The News Review:
- Fire destroys historic $40-million Myer building in Hobart
- Courts ‘treat relationship rape too lightly’
- Voters discuss the election
- Rudd’s week gets worse
Fire destroys historic $40-million Myer building in Hobart
Sydney Morning Herald – Sep 23, 2007
C Cosmetic counter on theground floor in Liverpool Street and spread. “I’m told the value of the Myer building is approximately$40million to rebuild it so that does not include stock” MrTownshend said. Beyond PR acts for the Property Council of Australia TasmaniaDivision. Most of the CBD was evacuated as crews battled against themonster fire Tasmania Police spokeswoman acting Sergeant PennyReardon said. “There are no injuries from the fire” she said. “All customersand staff were safely evacuated. It is not known how many people were in the building before theblaze.
Courts ‘treat relationship rape too lightly’
The Age – Sep 23, 2007
Professor Kate Warner director of the Tasmania Law ReformInstitute said that sentences for “relationship” rapes should beakin to the longer sentences handed down for “stranger” rapes. She said research had repeatedly shown that only a minority ofrapists were strangers to their victims. Yet judges like the restof the community were influenced by the idea that “stranger” rapeusually involving violence was “real” rape. As a result the rapesof acquaintances and partners tended to attract more lenientsentences. “Everybody is vulnerable to that prejudice — includingvictims” said Professor Warner… “Everybody is vulnerable to that prejudice — includingvictims” said Professor Warner. “That is one of the reasons whythey don’t report a situation which is in fact rape. The University of Tasmania law professor said that judgestraditionally described stranger attacks as the “worst kind” ofrape and tended to hand down sentences indicating thatrelationship rapes were regarded as less heinous. But she said no recent survey evidence exists to prove thiscontinued disparity of sentencing between stranger and relationshiprape. She called for comparative research into sentencing for”stranger” and “relationship” rapes. All mitigating factors shouldbe scrutinised — especially the idea that a judge might giveweight to the “emotional stress” suffered by the perpetrator. Professor Warner said it could not be argued that victims of”relationship” rape were necessarily in less danger than victims of”stranger” rape.
Voters discuss the election
ABC Regional nline – ABC Regional nline – Sep 23, 2007
TranscriptFEMALE SPEAKER NE: It would be great if an election was called already. FEMALE SPAKER TW: At the moment there’s just a lot of confusion in politics anyway so I’ll be interested to see what happens once it is called. MALE SPEAKER NE: I am very tired of the whole lead up to this election I just wish it would be over. FEMALE SPEAKER NE: I think Australia is on the brink of entering an exciting phase in politics. Right now it doesn’t seem to be moving anywhere… MALE SPEAKER NE: I mean this is Tasmania and a lot of people are getting more concerned about what is happening here. FEMALE SPEAKER NE: But rather than a big shift towards the Howard Government it seems almost to be going away. I think Tasmania has a significant role to play in the election I think the seats in the north and the north-west that we have because they are so marginal I think that’s a crucial issue. MALE SPEAKER NE: I like to think that I have decided my vote already but you never know. Someone could do something that would make me change my mind at the last moment. FEMALE SPEAKER NE: Shouldn’t you always keep an open mind though? MALE SPEAKER NE: Always.
Rudd’s week gets worse
NEWS.com.au – Sep 23, 2007
Mr Rudd announcing ALP plans to retain the Medicare safety net if elected wrongly introduced the Labor candidate for Bonner Kerry Rea a well-known Brisbane City councillor. He initially called her Carrie before correcting himself. In July Mr Rudd forgot the name of the candidate for Bass Tasmania calling her Jodie Kingston instead of Jodie Campbell. Yesterday he appeared uncertain where he was – even though it was in the electorate neighbouring his own seat of Griffith. After hesitating he had to defer to Ms Rea to confirm just where they were for the ALP function. "We are here at a community barbecue in aah we are in Mansfield aren’t we?” he asked. "We are” Ms Rae replied.