Fake drug lobby says highs 'like wine'

THE lobby group for synthetic drug retailers says artificial highs are no stronger than two glasses of wine, despite user reports of panic attacks.

The Eros Association's public relations campaign comes only weeks after Sydney teenager Henry Kwan jumped to his death from the third floor of his home under the effects of an LSD-like substance bought online by a high school friend.

The 17-year-old North Shore schoolboy's death prompted the NSW government to extend its interim ban on artificial hallucinogens.

A month before the tragedy, Queensland became the first jurisdiction in Australia to ban any synthetic that mimicked the effects of an illicit drug.

There are now calls for a federal ban.

Eros this week described synthetic drugs as a "social tonic", releasing a survey of its retail members.

"They mostly have a mild psychoactive effect which is generally one where people do not lose control of their personality or consciousness," it said.

It quoted anecdotal evidence estimating that three-quarters of legal products sold produced a "psychoactive effect that is no stronger or more intense than a couple of glasses of wine".

But a 25-year-old Brisbane professional says he will never try legal synthetic marijuana again, after a bad experience with a product known as 'incense', which a mate bought from a sex shop.

"The high didn't last as long as actual marijuana but it was far more intense," he told AAP.

"It was fun at first but after a rollercoaster of emotions I was left with some pretty intense anxiety and panic attacks.

"It might be fine for some but it certainly didn't sit well with me."

Eros chief executive Fiona Patten said Henry Kwan's death was not connected to legal synthetic highs. But she declined to guarantee products sold legally were safe. Products such as 'kronic', 'skunk' and 'black widow' continue to be sold.

"Without regulation, it's very hard to give any guarantee," she said.

The product Henry took was not the kind sold legally at Australian adult shops.

"That substance was actually illegal, almost completely around Australia," Ms Patten said.

"It was not bought at a retail level. It was bought from a Chinese website offshore and delivered from overseas."

Brisbane-based criminal solicitor Patrick Quinn, from Creevey Russell Lawyers, says Queensland's three-month-old amendment to existing drug laws, which was actually flagged by the previous Labor government, could see young people jailed for possessing synthetic drugs.

"With that comes the possibility of prison, not just monetary penalty," he told AAP, adding the legal changes were yet to be tested in a courtroom.

Eros says average age of synthetic drug users is 33 in metropolitan areas and two years older in the regions.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

China charges Bo Xilai with corruption

CHINA'S once high-flying communist politician Bo Xilai has been indicted for bribery and abuse of power, state media say, following a scandal that exposed deep divisions at the highest levels of government.

Bo, the former party chief of the southwestern city of Chongqing, will be the highest-profile Communist official to be put on trial in China for decades.

He has not been seen in public for more than a year since he was detained following the murder of a British businessman by his wife and his right-hand man's flight to a US consulate, triggering a huge political controversy.

"The indictment paper was delivered" to a court in Jinan, China's official Xinhua news agency said, citing prosecutors in the city in the eastern province of Shandong.

Bo "took the advantage of his position to seek profits for others and accepted an 'extremely large amount' of money and properties", it said, quoting the indictment.

A source with direct knowledge of the case, who requested anonymity, said the trial could begin in mid-August.

News of the proceedings comes at a time when the party is trying to show it is cracking down on corruption and government waste.

It has also had to manage the political rifts exposed by the downfall of Bo - once one of 25 members of the ruling party's Politburo.

The decision to oust such a high-ranking leader would have required tough backroom negotiations among top leaders.

The trial would be an easier final step after the harder task of defusing any backlash among Bo supporters, said David Goodman, a China expert at the University of Sydney.

Holding the proceedings now would also allow leaders to draw a line under the scandal ahead of a key Communist Party plenum expected in the northern autumn.

A Xinhua commentary warned against resistance to the decision, calling on local governments to "defend the authority" of the Beijing leadership.

It urged people to "soberly recognise the ugly face" of officials "who sought personal gain".

The scandal emerged last year ahead of a once-a-decade leadership transition, in which Bo had been considered a candidate for the Politburo Standing Committee - China's most powerful body.

His downfall was triggered after his police chief and right-hand man Wang Lijun fled to a US consulate in Chengdu city near Chongqing, allegedly to seek asylum. Bo was detained a month later.

He had cultivated an unusually populist public image and led a high-profile anti-mafia campaign, which resulted in scores of arrests but led to allegations of torture against suspects.

Bo also revived some elements of 1960s Communist Party culture as part of a "Sing Red" campaign involving massive rallies, which drew comparisons with China's tumultuous Cultural Revolution period.

