Thunderstorm warnings for southern Qld

Top of Bunya Mountains looking west out over the Darling Downs. Things are really brewing up out here today! Picture courtesy: Jeff Higgins / Higgins Storm Chasing Source: Supplied

AFTER Queensland's north coast was battered by severe weather, southern Queensland has now been put on alert for severe thunderstorms, including damaging wind and large hailstones.

1.55pm: Another severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for damaging wind and large hailstones.

Areas expected to be affected are Roma, St George, Taroom, Tambo, Rolleston, Baralaba, Springsure, Goondiwindi and Carnarvon National Park.

The Bureau of Meteorology will next issue an update at 4.55pm. For more details and latest information see www.bom.gov.au.

11.45am: Southern Queensland has been put on alert for severe thunderstorms.

Bowen certainly has copped some rain!! Thankfully tide was out bit still water is still through some houses and cars. Picture: Tash Edwards

The weather bureau is predicting storms will roll over Roma, Emerald, St George, Biloela, Blackwater, Baralaba, Springsure, Goondiwindi and Carnarvon National Park in the coming hours.

The earlier warning for the Herbert, Lower Burdekin, Central Coast and Whitsunday districts has been cancelled.

A Department of Community Safety spokeswoman said the State Emergency Service received about six calls for help after the rain event that hit the Bowen Basin overnight.

Emergency services were also called out to three swift water rescues, but passengers in the vehicles were able to pull themselves to safety.

Bowen certainly has copped some rain!! Thankfully tide was out bit still water is still through some houses and cars. Picture: Tash Edwards

No injuries were reported to paramedics.
 

10.30am: The Bureau of Meteorology has issued another warning for severe thunderstorms with heavy rain and flash flooding during the next couple of hours.

North Queensland's Bowen copped a heavenly dumping last night – with up to 274mm of rainfall in just over an hour.

The tropical downpour caused some flash flooding on roads but Bowen councillor Dave Clark said it was welcome relief after an extended dry spell.

Bowen certainly has copped some rain!! Thankfully tide was out bit still water is still through some houses and cars. Picture: Tash Edwards

The weather bureau said the rainfall was "significant" and very localised over Bowen, 274mm, and Hamilton Island, 236mm.

There were no damaging winds, and flash flooding was confined to the coastal areas.

Meteorologist Michael Knepp said the rainfall totals were not unusual for that tropical part of the state at this time of year.

"We are heading into that time of year when you can get rainfall totals like this," said Mr Knepp.

"It's not rare, you can get totals like this overnight."

Most of the rain over Hamilton Island fell between 11.30pm and 2am.

Cr Clark said the area had missed out on the usual winter rains and had been very dry.

"It's been really, really dry; quite depressing really," said Cr Clark.

"Everyone was happy with the rain. It was probably too much too quick but you can't have everything."

Jade Meredith, of Bowen, said she emptied about 300mL out of her rain gauge at 6am.

"It's already half full again," she said.

Rebecca Edwards described an overnight thunderstorm as "awesome".

"First lot of rain thunder and lightning I (have) seen since moving to Cannonvale," she said.

"I've been here seven months."

The Bruce Highway is cut in parts due to flash flooding.

Local police have also advised Argyle Rd, Park Rd and Queens Rd are shut.

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Abbott coy on spy letter to SBY

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott is remaining tight-lipped about the contents of his letter to the Indonesian president about the spy scandal.

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had written to Mr Abbott demanding an official apology and a full explanation as to why Australian spies in 2009 targeted his mobile phone, as well as his wife's and some of his closest confidants.

Indonesia has halted all co-operation with Australia on people smuggling following the phone-tapping controversy.

Mr Abbott told reporters in Sydney on Saturday that he had written to Dr Yudhoyono.

"The letter is now in the process of being delivered," he said.

"I think it would be wrong of me to talk about what I've said to the president before the president has actually received it."

Mr Abbott reiterated the government's commitment to a strong relationship between Australia and Indonesia.

"Obviously there will be good days and there will be better days but my determination is to ensure that the relationship is constantly improving," he said.

Tear gas was used to repel protesters on Friday during demonstrations in Jakarta over the spy row.

An Australian flag and pictures of Mr Abbott were set alight.

The Australian embassy was pelted with rocks and eggs, and a mock coffin bearing a photo of Mr Abbott was left on the road in front of the compound.

Dr Yudhoyono tweeted on Saturday that social relations are closer when there is mutual trust, care and co-operation.

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Monarchists angry over GG's republic push

PM Tony Abbott says it's appropriate for the governor-general to publicly support gay marriage. Source: AAP

ANGRY constitutional monarchists have called for the governor-general's scalp after she backed the republican movement in a landmark speech.

