Woman sexually assaulted in Vic

A SOUTH American woman has been sexually assaulted by a man who gave her a lift on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula.

Police say a man approached the 28-year-old, who is working in Australia as a nanny, at McCrae on Sunday and offered her a lift to a train station.

He drove her to an isolated part of Shoreham, punched her in the face and grappled with her, before she got out of the car and tried to flee.

The man then allegedly ran her down and sexually assaulted her.

He fled the scene in his car, described as a gold-coloured Holden utility.

Detective Senior Sergeant Jason Walsh said the woman was extremely distressed and traumatised by the attack and had decided to leave Australia earlier than planned.

"She received minor facial injuries, however, emotionally will be scarred forever," he said on Tuesday.

Police say the man told the woman his name was Dane, and is described as Caucasian in appearance, of thin build, about 25 years old and about 165cm tall with short, light-brown or blond hair and light-brown eyes.

He was wearing a dark T-shirt, possibly black, light beige pants, possibly cargos and dark-coloured shoes.

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Scooter company on track for first profit

SCOOTER maker Vmoto expects 2013 will be its first profitable year, thanks to growing sales in China.

The company makes electric and petrol scooters in China, and distributes them to more than 30 countries.

Vmoto also owns 10 retail outlets in China, with four of those stores having opened in the last two months.

On Monday, the company said November was another profitable month, and the company still expects to make its maiden annual profit, of between $300,000 and $600,000, in the 2013 calendar year.

Vmoto listed on the Australian share market in 2002.

It expects to have had made 42,000 scooters in the year, and had sold 3,197 of its own scooters in China by the end of November.

"The gradual buildup in sales month-on-month are testament to the Vmoto brand becoming increasingly recognised as a premium product for electric scooter riders in China," it said.

The company's shares gained 0.1 of a cent to 3.1 cents.

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Vic police launch plan after racism case

VICTORIA'S police chief has announced a number of changes to how the force interacts with minority groups in response to allegations of racial profiling.

In a statement, Chief Commissioner Ken Lay said a three-year plan is aimed at improving relationships between officers and the community.

"The key task before us moving forward is to increase public confidence and trust by improving perceptions of legitimacy, procedural justice and fairness," he said in a statement.

Among the changes, he said the force will:

- Set up community advisory groups.

- Review current policies to ensure they don't lead to racial profiling.

- Review how officers are being trained in cultural diversity.

- Improve the force's complaints process.

The changes come after a group of African-Australians alleged that police repeatedly stopped and searched them because of their race, rather than for legitimate reasons, while they were living in Melbourne's inner suburb of Flemington from 2005 to 2009.

The federal court case, however, was settled out of court in February with police agreeing to an internal investigation and a six-month consultation process.

Part of that court settlement included police agreeing to release a report responding to the community consultation.

The report was released late on Monday afternoon, one day before the court-appointed deadline.

Mr Lay will address a media conference about the changes later on Monday.

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WA residents take shelter during cyclone

Residents in and near Port Hedland have been told to take shelter as Cyclone Christine intensifies. Source: AAP

RESIDENTS have taken shelter as Tropical Cyclone Christine approaches Western Australia's Pilbara coast and brings destructive storms to the region.

A red alert has been issued for people in or near coastal areas between Pardoo and Mardie including Port Hedland, South Hedland, Whim Creek, Roebourne, Point Samson, Wickham, Karratha and Dampier.

"You need to immediately head to shelter and stay indoors away from doors and windows," the Department of Fire and Emergency Services warned.

The Department for Child Protection and Family Support has set up a relocation point at the JD Hardie Centre in South Hedland where about 85 people have sought shelter.

An emergency welfare centre has also been opened at the Karratha Leisureplex.

A yellow alert is current for people in inland areas including Marble Bar, Tom Price, Paraburdoo and Pannawonica.

Authorities say there is a possible threat to lives and homes as the cyclone approaches.

A blue alert remains for people in or near coastal areas between Bidyadanga and Pardoo, and between Mardie and Onslow, and the inland area from Marble Bar to Newman.

If the path of the system remains unchanged, a red alert will be declared from Tom Price to Paraburdoo at 6pm (WST) on Monday, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) says.

At 11am (WST) on Monday, BoM estimated the category three tropical cyclone was 135km north of Port Hedland and 250km northeast of Karratha, and moving southwest at 12km/h towards the Pilbara coast.

Cyclone Christine will continue to intensify and is expected to cross the coast between Karratha and Port Hedland on Monday night or early on Tuesday morning, BoM says.

Gales with gusts to 110km/h and heavy rainfall are occurring between Bidyadanga and Whim Creek, including Port Hedland, and should extend west Monday night, possibly as far as Oslow.

Very destructive winds with gusts in excess of 200km/h are likely near the centre as the cyclone crosses the coast, while destructive winds with gusts in excess of 130km/h are expected to extend inland on Monday night as the cyclone moves south, BoM says.

Heavy rainfall is expected near the cyclone track and flood warnings have been issued for the Pilbara, as well as dangerous storm tides and damaging waves on Monday night.

Horizon Power says 176 customers are without power in South Hedland and supply will remain out until the cyclone passes.

Water Corp advises the Yule Borefield, which supplies Port Hedland, is likely to be significantly impacted by the cyclone.

The De Grey Borefield will be used and it is not expected that supply will be disrupted.

An emergency welfare centre will open later on Monday at the Civic Centre in Marble Bar, as well as at Tom Price and Paraburdoo in the evening.

Authorities said people should only relocate if they had nowhere safe to stay and should bring essential documents such as birth and marriage certificates, insurance and property documents, bank details, medications, jewellery, photographs and clothing.

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Icebreaker 100 miles from stuck ship

AN Australian icebreaker is closing in on a ship wedged in Antarctic sea ice as part of a second rescue mission to free the stricken vessel.

A group of scientists, explorers and tourists has been stuck on the Russian research ship MV Akademik Shokalskiy, about 1500 nautical miles south of Hobart, for the past five days.

Two icebreakers have given up on efforts to push through the thick and dangerous ice floes near Antarctica to try to free the trapped research vessel.

A third icebreaker, Australia's Aurora Australis, is on its way to the ship and is due to arrive about 1am (NZT) on Monday.

It is the last ship in the area that will be able to help.

The Aurora Australis was about 100 nautical miles from the trapped ship at 2pm (AEDT),(4pm NZT), the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said in a statement.

If it can't battle through the ice, AMSA says a second option may be to consider ferrying trapped passengers with a helicopter.

The locked-in ship, with 74 people on board, including several New Zealanders, sent a distress call on Christmas Day after becoming trapped in heavy sea ice.

The ship had been undertaking the Spirit of Mawson voyage, which is retracing Australian explorer Sir Douglas Mawson's Antarctic expedition.

Professor Chris Turney of the University of NSW is leading the expedition, consisting of scientists, explorers and enthusiasts undertaking climate research.

He insisted during several interviews with international media outlets that everyone was in good spirits despite the ordeal.

The Aurora icebreaker is rated at being able to push through ice slightly deeper than one metre thick.

China's Snow Dragon icebreaker, which came within six-and-a-half nautical miles of the stuck ship before turning back out of safety fears, is standing by in case its helicopter will be needed.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said four New Zealanders are on board, but there may be as many as six, according to media reports.

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WA's Taste Master reluctant to leave

JUMPING out of a plane was not as frightening as scaling the famously hair-raising Gloucester Tree in Western Australia's South West region, the man with one of the best jobs in the world says.

Rich Keam counts the 72-metre tree near Pemberton as the only challenge that's bested him in his enviable role as Tourism WA's "taste master" over the past four months.

The 35-year-old Englishman believes he scored the best of all seven gigs offered by Tourism Australia - including "chief funster" in NSW - as he's tasked with munching his way through WA's considerable culinary delights after beating more than 600,000 other applicants from around the world.

With about six weeks of his six-month contract remaining, he's yet to take in the temperate towns of Denmark, Albany and Esperance in the state's Great Southern region, and Geraldton in the Mid West.

But he's been dazzled by the Kimberley's rugged beauty, relished the South West - where he rubbed shoulders with top chefs such as Heston Blumenthal at the Margaret River Gourmet Escape - and taken the plunge from a tiny plane in the middle of Perth.

"I was absolutely terrified," Keam said of the tandem dive that landed him in the city's central Langley Park.

"I'm tall, so I had to stick my leg out onto the wheel and go head first down. That was surreal."

However, it wasn't as scary as trying to climbing 153 thin pegs to the top of the Gloucester Tree, a former fire lookout in the middle of Karri forest.

Keam twice made it about 15 metres up then declared: "I'm coming down!".

"My eyes were blurring, I got sweaty hands.

"I'd sooner jump out of a plane.

"If there was a harness, I'd do it, but that's the challenge, isn't it - to do it without a harness."

Keam said another top adventure was participating in the Kickstarters Gascoyne Dash, which starts in desert inland from Carnarvon.

The Brighton-based film costumer reached 220km in a souped-up buggy driven by WA's off-road racing champion Bradley Cooper, but it was the people he met in the fishing town that left the greatest impression.

"I just had a great time there," he said.

"There were really friendly people in Carnarvon - some real characters."

And after sampling boab tuber chutney, ants and pearl meat, Keam's gourmet highlight was at the Sal Salis luxury eco-camp on the Coral Coast at Ningaloo Reef, where he feasted on pork belly and mud crab salad.

"I was the only person there," Keam said.

"It was so peaceful and serene, looking out at the ocean, so I took two hours to eat it."

Keam says he'll miss WA - the ultimate self-drive holiday destination with its vast distances - and its family-friendly capital.

