Back to the 80s with accord in Tasmania

Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings has flagged a 1980s-style accord with public sector unions. Source: AAP

TASMANIAN Premier Lara Giddings has flagged a 1980s-style accord with the state's public sector unions.

Ms Giddings says she will negotiate a memorandum of understanding with unions similar to the national agreement former prime minister Bob Hawke achieved after his election in 1983.

"I want to make sure that we secure our public services against the threats posed by potential (federal and state) Liberal governments under Tony Abbott and Will Hodgman," she told the ALP state conference on Saturday.

"The 1980s accord underpinned strong jobs growth and low inflation throughout the life of the Hawke and Keating governments."

Ms Giddings has had her run-ins with unions over massive budget cuts she made in 2011/12.

She made her pitch to the 20,000 public servants covered by their three largest unions with a warning about job cuts in Liberal states Queensland, Victoria and NSW.

Tasmanian Liberal leader Will Hodgman has said 500 public service jobs would be cut, without forced redundancies, if he became premier in the next state election scheduled for March next year.

Ms Giddings says that would be just the beginning.

"Don't take my word for it - look at what Campbell Newman's done in Queensland," she said.

But the premier could give little detail of what the Tasmanian "accord" would look like.

"We'll be working now with the public sector unions aound what are the sorts of issues they would like to see addressed by this government and a future government," she told reporters after the speech.

Ms Giddings' address contained nothing as dramatic last year's announcement Tasmania would go it alone on same-sex marriage.

She promised to press on with the reform, after the state's upper house knocked it back last year, particularly now that returned prime minister Kevin Rudd was a supporter.

The premier received a standing ovation from the party faithful at the Burnie Arts and Function Centre, despite conceding her unpopular Labor-Green government could be dumped next March.

"When the family's under threat, we need to stand together," she said.

"Within nine months Tony Abbott could be prime minister and Will Hodgman could be premier."

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Brazil robbers murder crying 5yo boy

ROBBERS who attacked the home of a Bolivian couple before dawn in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo killed their only child "because he wouldn't stop crying", police officials say.

The mother identified the boy as five-year-old Bryan Yanarico Capcha and told police that six armed men had broken into their home.

The married couple, who came to the city at the beginning of the year to work in a clothing factory, gave the assailants the 4,500 reais ($A2,165) they had in the house, but the criminals wanted more money, the woman told police.

Police officials cited in the media said the boy, who was in his mother's arms, "would not stop crying," which irritated one of the assailants who shot him in the head.

The criminals fled immediately and the child was rushed to a nearby hospital, but died on the way.

In recent years Sao Paulo has become the destination of thousands of Bolivians looking for a better future, often in the textile industry.

Human rights organisations estimate the number of Bolivians living in Sao Paulo at some 100,000, most of them illegally and many the victims of slave-labour practices in the textile industry.

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NSW man found guilty of murdering teen boy

A MAN accused of killing a teenage boy because he wanted to show he "owned" a Sydney suburb has been found guilty of murder.

Mosa Julius Mbele showed no reaction as the jury handed down its guilty verdict at the Supreme Court on Friday following a day and a half of deliberations.

Mbele was charged with murdering the 16-year-old, who can't be named for legal reasons, at Bankstown train station in Sydney's southwest on May 25, 2011.

He had pleaded not guilty on the grounds of self defence.

In her closing submissions earlier this week, Crown Prosecutor Nanette Williams told the jury they should have no doubt Mbele was the aggressor as he had armed himself with a knife.

"This (the stabbing) was a willed act, filled with planning, anger and wanting to let (the teenager) know who ran Bankstown," she said.

The court had heard Mbele, then 22, and the dead youth traded a number of physical and verbal blows in and around the station in the hours prior to the stabbing.

In one of the altercations Mbele allegedly told the 16-year-old: "I run Bankstown, I own Bankstown.

"(The teenager) was a threat to the accused's claim and supremacy at Bankstown railway station," Ms Williams said.

The 16-year-old boy's mother hugged the crown prosecutor just after the verdict was handed down.

Outside court his extended family quietly hugged one another before thanking police officers for their ongoing support.

Mbele will appear before Justice Megan Latham again in August for a sentence hearing.

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China vows to keep cash flowing

CHINA'S central bank says it will "adjust" liquidity to ensure stability after a week-long squeeze that has rattled financial markets.

The assurance from Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of the People's Bank of China (PBoC), on Friday helped Chinese share prices perk up after a recent sell-off that rippled across Asia and and around the world.

Anxiety about tightening credit has been spreading into the broader economy with some Chinese companies reportedly running short of cash to settle suppliers' bills.

But addressing a financial forum in Shanghai, Zhou said: "The PBoC will use all sorts of instruments and measures to adjust the overall liquidity level, so as to ensure the overall stability of the market."

For roughly three weeks, funds have been in short supply on China's interbank market, and the interest rates banks charge to lend to each other have surged to record highs.

