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Accused bikie killer Basanovic behind bars

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 04 Mei 2013 | 13.23

THE son of NSW's most wanted man has been refused bail after he was charged over the shooting death of a high-ranking Hells Angels bikie.

Wade Basanovic, 21, is accused of murdering senior bikie Zeljko Mitrovic, 45, at a trucking business in Wetherill Park in Sydney's southwest in January, police say.

Mr Mitrovic was allegedly shot during a confrontation involving up to seven men.

A worker at the business was also injured during the attack by a stray bullet.

Basanovic was taken into custody at Sydney's International Airport on Saturday morning after Australian Federal Police (AFP) negotiated with his lawyer to convince him to return to Australia from Bali, an AFP officer told AAP.

He was charged with murder and reckless grievous bodily harm in company.

Basanovic did not apply for bail at Parramatta Local Court on Saturday, and bail was formally refused.

The case was adjourned to Central Local Court on July 11.

Basanovic's father, Michael Basanovic, was added to the State's Most Wanted list in March following investigations into Mitrovic's murder.

The AFP said they were still working to arrest the fugitive.

Another man is also facing charges relating to being an accessory to the murder, police said.


13.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Murder charge after man's body found

A MAN has been charged with the murder of another man found dead in a south Sydney home.

The body of the alleged victim was located on Thursday in a unit on Victoria Avenue, Penshurst, a senior police source told AAP.

A joint investigation between the homicide squad and Hurstville Local Area Command resulted in the arrest of the man on Saturday.

He has been charged with murder.


13.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Victoria on board for disability care plan

THE national disability care scheme is a step closer with Victoria agreeing to a full rollout of the plan.

Victoria became the fourth state to sign up to the scheme on Saturday, agreeing to a statewide disability care program by the end of the decade.

The federal government will spend $2.6 billion to establish the scheme, while the state government will contribute $2.5 billion.

Under the deal, Victoria will also receive $244 million a year from 2019-20, to be funded by an increase to the Medicare levy.

Prime Minister Gillard said the deal had been years in the making.

"Every Victorian can feel the peace of mind of knowing that disability care would be there to support them," she told reporters in Melbourne on Saturday.

"I want to say thank you to all of those who have argued for disability care for decades now."

Victorian Premier Denis Napthine said it was a proud day for the state.

"We are a state who have been very much on the front foot of fighting for a national disability insurance scheme," he said.

The Barwon region will begin a trial of the scheme from July this year, with the rollout across the state to be completed before 2019-20.

Dr Napthine said an estimated 100,000 Victorians would benefit.

The Victorian deal means that all jurisdictions except Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory have agreed to be part of the scheme.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said there was enough goodwill across the political divide to ensure the scheme.

"It is going to be an achievement for all sides of politics, for all the people of Australia," he said.

"It will be the sign, the visible institutional sign, of our decency and compassion as a country."

National Disability Services chief executive Dr Ken Baker said both governments should be proud of the agreement.

"The national disability insurance scheme will deliver unquestionable social benefits but it will also provide a boost to the economy," he said.


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Aust 3D breakthrough in growing organs

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 03 Mei 2013 | 13.23

Australian scientists are researching the construction of human body parts by using 3D printing. Source: AAP

SCIENCE fiction could become fact with scientists on the verge of creating human organs by reproducing a patient's own skin cells using a 3D printer.

3D printing uses machines to build body cells layer by layer from digital data.

Researchers from Melbourne's St Vincent's Hospital and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES) in Wollongong are behind the medical breakthrough.

ACES director Professor Gordon Wallace said he believed it would be possible to manufacture living tissues like skin, cartilage, arteries and heart valves using cells and biomaterials within five years.

By 2025, scientists could fabricate complete functional organs, tailored for an individual patient.

"The ability to create or replicate what biology can do will obviously deliver clinical solutions to problems where we can't deliver clinical solutions at the moment," he told reporters.

Using a patient's own cells to create this tissue avoids issues of immune rejection, Prof Wallace said.

