US uni proposes fracking on its own land

Protesters have condemned a proposal to allow a US university to "frack" on state-owned land. Source: AAP

A US university wants to allow "fracking" on a state-owned tract of rolling woodland and plans to use the revenue to fund research into the environmental impact of such drilling.

Environmentalists have condemned the proposal as a conflict of interest.

The unique plan is being considered as the debate on hydraulic fracturing continues across the country.

Energy companies use the procedure to remove gas or oil from rock formations by forcing liquids underground at high pressure.

Many universities say they lack the money to properly study its environmental implications.

Gwen Parker, a Nashville-based staff lawyer for the Southern Environmental Law Center, said her group is taking a lead in trying to block the move.

She called the University of Tennessee's proposal a "fundamental conflict of interest".

"We have not been able to find any instances of a university drilling on their land and funding their research with revenues from the drilling activities," Parker said.

Without an appraisal, it was unclear how much revenue such drilling could yield, though some said it could be in the range of millions of dollars annually.

The university wants state permission to allow an outside company to drill on about 3240 hectares of mature woodlands it maintains as an outdoor laboratory in the Cumberland Plateau - all while performing research on the effects on water quality, air quality and ground impacts.

University officials argue that because the property is state-owned, they can maintain control over the drilling project and provide independent scientific results in an area of the industry where many environmental questions remain.

On Friday, the university presented its proposal to a subcommittee of the State Building Commission, which voted unanimously to allow the university to seek bids from companies.

"Our intention is science-based investigation," said Larry Arrington, chancellor of the UT Institute of Agriculture.

"We will move forward in a transparent manner, in which we will seek to engage and receive input from all interested parties."

Before the meeting, about 50 people against fracking held a rally across the street from the state Capitol.

"We should not be allowing fracking in the state of Tennessee until we are absolutely certain that we have regulations ... in place that are going to guarantee the protection of water quality," said Scott Banbury, one of the organisers.

Environmentalists also argue that preservation of the forest tract in question is critical because it is one of the few mature forests still intact in the state's Cumberland Mountains region.

Governor Bill Haslam is supportive of the university's proposal.

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US hack 'prank' doesn't merit jail: lawyer

A LAWYER for a Reuters editor accused of helping hackers deface a Los Angeles Times story says the journalist didn't commit the crime, but even if he did, it was an internet prank that shouldn't send anyone to prison for 25 years.

"No one was hurt, there were no lasting injuries, no one's identity was stolen, lives weren't ruined," said Matthew Keys' lawyer, Jay Leiderman.

"It was a joke, and I guess a joke will get you 25 years in prison."

Federal authorities allege that in December 2010, Keys provided hackers from the group Anonymous with login information to access the computer system of the Tribune Co., the parent company of the Times. Tribune also owns a Sacramento television station Keys was fired from months earlier.

According to the US Justice Department, a hacker altered a Times news story to read "Pressure builds in House to elect CHIPPY 1337," a reference to another hacking group. "Chippy 1337" claimed responsibility for defacing the website of video game publisher Eidos in 2011.

A second attempt to hack the Times was unsuccessful, according to an indictment released on Thursday.

Keys was charged with one count each of conspiracy to transmit information to damage a protected computer, as well as transmitting and attempting to transmit that information. If convicted, the New Jersey native faces a combined 25 years prison and a $US500,000 ($A484,003) fine if sentenced to the maximum for each count. He is scheduled for arraignment April 12 in Sacramento.

"It's astounding that we would use our laws and scarce prosecutorial resources in this manner," Leiderman told The Associated Press.

"In the wake of the Aaron Swartz case, we really thought that Justice would kind of catch their breath and maybe understand that they had erred in pushing these cases forward in such an aggressive manner for what are essentially pranks.

"I guess what Justice has done is kind of double down on it."

He was referring to the 26-year-old internet activist who was found dead in his Brooklyn apartment January 11 as a trial loomed in his future.

Family and friends say Swartz killed himself after he was hounded by federal prosecutors. Officials say he helped post millions of court documents for free online and that he illegally downloaded millions of academic articles from an online clearinghouse.

