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Brisbane policeman bitten during struggle

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 19 Oktober 2013 | 13.23

A Brisbane policeman has been left with a fractured hand while trying to arrest a man, police say. Source: AAP

A BRISBANE policeman has been left with a fractured hand after being bitten while trying to arrest a man, police say.

Police were arresting a man following a disturbance at a Kelvin Grove house on Friday night when another man became violent and tried to intervene, Queensland Police said in a statement.

The second man was tasered, but continued to struggle with police and allegeldy bit an officer's hand.

A woman also shoved and threatened the officers.

Two men, aged 29 and 36, and a woman, 30, will face Brisbane Magistrates Court later this month.

The 29-year-old man has been charged with serious assault of police, as well as two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm and three of obstructing police.

The 36-year-old man has been charged with two counts of assaulting police and one of public nuisance; while the 30-year-old woman has been charged with two counts of obstructing police.


13.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Australia to help ID plane crash victims

Australia will send two forensic experts to help with identifying victims of the Lao Airlines crash. Source: AAP

TWO Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers will help to identify victims of the Lao Airlines crash which killed all on board including six Australians.

A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Lao authorities had agreed to accept an Australian offer of assistance with disaster victim identification (DVI).

Two AFP forensics members will deploy to Thailand to provide disaster victim identification assistance to the Royal Thai Police who are helping Laos authorities with recovery efforts.

AFP liaison officers from the Australian embassy in Bangkok have already deployed to Pakse, Laos, to assist international partners.

The Lao Airlines flight crashed into the Mekong River during a storm on Wednesday, killing all on board and including passengers from 11 countries.

The DFAT spokesman said Australia consular officials in Pakse and Vientiane were in close contact with local authorities.

"Recovery efforts are underway. This will be a difficult process and is expected to continue for some time. The recovery operation and investigation of the accident are the responsibility of local authorities," he said.

The spokesman said there was currently no official confirmation on identities of any Australian victims.

"DVI processes are carried out in accordance with Interpol Guidelines. DVI can be a lengthy and complex process," he said.


13.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Stamp prices to increase

Stamp prices are set to rise after Australia Post lost $187 million on traditional mail services. Source: AAP

STAMP prices are set to rise after Australia Post lost $187 million on traditional mail services.

Australia Post says the number of letters delivered dropped by 263 million to 4.5 billion in the past year.

An Australia Post spokeswoman said it costs more than 60 cents to deliver a letter, which contributed to the price hike.

"The current price of 60 cents to send a letter anywhere in Australia is not an accurate reflection of the true cost for it to be delivered, nor in keeping with inflation," the spokeswoman said.

"Losses in the letter business are expected to increase and we will continue to address ways of limiting the losses. An increase in the basic postage rate would naturally be part of this plan as we look to secure a future for our letters business, while ensuring we maintain all our Community Service Obligations (CSOs)."

Australia Post has delivered the federal government a $244 million dividend in 2012/13, but warns a decline in regular mail bodes badly for the business.

The postal agency's $312 million after-tax profit, up 10.9 per cent on 2011/12, came via strong growth in online shopping, the purchase of the StarTrack parcels service and cuts to running costs.

Chief executive Ahmed Fahour said the volume drop and the absence of a price rise for stamps during the year led to the regulated mail business losing $218.4 million in the past financial year.

"If unchanged, the widening losses in our traditional letter services will eventually stifle positive developments in our parcels business," he said.

Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said the government there are no plans to privatise Australia Post and Labor is opposed to a sale.

Australia Post will consult with the government before increase to the basic postage rate and will complete a price notification process with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.


13.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Vic expects similiar fire season to NSW

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 18 Oktober 2013 | 13.23

VICTORIA'S fire season has the potential to see the same conditions being experienced in NSW, fire authorities say.

Victorian Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley says December to February will be a critical time for the state.

"Let's make sure we learn from NSW in what was a horrible day and has the potential to be that in our summer," he told reporters in Melbourne on Friday.

He said north of the Otways, western and central parts of Victoria and outer parts of Melbourne were a key focus for Victorian firefighters because they were mostly dry and had high grass growth over spring.

"Our early assessment is that we've had spring conditions that are conducive to a lot of growth," he said.

Mr Lapsley said his message to Victorians in October is to clean up properties and for residents to consider the risk to their families in November.

