Nuttall's house to be auctioned

FORMER Queensland MP Gordon Nuttall's home will be auctioned to pay the final debt he owes the state.

He's serving a 14-year sentence for perjury and receiving $150,000 in payments from a businessman in return for helping him secure government contracts.

Parliament found Nuttall guilty of 41 instances of contempt in May 2011 and he was fined $82,000 for not declaring the payments.

Clerk of the parliament Neil Laurie said so far Mr Nuttall has only paid $31,000 of his debt.

He says the Public Trustee has advised that Nuttall's Sandgate home will be auctioned.

It had originally been scheduled for auction in February this year, but it was damaged in the floods.

Mr Laurie said repairs have been completed.

"Once settlement of the property has been affected, the balance of the debt owing to the parliament will be paid in full," he told parliament.

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Japan to boost Fukushima clean-up

JAPAN will accelerate efforts to prevent more radioactive groundwater from seeping into the ocean at the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, government officials say, as critics slam its operator's handling of the issue.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to order his government to hand over public money to help foot the bill for ramped-up measures, the first time that Tokyo has committed extra funds to deal with the growing problem.

"Taking measures to contain contaminated water is an important part of the process towards decommissioning (the site)," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, the government's top spokesman, told reporters on Wednesday.

"The prime minister is expected to instruct the industry minister to take measures as soon as possible."

In May, Tokyo ordered plant operator Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) to build new barriers around the plant's reactors to contain toxic water that is used to keep the reactors cool, a measure that could cost up to Y40 billion ($A456.9 million).

There have been growing fears that existing safeguards will soon be overwhelmed by the highly radioactive water.

"As this large-scale construction of walls is unprecedented in the world, we think the government should take a step forward and support the plan," Suga said.

The vast utility is already facing staggering clean-up and compensation costs over the March 2011 accident, the worst atomic crisis in a generation.

Suga's comments come after Fukushima operator TEPCO last month admitted for the first time that radioactive groundwater had already leaked outside the nuclear plant, confirming long-held suspicions of ocean contamination from the shattered reactors.

The leaks have triggered alarm bells over the plant's precarious state and TEPCO's ability to deal with a long list of problems two years after it was swamped by a tsunami, sending reactors into meltdown. The company has faced widespread criticism over its lack of transparency in making critical information public.

TEPCO, which is in charge of the clean-up of the plant, had previously reported rising levels of cancer-causing materials in groundwater samples taken from underneath the site itself, but maintained it had halted toxic water from leaking beyond its borders.

"The worsening leaks of contaminated water at the Fukushima nuclear plant prove TEPCO is incapable of dealing with the disaster," Greenpeace said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Japan's authorities must now step in and ensure action is finally taken to stop the leaks," it added.

The country's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has said it plans to pull together two dedicated teams to investigate water contamination and its impact on the ocean's ecosystem, while on Friday it ordered TEPCO to accelerate its containment plan.

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Low rates due to slowing economy: Howard

THE Labor government is deluding itself if it believes lower interest rates are a sign they have the economy well in hand, former Liberal leader John Howard says.

In 2004 when Mr Howard was contesting an election as prime minister, he said interest rates would always be lower under a coalition government.

"The context in 2004 was who was better to deliver lower interest rates in a booming economy," Mr Howard told the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.

Then the Reserve Bank of Australia's cash rate was 5.25 per cent compared with 2.50 per cent now.

Mr Howard said rates were lower now because the economy was slowing.

"For anybody to run around between now and election day and say that a cut in interest rates means that the government has got the economy well in hand, they're deluding themselves," Mr Howard said.

"Look at some of the nations of Europe. They have got virtually zero interest rates and their economies are not moving."

Australia boasts a triple-A rating from all three major credit rating agencies. It is one of only eight countries in the world to hold such status.

But Mr Howard pointed out it was former Liberal treasurer Peter Costello who helped Australia restore a triple-A standing.

"A triple-A was not something that came about when Kevin Rudd became prime minister," Mr Howard said.