The indictment of Keys, also 26, comes after recent hacks into the computer systems of two other US media companies that own The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Both newspapers reported in February that their computer systems had been infiltrated by China-based hackers, likely to monitor media coverage the Chinese government deems important.

Anonymous and its offshoot, Lulz Security, have been linked to a number of high-profile computer attacks and crimes, including many that were meant to embarrass governments, federal agencies and corporate giants. They have been connected to attacks that took data from FBI partner organisation InfraGard, and they've jammed websites of the CIA and the Public Broadcasting Service.

Keys' Facebook page says he worked as an online news producer for Tribune-owned FOX affiliate KTXL from June 2008 to April 2010.

Investigators allege that Keys then gave a hacker named "Sharpie" the login information in an internet chat room frequented by hackers and urged the hacker to do some damage to the Tribune Co.

Federal prosecutors allege in court papers that a legendary hacker and Anonymous leader named "Sabu" offered advice on how to infiltrate Tribune's systems. The FBI unmasked Sabu when it arrested Hector Xavier Monsegur on June 7, 2011. Monsegur secretly worked as an FBI informant until federal officials announced that he helped them arrest five other alleged hackers on March 6, 2012.

Federal officials declined to comment on whether Sabu assisted in the investigation of Keys.

The day after it was announced that Sabu was an FBI informant, Keys wrote a story for Reuters about "infiltrating" the hackers' chat room.

Reuters had hired Keys in 2012 as a deputy editor for social media. David Girardin, a spokesman for the news agency, told AP in an email that Keys was suspended on Thursday with pay.

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Vic man dies in garbage truck accident

AN elderly man has died after being hit on the head by a garbage bin while walking through a Melbourne fast food restaurant car park.

The man and his wife were both hit on the head by the bin as it was being lowered and emptied by a garbage truck.

The couple was walking through the restaurant's car park in Melbourne's northeast when the accident occurred last Friday, a WorkSafe spokesman said.

The South Morang couple both suffered head injuries and were taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

The 86-year-old man died later that night.

His 83-year-old wife remains in a stable condition.

WorkSafe Victoria chief executive Denise Cosgrove said the authority was investigating the tragedy.

"It serves as a reminder of the dangers of vehicles operating close to pedestrians," Ms Cosgrove said in a statement on Thursday.

The death takes the number of fatal Victorian workplace accidents to five in 2013, compared with four at same time last year.

AAP

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Curb your rhetoric, Packer warns pollies

Billionaire casino boss James Packer has urged politicians to curb their rhetoric on migrants. Source: AAP

JAMES Packer says politicians should curb their rhetoric on foreign workers during the federal election campaign, saying the current debate damages the nation's reputation abroad.

The billionaire casino boss also gave Bob Carr his endorsement, saying whoever won the federal election should put the foreign minister in charge of Sino-Australian relations.

"Bob Carr truly understands China and won't waver in putting Australia's interest first," Mr Packer told a business lunch in Sydney.

He said elections were "important and necessary", but could be destabilising and send the wrong messages overseas.

"If I can urge our political leaders across all parties to keep in mind when it comes to the issue of foreign and domestic affairs, the rhetoric we casually throw around is keenly followed throughout the region," he said.

"Some of the recent public debate does not reflect well on any of us.

"Even worse, it plays on fears and prejudices and is completely unnecessary."

The call came as Mr Packer said Australia must strengthen ties with China, claiming the Asian nation's increasingly wealthy middle class will "transform the world" and dramatically alter the local economy.

As part of closer relations, Mr Packer wants the federal government and state governments to increase the number of Chinese studying at Australian universities.

There should also be more reciprocal defence visits, according to Mr Packer, who highlighted and praised the "symbolism" of a recent visit by two Chinese navy frigates to Sydney's Garden Island.

The Crown Entertainment chief executive said Senator Carr's diplomatic skills with China should be utilised after the election.

"I urge whoever wins the next federal election to ensure Bob Carr is at the forefront of our diplomatic relations with China," he said.

Mr Packer did not take questions from journalists, but it's understood his reference to rhetoric about "foreign and domestic affairs" refers to recent debate about 457 visas and asylum seekers.

"Foreign investment, foreign workers and migrants are part of this country's proud history; in fact they built this great country we live in," he added.

