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Checkpoint FOR TUESDAY 3 AUGUST 2010
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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Public servants are in the firing line again with the government fixing its sights on how much it spends on policy advice. The Finance Minister Bill English says between 2003 and last year spending jumped 70 percent from 510 million to 880 million dollars a year.
He says that amount is now nearly three quarters of the total annual police budget and almost matches what the government spends on state housing. Labour has questioned the amount saying it was worked out by doing a google search of budget figures using the words policy or policies. Mr English's not bothered by that. PREREC
There are more signs the jobs market is gradually picking up. Statistics New Zealand says annual wage growth rose again in the June quarter after 18 months of declines. Our economics correspondent, Nigel Stirling, has more. PKG
The first study of women who almost died giving birth has found more than one third became critically ill because of medical mistakes and errors. A team of eight from Otago University's Women's Health Research centre studied the cases of 29 women admitted to intensive care at Wellington hospital between 2005 and 2007. The study found 10 women should not have become as sick as they did. The lead researcher Beverley Lawton says five of them suffered blood poisoning from infections that should have been treated a lot earlier. PREREC Beverley Lawton from Otago University's Women's Health Research Centre. She says setting up a national audit to look at why pregnant women end up in intensive care would cost about a million dollars.
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1720 TRAILS AND BUSINESS WITH Anusha Bradley.
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Chris Carter may be on leave from Parliament, but the fallout from his attack on the Labour Leader, Phil Goff continues to cause the party griEf. Mr Carter has told Parliament's Speaker he is unwell, and will be away from work for about two months. BuT his comments last week about Mr Goff's leadership have been seized upon by John Key, who is gleefully taunting his opposite number about his future as leader. Here's our political reporter, Julian Robins. PACKAGE And the Speaker of Parliament, Lockwood Smith, says he will ask the Law Commission to consider tightening the rules around MPs absences from Parliament. Dr Smith says the Speaker becomes involved only after an MP has been absent for 14 sitting days, and can then chose to dock their pay.
Israel has agreed to back a probe into its deadly commando raid on a Gaza-bound aid convoy, but some are worried the terms of reference will be too narrow. The former Prime Minister, Sir Geoffrey Palmer, was named by the UN today as the head of the four-man panel which will investigate the assault, in which nine Turkish activists were killed. Catherine Hutton reports. PKG
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17.30 HEADLINES
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The National-led Government has signalled more jobs might be cut, as it reviews how much it is spending on policy advice. The Finance Minister, Bill English, says the increase in spending on policy advice between 2003 and 2009 has been faster than the general increase in overall government spending. Here's our political editor, Brent Edwards. PKG
Controversial plans by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council to shift headquarters and a hundred staff from Whakatane to Tauranga have been put on hold. The Court of Appeal has ruled the Council didn't give the views of the community enough consideration, and it had already decided on the move before asking people what they thought. The Regional Council says its disappointed and doesn't know what it will do next. The Whakatane District Council took the case to court - Mayor Colin Holmes, is with us now. LIVE
A campaign for a commuter rail service between Hamilton and Auckland is being resurrected ahead of the local body elections. Candidates in Waikato are being urged to sign up to a pledge to support the idea, if they are elected in October. Andrew McRae reports. PKG
A Census of Marine Life has found there could be tens of thousands of unidentified marine species in New Zealand's waters. The census - conducted over a ten year period - is the largest global research programme conducted on marine biodiversity. Joining us now is the lead author of the global research, Associate Professor of Marine Ecology at Auckland University, Dr Mark Costello. LIVE
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17.45 TRAILS
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WAATEA
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The Government and Air New Zealand have announced a second remembrance flight to Antarctica will take place for family members of the victims of the 1979 Erebus disaster.
Representatives from six families travelled to Antarctica late last year, to mark the 30th anniversary of the disaster and to visit the site where 257 people died.This summer the Royal New Zealand Air Force will fly up to 80 family representatives to Scott Base for a few hours.
Joining us now is Jackie Nankervis NAN-KERVIS who lost her father and uncle in the crash.
LIVE
One of the golden rules of politics is to insist you're preparing for victory - even if you're privately preparing for being trounced at the polls.But, it seems, not so in Australia. Party officials there are being investigated for placing bets on their own side to lose in the upcoming election.
The claims are being made by an independent Senator, Nick Xenophon. Zen-a-fon CLIP
And he says it does matter. CLIP Independent Australian senator Nick Xenophon.
New Zealand's night sky should be lighting up soon now with what astronomers are hoping will be a spectacular display of the southern lights.On Sunday NASA astromonomers witnessed two massive explosions on the Sun which have sent what is being described as a solar tsunami towards earth.The collision between the gas from the explosions and the earth's magnetic field should trigger something worth seeing.Joining us now is Carter Observatory astronomer John Field. LIVE
State-owned job centres in Britain can no longer advertise posts for performers in the sex industry.
The practice of advertising jobs for strippers, lap dancers and topless barmaids is to end on Monday. A senior government minister described the policy as unacceptable exploitation.
Fiona Werge (wurj) reports. PKG