Quentin Bryce threw her support behind gay marriage and the republican movement while delivering the final ABC Boyer Lecture of the year in Sydney.

She reflected on her hope that "one day, one young girl or boy may even grow up to be our nation's first head of state".

Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who was director of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy before entering parliament, said it was more than appropriate for Ms Bryce to share her personal views as the end of her term approaches.

"She did it with grace and style," he told reporters in Sydney on Saturday.

"Obviously different people have different views on these subjects."

But Liberal senator Dean Smith was less forgiving, describing the comments as "a significant breach of trust".

"(It) will come as a slap in the face to many Australians," he told the ABC.

Australians for Constitutional Monarchy accused Ms Bryce of blotting her record in office by weighing into political debate.

"It will be said she has damaged the institution," it said in a statement

"The problem now is that in breaching protocol and convention, Her Excellency has now become a divisive figure."

Ms Bryce's term expires in March next year.

NSW state Liberal MP David Elliott said Ms Bryce should retire immediately for "partaking in a blatantly political debate over the constitution".

"If Quentin Bryce wants to debate policy and legislation she should run for parliament, not use her vice-regal position to pursue her own political agenda," Mr Elliott, who led the 1999 "no republic" campaign, said in a statement.

Australian Republican Movement spokesman Geoff Gallop told reporters in Canberra Ms Bryce had given authentic reflections on her views for the future.

He dismissed criticism that she had acted inappropriately.

"We don't want her saying things that don't have any meaning attached to them," he said.

"She sees what's happening in the community, she sees the pain, she sees the happiness, she sees Australia from a particular vantage point and we're delighted she's reached this conclusion."

Mr Gallop said her comments may re-energise the movement.

"There's no doubt we've been in lean times," he said.

"We've got very strong core support in the Australian community... but the people need to own this cause."

Asked if the popularity of Prince William and his wife Catherine had set back the cause, Mr Gallop said there was no doubt that the "celebrity" status of the royal family gave them an entry point to popular consciousness.

"Australia has outgrown our old dependence on Britain for our identity," he said.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has defended his mother-in-law's comments saying he supports both gay marriage and Australia becoming a republic.

"The governor-general has made a remarkable contribution to our country and she is entitled to express her views," a spokesman for Mr Shorten said.

He's married to Ms Bryce's daughter Chloe.

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Govt warned not to be hasty on pension age

SENIORS, welfare groups and unions want age discrimination and adequate superannuation to be addressed before any increase in the pension age is considered.

A Productivity Commission report has suggested lifting the pension age from 65 to 70 to help Australia cope with an ageing population.

But Treasurer Joe Hockey was quick to deny the government was considering the move.

"We have no plans to change the age," a spokeswoman for the treasurer told AAP.

Commission chairman Peter Harris says population growth and ageing will affect labour supply, economic output, infrastructure requirements and governments' budgets.

"The best time to develop policies that address the inescapable implications of demographic change is while the transition is in its infancy," he said in the report released on Friday.

The report estimates a pension age of 70 would save $150 billion between 2025/26 to 2059/60 in today's dollars.

But National Seniors chief executive Michael O'Neill says it is naive to believe simply raising the pension age will boost productivity.

"Older Australians want to work but no one will hire them," he said in a statement.

"Lose your job at 50 and the odds are stacked against you getting another one."

Age Discrimination Commissioner Susan Ryan agreed, saying lifting the pension age would serve no social or economic purpose if people were forced onto unemployment queues.

"Such a change should only be considered when we have eliminated age discrimination from the workplace," she said, adding that about two million Australians over 55 were willing to work but could not find employment.

Australian Council of Trade Unions president Ged Kearney said if the government wanted to reduce budget pressures as the population aged, it should strengthen the superannuation system.

"A strong superannuation system lets ordinary workers retire with security and quality of life and takes pressure off the pension system."

The Australian Greens said the government should be ensuring big business and the mining sector were paying their fair share to help care for all Australians as they aged.

"Raising the pension age again without proper examination would be a knee-jerk reaction," Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said.

But business believes the commission's proposal is a sensible response to increased life expectancies.

"As major contributors to taxation revenue, businesses have an interest in containing the growth of government spending associated with the ageing population," Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said.

The commission also proposed an "equity release scheme" for older Australians who own their own homes, to help pay for health and aged-care services.

The scheme would mean those who own their homes contribute half of the annual real increased house value to the government, which would help cut government spending by about 30 per cent.

Retirement Living Council executive director Mary Wood said the recommendation had "significant merit" as accommodation requirements changed with age.

"Downsizing to retirement villages in particular should be encouraged, not penalised," she said.

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Hospital bottlenecks risk lives: professor

PUBLIC hospitals are risking lives by keeping patients in the emergency department for too long, a health specialist says.