Bo's wife was given a suspended death sentence last August for fatally poisoning businessman and family friend Neil Heywood. The penalty is normally commuted to a life sentence in China.

Wang was sentenced to 15 years in prison in September for defection and other crimes.

Bo himself was removed from his party and government posts, losing his legal immunity at the end of 2012.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

PNG deal right ethical response: Rudd

PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has told MPs his regional resettlement deal with Papua New Guinea is the right ethical response to asylum seeker drownings at sea.

Some federal MPs expressed concerns to Mr Rudd about the policy for asylum seeker boat arrivals at a special caucus meeting in Sydney on Monday.

But Mr Rudd said the challenge was to deal a "fatal blow" to people smugglers, whose illegal businesses risked people's lives.

"I will not be prime minister of Australia and see the entire orderly immigration system itself threatened by not sending a message such as this to the people smuggling industry around the world," he told reporters.

"This is the right response and the right ethical response to drownings at sea, the proliferation of this industry and the fact that people languishing in camps for 10 or 20 years aren't getting a fair go."

Mr Rudd agreed the practicalities of the agreement will take quite a while to rollout and said he was fully prepared to address the political challenges along the way.

"This is what happens when you are seeking to act decisively on something as fundamental as this," he added.

He accused Opposition Leader Tony Abbott of "deliberately undermining" the government's message to people smugglers.

"This is not in the national interest," he said.

"It might be in Mr Abbott's political interest, but frankly, if you do that sort of stuff you raise the question of your ultimate fitness to hold the high office of prime minister."

Under the agreement with PNG, people who arrive in Australia by boat and seek refugee status will be sent on to Manus Island for processing.

If they are found to be refugees, they will be settled in PNG.

If not, they will be either sent back to their country of origin or on to a third, safe country - but not Australia.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tasmanian bishop slams PNG policy

A SENIOR Anglican bishop has told the prime minister "Jesus weeps" over the PNG asylum seeker policy.

The bishop of Tasmania, John Harrower, has taken to Twitter to question Kevin Rudd's decision to refuse boat arrivals a chance of settling in Australia.

"Mr Prime Minister, Jesus weeps. Whatever you do for the least of these..." Bishop Harrower wrote.

The bishop has told ABC radio Mr Rudd and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, who are both Christians, should be finding a more compassionate solution.

"(I'd like to) bang two heads together in a good and godly way," he said.

"I'm appalled at both of our major parties and the two men leading them, who are Christian men, who are making these decisions."

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Concerns over Billabong deal

A SHAREHOLDERS' rights group has taken aim at Billabong's planned recapitalisation deal, arguing competing offers for the surfwear icon should be considered.

Billabong last week announced it had reached a $US294 million ($A325 million) deal with US private equity group Altamont Capital Partners which will allow it to repay its debts.

Altamont is expected to take a stake of up to 40 per cent in the company under the deal.

But two of Billabong's main creditors, Centerbridge Partners and Oaktree Capital, have lodged a challenge to the deal with federal regulator the Takeovers Panel.

The challenge centres around a 35 per cent interest rate levied on a $A44 million convertible loan held by the company, which will be charged until shareholders approve the deal, and a reported $A65 million break fee which Billabong will have to pay if it scraps the deal with Altamont.

The panel has yet to decide whether to hold hearings into the matter.

Australian Shareholders' Association chairman Ian Curry on Sunday said the panel should declare the break fee to be "unacceptable".

The panel had previously said break fees should not equate to more than one per cent of the equity value of the transaction, he said.

"ASA is not currently a party to the proceedings, but we are concerned by media reports about the break fee and urge the Takeovers Panel to declare it to be 'unacceptable'," Mr Curry said in a statement.

Centrebridge and Oaktree have submitted their own refinancing proposal which involved them taking a 61.2 per cent stake in Billabong, but their offer has been rejected by the company's board.

Mr Curry wants the Billabong board to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure an orderly and competitive process that allows shareholders to consider alternative proposals to the Altamont deal.

"Billabong shareholders have suffered enough at the hands of a board and management team which have imperilled the company," he said.

"At the very least, the board should facilitate a truly competitive auction so that all serious bidders can lodge their best offers."

Shares in Billabong have risen sharply since the Altamont deal was announced, jumping from 25 cent to 40 cents between Wednesday and Friday.

The company has been subject to a string of takeover attempts in recent years as it tries to combat weak revenues and high debts.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cracker idea at Qld LNP conference

A FIREWORKS night to rival Guy Fawkes Day is on the agenda in Queensland, and it's all in the name of tourism.