Bushfire Response Minister Kim Wells said Victoria is organised and in a good position to tackle the summer season.

"We are very well organised and very well planned, we have the right amount of equipment and the right amount of training over the winter months," Mr Wells said.

He said the state had gone above its targets for fire prevention burn-offs.


13.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

NZ air force failures put public at risk

AVIATION rules should be scrutinised after the Royal New Zealand Air Force transported dangerous goods on a passenger plane putting hundreds of people at risk, the Civil Aviation Authority says.

In 2009, the NZ air force sent chemical oxygen-generating canisters from Auckland to Vancouver aboard an Air New Zealand flight carrying 379 passengers and crew without notifying the airline.

The canisters, if incorrectly activated, can create a great deal of heat and the oxygen fuels a fire. Similar canisters brought down a US passenger jet in 1996, killing 110 people.

A Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) interim report released last year found the administrative and communicative errors within the air force led to the dangerous goods being on the flight.

It concluded no enforcement action could be taken, but further investigation was needed into safety issues.

In its final report released on Friday, the CAA said aviation rules regarding dangerous goods should be reviewed, including how they relate to the Defence Force.

The CAA and the Defence Force are establishing a memorandum of understanding to improve and formalise communication between the organisations about dangerous goods issues.

The Defence Force had made several changes to reduce the risk of the same thing happening again, the CAA said.

Last year, NZ Air Force Chief Air Vice-Marshal Peter Stockwell admitted a series of safety blunders by sending volatile substances on at least eight commercial flights between 2002 and 2009.

He also admitted the air force misled the Transport Accident Investigation Commission when reporting the Air NZ flight incident in 2009.


13.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Coalition promises add $1bn to budget: PBO

ELECTION commitments made by the victorious federal coalition will have a much more positive impact on the budget than expected, independent analysis shows.

The government's plans will add $7.1 billion to the underlying budget cash balance over the next four years - which is $1 billion bigger than first predicted.

The analysis released on Friday by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) weighs up the spending and cuts promised by the main political parties ahead of the September 7 election.

"This analysis once and for all puts to bed the lies from the Labor party over numerous years that there was a black hole in the coalition's costings," Treasurer Joe Hockey and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said in a joint statement.

"Labor's economic credibility has now been completely shattered."

The coalition's contribution to the budget was also far greater than the outcomes for Labor and the Australian Greens, the PBO found.

Labor's election commitments would have made a net positive contribution of $9.5 million to the budget, while the Greens' promises would have added just over $2 billion.

Mr Hockey will release the update of the May budget before Christmas.

It will show any revisions to the previous Labor government's forecasts for revenue, the budget balance and the economy.

The PBO said the most significant impact on the budget would be the coalition's commitment to scrapping Labor's 30 per cent minerals resource rent tax (MRRT) on big iron ore and coal producers.

"While removing the MRRT leads to revenue forgone of $3.5 billion over the forward estimates, this is more than offset by abolishing associated spending measures, resulting in a net increase of $13.8 billion to the underlying cash balance," it said.

Other major contributions to the budget will be a planned coalition reduction in the public service head count by 12,000 positions through natural attrition to save $5.2 billion.

The government also wants to limit growth in foreign aid to save $4.5 billion.

The biggest negatives to the budget will be the removal of Labor's carbon tax ($7.3 billion), a reduction in the company tax rate to 28.5 per cent ($4.9 billion) and the coalition's infrastructure package ($4.7 billion).

Chris Bowen, who was confirmed as Labor's shadow treasurer on Friday, said the true state of the budget won't be known until there was a formal update through the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO).

Mr Bowen said the coalition had "repeatedly and recklessly" claimed that Australia faced a "budget emergency" and further revenue downgrades since the election.

He said if Mr Hockey and Prime Minister Tony Abbott still believed there was a budget emergency, MYEFO should be released as a matter of urgency.

"It's simply not good enough for Mr Abbott and Mr Hockey to claim for months we face a budget emergency then try and sneak out MYEFO a week or two before Christmas like the coalition has done in the past," Mr Bowen said in a statement.

Australian Greens leader Christine Milne said for all of the coalition's scaremongering about debts and deficits, the report confirmed debt would be higher after the first term of an Abbott government than at the beginning and there was no plan for a surplus.


