Govt to give $100m to Commonwealth Games

The government will contribute $100 million to the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in 2018. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott says the federal government will contribute at least $100 million towards the Commonwealth Games to be hosted by the Gold Coast in 2018.

Mr Abbott was a guest at a Commonwealth sports breakfast in Sri Lankan capital Colombo on Saturday, on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

He spoke with Britain's Commonwealth Minister Hugo Swire, who is involved in next year's Glasgow Games.

Mr Abbott said the Games were of "continuing importance" to the Commonwealth.

"We've got our own Games on the Gold Coast in 2018 which is very exciting," Mr Abbott said.

"It will be nice to see what the Scots are proposing for their Games."

Mr Abbott said the federal government was "committed to providing comparable support to the Games on the Gold Coast that were provided to the Games in Melbourne in 2006".

"That is in the order of $100 million or so."

Federal support is expected to include services for security, customs and immigration.

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Undercover asylum seeker account published

Two journalists who went undercover on an asylum seeker boat have published details of their voyage. Source: AAP

TWO journalists who went undercover on an asylum seeker boat bound for Australia have published details of their harrowing voyage.

In an extensive report accompanied by images and footage, published by The New York Times Magazine on Saturday, US writer Luke Mogelson recounted the cramped three-day, 320km-plus September trip aboard a nine-metre "sad" timber boat that was "clearly not designed for passengers".

Posing as Georgians who fled their home country with sensitive information about the government, Mogelson and Dutch photographer colleague Joel van Houdt paid $US4000 ($A4300) each to be taken from Indonesia to Christmas Island.

The Afghanistan-based reporters arranged the transfer before arriving in Jakarta.

"It's surprisingly simple, from Kabul, to enlist the services of the smugglers Australian authorities are so keen to apprehend," Mogelson wrote.

They shared the boat with two Indonesian crew, an Afghan man, plus 54 Iranians including nine children and more than a dozen women, one of whom was seven-months pregnant.

"The Indonesians distributed life vests: ridiculous things, made from thin fabric and a bit of foam," Mogelson wrote.

Within hours of setting off, most aboard were vomiting.

Would-be travellers had not been put off by Australia's deterrence measures, including billboard advertisements in their home countries that Australia was not settling asylum seekers.

"It's a lie to scare people so that they don't come," one man told Mogelson.

"How can they turn you away?" asked another of the Australian policy. "You put yourself in danger, you take your life in your hand? They can't."

The boat travelled no faster than five knots.

"At times we seemed to make no headway whatsoever against the strong southeasterly trade winds, which whipped up white caps on the waves and kept us all alert with stinging gusts of spray."

Conditions on board were sickening.

"There was no toilet, and absent any railing to hold on to, going over the side was too risky. The men urinated on the hull, the women in their pants," Mogelson wrote.

Upon nearing Christmas Island a crew member used a satellite phone to call Australian authorities for help, before passengers destroyed passports and identity documents and threw mobile phones overboard.

Fresh-faced Australian sailors subsequently arrived, distributing new life vests, fresh water, bags of frozen tortillas, jars of honey and a tub of strawberry jam.

They instructed the crew to restart the boat's engines and continue the voyage under escort.

Arriving one day after Tony Abbott's election as prime minister, Mogelson said he and Van Houdt revealed themselves as journalists and were treated well by Australian authorities who said they had been lucky with the weather.

"If we had left a few days earlier, the boat would have capsized."

As the two men were taken to "a surprisingly luxurious hotel" their travel companions were interned and the boat was towed out to sea to be destroyed.

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'Sheikh' in court on woman 'set alight'

A SELF-STYLED sheikh who sent offensive letters to the families of dead Australian soldiers has faced court in connection to the murder of a woman.

Man Haron Monis, 59, fronted Burwood Local Court charged with being an accessory before and after the fact to the murder of a woman allegedly stabbed and set alight in a western Sydney stairwell earlier this year.

Monis, also known as Sheikh Haron, was arrested along with a woman who earlier on Friday was charged with murder.