"What he is saying is we still have a triple-A rating, and I say, despite him."

Mr Howard's government introduced the GST in 2000, an impost which many believe now should be broadened and its rate increased from 10 per cent.

Mr Howard said tax reform was something that needs to be revisited.

"If the Labor party and the Democrats had not punched a hole in the GST that the Australian people voted for in 1998, the financial position of the states that get all of the GST revenue now would be much better than it is," he said.

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Americans keeping old cars longer

AMERICANS are keeping their cars and trucks longer than ever, and even with new car sales increasing, the average age will continue to rise, an industry research firm says.

The average age of the 247 million cars and trucks on US roads hit a record of 11.4 years in January, the latest figures available from state registration data gathered by the Polk research firm.

That's up from 11.2 years in 2012, and nearly two full years older than in 2007, before the start of the Global Financial Crisis, Polk said on Tuesday.

People are keeping their cars because the quality is so much better and they are trying to avoid the monthly payments, said Mark Seng, a Polk vice president. The annual percentage of cars and trucks sent to the scrap yard has dropped 50 per cent since the recession, he said.

"Cars are just lasting longer," he said.

The company doesn't see the age dropping for at least five years, even though US vehicle sales are running at an annual rate of around 15.5 million, which is near pre-recession levels. And it predicts that the percentage of cars age 12 or older will actually rise in the next five years.

The change creates a big opportunity for repair shops and auto-parts stores, Seng said.

"Customers from independent and chain repair shops should be paying close attention to their business plans and making concerted efforts to retain business among the do-it-for-me audience, while retailers have a unique and growing opportunity with potential consumers wrenching on their own vehicles," he said.

US sales have risen gradually from a 30-year low of 10.4 million in 2009 because of low interest rates, appealing new models and pent-up demand as people replace aging vehicles they kept through the recession. The sales rebound prompted Polk to raise its estimate of the total number of vehicles on US roads by 5 per cent to more than 260 million in five years.

But Seng said many people intend to keep running their older cars into the future, adding that he can't remember another time that the average age has grown as quickly.

The growth rate in the average age will slow in the coming years, but won't start falling until new-car sales rise and stay high for several years. Older vehicles would have to be scrapped at a higher rate, as well, he said.

"With the quality of the vehicles, that's not going to happen," Seng said.

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Ex-Gunns boss could land jail time

Former Gunns boss John Gay could spend time in jail after pleading guilty to insider trading. Source: AAP

JOHN Gay, the face of one-time Tasmanian timber giant Gunns, could spend time in jail after pleading guilty to insider trading.

The former chairman dropped a bombshell on the morning his trial was set to begin by changing his plea to an amended charge in the Tasmanian Supreme Court.

Gay, 70, had pleaded not guilty to two counts after selling 3.4 million Gunns shares in December 2009.

He was accused by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) of dumping the shares, worth around $3 million, after information in a company report forecast a profit drop of more than 100 per cent.

On Monday those charges were rolled into one amended indictment, to which Gay unexpectedly pleaded guilty.

His lawyer, Neil Clelland SC, said the plea was made, not on the basis his client knew information he possessed was price sensitive, but on the basis that he ought to have known.

The court had been readying for a trial of up to five weeks.

The information Gay used was contained in an October 2009 management report which was not disclosed to the market.

When Gunns subsequently announced a 98 per cent deterioration in half yearly earnings in February 2010, its price plummeted from 88c to 68.5c.

In preliminary proceedings, witnesses told the court Gay was selling the shares in order to get his affairs in order after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

He held onto another eight million shares, the court was told.

The timber company collapsed into administration in September last year owing around $3 billion. Gay, regarded by some as the simple sawmiller made good, is credited with building Gunns into an empire.

But that was before it struck trouble when woodchip prices collapsed and a partner could not be found to fund its proposed $2.3 billion Tamar Valley pulp mill.

He resigned as chairman in 2010 as the company looked to build a "social licence" by getting out of native forest logging.