Few are meeting a government target for patients to be out within four hours.

The biggest issue is a bottleneck between the emergency department and the hospital wards.

"Longer waits mean increased risks. This means life or death for some people," said Professor Drew Richardson, who will speak at an Australasian College for Emergency Medicine conference in Adelaide on Monday.

Another concern was the diversion of ambulances to less suitable hospitals.

The four-hour target was being phased in, with 90 per cent compliance expected at public hospitals by 2015.

But few hospitals are close to the target.

Prof Richardson told AAP it might be better to aim for New Zealand's protocol of six hours for admissions and four hours for patients who are sent home.

There had been improvements since 2008, but progress had stalled, he said.

Part of his presentation on Monday will focus on the worrying results of a college snapshot study that found 39 per cent of people being treated in emergency departments at a specific time in June 2013 had exceeded four hours since arrival.

Alarmingly, 73 patients in 25 hospitals had waited more than 24 hours and seven hospitals reported a patient waiting for a hospital bed for more than 48 hours.

"Once their emergency care is finished the emergency department is not the best place for a patient," said Prof Richardson.

"People are better off in a quieter area with a comfortable bed and appropriate nursing staff.

"The four-hour rule does not seem to be compatible with the way hospitals are organised," he said.

"We need to keep striving to keep the time down. It is good for patients and is a good use of resources.

"Overcrowded emergency departments are dangerous.

"Our hospitals can perform better than they are with the resources they have."

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Protections should be in place: Morrison

IMMIGRATION Minister Scott Morrison says Papua New Guinea's police have the capability to investigate allegations of a sexual assault at the Australian-run detention facility on Manus Island.

Sources on Manus Island told AAP an alleged sexual assault at the facility three weeks ago had been referred to police.

Manus Island MP Ron Knight expressed concern over accusations expat guards at the facility drunkenly harassed local women. Residents and teachers at a local school have alleged one guard tried to lure children into his car.

Mr Morrison told reporters he was confident in the PNG police force's ability to investigate allegations of sexual assault.

"Any matter involving sexual assault is extremely serious," he said.

"Where allegations of that nature are presented they are referred to the relevant law enforcement authorities, whether that's PNG, Nauru, Christmas Island or whether it's here in Sydney."

Mr Morrison told a press conference on Friday he expected protections to be put in place for any victims.

"The appropriate actions which have been informed by previous events I would ensure and entrust are in place," he said.

"These things need to be identified, addressed, the appropriate references made to the appropriate authorities and, concurrently, protections are put in place for the individual themselves."

Mr Knight told AAP he had an envelope of complaints from "women and teachers" that some guards at the centre were harassing locals.

He said complaints to the police had gone unanswered.

Meanwhile, Mr Morrison is expected to fly to PNG next week to meet with Prime Minister Peter O'Neill and Mr Knight.

Mr O'Neill this week suggested in parliament the people of Manus were being short-changed by the asylum-seeker deal because they were not benefiting from "spin-off" businesses, such as construction contracts.

Mr Morrison on Friday said he had been encouraged by previous meetings with PNG officials.

"I was very pleased with the progress we are making, particularly on the employment of nationals and Manusians in particular," he said.

"There are over 500 Manusians that have been employed in those facilities."

The government is spending $40 million in aid money for projects such as restoring roads and the local market.

"It is one of our very important priorities in our dealings with PNG and particularly in our dealings with Manus Island that we leave a very positive legacy. The same is true on Nauru," Mr Morrison said.

At present 1044 asylum seekers are being detained at Manus Island.

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Zoe's law passes the NSW lower house

The controversial Zoe's law bill passed the NSW lower house after being put to a conscience vote. Source: AAP

THE controversial bill known as Zoe's law has passed the NSW lower house after being put to a conscience vote.

It amends the Crimes Act so that a person can be charged with the grievous bodily harm of a fetus that is either 20 weeks old or 400 grams by allowing it to be treated as a living person.

It does not apply to anything done with a pregnant woman's consent or during a medical procedure.

Following weeks of heated and often emotional debate in the lower house, the contentious bill passed on Thursday by 63 votes to 26.

The bill was named in honour of the unborn child of Brodie Donegan, who was hit by a drug-affected driver on Christmas Day in 2009.

Speaking during the debate on Thursday, NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell said the bill would not change the state's abortion laws.

"This is a simple question ... that is if a woman is injured in some way while ... pregnant there ought to be a recognition in the law of that fact."

Mr O'Farrell said laws were not always about deterrence and punishment but also about victims' rights.

"Anyone who has met or heard Brodie Donegan's story could not help but be moved.

"If this legislation passes ... it means that people in Brodie Donegan's position can have that healing process assisted because it will be recognition that there wasn't just injury to the mother, but potential injury to the fetus in utero and potential death of that fetus."

Despite Mr O'Farrell's comments, a number of Liberal MPs crossed the floor to vote against the bill, including ministers Jillian Skinner and Pru Goward.

Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi said the upper house will now fight the bill.

"If anyone needed any more evidence of the true intent of this bill - undermining women's right to choose - they need look no further than the Reverend Fred Nile, who will be introducing it into the upper house," she said in a statement following the vote.

She said it was "extremely disappointing" that so many MPs - from both Labor and the Coalition - would vote to support a law that has been opposed by numerous legal and health bodies, including the NSW Bar Association and the Australian Medical Association NSW.

Protesters are expected to gather outside parliament house on Thursday afternoon to voice their opposition to the bill.

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UK PM 'following' escort agency on Twitter

BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron has been following the exploits of a high-class escort agency on Twitter.

One of the prime minister's official accounts was linked to the Carltons of London's feed on the micro-blogging site, technology news website The Register found.

It claims to be London's "finest luxury boutique escort agency" catering for the needs of a "select and small group of elite gentlemen".

The agency also offers a corporate service for those looking to secure a big deal who "need something special to swing them in your favour".

But Downing Street indicated the agency may have first been followed under Gordon Brown's premiership.

The @Number10gov account is the official Twitter feed for the office of the Prime Minister and automatically followed anyone that chose to follow it until 2009 - while the former Labour leader was in power - when the practice was stopped.

"We have stopped following this particular account," a Downing Street spokesman said.

"Prior to 2010, an auto-follow process was used, meaning that @Number10gov automatically followed anyone who followed the account. This was common practice at the time for many corporate accounts, but was discontinued in 2009.

"As a result of this legacy, the @Number10gov account follows almost 370,000 accounts and we have taken steps to un-follow as many as possible that are inactive, spam or inappropriate. This work is ongoing."

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Wind farms need community involvement

COMMUNITIES must be actively involved in the process of developing wind farms, the Clean Energy Council says.

Chief executive Kane Thornton says the council hopes to promote better working relationships between developers and local communities across South Australia, which has more wind power than any other state.

"Local people need to have effective opportunities to comment, meaningful engagement with the companies proposing the developments and be part of the journey," Mr Thornton said on Thursday.

To help, the council has launched two guides to encourage better community consultation in areas where wind farms are proposed.

They will help local residents understand what to expect.

SA Planning Minister John Rau said genuine community engagement is important to the development of wind farm projects.

"Delivering a cleaner and more diverse energy supply requires genuine consultation with local communities in those areas across the state where our energy resources are located," he said.

The council says a recent survey showed most people support wind energy, including many who live in areas where wind farms already exist or are proposed.

It says for every 15 to 20 turbines installed, a host farm can expect to receive $250,000 a year.

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NZ shares drop as Air NZ punters sell

NEW Zealand shares fell as brokers hoping for a quick profit from the government selldown of Air New Zealand were forced to sell in a declining market and concerns about unfavourable policy changes weighed on power companies.

The NZX 50 Index declined 22.144 points, or 0.5 per cent, 4,840.364 on Wednesday. Within the index, 29 stocks fell, 12 rose and nine were unchanged.

Turnover of $523 million reflected the government's sale of 20 per cent of Air New Zealand and subsequent trading at 5.2 per cent below that sale price.

Air NZ tumbled 5.2 per cent to $1.565, after the government achieved a price of $1.65 to reduce its holding in the airline to 53 per cent.

That price was near a five-year high. Some 237 million shares changed hands, amounting to about 22 per cent of the stock.

"Short term, there's been a bunch of 'flippers' who have not made what they wanted and taken their bat and ball and gone home," said Matt Goodson, managing director at Salt Funds Management.

"Medium term, it removes an overhang. Air New Zealand now looks very interesting versus other airlines' valuations."

Mighty River Power fell 2.3 per cent to $2.10, the lowest since the shares began trading and leading declines among some power companies.

Contact Energy fell 0.6 per cent to $4.92 and Meridian Energy dropped about two per cent to its listing price of $1.

"Wholesale prices are relatively low, retail churn is quite high and the fear of change to energy policy isn't going to go away soon," Mr Goodson said.

The opposition Labour and Green parties have vowed to install a centralised electricity buying body if elected next year.

Pumpkin Patch, the children's clothing retailer, fell 8.7 per cent to 84 cents after saying it expects annual earnings to be in line with 2013, and faces more downside risk for the remainder of the year.

Kathmandu, the outdoor clothing retailer, fell 3.6 per cent to $3.73 after saying sales rose 0.9 per cent in the first 16 weeks of the year, broadly meeting its expectations.

