Students want say on poll issues

UNIVERSITY students want a say on a wider range of issues than just those directly related to their studies, their national union says.

National Union of Students president Jade Tyrrell says the upcoming federal election is an opportunity for students and young people to make their voices heard on issues which will impact on their lives now and in the future.

"Students aren't just students, they're people and they care about a multitude of issues," Ms Tyrrell told reporters in Adelaide on Thursday.

"They care about things like the national broadband network (NBN), rights at work and marriage equality.

"It's time we took a stand because the future of this country will actually rest on the shoulders of the young people of today."

Ms Tyrrell said many students were disengaged from the political process and felt political debate had become increasingly insular over the past three years.

"They feel like there's nothing to vote for," she said.

Comments from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, urging young people to "come back and listen afresh", were important.

But she said talk was not enough and students needed to take charge and be properly acknowledged for their views.

12.22 | 0 komentar | Read More

Abbott to back Gonski if all states agree

A coalition government would require "overwhelming majority" support to retain the Gonski reforms. Source: AAP

OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott says all states must sign up to the government's education reforms for the coalition to back the scheme.

However, his education spokesman says they would accept an overwhelming majority.

NSW, the ACT, South Australia and Tasmania, and the Independent Schools Council of Australia have signed up to the funding reforms, which involve significant amounts of new money for schools.

But the remaining jurisdictions and the Catholic Education Commission are yet to reach agreement ahead of Sunday's deadline.

Mr Abbott said all governments would need to sign up before the coalition committed to honouring the agreements.

"You can't have a national change unless all states are on board," he told reporters in Melbourne on Thursday.

It contradicts earlier statements by opposition education spokesman Christopher Pyne, who said the coalition would continue with the reforms with an "overwhelming majority" of states and territories on side.

"If the government can get most of the other states to join then we will obviously keep this new measure, but they are a long way from achieving that," Mr Pyne told ABC Radio on Thursday.

Mr Abbott said the price tag put on the reforms was unaffordable in the current climate.

"You need $6.5 billion a year more if every school is to be better off," he said.

"If we weren't blowing more than $10 billion on illegal boat arrivals, a whole lot of things ... would be more affordable."

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Extra year for schools plan: WA Premier

WEST Australian Premier Colin Barnett wants a 12-month extension to the deadline for signing up to the federal government's school funding scheme.

The Liberal leader made the comment before it was announced the Independent Schools Council of Australia had endorsed the Better Schools plan, previously known as the Gonski reforms.

If the Commonwealth wanted to give extra money to Catholic and independent schools, that was fine as it would allow the state to put more funds towards state schools, Mr Barnett said.

But there was no reason the program had to be adopted nationwide.

Mr Barnett said the federal government's approach to imposing the plan was flawed.

"The Prime Minister would be wise if he probably put the whole thing back 12 months in terms of negotiations."

He said the federal government had two agendas: to increase its commitment to education, which was admirable, and to wrest controls of schools from states and territories, which was not.

"Education has been state government (run) and then suddenly to be demoted to the status of approved provider, I mean, there was never any agreements between the states and the Commonwealth over that," he told ABC radio.

The Premier said the "intrusive" plan would mean states needing federal approval when they wanted to open or close a school to create efficiencies.

"It is essentially the federal government taking over all policy and decision-making in education.

"And I've got to say I've had a couple of principals from independent schools come to me and say 'we don't like this at all. It's not good for our school', so I think there's a bit more work to be done."

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pepper's launches late bid for RHG

MORTGAGE business Pepper has launched a late takeover bid for RHG, formerly RAMS Home Loans, just two days after lender Resimac reached a deal to buy the company.

Pepper has put an offer to the RHG board which would see investors paid 46 cents a share, valuing the company at $142 million.

The offer is 1.9 cents a share higher than a takeover offer from mortgage business Resimac, which the RHG board recommended to investors on Monday.

RHG has also said its shareholders will receive a three cent fully franked dividend, so the Pepper offer would see investors paid a total of 49 cents a share.

