Fed: Heart attacks, cancer cause of nearly 50 pct of deaths: ABS

00-00-0000
Fed: Heart attacks, cancer cause of nearly 50 pct of deaths: ABS

By Sandra O'Malley

CANBERRA, Dec 10 AAP - Heart attacks and cancer accounted for nearly 50 per cent ofall deaths in Australia last year, a new report shows.

Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), released today, showed thatcancer and heart disease were responsible for 28.5 per cent and 20.4 per cent of deathsrespectively in 2001.

In total, 128,544 deaths were registered last year, made up of a slightly higher proportionof men than women: 66,835 compared to 61,709.

The report showed that over the past decade the death rate from cancer had increased,while it had gone down for heart disease.

Although cancer and heart disease were also the two biggest killers 10 years ago, in1991 both diseases were each responsible for 26 per cent of deaths.

Nearly one in five cancer deaths last year were related to lung cancer.

Stroke was the third biggest killer in Australia, responsible for 9.4 per cent of deaths,followed by lower respiratory diseases like asthma, emphysema and bronchitis, which accountedfor 4.6 per cent of deaths.

The ABS figures also showed a growing life expectancy for Australians.

A boy born between 1999 and 2001 could expect to live to 77 years, while for a girlthat rises to 82.4 years.

Since 1981, life expectancy at birth has increased by six years for males and fouryears for females.

Women born in Australia can expect to live longer than women from Canada, Greece andNew Zealand (81 years), as well as the British and Americans (80 years).

Compared to other Western nations, Australian males have a better life expectancy thatNew Zealanders (76 years), British (75 years) and Americans (74 years).

Japanese males beat their Australian counterparts with a life expectancy of 78 years.

Across Australia, life expectancy for men and women can vary by as much as 11 years.

Male life expectancy was highest for men born in Canberra (79 years), while it waslowest for a man born in the Northern Territory (68 years).

Women in the Northern Territory also had a lower life expectancy (73 years), whileit was 83 years for girls born in parts of Queensland, Perth, Canberra, Melbourne andthe south-west of WA.

AAP so/kjp/ldj/sb

KEYWORD: DEATHS

Games: Disgraced NZ bowler says sorry for harassment

00-00-0000
Games: Disgraced NZ bowler says sorry for harassment

PALMERSTON NORTH, NZ, Aug 3 NZPA - A disgraced New Zealand lawn bowler says his sexualharassment of a female Commonwealth Games volunteer was just a joke sparked by an incidentinvolving a streaker.

John Davies, a 60-year-old disabled bowls player, was sent home from Manchester onTuesday for inappropriately touching a Games volunteer.

Davies has held a news conference in New Zealand, accompanied by his wife Bev, to publiclyapologise for what he described as "a moment of stupidity" he would regret forever.

Davies, who has one leg amputated below the knee, said the incident which cost hismen's disabled triples team a chance at a gold medal happened in the communal area ofthe Games village while he was heading to the evening dinner.

He admitted placing his hands on a woman volunteer's breasts, but has said the actionwas in jest.

"Earlier that day when we were playing Kenya, a young female streaker took our mindsbriefly off the serious side of sport," he said.

"The presence of the streaker had obviously been brought to the attention of the volunteersin the village because, as they were checking our accreditation, that incident was thebig talking point.

"There was much hilarity and banter and I was asked by one of the volunteers what thestreaker looked like.

"I jokingly said I'd show them and asked one of the volunteers to turn around. In aclumsy attempt to demonstrate the physical difference between them I held the volunteerin a compromising position with my hands against her breasts," said Davies.

"It was a foolish gesture and, while the incident was over in seconds, it will hauntme for a lifetime. I showed very poor judgment, caused great hurt and offence. I am sorryfor any embarrassment and humiliation I caused.

"I want to apologise to a number of people for the hurt and humiliation I may have caused them."

Davies added that it "pained him" to think the actions of a disabled bowler may impacton bowlers being included in future tournaments.

Davies said when he was told by New Zealand Commonwealth Games chef de mission DaveCurrie he was being sent home he was shattered.

"I was absolutely gutted," Davies said. "At the time (of the incident) there was nooffence taken. She said nothing to me and everyone was laughing."

When asked if he thought the incident had been blown out of proportion, Davies saidhe was "absolutely shocked" by the fall-out which followed.