The Liberal National Party, after a close vote, adopted the proposal on the last day of its three-day state conference in Brisbane.

The plan was hatched by the younger party members, many of whom were not alive to see the maimings associated with firecrackers before sales were banned in the 1970s.

Young LNP state president Hermann Vorster urged the government to now adopt the policy and believes the "Cracker Night" could be a boon for tourism.

"I think more than anything this is about sending a message that we don't necessarily subscribe to the notion of the nanny-state," Mr Vorster said.

"If something is safe and can be done in a reasonable way and it is in keeping with reasonable expectations, then I guess we ask, as the Young LNP, why not?"

Mr Vorster had the support of Senator Ian MacDonald who believes the handling of fireworks could teach parents and children to be more careful and take responsible.

"I don't want to confess that I'm old enough to have remembered when we had Guy Fawkes night, but it was great fun," he said.

Despite their success with "Cracker Night", the young Libs didn't have enough support to get two other controversial policies across the line.

Random illicit drug testing for long term unemployed and welfare recipients was voted down, as well as removing Australian content quotas for free-to-air television.

The party agreed to ban all sports gambling on free-to-air television and increase mobile coverage to address blackspots.

The party faithfull gave a long and warm welcome to Premier Campbell Newman, who started his speech with "Queensland is a place where all your dreams come true."

His 30-minute address covered achievements over the last 16 months, such as reducing red tape and approving major projects.

However, Mr Newman blamed Labor for the sacking of 14,000 public servants and cost of living pressures.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ads needed to stop boat people: Bowen

Chris Bowen has defended government advertising of its new hardline approach to asylum seekers. Source: AAP

TREASURER Chris Bowen has defended government advertising of its new hardline approach to asylum seekers, saying it was important to get its message to potential boat people overseas.

The government on Saturday paid for full page newspaper advertisements across the country stating: "If you come here by boat without a visa you won't be settled in Australia".

The ads come a day after Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced Labor's tough new policy on boat people, which will resettle those who arrive by boat in Papua New Guinea rather than Australia.

The national campaign will be followed by advertisements overseas.

Independent Senator Nick Xenophon said he would make a formal complaint about the ads to the Auditor General, which he described as a blatantly political campaign paid for by the taxpayer.

But Mr Bowen said it was important to advertise the new boats plan in Australia, because recent migrants from countries such as Iran, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan would communicate it back to their home countries.

"And tell them, look the policy has changed in Australia, the law's changed, please don't come by boat because you'll get resettled to Papua New Guinea," Mr Bowen told Sky News.

"It is very important that people in Australia understand the new policy settings and it is very important that people down the chain of supply of boats to Australia understand it as well.

"We know this, people smugglers will lie about this.. and they will try and convince people that it's still a good idea to spend money to come to Australia by boat."

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

NSW hospitals at risk of infection

The Opposition says cuts to the number of cleaners in hospitals could lead to serious infections. Source: AAP

THE NSW opposition is warning of an infections outbreak following reports of a drastic drop in the number of cleaners at some of NSW's busiest hospitals.

Opposition health spokesman Andrew McDonald cited a recent report which found Royal North Shore Hospital was down 67 full time cleaners compared to numbers in 2010.

During the same period Westmead Hospital lost 20 full time cleaners while the Nepean Hospital was down 25.

Across the greater Sydney region there has been an overall loss of 139 full time cleaners, Dr McDonald said.

"Slashing the number of cleaners in our hospitals is a huge infection risk and highly dangerous," he said.

The average hospital cleaner cleaned a minimum of 35 beds per week or 1820 beds per year, while unclean beds, wards and operating theatres could lead to serious and deadly infections, he said.

"Golden Staph and Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) still kill people in NSW hospitals in 2013," he warned.

"Cutting the number of cleaners also means vacant beds are left empty for hours until they can be cleaned, while more patients sit waiting to be admitted in the emergency department."

Mr McDonald blamed the staff reductions on the O'Farrell government's $3 billion cut to health funding.

"A huge reduction in cleaners and the number of cleaning hours in our hospital is what happens when you cut $3 billion from the health system."

But a spokeswoman for Northern Sydney Local Health District denied the cuts.

She said Royal North Shore Hospital had employed 44 more cleaners since July 2011, taking the number of cleaners to 186.

This represents a 30 per cent increase in staff, she added.

A spokeswoman for Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District said cleaning staff at Nepean Hospital had increased by 7.8 Full-time equivalent (FTE) positions since July 2011.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Orica gas move highlights supply worry

ORICA'S $52.5 million deal this week to buy 20 years' worth of as yet undeveloped gas from Strike Energy highlighted the panic about supply among Australia's largest gas users.