The PBoC was said to be worried about a speculative boom in credit fuelled by low rates, but on Tuesday confirmed it had already offered liquidity "support" to banks and pledged to provide more if needed.

That statement marked an apparent change of course after the central bank earlier ruled out providing fresh funds and ordered banks to put their financial houses in order.

The comments on Tuesday came after Chinese stocks had closed at lows unseen since the global financial crisis in 2009.

Friday's new assurances helped the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index overcome opening losses to rise 0.78 per cent by midday.

But analysts said the PBoC would have to take more radical action for the market to rise more.

"Zhou's speech is in line with the central bank's earlier statement and the expectations of the market, so the impact is limited," Haitong Securities analyst Zhang Qi said.

Zhou remained confident about China's growth, though he acknowledged the economy had slowed.

"The Chinese economy, basically speaking, has kept stable growth," the central bank chief said.

"The growth rate has slowed down a little bit, but the growth rate is still in a reasonable range," he said, but gave no specific figure.

China has set its economic growth target at 7.5 per cent for 2013.

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Snowden charge 'intimidation': Assange

Julian Assange's planned address from the balcony of the Ecuadorean embassy has been postponed. Source: AAP

THE United States has charged leaker Edward Snowden with espionage in an attempt to bully other countries into abandoning him, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says.

US authorities have filed espionage charges against rogue intelligence technician Snowden and asked Hong Kong to detain him.

Assange criticised the move on Saturday in a speech the Australian had planned to deliver from the balcony of the Ecuadorean embassy in London where he's been holed up for over a year.

But WikiLeaks said via Twitter the appearance was postponed "due to a security situation" and instead released a copy of the speech.

Police weren't commenting and a response was being sought from the Ecuadorean embassy.

In the speech Assange says he's been able to work in relative safety from a US espionage investigation only because he sought asylum in the diplomatic mission.

"The charging of Edward Snowden is intended to intimidate any country that might be considering standing up for his rights," Assange said in the written speech.

"That tactic must not be allowed to work.

"The effort to find asylum for Edward Snowden must be intensified. What brave country will stand up for him and recognise his service to humanity?"

Assange this week revealed he'd been in contact with representatives of Snowden to discuss his possible bid for asylum in Iceland following his disclosure of US surveillance programs.

The 41-year-old on Saturday said the US government was spying "on each and every one of us" but it was Snowden who'd been charged with espionage.

"It is getting to the point where the mark of international distinction and service to humanity is no longer the Nobel Peace Prize but an espionage indictment from the US Department of Justice," Assange said.

"Edward Snowden is the eighth leaker to be charged with espionage under this president."

Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino earlier this week revealed Assange had told him he was strong enough to remain in the embassy "for five years ... rather than face legal proceedings in the US".

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UK fugitive killer arrested in Queensland

A BRITISH killer who escaped prison after being jailed for a frenzied knife attack on his aunt has been captured on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

Simon Hennessey, 49, has been on the run since he walked out of an English prison in December 1998.

In 1978 aged just 14 Hennessey mutilated his aunt Mary Webber, 72, in a brutal knife attack at her home on the English south coast city of Plymouth, stabbing her 70 times.

He admitted killing his aunt but pleaded mental illness and was jailed for life in the same year.

He served 20 years of that sentence before disappearing 15 years ago, but had escaped from a number of prisons before that.

Queensland police have confirmed that a man they have charged with a series of fraud offences is Hennessey.

A spokeswoman for Queensland Police said he had been arrested earlier this month in Maroochydore.

He appeared before Maroochydore Magistrates' Court on June 17 and is currently in custody pending his next hearing in July.

"There is not much more we can say because of the court situation but we are aware that he is a wanted criminal in the UK," she said.

Hennessey's arrest is understood to be related to a sophisticated credit card scam running to tens of thousands of dollars.

He could face a lengthy prison sentence if convicted in Australia but UK police have already contacted Australian authorities to discuss his extradition.

12.22 | 0 komentar | Read More

Snowden charge 'intimidation': Assange

Julian Assange's planned address from the balcony of the Ecuadorean embassy has been postponed. Source: AAP

THE United States has charged leaker Edward Snowden with espionage in an attempt to bully other countries into abandoning him, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says.

US authorities have filed espionage charges against rogue intelligence technician Snowden and asked Hong Kong to detain him.

Assange criticised the move on Saturday in a speech the Australian had planned to deliver from the balcony of the Ecuadorean embassy in London where he's been holed up for over a year.

But WikiLeaks said via Twitter the appearance was postponed "due to a security situation" and instead released a copy of the speech.

Police weren't commenting and a response was being sought from the Ecuadorean embassy.

In the speech Assange says he's been able to work in relative safety from a US espionage investigation only because he sought asylum in the diplomatic mission.

"The charging of Edward Snowden is intended to intimidate any country that might be considering standing up for his rights," Assange said in the written speech.

