Poll tightens in SA election

About one million people are set to cast their ballots to decide the next state government of SA. Source: AAP

SOUTH Australians are facing the possibility of a hung parliament with the latest opinion polls suggesting the vote was tightening as ballots were cast in the state election.

The Liberals need to win six seats to govern in their own right and end 12 years of Labor rule.

But as little as three seats could allow the opposition to form a minority government, with the support of three independents.

The latest Newspoll quizzed 1602 voters late this week and put the Liberals ahead 52.3 per cent to 47.7 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.

However, Premier Jay Weatherill held a six-point lead over Opposition Leader Steven Marshall as preferred premier.

Labor would also be buoyed by the fact that it held onto power in 2010 with just 48 per cent of the statewide vote.

Mr Weatherill cast his ballot at a local primary school in his electorate early on Saturday and said he remained focussed on forming a majority government and had not begun discussions with any of the independents.

At least one of those, Don Pegler in Mt Gambier, also faces strong challenge from the Liberals to hold his seat.

Once the counting began, the premier said the focus would be on a number of electorates, including the six the party held on a margin of less than three per cent.

"Obviously there are a range of seats that are going to be battleground seats. A large number of them this time," he said.

But the premier said he was relaxed and satisfied with Labor's campaign.

"I couldn't imagine being able to do more to present our case. It's now up to the people of South Australia to make a judgment about that."

Mr Weatherill again refused to comment on his won future should Labor lose.

Mr Marshall also cast his vote a primary school, after taking his teenage daughter to a rowing event at 7.30am (CST), before hitting the hustings again.

The opposition leader again refused to rule out doing a deal with the independents if there was a hung parliament, despite also criticising the political landscape in Canberra following the 2010 federal election when Julia Gillard formed a minority government.

"I've never ruled that out but I do say that it would be great for a government to govern in their own right here in South Australia," Mr Marshall said.

"We have seen a very messy situation in Canberra. I don't think it would be good for South Australia."

Mr Marshall was also wary of Labor's ability to campaign in a tight contest after the government was returned to office at the last election by sandbagging key marginal seats.

"Obviously Labor are a very capable marginal seat campaigning machine but I think this time we've had some excellent candidates, we've been well resourced, we've run a good quality marginal seat campaign ourselves," he said.

Just over 1.1 million South Australians were enrolled to vote with about 70,000 of those casting their ballots early at voting centres across the state.

About 86,000 people were also expected to lodge postal votes.

12.22 | 0 komentar | Read More

Vic earthquakes not unusual: seismologist

MELBURNIANS who woke to the feeling of a large truck passing their homes were just experiencing a tiny earthquake, not unusual in Victoria's southeast, a seismologist says.

The 2.2-magnitude earthquake shook residents in outer southeast Melbourne at 12.41am (AEDT) on Saturday.

Geoscience Australia duty seismologist Marco Maldoni said about 40 reports had been made from suburbs including Frankston, Cranbourne, Mt Eliza and Carrum Downs.

The earthquake was relatively tiny but residents living within a few kilometres would have felt like a large truck was passing their homes, Dr Maldoni said.

Most of Victoria's earthquakes occur in the state's southeast with minor fault lines toward the Peninsula and Gippsland regions, Dr Maldoni said.

He said a search of past earthquakes within 100 kilometres of Saturday's earthquake revealed that in the past 30 years there have been about 300 minor quakes.

"There's a history of very tiny earth tremors, so today's earthquake was nothing unusual," Dr Maldoni said.

The last earthquake in the area was in January 2014 with a magnitude of 2.4, Geoscience Australia says.

12.22 | 0 komentar | Read More

Gas leak forces evacuations in Bondi

A GAS leak at a Bondi construction site has forced the evacuation of 15 people from neighbouring buildings.

Crews were called to Old South Head Road, near Curlewis St, about 1pm (AEDT).

A NSW Fire and Rescue spokeswoman told AAP the leak appears to be coming from a busted gas main at the construction site.

Crews are conducting atmospheric testing at the site.

