HEADLINES & NEWS
BOTTRILL TESTIFIES AT GISBORNE CANCER ENQUIRY
The retired Gisborne pathologist, Dr Michael Bottrill, has admitted that he mis-read many abnormal cervical smear slides and suggested a previously undiagnosed health problem he has may be to blame. Dr Bottrill made the admission at the Gisborne Cervical Cancer Inquiry, where he appeared for the first time to answer questions about his work. Our health correspondent Rae Lamb is at the inquiry and joins me now. LIVE
COMMISSIONER SAYS STATE AGENCIES WILL BE HELD TO ACCOUNT
The Children's Commissioner Roger McClay has promised to come down hard on [illegible] agencies which don't fulfill their responsibilities to protect children. His comments follow two high profile cases in a week in which a two year old girl died after being beaten and sexually abused. In the other case a two-year-old girl is in hospital with serious head injuries. The cases have sparked calls for mandatory reporting of child abuse and better coordination between Child, Youth and Family Service offices. Leigh-Anne Wiig reports. PKG
BUSINESS NEWS with CATHERINE WALLBRIDGE
INQUIRY HEARS WORKERS ARE SCARED TO SPEAK OUT
TranzRail workers have told a Ministerial inquiry into work place safety that they are working under extreme pressure but are afraid of speaking out against their employer. The weeklong inquiry, which will also have hearings in Christchurch and Auckland, was prompted by five fatal accidents involving Tranzrail workers over the last twelve months. Our Reporter Sarah Gregory was at the inquiry today and she joins me now LIVE
ACT BREAKS RULES TO REVEAL ERB DETAIL
The ACT party leader Richard Prebble broke Parliament's rules today to reveal significant changes to the Employment Relations Bill. The select committee considering the bill is not expected to table its report until tomorrow, but ACT went ahead with seminars it had scheduled for today, outlining six significant changes the committee is recommending. Opposition parties say while the changes will be welcomed by employers and business, their overall concern about the legislation won't be allayed. Our political reporter Kathryn Ryan compiled this report. PKG
Rural mail contractor Jasmine Levine, was at Parliament last month helping deliver a 60-thousand signature petition, opposing the Employment Relations Bill and the provision she feared could turn her from a contractor into an employee. She had this reaction to Richard Prebble's revelations about the changes to the bill. PREREC
5.30 NEWS HEADLINES
SPORT with CHRIS REID
MILITARY RETAKE BARRACKS
In Fiji, the military has regained control of a military barracks on the island of Vanua Levu which had been taken over by soldiers loyal to rebel leader George Speight.
Meanwhile in Suva, the first of hundreds of Speight's supporters have begun appearing in the courts. They were detained last week when the military cracked on Speight, clearing the way for an interim government to be named. Our reporter in Suva Todd Niall has been following today's events - I asked him how the military had retaken the barracks at Lambasa. PREREC
TAXI VIDEOS COULD SAVE LIVES
The Taxi Federation is worried by the increasing number of crimes against taxi drivers and is urging them to install cameras in their cabs. In recent years, several drivers have been victims of violent attacks or homicides - in June, a taxi driver in Lower Hutt was killed. The cab cameras keep a photographic record of every passenger - they arent cheap but as Sally Wenley reports, those drivers who have installed them say they could be life saving. PKG
TAX INQUIRY PANEL SET UP
The government has announced the terms of reference for its inquiry into the tax system. The Revenue Minister, Michael Cullen says the inquiry will be conducted by a four person panel, which will be appointed shortly, and will report back by next July. Dr Cullen says the system needs to be updated to deal with the emerging demands of e-commerce and issues such as a carbon tax on non-renewable resources. He believes any changes should keep the tax system current for the next ten years. PREREC
CONCORDE MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING
The high-speed airliner Concord has run into more trouble, less than a week after one of the fleet crashed near Paris, killing 114 people. The latest problem was seen a British Airways Concorde carrying 66 people from London to New York diverted to Gander airport in Newfoundland after fuel fumes were detected in the cabin.
French investigators have suggested a fuel leak could have caused last week's tragedy. I spoke to reporter Leigh-Anne Power in Gander after she'd talked to the British Airway passengers. PREREC
PROBLEMS FOR WOMEN IN POLICE
A [illegible] report shows gender and sexual harassment is still a problem within police ranks, despite extensive work developing policies to prevent it. Women now make up 16 percent of police numbers - 20 years ago that figure was two percent. The report was commissioned by the police and prepared by Pru Hyman, an Associate Professor of Economics and Women's Studies at Victoria University. Her research largely looked at women's experiences in the CIB - our police reporter Karlum Lattimore looks at the results. PKG
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