Melbourne: A schoolboy, 8, died instantly yesterday when he accidentally sprayed a school friend with a 70c plastic water pistol outside state police headquarters in the inner-city.

Brisbane: In a glittering ceremony at the Greek Club in South Brisbane last night, more than 400 Australian Labor Party members - from state and federal politicians to humble branch members - watched on as Queensland Opposition Leader Peter Beattie bestowed the party's top honours - life membership and gold honour badge - to Marilyn Hobbs.

Melbourne: The estranged wife of Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett has finally made public the reasons for their marriage split-up.
Felicity Kennett in a statement released through her solicitors said that despite her husband’s heavy public workload, he had remained throughout their 25 year marriage a loving and faithful husband and an excellent father.
“It was the hairstyle,” her statement said. “I just couldn’t stand to be around that hairstyle one more day.”

Sydney: NSW Premier Bob Carr has reacted angrily to attempts by his Victorian counterpart to poach next year’s Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
Jeff Kennett’s bid for the bluewater classic that starts on Boxing Day was in retaliation for NSW’s attempt to lure the 2001 Australian Football League grand final away from the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Brisbane: In a bid to get ministerial sex scandals off the front pages and boost his flagging electoral support prior to the pending state election, Queensland Premier Rob Borbidge has announced that the Sunshine State would spend $23million in a bid to win the rights to the 2006 Nanango Winter Olympics.

Canberra: In a dramatic break from protocol, the head of the Australian Navy has publicly criticised the Howard Government’s decision not to deploy Royal Australian Navy resources to the latest Gulf conflict.
Rear Admiral Jack Stanton said the RAN could have its ship ready for active service in less than a month.
Meanwhile, Australia’s involvement in the fight against Saddam Hussein looks set to have an unexpected financial windfall for the Federal Government.
Australia’s two military Boeing 707 aircraft are likely to stay in the northern hemisphere after the conflict is resolved.
The Howard Government has received a six-figure offer for them to take part in fly-pasts of veteran and vintage models at a series of airshows across northern Europe.

Sydney: The NSW Police Force has accepted the offer of help from its Victorian counterpart after two separate police shootings in recent weeks where two civilian men were unfortunately injured.