Australia: fat, worried & thieving

ABC Radio - Survey finds Australia getting fatter
It's official- not only is Australia's population getting older, but it's getting fatter too. A survey of 1,000 GPs, conducted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, has found that over a third of their patients are overweight, with more than 20 per cent falling into the obese category. The figures also reveal depression is now the second most common chronic problem among Australian patients.

Rivers, global warming worry Garrett
Former rock star Peter Garrett used his maiden speech in federal parliament to call for action on the environment and the plight of indigenous Australians. The former Midnight Oil frontman was elected to the safe Sydney Labor seat of Kingsford-Smith at the federal election. He said he had a singular passion for Australia. 'I do love a sunburned country its ancient landscapes, its exhilarating reaches of sand and sea,' he told parliament.'And I value its traditions; none more so than the freedom to express an opinion.'I've protested, sung, marched, written organised and campaigned on those things I simply believed were important, not just to me but to the life of the nation.'

Thieves raid Olympic cyclist
A $7,000 elite racing bike has been stolen from a Melbourne shop owned by champion cyclist Kathy Watt. Thieves took the bike after smashing a front window to gain entry to the 1992 Olympic gold medallist's bicycle store in the Melbourne bayside suburb of Black Rock. Police said the Inexa Carbon Fibre Elite Race Bike was stolen from the shop, Kathy Watt Cycling, in Beach Road, around 1.30am (AEDT). Witnesses told police they saw a man climbing out of the shop window with the bike. Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers.