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Plibersek lashes WA premier

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 02 November 2013 | 13.24

DEPUTY federal Labor leader Tanya Plibersek has taken a swipe at West Australian Premier Colin Barnett, saying he has "broken promise after promise" since winning a second term.

Ms Plibersek used much of her address at the state Labor Party's annual conference in Belmont on Saturday to lash the Liberal leader.

"Like the Liberal state premiers in the eastern states, Colin Barnett is showing the people of WA a little preview of what they can expect from a Tony Abbott government," she said.

"You say as little as possible to get elected and you do your worst once you get there."

She lambasted Mr Barnett for cuts to education, closing wheat-belt rail lines, a 12.5 per cent increase in land tax and his government's failure to deliver a pledged redevelopment of Royal Perth Hospital.

"West Australians did not get the Colin Barnett they voted for," Ms Plibersek said.

Also at the conference, there were several references to the need for unity in the party, while Ms Plibersek paid tribute to Labor Senator Louise Pratt, who had endured weeks of stress waiting to find out whether she had retained her seat.

The Australian Electoral Commission will announce the results of the WA Senate recount and distribution of preferences after 2pm (WST).


13.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Labor playing games on carbon: Cormann

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann says the coalition is committed to scrapping the carbon tax. Source: AAP

FINANCE Minister Mathias Cormann says the coalition will do "whatever we need to do" to scrap the carbon tax, but stopped short of threatening a double dissolution election if Labor blocks its repeal legislation.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten on Friday announced Labor would back a bill to scrap the carbon tax, but only if the government supported amendments to introduce an emissions trading scheme in its place.

But Senator Cormann dismissed the offer as Labor "playing games".

"Whether it is a fixed price carbon tax or floating price carbon tax, our commitment is crystal clear, the carbon tax must go," he told Sky News on Saturday morning.

"Bill Shorten and the Labor Party are in denial about the election result. The Australian people overwhelmingly voted to get rid of the carbon tax. The Labor Party's thumbing their nose at the Australian people."

Asked if the government would call a double dissolution election if Labor blocked its carbon tax repeal laws, Senator Cormann would only say: "We will do whatever we need to do to deliver on our commitment to scrap the carbon tax".

"Obviously our preference is for the parliament to respect our mandate, to respect the will of the Australian people, to let the government get on with what we promised we would do during the election," he said.

But Labor's Matt Thistlethwaite said Labor had a long-standing policy supporting an emissions trading scheme.

"We're not going to roll over for cynical political means," he told Sky News.

"We need a policy that will be able to cap emissions, guarantee that we'll be able to reduce emissions in time in a cheap and cost effective manner.

"The government should seriously consider ... looking at the amendments that Labor will put forward, they will be sensible amendments that will work in the long term."

Deputy federal Labor leader Tanya Plibersek also defended her party's insistence on an emissions trading scheme, saying the Abbott government's push to scrap the carbon tax "defies science".

"The vast majority of scientists internationally say that climate change is happening, that it's caused by carbon pollution," Ms Plibersek told reporters on the sidelines of the West Australian Labor party conference in Perth.

"We say that we must act and indeed Tony Abbott says that we must act, but he's proposing a system where you take taxpayer dollars and give them to big polluters.

"We're proposing a system where you take taxpayer dollars from big polluters and use that in helping ordinary Australia cope with climate change.


13.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Man hid drug ice in his underpants: police

A SYDNEY man has allegedly been caught with $11,000 worth of the party drug ice hidden in his underpants.

Police say they were patrolling the Surry Hills nightclub strip Oxford Street on Saturday when they saw two men acting suspiciously about 4am (AEDT).

Officers stopped and searched the men's car, and a check revealed one was wanted on an outstanding warrant and he was arrested.

The 23-year-old was taken to Surry Hills police station, where it's alleged 41 bags of methamphetamine were found in his underpants.

Police estimate the alleged haul had a street value of $11,000.

More than $4000 cash was also seized during the search, police say.

The man, from Westmead, has been charged with dealing with property suspected of being proceeds of crime, supplying a prohibited drug and possession of a prohibited drug. He was also charged over the outstanding warrant.

He was refused bail during an appearance at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday, police say, and is due to reappear in court next week.


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Tripodi 'disappointed' by Obeid's secrets

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 01 November 2013 | 13.24

Former NSW Labor minister Joe Tripodi will be investigated by the state's corruption watchdog. Source: AAP

FORMER NSW minister Joe Tripodi has denied he was betrayed by his political mentor Eddie Obeid, who didn't reveal hidden family interests in leases he lobbied the government over.

But Mr Tripodi told the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) he was "extremely disappointed" the former Labor kingmaker didn't inform him of family investments in two restaurants and a cafe on government controlled land at Circular Quay.

It came as the ICAC inquiry into alleged untoward behaviour by Mr Obeid was widened on Friday to consider whether Mr Tripodi also acted corruptly.

On Friday the ICAC heard the enterprises at the quay were owned by a front company controlled by an Obeid trust, with associate and relative John Aboud acting as the face of the business.

"If, as you say, Mr Obeid did not tell you that his family had interests in Circular Quay, then ... do you not regard his behaviour to you ... as a complete betrayal," Assistant Commissioner Anthony Whealy asked Mr Tripodi.

"Definitely I would have preferred if he had told me. I'm very disappointed, extremely disappointed," Mr Tripodi replied.

The scope of the inquiry has been extended to also investigate allegations Mr Tripodi did in fact know the Obeid family secretly owned leases.

Mr Tripodi's former deputy chief of staff, Lynne Ashpole, told te hearing on Thursday that her boss told her in 2006 about the Obeids' stake in the lucrative cafes, which earned the family about $2.5 million a year.

"In view of the evidence that was given, I should indicate that I propose now to amend the scope of the allegation ... by including ... Mr Tripodi," Commissioner Whealy said on Friday.

During his time in the witness box, Mr Tripodi also denied he had changed policy governing the leases at Mr Obeid's request.

The leases were to go out to public tender when they expired in August 2005.

But they weren't renewed until 2009, without going to public tender.

Mr Tripodi, who was Minister for Ports from February 2006 until November 2009, was initially in favour of seeking expressions of interest.

He denied changes were made at the request of Mr Obeid, who Mr Tripodi agreed was urging a shift in policy.

A phone transcript tabled in the ICAC showed calls in August and September 2007 between Mr Obeid, Mr Tripodi and Steve Dunn, a senior bureaucrat who had come into the ports ministry after heading up the fisheries department under Mr Obeid.

Mr Dunn is also being investigated for corruption.

"Was the matter being discussed in the course of these telephone conversations ... the development of the commercial lease policy?" counsel assisting Ian Temby, QC, asked Mr Tripodi.

"No," Mr Tripodi replied.

"Definitely not between myself and Mr Obeid."

The hearing, which is investigating whether Mr Obeid lobbied several state ministers to change the Circular Quay leases, continues next week.

It's expected to last three weeks.


13.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Macquarie profit rises as markets recover

SHARES in Macquarie Group climbed to their highest level in four years after the investment bank's half year profit rose by 39 per cent to $501 million.

Macquarie has also pointed to a stronger full year result, lifted its dividend payment and decided to transfer its holding in Sydney Airport directly to its shareholders.

The shares hit a high of $53.44 on Friday, their highest value since October 2009, before closing at $53.10, up $2.06, or four per cent.

Macquarie's net profit in the six months to September 30 was up from $361 million last year.

Chief executive Nicholas Moore said its annuity business recorded a 24 per cent increase in profit, while earnings from the capital markets business also rose significantly.

The improved performance was likely to continue into the second half of the bank's financial year, assuming market conditions do not deteriorate significantly, he said.

"We think for the full year the group will be up on where we were last year," Mr Moore said.

Improving share markets and corporate activity have boosted Macquarie's performance, and it is well positioned to take advantage of the pick up in markets over the medium term, he said.

The company will pay interim dividend of $1 per share, up from 75 cents for the same time last year.

It will also distribute its holding in Sydney Airport directly to shareholders, who will receive one Sydney Airport share for every Macquarie share they own.

Morningstar analyst David Ellis said the result suggested Macquarie was rebounding after underperforming in recent years due to weakness in stock markets.

"The strong operating performance and the Sydney Airport distribution confirms our positive view and suggests Macquarie is on the way back to doing what it does best - taking full advantage of the recovery in equity and investment markets," he said.

Mr Ellis expects Macquarie's full year profit to grow by more than 25 per cent to almost $1.1 billion, which would be its largest annual profit since the global financial crisis.


13.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Labor stands by emissions trading scheme

Anthony Albanese says Labor believes a market-based mechanism is the best way to reduce emissions. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott's plan to abolish the carbon tax may have to wait at least nine months after the Labor shadow cabinet agreed to block the bills unless the government moves to an emissions trading scheme in 2014.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says Labor will seek to amend the government's repeal laws after they are introduced in the first week of parliament starting on November 12.