Chorus, which this week withdrew its dividend guidance because of uncertainty over regulated price cuts, fell 2.4 per cent to $1.855.

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Oversupply of wine diminishing

THE global oversupply of wine is diminishing, but the potential for production in Australia is still too high, says winemaker Australian Vintage.

Australian Vintage's brands include McGuigan, Miranda, Nepenthe, Tempus Two and Yaldara.

Australian Vintage chairman Ian Ferrier says the global area under vine continues to decline.

"We are cautiously optimistic that globally the wine industry appears to be moving towards balance as consumption increases and oversupply decreases," Mr Ferrier told shareholders at the company's annual general meeting in Sydney on Wednesday.

"In Australia, grape production and sales are moving to a more balanced position.

"However, the large 2013 vintage is a reminder that the production potential in the Australian market is still too high."

Australian Vintage is one of Australia's largest wine producers, crushing about eight per cent of Australia's total crush.

Mr Ferrier said the company's 2013 vintage was strong, yielding 153,000 tonnes - a big jump from the 2012 vintage of 120,000 tonnes.

Australian Vintage said the wine market in Australasia and North America looked encouraging so far this financial year, with stronger-than-expected demand.

The performance of markets in the United Kingdom and Europe in the first three months of the financial year had been below expectations but was expected to pick up in the remaining nine months.

Australian Vintage was confident that its full year financial result would be significantly better than last year and in line with guidance provided to the share market.

Shares in Australian Vintage were 0.5 cents higher at 44 cents on Wednesday.

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Aussies are dying on organ lists: expert

NEARLY 100 Australians will die this year because of an organ-donor shortage, a leading physician says.

Despite a rise in the donor rate, people die while waiting for a lung, liver or heart.

"We are working hard to close this gap," said Professor Jeremy Chapman, who is hosting 560 specialists from 42 countries at a conference in Sydney.

Australia was still behind world leaders such as Spain and Croatia, but the consent rate had jumped from 54 per cent in 2010 to 64 per cent in 2013.

"It is a right of Australians to be able to donate organs," Prof Chapman told AAP on Wednesday, ahead of an International Society for Organ Donation and Procurement conference.

His ultimate aim was for 100 per cent of viable donors to be identified and for 75 per cent of their relatives to agree to donation.

This meant there had to be high levels of information sharing and well-trained people to have difficult conversations with bereaved relatives.

"One of the most important success factors is the skill of the person who asks for consent," Prof Chapman said.

Australia was heading for its fourth successive increase in donors and recipients, said Yael Cass, the chief executive of the Organ and Tissue Authority.

She said Philadelphia organisation Gift of Life had made a major contribution by teaching Australians how to discuss consent with relatives.

So far, 650 specialists had been trained, said Gift of Life chief executive Howard Nathan, a speaker at the conference.

"Hospital co-operation and appropriately trained staff are crucial," he said.

"When we started in Philadelphia 20 years ago, less than half of the conversations ended with consent. Now it is two out of three."

Training specialist Patti Mulvania said: "There is no script for the conversation. Different people need different approaches.

"No matter how horrific the circumstances may seem to us, every family has the right to make an informed choice.

"We want them to be able to look back and say that if they had a chance to make the decision again, they would do the same thing.

"It could be a yes or it could be a no."

About two per cent of people who died were suitable for donation, she said.

"So if you miss one, you miss a chance to save lives. Every family has to be given the opportunity to make something good out of their tragedy."

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Uni students admit to cheating

TWELVE medical students at the University of Adelaide have admitted to taking photos of a computer-delivered exam paper and passing it on to other students.

The university is conducting an investigation into the incident which involved fifth-year students studying a human reproductive course this year.

Medical school dean Alastair Burt said the 12 students had come forward and indicated they took "screen grabs" of the exam which was presented on an iPad.

They then passed those grabs onto other students who were to take the exam later.

This was the first year the medical school had used iPads in exams.

Professor Burt said the university would investigate the incident but intended to take a "firm line" in responding to those involved.

"We have a zero tolerance to cheating," he told ABC radio on Tuesday.

"Academic integrity is central to the whole philosophy of our institution.

"There is also a whole issue about the professionalism of our future doctors."

Senior lecturer in obstetrics and gynaecology, Paul Duggan, said the incident had irretrievably damaged the integrity of the human reproductive health exams.

He said it had also put an end to the use of iPads in exams.

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Swisse to create 120 new jobs in Victoria

Swisse Wellness will expand its offices in Melbourne, creating 120 office and construction jobs. Source: AAP

MORE than 120 office and construction jobs will be created in Victoria with the expansion of a Melbourne supplements and vitamins company.

Swisse Wellness is extending its Melbourne operation and is expected to increase its workforce from 90 to about 220 as part of the five-year project.

The company has just signed a licence deal with global healthcare company PGT Healthcare, allowing it to break into the US market.

Victorian Premier Denis Napthine said the deal would create jobs and have an economic benefit for the state.

"This will have an immediate result for creating more jobs in Melbourne and Victoria," Dr Napthine said on Tuesday.

Swisse Wellness chief executive officer Radek Sali said the government had helped to engage overseas partners and grow the company's export market.

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Transport the key in lead up to Vic poll

Victoria's opposition says its transport plan will create 10,000 construction jobs. Source: AAP

TRANSPORT is shaping as the key battleground for Victorian voters as Labor vows to rip up 50 of Melbourne's worst level crossings and the coalition attacks the plans as a con job.

Labor plans to sell the long-term lease on the Port of Melbourne to fund its $6 billion project to get rid of the most dangerous and congested level crossings.

If elected, it will also pledge $300 million in its first budget to begin work on the $9 billion Metro Rail tunnel, as part of a transport vision it says will remove the worst bottlenecks and create at least 10,000 jobs.

Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews says the project is an alternative to the government's East West Link but Labor will not tear up contracts if the coalition signs them before the November 2014 election, meaning the toll road plans remain if Labor wins.

Premier Denis Napthine attacked Labor's project as a con job on Victorians which will condemn the state to decades of congestion.

"Labor has failed to commit to one new tram, one new train, or a single new bus. Labor will condemn us to decades of gridlock and frustration on the roads," he said.

The $9 billion Metro Rail tunnel is to be built with a third of funding from Labor, a third from the private sector and a third from the Commonwealth.

Before winning government, Prime Minister Tony Abbott denied being open to funding urban rail, instead promising $1.5 billion for the coalition's East West Link.

Labor's plan relegates any new railway lines to Doncaster and Melbourne airports until after the Metro rail link is built.

Dr Napthine says Labor is over-optimistic in its hope for $6 billion for the sale of the Port of Melbourne.

"It is a second-rate con job. They have made the western suburbs suffer ... congestion, overcrowding and grid-lock on the West Gate Freeway and bridge. It is totally unworkable and unacceptable.

"Mr Andrews suggest he can do it (remove level crossings) for $120 million (each), he's dreaming."

The Victorian Trades Hall Council backed the plans, but the Greens say Labor put roads ahead of public transport, killed off Doncaster rail and backed the East West toll road.

Public Transport Users Association president Tony Morton said the level crossing removal is overdue but Labor's position on the East West Link is weak.

He said Labor needed to tell contract bidders it was doing all it can to prevent the contracts proceeding and the "mad" waste of money from going ahead.

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Council 'ignorance' criticised: NSW judge

A NORTHERN NSW council has escaped paying $800,000 in damages to a cyclist who catapulted into a ravine while crossing a wooden bridge because of its "ignorance" of the risk and because it couldn't afford to repair the structure.

Dr Ann Collins lost her Supreme Court case against Clarence Valley Council after Justice Robert Beech-Jones found she should have been aware of the dangers involved in crossing the wooden bridge during a charity cycle in April 2008.

But the council came in for scathing criticism from the judge, who conceded its success in defending the case would probably seem "counter-intuitive" to some.

"The council is able to avoid liability primarily because of its own ignorance of the risk posed by the structure whose responsibility it was to maintain and the limits on its own resources," he said in a judgment handed down last Friday.

The court heard Dr Collins was badly injured after her bike got stuck in a gap between planks on the bridge, causing her to fall over the low rail and onto a rocky ravine below.

She sued the council on several grounds, including that the bridge was in bad repair and steps should have been taken to minimise the risk to cyclists.

The council denied it was negligent and argued it could not carry out improvements, such as resurfacing the bridge, because it would then have to carry out similar improvements on all 146 wooden bridges in the area.

The court heard the council's budget was in deficit in 2008 and repairing the bridges would have meant it had to defer other work on its road network or borrow funds.

Justice Beech-Jones agreed the council could not have repaired the bridge principally because "It could not afford to bear the burden imposed by those steps, bearing in mind that this would impose a responsibility on it to take steps to avoid similar risks of harm on other bridges".

However, he said it should have put up a warning sign.

"(The bridge) was overall in a poor state," he said.

"It represented a danger to cyclists.

"The council ought to have been aware that it was used by cyclists and was such a danger."

The council's ignorance of the risk "does not reflect well upon its own practices", Justice Beech-Jones added.

"(But) whether the limits on its resources exist because of its own inefficiencies or because of factors beyond its control cannot be inquired into."