Dressed in black tracksuit pants and with a beard, Monis didn't apply for bail and it was formally refused by Magistrate Christopher Longley.

Emergency workers found the woman's body in the Werrington apartment block on April 21 after responding to a fire.

The 30-year-old had allegedly been stabbed multiple times and set alight.

Police say the three people knew each other.

Amirah Droudis, who is believed to be the partner of Monis, was charged with murdering Noleen Hayson Pal.

She sat quietly in the dock, wearing a black blouse and with her long dark hair out.

Her lawyer said she wouldn't apply for bail and it was formally refused.

The pair will appear in Penrith Local Court on November 22.

Monis was previously sentenced to 300 hours of community service and placed on a two-year good behaviour bond for 12 counts of using a postal service to cause offence.

Droudis was sentenced to a two-year bond for aiding and abetting him.

Monis had sent offensive letters to the grieving families of seven soldiers killed in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2009.

The self-employed spiritual adviser and astrologer also wrote to the family of trade official Craig Senger, who was killed in the 2009 Marriott Hotel bombing in Jakarta.

In the letters, Monis likened soldiers to murderers and killers, and in one letter said a digger was going to hell.

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Sydney rioter walks on appeal

A SYDNEY man sentenced to jail for his role in a violent Muslim protest has walked free on bail, and says he "forgives" police for injuries he suffered in the fracas.

Mohammed Aecia Alaska, 44, was sentenced to a minimum of six months behind bars on Friday but launched an appeal an hour later and was granted bail.

He had pleaded not guilty to rioting and resisting arrest in the September 2012 protest in Sydney's CBD.

Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge, for whom the father-of-eight controversially refused to stand during a previous court appearance, had sentenced him to a maximum of 12 months at Downing Centre Local Court.

"What we are saying as a community is that your behaviour is unacceptable," Ms Milledge said.

Dressed in a white robe, the Lakemba resident said nothing as he sat in the dock.

But outside court, he spoke to reporters at length, saying he would never again attend a demonstration.

"I wasn't expecting that to happen that day," he said of the violence, which began as a protest over an anti-Islamic film.

"No, I'm not going to any protests, ever."

He also defended the example he had set his children.

"I've never ever committed a crime in my life," he said.

"My house is full of trophies ... I'm raising my children to be the best people."

Alaska claims he suffered a fractured jaw, a chipped tooth and injuries from police batons in the riot, but has forgiven police.

"I forgive all of them for that ... I just forgive everyone, that's it," he said.

A decision on whether to allow his appeal will be made at a later date.

He will next appear at Downing Centre District Court on January 15.

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Gallipoli ballot opens this weekend

The ballot for the ANZAC Day centenary commemorations at Gallipoli in 2015 opens on Saturday. Source: AAP

AUSTRALIANS can enter the ballot to attend the ANZAC centenary commemorations at Gallipoli in 2015 from this weekend.

Veterans Affairs Minister Michael Ronaldson has told the Senate that registrations can been made with Ticketek from 12.01am (AEDT) on Saturday.

There will be 400 double passes available for direct descendants of First World War veterans, 400 double passes for veterans of all conflicts, 3000 passes for the general public and 400 for school students.

The ballot closes on January 31.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott will attend the service along with the opposition leader and chief of the defence force.

Special invitations will also be extended to 160 surviving widows of World War I veterans, Senator Ronaldson said.

Successful applicants will not be able to on-sell their passes because they include photo identification.

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Tarkine Aboriginal sites damaged by 4WDs

ABORIGINAL sites in Tasmania's Tarkine have allegedly been damaged by illegal four-wheel driving.

Green groups say middens and the site of a former Aboriginal settlement at West Point have been "vandalised" by people in off-road vehicles.

Deep tyre tracks can be seen in a photo supplied by environmental group Save The Tarkine.

Tasmania's Greens have called for a police investigation into the damage.

"We cannot afford to let an area continue to be trashed that is regarded as one of the world's greatest archaeological sites, and that has ongoing cultural significance for the Aboriginal community today," spokesman Paul O'Halloran said in a statement.

