Midday Edition: 27 August 2024

The Midday Edition of News Fix for 27 August 2024, straight from the Newstalk ZB newsroom - bringing you everything you need to know in news, politics, business, entertainment and sport.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Good afternoon. I'm Susie nord Questen. This is your midday
news Fixable Tuesday, the twenty seventh of August. More details
are emerging about the fatal crash on Auckland's Southern Motorway.
Witnesses say a southbound truck blue attire and ripped through
a median barrier yesterday afternoon, hitting a van, which then
collided with two other vehicles. Three people died and three

(00:26):
others were critically or seriously injured. Some more and media
are reporting the three dead and one of the injured
were Salmon's seasonal workers who were returning to Auckland to
fly back to Sarmour tomorrow. Franklin counselor Andy Baker says
bystanders stepped into help knowing they would witness truly unforgettable things.

Speaker 2 (00:46):
Write a shocking any fatility or any serious injury, any crash,
really because a terrible thing and just incredibly bad.

Speaker 1 (00:52):
Correction says it is making improvements to its management of
extreme risk prisoners. An inspection of Auckland Prisons High Risk
Prisoners Unit has found it as overly restrictive conditions could
have profound and long lasting physical and psychological effects. As
senior political reporters Sophie Trigger.

Speaker 3 (01:11):
Custoonial Services Commissioner ly Marsh says the unit holds prisoners
if there's ongoing risk they'll threaten or behave violently, and
those link to organize crime networks or with extremist views.
Extra training will be given to the unit's staff and
a wider range of rehabilitative, constructive and cultural activities offered.
Prisoners will also have access to more family contact through

(01:32):
audio visual link.

Speaker 1 (01:34):
The government is refocusing its efforts on ensuring only those
entitled to the benefit actually receive it. Social Development and
Employment Minister Louise Upstin says there are schemes in place
where employers get a taxpayers contribution towards the employee's wage.
Upstin sees the government's refining these schemes, aiming to have
seventy to seventy five percent of those supported by flexi

(01:57):
wage being people on job seeker support. By June twenty
twenty five universities are said to be facing stress. A
Tertiary Education Commission briefing papers suggests Massy University and Wellington's
Victoria University are deemed high risk. Four universities have budgeted
for a deficit this year, and RNZ reports eight tertiary

(02:20):
institutions saw a deficit of sixty four million dollars added up.
Australian workers can legally switch off outside of work hours
under their new Right to Disconnect. The law means employees
can refuse unreasonable contact from their boss on weekends, evenings
or on their days off. Australian correspondent Leslie Yeomans says

(02:41):
Australia's Chamber of Commerce as one of the groups calling
the law unnecessary. She says the Greens, Australia's Council of
Trade Unions and its Labor government disagree.

Speaker 2 (02:52):
They say these new laws have been a long time
coming because no worker, particularly a junior employee, should feel
like they have to be taking phone call or checking
emails once they get home after work.

Speaker 1 (03:04):
In Sport and Coco Goff has made a dominant start
to her US Open tennis title defense, advancing to the
second round in straight sets after just over an hour
on court. She says some shaky four weeks before the
tournament has now dispersed. Liam Lawson is considered a leading
contender to race for Williams if they choose to make

(03:24):
a driver change for the Italian Grand Prix on Monday.
Autosport is reporting the British outfit are weighing up whether
to sideline Logan's sergeant after his blunder during a practice
session last week. Sergeant, who is without a drive next year,
crashed into the barriers and the wet, destroying many of
the latest upgrades that Williams had purchased. I'm Susie Nordquest

(03:46):
and that's your latest news fix, where we'll be back
with a next update at five pm from the News
Talks het Ben newsroom.