13.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Blue Mountains father loses home in blaze

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 17 Oktober 2013 | 13.23

A BLUE Mountains father has told of his anguish at losing his life-long family home in an out of control bushfire.

Joe Moore was on the phone to his son, a Rural Fire Service volunteer firefighter, as he was trying to protect their family home from a out-of-control blaze at Springwood on Thursday.

"All the neighbours were trying (to protect it) and then they got evacuated and my son got to stay back and tried to fight it but it got too much," he said.

Mr Moore said he heard the firefighters yell out to his son that they had lost the home before being forced to flee the fast-moving flames.

"I have been here all my life," he said.

"It was a dream home."

Despite the enormity of his loss, Mr Moore said there had been no loss of life, and homes could be replaced.

Mr Moore lived in the property with his wife, three sons and four Aboriginal boys he was a foster carer for.

"They tried as hard as they could to save it but the winds just got too bad and they couldn't save it," he said.

Despite the shock of losing his home and facing the uncertain task of finding a roof to put over his family of nine, Mr Moore is tending to others in need at an evacuation centre at Springwood Golf Club.

Mr Moore, a golf professional from the club, said the gusty winds contributed to the "perfect storm".

"You have fires up here all your life and we haven't lost a lot but the fires and the winds have always been favourable," he said.

"It's one of those things, if you want to live up in the Blue Mountains ... it's a beautiful place to live but it has the dangers of nature's ferocity like we had today."


13.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Atlas Iron going through good patch

ATLAS Iron says it's going through a good patch thanks to buoyant iron ore prices and a record boost in production.

Chairman David Flanagan says the company is making solid margins as it posts an eight per cent increase in ore shipments in the September quarter.

"We're having a good patch right now but we're ploughing it all back in," Mr Flanagan told ABC radio in Perth.

He revealed that the company was making around $35 to $40 per tonne on its shipments to China.

"If you're one of the majors who can get iron ore into China for $60 or $65 (per tonne) and sell it for $120 you're doing really well," Mr Flanagan said.

"If you're Atlas, you're getting it in to China for $75 and selling it for $110/$115."

In contrast, he said, miners in the gold, nickel and copper sectors were doing it tough.

Atlas shipped 2.4 billion wet tonnes of iron ore in the September quarter, up from 2.2 billion tonnes in the previous three-month period.

It was a 50 per cent increase on the September 2012 quarter.

Unaudited EBITDA was $91 million for the three-month period.

"Strong production from Atlas' existing operations, together with the commissioning and ramp-up of the Abydos mine, resulted in another quarter of record production and shipments," Atlas said in a statement on Thursday.

The Pilbara-focused company added that it was on track to reach its 2014 full year guidance of 9.8 million to 10.3 million tonnes after reporting cash operating costs of $49 to $53 per tonne in the quarter.

Atlas expects strong customer demand for 2014 contracts and less discounting.

Managing director Ken Brinsden said the company was investing $90 million in mine and infrastructure growth projects and $22 million in dividend payments to shareholders.

"The continued strong iron ore price coupled with a focus on cost control and expanded production, has enabled Atlas to maintain gross cash on hand at $378 million," Mr Brinsden said.

Atlas was fully funded to achieve its targeted export rate of 12 million tonnes per annum, he said.

Atlas shares gained one cent to $1.035.


13.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Seat gone, but Vic Liberal wants to stay

THE most high-profile victim of Victoria's electoral boundary redistributions says she hopes to remain in parliament despite her seat being abolished.

Liberal frontbencher Mary Wooldridge will lose her seat of Doncaster while the northern Victorian seat of Rodney, held by the Nationals, will also go.

Ms Wooldridge said she hopes to remain in parliament.

"I want to continue as a member of the Napthine government after the next election and am confident that a suitable opportunity will be found," she said in a statement on Thursday.

In a major shake-up of electoral boundaries, 15 seats will be abolished or have their names changed.

The changes will even up the number of electors in each seat and are the result of a growing population in Melbourne and shrinking populations in some regional areas.

Victorian National Party leader Peter Ryan said country people are the big losers in the changes.

"This is a disappointing outcome for country Victoria in the first instance, the seat of Rodney, a National Party-held seat, has been abolished and that means one less voice in this parliament on behalf of country Victorians," he told reporters.

Rodney MP Paul Weller said the Electoral Boundaries Commission had made its decision, despite a number of submissions from his constituents.