The Tarkine's coastline, in Tasmania's northwest, was added to the National Heritage List by former federal environment minister Tony Burke in February to specifically protect its Aboriginal heritage.

Beach four-wheel driving was allowed to continue but Mr O'Halloran said the strict rules imposed were not being enforced.

"We are often told that it's only a minority of bad apples who are doing most of the damage, but that is not an excuse for letting these reckless criminals off the hook," he said.

Tasmania's Environment Minister Brian Wightman has told parliament the incident will be investigated.

The damaged area includes a hut depression and ancient middens, or mounds of domestic waste.

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Water prices rose 11 per cent in a year

INFRASTRUCTURE maintenance and the construction of desalination plants have helped push household water prices up by 11 per cent, experts say.

Household water prices jumped 11 per cent over the past year, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) said on Wednesday.

The hike, reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Wednesday, means the average price households are paying for water went up from $2.44 per 1000 litres in 2010-11 to $2.72 in 2011-12.

Australian Water Association chief executive Jonathan McKeown says the price rise is the result of infrastructure maintenance and includes costs for the treatment and disposal of waste water.

"It is important that we improve our waste water management systems, specifically storm water capture and reuse," he said in a statement.

But the Consumer Action Law Centre (CALC) says there is a danger rising water prices will affect low-income earners.

The consumer watchdog says it is up to retailers make sure people aren't getting burned by high prices, while the government needs to make people aware of available concessions.

The ABS said while there were differences in water quality, households were paying more than 20 times as much than agricultural users, who were paying about 9 cents per 1000 litres.

South Australian households were paying the highest prices for water in urban areas, at $3.96 per 1000 litres, followed by Queensland at $2.95 and the ACT at $2.86.

The 2013 AWA/Deloitte State of the Water Sector Report found the proportion of respondents who considered prices too high increased from 21 per cent to 27 per cent in 2013, while the proportion who found prices too low fell from 35 per cent in 2012 to 30 per cent in 2013.

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Hockey introduces legislation to end MRRT

Treasurer Joe Hockey has introduced legislation to repeal Labor's mining tax and related measures. Source: AAP

TREASURER Joe Hockey has introduced legislation to repeal Labor's mining tax and related measures that were supposed to be funded by the impost.

Mr Hockey said the minerals resource rent tax (MRRT) barely raised any of the revenue it was foreshadowed to do when it was implemented by the former government last year.

"The bill ends a sordid history of poor taxation policy," Mr Hockey told parliament on Wednesday.

"Given that the mining tax has failed to deliver meaningful revenue, the government has had to borrow to pay for the expenditure associated with the mining tax."

Scrapping the mining tax and associated expenditure measure would save the budget $13.4 billion, the treasurer said.

Mr Hockey said only a Labor government could have introduced a tax that raised little money and left the budget worse off.

The MRRT is a 30 per cent impost on the super profits of coal and iron ore producers.

Since it began, the tax has raised a net $400 million, despite Labor's initial forecasts of more than $3.7 billion in its first year.

"The mining tax is a flawed tax," Mr Hockey said.

The legislation also seeks to repeal other measures associated with the MRRT package.

The repeal of the loss carry-back initiative will save $950 million over the forward estimates, reducing the instant asset write-off for small business to $1000 from $6550 will save $2.6 billion, and scrapping the tax deduction for motor vehicles will save $450 million.

"However, it is important to note that in an unrelated initiative, the coalition will assist the automotive industry by not imposing Labor's $1.8 billion fringe benefits tax to salary-sacrificed cars," Mr Hockey said.

Other initiatives to be repealed include the schoolkids bonus, to save $4.5 billion, and the low income superannuation contribution, to save $1.1 billion.

However, the government will be keeping incremental increases in the superannuation guarantee to 12 per cent - although the rises will be delayed for two years, saving $1.6 billion.

The super guarantee rate will remain at 9.25 per cent until June 30, 2016, and then rise to 9.5 per cent on July 1, 2016.