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MacTiernan husband fined by magistrate

THE husband of federal MP Alannah MacTiernan has avoided a criminal record despite pleading guilty to mishandling more than $1400 of client's money at his former law practice.

Derek Schapper, 62, was fined $2000 and granted a spent conviction after pleading guilty to the amended charges at Perth Magistrates Court on Monday.

The charge related to funds which had been accrued over several years in a trust fund managed by Schapper that was intended to pay stamp duty.

When WA's laws changed in 2008, Schapper was left with about $4200 in the fund which he could not account for.

Unsure what to do with the money, Schapper moved it first to two clients' accounts, and then into his own bank account.

Chief Magistrate Steven Heath was told it had since been concluded that just over $1400 of the money was illegally transferred by Schapper - and if not for his confession, authorities would never have been aware of the offence.

Schapper's lawyer Hylton Quail said since the offence came to light, Schapper had been suspended from practising law, and had effectively retired from practice.

But he did want to continue to volunteer his legal services in the future.

"This has been a very public and self-inflicted fall from grace," Mr Quail said.

And Magistrate Heath agreed the offence had arisen from the annoyance of attempting to reconcile the trust account, rather than for personal gain.

"It is unfortunate a practitioner of your standing and experience should have made such a foolish mistake over such an annoying and trivial matter," he said.

Outside court, Schapper said he was glad with the outcome, while also managing to have a swipe at his wife's long-time political rival Don Randall, who was recently embroiled in controversy surrounding MP's expenses claims.

"I would like to think I was setting an example (by admitting wrongdoing) and that perhaps Don Randall should follow, but that is up to him," Schapper said.

13.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Shops damaged in Sydney's north

A NUMBER of people have been injured at a shopping centre in Hornsby in Sydney's north after stormy weather smashed glass panes, toppled trees and reportedly collapsed a ceiling.

Firefighters and ambulance paramedics responded quickly on Monday afternoon to what is being described as a mini-tornado that hit the Westfield shopping centre near the Pacific Highway.

Police told AAP there had been black-outs in the shopping centre and reports of roof damage.

There were reports a cinema ceiling had collapsed and the centre was being evacuated.

Callers told Macquarie Radio they heard loud bangs in the shopping centre, saw debris flying and large trees down and there were reports of cars tipped over in car parks.

A NSW Fire and Rescue spokesman told AAP that firefighters were using handsaws to go through the debris to see if anyone was trapped.

"A roof has collapsed in one of the cinemas," he told AAP.

The spokesman said the shopping centre had been evacuated.

Paramedics have also been deployed to a library in Hornsby and a demountable building near the railway station.

The spokesman said the demountable had been blown off its foundations.

An Ambulance Service of NSW spokesman said while there was certainly damage, there was no information yet on patient numbers.

A witness, James, who lives near the shopping centre told ABC radio he heard a big roaring sound just before 3pm (AEDT).

"I wasn't really sure what it was, it sounded like a cyclone or something," he said.

"So I ran to my back window and I could see all this debris spiralling up in the air like rubbish and stuff.

"It went over pretty quickly but shortly after I just heard nothing but sirens."

Another witness, Angela, told ABC radio she saw debris going up into what looked like a mini-tornado.

"That went over across the shopping centre and I could see some roofing material, looked like long bits of guttering going up into the sky over the shopping centre," she said.

"So I think it was mini-tornado."

It only last 10-20 seconds, she added.

Paramedics took 12 people to Hornsby Hospital following the wild weather.

An Ambulance Service of NSW spokesman said crews were sent to the shopping centre, the library and the railway station.

At the library a 19-year-old woman was treated for shock, and at the station, where a demountable building had flipped, five people were treated, including a man who sustained multiple cuts to his head.

Six patients were treated at the shopping centre for minor injuries.

The spokesman said a 50-year-old woman had cuts to her head and neck after being hit by shards of glass.

Sam Gibbons, 19, who works at a fast food outlet in the shopping centre told AAP he and his colleagues were forced from the building in the middle of their shift.

"There was a mini tornado thing that came through, some loud bangs, power went off," he said.

A glass dome in the shopping centre's roof also cracked and fell, he said.

Mr Gibbons and his fellow workers face a long night of cleaning up.

"We can't leave the shop in a mess," he said.

Fire and Rescue NSW Assistant Commissioner Jim Hamilton told Macquarie Radio a cinema ceiling in the shopping centre had collapsed but no one was inside at the time.

The nearby Hornsby Inn suffered significant roof damage.

SES spokeswoman Sue Pritchard said the SES received 20 calls in about 20 minutes from residents around Hornsby at about 3pm (AEDT).

Ms Pritchard said the Bureau of Meteorology had confirmed to her a "mini-tornado" had hit the area.

