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**** CKPT FOR TUES 17 FEB 2009
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1700 to 1707 NEWS
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A report by the Auditor-General, Kevin Brady, on the Corrections Department handling of offenders on parole says public safety may have been put at risk. The Corrections Minister, Judith Collins, told Parliament the report identifies serious failings. CUTS.
Andrew MCconnell is from the Auditor General's Office. He says victims aren't being given enough information on the whereabouts of offenders and if they've been recalled to prison. PRE-REC
Our Parliamentary chief reporter, Jane Patterson, joins us now now. LIVE
The government has sacked the Chair of the Otago District Health Board, Richard Thomson. A former manager at the Board, Michael Swann, and his friend and business partner, Kerry Harford, were convicted in December of defrauding the Board of nearly 17-million dollars over a period of six years.The Chair, Richard Thomson had refused an earlier request from the Minister of Health, Tony Ryall, to stand down from the position, and today Mr Ryall removed Mr Thomson as Chair. The Board's Chief Medical Officer, Richard Bunton, has defended Mr Thomson. CUT
The deputy chair of the Otago and Southland District Health Boards, Susie Johnstone, says Mr Thomson has served the people of Otago well.CUT
Tony Ryall says health bosses, like Mr Thomson, must be held accountable. PRE-REC
A solo mother seeking temporary support has received a letter from Work and Income listing ways she can help ends meet - including pawning her cellphone and children's Play Station. The letter was released by the Labour Party in Parliament today. Our political reporter Danya Levy filed this report. PKG
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BUSINESS NEWS
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Twenty-thousand one-dollar tickets have been snapped up in an airline promotion this afternoon as Qantas drops its New Zealand domestic service and its budget subsidiary Jetstar enters the market. Ben Brown was at the announcement in Auckland. PRE-REC
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17.30 HEADLINES
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The Corrections Minister is calling the Auditor-General's report into the way the Corrections Department has been handling offenders on parole alarming and damning. The Minister, Judith Collins, has asked the State Services Commissioner to find out who's accountable for serious failings within the Department. She's with us now. LIVE
One of the Government's key allies is opposing suggestions that strategic businesses struggling in the economic recession could get special treatment. The ACT Party leader Rodney Hide says picking winners is wrong and the Government should focus on policies aimed at helping all businesses.Here's our political editor Brent Edwards. LIVE
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WAATEA NEWS
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The global economic crisis is likely to dominate the American Secretary of State's first official overseas trip. Hillary Clinton arrived in Japan yesterday, and will travel on to Indonesia, South Korea and China. The ABC's North Asia correspondent, Mark Willacy, is in Tokyo, and is with us now. LIVE
The Principal Family Court judge is questioning the value of programmes aimed at stopping domestic violence. Judge Peter Boshier says nearly a quarter of offenders are failing to complete their courses - and research needs to be done into whether they're orthwhile.Penny Smith reports. PKG
A leading virologist is warning that a more deadly strain of flu which killed six children in Brisbane last winter could be on its way here.The A Brisbane H3N2 and the H1N1 viruses are currently hitting Europe and the US. Canterbury virologist Dr Lance Jennings says the flu vaccine available from March will help protect against both viruses but only 18 percent of the population bother with flu vaccines. He says that needs to improve. PRE-REC
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