Seven News

Tonight in an exclusive report, Seven News uncovers Government plans for a national DNA database to help fight crime.

Crime reporter Robert Ovadia reveals Police Minister Mike Gallacher this week discussed the controversial idea with Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione.

Mr Gallacher told Seven News the Commissioner put forward a “compelling case” for a national database of each Australian’s genetic profile, and he will raise the idea at an upcoming Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) meeting.

“It is something that needs to happen and it needs to start to be seriously considered by governments,’’ he said, in the exclusive interview.

“Just think of the potential that this has in terms of crime, identifying missing persons, as well as serious criminal offenders.”

A national DNA database would mean the difference between solving a hideous crime and having an offender on the loose for years, Mr Scipione said.

The state’s chief scientist has advised up to 30,000 crimes would be solved instantly if the plan went ahead.

But civil libertarians are appalled by the move, arguing it’s a gross invasion of privacy and our genetic material is open to abuse.

See the full story tonight.

Seven News with Chris Bath at 6pm.

AFL legend Jim Stynes will be farewelled with a state funeral at St Paul’s Cathedral this Tuesday, March 27. 

The funeral will be broadcast live on Channel Seven. 

The 45-year-old lost his brave and courageous battle with cancer on Tuesday morning, surrounded by his wife Sam and children Matisse and Tiernan. 

Seven News presenter Peter Mitchell will host the broadcast alongside Sandy Roberts. Rebecca Maddern will be at Federation Square and Nick McCallum will be at St Paul’s Cathedral. 

Seven News Director Steve Carey said the city had lost a true gentleman. “Jim was the embodiment of courage and compassion. Beyond that, his incredible fighting spirit and love of his family made him a great man far beyond the footy field. It’s a privilege to be able to bring Melburnians a way they can also say farewell to Jim Stynes.” 

The funeral will be on Channel Seven live at 11am, with comprehensive coverage from the day during Seven News at 6pm.

On Monday night throng Australia will publish a tribute to this amazing man – not only a footy legend, but a legend of a man!

On Monday night Seven News Melbourne will broadcast live from Federation Square as we present a special investigation into crime and violence in the CBD. 

Despite an overall rise in crime across Victoria, there’s growing evidence the battle to reclaim Melbourne’s streets is being won. 

The full story with Peter Mitchell at 6pm on Monday March 5.

On Monday night Seven News Melbourne will broadcast live from Canberra in the wake of Labor’s dramatic leadership spill. 

Host Peter Mitchell will be in the nation’s capital as Seven News provides concise analysis of the confrontation between Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd, and importantly what it means for all Victorians. 

Chief Political Correspondent Mark Riley will piece together the events of the day, and we’ll speak live to the key players. 

Online polls via Twitter and Facebook will record the sentiment of viewers at home as the saga comes to a head. 

Seven News Director Steve Carey said the decision to broadcast from Canberra was a straight-forward one. 

“When the spill is over and the mopping up begins, Peter Mitchell will be right there to bring Victorians the latest.” 

“Our viewers deserve to hear about Australia’s political future from someone they trust.”

Music legend Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum says he’s on the mend and can’t wait to get home. 

Seven News tonight aired the first images of Molly since he fell at his home two months ago.

The images recording his progress at Epworth Rehabilitation in Richmond were taken this afternoon.

Molly, who was reunited with his beloved dog Ziggy today, has also issued a statement thanking the public for the unprecedented show of support.

“Although I am not ready yet, I can’t wait to go home — to look after Ziggy, to see my friends, and to properly thank them, my family and the thousands of people who sent their best wishes and love to me,’’ he said.

“I even received a card from Julia Gillard, so I wish her all the best. I hope she’s having a better time than I am!”

A special reporter on Seven’s Sunrise and Sunday Night programs, Molly has spent the past eight weeks in hospital following a fall at his Richmond home in December. He was treated initially in the Intensive Care Unit of the Alfred Hospital for the first four weeks before being moved to Epworth’s Post Traumatic Amnesia Unit.

“Believe it or not while I can’t say I like being hospital, I know I have been very well supported, and I have enjoyed meeting other patients and their families,” Molly said.

“We all have a fair bit of rehab ahead of us and we encourage each other in the exercise programs.

“I have missed everybody, missed my work, missed having access to a phone and my laptop – but I know I can re-introduce these things gradually as I get better.

“I have been incredibly well-looked after at both the Alfred and Epworth hospitals. The staff have been tremendous and I am very grateful.”

Seven News has a special bulletin tonight at 10.45pm AEDT with the latest on Kevin Rudd’s resignation and the Prime Minister’s reaction. Julia Gillard is apparently preparing a statement.

Hosted by Chris Bath, Seven News will have further analysis from Political Editor Mark Riley and Political Analyst Graham Richardson.