RHG shares were up 2.75 cents at 49.25 cents at 1448 AEST.

The company says it is assessing Pepper's bid, but under its agreement signed earlier this week, Resimac is entitled to provide a counterproposal.

The Resimac deal also includes a $1.2 million break fee.

Pepper chief executive Patrick Tuttle said RHG's mortgage book would fit well with its existing assets.

"The RHG acquisition will be immediately earnings accretive for Pepper and will further expand our activities into select segments of the prime residential lending market," he said.

RAMS was floated on the Australian stock market in 2007, and bought by Westpac after being badly affected by the US subprime mortgage crisis.

The company's remaining mortgage book was rebranded as RHG.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

UK retailers cash in on royal baby

THERE'S nothing like a royal baby to lift a nation's spirits - and those of its retailers, who are hoping to cash in on Prince William and Catherine's new arrival this month.

It wasn't long after the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge was admitted to hospital with morning sickness in December that one enterprising designer starting selling royal sick bags.

But that was just the beginning.

With the new heir now expected within days, retailers have put a royal spin on everything from biscuits to books and have stocked up on commemorative mugs, key rings and plates.

Even Kate's parents appear to have got in on the act - the Middletons' Party Pieces online business is showcasing as "new" a range of "I'm a Princess" party cups, plates and napkins.

There is no shortage of baby products with a royal theme, from leading British firm Mothercare's romper suits for a "Prince in Training" to blankets and even dribble bibs adorned with crowns.

If they aren't to your taste, one company has published a book of sewing patterns for traditional bonnets, booties and christening gowns suitable for a future monarch.

The upmarket London hotel, Grosvenor House, has taken it further with a bespoke nursery suite designed "with a royal baby in mind" by the boutique that furnished William's childhood bedroom.

Costing STG2,300 ($A3,792) a night, the rooms contain handcrafted and painted furniture, including a crib equipped with a regal coronet and canopy.

The ivory colour scheme may be impractical for babies, but for that kind of money, you would hope someone else would clean up.

The new baby, like the queen's jubilee last year and the royal wedding in 2011, offers a welcome boost for an industry still suffering the fallout of the global economic crisis.

"These kind of events lead to a temporary feel-good lift. It will really help to boost particular brands and products," said Mandy Murphy, a spokeswoman for the British Retail Consortium.

The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) estimates that STG80 million will be spent this year on royal baby toys and products, and STG76 million on books, DVDs and other media related to the royal family.

Publishers have rushed out a slew of children's books about fictional pregnant princesses, the newborn's crying that might wake up the queen, and even a history of the diapers used to cover royal babies' bottoms.

Mills & Boon, the romance fiction series, has a special release unimaginatively entitled "Royal Baby", with the tagline: "The prince demands an heir... and what he wants, he gets!"

With an eye to those inevitable sleepless nights, several albums are on sale promising to soothe even the most fractious royal heir with classical music and traditional lullabies.

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Palmer hits back at reports of China rant

PERTH, July 9 AAP - Billionaire Clive Palmer says his relationship with China and his own staff is strong and amicable, despite reports of him hurling abuse at Chinese executives over a royalties dispute.

A report in The Australian on Tuesday claimed Mr Palmer told executives at one of China's largest companies to "pack up all your f***ing gear and get back to China" during a heated exchange over a royalties dispute.

The newspaper also posted an audio tape of the message on their website.

Speaking to reporters in Perth, Mr Palmer claimed the story lacked "sources", and said he had thousands of happy employees across the country.

"I don't (use that language with staff)," Mr Palmer said.

"You can talk to any of my staff, I have got thousands of people who work for me in Australia and are very happy.

"There is no source in these reports ... it seems journalism has slipped a bit in Australia, and a long way in The Australian."

In May, Mr Palmer's company Mineralogy won part of the multi-million dollar court battle over a single word in a contract which defined the timing of royalty payments due from an $8 billion iron ore mine.

Supreme Court Justice James Edelman found in favour of Mr Palmer's Mineralogy, which is battling contractors Sino Iron and Korean Steel over when royalties from iron ore at the Cape Preston magnetite ore grounds, south of Dampier, were due.