"I don't really want to leave.

"I'd like to stay here for a couple of years."

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Tasmanians to flock to Taste, Falls at NYE

TASMANIAN police will boost numbers at the state's signature New Year's Eve parties on the Hobart waterfront and the Falls Festival.

Tens of thousands will converge on the waterfront and Salamanca, where the state's biggest festival, Taste, combines with the finish to the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Fireworks will explode over the docks at 9.30pm (AEDT) and midnight as foodies at the 25th Taste of Tasmania and yachties see in 2014.

At Marion Bay, 50km east of the capital, around 12,000 are expected to see in the new year to the beats of Liverpudlians The Wombats who will take the stage at midnight.

Tasmania Police have warned Falls patrons not to disrupt the enjoyment of others at the three-day event.

"As usual, there will be a police presence on the festival site with plain clothes and uniform officers and the drug detector dog to ensure everyone feels safe and has a good time," Inspector Peter Powell said.

Traffic will be heavy on the road in and out of the bayside festival site at peak times, Insp Powell said.

A major breath-testing operation will be conducted on New Year's Day as festival-goers depart.

"Have a plan to get home safely, don't drive if you have been drinking or you're affected by drugs," Insp Powell said.

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Liberian UN workers, peacekeepers face off

CIVILIAN employees of the United Nations Mission in Liberia have clashed with the United Nations armed peacekeepers in a protest over what they claim are unfavourable work conditions.

An Associated Press reporter saw four UN workers manhandled by UN troops, including one who was knocked down, after the workers tried to block the main entrance to the UN base on Friday.

The workers are protesting a change in the time they are picked up for work.

They claim the UN is asking them to be outside for pickup by 5am, a time they say is unsafe in the war-recovering capital of Monrovia.

A UN officer commanding the troops declined to comment.

The UN mission was established in 2003, just after ex-warlord Charles Taylor stepped down as president and went into exile.

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NZ dollar heads for weekly decline

THE New Zealand dollar has touched a three-week low in subdued holiday trading as the greenback strengthens following better than expected US labour market data.

The kiwi touched a low of 81.45 US cents earlier on Friday, and was trading at 81.59 US cents at 5pm in Wellington, little changed from 81.52 cents at 8am, but down from 82.02 cents at the start of the week.

The US dollar advanced against commodity currencies like the kiwi and Aussie after a report on Thursday showed the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest level in nearly a month.

An improving US economy has prompted the Federal Reserve to start reducing its monetary stimulus programme from next month, underpinning the greenback.

"There is a bit of US dollar strength pushing some of the crosses down to the bottom of their range," said Alex Hill, head of dealing at HiFX.

"It's a fairly illiquid market with not much going on."

The New Zealand dollar traded at 91.78 Australian cents in afternoon trading, from 91.73 cents on Friday morning and down from 91.89 cents at the start of the week.

The kiwi was at 85.50 yen from 85.37 yen in the morning and 85.31 yen at the start of the week and at 59.49 euro cents from 59.53 cents in the morning and 59.98 cents at the start of the week.

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Grassfires close Vic Great Ocean Road

VICTORIA'S Great Ocean Road has been closed near Peterborough while firefighters battle small grassfires in the area.

A Country Fire Authority spokesman said two houses were under threat from multiple blazes covering about three hectares.

Ten tankers and two aircraft have been sent to protect the properties and to try to control the fires.

The Great Ocean Road has been closed between Peterborough Road near the Bay of Islands and the Great Ocean Road at Crofts Bay.

Victoria Police are on hand to assist with redirecting traffic.

The CFA has issued a watch and act warning urging people to leave the warning area as the conditions could change suddenly.

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Thousands turn out for community lunches

THOUSANDS of Sydney-siders who would otherwise be alone for Christmas will spend the festive season celebrating with their communities.

More than 600 people - including a few famous faces - turned out for the Wayside Chapel Christmas lunch in King's Cross.

Blaxland resident Stephen South has attended the lunch and church service for four years.

"I don't have any family and this is my family," Mr South told AAP.

"On a day like today, if you don't have family it's really hard."

The Wayside Chapel's 200 volunteers provided 80 turkeys, 40 hams, 700 mince pies and 140 bags of potatoes for the day.

Actress Claudia Karvan made her third visit to the street party this year, and actor David Wenham attended.

"I can't stay away - it just puts a smile on my face that stays there for the whole day," Karvan said.

"It totally encapsulates the spirit of Christmas, I think.

"The open-heartedness, the generosity of the day, the inclusiveness - everyone from all different walks of the community, whether you're sleeping rough or wealthy and isolated, it doesn't matter, you can come down here."

Between Christmas singing, Wayside chief executive Pastor Graham Long said the day was about people not being alone.

"Don't be alone and miserable," he said.

"Come and be miserable with us."

In Ashfield, more than 3000 people were expected at the Exodus Foundation's free Christmas lunch on Liverpool Road.

Volunteers prepared 65 hams, 50 turkeys, 400 kilograms of potatoes, 200 kilograms of green veggies, 400 kilograms of pumpkins, 1300 litres of gravy, 2500 mini puddings and 330 litres of custard.

"You can imagine, we've been preparing for this for months," Reverend Bill Crews said.

Santa Claus will give presents to needy children and adults.

"All these presents have been donated, which is another example of how generous Sydney-siders are," Rev Crews said.

At Redfern's Australian Technology Park, the Salvation Army hoped to feed 1200 of Sydney's less fortunate and disadvantaged.

"Every year we're humbled by the generosity of the over 150 volunteers who give up part of their Christmas Day to bring joy, hope and happiness to those who would otherwise go without," Salvation Army spokeswoman Robyn Evans said.

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US gunman 'had told patients to flee'

Phone recordings reveal chilling details of a man who entered a US urology clinic and began firing. Source: AAP

NEWLY released phone recordings paint a scene of terror inside a US urology clinic where callers hid in bathrooms and exam rooms from a suicidal gunman who killed one doctor and shot another.

Callers including a woman hiding under a desk and another who whispers "he's going to ... kill us", with gunshots audible in the background, can be heard on the tapes, released on Tuesday.

Alan Oliver Frazier, 51, told patients to leave or he would shoot them after he entered the Urology Nevada office in Reno on December 17 and began firing a pistol-grip, 12-gauge shotgun.

The shooter, from northern California, said he was angry because "he had a vasectomy here and they ruined his life", a male witness told a 911 dispatcher from a locked bathroom where he and about 10 others hid.

"He says, 'As long as you're a patient, you can leave. Otherwise I'm going to shoot you,'" the man said.

The bathroom was outside the urology office where the shooting occurred.

Frazier used the shotgun to kill Urology Nevada president Dr Charles Gholdoian, 46. He also critically wounded another doctor, then turned the gun on himself.

A woman hiding under a desk was talking so softly on the emergency recording she could barely be heard.

"I hear gunshots outside my office," the woman said.

"I just heard another one ... He's going to (expletive) kill us."

"Oh, my God ... He's outside my door," she said.

Among the 50 calls police said they received was one from a woman in a locked office, gasping for breath between sentences.

"He's in the middle of the office," she said.

"We think he shot one of our doctors."

Police arrived at the scene within minutes.

They confirmed Frazier had been a patient at the facility who had complained about a botched surgery in 2010.

The unemployed former power plant worker said in a suicide note he planned the attack and his focus was on the physicians, police said.

Detectives are investigating Frazier's involvement in an internet chat room where he reportedly complained about complications from the surgery, city spokeswoman Sharon Spangler said.

She said a neighbour said Frazier told him the day of the shooting that he was leaving and not coming back.

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Man charged for attempting to groom child

A man has been charged over the online grooming of a child in the NSW mid north coast. Source: AAP

A MAN has been charged over the online grooming of a child in the NSW mid north coast.

Police allege the 53-year-old man made contact with a 13-year-old boy over a social networking site in an attempt to groom him for sexual activity.

Detectives from Manning Great Lakes Local Area Command arrested the man at a house in Harrington, about 15km northeast of Taree.

The man appeared in court on Monday and was refused bail.

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Qld pedestrian deaths prompt Xmas warning

A SPATE of serious crashes involving pedestrians has Queensland police warning walkers - as well as motorists - to travel safely this Christmas.

A number of pedestrians have been killed or seriously injured around Brisbane this month, prompting police to warn walkers to pay attention to traffic.

Queensland's Acting Assistant Commissioner Mike Keating said while the circumstances for each crash differed, too many pedestrians were putting themselves at risk of being run over.

"There is a trend in relation to people not respecting vehicles that are on the road, assuming that they will be safe," he told reporters on Tuesday.

"So if you're a pedestrian and you're moving around on the roads make sure you're aware of what's happening around you - you're responsible for your own safety."

A 32-year-old Woolloongabba woman died on Monday, five days after being struck by a car on Ipswich Road in inner-Brisbane.

An elderly walker, 93, died shortly after attempting to cross the busy Logan Road, at Greenslopes in Brisbane's south, on December 3.

A 90-year-old also died after being hit by a 4WD south of Brisbane on December 13, and six days later a two-year-old suffered life-threatening injuries after running out on to an Ipswich road.

Apart from pedestrian safety, Queensland police are concerned about motorists being blatantly stupid on the roads this festive season.

This was highlighted recently when a man was caught driving at 174km/h while over the alcohol limit, Acting Assistant Commissioner Keating said.

The National Road Safety Operation for the Christmas holiday period officially began on Monday.

Although there have been no fatalities on Queensland roads, 22 people have suffered serious injuries.

The state's road toll stands at 268, eight fewer than at the same time last year.

Six people were killed in five crashes on Queensland roads during the last Christmas road safety campaign.

