National Radio Midday Report

Workplace injuries – Greek Ferry Disaster – Yugoslav Elections – Trans-Tasman Meeting – Sydney Olympics – Olympic Doping – Cervical Cancer Inquiry – House Fire deaths – Child Abuse – Ambulance Funding – Jury Deliberates – Bath Dealth

- WORKPLACE INJURIES: A Coroner has called for new laws to prevent workplace accidents. He says too many people have over last 20 years from workplace accidents. He made his comments in his findings in a report into the death of pig farm worker Grant Andrew Burns in 1998. Mr Burns died from accidental drowning while mixing pig feed, and the coroner said his death was preventable.

- GREEK FERRY DISASTER: Authorities believe they have accounted for all the New Zealanders on board the Greek ferry that sank yesterday off a holiday island. Two New Zealander women survived the sinking, and the New Zealand consulate in Athens believes no other New Zealanders were on board.

- YUGOSLAV ELECTIONS: A vast crowd of over 200,000 people has filled central Belgrade chanting that they no longer want Yugoslav president Slobodon Milosevic in power. The opposition candidate said he would not allow Mr Milosovic to force him into a second ballot. The electoral commission has refused to let the opposition check results and said the opposition candidate failed to achieve an outright victory.

- TRANS-TASMAN MEETING: The Australian and New Zealand Prime Ministers are meeting in Sydney today, amid heightened sensitivity about the relationship between the countries. An extra dimension has been added to the talks by claims being traded between opposition leader Jenny Shipley and Prime Minister Helen Clark. Foreign Affairs, defence and economic policy are expected to be on the agenda.

- SYDNEY OLYMPICS: New Zealand sailors sail-off against the Netherlands in Sydney today, after the Netherlands forced them into the sail-off with a protest. New Zealand equestrian Bruce Gooden was first equal after the first round – if he can go clear today he can remain at the top of the competition. Kiwi Martin Riddel competes in the wrestling.

- OLYMPIC DOPING: The world anti-doping agency says the high number of athletes caught at the Olympics should be seen as a sign of progress, not scandal. The Romanian gymnast who was stripped of her medal for pseudo ephedrine finds out today if her protest is successful.

- CERVICAL CANCER INQUIRY: A decision by the ombudsman has forced the cervical cancer inquiry in Gisborne to lift a suppression order which relates to a 1994 statistical report on laboratories.

- HOUSE FIRE DEATHS: The Wellington coroner says smoke inhalation during a house fire caused the death of two Porirua children in September 1997.

- CHILD ABUSE: The Save the Children charity is turning its attention to child protection issues in New Zealand. It is funding a two year Women’s Refuge project which aims to break the cycle of child abuse.

- AMBULANCE FUNDING: Associate ACC Minister Ruth Dyson says she open to suggestions from ambulance drivers about changing the way they are funded.

- JURY DELIBERATES: The jury in trial of Robert Han, who has admitted killing his wife and two children has been told the only issue they face is deciding whether Mr Han’s was insane.

- BATH DEATH: Police investigating death of Masterton woman found dead in her bath are speaking to family friends about the circumstances leading up to the death. Police say it is not a homicide inquiry, but said there are unexplained circumstances around the death.

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