The rate will then increase by half a per cent a year until it reaches 12 per cent on July 1, 2020.

Mr Hockey said the MRRT was a complex and unnecessary tax that had imposed considerable administrative costs on affected resources companies.

Less than 20 individual taxpaying groups had contributed to the net $400 million raised so far.

But about 145 other miners had to submit tax instalment notices despite making no payments.

"Repealing the tax will restore confidence and promote mining activity, which in turn will create jobs and deliver prosperity to the broader community," Mr Hockey said.

"It will send a clear signal that Australia wants to be a premier destination for mining investment, and is once again open for business."

Debate on the Minerals Resource Rent Tax Repeal and Other Measures Bill 2013 was adjourned to a later date.

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Government reviews uni places system

THE federal coalition government has ordered a review of the university places funding system set up by Labor last year.

Howard-era education minister David Kemp and Grattan Institute program director Andrew Norton will conduct the review, Education Minister Christopher Pyne said on Tuesday.

Under the demand-driven system, which was introduced by the former Labor regime in 2012, the government pays for as many domestic undergraduate students as universities wish to enrol.

The education experts will look at the effectiveness of this system and any evidence it has increased participation and helped fill skill shortages.

The review will also examine measures universities have taken to make sure quality is maintained and whether less academically-prepared students are getting enough help.

It will recommend possible improvements to make sure the system is efficient, fiscally sustainable, and supports innovation and competition in education delivery.

Mr Pyne said it was a matter of good practice to monitor and review policies to make sure they were working well.

Submissions to the review will be taken until midday (AEDT) on December 16.

A report is due by mid-February.

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Aust and Indon in people swap talks

An Indonesian government advisor says talks are under way with Canberra about a people-swap deal. Source: AAP

A SENIOR Indonesian government adviser says talks are underway with Canberra about a people-swap deal similar to Labor's failed arrangement with Malaysia.

Asylum seekers en route to Australia would be sent back to Indonesia in exchange for refugees sitting in detention centres there.

"The cost of the burdens would be borne by Australia," Dewi Fortuna Anwar, adviser to Vice-President Boediono, told the ABC.

The arrangement would be similar to the Malaysia deal negotiated by the Gillard government but quashed by the High Court and rejected by parliament.

Under that deal, asylum seekers in detention in Australia would have been transferred to Malaysia.

Australia would then have taken assessed refugees from Malaysia.

Ms Anwar stressed the importance for close talks between Jakarta and Canberra on the asylum-seeker issue.

"It should not just be one side imposing its will on the others," she said.

Labor frontbencher Chris Bowen says the Abbott government needs to "come clean" on the discussions, especially as the coalition opposed the Malaysia deal.

"Frankly it's cowardly not to be up front with the Australian people about difficult issues such as those occurring on our high seas at the moment," he told ABC radio.

Any deal that increased regional co-operation on asylum seekers should be looked at carefully.

"That's the approach we took in office," Mr Bowen said.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the news smacked of absolute desperation from a prime minister whose election policy was in tatters.

"This is trading in human lives, human suffering, for the sake of a desperate government who went to the election saying one thing, and has failed to be able to deliver," she said.

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App aims to combat skin cancer

Australia's Cancer Council has launched a new app to educate sun worshippers. Source: AAP

WE know the drill: slip, slop, slap.

But perhaps it should be rephrased "slip, slop, app" as worried Cancer Council chiefs turn to smartphones to educate the nation's sun worshippers.

Despite widespread education campaigns costing millions, Australia's skin cancer rates remain among the highest in the world with about one million GP consultations each year and a growing death toll which hit 2000 in 2011.

A quick scan of any popular beach often reveals frolickers of all ages lurching about like overboiled lobsters or those with skin like shrivelled old walnuts.

But young people are among the worst sun dodgers, according to the Cancer Council Queensland.

It cited the latest National Sun Protection Survey which revealed one in five adolescents admit getting sunburnt on summer weekends - while only one in five admit using three or more sun protection measures.