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128 staff retrenched at Brindabella

Nearly all staff at troubled Brindabella Airlines have been retrenched just days before Christmas. Source: AAP

NEARLY all staff at troubled regional carrier Brindabella Airlines have been told they're out of a job just two days before Christmas.

The 140 workers at the Canberra-based airline were told on Monday that 128 of them had lost their jobs.

Staff were told the airline could no longer be sold after it lost most of its licenses and the majority of its planes were returned to their owners.

All but a dozen staff at the cash-strapped airline will be retrenched, as the receivers KordaMentha try to sell the company's remaining assets, mainly four J-41 jetliners.

KordaMentha spokesman Michael Smith said the receivers did not want to dangle false hope in front of the workers once it became clear there wasn't anything left to sell.

"It's a terrible time of year for this to happen," he told AAP on Monday.

"But the receivers thought it was better to be upfront with the workers as soon as the worst had been realised, to give them every possible chance to use the holiday period to look for work."

Brindabella reported to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority in November that several of its planes hadn't been checked or had parts replaced in line with strict schedules set by manufacturers for about a year.

The aviation watchdog launched an investigation and on December 12 ordered the company's remaining six planes be pulled from service for assessment.

Just three days after the fleet was grounded, Brindabella went into receivership, with all flights suspended and bookings ceased.

Mr Smith said staff were stood down last week in the hope the receivers could quickly sell the airline, but they had realised if that didn't happen the outlook wasn't good.

"Today that reality became apparent, and that's the end of the line for Brindabella as a going concern," he said.

Once the company goes into liquidation, the 128 employees to be immediately retrenched would be eligible to get their entitlements under an Australian Government guarantee scheme.

The receivers have already begun the paperwork to help employees submit their entitlement claims.

Mr Smith said the NSW government's decision last week to revoke Brindabella's exclusive regional licenses so other airlines could operate those routes "didn't help".

"After that happened, we went back to the people who were interested in buying the airline, but that stripping of those licences diminished the offering," he said.

"There really wasn't a lot else left to sell."

Mr Smith said there were a number of airlines keen to service Brindabella's routes after it stopped running flights.

Qantas was providing extra services along some of Brindabella's usual routes.

Brindabella was founded in 1994, and serviced regional centres from Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane.

The competitive nature of the airline industry, coupled with regulatory and maintenance issues, were blamed for contributing to Brindabella's financial problems.

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Premium hike to prompt insurance rethink

AUSTRALIANS may rethink their private health insurance coverage in the wake of increases almost triple the annual rate of inflation, consumer groups say.

Insurance premiums will go up from April 1 next year by a weighted average of 6.2 per cent.

This implies an average rise of $3.86 a week, based on a basic combined family policy, equating to more than $200 a year.

The annual increase, approved by federal Health Minister Peter Dutton on Monday, comes after premiums rose by an average of 5.6 per cent in 2013 under the former Labor government.

It also compares with the current annual rate of inflation of only 2.2 per cent.

"This is an unhappy Christmas present for the many Australians who do struggle to meet the cost of health insurance," Consumers Health Forum spokesman Mark Metherell said.

The forum and consumer group Choice said the increase was hefty and could make many people rethink whether it was worth having private health cover.

They advise consumers to compare policies to ensure they were getting a competitive price, review extras cover and check for discounts for paying in advance.

Mr Dutton blamed the former Labor federal government for putting pressure on the sector, saying the 2014 price rise could have been lower.

However, the number of claims was more than expected in the past year, meaning the overall cost of benefits paid out jumped by eight per cent on the previous 12 months.

The premium increases would help insurers absorb those increased costs, Mr Dutton said.

Labor said it was a slap in the face for Australians, two days before Christmas. Health spokeswoman Catherine King said when Labor was in power it tried to ensure the lowest possible premium increases.

The rises approved for 2014 range from 3.14 per cent for Health Partners policies to 7.99 per cent for NIB policies.

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Man critical after CBD assault

Police would like to speak to this man in relation to a serious assault in Brisbane's CBD early Sunday morning. Source: Supplied

Police would like to speak to this man in relation to a serious assault in Brisbane's CBD early Sunday morning. Source: Supplied

POLICE have relased CCTV images of a man as they continue to investigate the serious assault of a man in Brisbane's CBD.

Police are searching for a man who intervened in a couple's fight, seriously injuring a 38-year-old man in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The couple were arguing on the footpath of Queen Street near the intersection with Wharf Street around 4am when an unidentified man stepped in, seriously injuring the 38-year-old.

Brisbane region detective inspector Ian Park said the partner of the injured Arana Hills man was by his bedside in hospital.

"She's very upset obviously by what's happened," he said.

He said the man today remained in Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in a critical condition with serious injuries after being resuscitated at the scene.

Insp Park said alcohol may have been a factor.

"I guess it's a fair assumption that at 4 o'clock there is going to be alcohol involved, so we would appeal to people to just be careful with alcohol and look after themselves and each other and not to drink to excessive levels, which is always a deadly cocktail."

There were reports that people performed CPR on the man before paramedics arrived.

Alessandro Vosolo, who is staying on the 44th floor of the building, said the fight sounded violent and lasted less than four minutes.

"Fighting, screaming, arguing like guys getting thrown around, that sort of thing," he said.

One witness said he was on the 20th floor of the hotel and heard the fight.

"A dude got beat up... We heard it but then police rocked up."

Police insp Park said a number of witnesses had already been interviewed but appealed for more people to step forward, particularly the man, understood to be Caucasian and in his 30s, who was involved in the fight.

The injured man was taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in a critical condition.

"Initial information suggests that a man and a woman were seen arguing on the footpath of Queen Street near the intersection with Wharf Street when another man intervened just before 4am," police said in a statement.

Police said the two men were then involved in a fight in which a 38-year-old Arana Hills man sustained a serious head injury.

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Detective inspector Ian Park said police were also investigating the assault of a man who got into a fight with a hotel staff member at the Orient about 4.30am.

A 37-year-old man fell down the stairs and suffered serious head injuries when his head hit the concrete pavement.

"I believe the may have been a disagreement between this person and a staff member but as to what actually took place is subject to investigation," Insp Park said.

The man was taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital where he is in a serious condition.

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In a third incident, a man was allegedly glassed in the face at the Family Nightclub on McLachlan St in the Fortitude Valley about 3am Sunday.

Police said a 19-year-old was struck in the face with a glass, receiving cuts to his cheek area. Police said the man did not have life-threatening injuries.

A spokesman said security staff and patrons stopped the alleged attacker and held him until police arrived.

A 20-year-old Calamvale man has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm. He is due to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday morning.

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Two men killed in gyrocopter crash

A PILOT and his passenger were checking fire damaged bushland when their gyrocopter crashed northeast of Melbourne, killing both.

The bodies of the 51-year-old pilot from Melbourne, and a second unidentified man, were found in rugged terrain in Victoria's Kinglake National Park about 7am on Sunday (AEDT).

A police plane spotted the wreckage in dense bushland that has regenerated after bushfires.

Searchers had been scouring the park for the men, who failed to return from what was to be a 15-minute flight from the Yarra Valley conference centre on the Melba Highway at Dixons Creek about 7.20pm on Saturday.

Benalla Acting Senior Sergeant Colin Anderson said the pair were flying over a remote area of the ranges to view bushfire damage.

Emergency services were notified when the men failed to return as planned.

An extensive search on Saturday evening failed to find the pair and was called off when it got dark, resuming early Sunday.

Acting Sen Sgt Anderson said next of kin were yet to be notified and he was unable to confirm reports the second man was from overseas.

The bodies are expected to be retrieved from the wreckage on Sunday afternoon, with the help of the SES, he said.

Police are investigating the cause of the crash and will prepare a brief for the coroner.

"There's experts coming to view the wreckage and from that, that report will be prepared for the coroner," he said.

Acting Sen Sgt Anderson said it was a tragedy.

"It's devastating to all concerned - people involved that have to retrieve people from the situation and those directly involved with the people that have been killed," he said.

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Winds ease fire threat, but blow out power

STRONG winds have blown away much of South Australia's fire risk, but also torn down trees and left thousands without power.

A cool southerly change, which came after temperatures soared past 40 degrees, rolled in on Friday and brought wild wind gusts that remained until Saturday afternoon.

"The winds are over but we're still dealing with a number of tasks," State Emergency Service (SES) State Duty Officer Bob Stevenson said on Saturday.

The city's eastern and southern suburbs were worst hit, he said, with many powerlines down and crews having to respond to more than 650 calls for help.

One downed tree took seven people around four hours to cut up and remove from the street.

Around 8000 homes have lost power, many in the Adelaide area.

Police said the weather conditions were extreme with multiple intersections losing power and debris striking cars, pedestrians and cyclists.

The winds had also stirred up a serious bushfire, which threatened Tintinara homes and lives in the state's southeast.

But CFS firefighters managed to contain the blaze by late evening after it burned through about 1000 hectares.

Only the Flinders region was listed as a extreme bushfire risk on Saturday with the rest of the state rated high to severe.

Elsewhere in the country, conditions have cooled in Sydney and Melbourne after scorching temperatures baked both cities.

The fire danger is rated as low across much of Victoria and there are no fire bans in place.

In NSW, fire bans are listed in four central districts.

Hot and dry northerly winds have resulted in a severe fire danger to Queensland's Channel Country while severe conditions are also forecast along WA's northerly coast.

A bushfire that had been burning for four days in the Pilbara near the North West Coastal Highway is now under control.

The fire is deemed suspicious.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Suspected NSW drug house goes up in flames

POLICE are investigating a blaze at what's believed to be a suburban Sydney drug lab.

