Twenty-nine year old Martin Bryant-- accused of the worst mass killing in modern Australian history -- today changed his plea to guilty to all 35 murders at the Port Arthur historic site in Tasmania in April. LIVE i/v WITH Sydney correspondent, Zandra Sharpe.
Meanwhile, the family of Jason Winter -- the New Zealand victim of the Port Arthur massacre say they're relieved that Bryant has today pleaded guilty. Jason's father, ACTUALITY OF Barry Winter, Jason's father.
It'll be four weeks this Saturday since the general election was held, and it seems there's still a long wait ahead for the formation of a new Government. REPORT EX Clare Pasley
Labour leader Helen Clark is upping the ante in the race to form the next government ... by saying if a coalition is not finalised by the time parliament sits in December, she'll put the issue to the test with a vote of confidence. LIVE i/v with Labour's Chief Whip, Jonathan Hunt....
1720 2.00 HEADS:
President Mobutu of Zaire is reported to have backed proposals to create an international force to help feed more than a million refugees in eastern Zaire and to encourage them to go home to Rwanda and Burundi. REPORT ex BBC by Greg Barrow at the Rwandan, Zaire border.
The United States is leaning towards backing a proposed protection force for refugeees in Zaire but won't itself contribute to ground forces, officials in Washington said today. PRE-RECORD I/V with Robert Patman, author and international relations expert at Otago University.
It appears Michael Jackson's plane was delayed after organisers neglected to inform Papua New Guinea the plane would need to re-fuel there. LIVE i/v with Now FM journalist Wayne Brew, one of a thousand people who flocked to Jackson airport in Port Moresby to see their idol.
1737 3.00 SPORTS:
1740 2.00 NEWS:
A study of crashes on Auckland motorways has found that not only does bad driving contribute but so do laws that allow dangerous manouevres. REPORT EX CORINNE AMBLER.
Republican control of the United States Congress promises a sharp check on Bill Clinton's plans for his second term. REPORT EX Helen Matterson
The mother of two boys abused by convicted paedophile, John Fleming believes he deliberately targetted Pacific Island families for more than 20 years. REPORT EX GLENDA WAKEHAM.
2.00 BUSINESS NEWS:
1800 6.00 NEWS, TRAIL AND WEATHER
5.00 TODAY IN PARLIAMENT
12.00 MANA NEWS:
5.00 PACIFIC NEWS