With summer in the offing, the Cancer Council hopes its SunSmart app will play a key role in reducing skin cancer rates.

"Young Aussies use apps to keep them on track with their health and fitness - we hope our SunSmart app can be used successfully in the same way," said Cancer Council Queensland spokesman, Katie Clift.

The free app, on Android and iPhone, has been downloaded 80,000 times since it was launched and appears to be a sensible way to reach Australians, who have one the highest smartphone ownership rates in the world.

It works by tracking UV rays across the country and alerting users when they do or do not need sun protection.

The Cancer Council has also launched a second app called iHeard to try and dispel some cancer myths.

The effectiveness of SunSmart app will be discussed at the Global Controversies and Advances in Skin Cancer Conference in Brisbane from November 21-24.

The conference is a forum for international, cutting-edge debate about the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, management and survivorship for all types of skin cancer.

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Man questioned after fatal Sydney stabbing

Police are investigating if a love triangle is at the centre of a fatal stabbing in Sydney's east. Source: AAP

POLICE are investigating whether a love triangle is at the centre of a fatal stabbing in Sydney's east.

Emergency services were called to a unit block at Darling Point about 11.10am (AEDT) on Monday.

A 30-year-old man was treated for stab wounds but died at the scene.

A woman, 28, who was also at the apartment was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

A 28-year-old man has handed himself into police and is being interviewed at St Mary's Police Station.

Rose Bay Police Acting Superintendent Damian Henry said it's believed the arrested man and the woman were in a relationship.

"There is a domestic relationship (between) the female and the man at St Mary's (police station)," he told reporters.

"The full extent of those arrangements, it's early in the investigation, is yet to be determined."

He did not know the details of the relationship between the dead man and the woman.

Supt Henry said neighbours reported a man trying to enter the Mona Road apartment on Monday morning.

"Exactly what happened at the scene is yet to be determined," he said.

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Australian among Philippines storm dead

An Australian man, believed to be a former priest, has been killed by a typhoon in the Philippines. Source: AAP

AN Australian man is among the hundreds killed by a super typhoon in the Philippines.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed the death of a 50-year-old NSW man in Typhoon Haiyan.

"Consular officials are providing assistance to his family," a DFAT spokesperson said.

It's believed the man was former Australian priest Kevin Lee but DFAT has declined to confirm his identity.

Mr Lee, a whistleblower about child sex abuse in the Catholic church, has been living in the Philippines with his wife.

Officials fear the death toll in the Philippines could reach 10,000 people after Haiyan tore into the eastern islands of Leyte and Samar on Friday.

Sustained winds of around 315km/h made it the strongest typhoon in the world this year and one of the most intense ever to hit land.

The Abbott government has pledged nearly $400,000 worth of emergency aid to devastated communities and says it stands ready to do more.

DFAT says it is monitoring the situation closely.

"We are working with our partners, including in the Philippine government, to obtain more information on the extent of damage caused," the spokesperson said.

Two Australian disaster experts are already on the ground assisting the Philippine government and United Nations to assess needs.

DFAT says Australians concerned for the welfare of family and friends in the region should first attempt to contact them directly.

If unsuccessful, they should call DFAT's 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135 or +612 6261 3305.

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Palmer sick ahead of first parliament week

BILLIONAIRE federal MP Clive Palmer could call in sick for his first week of parliament after coming down with a cold.

The eccentric mining magnate failed to front for a scheduled interview with Network Ten's Meet The Press on Sunday morning.

When contacted by AAP for the reason behind his no-show, an ill-sounding Mr Palmer advised he had a cold.

Mr Palmer said he couldn't guarantee he would be in Canberra for his first day of federal parliament on Tuesday, saying he would see a doctor in the meantime.

Asked if he intended to attend every day of parliament over the coming weeks, Mr Palmer replied: "I'll meet my requirements".

Late last month Mr Palmer won the Sunshine Coast seat of Fairfax after a recount with a final margin of 53 votes, almost eight weeks after the federal election.

New MPs are due to be sworn in at 10.55 (AEDT) on Tuesday.

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