"These issues should be bi-partisan."

Mr Packer said Chinese middle-class consumers, who number more than 300 million, present an enormous opportunity for Australia's tourism, financial and services sectors.

Mr Packer admitted the call was partly to further his own business interests, which includes a 33.6 per cent stake in Macau casino owner Crown Melco, a 10 per cent stake in Sydney's The Star casino, and gaming venues in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.

"But it's also of critical importance to the future living standards of over 23 million Australians," he said.

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Cathay Pacific announces profit plunge

CATHAY Pacific's net profit plunged 83.3 per cent in 2012 as the Hong Kong flag carrier was hit by persistently high fuel prices and weak cargo demand.

The airline on Wednesday announced net profit of HK$916 million ($A115 million), down from the HK$5.5 billion in 2011. Revenue rose one per cent to HK$99.4 billion from HK$98.4 billion in 2011.

"Economic uncertainty, particularly in the eurozone countries, and an increasingly competitive environment added to the difficulties," chairman Christopher Pratt said in a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange.

"It was a challenging year for the aviation industry generally."

Cathay said it carried 29 million passengers in 2012, a five per cent rise year on year, but its premium class business was affected by travel restrictions imposed by companies.

"The high cost of fuel made it more difficult to operate profitably, particularly on long-haul routes operated by older, less fuel-efficient, Boeing 747-400 and Airbus A340-300 aircraft," Pratt said.

He added that the cost of fuel, which accounts for 41.1 per cent of total operation costs, rose 0.8 per cent year-on-year in 2012.

The blue-chip Asian airline in August posted a first-half net loss of HK$935 million.

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NSW buyers 'locked out' of housing: oppn

THE NSW opposition has accused the O'Farrell government of locking young people out of Sydney's housing market by ending the first home owner grant and dumping stamp duty exemptions.

Speaking in parliament, shadow treasurer Michael Daley said housing finance for first home buyers had fallen to its lowest level in 20 years.

Addressing Treasurer Mike Baird in question time, Mr Daley said: "Will you now accept, treasurer, that your government has locked young people, particularly young people in western Sydney, out of the housing market?"

He called on the government to reverse the removal of the $7000 first home owner grant and the dumping of stamp duty exemptions, worth up to $17,990.

Mr Baird rejected Mr Daley's suggestion.

"We have made a huge difference in the housing sector," Mr Baird said.

Opposition Leader John Robertson on Tuesday said data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed 988 first home buyer loans were granted in NSW in December.

He said that was down from 1383 in November, and represented a 20-year low.

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WA environment boss quits over illness

The head of WA's Department of Environment and Conservation has quit due to illness. Source: AAP

THE head of Western Australia's Department of Environment and Conservation has been forced to quit after 12 years in the job due to illness.

DEC director general Keiran McNamara announced his resignation on Tuesday.

He said it had been "a privilege and an honour" to lead the department's staff, volunteer contingent and partners through various conservation and environmental protection initiatives for the state.

Acting director general Jim Sharp said Mr McNamara had worked tirelessly to conserve and protect the state's environment.

Premier and Cabinet department director general Peter Conran said Mr McNamara had been a remarkable public servant.

"His dedication and contribution to the environment and to the development of Western Australia has been exceptional," he said.

"If a word could describe Keiran it is 'courage'."

Mr McNamara graduated with a degree in natural resources from the University of New England in 1976.

He spent seven years with the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service in Canberra before joining WA's Conservation and Land Management (CALM) Department in July 1985.

Mr McNamara went on to become CALM's director of nature conservation in December 1991 and its chief executive in July 2001.

When the state government amalgamated CALM and the Environment Department to form the DEC in July 2006, Mr McNamara was appointed its director general.

Premier Colin Barnett also paid tribute to Mr McNamara, saying the DEC boss had struck an appropriate balance between environmental conservation and economic development.

"He has fulfilled this role with vision, commitment and integrity," Mr Barnett said.

"I am very sorry to hear of Keiran's illness and have spoken personally to him in recent days to convey my and the government's appreciation of his exemplary service to the people of WA over many years and to wish him the very best."