Firefighters arrived at the Yagoona house, in the city's southwest, just after 6am (AEDT) on Saturday to find it well alight.

No one was inside, police say.

The flames were extinguished and a crime scene established at the Marion Street home.

Police say they located equipment inside the house that is suspected of being used to manufacture prohibited drugs.

Investigations continue, with Fire & Rescue NSW Hazmat officers helping determine what sparked the fire.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Security scare at NSW parliament house

Police have rushed in and grabbed a man from a car after a stand-off outside NSW Parliament. Source: AAP

POLICE have averted a potentially explosive situation after overpowering a man who allegedly threatened to set a car alight outside the NSW Parliament.

The man at the centre of a two-hour siege early on Friday afternoon was known to police and was a regular visitor, it's been confirmed.

The stand-off began shortly before midday (AEDT) on Friday when guards at the main entrance of parliament, on Macquarie Street in Sydney's CBD, noticed a man in a white sedan acting suspiciously.

For over two hours the man, a 58-year-old from the Wollongong area, passed lists of demands from inside the car to plain-clothes police negotiators.

Hundreds of city workers gathered at the police cordon as Macquarie Street and Martin Place was blocked off and parliament went into partial lockdown, before the siege ended dramatically just before 2pm.

There were loud bangs and flashes as up to a dozen heavily armed tactical officers swarmed the vehicle, firing a canister of gas inside and smashing the car's windows before dragging the man into custody.

Police officers and firefighters could be seen removing a device from the car before conducting tests on the vehicle.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch told reporters the man had a container of flammable liquid, which AAP understands was believed to be petrol, which he was threatening to set alight.

Mr Murdoch praised the quick actions of police.

"When that man attempted to light a cigarette lighter, wind the windows of the car up with what we believe to be a container of flammable liquid in the vehicle, those officers put their lives on the line this afternoon and they resolved the situation in a peaceful manner," he said.

The man was receiving medical attention for minor cuts suffered in the struggle with police, Mr Murdoch said, but compared to the threats he was making those injuries were "very, very minor in the scheme of things".

He said a major incident at lunchtime in the centre of the CBD was of obvious concern.

"The mere fact we're in front of our state parliament, in the middle of Sydney in the middle of the day - certainly that posed a risk," Mr Murdoch said.

"(But) at no time was any member of the community at risk, no one in any building was at risk and importantly no members of parliament were at risk because of this incident.

"We were very comfortable at all times that we had the measure of the fellow."

Mr Murdoch could not confirm reports the man had sought a meeting with Premier Barry O'Farrell, who stayed inside parliament throughout.

But he did confirm the man was a "regular visitor" to the parliamentary precinct.

"He was making certain demands of the police but we weren't in a position to meet those demands, nor were we ever in a position to entertain them," he said.

"Our whole tactic was to contain and negotiate with the man.

Macquarie Street has now been reopened to traffic.

12.22 | 0 komentar | Read More

Doubt cast over child safety at NSW YMCA

THE YMCA may be asked by the royal commission into child sexual abuse to look at whether two of its NSW senior managers are fit to run a child-safe organisation.

At a hearing of the commission in Sydney on Friday, the counsel assisting the commission, Gail Furness, cast doubts over whether the YMCA NSW was a child-safe organisation and whether its chief executive was fit to run it.

In a 105-page submission tabled by Ms Furness, she said evidence given at an October hearing into how the YMCA handled the employment of Jonathan Lord and subsequent revelations about him showed systemic failures in the organisation.

Lord is in jail for child sex offences committed over two years while he was employed at a YMCA centre in Sydney's south.

Ms Furness said the evidence given by senior and middle management as to the extent to which they accepted responsibility did not "permit confidence in their capacity to carry out the significant reforms necessary to make YMCA NSW a child-safe institution".

Evidence given by Liam Whitley, the YMCA's general manager for children's services, "raises a serious question about whether he is a fit and proper person to hold a position of senior management in an organisation that is responsible for the care and protection of children".

Mr Whitley reports directly to NSW chief executive Philip Hare. Ms Furness said Mr Hare's evidence also raised a serious question about his appropriateness.

Ian Neil, representing the YMCA, said the assessment of whether anyone was fit and proper to hold any position required not just an evaluation of particular conduct but of other relevant conduct and of their character.

Justice Peter McClellan asked if he would be troubled by a recommendation from the commission that the YMCA considered whether the men, as persons, were appropriate to the positions they held.

Ms Furness said if the commission was prepared to make the finding that the YMCA review their appropriateness, she would not pursue it further.

After an adjournment, Justice McClellan said the commission would not itself make the finding that Mr Whitley and Mr Hare were not fit and proper to hold their positions but would consider recommending that the YMCA look at their appropriateness.

12.22 | 0 komentar | Read More

Toll wins Coca-Cola Amatil contract

Toll has won a $380 million contract to distribute Coca-Cola Amatil's products across Australia. Source: AAP

TOLL Group has won a $380 million contract to transport Coca-Cola Amatil's beverages across Australia.

The five year contract involves bulk distribution and interstate road, rail and sea transport, and nearly doubles Toll's existing revenue gained from this work.

Toll's head of contract logistics Bruce Wilson said the contract build on the company's existing relationship with Coc-Cola Amatil.

"As a long term supplier of transport services to the beverage industry throughout the Asia Pacific region, we look forward to working with Coca-Cola Amatil to improve their supply chain," he said.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Big paper mill fire in Sydney

AROUND 100 firefighters are battling a serious blaze at a paper mill in Sydney, with the fire spreading from stacks of paper to a three-storey building.

Three ladder appliances were deployed on Thursday afternoon to pour water on the fire near Botany Road at Matraville.

Fire & Rescue NSW Commissioner Greg Mullins said the blaze had spread from paper stacks into an adjacent three-storey building.

"We're going to be here for many hours; it's quite a serious fire," he told Macquarie Radio.

Firefighters also had to battle burning oil inside a building.

Workers were evacuated from the site but no injuries have been reported.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hockey highly dishonest on budget: Swan

Former treasurer Wayne Swan has lashed out at his successor for dishonesty of the highest magnitude. Source: AAP

FORMER treasurer Wayne Swan has lashed out at his successor for "dishonesty of the highest magnitude" and fiddling the budget figures, after Joe Hockey forecast four years of deficits amounting to $123 billion.

Mr Swan, now a Labor backbencher, has joined colleagues in accusing Mr Hockey of padding out the economic forecasts to paint a bleak picture of the budget.

The mid-year budget outlook forecast deficits to 2016-17 of $123 billion, $68 billion more than the pre-election outlook in August.

Underpinning the deteriorating figures are growth forecasts well below the long-run average, which Mr Swan said were being used to "make the numbers look as bad as possible".

"Out of his $68 billion in additional accumulated deficits over the next four years, $54 billion comes from his forecasting fiddle and the rest is spending decisions he's taken since being elected just over three months ago," Mr Swan wrote on his Facebook page.

"He's trying to put these large write downs all at the feet of the previous Labor government.

"This is dishonesty of the highest magnitude."

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bega pulls out of cheese takeover battle

BEGA Cheese has pulled out of the three-way battle for control of Warrnambool Cheese and Butter.

The other Australian player in the fight, meanwhile, says it still has the best takeover offer, despite Canadian dairy giant Saputo sweetening its bid.

Bega Cheese, which started the bidding war in September, will let its bid lapse when its offer period closes on December 20.

Bega owns almost 18 per cent of Warrnambool shares, and said it would consider its options regarding that stake once its offer closes.

Murray Goulburn said on Wednesday its offer of $9.50 for each Warrnambool share "remains the highest current value offer" for Warrnambool's shareholders, before accounting for any increases in price that depend on certain ownership thresholds.

Saputo on Tuesday maintained its offer of $9.00 but has increased the amount it will pay if certain share thresholds are met. The bid is final.

Saputo's offer will rise to $9.20 if it gets more than 50 per cent of Warrnambool's shares, $9.40 if it gets more than 75 per cent, and $9.60 if it obtains more than 90 per cent.

Murray Goulburn said there was a significant risk Saputo would not achieve the 50 per cent, 75 per cent or 90 per cent ownership level required to trigger its offer increases.

"This risk is heightened due to the presence of a number of industry participants on WCB's share register, who currently own approximately 46 per cent of WCB in total," Murray Goulburn said.

As well as Bega Cheese's holding, Murray Goulburn has over 17 per cent, and Kirin-owned Lion about 10 per cent.

Saputo currently has nearly 17 per cent but WCB shareholders who accepted the Saputo offer before December 17 have withdrawal rights.

Murray Goulburn's bid of $9.50 is conditional upon it obtaining more than 50 per cent of Warrnambool shares.

It has also filed an application with the Australian Competition Tribunal for authorisation to merge with Warrnambool on the grounds that a merger would be of public benefit.

The tribunal is expected to make a decision by the end of February.

Murray Goulburn managing director Gary Helou has urged Warrnambool shareholders to wait until the outcome of the merger application authorisation so that Murray Goulburn's offer can be considered on its merits.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

NSW govt to appeal IRC super decision

THE NSW government will appeal a decision by the industrial umpire that public sector workers should be paid superannuation on top of their 2.5 per cent wage cap.

Treasurer Mike Baird said the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) had on Tuesday upheld a union application for workers to be paid superannuation in addition to any wage increase, rather than be included in the 2.5 per cent cap that was set by the government.

Mr Baird said the decision failed to take into account the state of NSW's finances.

"Public sector wages make up almost half the state budget so it is critical that we continue to deliver wage increases that are both fair for employees and affordable for NSW," he said in a statement.