Mr Palmer, who is already suing The Australian over reports of his business affairs, lashed out at News Limited and its owner Rupert Murdoch.

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Canada train disaster toll may pass 40

Firefighters in Quebec have managed to put out a blaze from a freight train laden with oil. Source: AAP

FIVE bodies have been found so far in a grim search for victims from the catastrophic derailment of an oil-laden cargo train in eastern Canada and officials expect to find as many as 40 more.

Firefighters in the Quebec lakeside town of Lac-Megantic finally managed to put out a raging inferno sparked a day earlier when a driverless freight train carrying crude oil derailed and exploded, sending fireballs skyward and unleashing a wall of fire that tore through downtown homes and businesses.

"The flames, the fires all have been put out now. We did it," fire chief Denis Lauzon told a press briefing.

That meant police finally would be able to conduct a full search of the charred wreckage at the disaster scene.

But the accident devastated the centre of the small town 250 kilometres east of Montreal and forced about 2,000 to flee their home. Locals struggled to come to terms with the scope of the disaster.

Many in this heavily Catholic area were unable to go to Sunday services because their church was within the burned out area. The lucky ones headed to churches in nearby towns

"People are in shock, They just cannot believe how serious this all is," said Guy Boulanger, an official from a nearby Catholic diocese.

Police spokesman Michel Brunet said they anticipated "many more" fatalities. The official figure for missing people is 40, he said.

One firefighter said on condition of anonymity that there had been at least 50 people in one bar that was consumed by the flames.

"There is nothing left," he said.

The explosion completely levelled more than four blocks of the town's downtown area, and it took firefighters 18 hours to contain the inferno.

Brunet had said on Saturday that the fire was so intense investigators couldn't go anywhere near the devastated area.

Witnesses said they heard the train pass by at what seemed like a greater than usual speed, then careen off the rails and erupt into flames.

Explosion survivors described a wall of flames as the black tanker cars jumped the rail tracks just as dozens of people were enjoying a summer night out in downtown bars and restaurants.

Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway said in a statement on Saturday that the train had been transporting 72 carloads of crude oil when it derailed.

The train had been stopped in the neighbouring town of Nantes, around 13 kilometres west of Lac-Megantic, for a crew changeover.

For an unknown reason, Journet said, the train "started to advance, to move down the slope leading to Lac-Megantic," even though the brakes were engaged.

As a result, "there was no conductor on board" when the train crashed.

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Virgin takes 60% stake in Tigerair

Virgin Australia has completed the purchase of a 60 per cent stake in Tigerair Australia. Source: AAP

VIRGIN Australia has completed the purchase of a 60 per cent stake in Tigerair Australia.

Virgin Australia chief executive John Borghetti said the acquisition, which was announced in October 2012, had been completed on Monday.

Following the acquisition, Mr Borghetti will be appointed chairman of Tigerair Australia.

Mr Borghetti said the stake in Tigerair Australia would allow Virgin to re-enter the budget travel market.

"We are very pleased to partner with Tigerair in Tigerair Australia and we look forward to working together to expedite its growth," he said.

Tigerair Australia CEO Rob Sharp said the deal would help the airline to become a sustainable budget carrier.

"We are now well placed to build on the foundations of Tigerair Australia, ensuring it has the right scale to compete effectively," he said.

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Solar powered plane finishes US journey

A SOLAR-POWERED aircraft has completed the final leg of a history-making cross-country flight gliding to a smooth stop at New York's John F Kennedy International Airport.

The Solar Impulse touched down at JFK at 11:09 pm local time, completing the final leg of the cross-continental journey that started in California in early May. For Saturday's final leg, the aircraft left Dulles International Airport a little before 5 am local time.

The flight plan for the revolutionary plane had called for it to pass the Statue of Liberty before landing early Sunday at New York. But an unexpected tear discovered on the left wing of the aircraft Saturday afternoon forced officials to scuttle the fly-by and proceed directly to JFK for a landing three hours earlier than scheduled.