"It would have a great impact on people who are waiting for (organ) donors."

Prof Wallace said he was conscious of the ethical dilemmas raised by rapid advancements in the technology.

"Certainly 20 to 30 years ago I didn't think it was possible, even as recently as five years ago. Things have moved incredibly quickly," he said.

"Trying to keep the community, regulators and the commercial sector up to speed with advancements in the area is a real challenge for us."

The technology could provide the solution to several medical challenges, allowing for the testing of drugs on human tissue.

Prof Wallace said the research would receive a boost next month with the launch of an additive biofabrication unit at St Vincent's Hospital, the first of its kind in Australia to be located in a hospital.


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Vic Catholic teachers deregistered

MORE than 30 Catholic school teachers have had their registrations cancelled in the past 11 years for inappropriate behaviour, a Victorian parliamentary inquiry has heard.

The figures cover the period since mandatory reporting of such matters began in Victoria.

Catholic Education Office Melbourne executive director Stephen Elder said 18 teachers had their registrations cancelled for "non discretionary" matters such as sex offences against children and child pornography.

A further 13 have had their registrations cancelled and 10 were suspended for "discretionary matters".

Mr Elder said the office had 152 complaint files but not all may be relevant to the scope of the child abuse inquiry.

He said a policy was in place in schools to protect whistleblowers.


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Inflation tame ahead of federal budget

FEDERAL Treasurer Wayne Swan won't be sounding the alarm on inflation when he hands down the federal budget, with few signs business is passing on rising costs to customers.

New data shows prices at the factory gate remain extremely subdued, thanks in part to the strong Australian dollar curbing the cost of imported components.

It adds to the case for an interest rate cut, although financial markets still see this more likely occurring in June, rather than at Tuesday's monthly Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) board meeting.

Commonwealth Securities economist Savanth Sebastian said it was clear from Friday's producer price index (PPI) for the March quarter, and last week's consumer price index, that inflation remained relatively mild, and could provide room for a rate cut in the near future.

But he is not anticipating a cut in the three per cent cash rate next week.

"Rather, policymakers are likely to wait on the federal budget before deciding if a further rate cut is necessary," Mr Sebastian said in a note to clients.

The PPI at the final stage of production rose just 0.3 per cent in the first three months of 2013, only a minor pick-up from the 0.2 per cent increase in the December quarter.

Annual PPI was 1.6 per cent, staying comfortably below the RBA's two to three per cent inflation target band, and where it has stood since late 2011.

Domestic PPI inflation rose 0.4 per cent in the March quarter, but imported prices fell 0.4 per cent over the same period due to a high dollar.

While Mr Swan may gain some political capital from an interest rate cut in the run up to the September 14 election, he faces a stiff near-term challenge putting together the budget, and trying to fill a $12 billion revenue shortfall since last October.

However, defence appears to have been saved from any new budget cuts.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith, releasing a new defence white paper on Friday, said defence spending will be more than $100 billion over the next four years, and slightly more than projected in last year's budget.

Meanwhile, the Minerals Council of Australia will "vigorously oppose" any clamp down on business tax breaks in the May 14 budget, including deductions for companies funded by high levels of debt and exploration concessions for resources companies.

Council chief Mitch Hooke said changes would be a "naked tax grab" and another impost on a mining sector that already pays more than $20 billion in taxes and royalties a year.

"It needs to get a new trick," Mr Hooke said in a statement.

Elsewhere, the head of one mortgage broker network has warned the government against scrapping the first homeowners grant in its haste to find savings, saying it would cause the housing industry "irreparable damage".

"It has a very deep knock-on effect which flows right across the economy, including manufacturing, construction and employment, and could be potentially devastating," 1300HomeLoan managing director John Kolenda said in a statement.


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Melbourne couple clueless on 'bomb' attack

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 02 Mei 2013 | 13.23

A YOUNG Melbourne couple had their car torn apart by a suspected bomb that shattered windows and shook nearby homes.

But the pair have told detectives they are clueless as to why anyone would target them.