If the IRC's decision was left unchecked and superannuation increases were not absorbed into the government's existing wages policy, Mr Baird said expenditure could increase by $860 million over the forward estimates.

He said the government would appeal the IRC's decision.

"We make no apologies for taking every effort to control spending, while ensuring fair and affordable wages are provided across the public sector," he said.

Unions NSW Deputy Assistant Secretary Mark Morey said the IRC simply upheld the government's own legislation on wages, which capped increases at 2.5 per cent.

Had the government been successful, he said public sector workers would have seen wage increases of 2.27 per cent.

"There has been significant cuts to public sector employment and jobs over the last two-and-a-half years," he told AAP.

"Workers are already taking on more work but are getting paid less."

Mr Morey said the government had run a "capacity to pay" argument at the IRC, but this had not been successful.

"We will certainly have a look at what they are seeking to appeal the decision on," he said, vowing unions would continue to fight.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

NBN rollout is scattered: Switkowski

TELSTRA management has directly contradicted claims by its workforce that the company's copper network is in disrepair, a Senate Select Committee into the National Broadband Network has heard.

Under questioning from Greens Senator Scott Ludlum, Telstra director of government relations Jeff Shaw would not guarantee an audit of its copper network would be conducted ahead of its sale to the Australian taxpayer.

"They are matters that will be discussed in the context of negotiations," Mr Shaw said.

Key parts of a strategic review into the NBN presented by Mr Turnbull last week have been blacked out - including an estimation of the cost of Telstra's copper network.

The committee heard two weeks ago from Telstra staff, who said 70 per cent of the network's joiners were being patched up with plastic bags, gaffer tape and gel to protect parts of the network contained in pits.

Mr Shaw on Tuesday refuted the figure.

"Do you want to hazard a statistic," Senator Ludlum asked.

"I can't," Mr Shaw said.

Earlier, NBN Co executive chairman Dr Ziggy Switkowski told the committee he would not "buy into" questions asking him to guarantee internet speeds.

"One of the problems I have found in reviewing the past is there has been a too-quick take-up of words like 'guarantee'," Mr Switkowski said.

"It's clear after four years of the NBN, guarantees have lost currency."

Committee chair Senator Stephen Conroy repeatedly asked Mr Switkowski if the roll-out was being deliberately slowed.

Liberal Senator Anne Ruston accused the chair of trying to verbal Mr Switkowski.

"We have inherited a somewhat dissatisfied group of partners who are dissatisfied with us, who have slowed deployments," Mr Switkowski said later.

"There's no change in the current strategy. We are rolling out fibre to the premises where we can.

"We have a machine ... that is running at four or five thousand (homes) a week, which it was during Senator Conroy's time."

The coalition on Thursday released a strategic review of the NBN, which found that under Labor's plans, the rollout would miss its 2021 target by three years and cost $73 billion - up from $43 billion - to complete.

Mr Switkowski said the rollout had been largely scattered, and involved many contractors doing sub-critical work.

The committee heard that divisions within NBN Co had been providing different sets of figures on the same subject.

The review also found the government would not be able to meet its pledge of delivering 25 Mbps to all Australians by 2016, and its NBN plans would cost 40 per cent more than the $29.5 billion estimated in April.

Mr Turnbull said the coalition remained committed to limiting its equity investment in NBN Co to $29.5 billion, with the excess cost to be made up through debt.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Aurizon to cut rail fleet, cancel project

FREIGHT and coal haulage operator Aurizon will take a hit of almost $200 million as it cuts the size of its rail fleet and cancels a major Queensland project.

The company, previously known as QR National, is reducing its locomotive fleet by 28 per cent and cutting the number of wagons by 12 per cent in a bid to bring down fuel and maintenance costs.

Aurizon's downsizing will appear as an asset impairment expense of $130 million to $150 million in its accounts for the first half of the 2013/14 financial year.

The company will also incur a $47 million impairment on recent changes to several projects, including Glencore Xstrata's decision to stop the Wandoan project because of weakening thermal coal prices.

Aurizon had proposed a 210 kilometre Surat Basin rail corridor from the Wandoan mine in a joint venture with the Swiss multinational.

"There's not any job losses that are related to that," chief executive Lance Hockridge told reporters on Monday.

In July, Aurizon launched a second voluntary redundancy program in a bid to save $230 million by 2015.

Some 248 voluntary redundancies have since been accepted.

"I think the bulk of it is done," Mr Hockridge said.

More than 2,000 employees have left the company since it was privatised by the former Queensland Labor government in 2010.

Mr Hockridge said he was "cautious but confident" about the thermal coal sector, as well as the future of projects in Queensland's Galilee Basin, where Aurizon has agreed to develop a rail project for the GVK-Hancock joint venture involving billionaire Gina Rinehart.

Aurizon shares were down one cent at $4.69 at 1504 AEDT.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Kiwi extends gains over Aussie dollar

THE New Zealand dollar has extended its rally against its trans-Tasman counterpart as the divergence between the neighbouring economies makes New Zealand interest rates more attractive.

The kiwi rose as high as 92.49 Australian cents on Monday, the highest since October 2008, trading at 92.40 cents at 5pm in Wellington from 92.26 cents on Friday in New York.

The NZ dollar traded at 82.78 cents from 82.56 cents at 8am and 82.63 cents on Friday in New York.

The kiwi has been making fresh five-year highs against its Australian counterpart as the slowing economy in Australia and burgeoning local recovery underline the different stages of the interest rate cycle each nation's central bank is in.

New Zealand's Reserve Bank is keen on hiking rates next year, while Australia's is sitting on record-low rates to keep the stimulus coming.

Investors will be looking to see any hint of an easing bias when the minutes to this month's Reserve Bank of Australia policy meeting are released on Tuesday.

"Their central bank is quite determined to get the Aussie dollar lower to get a more sustainable mix in their economy," said Dan Bell, head of corporate sales at HiFX in Auckland.

"It looks like the kiwi/Aussie could get up to the 95 cent level" over the next month before it "runs out of puff," he said.

The kiwi fell to 85.04 yen at 5pm in Wellington from 85.31 yen on Friday in New York, and was little changed at 60.16 euro cents from 60.19 cents.

The trade-weighted index was steady at 77.92 from 77.90.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bushfire threatens lives, homes in WA town

High temperatures in Western Australia have prompted bushfire warnings for much of the state. Source: AAP

FIREFIGHTERS have controlled but not contained a bushfire burning near homes northeast of Perth.

The emergency warning has been downgraded to a watch-and-act alert for people four kilometres east of Toodyay.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) says the fire is burning on both sides of Goomalling-Toodyay Road, near the Wicklow and Dumbarton estates.

"There is a possible threat to lives and homes as conditions are changing," the DFES said.

"You need to leave or get ready to actively defend."

About 170 career and volunteer firefighters from the Fire and Rescue Service and Bush Fire Service are fighting the fire, which was reported at 9.18am (WST) on Sunday and has burned about 100 hectares.

Two helicopters and two fixed-wing water bombers have been sent to assist ground crews.

The DFES says the bushfire is moving fast in a south-southeastern direction.

Residents in Toodyay, about 86 kilometres northeast of Perth, told AAP there was smoke in the township but they were pleased with the quick response from firefighters.

Shire president David Dow said the blaze was burning in a semi-rural and rural area in which hundreds of people lived.

"The fire is obviously very serious," he told AAP.

"Everyone is just getting out at the moment."

People wanting to leave have been told to travel in a western direction towards the Toodyay township.

The Department for Child Protection has set up a temporary evacuation centre at the Toodyay Community Hall.

Goomalling-Toodyay Road has been closed and motorists have been warned to avoid the area.

The cause of the fire is unknown.

In December 2009, a bushfire caused by a fallen power pole destroyed 38 homes and damaged about 137 properties in Toodyay.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Nervous trading ahead of Federal Reserve

THE Australian sharemarket is expected to see some nervous trading ahead of this week's US Federal Reserve meeting.

The meeting is expected to indicate when the Federal Reserve might wind back its stimulus program, after a bipartisan US budget deal in congress that would avert another US government shutdown.

The Fed's decision is expected to reach Australia on Thursday morning.

AMP chief economist Shane Oliver is tipping a soft start to local trading on Monday.

"We will see a week of nervous trading ahead of the Federal Reserve meeting, then shares will look a bit stronger into the Christmas period," Dr Oliver said.

The Fed's announcement may cause the Australian dollar to fall, he said.

CommSec chief economist Craig James agreed most investors will be treading water early in the week.

"Our markets will have a flat start on Monday and most investors won't be buying and selling - they will wait until the (Fed's) decision comes through," Mr James said.

The Australian market fell 6-7 per cent over the last six weeks while US and European markets finished flat last week.

The Dow Jones on Friday was up 15.9 points (0.10 per cent) at 15,755.36, but down 1.7 per cent for the week.

The Australian dollar rose from 89.3 to 89.6 cents and was likely to drift until the Fed's decision, Mr James said.

The futures market dropped 15 points or 0.3 per cent, and oil prices fell modestly last week.

"The base metal markets saw a modest gain, which is positive for Australian miners," Mr James said.

Locally, the Mid-year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) and the Reserve Bank meeting minutes will be released on Tuesday.

At Friday's close, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 35.9 points, or 0.71 per cent, at 5,098.4. The broader All Ordinaries index was up 32.3 points, or 0.64 per cent, at 5,101.5.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

PM backs easing Qantas ownership limits

PM Tony Abbott says he backs unshackling Qantas from restrictions on foreign share ownership. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has backed unshackling Qantas from restrictions on foreign share ownership.

