Mundine racism row takes new turn

THE war of words between outspoken boxer Anthony Mundine and Aboriginal leader Michael Mansell has taken another twist, with the pair now seeming to agree that government benefits for people claiming indigenous heritage should be tightened.

Mr Mansell said he accepted Mundine's apology for comments he made about Tasmanian-born Aboriginal boxer Daniel Geale, whom he is due to fight in January for the IBF middleweight title.

In his original comments on Thursday this week, Mundine questioned Geale's Aboriginal heritage, saying: "I thought they wiped all the Aborigines from Tasmania out" and "I don't see (Geale) representing us black people or coloured people. I don't see him out in the community doing what I do with people.

"He's got a white woman, white kids."

On Friday, Mundine apologised for his comments, saying Australia was one of the most racist countries in the world.

He said there should be a government-enforced cut-off point for Aboriginality, arguing for a scaling system where first-generation Aborigines receive more assistance than those with distant Aboriginal heritage.

Mr Mansell said Mundine's apology was shallow and he hadn't "quite got it yet."

A day later, the Aboriginal leader issued a statement saying he had decided to accept Mundine's apology, noting not everything Mundine said about identity was wrong.

Mr Mansell said the number of people claiming to be indigenous in Tasmania had swollen from 10,000 20 years ago to nearly 20,000.

"There are many white Tasmanians who claim to be Aboriginal because of rumour or because they 'feel different,'" Mr Mansell said in a statement.

Schools and state governments got extra Commonwealth funding for "every child that ticks the box on indigenous" and "the financial incentive for attracting public funding in education largely explains why the numbers have doubled in such a short time", he said.

"The processes for authenticating the real from the fanciful are so loose that in reality, anyone can legally claim to be indigenous and be accepted by the federal departments without question."

Mr Mansell said he was concerned about people discovering a distant Aboriginal ancestor then using that information to claim to be Aboriginal, despite culturally and socially living the life of a white person.

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Driver menaces Lib volunteer at poll booth

A CAR has allegedly run down a Liberal candidate's election sign at a Canberra polling booth and forced a party volunteer to leap out of the way.

ACT police are investigating after a white Subaru mounted the kerb outside Stirling College and ran into the campaign sign of ACT election candidate Steve Doszpot around 9.30am (AEST) on Saturday.

A Liberal party campaign spokeswoman said the driver then sped up and drove directly at a table where a female volunteer was sitting, forcing her to leap back and run to avoid being hit.

"The volunteer was forced to run on a painful leg that they have not used for a month, before the car swerved at the last moment," she said.

The driver of the car yelled abuse at the volunteer, the spokeswoman said.

She said formal complaints had been made to the police.

A police spokesman confirmed authorities were looking into a "traffic complaint".

He said no one was injured in the incident.

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Body found at Queensland dam

A BODY has been found at a southeast Queensland dam where a man was reported missing more than a week ago.

Police say fishermen found a man's body in the Hinze Dam on the Gold Coast on Friday morning.

Officers suspect the body could be a 58-year-old man who was reported missing on October 10.

He failed to return from an afternoon at the dam and his vehicle was found nearby a day later.

A search of the area by police and State Emergency Service volunteers was unsuccessful.

Police do not believe the death is suspicious.

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Qld university hit by misconduct scandal

THE University of Queensland (UQ) is investigating allegations senior staff channelled business from volunteer dental patients to their own practices.

It is the second misconduct scandal to rock UQ in less than a year after the resignations of vice-chancellor Paul Greenfield and his senior deputy Michael Keniger over nepotism allegations.

Vice-chancellor Peter Hoj on Friday confirmed UQ had reopened an investigation into claims volunteer patients, who let dentistry students work on them, were sent for expensive X-rays at businesses connected to at least one senior staff member.

The Courier-Mail reported that documents show that in 2010 patients were sent to pathology businesses connected to two senior UQ staff members for 360-degree scans.

The scans, which cost about $100 each, would have been covered by Medicare.

Professor Hoj, who has been in his position for only 10 days, told AAP an internal investigation into the matter had resulted in disciplinary action.

He would not give names or say what action had been taken.

The investigation found UQ needed greater transparency in outsourcing and a conflict of interest statement had been made mandatory, he said.

Prof Hoj said he understood x-rays needed to be outsourced because UQ's dental rooms were at capacity.

"In order for the course to proceed on time, we needed extra capacity," he said.

"One of the companies to which the x-rays were outsourced was a company the principal course co-ordinator had a personal interest in."

The investigation was reopened after the original informant came forward with more information, he said.

The Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) told AAP it oversaw the first probe and was satisfied with the outcome.