New privacy regulations passed down by the ACMA on Christmas Eve has attracted a swathe of criticism, particularly from Seven’s Head of News and Current Affairs, Peter Meakin who deems the new regulations to be a form of ‘censorship’.

The new rules will restrict news film crews collecting footage of people, even in public, and will even have an impact on how asylum seekers are portrayed on television with the rules possibly meaning footage showing asylum seekers arriving by boat could be banned.

These regulations were put in place after the Department of Immigration put forward a complaint to the ACMI about the conduct of media outlets when covering the issue.

“We see evidence on an almost daily basis of the lack of respect and regard all news outlets are displaying in relation to the privacy of asylum seekers arriving in Australia by boat, and client detainees in immigration detention,” the Department wrote.

“We have approached news directors, producers, chiefs of staff and individual news gatherers about these ongoing concerns through a range of channels including phone calls, meetings, emails, media alerts and letters, to no avail.”

When it was reported that the privacy regulations had been approved, Meakin spoke out against them.

Speaking to The Australian, Meakin said: “I think it’s a ridiculous provision and I suspect it is being done more for the benefits of authorities than for asylum-seekers”.

“I can understand asylum-seekers wanting privacy for the protection of their families, but a blanket ban is just the big hand of censorship.”

In agreeance with Peter Meakin is Linda Briskman, a professor of human rights at Curtin University.

“By not portraying the human face of the asylum-seeker, they become dehumanised, criminalised and it’s easier for people to ignore their suffering,” she told The Australian.

It is expected that this isn’t the last piece of backlash that will be heard on the issue.

During tonight’s news conference with President Obama and Madame Prime Minister Julia Gillard (as Obama said), Nine crossed to ads at about 6.20pm AEDT.

Coverage on Seven continued, commercial free, as promised.

Nine went and returned with sport, left the news conference, ending the news with weather as usual

Seven 6pm News (Sydney and Melbourne) is scheduled for 1 hour tonight, with Today Tonight at 7pm, then the rest of the night’s programming delayed by half an hour (Home and Away at 7.30, The One at 8.00pm, etc).

Seven also had the only Australian television journalist (Mark Riley) able to ask Obama a question.

Nine went to ACA at 6.30pm.

Seven went to other news at 6.36pm, first summing up news conference.

Who has the best commitment to news? Nine – going to ads or Seven ad-free?

Observation based on Sydney Market.

SEVEN NEWS will broadcast live from Canberra and Darwin, covering United States President Barack Obama’s first official Australian visit.

Joining Chris Bath will be Mark Ferguson, Political Editor Mark Riley, Political Commentator Graham Richardson and senior reporters Chris Reason and Nick McCallum.

WEDNESDAY 16th NOVEMBER

3.20pm: SEVEN NEWS: Special live bulletin and extended coverage – Chris Bath will host a special News bulletin, live from Canberra as Air-Force One touches down.

4.30pm: SEVEN NEWS:  Live coverage continues – Seven News will cover the President’s ceremonial welcome to Parliament at 4.30pm AEDT. Seven will also cross to Darwin where preparations are being made for the President’s visit on Thursday, when a major announcement will be made.

6.00pm: SEVEN NEWS:  Special one hour bulletin – Seven News will continue its regular bulletin at 6pm with live, uninterrupted coverage of the joint press conference with President Barack Obama and Australia’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

THURSDAY 17th NOVEMBER

6.00am: SUNRISE: Live and extended coverage – Hosted by Melissa Doyle and David Koch, Sunrise will extend its regular coverage with Melissa Doyle reporting live from Canberra and David Koch from Europe.

11.30am: SEVEN NEWS: Morning Edition – Seven’s Ann Sanders will bring all the latest news from around the nation, plus a recap on the day’s Presidential tour.

4.30pm: SEVEN NEWS:  Afternoon Edition – Channel Seven senior reporters, Chris Reason and Nick McCallum will travel with President Obama to Darwin and report live for a special afternoon news bulletin. 

6.00pm: SEVEN NEWS:  Evening Edition – Continuous coverage from Darwin with live updates from Chris Reason and Nick McCallum.

6.30pm: TODAY TONIGHT:  Special Edition – Today Tonight host Matthew White, will cross live to Darwin for an address by Obama to Australian and American troops, concluding his official tour of Australia.

From 3.20pm tomorrow afternoon (Wednesday November 16), Seven will air a Seven News Special providing live coverage of President Barrack Obama’s first day in Australia.

Seven will cover his arrival to Canberra and ceremonial welcome at Parliament House.

Coverage will continue from 3.20pm, through the 4.30 news, and right into the 6pm evening news.

Children’s programming from 3.30pm – 4.30pm is out for the day, as is Deal or No Deal.

Sunrise on Thursday morning (Nov 17) will continue until 11.30am, with The Morning Show off for the day.