He would not be drawn on whether he would seek to contest another seat in the November 2014 election.

"We have got to wait for the dust to settle and we will have a look at it, see what opportunities arise," Mr Weller told reporters.

The changes are expected to make it tougher for Labor to hold several seats including Ripon, Monbulk and Ballarat West.

Member for Ballarat West Sharon Knight said the redistribution would make her battle to retain the seat even tougher.

"I think it makes a marginal seat a bit more marginal," she said.

Ms Knight, whose seat will now be known as Wendouree, will lose the Labor area of Sebastopol from her electorate.

Labor state secretary Noah Carroll described the redistribution as "fair across the board".

He said all preselections would be finalised before Christmas.

Mr Carroll expects "carnage" when the Liberal and National parties field candidates against each other in country Victoria.

Liberal state director Damien Mantach said the party was analysing of the new boundaries and would have further discussions about preselections, particularly for new seats and those that have changed dramatically.

"In regards to those MPs whose seats have been abolished or dramatically redrawn, the premier, state president, state director and the administrative committee of the party will have discussions with affected MPs to determine the best course of action in relation to preselections," he said.


13.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

NSW govt accused of crown 'land grab'

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 16 Oktober 2013 | 13.24

AN "unholy alliance" in the NSW parliament could mean girl guides, scouts and rural bushfire services are thrown off crown land, according to Premier Barry O'Farrell.

The government says changes to the Crown Lands Act are needed to ensure secondary tenures on crown land, such as stock routes, cemeteries and showgrounds, can continue.

A bill passed the lower house without amendment on Wednesday but Mr O'Farrell said an "unholy alliance" of NSW Greens, the Shooters and Fishers Party and Labor could derail it in the upper house.

Mr O'Farrell told parliament that 7000 of the 59,000 tenures over crown land may be affected.

These included men's sheds, libraries, council chambers, bushfire brigades and surf clubs.

But Labor MP Carmel Tebutt said the changes were a "smokescreen for a crown land grab".

She said they would accord extraordinary power to the government to grant uses on crown land.

The amendments could allow secondary leases to be granted, even if they are not for a public purpose and are incompatible and inconsistent with the reason the crown reserve was granted, she added.

The government introduced the changes last month after a court decision, known as the Goomallee Claim, found that a grazing licence on crown land reserved for public recreation was unlawful.


13.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hockey sees sub-trend growth for some time

FEDERAL Treasurer Joe Hockey has warned that the Australian economy is likely to continue to grow below trend for some time.

Australia's failure to embrace reform had, he said, led to a deterioration in productivity "over and above" the dampening impact of the fading mining investment boom.

"Further structural reform is needed to lift the underlying potential of our economy," Mr Hockey told the American Australian Association in New York.

While he was encouraged by a rebound in business confidence following last month's election of the coalition government, he added that "we are mindful that decisive action is required to build on these positive signs".

New figures released on Wednesday show the economy has lost momentum since the start of this year.

The annualised growth rate of the Westpac-Melbourne Institute leading index, which indicates the likely pace of economic activity in three to nine months, was 3.2 per cent in August.

This is above the long-term trend of 2.9 per cent but a fall from 4.4 per cent in March.

"The loss of momentum ... suggests the (Reserve Bank of Australia's) 25 basis-point rate cut in August was a timely shot in the arm for growth," Westpac chief economist Bill Evans said.

"We expect further boosts will be required to support momentum through the difficult transition from mining to non-mining led growth."

Westpac is forecasting economic growth of 2.5 per cent in 2013 and 2.3 per cent in 2014, well below the national trend rate of about 3.25 per cent.

Westpac said the current political impasse over raising the US debt ceiling by October 17 poses significant threats to both US and world growth, with a default potentially sending a "financial shockwave" through global markets.

Global credit rating agency Fitch put the world's largest economy on notice that it could lose its AAA rating.

Mr Hockey said restoring fiscal sustainability is a high priority for the coalition government to make the economy more resilient against inevitable future shocks.

He intends to release his first mid-year budget review before Christmas, and not in January as previously flagged.

The government is determined to return to surplus and will deliver a taxation reform agenda that it will ask Australians to endorse at the next election, Mr Hockey said.

While BDO national tax director Lance Cunningham approved of the commitment to tax reform, he was concerned the government has chosen to delay implementation until after 2016, describing it as a "significant delay".