A spokeswoman for the Westfield Group told AAP that customers, acting on advice from authorities, had been moved out of the centre but Westfield was told shortly afterwards not to evacuate.

"The centre is not trading and is operating on emergency power," the spokeswoman said.

The Pacific Highway was closed in both directions between Bridge Street and Coronation Street in Hornsby due to a fallen tree, the NSW Transport Management Centre said in a statement.

Traffic lights were also out because of power black-outs and motorists were being advised to use George Street as an alternative route.

The wild weather also brought down a large tree on the railway lines between Asquith and Hornsby but train services have since been restored.

Walkway roofs and various buildings at the Hornsby railway station have also been damaged.

A Sydney Trains spokesman confirmed the people injured in the demountable building at the railway station were Sydney Trains staff.

13.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bill Glasson to run for LNP in Griffith

FORMER Australian Medical Association president Bill Glasson will have a second crack at winning the Brisbane seat vacated by former prime minister Kevin Rudd.

The inner south electorate has long been one of Labor's safer seats but Dr Glasson's grassroots campaigning before September saw him beat Mr Rudd before preferences were dished out.

The ophthalmologist attracted a 5.5 per cent swing, reducing Mr Rudd's winning margin to three per cent.

The by-election will be a revealing snapshot of the mood of Queensland voters after several months of the Abbott government.

The odds however are again stacked against Dr Glasson.

Only once has a federal government gained a seat from an opposition at a by-election and that was the Kalgoorlie by-election of 1920.

Labor is yet to announce who their candidate will be but employment and IR lawyer Terri Butler has emerged as front runner.

The first possible date for a by-election is December 21 but it is most likely to be held early next year.

13.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Severe storm warning for Qld

Hundreds of cars and homes have been damaged in a severe hailstorm on the Sunshine Coast. Source: AAP

LARGE swathes of Queensland are expected to be threatened by severe storms on late Sunday afternoon and evening.

The weather bureau says dozens of communities, from Georgetown to the Sunshine Coast, can expect damaging winds, heavy rain, flash flooding, and large hail.

Rockhampton had already recorded wind gusts of up to 82 kilometres an hour at 3pm (AEST).

The bureau has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for people in the Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders, Herbert and Lower Burdekin, Central Coast and Whitsundays, Central Highlands and Coalfields, Capricornia, Wide Bay and Burnett, and parts of the Gulf Country, Northern Tropical Coast and Tablelands, Central West, Darling Downs and Granite Belt and the Southeast Coast.

On Saturday hundreds of cars and homes were damaged in a severe hailstorm on the Sunshine Coast.

Hailstones the size of cricket balls battered the region but there were no reports of major injury, the Department of Community Safety told AAP.

Spokeswoman Katie Rowney says on Saturday SES volunteers were at an awards ceremony in Gympie for State Emergency Service Week and about a quarter of the audience had to leave.

There were about 200 requests for help, mostly from Maroochydore, she said.

13.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Protesters brave rain for climate change

THE federal government was "sacrificing the planet for politics" by not taking stronger action to combat climate change, a rally in Sydney has been told.

Thousands of protesters, many in plastic ponchos or huddling under umbrellas, braved wild weather in Sydney's Prince Alfred Park on Sunday to call for stronger action on climate change.

Organised by social activist group GetUp!, the rally is one of more than 100 similar events throughout the country, with a total of about 50,000 people expected to take part.

"Today is a challenging period in our political history. It's a time when our government is sacrificing our planet for politics," GetUp! campaigns director Erin McCallum told a crowd carrying placards with slogans such as "Aim higher on climate", "Turn up the heat, choose solar power" and "Hands off our carbon tax Abbott".

"The government might have turned climate change into a political football but they weren't counting on us to play ball," Ms McCallum said.

Police estimated between 3500 and 5000 people were at the Sydney event.

Deputy federal opposition leader Tanya Plibersek said the government needed to get back to basics on climate change.

"Australia is going backwards, the rest of the world is going forwards accepting that climate change is real and accepting that we must act," Ms Plibersek told the crowd, receiving applause.

"Australia can't go backwards in the face of global action.

"Is climate change real? Yes. Was climate action working? Yes."

The rally also heard from firefighters concerned about more fire danger from hotter temperatures, the Greens, and former resources executive Ian Dunlop.

Benson Koschinksi, 18, who attended the event, said the federal government's climate policy wasn't good enough.

"It's probably the effectiveness of farting in a typhoon," he told AAP.

"Around the world we're seeing action but here we've got a leader who's axing credible climate policy."

Australian Youth Climate Coalition spokeswoman Amy Gordon said the group urged the government to "show leadership and not go backwards on the issue of climate change policy".

13.24 | 0 komentar | Read More