Environment Minister Bill Marmion said Mr McNamara had been an outstanding leader who had left an enduring legacy in environmental protection.

"The environmental and conservation achievements of the Western Australian governments over the last 10 years could not have been possible without Keiran's contribution," he said.

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Changes mean fewer hours for L-platers

Learner drivers will be able to drive up to 90km/h before going for their P-plates under new laws. Source: AAP

LEARNER drivers will be able to go faster and complete fewer hours of supervised driving before going for their Ps under changes announced by the NSW government.

Outlining reforms on Tuesday, Roads Minister Duncan Gay said L-platers will be allowed to travel up to 90km/h instead of 80km/h from July 1.

Those who take part in a new Safer Drivers Course as well as professional lessons will also be able to cut their number of compulsory supervised driving hours from 120 to 80.

Mr Gay said the changes were needed because the system was a "sentence on families across the state".

"This ... will be done by putting in place proper training so young people aren't just doing the hours, they're being taught the proper rules in road safety," he told reporters in Sydney.

Under the changes, if learners complete a four-hour safe driving course they can get 20 hours worth of credit towards their 120 hour logbook.

Ten hours worth of professional lessons will continue count as 30 hours towards the logbook total.

Learners would be able to accrue a maximum of 40 hours as credit, effectively reducing the logbook total from 120 to 80 hours, Mr Gay said.

Mr Gay said the safer drivers course would be affordable and 60-80 per cent subsidised by the government, with the exact price to be announced in July 1, when the new rules take effect.

Centre for Road Safety general manager Marg Prendergast told reporters an affordable price for the new safer drivers course would be around $200.

The changes follow recommendations made last year by the NSW Auditor General.

A new list detailing the types of cars that L-platers can learn on will soon also be released, as young drivers can't learn on some cars with turbo- or super-chargers.

Assistant Police Commissioner John Hartley denied the changes would lead to more young drivers dying on the state's roads.

"This is a sensible solution to the problem of long driving hours for people who haven't got time for it," he said.

"It think it's a step forward for NSW."

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WA premier delays cabinet announcement

WA Premier Colin Barnett will not consider his cabinet until after all the votes are counted. Source: AAP

WESTERN Australia's re-elected Premier Colin Barnett says he will not think about his new cabinet line-up until after all votes from the state election are counted.

The Liberals won Saturday's election with a landslide victory over Labor, which lost several seats.

Mr Barnett no longer needs the Nationals to form government, after what he called a "slight shift in the balance of power".

But he says they will again be part of a coalition and he will discuss the situation with Nationals Leader Brendon Grylls "a little later in the week".

"I will not make any decision or any overtures about the composition of cabinet until the final result is known," Mr Barnett told ABC radio on Monday.

The premier said Mr Grylls had been a fantastic member of cabinet who had supported him on some policies that were not as popular among his fellow cabinet members.

"He and I have a terrific working relationship," he said.

"We've never had a serious argument.

"We always find a solution, and that will continue."

With several seats still undetermined and postal votes not closing until Thursday, the cabinet line-up might not be known until well into next week.

But Mr Barnett said his government would be making a fresh start and he would not continue with legislation that had been half-debated before the election so new members of parliament could be involved.

The premier also said he would take a personal interest in agriculture issues in the Wheatbelt and wanted to reduce unnecessary regulation to allow farmers to get on with their jobs.

"I'll probably be more involved with ministers in a number of portfolios," he said.

Mr Barnett said the successful Royalties for Regions initiative would continue but with a shift from local projects to more basic infrastructure and road projects.

The premier said he did not think it was a problem to see the parliament dominated by the two major political parties.

He said Australia as a whole had been governed well since federation by the two major parties.

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Why you should stop using social media

STOP and smell the roses once in a while - not constantly take fancy pictures of them and plaster the results all over the internet.

That is the rather surprising message from a mobile phone sim card company that says Australians are missing out on "the moment" because they're so busy constantly sharing pictures and videos online.

At a restaurant? Point, click, share that roast chicken, baby!

Wedding? Oooh, Instagram the bride.

New baby? Facebook that cutie.

That's what most of us do according to sim card provider Amaysim, which says we need to stop social networking every now and then - and just enjoy life as it happens.