"The opposition will move amendments consistent with our pre-election commitments to terminate the carbon tax on the basis of moving to an effective emissions trading scheme," Mr Shorten said.

"However, if our amendments are not successful we will oppose the government's repeal legislation, in line with our long-held principle position to act on climate change."

Mr Abbott argues his election win gives him a clear mandate to abolish Labor's carbon tax and associated climate change agencies and replace them with his Direct Action plan.

But Mr Shorten said Labor is not a "rubber stamp" for Mr Abbott.

"We won't be bullied, and I won't be bullied by Tony Abbott merely because he doesn't accept the science of climate change," Mr Shorten said on Friday.

Environment Minister Greg Hunt says the trading scheme is "exactly the same" as a carbon tax and the government would not support it.

Mr Hunt said repealing the carbon tax would save households $550 a year.

Business Council of Australia chief Jennifer Westacott wants the opposition to support the coalition's legislation.

"The last thing business and the economy needs is for actions by the parliament to lead to one of the world's highest carbon prices remaining in place for an extended and uncertain period," Ms Westacott said.

Under Labor's carbon pricing regime, big polluters paid a fixed price per tonne of emissions ahead of a planned shift to a market-based pricing mechanism in 2014.

The new government has the numbers in the House of Representatives to pass its legislation but Labor and the Greens will amend the bills in the Senate.

The detail of Labor's amendments, which are yet to receive full caucus endorsement, will be released before parliament starts and the party will support a Senate inquiry into the bills.

Labor's decision lays the groundwork for a possible double-dissolution election, which Mr Abbott has said is an option if he can't pass his bills.

This could occur if the lower house fails to accept the Senate-amended bills, or the Senate rejects the bills outright, and the same thing occurs when they are reintroduced after a period of three months.

"We will not stop until the carbon tax is repealed," Mr Hunt said.

"We will take each step methodically and with complete intention until the carbon tax is repealed."

The government is likely to get its way in the Senate after July 1 when conservative crossbench senators who oppose the carbon tax take up their seats.


13.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tensions rise in Vic police holding cells

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 30 Oktober 2013 | 13.24

PRISONERS and police officers are unhappy that offenders are kept in police cells due to overcrowded jails.

The Police Association of Victoria says fights have broken out between prisoners kept in police holding areas due to the cramped conditions, putting further pressure on officers.

Court cases will be scheduled on weekends as part of attempts to get matters dealt with as quickly as possible and tackle the problem of overcrowded remand cells.

Police Association assistant secretary Bruce McKenzie says officers are outraged at being taken away from police duties to babysit prisoners.

"We are getting inundated with complaints from our members who have police cells attached to them, who are overburdened by the responsibilities of looking after prisoners in police cells who ought to be in Corrections Victoria facilities," Mr McKenzie said.

Mr McKenzie says the situation has passed crisis point and was becoming a safety concern for prisoners and police officers.

"It is extremely tense in police cells, prisoners are being kept in there for too long," he said.

He said police cells were unsuitable for prisoners and never designed to accommodate them long-term due to the lack of exercise facilities, no programs and not enough access to natural light.

Mr McKenzie says the government needs to act quickly and find a temporary place to hold low-risk prisoners such as a disused military or government facility.

He says prisoners in cells in Ringwood have been fighting with each other due to the cramped conditions.

Attorney-General Robert Clark said weekend court sittings were "well-advanced" and were being scheduled while new prison places are constructed, with the government, corrections and police working together.

"Weekend sittings of the magistrates court are one of the proposed initiatives that have arisen as a result of that collaboration," Mr Clark said.

Opposition police spokeswoman Jacinta Allan said the prison system was not coping with the crisis that was created by overcrowding.

"It is a significant problem, it is a system that is at crisis and breaking point," Ms Allan said.

"Communities in the suburbs and regional victoria are deeply concerned about what it means for their community safety and law and order," she said.

She said up to 500 police a week are being taken off frontline duties to babysit prisoners in police cells.

Costs have recently been awarded against Corrections Victoria in cases where prisoners have not been brought to court, including a $2300 order made on Wednesday because a defendant was not taken to court on the first day of his murder committal hearing last week.

Corrections Victoria says temporary accommodation is being created at prisons to help ease the backlog while prisoners may appear in court via videolink where possible.