"They are shaken and they are very concerned," Detective Senior Constable Jim Gogorossis said.

The late-night explosion blew up the back of the couple's Ford Territory, which was parked on a Narre Warren nature strip on Wednesday, metres from their home.

While no one was injured in the blast, it was so powerful that some neighbours thought it was an earth tremor.

"I was asleep in bed and all I heard was 'Bang!'" local resident Stephen Rowe said.

"A picture fell off the wall and hit me."

Police believe the explosion was caused by a bomb, but detectives aren't sure if it was meant as a scare tactic or was designed to kill.

"It's very thoughtless and dangerous," Det Snr Const Gogorossis said, adding it was extremely lucky that no one was hurt.

"With people in close proximity and the amount of damage sustained to the houses, it's a very dangerous situation."

The bomb response unit is investigating, as well as the arson squad.

Witnesses have provided only a vague description of vehicles that may have fled the scene just before the blast.


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APN says regional papers doing it tough

APN News & Media says ongoing weakness at its newspapers made for a tough first quarter but conditions are looking brighter in New Zealand and at its radio stations.

The Australian regional business, comprising mastheads in Queensland and northern New South Wales, had a tough first quarter, with revenues down 13 per cent, APN chairman Peter Cosgrove says.

"The slowdown in the mining sector, declines in government spending and floods earlier in the year account for more than half the decline," Mr Cosgrove told shareholders at the company's annual general meeting in Sydney on Thursday.

Conditions were looking a bit brighter across the Tasman, with the improving New Zealand economy helping slow the revenue decline at APN newspapers such as The New Zealand Herald.

And APN's stable of radio stations in both Australia and New Zealand grew market share in the quarter.

The boss of APN's Australian radio network, Ciaran Davis, said although advertising bookings remained short, there were signs of improvement in the market and radio was well placed for revenue growth in the first half of 2013.

Mr Cosgrove became chairman in February after a series of board member resignations and the exit of Brett Chenoweth as chief executive.

Their departures were sparked by disagreement between the board and APN's two major shareholders - Ireland-based Independent News and Media plc and fund manager Allan Gray - over a proposed capital raising to reduce debt.

Mr Cosgrove said a new chief executive was expected to be named within weeks, with the board currently reviewing a shortlist of candidates from inside and outside the company.

Also, APN hoped to appoint two new board members before the end of 2013.

Mr Cosgrove said APN was expecting to reduce net debt by $40 million to $50 million in 2013 through cash generation, management of its cost base and some asset sales.

"At 31 December 2012 we were compliant with our debt covenants and this continues to be the case," he said.

At 1549 AEST, APN was down three cents, or 7.59 per cent, at 36.5 cents.


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McKew swipes at 457 visa reform

FORMER Labor MP Maxine McKew has criticised the party's "obsession" with the foreign worker visa program, saying it damages Australia's international reputation.

In an address to the Australia India Institute Ms McKew warned the plan to tighten the eligibility of the 457 program harked back to "the worst of Labor's past".

"Loud declarations about 'foreigners getting to the back of the queue' and 'Aussie jobs first' are a very unpleasant throwback to a time when unions demanded a protected labour market," she told the gathering at the University of Melbourne on Thursday.

"Historically, that meant it was white labour that had to be protected - and if some in the region saw echoes of that historic artifact, I wouldn't be surprised."

There was no doubt professionals on 457 visas from India, Indonesia, the Middle East and the Philippines would have felt insulted or that they were not welcome, the Kevin Rudd supporter added.

Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor has flagged legislative changes for the program, citing serious breaches of the 457 foreign worker visa program.

He's said there may be more than 10,000 breaches and proposes to introduce reforms when federal parliament resumes in two weeks.

But Ms McKew dismissed the concern and noted Prime Minister Julia Gillard's communications director John McTernan was employed on a 457 visa.

"There is no problem with what is a vital, albeit small, part of our standard immigration program," she said.