But independent Senator Nick Xenophon said it was not the Qantas legislation which needed to be changed but the management and board.

Mr Abbott said Qantas' desire for easing of the 1992 Qantas Sale Act was not unreasonable.

"Where we can be helpful we will certainly try to be helpful but as I understand it, what Qantas wants is to be unshackled, he told the Financial Review newspaper.

Qantas is facing tough times, with a sinking share price and plans to shed 1000 jobs, impose pay freezes and make cuts across the board as confronts the prospect of massive losses.

The Qantas Sale Act, under which the airline was privatised, limits foreign ownership to 49 per cent

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said the airline was not competing on a level playing field, with competitor Virgin receiving a $350 million injection from its foreign owners Etihad, Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines.

Senator Xenophon challenged Mr Joyce to show one dollar of profit since setting up Jetstar Asia and other offshoots.

"If the CEO Alan Joyce and the chairman Lee Clifford go, that will transform the airline because they have presided over monumental strategic mistakes including the failed Jetstar experiment in Asia where they have burned hundreds of millions," he told AAP.

The airline is now vulnerable to a private equity takeover because the share price is so low. The private equity buccaneers are now circling the airline."

Neither is Labor convinced, with MP Matt Thistlethwaite saying the restrictions in the Qantas Sale Act existed for a good reason.

"Given what happened to private equity in the global financial crisis you could probably fairly say if we didn't have the Qantas Sale Act.....Qantas would not be here today," he told Sky News.

Liberal Josh Frydenberg said Qantas was an iconic Australian brand which should survive and proper.

"It would be negligent of us not to investigate the various ways we could help Qantas to survive and prosper," he told Sky News.

"Ultimately if you were to change the ownership restrictions, that would be an issue for the Australian parliament."

A spokesman for Qantas welcomed the acknowledgment of an uneven playing field.

He said the company was in ongoing talks with the government about how it could be levelled.

"But we're not in a position to comment on those discussions other than to say we're certainly not looking for a handout from taxpayers," he said.

The spokesman said Qantas had previously called for review of the legislative framework distorting the Australian aviation market.

"Access to foreign capital has become a major factor in this market and Qantas is denied the same access as its competitors. But ultimately, the Qantas Sale Act is a matter for Parliament," he said.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Man dies following Vic skydiving incident

A MAN has plunged to his death in a skydiving incident in Victoria's northeast.

The 33-year-old man's parachute malfunctioned and he fell a considerable distance in Drysdale Road, Euroa, about 12.30pm (AEDT), an Ambulance Victoria spokesman said.

The man was in cardiac arrest when paramedics arrived and they tried to resuscitate him, but he died at the scene.

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

The Australian Skydiving Association has been notified.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

NSW Taser death police to be charged soon

Officers involved in the death of a Brazilian student who was tasered by police may be charged. Source: AAP

THE family of a Brazilian student who died after being tasered by Sydney police has welcomed news the officers involved may be charged, but says that doesn't go far enough.

Roberto Curti died in the early hours of March 18 last year after NSW officers tasered him 14 times, used capsicum spray, handcuffs and a baton and knelt on him.

The Police Integrity Commission (PIC) on Friday announced there was sufficient evidence to charge four officers with assault.

A spokeswoman said the men would likely be charged within days.

Mike Reynolds, the husband of Roberto Curti's sister, Ana Laudisio, says charges would be a step in the right direction.

"We are grateful that the DPP (Department of Public Prosecutions) has undertaken a thorough review, and has decided to take action on the recommendations of both the coroner and the PIC," he said in a statement.

"However, the family also believes that the charges don't go far enough.

"According to the coroner's findings, some officers behaved in a reckless and excessive manner, when they tasered, capsicum-sprayed and tackled Roberto.

"Roberto died shortly after the police pursuit."

Mr Curti's death was the subject of a number of inquiries before the PIC looked into the conduct of the police in Operation Anafi.

Senior Constable Eric Lim could be charged with common assault, Senior Constable Scott Edmondson with assault occasioning actual bodily harm or alternatively common assault, Constable Daniel Barling with assault occasioning actual bodily harm or alternatively common assault and Senior Constable Damien Ralph with common assault.

A coronial inquest found Mr Curti, 20, had an adverse reaction to a dose of LSD before stealing biscuits from a convenience store, where police mistakenly believed he was armed.

Coroner Mary Jerram also found the officers had acted "thuggishly" and rejected some of their evidence.

NSW Ombudsman Bruce Barbour's report criticised the police investigation because it failed to deal with the issue of police misconduct.

The NSW Police Force and the Police Association of NSW wouldn't comment while the matter was subject to legal proceedings.

The police said "appropriate interim management action" remained in place for the officers concerned, but would not confirm whether they were still working.

The police association said it had offered the officers welfare and support.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

COAG ditches national licensing scheme

Federal, state and territory leaders opted to abolish the National Occupation Licensing Authority. Source: AAP

A COUNTRY-WIDE licensing authority for a range of occupations including lawyers and real estate agents has been scrapped.

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has agreed to scrap the National Occupation Licensing Authority which was set up by the former Labor federal government after a 2008 COAG meeting.

Most states decided at a meeting in Canberra on Friday not to proceed with the national scheme, citing the cost and other problems.

"Let's try to bring about the same outcome in a less cumbersome, less time-consuming and ultimately more productive way, and I think that's what we are going to do now," Prime Minister Tony Abbott said.

Mr Abbott said there should be a seamless national economy so people such as lawyers and plumbers could trade in every jurisdiction and not just where they were licensed.

He said mutual recognition could bring that about without the extraordinarily difficult and endless processes national schemes seemed to involve.

States were generally opposed to the scheme because it would mean they would miss out on licence fee revenue.

The authority will cease operations in early 2014.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Toyota likely to leave Australia: AMWU

Toyota is likely to leave Australia now that Holden is stopping building cars here, a union says. Source: AAP

TOYOTA will almost certainly leave Australia now that Holden is stopping building cars here, a union says.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union says it will also spell the end of 50,000 automotive jobs.

"It's now highly likely that Toyota will leave Australia. In fact it's almost certain," AMWU national vehicles division secretary Dave Smith told reporters outside Holden's head office in Melbourne.

"Fifty thousand workers will be losing their job because of this decision by General Motors today."

Mr Smith blamed the federal government for Holden's decision, saying it knew what was required to keep Holden and the automotive industry in Australia.

"The blame for this lies squarely at the foot of the Abbott government," he said.

He said workers and Holden did everything to try to keep the company in Australia.

"It's been the federal government that hasn't played ball, it's been the federal government that has made a decision that 50,000 people should be put out of work."

Mr Smith said Holden's decision would be devastating for the Australian economy, as well as South Australia and Victoria.

"There's going to be a $12 billion hole ripped into the economy."

Mr Smith said the government could have saved the industry and jobs but decided to ignore the issue.

"It's a very bleak day indeed."

Mr Smith said he was gutted by news of the announcement and that workers were devastated.

"They loved working in this industry," he said.

"They love building things. That's been taken away from them."

Mr Smith was reduced to tears addressing reporters in Melbourne and had to stop briefly to regain his composure.

"Sorry about that, my heart goes out to those workers and their families," he said.

"It's a very sad day."

Many workers had likely left early on Wednesday after being told the news.

"Workers have to go home and tell their wives, partners and kids that they will no longer be working in the automotive industry post 2016," he said.

He said he would sit down with workers and negotiate an assistance package.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Keep suspended sentences: Vic report

Community safety could be compromised if suspended sentences are removed in Victoria, a report says. Source: AAP

REOFFENDING by criminals is likely to worsen and lead to compromised community safety if suspended sentences are completely removed in Victoria, a new report says.

Thousands of extra people will require supervision, monitoring and treatment when suspended sentences are abolished next year, the report prepared for Catholic Social Services Victoria says.

However community corrections services may not be able to cope with the expected influx of offenders.

"Without adequate services, treatment and support, reoffending outcomes are likely to worsen and community safety will therefore be compromised," the report says.

Suspended sentences have already been abolished in the higher courts, but sentences for all other crimes will be removed by September 1, 2014.

However, other sentencing options such as community-based orders will be available for judges and magistrates.

The report says Victoria's prisons are operating at 104 per cent capacity and it's questionable whether the new prison beds funded by the government will be able to meet the expected increase in prisoners.

The cost of putting offenders into community-based orders instead of suspended sentences would be more than $50 million a year, and higher if even some offenders were instead jailed, the report says.

Victorian County Court Judge Liz Gaynor said suspended sentences were an incredibly useful way to prevent reoffending.

Launching the report, Judge Gaynor said jail was not a good deterrent and putting offenders in jail often made them worse, not better.

She said suspended sentences had not been properly explained to the community, and were used by judges in cases where the success of rehabilitation was high.

There was enormous concern about overcrowding in Victorian prisons, she said.

"I certainly don't want to make a dire prediction, but the situation as I understand it is a dangerous one," she said.

Liana Buchanan, of the Federation of Community Legal Centres Victoria, said there is already evidence the system wasn't coping.

"The data tells us that serious incidents in the (prison) system are increasing - prisoner-prisoner assaults, prisoner-staff assaults, self-mutilations and self-harm in the system are on the increase, deaths in custody we know increased substantially last year, including suicides," she said at the launch.

"We also know that an overcrowded system has even less capacity to focus on rehabilitation."

The report makes four recommendations, including maintaining suspended sentences and providing alternative sentences for vulnerable offenders.

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Barrier Reef could be dead by 2100: study

Rising sea temperatures could kill off the Great Barrier Reef by 2100, a scientist claims. Source: AAP

RISING sea temperatures could kill off the Great Barrier Reef by the end of the century, a scientist claims in a new book.