The company surveyed 1000 people about their social media habits and found 56 per cent had forgotten how to "live in the now" because they're always Facebooking, Instagramming or tweeting.

The answer? Well, rather incongruously for a company that makes money out of mobile data, it says we need to turn off our phones and tablets entirely.

"While Amaysim is in the business of keeping people in touch, we also reckon you sometimes need to turn off and enjoy life as it happens," its social media manager Ged Mansour said.

Amaysim's survey also found that one in three Australians thought mates shared too many pictures and videos online and the culprits should be de-friended or unfollowed.

But 38 per cent of all respondents thought that sharing plenty of videos and pictures online was fine.

Australia's love affair with social networking is being driven in a big way by mobile devices.

Figures released by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) late last year showed that smartphone ownership increased by 104 per cent in 2012.

More than half of the nation's adult population now own a smartphone.

There are about 11.36 million Facebook users in Australia and 9.67 million YouTube users, according to the ACMA figures.

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Four weekend shootings in Sydney

Two shots have been fired at a home in Sydney's southwest. Source: AAP

FOUR shootings in Sydney over the weekend were all targeted attacks, say police, who are appealing for information from the public to help get guns off the streets.

In the worst weekend incident, a 43-year-old woman was shot in the legs in Auburn, in Sydney's west on Saturday afternoon.

She was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition and underwent surgery.

Twenty minutes later, a number of shots were fired into another house in Auburn but police say it's too early to link the two shootings.

Early on Sunday, shots were fired at a home at Lansvale in Sydney's southwest in what police believe is a targeted attack related to an earlier dispute.

Three men and a woman in the home at the time were uninjured during the attack which occurred about 5.15am (AEDT).

Two shots were fired and pellets penetrated the building's cladding.

Meanwhile, a man is to face court after shots were fired at Seven Hills in western Sydney about 5am on Saturday.

Police seized two firearms at an industrial premises and arrested a 40-year-old man at the scene.

The man, who police confirmed was a former member of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang, was charged with firing a firearm in a manner likely to injure, possessing a shortened firearm and possessing ammunition.

He was released on bail to appear in Blacktown Local Court on April 11.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Arthur Katsogiannis told reporters all the weekend shootings were believed to be targeted attacks.

He appealed to members of the public to come forward with any information that could lead to the offenders being caught.

"If we don't work together to stop this dreaded disease, the legacy of these shootings will be in the hands of our children and our grandchildren."

Mr Katsogiannis said Operation Apollo, aimed at tackling gun crime, had already seized more than 60 firearms and NSW police so far this financial year had seized more than 8000 firearms, about 1000 more than the previous year.

"Any shooting is one shooting too many and we'll continue our battle to make sure that we get guns off the streets and bring those responsible to justice," he said.

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Myanmar party reappoints Suu Kyi as leader

THE long-silenced opposition in Myanmar (Burma) has reappointed Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi as party leader at a landmark maiden congress, as it eyes victory in elections due in 2015.

The former political prisoner, who entered parliament last year, was unanimously selected as chairwoman by her National League for Democracy's 120-member Central Committee, a party source said on Sunday.

Hundreds of NLD members have gathered in Yangon (Rangoon) for the conference in a display of political strength that would have been unthinkable under the junta.

But the meeting also revealed the challenges facing the party, including a lack of experience as well as internal divisions which resulted in four members being banned from attending, accused of trying to influence the voting.

Suu Kyi on Sunday urged her opposition party to "seize the opportunity" as it gears up for what is expected to be a major victory for the NLD in the 2015 polls, if the vote if free and fair.

"For the benefit of the country we should unite and get along," she told delegates.

"I would like to ask that you do not allow personal feelings to harm the future of the nation," she added.

After being sidelined by Myanmar's military rulers for two decades, the party entered the political mainstream last year as a result of sweeping reforms initiated by a new reformist government.

But some observers question whether the NLD is ready to run an impoverished country whose economy, education and health systems were left in tatters by the corrupt former junta.

Faultlines have also been detected between the older top party officials - known as the "NLD uncles" - and a younger generation eager to help steer the party as Myanmar enters a new era.

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