"A review of this matter has recently been commenced and the CMC will be notified if any further misconduct is revealed," the CMC said.

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Treasury not reviewing carbon modelling

TREASURY hasn't been asked to revisit its carbon pricing impact modelling since the federal government scrapped plans for a floor price, a parliamentary committee has heard.

"We have not updated the modelling," Treasury executive director of macroeconomic group David Gruen told the senate budget estimates hearing in Canberra on Thursday.

"We will if we are asked."

In late August, the government announced it was doing away with a plan to adopt a minimum $15 floor price when the carbon price moves to a floating emissions trading scheme in mid-2015.

Dr Gruen pointed out Treasury's modelling projected the carbon price would rise to $29 a tonne in 2015/16 and then go up by four per cent annually.

The price was therefore always expected to be above the scrapped $15 floor, he added.

Many experts think pollution permits will be much cheaper than $29 in three years.

At the moment European credits cost just $10.

But on Monday climate change department secretary Blair Comley argued it was "not implausible" the price could rise to $29 a tonne by mid-2015.

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Abuse inquiry needs swift action

MORE victims of church sexual abuse will kill themselves unless Victoria's parliamentary inquiry acts swiftly to protect the men who still contemplate suicide every day, one campaigner fears.

Up to 50 men taught in the 1960s and 70s by convicted pedophiles Brother Robert Best, Brother Edward Dowlan, Brother Stephen Farrell and Father Gerald Ridsdale at Catholic schools in Ballarat and elsewhere in Victoria have taken their own lives and many more former students suffer from the long term impact of abuse.

Survivor Peter Blenkiron says the inquiry into the handling of child abuse by religious organisations, which opens on Friday, cannot afford to take too long to recommend action and has called for a government-run, church-funded support system to help keep these men alive.

"What I'm worried about is that it'll take too long and people will die before there's any sort of resolution," he said.

"It's happening right now, blokes are thinking of suicide as we speak, they're on the edge now.

"Some have had their stomachs pumped, some have been cut down from trees.

"Some of them have said once their surviving parent passes away, then they'll kill themselves.

"The church says today it's reacting to the horrendous actions of the past. The horrendous actions of today are what they need to face.

"I know that this time next year some of these guys I know will be dead because the battle is there constantly and they'll give in.

"If we can get something happening, they won't be dead this time next year."

Mr Blenkiron is one of 32 men, the Survivors of Ballarat, who lodged a joint submission to the inquiry which is due to report back to parliament next April.

In his individual submission, he is calling for a Clergy Related Injury (CRI) support system, similar to the Total and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI) pension given to war veterans.

While the government should run the scheme, Mr Blenkiron says it must be paid for by the Catholic Church in Australia, or even the Vatican, to provide financial support and counselling for the men who, decades after being abused, endure drug and alcohol problems, can't hold down jobs or relationships, struggle to pay rent and still suffer physical and mental pain.

He says while the taxpayer is paying for pedophiles such as Best and Ridsdale to be kept in prison, the Christian Brothers are housing and feeding Dowlan at one of their facilities in Melbourne and the church has spent millions defending its members, the victims are neglected.

"We just want these blokes that are virtually living in the gutter, that are struggling to pay the rent, to be at the same level of human dignity as the bloody pedophiles, the people that raped them as children," he said.

"The people who shifted these bastards around have a responsibility to make sure the victims are kept to at least the same level as the perpetrators. That's pretty simple."

Mr Blenkiron called on Australia's senior Catholic, Cardinal George Pell, to back the scheme.

"They need to put in a support system that keeps these people alive and if George Pell doesn't support that, he doesn't care that people are dying," he said.

The inquiry has received hundreds of submissions, among them a 148-page report from the Catholic Church entitled Facing the Truth in which it says its early response to abuse was inadequate and too slow.

A submission from victims support group Broken Rites makes many damning accusations, including against the Hospitaller Order of St John of God which it claims had a ring of pedophiles inflicting "horrific" abuse on residents of its Melbourne boys homes.

In its submission, the Salvation Army admits abuse is a source of shame to the organisation, while the Jewish community, Anglican church, Catholic community groups and legal bodies have also made submissions.

Victoria's deputy police commissioner Graham Ashton is to give evidence on Friday and is expected to reinforce the police submission which slammed the Catholic church for covering up abuse.

* Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78.

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Australia's largest warship arrives

AUSTRALIA'S largest warship has arrived on home soil following a nine-week voyage from Spain.

The hull of the Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) is in Geelong but will now be moved by tug to the Williamstown shipyards in Victoria where contractor BAE Systems will undertake further construction.