"That tactic must not be allowed to work.

"The effort to find asylum for Edward Snowden must be intensified. What brave country will stand up for him and recognise his service to humanity?"

Assange this week revealed he'd been in contact with representatives of Snowden to discuss his possible bid for asylum in Iceland following his disclosure of US surveillance programs.

The 41-year-old on Saturday said the US government was spying "on each and every one of us" but it was Snowden who'd been charged with espionage.

"It is getting to the point where the mark of international distinction and service to humanity is no longer the Nobel Peace Prize but an espionage indictment from the US Department of Justice," Assange said.

"Edward Snowden is the eighth leaker to be charged with espionage under this president."

Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino earlier this week revealed Assange had told him he was strong enough to remain in the embassy "for five years ... rather than face legal proceedings in the US".

12.22 | 0 komentar | Read More

UK fugitive killer arrested in Queensland

A BRITISH killer who escaped prison after being jailed for a frenzied knife attack on his aunt has been captured on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

Simon Hennessey, 49, has been on the run since he walked out of an English prison in December 1998.

In 1978 aged just 14 Hennessey mutilated his aunt Mary Webber, 72, in a brutal knife attack at her home on the English south coast city of Plymouth, stabbing her 70 times.

He admitted killing his aunt but pleaded mental illness and was jailed for life in the same year.

He served 20 years of that sentence before disappearing 15 years ago, but had escaped from a number of prisons before that.

Queensland police have confirmed that a man they have charged with a series of fraud offences is Hennessey.

A spokeswoman for Queensland Police said he had been arrested earlier this month in Maroochydore.

He appeared before Maroochydore Magistrates' Court on June 17 and is currently in custody pending his next hearing in July.

"There is not much more we can say because of the court situation but we are aware that he is a wanted criminal in the UK," she said.

Hennessey's arrest is understood to be related to a sophisticated credit card scam running to tens of thousands of dollars.

He could face a lengthy prison sentence if convicted in Australia but UK police have already contacted Australian authorities to discuss his extradition.

12.22 | 0 komentar | Read More

Snowden charge 'intimidation': Assange

THE United States has charged leaker Edward Snowden with espionage in an attempt to bully other countries into abandoning him, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says.

US authorities have filed espionage charges against rogue intelligence technician Snowden and asked Hong Kong to detain him.

Assange criticised the move on Saturday in a speech the Australian had planned to deliver from the balcony of the Ecuadorean embassy in London where he's been holed up for over a year.

But WikiLeaks said via Twitter the appearance was postponed "due to a security situation" and instead released a copy of the speech.

Police weren't commenting and a response was being sought from the Ecuadorean embassy.

In the speech Assange says he's been able to work in relative safety from a US espionage investigation only because he sought asylum in the diplomatic mission.

"The charging of Edward Snowden is intended to intimidate any country that might be considering standing up for his rights," Assange said in the written speech.

"That tactic must not be allowed to work.

"The effort to find asylum for Edward Snowden must be intensified. What brave country will stand up for him and recognise his service to humanity?"

Assange this week revealed he'd been in contact with representatives of Snowden to discuss his possible bid for asylum in Iceland following his disclosure of US surveillance programs.

The 41-year-old on Saturday said the US government was spying "on each and every one of us" but it was Snowden who'd been charged with espionage.

"It is getting to the point where the mark of international distinction and service to humanity is no longer the Nobel Peace Prize but an espionage indictment from the US Department of Justice," Assange said.

"Edward Snowden is the eighth leaker to be charged with espionage under this president."

Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino earlier this week revealed Assange had told him he was strong enough to remain in the embassy "for five years ... rather than face legal proceedings in the US".

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

UK fugitive killer arrested in Queensland

A BRITISH killer who escaped prison after being jailed for a frenzied knife attack on his aunt has been captured on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

Simon Hennessey, 49, has been on the run since he walked out of an English prison in December 1998.

In 1978 aged just 14 Hennessey mutilated his aunt Mary Webber, 72, in a brutal knife attack at her home on the English south coast city of Plymouth, stabbing her 70 times.

He admitted killing his aunt but pleaded mental illness and was jailed for life in the same year.

He served 20 years of that sentence before disappearing 15 years ago, but had escaped from a number of prisons before that.

Queensland police have confirmed that a man they have charged with a series of fraud offences is Hennessey.

A spokeswoman for Queensland Police said he had been arrested earlier this month in Maroochydore.

He appeared before Maroochydore Magistrates' Court on June 17 and is currently in custody pending his next hearing in July.

"There is not much more we can say because of the court situation but we are aware that he is a wanted criminal in the UK," she said.

Hennessey's arrest is understood to be related to a sophisticated credit card scam running to tens of thousands of dollars.

He could face a lengthy prison sentence if convicted in Australia but UK police have already contacted Australian authorities to discuss his extradition.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More