The coral would have to move 4000km southwards over 100 years to survive scientists' worst-case scenario of a 4C degree rise in sea temperatures by 2100, Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg says.

In his book, Four Degrees of Global Warming: Australia in a hot world, the University of Queensland reef specialist says the outlook for the reef is bleak.

"In a four-degree world, the Great Barrier Reef will be great no longer. It would bear little resemblance to the reef we know today," he wrote.

"There is little evidence that marine resources like the Great Barrier Reef possess the resilience to withstand the impacts of a dramatically warming world."

Even a more conservative 2C temperature rise estimate would likely be too much for the reef to handle, he wrote.

The death of the almost 2300km-long reef would destroy its $6 billion tourism industry as well as other areas like fishing.

The book looks at how Australia will adapt to a warmer and drier climate in the next 100 years.

Warmer and more acidic seawater is a knock-on effect of increased atmospheric carbon levels.

Prof Hoegh-Guldberg wrote that sea temperatures rose by 0.5C in the 20th century but the effect is expected to speed up this century.

The result is that coral cannot move fast enough to cooler southern seas or genetically adapt fast enough to stay where they are.

"Unless we dramatically reduce carbon dioxide emissions which are acidifying our oceans and leading to their warming, we will face the destruction of the Great Barrier Reef and serious decline in our marine resources," he wrote.

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Alleged killer feared death by fork

A QUEENSLAND man accused of murdering his wife was afraid she would kill him with a kitchen fork so he pushed her, causing her to fall onto tiles and die, a court has heard.

Klaus Andres, 70, has pleaded guilty to interfering with Li Ping Cao's corpse by dissolving her body in a wheelie bin of acid, but says her death was an accident.

On Tuesday, Andres told the Supreme Court the pair had argued about sex, money and their relationship in the kitchen of their Cairns home on October 30, 2011.

He says Ms Cao, 42, was screaming and that she scratched his face and then stabbed his hand twice with a fork.

Principal Crown Prosecutor Nigel Rees asked Andres if he feared for his life.

"Definitely, yes," Andres said.

"A person or Li Ping could kill me with a fork if she got the right position."

He later added: "I protected myself".

Andres says he pushed his wife on the chest with one hand and she fell to the ground and died suddenly.

He went to dial 000 but didn't make the call as he thought he would be blamed for her death.

"... in my opinion there is nothing that could be done (to revive Ms Cao)," he said.

In the days that followed he put her body in a wheelie bin, dissolved her body in acid and poured the remains down a storm drain.

Only Ms Cao's prosthetic teeth were found by investigators.

Andres admits lying to police, his family and Ms Cao's friends to cover up her death, but says he didn't mean to kill her.

Mr Rees told the court Andres murdered his wife because it would cost him a lot of money to divorce her.

"I never attacked Li Ping in the whole five years and I never assaulted her," Andres said.

He also denied an accusation that he suffocated his wife.

Andres says Ms Cao wouldn't be entitled to his assets as they had been transferred to a family trust.

Specialist forensic pathologist Professor Johan Duflou told the court there are a number of circumstances in which a person can die suddenly after a fall or blow, but it is rare.

He says it's possible wounds on Andres' hand visible after Ms Cao's death were caused by a fork.

"To me it's a possibility, but there's nothing there that specifically says fork to me."

The trial continues.

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Long jail term for murder of pensioner

A NSW man who brutally murdered a weak and disabled pensioner under the mistaken belief that he was a pedophile has been jailed for at least 22 years and six months.

Michael Peter Kaine, 50, was found guilty of murdering 62-year-old Dennis Griffin in his Newcastle unit in October 2011, by stabbing him dozens of times with a chicken boning knife, smashing a TV into his face and throwing two wardrobes on top of him.

Kaine had never met Mr Griffin before, but he believed a female acquaintance who "falsely and maliciously" accused Mr Griffin of being a pedophile.

Mr Griffin was described as a security conscious and "very private" person, who generally only ventured out to shop and to his local Waratah hotel for a glass of cola.

"Dennis Griffin was an innocent man who was brutally attacked with extreme violence in his own home and, given his age and very frail physical condition, he was completely incapable of defending himself," Justice Robert Allan Hulme told the Supreme Court at Newcastle on Friday.

Kaine denied murdering Mr Griffin and claimed the pensioner had lured him into the bedroom and indecently assaulted him.

This was rejected as "utterly incredible" and "preposterous" by Justice Hulme.

When Mr Griffin's body was discovered, he had suffered 18 stab wounds, including to the heart, 18 slash wounds, and fractures to his eye sockets, jaw and skull.

Setting a maximum sentence of 30 years, Justice Hulme said he did not believe Kaine was remorseful.

As a victim impact statement was read out in court, Kaine showed "complete disinterest", the judge noted.

"The offender sought to exact punishment upon a man on the basis of unsubstantiated hearsay," Justice Hulme said.

"And he got it so terribly, terribly wrong and killed an innocent man."

Taking into account time already served, Kaine will be eligible for parole in June 2034.

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Drunken violence blitz to start

Police in Australia and New Zealand are planning their next coordinated blitz on drunken violence. Source: AAP

POLICE across Australia and New Zealand are planning their seventh coordinated blitz on drunken violence in the lead-up to Christmas.

Operation Unite, starting this Friday and ending on Sunday, will involve random breath testing, extra police patrols and overt and covert licensing operations.

Jon White, the CEO of ANZPAA, the agency that serves police commissioners across Australia and New Zealand, said police were concerned that the public considered excessive drinking just part of daily life.

"Our culture is one where some people are drinking alcohol purely to get drunk," he said in a statement on Monday.

"Cheap and readily-available alcohol with many points of access are intensifying the issue.

"The harms of alcohol misuse are seen in a large proportion of cases police deal with including street violence, domestic violence and road trauma," Mr White said.

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Elderly pair held against will in break-in

AN elderly couple had to be rescued from their North Queensland home after an intruder allegedly held them against their will.

Police spent almost an hour urging the intruder to come out of the house at Kirwan in Townsville before he gave himself up.

It's alleged the man broke a window to get inside the couple's home before arming himself with several knives and waking up the pair.

Neighbours heard the disturbance and reported it to police about 1am (AEST) on Sunday.

The 73-year-old woman and a 75-year-old man weren't injured during the ordeal, police said.

However, the intruder cut his arms badly while coming through the window.

He will appear in the Townsville Magistrates Court on Monday provided he's discharged from hospital.

The 43-year-old man, from the nearby suburb of Rasmussen, has been charged with two counts of deprivation of liberty, break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence while armed.

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Mourning period for C. African victims

French troops have received a triumphant welcome as they arrived in Central African Republic. Source: AAP

CENTRAL African Republic President Michel Djotodia has declared a three-day period of mourning for the 300 recent victims of sectarian violence in Bangui.

"To honour the memory of our citizens who lost their lives during these tragic events, a three-day period of mourning will be observed (from Sunday)," he said on national radio.

At least 300 people were killed in Thursday's massacre and subsequent reprisals, the Red Cross has said, many of them clubbed or hacked to death.

The Central African Republic has descended into chaos since a motley coalition of rebel fighters known as Seleka overthrew the government in March and installed their own chief, Djotodia, as president - the first Muslim leader of the majority Christian country.

Djotodia has officially disbanded Seleka, but has proved unable to control the fighters who swept him to the presidency.

The president expressed his condolences to "all Central Africans". He assured in his radio address that "the situation is under control" and urged people to return to their normal routines.

Djotodia also expressed his gratitude to France which has sent in troops to patrol the Central African Republic's tense capital.

Around 200 French soldiers crossed the border from Cameroon to a triumphant welcome from thousands of Central Africans on Saturday. They complete the 1200-strong deployment to the former French colony.

The Central African Republic leader also decreed a separate period of mourning, to run from December 13-15, in honour of former South African leader Nelson Mandela who died Thursday aged 95.

"The whole world mourns one of its heroes," he said.

French troops, some of them on foot, patrolled the capital in a visible show of strength. On Saturday, a French armoured vehicle took a symbolic swing past the front of the presidential palace.

A fighter jet flew low over the city, where bodies still lay abandoned outside the parliament building.

Red Cross staff continue to pick up dead and mutilated bodies from the streets, but have been overwhelmed by the scale of the task.

However, the situation appeared to have improved since Friday. Residents contacted by telephone said only sporadic gunfire was heard overnight on Friday, in stark contrast to the intense violence of the two previous nights.

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Holden urged to declare Australian plans

The government and opposition have denied rumours Holden will pull out of Australia from 2016. Source: AAP

THE future for car maker Holden looks increasingly bleak, with pressure growing on the company to decide on the fate of its local manufacturing operations.

Holden has dismissed as speculation reports, sourced to senior federal government figures, that it has already decided to close by 2016.

But Prime Minister Tony Abbott has also rejected spending more public money to keep the company building cars in Australia, something thought essential for Holden to stay.

"I think they owe it to the workforce, they owe it to the suppliers, they owe it to the people of Australia to say what they're doing," Mr Abbott said on Friday.

"Are they staying or are they going?"

Mr Abbott said the government would not offer anything beyond what was promised at the September election - a total of $500 million in car industry assistance to 2015.

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill said that made a mockery of the federal government's review of car industry assistance by the Productivity Commission.

He accused sections of the federal government of deliberately undermining the process to secure Holden's future.

"They want to create the most hostile environment so that Holden will actually take the decision out of their hands by just simply closing," Mr Weatherill said.

The premier said he had spoken to Holden boss Mike Devereux, who had rejected the closure reports and reaffirmed no decision had yet been made.