"The Henry report was delivered over three years ago ... it has done much of the background research required for implementing tax reform," he said in a statement.


13.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Groves' wife made up forgery claims: court

The wife of former ABC Learning childcare tycoon Eddy Groves lied about forgery, a court has found. Source: AAP

THE wife of former ABC Learning childcare tycoon Eddy Groves signed off for millions in the company's shares then pretended her husband had forged her signature, a judge has ruled.

Le Neve Groves was seeking compensation having claimed she never signed over $33 million of ABC Learning shares that were used as a guarantee for bank loans taken out by Mr Groves.

The margin loans were granted between 2004 and 2006 before ABC shares plunged in 2008 and the business went into liquidation.

Dr Groves said she was entitled to recover the $33 million made by Citibank Singapore, CitiGroup and BT Securities when they sold the shares in 2008.

But Supreme Court Judge Glenn Martin on Wednesday dismissed Dr Groves' claim.

He found she had signed the relevant documents and "constructed a series of falsehoods" to try to convince the court otherwise.

The judge said much of Dr Groves' evidence during a trial earlier this year could not be believed.

"In some facets it was exaggerated, in others it was the subject of reconstruction and, in some important matters, it was simply untrue and deliberately so," he said in a written judgement published on Wednesday.

Judge Martin said evidence from handwriting experts that the signatures on relevant documents were written by Dr Groves was convincing, and to his own eye they appeared to have been written by her.

He cast doubt on her claims that financial documents were too complex for her to understand, saying she'd held a number of senior positions in childcare organisations and had a PhD in education.

Dr Groves had sobbed during the trial when giving evidence that her ex-husband was manipulative and physically abusive and had controlled her financial affairs.

The judge said he hadn't needed to consider these allegations because Dr Groves had abandoned her claim of undue influence late in the trial.


13.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Qld MPs handed eight per cent pay rise

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 15 Oktober 2013 | 13.23

QUEENSLAND politicians will receive an eight per cent pay rise, taking their base salary to $148,848.

Queensland's independent remuneration tribunal made the determination on Tuesday and also tweaked the rules for allowances.

Chairman Tim Brailsford says Queensland MPs sit more and work longer hours than other jurisdictions and deserve the pay rise.

"Queensland MPs are amongst the lowest paid in the country," he said.

"The determination represents the most significant piece of reform to Queensland MPs' remuneration in almost 50 years."

Additional payments that top up the salaries of ministers and other office holders will be determined at a later date.

The tribunal has also created a new structure to manage allowances and entitlements from January.

The existing 30 categories have been whittled down to just three, including allowances for travel, electorate expenditure, and information and communication.

Allowances will vary depending on an electorate's population and size.

MPs will be required to keep receipts and report every six months.

"The current system of discretionary allowances, which is subject to no acquittal or reporting, will cease at the end of the year," Prof Brailsford said.

"We had a legislative duty to go and ensure that the allowance system was not seen as a de facto salary."

The tribunal was set up in August to decide on a new pay scale for MPs after anger over a cabinet decision to approve a whopping $57,000 a year pay rise for members.


13.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Telstra defends CEO's pay packet

Australia's biggest telco, Telstra, will spend billions on its 4G mobile network this year. Source: AAP

TELSTRA has defended chief executive David Thodey's $8.8 million pay packet after a shareholder questioned whether the telco's performance justified such a salary.

At the telco's annual general meeting in Sydney, shareholder David Jackson questioned an 8.7 per cent increase that lifted Mr Thodey's base pay to $2.65 million last year.

The CEO also received millions in bonuses and incentive-based shares.

"If you can allow an 8.7 per cent increase in the base pay of Mr Thodey, it doesn't sit very well with many shareholders and many employees because they have not received anything like that," he said during questions from the floor of an otherwise low-key meeting.

Mr Jackson said Telstra's earnings had been flat over the past five years, and was applauded by most of the 500-strong audience when he said shareholders were "paying lots of money and quite often for results which are not very satisfactory".

Chairman Catherine Livingstone said executives were rewarded according to their performance, and defended Telstra's recent results, saying the market and technology had undergone enormous change.

"Every year David Thodey and his team have to cope with the fact that half a billion dollars of revenue on fixed-line voice will no longer be there," Ms Livingstone said.