13.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mini space shuttle skids off runway

A new, smaller version of NASA's space shuttle is recuperating from a rough first landing. Source: AAP

A NEW, smaller version of NASA's space shuttle is recuperating from a rough first landing.

The Dream Chaser space plane is being designed by Sierra Nevada Corp. It's vying to carry astronauts to and from the International Space Station in four or five more years.

The Nevada-based company tested a full-scale model at Edwards Air Force Base in California on Saturday. A helicopter dropped the unmanned craft from 3800 metres in a first free flight reminiscent of NASA's drop tests of the shuttle prototype Enterprise in the 1970s.

Everything worked well for the automated Dream Chaser model until the end, when the left landing gear deployed too late and the test vehicle skidded off the runway.

Company space systems chief Mark Sirangelo said on Tuesday that damage was minor. The left gear was still attached and the tyre wasn't even shredded, he said. The crew cabin area was unscathed - astronauts would have been uninjured, he said. The flight computers never stopped working, and nothing critical was damaged.

Sirangelo stressed that the minute-long test flight was a success despite the ending.

He said the mishap was likely due to mechanical failure and an investigation was underway. He said it shouldn't hold up plans for a piloted landing test next year. The landing gear is derived from F-5 fighter planes and not the same type that will be used in space.

The test vehicle will be repaired and may fly again, Sirangelo told reporters during a teleconference.

Sierra Nevada - one of several US companies hoping to carry NASA astronauts into orbit - plans the first orbital flight demo of Dream Chaser in 2016 and the first crewed orbital mission in 2017.

NASA already is relying on private industry to ship cargo to the space station, a vacancy created by the retirement of the space shuttles in 2011. Until American companies provide a safe spaceship for crews, NASA will continue to fly its astronauts on Russian Soyuz capsules - for hefty prices.


13.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Two in court over Sydney shooting murder

TWO men have faced court over the death of a man gunned down while bringing in rubbish bins at his home in Sydney's west.

Ali Jammas, 36, was shot outside his Abbotsbury home on the morning of July 12.

Police arrested 28-year-old Yagoona man Mahmoud Barakat on Wednesday and charged him with murder and possessing or using a prohibited weapon without a permit.

He's also charged with two counts of driving while suspended and not disclosing the identity of his passengers.

David Younis, 29, was also arrested at his Yagoona home and charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder and concealing a serious offence.

Barakat didn't apply for bail when he fronted Bankstown Local Court on Wednesday and it was formally refused.

Younis, whose wife was in court, was granted bail.

The court heard that the prosecution was concerned Younis would intervene with crown witnesses, but his lawyer said there was scant evidence he would do that and he was not a flight risk.

Meanwhile, police say they seized ammunition, prohibited drugs and a ballistic vest during raids through Sydney.

Further arrests are expected.


13.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Severe storms headed for southern Qld

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 29 Oktober 2013 | 13.24

Southern Queensland is on alert for severe thunderstorms that could be the worst of the season. Source: AAP

SOUTHERN Queensland is on alert for severe thunderstorms that could be the worst of the season.

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for damaging winds and large hailstones.

Emergency Management Queensland is warning residents to stay indoors and be wary of fallen trees and power lines.

The Bureau of Meteorology says towns in the Darling Downs, including Toowoomba, and the Granite Belt, towards the NSW border, are in the firing line.

Heavy rain, winds of up to 90km/h, and hail are also forecast for Brisbane and the Gold and Sunshine coasts.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Michael Knepp says the storms have the potential to be the worst of the season.

"There will be damaging winds, possibly destructive winds and the possibility of hail and of course storms bring heavy rainfall," he told AAP.

It's anticipated the storms will develop in the Darling Downs and Granite Belt by 1pm. They are expected to roll into Brisbane later in the afternoon.

Mr Knepp said a trough moving through the southern part of Queensland had created enough moisture in the air to cause potentially damaging conditions.

Those conditions are expected to ease late Tuesday evening as the southerly change begins moving up the coast towards Fraser Island.


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NZ dollar falls against greenback

THE New Zealand dollar has fallen against the greenback ahead of the Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting and after the Reserve Bank of Australia said its currency may be "materially lower" in future.

The kiwi fell to 82.67 US cents at 5pm from 83.03 cents at the start of the day and from 83.07 cents on Monday.

The trade-weighted index fell to 76.22 from 76.37.

The Federal Open Market Committee is expected to maintain its bond buying stimulus programme when it surfaces after a two-day meeting on Wednesday in the US while economic data delayed by the budget shutdown may provide evidence the world's biggest economy is struggling.