The pilot, Andre Borschberg, noticed balance issues with the wing in the early afternoon Saturday off the coast of Toms River, New Jersey, said Alenka Zibetto, a spokeswoman for Solar Impulse.

Officials said the pilot and aircraft didn't appear to be in danger. They said the eight-foot tear on the lower left side of the wing wasn't expected to worsen through the final portion of the trip.

Despite the relatively short distance, Saturday's commuter-like hop was a long flight. The slow-flying aircraft was travelling between two of the world's busiest airports and was required to take off very early in the morning and land very late at night, when air traffic is at a minimum.

"This is a leg where everybody is quite moved," Bertrand Piccard, one of two pilots who took turns flying the Solar Impulse across the United States, said shortly after the plane was in the air over Washington early Saturday.

The aircraft, powered by some 11,000 solar cells, soars to 9,140 metres while poking along at a top speed of 72 kph. Most of the 11,000 solar cells are on the super-long wings that seem to stretch as far as a jumbo jet's. It weighs about the size of a small car, and soars with what is essentially the power of a small motorised scooter.

The Solar Impulse left San Francisco in early May and has made stopovers in Phoenix, Dallas-Fort Worth, St. Louis, Cincinnati and Dulles.

The cross-country flight is a tuneup for a planned 2015 flight around the globe with an up-graded version of the plane.

Solar Impulse's creators view themselves as green pioneers - promoting lighter materials, solar-powered batteries, and conservation as sexy and adventurous. Theirs is the high-flying equivalent of the Tesla electric sports car.

Europe saw the solar plane first with a test flight from Switzerland and Spain to Morocco last year.

Promoted as solar-powered, what really pushes the envelope with this plane is its miserly energy efficiency, Borschberg said before the flight.

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Mandela still critical as his family feuds

Nelson Mandela remains hospitalised in a critical state for a fourth week with a lung condition. Source: AAP

NELSON Mandela remains hospitalised in a critical state after doctors ruled out turning off his life support unless he suffers massive organ failure.

Meanwhile his grandson's lawyers were planning to lodge an official complaint over a court document which they say falsely claimed he was "in a permanent vegetative state".

The anti-apartheid hero's health condition was unchanged over the weekend, South Africa's presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said on Saturday.

He is in a critical but stable condition after his June 8 admittance for an obstinate pulmonary infection and relies on machines to help him breathe.

There has been no official update on his health but a close friend of the former statesman had said turning off life support was discussed and ultimately dismissed.

"I was told the matter had been raised and the doctors said they would only consider such a situation if there was a genuine state of organ failure," Denis Goldberg, who has known Mandela for more than 50 years, told AFP on Friday.

"Since that hasn't occurred they were quite prepared to go on stabilising him until he recovers."

The 80-year-old Goldberg was convicted along with Mandela in 1964 for their fight against white-minority rule.

He visited the former president in hospital on Monday.

A court document filed by a lawyer for Mandela's feuding family 10 days ago stated the 94-year-old was "assisted in breathing by a life support machine".

"The Mandela family have been advised by the medical practitioners that his life support machine should be switched off," the court filing read.

"Rather than prolonging his suffering, the Mandela family is exploring this option as a very real probability."

The document - which was designed to press a court to urgently settle a family row over the remains of Mandela's children - also stated that Mandela was "in a permanent vegetative state".

South Africa's presidency has said that was not the case, but refused to give further details of his condition, citing the need to respect Mandela's privacy.

President Jacob Zuma, Mandela family members and his close friends have reported since last week his condition has improved.

Earlier Goldberg said Mandela was "clearly a very ill man, but he was conscious and he tried to move his mouth and eyes when I talked to him".

Mandela spent 27 years in prison for fighting white-minority rule and went on to lead the process of racial reconciliation as South Africa's first black president.

Meanwhile an acerbic feud between his relatives showed little sign of abating.

Fifteen family members had won a court order against Mandla after he moved the family graves two year ago without their consent.

The fall-out from the dispute continues to reverberate.

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