The Canberra Class LHD is bigger than Australia's last aircraft carrier, HMAS Melbourne, and features a flight deck as big as 24 tennis courts.

The hull was built in Spain by shipbuilder Navantia and has taken about nine weeks to complete the 13,000 nautical mile journey to Australia.

Construction of the ship, to be commissioned HMAS Canberra, began in 2008 and it is the first of two to be built for the Royal Australian Navy.

The ship is expected to be introduced into service in 2014 while the second ship, to be commissioned HMAS Adelaide, is due to follow in 2016.

The ship's arrival was announced by Defence Minister Stephen Smith and Defence Materiel Minister Jason Clare on Wednesday.

It coincided with a protest by the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) which said Australia can and should be building its defence equipment in Australia and supporting local jobs.

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Aust business among world's most confident

AUSTRALIAN businesses remain more confident than their counterparts in the US, UK or China despite speculation that the mining boom may have ended.

The Regus Business Confidence Index, released on Wednesday, shows confidence among Australian businesses has increased slightly over the past six months, despite a fall in global confidence.

Australian business confidence was at 116 points on the index in October, up two points since April.

This is despite global business confidence falling to 111 points, from 113 points in April.

There has also been a sharp fall in commodity prices since July, which has stoked fears Australia's boom times might be over.

The index started in 2009 with a benchmark of 100 points, so the latest survey indicates global business confidence is 13 points higher than it was three years ago.

The survey of 24,000 senior managers and business leaders from across the globe showed Australian businesses were more confident than their counterparts in the US (107 index points) and the UK (94 points).

Meanwhile, business confidence in China has plummeted to 110 points, from 130 points in April.

Regus Australia manager Jacqueline Lehmann said the index showed Australia remained one of the most stable and positive markets for business sentiment globally.

However, she said the fall in confidence in China, Australia's biggest trading partner, was concerning for local businesses.

"This could have implications for the demand of Australian exports as the Chinese economy softens towards the end of 2012," Ms Lehmann said in a statement.

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NT leaders raise concerns with Mills

ABORIGINAL leaders from Arnhem Land want the new Northern Territory chief minister to lobby the federal government to scrap the NT intervention program.

Aboriginal leaders from east, central and west Arnhem Land met with Terry Mills in Maningrida over the weekend ahead of the start of the Yolngu Nations Assembly.

Mr Mills swept to power following a backlash from Aboriginal voters against the NT Labor government and he has promised not to ignore indigenous communities.

In June, the Gillard government extended for 10 years the NT intervention measures aimed at tackling abuse and drunkenness, despite the opposition of many indigenous communities.

Arnhem Land elder Dr Djiniyini Gondarra said on Tuesday his people wanted the NT government to lobby for the intervention "to be thrown out" and an apology from the federal government to traumatised communities.

"The federal government must start to listen to the voices on the ground," he said.

"We are being led around like dogs on a lead with the basics card ... police coming into our houses without a warrant and having our law disqualified from recognition and consideration in court."

He said the rate of self-harm and suicide in communities was five times higher since before intervention policies began.

Dr Gondarra said many communities were self-proclaimed dry communities well before the intervention began in 2007, while others had a permit system that regulated the amount strength and regularity of alcohol people could consume.

"Our dry areas and alcohol permit systems must stay, this is the responsible will of our people," he said.

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Self defence claim as Marceta trial starts

A MAN accused of killing a former Australian boxing champion while his two nieces hid in a back room was acting in self-defence, a Sydney court has heard.

Craig Charles Pitts, 29, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of John Marceta outside his apartment in a Redfern public housing block on August 2, 2011.

During opening statements in the NSW Supreme Court trial on Tuesday, Pitts' defence lawyer Doug Marr told the jury his client had acted in self-defence.

"There is no dispute that Craig Pitts stabbed John Marceta and that the stabbing caused his death," he told the court, adding his client was "acting in self-defence of himself or others".

Marceta, 38, was found dead in the hallway of the Morehead Street block after suffering a single stab wound to his chest.

At the time of the incident, Pitts' two nieces, then 11 and 15, and his sister were visiting his home from Melbourne.

Crown prosecutor Siobhan Herbert said Pitts' sister would testify that her brother had yelled "I have kids in here, go away" before he was dragged into the hallway.

She then saw three men on top of her brother "punching and kicking him".

But, Ms Herbert said Pitts wasn't acting in self-defence and had armed himself with a knife with the intention to kill.

"At this stage he was an aggressor, he had armed himself with a knife and went out into the hallway," she told the court.

"It is the crown's case that John Marceta was killed by the accused, Craig Pitts, and that when he did so he intended to kill him or at the very least seriously harm him."