The company also issued a bulletin to workers telling them they would be the first to know of any decision.

The company said it remained fully committed to the negotiation process and to also taking part in the Productivity Commission review.

Mr Devereux spoke with workers in Adelaide on Thursday and is due to front the commission on Tuesday.

Australian Manufacturing Workers Unions state secretary John Camillo said Mr Devereux was upbeat in his comments to staff and made no mention of closure.

He said those same workers were now devastated by what they were reading in the media and wanted to know where they stood, preferably before Christmas.

Absentee rates at Holden were increasing due to the stress created by the uncertainty, though the union ruled out taking industrial action.

"We've got workers, we've got families, we've got communities who are really worried about whether Holden is going to survive or not," Mr Camillo said.

"Workers' lives are at risk, because of the politics that is being played by all sides. This has gone too far."

Federal opposition industry spokesman Kim Carr said the government should have sent a delegation to General Motors in Detroit to discuss the future of Holden.

Senator Carr said the coalition had been "incredibly indolent, lazy" about developing a plan for the auto sector.

Holden last year agreed to a $275 million assistance package in return for developing and building two new model cars in Australia from 2016.

However, it is now thought to need as much as $500 million and has repeatedly warned that its local operations are not sustainable without ongoing support.

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Aussie housing construction expands again

Housing construction activity has expanded for two months in a row for the first time since 2010. Source: AAP

AUSTRALIAN housing construction activity has expanded for two months in a row for the first time since 2010, in a sign that low interest rates are slowly working.

The Australian Industry Group/Housing Industry Association's performance of construction index (PCI) rose by 0.8 points in November to 55.2.

The reading for October rose above the key 50 level, showing expansion for the first time in more than three years.

In November, new orders ran at the strongest pace in eight years while deliveries from suppliers also improved, taking the PCI reading to the strongest point since April 2010.

Ai Group public policy director Peter Burn says the rise in construction activity last month shows low interest rates are slowly working.

"The long-awaited re-balancing of the domestic economy may be getting underway on the back of low interest rates and a lift in business and household confidence," he said in a statement on Friday.

"However, given the extent of the slump in residential and commercial construction over more than three years, the expansions recorded in October and November are from a low base and we are still some months from a convincing recovery."

HIA chief economist Harley Dale said tight credit conditions were an "avoidable roadblock" to a construction-led recovery in the economy.

"To sustain that recovery and return new home building to strong levels requires closer attention to policy reform than is currently evident," he said.

House and apartment building moderated in November, from October's high levels, but remained in the expansionary territory, along with engineering and commercial construction.

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NZ dollar holds above 90 Australian cents

THE New Zealand dollar has held near a five-year high against its trans-Tasman counterpart as the likely divergent interest rate paths of the two economies continue to fuel demand for the kiwi.

The kiwi traded at 90.74 Australian cents at 5pm in Wellington, having climbed as high as 90.95 cents on Thursday, from 90.34 cents on Wednesday.

The NZ currency rose to 82.09 US cents at 5pm from 81.79 cents at 8am and 81.86 cents on Wednesday.

A sluggish Australian economy has kept alive the potential for another rate cut by the country's central bank, the opposite trajectory to New Zealand, where Reserve Bank governor Graeme Wheeler has indicated the next move will be higher.

The divergent interest rate paths make the kiwi dollar more attractive for investors and traders are pricing in 107 basis points of increases to New Zealand's key rate of 2.5 per cent over the coming 12 months, compared to just 16 points for its Australian counterpart, also at 2.5 per cent.

"You had to have your head in the sand if you were wishing and willing the kiwi lower against the Aussie - the interest rate trade couldn't get clearer," said Alex Hill, head of dealing at HiFX in Auckland.

"I wouldn't be surprised to see it up to 93/94" Australian cents."

The kiwi was little changed at 84.01 yen from 83.98 yen on Wednesday and increased to 60.41 euro from 60.26 euro. The trade-weighted index increased to 77.28 from 77.08.

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Eight carry great ape 'stud' to check-up

PERTH Zoo's primate patriarch, 126-kilogram Sumatran orang-utan Dinar, will remain the key player in a world-famous breeding program after getting full marks in a detailed health check.

Eight people were needed to carry the anaesthetised 26-year-old great ape in a stretcher to a mini-van for the trip to the on-site hospital on Thursday.

Staff worked quickly to ensure the check was done before the anaesthetic wore off, taking blood samples, checking Dinar's mouth and teeth, giving him a tetanus vaccination and using a sonographer to take an ultrasound scan of his heart.

"The veterinary team worked on Dinar from head to toe, making the most of the opportunity to check him over thoroughly," Perth Zoo senior veterinarian Simone Vitali said.

"Dinar appears to be in great condition, which is terrific news given his key role in our Sumatran orang-utan breeding program."

Dinar has sired three of the 29 orang-utans bred at the zoo since 1970.

Two were released into protected rainforest in Sumatra as part of a reintroduction program to help re-establish a population of the threatened species.

But in April the first zoo-born male Sumatran orang-utan to be released into the wild, Semeru, died after being bitten by a snake.

Zoo staff were devastated by the news, but were glad he experienced 17 months in the wild.

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Buru engages water consultants for Canning

OIL and gas explorer Buru Energy has engaged international water consulting and engineering firm MWH Global as it looks for gas resources in north Western Australia.

Buru is exploring WA's Canning Basin, one of the world's largest shale gas resources.

Pastoralists and environmentalists have opposed the exploration and production of unconventional gas on Australia's east coast amid concerns about water contamination.

Buru said it would draw on the expertise of MWH in water resource management projects following work in the shale and tight gas sector in the USA and Canada.

"Buru Energy and MWH will work collaboratively with key stakeholders including traditional owners, pastoralists and local communities during the development of the water management plan, including identifying tangible opportunities to engage with local communities and businesses during implementation and operation," the company said in a statement.

An agreement between the two companies is due to be finalised by the end of the year, detailing a long-term water management plan for Buru's potential future operations.

Buru shares fell three cents, or 2.5 per cent, to $1.33 at 1524 AEST.

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ALP says ADM-GrainCorp decision was wrong

THE federal opposition has stepped up its attack on the government's rejection of a foreign takeover of grain handling company GrainCorp, saying the national interest test was not applied properly.

Treasurer Joe Hockey blocked the deal due to political pressure and his decision would cost jobs and economic growth, Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen says.

Mr Bowen said he would have approved the takeover if Labor was still in government.

"I do not see the national interest test was properly invoked in this instance," Mr Bowen told the National Press Club, adding he would have approved the deal based on the available information.

Mr Hockey last week blocked the $3.4 billion takeover of GrainCorp by American agribusiness Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) after deciding it was contrary to the national interest.

Farm groups and the government's junior partner the National Party had campaigned heavily against the deal, which would have given ADM control of 85 per cent of Australia's east coast grain ports.

Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board examines all major foreign investment proposals and must decide if they are contrary to a loosely-defined "national interest" test. However, the treasurer of the day must make the final decision.

In his decision, Mr Hockey said approval of the ADM-GrainCorp deal could have undermined public confidence in the foreign investment regime and undermined future foreign investments.

Bowen said he had publicly supported foreign investment to signal Labor's support for the deal but Mr Hockey caved in to political opposition from the Nationals.

"The best he could come up with was to say we need to knock this back to promote public confidence in foreign investment so we can get more in the future," Mr Bowen said.

"It doesn't pass the common sense test. Clearly this was a decision frankly that was taken for political reasons. I'm not entirely sure it was a decision that Joe Hockey didn't have foisted upon him. It's a decision which he claims to be his own. If it is his own, it is a particularly weak one."

Earlier, opposition agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon used a debate on a bill to change the way rural research and development is funded to attack the ADM-GrainCorp decision.

Mr Fitzgibbon said Australia needed more investment in agricultural infrastructure, research and development, skills and technology and inevitably much of this would have to come from overseas.

He said Australia was in significant competition for investment with South America, Indonesia and other countries, and investors would now be asking themselves if Australia's regulatory hurdles were too high.

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Aussie company develops new prostate test

AUSTRALIAN scientists have developed a new prostate cancer test they hope will replace the controversial PSA screening procedure.

The new test is said to be twice as accurate as the PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test, which is notorious for giving false positives.

Initial trials in Australia have been promising, say scientists at Sydney biotechnology company Minomic, who have been working on the test for the past six years.

The company is conducting trials on 1200 US patients in 2014 and is aiming for a commercial launch in 2015.

The test is performed on urine and detects a protein found only on prostate cancer cells.

A blood test as well as a 15-minute quick test are under development.

Minomic CEO Dr Brad Walsh is optimistic the test will replace the PSA test within five years.

"The PSA test has been around for 30 years, but is responsible for large numbers of false positive results," he said.

"Our technology is more specific and has demonstrated ability to be almost twice as accurate as existing PSA technology."

He said the test was cheaper than competing products being tested around the world, some of which required tissue samples to be taken from the prostate.

"It is an Australian innovation with global implications."

The test could be a step in the right direction, said Associate Professor David Smith, a research fellow at Cancer Council NSW.

"We desperately need a more accurate test. Not only one that reduces the false positives, but also one that allows us to successfully identify and treat the aggressive deadly cancers.

"We need to test smarter and not harder for prostate cancer."

Professor Mark Frydenberg, Vice-President of the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand said it was too early to predict whether the test would provide a viable alternative that was superior to PSA tests.

"This will be known only after further, extensive trials in multiple centres both in Australia and overseas."

Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia spokesperson Associate Professor Ken Sikaris said the PSA test had improved over the years.

"With the information we have available at the moment, it is questionable whether the new test is superior."

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