New Zealand's central bank is expected to keep its official cash rate unchanged at 2.5 per cent on Thursday, while in Australia, the media picked up on comments from governor Glenn Stevens on Tuesday that at some point in the future "the Australian dollar will be materially lower than it is today".

"The kiwi may find some support in the next couple of days," said Sue Trinh, senior currency strategist at RBC Capital Markets in Hong Kong.

"The risks to the US dollar are skewed to the downside."

Media reports of the speech by the RBA's governor had put a "negative spin" on his comments in what was actually a balanced presentation, Ms Trinh said.

The kiwi dollar rose to 86.91 Australian cents from 86.64 cents at the start of the day and up from 86.44 cents in Asia on Monday.

The NZ currency fell to 80.62 yen from 80.99 yen at the start of the day and slipped to 60.02 euro cents from 60.15 cents.


13.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Palmer offers AMEP details as Xmas gift

Clive Palmer is set to reveal details of his deal with the Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party. Source: AAP

CLIVE Palmer says creating a new law to force his party to reveal details of its deal with the Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party would be a waste of taxpayers' money.

The Palmer United Party's federal leader was responding to a suggestion put forward by independent senator Nick Xenophon.

"It's a great waste of taxpayers' money," Mr Palmer told reporters in Melbourne on Tuesday.

"I'll have a good discussion with the Motorists, but I'm sure we can reach an arrangement where for Christmas we can probably release our memorandum on Christmas Day as a present to Nick Xenophobia.

"That'll make it more available for the Australian public than it would in the Senate."

PUP is expected to have up to three senators from July 1 next year and has entered into an alliance with AMEP senator-elect Ricky Muir to form a voting bloc.

Mr Palmer said the two parties were in "outrageous agreement" on their policies.

After talking about personal attacks being the wrong way to go about politics, Mr Palmer went on to refer to Senator Xenophon as like "tits on a bull".

"Poor old Nick's been attacking me since he got elected, since we didn't include him in our alliance," he said.

"I'll give you a headline - he's like tits on a bull.

"He's pretty useless at the moment in the Senate because his vote doesn't really matter to anybody.

"He's probably against everything. He's against racial discrimination, he's against asylum seekers, he's against everybody.

"Nick Xenophon has been someone that's presented very well to the media talking about a lot of ideas but he hasn't achieved much."

Mr Palmer backed Mr Muir as a quiet achiever.

"He's a very tenacious guy, Ricky Muir. Everyone thought he was doing nothing, but he was up convincing us to support his motoring policies.

"Ricky Muir for many people mightn't be pretty, but he's pretty effective.

"And he's pretty effective because he's brought three senators into his camp supporting motoring policies."

Mr Palmer said his party was working on getting registered in Victoria and will call for candidates in the new year to contest the state election in November 2014.


13.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Fatal car rollover on remote WA beach

Written By Unknown on Senin, 28 Oktober 2013 | 13.23

ONE person has died and four others have been injured in a car rollover on a remote beach on Western Australia's south coast.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services was alerted to the accident on Quagi Beach, Coomalbidgup, just after 9.20am (WST) on Monday.

The injured people have been taken to Esperance Hospital.


13.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Toyota outsells GM, still top carmaker

TOYOTA'S global sales for the first nine months of the year have reached 7.41 million vehicles, little changed from the previous year, but outpacing General Motors to keep its lead as the world's top-selling carmaker.

Detroit-based GM said earlier this month that its global sales for January through September totalled 7.25 million vehicles, up 4.6 per cent from a year earlier.

Toyota's vehicle sales for the first three quarters inched up 0.1 per cent.

Toyota Motor Corp said on Monday that it sold about 2.5 million cars, trucks and buses in the July-September quarter, led by overseas growth.

Germany's Volkswagen AG sold just over 7 million vehicles worldwide during the first nine months, making it a close third.

Volkswagen's global sales increased almost 5 per cent during that period from last year.


13.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hundreds apply for WA redundancy packages

MORE than 1100 West Australian public servants have applied for generous voluntary redundancy packages, as the state government strives to trim the budget.

In June, WA Premier Colin Barnett said the government would ask department heads to find at least 1000 voluntary redundancies, while also introducing laws to allow public sector employees in the state to be sacked for the first time.

That legislation made it into parliament last week, and tabled papers reveal that 1111 employees have requested redundancy - an oversubscription of about 10 per cent on the target figure.

More than 75 per cent of the applications were from workers aged over 50, with more women than men wanting to leave the public sector.

