AAP Rolling News Bulletin Oct 21, 1030

Rolling News Bulletin 1030 AAP Rolling News Bulletin for Oct 21 at 1030

Legal: Leifer (MELBOURNE) Former ultra-orthodox school principal Malka Leifer will stand trial on child sexual abuse charges in Melbourne next year. Leifer, 55, pleaded not guilty to 70 charges of child sexual abuse after being ordered to stand trial earlier this month, and just days later an additional 20 charges of the same nature were filed against her. She is alleged to have abused sisters Dassi Erlich, Nicole Meyer and Elly Sapper during her time at the Adass Israel School in Melbourne's inner suburbs between 2004 and 2008. Leifer faced a directions hearing in Victoria's County Court on Thursday when Judicial Registrar Matthew Phillips confirmed her case would go to trial in 2022. "It certainly will be next year," he confirmed, adding it would be listed as quickly as legal teams could get organised.

Virus Vic (MELBOURNE) Victoria has recorded 2232 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths on the last day of Melbourne's long-running sixth lockdown. The health department confirmed the state's daily local case figure had risen back above 2000 for the first time in five days. Three overseas-acquired cases were also detected in hotel quarantine. It takes the number of active cases in Victoria to 22,889, while the latest deaths from the current outbreak take the toll to 187. There were 79,544 tests processed and 37,824 COVID-19 vaccine doses administered at state-run hubs on Wednesday. Victoria has also officially passed its 70 per cent full COVID-19 vaccination target, a key reopening milestone in the state's roadmap. Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed 70.51 per cent of Victorians aged over 16 have now received both doses.

Climate (CANBERRA) Nationals MPs will deliver Scott Morrison a list of demands to secure the junior coalition partner's support for a 2050 net zero emissions target. The prime minister insists the federal cabinet will decide what position Australia takes to COP26 climate talks in Glasgow starting on October 31. But a four-member Nationals subcommittee was on Wednesday finalising the conditions to secure the party's support. Nationals leader and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce says the subcommittee deliberations are being conducted at arm's length and he expects the document to go to Mr Morrison on Thursday. Senior Nationals cabinet ministers Bridget McKenzie and David Littleproud are on the subcommittee alongside Resources Minister Keith Pitt and junior frontbencher Kevin Hogan. Mr Morrison has vowed to protect regional jobs and confirmed a deal will be reached in time for his departure for COP26 in a week.

NZ Trade (WELLINGTON) New Zealand has reached agreement in principle for a far-reaching free trade deal with the United Kingdom which Jacinda Ardern says could be worth $NZ970 million ($A930 million) annually. Tariffs on 97 per cent of Kiwi exports will be eliminated the day the deal is signed with dairy, beef and lamb to follow in later years. "The market access outcomes are among the very best New Zealand has secured," Ms Ardern said. "All tariffs on all products will be eliminated between both countries and the vast majority of these, 97 per cent, will be removed the day the FTA comes into force." NZ is the second country to secure a free trade deal with post-Brexit UK following Australia's deal in June.

China Aust (CANBERRA) Australian officials have lashed out against China's harsh trade policies against the nation, warning the economic punishment measures risked undermining global confidence in Beijing. In a strongly worded statement to the World Trade Organisation, Australia's ambassador George Mina said China was increasingly testing global trade rules. The rebuke comes after China slapped export bans on a range of Australian products such as barley, coal, lobster, wine and cotton, as part of an ongoing economic dispute. "The implications of China's actions go beyond their impact on Australian exporters, they raise the risk and uncertainty of the China market for the global business community," Mr Mina said in the statement. "By undermining agreed trade rules, China also undermines the multilateral trading system on which all WTO members rely.

Porter (CANBERRA) Scott Morrison has defended blocking an investigation into former attorney- general Christian Porter receiving anonymous donations for legal fees. The prime minister argues the government's decision to support a broader inquiry into crowdfunding of MPs' legal costs will address the issue. House of Representatives Speaker Tony Smith said there appeared to be a case for referring the issue of Mr Porter's donations to the powerful privileges committee. But the coalition used its numbers to block Labor's bid to send the matter to an inquiry. Labor leader Anthony Albanese said the idea Mr Porter did not know where the money came from defied belief. "Yesterday in the parliament we saw an extraordinary event - 120 years of precedent were thrown out," he told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.

Toll Vic (MELBOURNE) A man has died while out cycling after colliding with a vehicle in a suspected hit and run in regional Victoria. Emergency services were called to La Trobe Street in Delacombe, near Ballarat, just after 5.45am on Thursday. A male cyclist, who is yet to be formally identified, died at the scene. Police investigators believe the man was hit by a vehicle, which then drove away. Investigations into the incident continue and police are calling for witnesses.

RNA (SYDNEY) NSW is committing $96 million to establish a facility to develop and manufacture the emerging medical technology of mRNA and RNA drugs used to develop vaccines like those created for COVID-19 by Pfizer and Moderna. Premier Dominic Perrottet said the facility - at a site yet to be determined - would position the state as a world leader in biotechnology, noting it would be a game changer in the field of medical research. The investment in RNA and biotechnology reflects the government's new focus on research and development and a move to attract and train the best and brightest minds in developing emerging technologies. "The NSW government doesn't just want to be nation-leading, but world-leading when it comes to industry, ideas and innovation," he said on Thursday.

In finance ...

Crown (SYDNEY) Casinos operator Crown warns it is still facing uncertainly due to regulatory issues and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, after one of the worst years in its history. The gaming group is facing an ongoing royal commission in Western Australia and awaiting the release of the final report of another royal commission in Victoria. "The 2021 financial year ranks as one of the most challenging in Crown's history," interim chair Jane Halton said on Thursday in a speech to shareholders at its virtual annual meeting. "Crown continues to face additional uncertainty from ongoing regulatory investigations. "Crown has acknowledged that the various regulatory processes to which it is subject have identified numerous failings, and we have apologised for these." Major shareholder and billionaire James Packer is due to appear before the WA inquiry examining whether Crown should retain its Perth casino licence on October 29.

Legal: NZ Volcano (WELLINGTON) Lengthy delays loom to assess workplace safety failings on New Zealand's White Island in the buildup to the deadly 2019 volcanic eruption, with a trial unlikely to begin until March 2023 at the earliest. The offshore volcano was a popular tourist spot until the blast which occurred with 47 people on the island, killing 22. There were 14 Australian tourists among the dead, as well as two Kiwi tour guides. NZ's workplace safety watchdog WorkSafe in December charged 13 parties - including tour operators and the island's owners - with failings. If found guilty,