Davies said his actions with the woman were just a "knee-jerk" reaction to the situationand her complaint "came out of the blue".

"This is not normal behaviour," he said. "It wasn't premeditated.

"She (the Games volunteer) was laughing and I was laughing. I can't remember exactlywhat was said at the time but she said something like wanting to know what the streakerlooked like."

He said the "bubbly" woman then returned to her duties of checking athletes and hehad no idea of the drama that was about to unfold.

NZPA sp

KEYWORD: GAMES DAVIES

Fed: Govt should have waited, Reith

00-00-0000
Fed: Govt should have waited, Reith

MELBOURNE, Feb 22 AAP - Former defence minister Peter Reith today said the federalgovernment should have waited before releasing the photos which started the "childrenoverboard affair".

"I think now, looking back on the whole situation, it would have been much better ifwe had a clear statement of what had happened in writing before anybody had said anything,"

Mr Reith told Melbourne radio 3AW.

"With the benefit of hindsight I do think there was confusion."

Mr Reith, now retired from politics, also said that at all times he had relied on theChief of Defence Forces (CDF) …

Qld: More nighttime staff for Brisbane stations

AAP General News (Australia)
12-23-2001
Qld: More nighttime staff for Brisbane stations

BRISBANE, Dec 23 AAP - The Queensland government will spend almost $7 million over
the next five years to upgrade night time security at 30 Brisbane suburban railway stations.

Transport Minister Steve Bredhauer said the money would be used to staff the 30 stations
at night, in addition to the 20 stations already staffed.

"As well as improving safety and security, the program will improve the effectiveness
and efficiency of public transport services," Mr Bredhauer said.

He said the program to improve safety at suburban stations had already seen the installation
of surveillance cameras at stations and in car parks.

It had also improved lighting, locked car parks and installed help phones, as well
as boosting the Police rail squad to 50 officers.

AAP jfs/jmd/de

KEYWORD: TRAINS

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic; Two die in road accidents

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-2001
Vic; Two die in road accidents

A motorist and a pedestrian have been killed in separate road accidents in Melbourne.

Police say a man was killed when the car he was driving at Greenvale, in Melbourne's
northern suburbs, hit a tree.

Meanwhile, police are hunting for a car that struck and killed a man in his 30s at
Seaford, southeast of Melbourne.





The fatalities take Victoria's road toll for this year to 267, 19 more than at the
same time last year.

AAP RTV ra/wz

KEYWORD: TOLL VIC (MELBOURNE)

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Debus to crack down on bankrupt barristers

AAP General News (Australia)
02-26-2001
NSW: Debus to crack down on bankrupt barristers

SYDNEY, Feb 26 AAP - The New South Wales government is to introduce new laws to crack
down on barristers who are abusing the tax system.

Attorney-General Bob Debus announced the legislation today following reports that indebted
lawyers are continuing to live in luxury by using vehicles such as family trusts or their
wives' names to conceal their wealth.

Mr Debus said the legal changes would ensure any bankrupt lawyers were scrutinised
to determine whether they were fit to continue practising.

"Under this proposal, barristers or solicitors …

VIC: Main Stories in today s Melbourne newspapers = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
12-25-2000
VIC: Main Stories in today s Melbourne newspapers = 2

THE AGE

Page 1 - Air safety authorities to question Ansett on how safety checks were overlooked.

Page 2 - Overwork overtaking unemployment as Australia's biggest labour market problem.

Page 3 - Last-minute shopping splurge fails to materialise on pre-Christmas weekend.

World - New York shops offering discounts of up to 75 per cent in one of gloomiest
holiday shopping seasons in years. Victor Borg passes away.

Finance - Japan's cabinet endorses an 82.7 trillion yen budget plan as government tries
to put lid on debt. Stock exchange's board now clogged with worthless stocks in fall-out
from Internet market stock collapse. Russian legislators' swift approval of budget mark
success of Vladimir Putin's first year in office. China completes overhaul of largest
state-owned businesses, Guangdong Enterprises.

Sport - Rough passage expected for Sydney to Hobart yachts. Manchester United stretches
English premiership lead to eight points.

AAP imc/was

KEYWORD: FRONTERS VIC 2 MELBOURNE (REOPENS)

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.