When central Queensland's suite of liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects come online by 2017, demand for the nation's gas will grow four-fold to 2,500-3,000 petajoules a year.

The multinationals controlling Queensland's coal seam gas fields want strong demand, as it will push prices higher for their Asian customers and cover the high export costs.

That's why chemicals and explosives maker Orica sought to take control of both its destiny and 20 years' worth of gas, at what its managing director Ian Smith said was an affordable price.

Australia might have abundant natural gas resources but is facing a domestic supply crisis from 2017, particularly in NSW where businesses are currently unable to get new supply contracts beyond then.

Beach Energy chief executive Reg Nelson has long been a proponent of developing unconventional gas to solve future supply worries.

Unconventional means natural gas trapped in shale, coal seam and tight rock formations, which is more difficult to drill to and release than conventional gas, and arguably poses a greater threat to the environment.

He plans to have the company's shale interests in the Cooper Basin, near the joint Queensland and South Australian borders, running by 2017.

Beach recently received a $349 million helping hand from energy giant Chevron, who bought a stake in its venture.

"The potential for what we call conventional gas is quite limited in eastern Australian ... particularly when you look at the demand side of it," Mr Nelson told AAP.

"The signs are already there (of conventional gas running out) in the Cooper Basin, for most areas in eastern Australia and certainly the gas left in offshore Victoria.

"Unconventional (including shale) in the Cooper is probably the main thing that can be unlocked in a timely fashion because it is onshore and close to infrastructure."

The Cooper Basin is already Australia's top onshore oil and gas province, with pipelines to Adelaide and Sydney.

Its strategic importance will only increase, with Mr Nelson likening its new shale potential to Haynesville, the US's most prolific shale area.

Strike Energy's managing director David Wrench said the prospect of a gas shortage crisis was difficult for Australian businesses to get their heads around, given they were used to having excess gas resources that supply half their energy needs.

"I've had discussions with the top 20 gas customers in eastern Australia in the last six months - these guys are really concerned about where they source their gas over the next few years," he told AAP.

Top users such as Alcoa have called for gas to be reserved for domestic use to ignite the non-resources side of the Australian economy - as the shale boom in the US had done.

That would potentially prevent some exports.

Mr Nelson rejects that, saying it would result in no development of natural gas, as the costly process of developing unconventional gas needs the incentive of high export prices to justify the risk.

He predicts prices will not be as high as feared, saying producers don't want to scare away customers.

Increased volumes of gas from Australian projects will also result in lower prices, he said.

12.22 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rainsy welcomed back to Cambodia

TENS of thousands of jubilant supporters have welcomed Cambodia's newly pardoned opposition leader home from exile as his party fights to end Prime Minister Hun Sen's nearly three decades in power.

Huge crowds gathered outside Phnom Penh's airport and lined the road to the city centre on Friday to welcome Sam Rainsy, waving flags and shouting "change, change!"

The French-educated former banker fled in 2009 to avoid charges he contends were politically motivated.

Rainsy kissed the ground at the airport upon returning from France before boarding a truck with his political allies, raising his fist as he greeted a sea of supporters.

"I'm very happy. I came back to rescue the nation with you all," he said before heading in a convoy for Democracy Park, which was packed with people waiting for him to speak.

The 64-year-old had faced 11 years in jail but was pardoned by King Sihamoni last week at Hun Sen's request, clearing the way for his return ahead of elections on July 28.

"I'm very happy and excited to see the leader of democracy returning to the country," said Sok Kan, 64, who was among those waiting to greet him.

"He is far different from the current leader. He sacrifices everything for the nation," Kuch Narith, 26, told AFP.

US lawmakers have called for the United States to cut off aid to Cambodia unless this month's polls are free and fair.

Hun Sen is one of South-East Asia's longest-serving leaders. His Cambodian People's Party (CPP) won the last two polls by a landslide amid allegations of fraud and election irregularities.

In May Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge cadre who defected from the murderous 1970s regime and became premier in 1985, said he would try to stay in power for another decade.

Rainsy told AFP before his return that the pardon was "a small victory for democracy" but also warned that "much more remains to be done".

The opposition leader, who is seen as the main challenger to strongman Hun Sen, has been removed from the electoral register and as a result is unable to run as a candidate this month unless parliament amends the law.

But he plans to hit the campaign trail soon to try to boost support for his Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).

12.22 | 0 komentar | Read More