Emergency services have closed Old South Head Rd between Warners Avenue and O'Sullivan Rd.

Route 386 and 387 buses are diverting away from the area and may face delays.

There are no reports of injuries.

At 3.30 pm (AEDT) Old South Head Road was reopened and people were allowed to return to evacuated buildings.

"The incident has been shut down," NSW Fire and Rescue superintendent Ian Krimmer said.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Vic police search for gangland murder gun

POLICE searching for a gun linked to Melbourne gangland murders 14 years ago have located an "item of interest".

Police scoured the Yarra River and a rural property on Friday after tip-offs about the 1999 murder of Dimitrios Belias and the disappearance days later of his business partner Milorad Dapcevic.

After conceding the possibility of finding a gun in the Yarra River 14 years later was remote, police found an "item of interest" at 1pm, but would not say what it was.

Spent ammunition of various calibres was found at Strath Creek.

Detective Inspector Ken Ashworth said police had been looking for a gun, shells and any other firearm-related items.

He said police had received calls with valuable leads since going public with Mr Dapcevic's disappearance, which led to the search of the Yarra.

"We have no proof of life and we're treating (Mr Dapcevic's disappearance) as a possible second homicide," he said.

Mr Belias was lured to an underground St Kilda Rd car park on September 9, 1999, and murdered with a single shot to the head.

Police believe Mr Belias arranged to meet his killer as he told several people about the appointment and seemed comfortable about it.

A routine review of the case led police to seek to interview Mr Dapcevic, only to find he hadn't been seen since giving a statement days after the murder.

Police believe Mr Dapcevic was most likely killed after giving the statement.

The pair both had criminal records, underworld links and owed money in a business deal.

Mr Belias was jailed in 1994 for his part in a $330,000 property titles scam but police said that did not offer a motive for his murder.

Mr Dapcevic had served time in jail for armed robbery.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Abbott excludes SA premier from event

The Prime Minister (R) has defended a decision to exclude the SA Premier (L) from an event. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has defended a decision to exclude South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill from an announcement that the state is set to be the base for a squadron of high-tech surveillance aircraft.

The project, which is expected to provide a $100 million boost to the South Australian economy, was announced on Thursday, just days ahead of Saturday's state election, inside a hangar at the Edinburgh RAAF base in front of military personnel, as well state opposition leader Steven Marshall.

However, Mr Weatherill was not invited despite Mr Abbott conceding after making his announcement that both the premier and opposition leader would normally be invited to such an event.

"Well, we are in an election campaign and in an election campaign the caretaker conventions dictate that the premier and the alternative premier are of equal status," Mr Abbott said.

"But there is one of the two who wants to work constructively with the commonwealth, the other of the two wants to fight with the commonwealth."

The prime minister rejected suggestions that it was, in fact, him that was picking a fight, insisting that he wanted to work constructively with all premiers and chief ministers regardless of their political persuasion.

"The incumbent premier thinks that his role is to fight with the commonwealth," Mr Abbott said.

"I think the South Australian people want better than that. They expect their leaders, their state leader and the national leader, to work constructively together like adults."

Mr Weatherill said he was not surprised to be excluded from the event, adding that "it's what you'd expect from Tony Abbott".

"Usual protocols would dictate that I would be invited to such a thing but it's a bit of petty politics," Mr Weatherill said.

Mr Weatherill said his government had already done a lot of work in terms of securing the drone project.

"This is the work that is being done through Defence SA led by General Cosgrove and now Air Vice Marshall Houston. Defence SA has been working on this for some time," Mr Weatherill said.

He said there was a clear choice for voters in Saturday's election, which the latest polls suggest will see Labor's 12-year rule come to an end.

"You can have Steven Marshall working hand in hand with Tony Abbott him on his cuts to penalty rates, on his cuts to Medicare and his cuts to education, and we'll stand up to for South Australia against all of that," Mr Weatherill said.

In addition to the $100 million boost expected to come from the drone project, the federal government has said it would add another $20 million in economic spin-offs.