"That revenue has to be replaced.

"We regard the performance of the executive team in managing the business model change in Telstra as warranting the remuneration that we provide."

The remuneration report was passed with 98 per cent shareholder support.

Telstra faced further criticism from the Community and Public Sector Union, which mounted a small protest outside the AGM over more than 3,000 jobs cut by the telco this year.

Ms Livingstone said Telstra's workforce was "rebalancing".

"While we have proposed that in our operations workforce, certain roles will reduce by around 1,100 jobs by June next year, we have made other announcements recently that could result in close to 1,000 jobs being added by operations in other areas," she said.

Mr Thodey also signalled further cost savings.

"We believe there remains further opportunity to improve operational efficiency while growing new business opportunities," he said.

Telstra would continue to spend the same percentage of its sales revenue on the rollout of the 4G mobile network, he added.

Telstra's capital expenditure was $3.8 billion in 2012/13.

"We expect capital expenditure to be around 15 per cent of sales as we continue to build out our 4G mobile network and complete the build of the NBN transit network," he said.

Ms Livingstone said the telco would continue working under existing contracts for the National Broadband Network while the new federal government carried out reviews of the project.

Telstra shares added seven cents to $5.00 on Tuesday.


13.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Too soon to judge NSW silence laws: govt

THE NSW government says it is too soon to say whether new legislation that weakens people's once historic right to silence is working or not.

NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione on Tuesday said officers were concerned that the laws, which have recently come into effect, are unworkable in their present form.

An unfavourable inference can be drawn if an accused person fails to mention something during police questioning that they later rely on in their defence.

In order for the laws to apply a solicitor must be present, among other requirements.

Mr Scipione says this has resulted in "circumnavigation" by some solicitors, who aren't attending police interviews to dodge the law.

But Premier Barry O'Farrell says it's too soon to say that the legislation wasn't working.

He says it would be "absolutely disappointing" if lawyers were seeking to misuse the legislation.

"If people have nothing to hide, they should be prepared to make full and open statements to police," he said on Tuesday.

The coalition government flagged the amendments when police investigations into a spate of drive-by shootings in Sydney's west were frustrated by "a veil of silence".

But the laws have always caused disquiet among the legal profession, with worries they tip the balance in favour of the prosecution.

NSW Bar Association president Phillip Boulten SC said earlier this year that the amendments would be ineffectual against the well-heeled, organised crime suspects they sought to entrap.

"The suspect can ring their lawyer whilst they are in the police station and, unless the lawyer actually comes into the room with the investigating officer and their client, the law won't apply," Mr Boulten told AAP in March.

He said then that the real fear lawyers had was that the law's scope would eventually be broadened.


13.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Vic Cootes trucks cleared for deliveries

Written By Unknown on Senin, 14 Oktober 2013 | 13.24

NEARLY 40 per cent of Cootes Transport vehicles taken off the road in Victoria have been cleared to resume fuel deliveries to service stations.

VicRoads had grounded 79 prime movers and trailers for severe defects during a sweeping fleet review prompted by a fuel tanker explosion in Sydney that involved a Cootes vehicle.

But the state road safety authority had cleared 31 vehicles to return to the road by Monday morning, a VicRoads spokeswoman said.

Another 64 vehicles with defect notices for less severe issues such as frayed seat belts were also given the all-clear on Monday following repairs.

More than 200 vehicles have been inspected in the state since last week, with 181 receiving a defect notice.

A total of 48 Cootes vehicles remain grounded in Victoria without a road worthy certificate.

The NSW Roads and Maritime Services also grounded 10 vehicles and issued the company with 244 defect notices during its own inspections.

The audit in both states had impacted on some petrol deliveries in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.


13.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Abbott recommits to disability insurance

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has recommitted the coalition to rolling out the national disability insurance scheme and maintaining individual allowances and benefits for carers.

Launching Carers Week in Canberra on Monday, Mr Abbott said the previous coalition government had a strong record when it came to carers and people with disabilities.

He said the Howard government was able to give very substantial bonuses to carers in its last four budgets.

"We were able to do that because good economic management had provided substantial surpluses that the government was able to distribute in this way," Mr Abbott said.

The Abbott government would aim to exceed its predecessors' spending on disability services and focus its attention on the national disability insurance scheme.

The NDIS, which is due to start in full by 2019, had been "one very good thing" to come out of the previous parliament, Mr Abbott said.

