Scripts
Current Affairs and News anchor
1
Well, it's been another turbulent week for the stockmarket and there's certainly a lot of doom and gloom in the air. But is everything as bad as it seems, or is it just another boom and bust cycle which which we'll soon overcome... we're joined now by our regular panel of financial experts. Good morning guys.
2
Millions of Australians with private health cover are facing premium hikes of up to 7%. The funds are reportedly seeking the rise due to soaring costs.
2a
The predicted premium blowout is disappointing news to around 9.2 million Australians with private health cover. The nation's second largest insurer, MBF, is tipped to seek the highest premium increase of 7%.
2b
Under recent federal government reform, providers are allowed to raise premiums every year in accordance with inflation. But anything higher, must be cleared by the government.
2c
Both MBF and Medibank Private floundered financially last year. They argue they need the increases to cover soaring health costs.
3
The Bush administration is still looking for a diplomatic end to the growing tensions with North Korea. Washington has sent deputy secretary of state James Kelly to Seoul to try to defuse the crisis. The visit comes as Pyong Yang denies ever telling the US about having an arms program.
4
Fans have left floral tributes at the Miami hospital where Bee Gee Morris Gibb died late yesterday afternoon. The 53 year old was smiling and holding his daughter's hand when he suddenly slipped into a coma and never recovered.
5
More than a thousand firefighters are bracing for a torrid day with sweltering temperatures forecast. 30 new blazes have broken out in the state's north east, and many homes will be directly threatened.
6
The big oil producing nations have moved to stave off a surge in oil prices. OPEC has agreed to raise oil output by 1.5 million barrels a day to make up for a shortfall in exports from Venezuela. Oil prices have been threatening to soar as a strike in Venezuela cripples oil exports and a war in Iraq looms.
7
Turning now to the markets - the Australian dollar's hovering just below fresh 2 and half year highs. One Aussie dollar's buying 58 point 25 cents.
7a
In New York the Dow ended, up just 8 points, NASDAC put on 9, gold rose 1 dollar 20, oil fell 31 cents.
8
We've got plenty of cloud still swirling around that monsoon low in the north - plenty of wet weather action there again today. The main feature on the map, is this cloud in the south - a cold front associated with a trough moving across South Australia this morning.
8a
Let's take a closer look at what the weather is doing in your part of the country today... Showers in Townsville, Mackay, Mt Isa, Longreach, Toowoomba and the Gold and Sunshine Coasts. Port Macquarie and Newcastle could get a shower as well, but dry inland with a very high fire danger west of the divide inside New South Wales.
8b
Let's have a look at the forecast for tomorrow. Mainly fine for Brisbane, Sydney Canberra, Perth, cooler in Adelaide and Hobart, and much cooler in Melbourne - staying mainly fine tomorrow, but you could get a shower or two.
8c
Very hot in the south east, a total fire ban for most of Victoria and Tasmania today.
8d
The bureau tells me it should be mainly fine in all other capital cities.
9
And the federal opposition has accused the government of getting its priorities wrong.
10
Yes Robin, the streets are just deadly quiet here. You can really feel the tension in the air. I’m just two blocks away from the main compound, and I’m told that this is pretty much as close as anybody can get. (15)
11
Okay Robin, I’ll report back as more information comes in.
12
Yes – as soon as anything happens, we’ll be back live to cover the action.
13
I’m here with Peter, who lives just across the road. Peter, tell me, what did you see this morning?
14
That’s an amazing story from Peter, and believe me, he’s not the only one who saw these incredible events unfold.
15
Thanks Joe, we’ll let you get back to work. That’s quite a story.