She told the court the stab wound that killed Mr Marceta would have penetrated at least 13 to 14 centimetres into his chest.

Mr Marr said Pitts sustained minor injuries, including a cut to his hand, in the altercation.

"John Marceta was a former professional boxer," he told the court.

"A big man, a fit man and he'd been to jail for robbery."

Mr Marceta was a professional boxer in the 1990s and won the Australasian light heavyweight title in 1995.

The trial continues before Justice Christine Adamson.

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PM says Afghan mission changing

AUSTRALIA'S mission in Afghanistan is changing, with troops winding back on partnered operations as the Afghan National Army takes over security responsibility, Prime Minister Julia Gillard says.

Ms Gillard, who visited Afghanistan on Sunday, says she raised concerns about so-called "insider attacks" with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and sought assurance that everything was being done to stamp them out.

She also raised concerns about corruption, seeking assurances that aid was not being diverted through corrupt practices.

Ms Gillard also met Australian soldiers at the base at Tarin Kowt, assuring them their work was valued and appreciated by the people of Australia.

Wearing body armour and helmet, and accompanied by a close protection detail, Ms Gillard arrived in Afghanistan aboard a RAAF C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.

In Kabul she visited President Karzai and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) commander US General John Allen.

At Tarin Kowt, she met Australian commanders and Oruzgan province governor Amir Mohammad Akhundzada before attending a barbecue with Australian soldiers in the "Poppy's" recreation area, named after Trooper David "Poppy" Pearce, who was killed in October 2007.

Ms Gillard said General Allen and President Karzai assured her Afghanistan was on track to take full responsibility for security by the end of 2014.

General Allen pointed out there were still two years to get the Afghan National Army and police up to speed.

In Oruzgan province, Australian troops have been mentoring the ANA's 4th Brigade, with one kandak (battalion) recently declared fully capable of conducting independent operations and the other three set to reach that stage by the end of the year.

"The assessment here in Oruzgan province is that what we are doing here is also on track," she told reporters.

"Now that means that there is still hard work to do but here for our troops, we will increasingly see, as we move through transition, our troops no longer engaging in partnered operations but moving to an advising and assisting role."

Ms Gillard said President Karzai had talked about the measures being taken to deal with insider attacks, which have surged this year as rogue Afghan soldiers and police have opened fire on their coalition partners.

"Clearly these have been tragic and disturbing incidents. They are designed to corrode morale and everything needs to be done on the Afghan side to deal with the possibility of insider attacks," she said.

Asked what she told people who want Australia to withdraw immediately, she said she gained insight from families of soldiers killed.

"They say to me, without exception, that we best honour the memory of their loved one by seeing the mission through," she said.

"They are unbelievably strong people and they make that point very forcefully."

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New home loan rise, but fails to impress

THE number of new housing finance commitments has risen but economists say the underlying trend is that housing activity remains weak.

New home loans approved were up 1.8 per cent in August, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics' (ABS) figures released on Monday.

That follows a 0.7 per cent fall in July but a 1.3 per cent rise in June.

JP Morgan economist Tom Kennedy said the housing finance figures had been volatile lately and were below the levels of 2009.

"Although the headline release is fairly encouraging, the flow of commitments continues to track at relatively low levels," he said.

Mr Kennedy said a surge in new housing financing commitments had yet to materialise after the interest rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) in May and June.

Uncertainty over the European debt crisis and that the commercial banks had not been passing on the RBA rate cuts in full were not encouraging people to take out new home loans but that could change in the last few months of the year, he said.

"It will be interesting to see whether new loan commitments experience any sort of lift following the constructive measures taken by the European Central Bank and the US Federal Reserve as well as the RBA's October interest rate cut."

JP Morgan expected one more interest rate cut by the RBA before the end of the year and Mr Kennedy said he didn't see Monday's data changing that forecast.

The official data also showed a 13.9 per cent rise in finance for the purchase of new homes in August, but that came after a 7.1 per cent fall in July.

Total housing finance by value rose 0.6 per cent in August, although this was offset by a 1.1 per cent fall in July.

National Australia Bank senior economist David de Garis said the August housing finance figures were unspectacular.

"Where the demand responses in recent months have been more prominent, it's been tilted toward new housing," he said.

"Rises were more concentrated in lending approvals for the purchase of new homes.

"The increase is ever so slight and apparently not sufficient to arrest what's been a steady-to-declining monthly growth in the outstanding value of housing credit through to August."

Mr de Garis said he expected the RBA to next cut the cash rate when its board met in November on Melbourne Cup Day.

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