Of the 1111 applications, 980 were from city-based workers.

As the state government announced the job cuts, treasurer Troy Buswell said the beefed-up redundancy packages would cost around $100 million, but were projected to save the state $75 million a year.

Last week, Mr Barnett defended his plans to introduce forced redundancies, despite protests from several unions.

He said 139,000 people were currently employed under the WA public service legislation and the government acknowledged that only 90 of them were regarded as redundant in the current system.


13.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Australia still needs carbon price: GE

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 27 Oktober 2013 | 13.23

An executive with US energy giant General Electric says Australia still needs a carbon price. Source: AAP

AN executive with US electronics and energy giant General Electric says Australia still needs a carbon price.

The country will miss out on green investments until there is clarity on climate mitigation, GE's vice chairman John Rice says.

"We still believe that over time there needs to be a price on carbon, there will be a price on carbon," he told ABC TV.

"Whatever the outcome is, investors are going to want clarity and a long window with which to see the world, otherwise you're just not going to get the right investments here."

GE is heavily involved in the wind, solar, nuclear and steam power industries, along with jet engines and household appliances.

But Mr Rice said the former Labor government's carbon policy did not have political legitimacy.

"It's clear the legislation that was promulgated wasn't right for Australia, certainly in the eyes of the current government and we certainly support or live with that outcome," he said.

The Abbott government last week released draft laws to repeal the carbon tax, ahead of their introduction to parliament in November.

Mr Rice said he had little understanding of the coalition's policy.

But he does not believe demand will fall for GE's wind turbines.

"Wind is always going to have a place in the portfolio of power generation technology," he said.

"The cost will continue to come down."

Both sides of politics support a mandated 20 per cent target for renewable energy by 2020.


13.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cormann coy on surplus pledge

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann created some wriggle room in the coalition's budget surplus pledge. Source: AAP

FINANCE Minister Mathias Cormann has declined to give a specific time frame on when the budget will get back to surplus.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has previously claimed his government would return the budget to surplus at least as quickly as the former Labor government's 2016-17 pledge.

But Senator Cormann has refused to be pinned down, saying the coalition had "inherited a mess".

"We will put the budget back to surplus as soon as possible," he told Sky News on Sunday.

The government will formally update the budget position when it releases the mid-year economic and fiscal outlook in December.

Senator Cormann said the Abbott government was working in a calm, methodical manner to turn the budget situation around.

"Tony Abbott never talks out of a hat," he said.

"Labor would have never delivered a surplus."

Senator Cormann also defended the composition of the coalition's audit commission.

Last week the federal government named business lobbyist Tony Shepherd to head up a federal commission with very broad terms of reference.

The commission also includes Peter Boxall, current chairman of the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal, Tony Cole, a former Treasury Secretary, and Robert Fisher, an Agent-General for Western Australia in London, and former Howard government minister Amanda Vanstone.

Labor described it as an "outsourcing" of responsibility to big business.

"That's a ridiculous proposition," Senator Cormann said on Sunday.

"It's a group of very highly-regarded, well-respected Australians."

He dismissed suggestions the commission was designed to provide the government cover for potential spending cuts.

The commission would be give a "warts and all" view.

"The commission of audit of course has completely free rein," he said.

The government will receive the commission's interim report in January and it will feed into the May budget.

Senator Cormann reiterated the coalition's commitment to sell off Medibank Private.

"At this stage we do not have a policy to sell any other Commonwealth assets," he said.

He said the commission of audit would consider the issue.

"From time to time there's good argument that government should no longer be involved in some of the things they've been involved in, in the past," Senator Cormann said.

Asked if there was merit in raising the age people could claim the pension because people were living longer, he said the government would not make any "rash judgments".

"We accept the budget is under structural pressure as a result of the ageing of the population," he said.

On increasing the debt ceiling to $500 billion, Senator Cormann said it was not a matter of wanting to, rather a necessity.


13.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Kangaroo nearly kills child in Qld

A five-year-old is clinging to life after a kangaroo smashed through a car windscreen in Queensland. Source: AAP

A FIVE-YEAR-OLD child is clinging to life after a kangaroo smashed through a car windscreen west of Brisbane.

Police say the roo and the car collided on the Warrego Highway at Kingsthorpe on the Darling Downs about 3am (AEST).

The five-year-old was rushed to Toowoomba Base Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Another child and two adults in the car were taken to hospital with minor injuries.


13.23 | 0 komentar | Read More
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