It is expected to create about 100 jobs.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Real estate agent murdered outside office

Sydney real estate agent, Vissa Esan, 48, has been stabbed to death on the way to work. Source: AAP

A SYDNEY real estate agent whose wife is expecting their first child has been stabbed to death just metres from his office.

Vissa Esan, 48, was attacked in a back alley off Pendle Way in Pendle Hills, in western Sydney, at about 7.45am on Thursday.

It's understood Mr Esan, whose wife is expecting their first baby, had just parked his car and was walking to his office when he was attacked.

The owner of Aussie Unity Real Estate, on Pendle Way, was stabbed at least once in the chest and died at Westmead Hospital a short time later.

His attacker fled the scene.

A 34-year-old man was arrested a short time later at a local business after a police chase.

He remains in custody and is likely to be charged with murder.

Police say nobody else is being sought over the attack but would not comment on speculation the pair were business rivals.

"We don't have any motive at this stage," acting Superintendent Ian Casha told AAP.

A large crowd of local business people, residents and Mr Esan's distraught colleagues gathered near the crime scene.

They said the Sri Lankan-born businessmen migrated to Australia about 20-years-ago and lived in Kellyville.

"It is very worrying that a man can die like this, so violently, in broad daylight," one businessman told AAP.

The back alley remained sealed-off as police gathered evidence.

Police have urged anyone with information on the attack to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Housing construction set to strengthen

The number of home loans approved in January was virtually unchanged, official figures show. Source: AAP

HOUSING finance failed to grow for a second straight month in January, but economists are encouraged by a rise in the number of loans approved for construction of new homes.

The number of home loans approved in January was 51,054, almost unchanged from 51,045 approvals in December, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday.

JP Morgan economist Tom Kennedy said a 5.8 per cent rise in loan approvals for the construction of new homes in January was encouraging.

"From a growth perspective that's what you want to see because you want construction activity picking up, which is what really matters for the overall GDP (gross domestic product) picture," he said.

"Construction activity will have a knock on affect for employment, not just in the construction sector, it's broader than that it's quite a large component of the Australian economy."

Mr Kennedy said the Reserve Bank of Australia would like to see construction activity pick up and purchases of established dwellings fall.

"That would take some heat away from house prices," he said.

National Australia Bank senior economist Spiros Papadopoulos was also not too concerned about the flat result for total housing finance in January.

"We have seen a strong upward trend over the past year and given low interest rates will be around for most of this year, we expect these series to bounce back in coming months," he said.

"It's encouraging that we have seen small growth in the first home buyers, their ratio of owner occupier approvals has risen to 13.2 per cent from 12.7 per cent.

"That had been trending lower."

St George Bank senior economist Jo Horton said low interest rates were helping to boost demand for housing.

"The broader picture points to solid owner-occupier demand, at least among upgraders," she said.

"Meanwhile, investor demand remains very strong, despite a weaker month in January.

"The strength of the housing market, and in particular investor demand, confirms that low interest rates are working to support the economy and supports our long held view that the RBA is done cutting rates in this cycle.

"Low interest rates should continue to support housing demand and housing activity well into this year."

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Court action over Vic abortion protests

THE City of Melbourne says new 'move on' laws will help it deal with anti-abortion protesters, as the council faces legal action for failing to stop their harassment of patients.

The Fertility Control Clinic in East Melbourne says patients have been intimidated by protesters for decades, called murderers and whores and told they were going to hell as they tried to enter the clinic.

It is taking Supreme Court action against the City of Melbourne for failing to enforce laws that could stop the protests.

Susie Allanson, a psychologist at the clinic, said she has seen patients arrive shaking and in tears.

"We consider this not to be protest, we consider this to be chronic bullying and intimidation," Dr Allanson said on Wednesday.

Lawyer Elizabeth O'Shea said the council has shirked its responsibility and failed to take the problem seriously.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said City of Melbourne officers visited the clinic twice a week, but protesters were difficult to prosecute because they understood "how to play the game".

He said the move-on laws could be used against the anti-abortion protesters.

"Until the premier has put these laws in, they have been able to game the system," he said.