"And the hypocrisy of the matter was soon revealed when it was reported that a key member of the prime minister's staff is here in Australia on a 457 (visa) - and the same is true for a number of large unions who have recruited overseas for labour vacancies."

As of March, there were 105,600 457 visa holders in Australia.

Ms McKew said it was counterproductive to attack the program.

"If we want more of our young people to study and work across Asia, then we want to know that they will feel welcome in those countries for the time they are there, and not be the butt of political point-scoring," she said.

Ms McKew, a former journalist, won then prime minister John Howard's Sydney seat of Bennelong at the 2007 election that brought Mr Rudd to power. She served a single term before losing the seat to Liberal Party candidate, John Alexander.


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Melbourne girl, 9, fights off abductor

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 01 Mei 2013 | 13.23

A MAN wanted for attempting to abduct a nine-year-old girl may also be responsible for a sex attack on a Melbourne woman days earlier, police say.

Detective Senior Constable Erol Ali says the girl was in the front yard of her Reservoir home when a man approached on his bicycle on Tuesday evening.

He grabbed her arm but she pulled away and ran inside to tell her mother, before the pair drove after the attacker who escaped on his pushbike.

Det Sen Const Ali said the would-be abductor is of similar appearance to a man wanted for attacking a 42-year-old woman at nearby Fawkner on Friday.

The woman managed to escape when a man grabbed her and told her to take her clothes off as she walked along a bike path.

"It may be the same person," Det Sen Const Ali told reporters on Wednesday.

He said the young girl was terrified at being attacked at her home.

"It's a brazen attack. A nine-year-old girl minding her own business in her own yard, to have a perfect stranger climb in and grab you by the arm would be terrifying," Det Sen Const Ali said.

The man is described as being in his 60s with a Southern European appearance, wearing a denim jacket and jeans.


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Knox says what happened to her was surreal

SEATTLE woman Amanda Knox, whose acquittal in the murder of a British student has been overturned in Italy, says what happened to her was "surreal but it could have happened to anyone".

Amanda Knox told ABC News' Diane Sawyer in an interview airing on the American network on Tuesday night that "I want the truth to come out. I'd like to be reconsidered as a person".

In March, Italy's highest criminal court overturned Knox's acquittal in the 2007 murder of Meredith Kercher and ordered a new trial for Knox. Italian law cannot compel the 25-year-old to return for the new legal proceeding.

Knox told Sawyer the court's decision was "incredibly painful" and she felt as if she had to crawl through another field of barbed wire after reaching what she thought was the end.

She said she was aware of being labelled a seductress, a she-devil and other names in the media, but she said, "They're wrong".

Italian prosecutors have said Knox, who was an exchange student studying in Perugia, Italy, and her then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito killed Kercher in a drug-fuelled sex assault involving a third man from the Ivory Coast. Kercher died of a stab wound to the neck.

Prosecutors maintained that the murder weapon was a large knife taken from Sollecito's house. Prosecutors said the knife matched the wounds on Kercher's body and had traces of Kercher's DNA on the blade and Knox's DNA on the handle.

However, Knox's defenders said she was innocent and was forced to say things she didn't mean during a 14-hour police interrogation. And they said Italian police contaminated the crime scene, producing flawed DNA evidence.

Rudy Guede from the Ivory Coast is serving a 16-year sentence for Kercher's slaying. A new trial also has been ordered for Sollecito.

What happened that night remains a mystery.

"I was in the courtroom when they were calling me a devil," Knox told Sawyer in interview excerpts posted online. "It's one thing to be called certain things in the media, and it's another thing to be sitting in a courtroom fighting for your life while people are calling you a devil.

"For all intents and purposes I was a murderer, whether I was or not. I had to live with the idea that that would be my life," she said.


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Qantas pulls back capacity in March

QANTAS has pulled back the number of seats in the domestic market for a second consecutive month.

The Flying Kangaroo reduced domestic capacity by 0.4 per cent in March and reported a drop in load factors, a measure of how full planes are, of 0.6 percentage points to 77.8 per cent.