There was a "very, very long way to go" to implement the scheme, Mr Abbott said, adding that the trials now underway were a good start.

"We will make this work. This is too important for our country to fail this test," he said.

In its election policy document, the coalition committed to "unequivocally maintain the carer payment, carer allowance and carer supplement".


13.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Malaysian oppn leader to visit Adelaide

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim will speak at Adelaide's Festival of Ideas. Source: AAP

MALAYSIAN opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is to appear at Adelaide's Festival of Ideas this weekend.

Premier Jay Weatherill said the festival had a history of bringing prominent thinkers to Adelaide and was proud to host the leading democracy campaigner.

"There are strong demands for strengthening democracies around the world - both in mature democracies and in some of the newer democracies," he said in a statement.

Independent Senator Nick Xenophon said Mr Anwar was a beacon of hope for democracy, not just in Malaysia but for the entire region.

"Despite over six years' imprisonment in solitary confinement on false charges - eventually quashed - and being severely beaten in custody, Answar remains an inspirational and optimistic icon for democratic change," he said.

Senator Xenophon, who was deported and banned from Malaysia earlier this year, said it was great Mr Anwar could come to Adelaide to share his experiences and insights.

Mr Anwar will appear in conversation with ABC broadcaster Waleed Aly on Saturday.

Adelaide's ninth Festival of Ideas opens on October 17 with a keynote address from cosmologist Paul Davies.


13.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

GG offered Abbott her resignation

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 13 Oktober 2013 | 13.23

PM Tony Abbott has declined to accept the resignation of Governor-General Quentin Bryce (pic). Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has revealed Governor-General Quentin Bryce offered to resign in anticipation of Bill Shorten's election as Labor leader.

Ms Bryce, who is the mother-in-law of Mr Shorten, wanted to avoid any perception of bias.

"I have thanked her for her magnanimity but declined to accept her resignation," Mr Abbott said in a statement on Sunday.

Instead the prime minister asked Ms Bryce to stay on until March 2014, when she is due to retire.

Ms Bryce's agreement to stay on was a measure of her personal commitment to provide continuity at a time of political turbulence, Mr Abbott said.

"She should be commended for her dedication to public service."

It was only "fit and proper" that Ms Bryce be permitted to conclude her term and be accorded the appropriate farewell that her exemplary service merited, he said.


13.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Port Stephens fire threatening properties

A BUSHFIRE in the NSW Hunter region is burning out of control and threatening properties.

Police are evacuating people on the corner of Browns Road and Rooks Road in Port Stephens.

The NSW Rural Fire Service is urging residents in Lemon Tree Passage, Mallabula, Bobs Farm and Tanilba Bay to take shelter as the fire-front approaches.

The fire service says the blaze is burning in extremely dangerous conditions and travelling in a southeast direction.

"Under these conditions, fires are uncontrollable, unpredictable and fast-moving," they said in a statement on Sunday.

Embers may be blown up to 6km ahead of a fire, creating spot fires that will move quickly and in different directions.

"These spot fires may threaten your home earlier than the predicted main fire front," the NSW Rural Fire Service warns.

It was 34C in Sydney at 3.15pm (AEDT) on Sunday and the temperature was rising toward the forecast of 36C.

A change sweeping through the state is expected to drop temperatures by as much as 10 degrees when it reaches Wollongong by 6pm and Sydney by 9pm.

The Bureau of Meteorology says the strong cold front will bring damaging winds of around 50 km/h with peak gusts of 90km/h.

The NSW Rural Fire Service has banned the lighting of fires for Sunday in large parts of NSW, including greater Sydney.

Meanwhile, firefighters are gaining the upper hand in a grass fire burning near Grey Gum Terrace, Northmead, in Sydney's northwest.

Authorities urge residents to call triple zero if they believe their lives are at risk.

A NSW Rural Fire Service spokeswoman warned the changing weather conditions could also include dry lightning.

"That could potentially pose further threats in terms of starting fires," she said.


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Vic boy killed crossing train tracks

A TEENAGE boy has been killed by a train in Victoria as he attempted to change platforms by crossing the tracks.

The boy was at Riddells Creek train station, about 50km north of Melbourne, when he was hit by a train bound for Bendigo about 2pm (AEDT), police say.

He died at the scene.


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