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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Figures show foreign worker visas rising

NEW figures show a recent surge in 457 visa applications that justifies the federal government's planned crackdown on rorts, Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor says.

But the opposition says the government's figures show the increase was confined to the Christmas period and do not point to evidence the system is being rorted.

Mr O'Connor said the numbers support the government's decision to take action to close loopholes in the 457 program and ensure local jobseekers are not disadvantaged by unscrupulous employers bringing in temporary foreign workers.

"These January figures show that after the traditional December lull, 457s have continued to increase," he said on Saturday.

"At January 31, there were more than 105,000 people in Australia working on temporary 457 visas. That is an increase of 22.4 per cent compared to January 2012."

Mr O'Connor said he was concerned the growth in applications and granting of 457 visas were outstripping the total employment growth rate by a "very significant" margin.

"That says to me that there are now more 457 applications coming in where there are not demonstrable skill shortages," he said.

Mr O'Connor said the overall trend was clear - more people were coming in on temporary skilled worker visas at a time when the unemployment rate was flat, not falling.

That was particularly so in the IT industry, where 457 visas had increased by 68 per cent while vacancies for local IT workers were decreasing.

The 457 visa scheme was introduced in 1996 to allow local business to fill skills shortages with overseas workers able to stay for up to four years, who were also entitled to bring their families and travel in and out of Australia as often as they wanted.

Unions have long objected to the scheme but the opposition backs it as an effective means of filling skill vacancies when there aren't enough Australian workers.

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said the figures prove nothing other than that Labor had handed out more 457 visas than any other government.

Mr Morrison said the figures jumped from December to January because it was Christmas.

"To suggest there are rorts because more visas have been handed out is like suggesting there is a drought because the sun is shining. One is not evidence of the other," he told AAP.

"All I have called for in the wake of the government's announcement is to produce the report of the inquiry or the investigation conducted by the department that demonstrates the widespread rorting and abuse that the government claims, and that is absent."

Mr Morrison said this was just another desperate and cynical attempt to distract attention from the government's failure on border control.

"The prime minister should stop attacking skilled migrants who come the right because she can't stop people coming in boats the wrong way," he said.

"The unions have always said they don't like 457 visas and now the government is parroting the union line."

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WA leaders cast their votes in state poll

WA Premier Colin Barnett has played down polling that points to a landslide win for his party. Source: AAP

THE Liberal and Labor leaders have cast their votes in the West Australian election, with Premier Colin Barnett playing down polling that points to a landslide win for his Liberal party.

A Newspoll released on Friday night showed the incumbents would win 59.5 per cent of the vote on a two-party preferred basis.

Mr Barnett maintained that at least a dozen seats hung in the balance.

"I can honestly tell you I don't know who's going to win those seats," he told reporters at a polling booth in Cottesloe, in his affluent western suburbs electorate, where he cast his vote.

"There's going to be a very close contest.

"I hope I can continue and I hope we get the chance to finish many of the projects around the state, around the city, and carry on."

Labor leader Mark McGowan was first off the mark in casting his vote in the working-class satellite suburb of Rockingham, south of Perth.

Mr McGowan, who had also kicked off the party's official election campaign 10 days ahead of his opponent, arrived in his trademark red campaign bus.

He remained optimistic despite the polling, saying he'd wait and see what happened.

He said he would spend the day visiting polling booths around the city.

Deputy federal opposition leader Julie Bishop was full of praise for Mr Barnett, saying he would continue to stand up for the state's interests.

Ms Bishop said Mr McGowan had tried to distance himself from federal Labor, but that was futile because there was a deep distrust of the Gillard government that the state party couldn't shake.

Polls close at 6pm WST.

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Germany drops Sea Shepherd warrant

SEA Shepherd founder Paul Watson has revealed he's no longer a wanted man in Germany, and says Australia can keep him out of a Japanese jail.

The anti-whaling fleet has wound up its Southern Ocean season, with its three vessels running low on fuel and due in Melbourne in around 12 days.

Mr Watson, though, says he will remain at sea and continue his seven-month exile unless the Australian government backs its anti-whaling stance by guaranteeing he won't be sent to Japan.

The Canadian national has been on the run since skipping bail in Germany last July following his arrest at the request of the Costa Rican government.

The Costa Ricans accused him of interfering with a fishing vessel, which Sea Shepherd says was part of an illegal shark-finning operation, in 2002.

But Mr Watson told AAP he no longer faces legal problems in Germany after fearing he would be sent to Japan from there.

"Germany has dropped their warrant against me but Japan still wants me and I haven't got an answer out of the Australian government, will they send me to Japan or not?" Mr Watson said from on board the Sea Shepherd vessel Steve Irwin.

"Until I get that answer I don't have any choice but to stay at sea."

Mr Watson said Costa Rica had not met a February 27 deadline set by the Germans to explain why there was a warrant for his arrest.

Japan accuses him of interfering with its business operations.

Mr Watson said he was on an Interpol red list usually reserved for "serial killers and war criminals".

He said secret arrangements were in place for him to stay at sea if he receives no guarantee from Australia.

But he is unlikely to be aboard the Steve Irwin when it docks, along with the Bob Barker and the Sam Simon.

"If I could get a fair hearing in the US or Australia, yes I would be willing to (come ashore)," he said.

"But I do know one thing. If I get sent to Japan I'll never be released."

Mr Watson said he had no expectation that Australia would offer him a safe haven.

"I'm not going to whine about it," he said.

"The fact is that we knew when we took on Japan we were taking on one of the world's great economic superpowers.

"They have incredible political influence, they have incredible resources so the consequences are something that we expected and are prepared for."

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has been contacted for comment.

Mr Watson said this season's campaign, which included several collisions between Sea Shepherd and whaling ships, had been his group's most effective yet and estimated fewer than 100 whales were killed.

He said he expected to be back in the Southern Ocean next summer regardless of any outcome in Australia's case against Japan's whaling at the International Court of Justice.

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Govt has not prejudged ICAC: O'Farrell

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell says a mining magnate who has launched legal action against the ICAC commissioner is entitled to do so.

Millionaire Travers Duncan launched a legal challenge in the Supreme Court on Thursday against David Ipp, head of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

Mr Duncan is a key witness at an ICAC inquiry into the 2008 decision by former Labor minister Ian Macdonald to grant mining exploration licences in the NSW Hunter region.

"He's entitled to take legal action. That's his right," Mr O'Farrell told reporters in Sydney on Friday.

Mr Duncan was an investor in Cascade Coal, a mining company that bid successfully for one of the licences over land at Mt Penny, in the Bylong Valley, and could be affected by adverse findings made by the ICAC.

Commissioner Ipp said last month at the inquiry that he would respond "as soon as possible" to Mr O'Farrell's request for advice on mining exploration licences in the Hunter.

Mr O'Farrell had written to the ICAC requesting advice on whether there should be any amendments to the mining act and whether the NSW government should commence legal proceedings against individuals or companies.

Mr O'Farrell said he didn't intend to prejudge the inquiry but it was the government's job to protect taxpayers.

"We don't intend to prejudge a commission of inquiry ... Mr Travers is entitled to his action, but we're entitled to put the public interest first and foremost in everything we do," he told reporters.

"I sought appropriate advice from Commissioner Ipp. I received advice from Commissioner Ipp. Commissioner Ipp had made it clear that he had not prejudged or made any formal recommendations.

"The government hasn't prejudged this matter."

Justice Garling has listed the matter for hearing on March 22.

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