By contrast, the airline group's low-cost subsidiary Jetstar continued to pour extra seats into the local market in March, and improve its load factors.

Qantas and Virgin waged a bruising battle in 2012 - Qantas and Jetstar added more flights on many short-haul routes and Virgin swapped smaller Boeing 737s with larger Airbus A330s on services to Perth.

The 10.8 per cent rise in capacity in the six months to December - the highest increase in eight years - forced down airfares and led to weaker earnings for both Qantas and Virgin in the domestic market.

While the latest traffic figures from Australia's two major airlines suggested the period of rapid capacity growth looks to have come to an end, White Funds Management investment manager Peter Borkovec said Qantas was still dealing with the surge in extra seats from 2012.

"Qantas domestic is still struggling with capacity," Mr Borkovec said on Wednesday.

"Jetstar is doing well."

On Wednesday, Qantas said domestic yields - an industry measure of average airfares per passenger - across both Qantas and Jetstar were lower in March compared with a year ago "largely due to increased capacity in the domestic market".

On Tuesday, Virgin Australia reported a 3.1 per cent increase in domestic seats in March, with yields up for the first time in six months.


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Aust stocks higher at noon

Written By Unknown on Senin, 29 April 2013 | 13.23

THE Australian share market has closed higher, propelled by a stronger performance among the big banks.

At the close on Monday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 28.3 points, or 0.56 per cent, at 5,125.8 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index was 25.6 points, or 0.5 per cent, higher at 5,108.3.

On the ASX 24, the June share price index futures contract was 15 points higher at 5,122 with 16,094 contracts traded.


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Opposition rejects 457 visa rort claims

CLAIMS of 457 visa rorts are just a desperate attempt by the federal government to draw attention away from its border protection failures, the opposition says.

On Sunday, Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor said breaches of the foreign worker visa program had been so serious that legislative change was needed.

Breaches of the scheme could "exceed over 10,000" cases, Mr O'Connor said.

But opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison rejected the claim.

"If there are abuses in the visa system, of course we should put the resources in place to ensure those abuses don't occur," he told Fairfax radio on Monday.

"But what the government is doing here is just a desperate attempt, late in the day, to try and distract attention from border protection failures. It's as simple as that."

Asked if the tone of Labor's asylum seeker and foreign worker policies harked back to the days of the Anglo-supremacist White Australia policy, Mr Morrison said the Liberals had abandoned that policy five years before their political rivals.

"The Labor Party has always had those elements that have tried to cling on," he said.

"I'd hoped that we'd got well past that.

"There has been a bipartisanship over the past few decades about the importance of skilled migration to Australia and that ended when Julia Gillard and Brendan O'Connor started trash-talking skilled migration."

Western Australia's Chamber of Commerce and Industry was critical of the government's planned crackdown on 457 visas, saying the program was an important tool for businesses and had served the national economy well in recent years.


13.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

High-tech vans will move prisoners

A NEW fleet of high-tech transport vans to move inmates between facilities in NSW will improve safety for prison guards, the state's attorney-general says.

Four new high-tech escort vehicles will be rolled out over the next year to help with the transfer of detainees between the state's courts and prisons.

The vehicles will include GPS tracking, back-to-base live video streaming, and individual compartments for prisoners.

Launching the vans on Monday, NSW Attorney-General Greg Smith said the improvements would increase safety for prison guards.

"When you have to open a compartment with more than one prisoner there is always a chance that they'll all rush at you at once," Mr Smith said.

"There's only two officers in the van, the driver and the escort, and that's a dangerous situation.

"So, this time they can open the separate compartment...and that's safer."

Mr Smith also said the GPS and live-video streaming would allow for better communication with the prison base at Silverwater Correctional Complex.

Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) Commissioner Peter Severin said the addition of an intercom system in the vehicles would also offer greater protection for prisoners.

He said the changes had come following consultation with the family of an inmate who died of a heart condition in one of the transport vehicles last year.

CSNSW transports approximately 150,000 detainees a year.


13.23 | 0 komentar | Read More
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