"That's why I'm delighted these move-on laws will apply to these protesters."

Ms O'Shea said move-on powers already exist and have not been used against anti-abortion protesters in the past.

"I would be surprised if the move-on powers were ever used on protesters out the front of the clinic," she said.

Tanya O'Brien, a spokeswoman for Helpers of God's Precious Infants, said the group may seek to appear in the court proceeding as a friend of the court.

"We would certainly like to challenge the lies that the clinic bring up in that court case," she told Fairfax Radio.

Ms O'Brien denied the group harasses people.

"We aren't there to fight, we are there to reach out in help," she said.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Palmer makes a pitch to WA voters

Clive Palmer has posted a video online ahead of the re-run WA senate election. Source: AAP

CLIVE Palmer is trying to appeal to Western Australia's long-standing gripe about the state's GST share in the lead up to the re-run senate election.

The Palmer United Party (PUP) leader posted a video online on Tuesday with a pitch to WA voters.

Spruiking his own business connections to the state, Mr Palmer promised to "get Western Australia going again" if two of his members were elected to the senate in the April 5 poll.

Mr Palmer said WA had been carrying the rest of the country on its back for years.

"Most of Australia's real wealth is generated in Western Australia," he said.

In a speech that ran for almost three minutes, Mr Palmer also tried to appeal to the state's sensitivity about the GST share.

"Help me get a fair go and recognition for Western Australia," he said.

"Why should all the GST collected in Western Australia be sent to eastern states?"

Mr Palmer also criticised Prime Minister Tony Abbott for selling off national assets.

"He wants to sell off Australia to people only concerned with making money," he said.

"Is your children's future for sale?"

The September election delivered Dio Wang as the only PUP senator for WA before a recount saw him lose the spot.

But last year's election was declared void after the loss of 1375 votes and a re-run was ordered.

Mr Wang is PUP's number one candidate again, along with former AFL footballer Des Headland and academic Chamonix Terblanche.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

David Jones CEO decides to stay on

David Jones chief executive Paul Zahra has decided not to resign, and will stay on at the retailer. Source: AAP

DAVID Jones chief executive Paul Zahra has reversed his decision to resign and will stay on at the retailer.

Mr Zahra announced in October 2013 he would step down once the company found someone to replace him.

But as the search dragged on, shareholders have been calling on Mr Zahra to stay.

There have also been major changes at David Jones in recent months.

In February, chairman Peter Mason announced his departure, following a controversial purchase of David Jones shares by two of the company's board members.

David Jones on Monday appointed a new chairman - former Westpac director Gordon Cairns - triggering Mr Mason's resignation.

The company has also received a $3 billion merger proposal from rival Myer, which David Jones is currently reviewing.

The company's sales have also improved, growing by almost five per cent in the three months to January 25.

"My commitment and loyalty has intensified in recent months given the changes and uncertainty that the business has experienced," Mr Zahra said in a statement on Tuesday.

"I am very grateful and humbled by the support I have received from our new chairman, the board, our shareholders and staff, and I feel a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to the business."

David Jones shares were down three cents at $3.35 at 1530 AEDT.

Mr Zahra announced in October 2013 he would step down once the company found someone to replace him.

But as the search dragged on, shareholders have been calling on Mr Zahra to stay.

There have also been major changes at David Jones in recent months.

In February, chairman Peter Mason announced his departure, following a controversial purchase of David Jones shares by two of the company's board members.

David Jones on Monday appointed a new chairman - former Westpac director Gordon Cairns - triggering Mr Mason's resignation.

The company has also received a $3 billion merger proposal from rival Myer, which David Jones is currently reviewing.

The company's sales have also improved, growing by almost five per cent in the three months to January 25.

"My commitment and loyalty has intensified in recent months given the changes and uncertainty that the business has experienced," Mr Zahra said in a statement on Tuesday.

"I am very grateful and humbled by the support I have received from our new chairman, the board, our shareholders and staff, and I feel a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to the business."

David Jones shares were down three cents at $3.35 at 1530 AEDT.

12.21 | 0 komentar | Read More