VIC: Main stories in today s Melbourne newspapers = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
02-15-1999
VIC: Main stories in today s Melbourne newspapers = 2

THE AGE:

PAGE 1: State opposition leader John Brumby is under new pressure after an embarrassing
snub by union leaders and the failure of Labor Party factions to reach agreement over party
branch stacking; Melbourne Lord Mayor Councillor Ivan Deveson will quit Melbourne City Council
at the end of his three-year term next month.

PAGE 2: The Victorian ALP has pledged to set up a special body to investigate secret
contracts negotiated between the state government and business.

PAGE 3: State governments could be exposed to big legal claims from prisoners who
contracted deadly viruses such as HIV and hepatitis C.

WORLD: Russia has signed an arms deal worth more than $A252 million with Iraq's President
Saddam Hussein to reinforce his country's air defences; Two English families had sacked
Australian nanny Louise Sullivan, and agencies were informed that she was unsuitable for such
work, several months before she killed a six-month-old baby.

FINANCE: The combined value of big investment projects in the pipeline in Australia has
shrunk by 13 per cent in the past year as the downturn in commodity prices has slashed
investment plans, Access Economics has reported; The federal government's "four pillars"
banking policy has come under renewed pressure amid further speculation of a merger between
National Australia Bank and Westpac.

SPORT: Craig Spence became the youngest winner in the 21-year history of the Australian
Masters when he won the tournament by one stroke ahead of golfing legend Greg Norman.

AAP ba/ao

KEYWORD: FRONTERS VIC 2 MELBOURNE

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