When charged in November 2011, he was considered the most senior Australian executive to have been accused of insider trading. The crime currently carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail or a $765,000 fine.

Gay left the Launceston court on Monday without comment.

ASIC is also yet to comment.

He will be back for sentencing submissions on August 14.

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Barnett denies lobbying for staff pay rise

Colin Barnett denied he had lobbied for the pay increases of WA government's media director. Source: AAP

WEST Australian Premier Colin Barnett has denied he misled the public about an $84,000 pay rise for the state government's media director.

Opposition Leader Mark McGowan said the premier had personally lobbied for Dixie Marshall's pay rise to $245,000.

Documents revealed the premier asked a merit panel to grant Ms Marshall and another senior adviser the increases, Mr McGowan said.

"The premier implied in parliament that it was someone else's deal," he told AAP.

But Mr Barnett denied he had lobbied for the pay increases.

"I wouldn't believe too much about what Mark McGowan says," he told reporters on Sunday.

Mr Barnett said two senior staff in his office were promoted to a "higher classification" which carried a higher salary.

"Their role and duties have changed," he said.

"As the responsible minister, I sign the bit of paper that goes to the merit panel for them to consider that and for them to consider what pay they should receive.

"In no way did I lobby that panel in any sense at all."

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Rudd boards flight from Brisbane

Speculation is mounting that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd may be closer to naming the poll date. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has boarded a flight in Brisbane, fuelling speculation he may be bound for Canberra to name the election date.

Mr Rudd and wife Therese Rein boarded a plane after midday (AEST) at Brisbane airport.

The prime minister's destination is yet to be confirmed.

However he has a cabinet meeting scheduled for midday on Monday in Canberra.

September 7 is firming as the election date despite Mr Rudd hinting on Saturday that he intended to go to the G20 leaders summit in Russia scheduled just days beforehand.

It's now likely that Foreign Minister Bob Carr will attend instead.

Mr Rudd's plane has landed in Canberra.

A September 7 poll would be the first September election since 1946.

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Rudd, Barroso talk refugees and G20

PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd and European Union President Jose Manuel Barroso have agreed talk further on the issue of refugees, after a phone call between the pair.

A spokesperson for Mr Rudd's office said the two spoke on August 2, where the issue of international co-operation on the management of refugees was canvassed.

The pair "agreed to further exchanges on the issue", she said in a statement.

It was revealed on Friday the government's hardline policy to send boat people to Papua New Guinea for processing would cost $1.1 billion over four years.

Under the plan to combat people smuggling, asylum seekers who arrive by boat would have no chance of resettlement in Australia.

The prime minister and Mr Barroso also agreed on the importance of the G20 as "the world's premier international economic forum".

Whether Mr Rudd will attend the upcoming G20 leaders summit has been a source of speculation with the St Petersburg meeting being held just days before the predicted September 7 election.

Australia will host the summit in 2014, in Mr Rudd's home town of Brisbane.

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Man arrested after Sydney stabbing death

A MAN has been arrested in connection to the fatal stabbing of a young Sydney woman, police say.

Media reports say the woman was five months pregnant.

The 23-year-old woman was found in a Maroubra unit with a stab wound to her chest by emergency services in the early hours of Saturday and died at the scene.

Shortly after midday (AEST), a 38-year-old man attended Maroubra Police Station, where he was arrested by detectives and is assisting them with their inquiries.

AAP understands the man was on bail for a grevious bodily harm matter and the woman had an apprehended violence order.

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Ex-wife had sex without consent: SA man

A WOMAN accused of unlawfully performing oral sex on her ex-husband has no case to answer, an Adelaide court has been told.

The woman, 49, is charged with engaging in sexual intercourse without consent in August 2011 at an address in South Australia's Eyre Peninsula.

She appeared in the Adelaide Magistrate Court on Friday when her lawyer said the woman had no case to answer, noting it involved the woman's word against the complainant's.

Magistrate Simon Smart was told the complainant said he was awoken by his ex-wife performing fellatio on him.

The case was adjourned to September 6.

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