marketing these solutions to the GRIC Alliance of more than 400 service providers representing millions of subscribers and NHancement's existing base of more than 1,000 customer installations.

"The development of a strategic relationship with NHancement is a key element in our Value Added Services (VAS) strategy," said Dr. Hong Chen, chief executive officer of GRIC. "As the leading provider of multiple IP-based services, it is our goal to deliver best of class solutions to our customers, helping them to expand their own customer relationships and generate additional revenue streams. NHancement's decision to provide the GRICtraveler solution to its corporate customers further validates the strength of GRIC's value proposition."

"NHancement and GRIC have numerous synergies that can be utilized in the service provider and corporate marketplaces, including a strong relationship with Cisco," said Doug Zorn, NHancement Technologies' president and CEO. "The focus of our relationship is product integration and joint marketing. By integrating NHancement's and GRIC's systems, we plan to create a comprehensive offering to the ISP marketplace that is expected to create many opportunities to earn significant monthly recurring revenue streams for both companies."

"GRIC and NHancement are leading telephony application service providers, now working together to deliver value added services that will drive VoIP traffic over their Cisco powered networks," said Alistair Woodman, director of marketing, packet telephony division at Cisco. "We are extremely pleased to see NHancement and GRIC collaborate and take advantage of each other's strengths."

About NHancement Technologies Inc.:

NHancement Technologies Inc., a Cisco Powered Network applications provider, is a software applications and services company that specializes in unified communications and unified information (UC/UI) solutions. This includes facilitation of an enterprise's electronic business transactions and customer service interactions. Ranked 18 on Deloitte & Touche's "Fast 50" list of Silicon Valley's fastest growing technology companies, NHancement offers a range of computer telephony products and services that work in both Internet-enabled environments and over standard telephone lines.

NHancement's products facilitate client use of telephone, e-mail, faxing, paging and Web-based communications to keep in touch with customers and with one another. NHancement Technologies also provides customized software development to accommodate each client enterprise's individualized needs. For more information, please visit http://www.nhan.com .

About GRIC Communications, Inc.

GRIC Communications, Inc. is the worldwide leader in delivering multiple IP-based services on a single, open standards-based platform to service providers and corporate enterprises. Combining state-of-the-art technology with its managed global GRIC Alliance Network(TM) of more than 400 service providers, GRIC delivers access and termination for IP telephony (voice and prepaid), remote Internet access, PC-to-phone solutions, and corporate secure remote access around the world. Winner of Frost & Sullivan's 2000 Market Engineering Award Recipient for Customer Service Leadership in the global Internet roaming market, GRIC is headquartered in Milpitas, Calif., and has offices in the U.S., Asia and Europe. Visit GRIC at http://www.GRIC.com .

This news release may include "forward-looking" statements, including projections within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. For example, statements in the future tense are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on information available to GRIC and NHancement at the time of the release and neither company assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. The statements in this release are not guarantees of future performance and actual results could differ materially from the companies' current respective expectations as a result of many factors, including GRIC's limited operating history with corporate customers which makes it difficult to predict its performance, unpredictable difficulties in the parties' ability to establish and maintain a strategic relationship with one another, difficulties and delays that may be encountered by the parties in integrating each other's solutions, the unpredictability of the timing and extent of adoption of the companies' bundled solution by corporate customers, the risks that the markets in which the companies compete do not grow as expected and anticipated revenues will not be realized, and uncertainty whether compelling alternate UC/UI technologies will become available in the near future. These and other risks and uncertainties associated with GRIC's and NHancement's businesses are detailed in the companies' most recent respective reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q on file with the SEC and available through www.sec.gov.