US ending Jeep investigation

THE US government is closing its investigation into older-model Jeeps with fuel tanks that could rupture and cause fires.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Friday it has "no reservations" with Chrysler Group's plans to recall the vehicles. The agency is expected to release a report on its investigation in a few weeks.

The decision ends an unusually public struggle between Chrysler and NHTSA. The agency asked Chrysler to recall 2.7 million Jeeps last June, contending that their gas tanks - which are positioned behind the rear axle - were at risk of rupturing and catching fire in rear-end crashes.

Involved were Grand Cherokee SUVs from the 1993 to 2004 model years and Liberty SUVs from 2002 to 2007.

Chrysler initially refused to recall the vehicles. The company said the rate of fuel leaks and fires after crashes was similar to comparable vehicles that were sold during the time in question. It was the first time in two years that an automaker had refused NHTSA's request for a recall.

Chrysler later agreed to recall 1.56 million of the Jeeps and install trailer hitches on them to help protect the gas tanks. The company sent notices to the remaining customers saying their vehicles were fine if they have factory-installed or Chrysler-made trailer hitches.

NHTSA said late Friday that it has been in close contact with Chrysler and will monitor the recall as it continues. Chrysler has told customers that it will start installing the hitches soon.

"Consumers should have their vehicles serviced promptly once they receive final notification from Chrysler," NHTSA said in a statement.

In its own statement Friday, Chrysler said, "We share NHTSA's commitment to safety."

NHTSA's outgoing chief, David Strickland, told The Associated Press in an interview last month that Chrysler had convinced NHTSA that the Jeeps were no more dangerous than similar vehicles sold at that time.

"Those vehicles performed at a rate similar to their peers. That is the keystone analysis as to whether something poses an unreasonable risk to safety," Strickland said.

Friday was Strickland's last day at NHTSA. He is joining Venable, a law firm.

NHTSA began investigating the Jeeps at the request of the Center for Auto Safety, a Washington-based advocacy group.

"It is tragic that NHTSA approved Chrysler's sham trailer hitch recall for Jeeps that explode in rear impacts," the Center for Auto Safety's director, Clarence Ditlow, said on Friday.

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Vic heatwave still causing health issues

SOME people are still suffering from Victoria's heatwave even with the weather cooling significantly.

The four-day heatwave is over in most of the state, with temperatures on Saturday back in the 20s instead of the 40s.

But parts of the northeast are still in the high 30s, with the temperature reaching 41C in Albury.

Ambulance Victoria operations manager Paul Holman said the heatwave health threat was not over.

Paramedics have dealt with almost 500 heat-exposure cases and almost 190 cardiac arrests since Monday.

"Although the number's fallen dramatically today we're still getting calls," Mr Holman told reporters on Saturday.

There were 77 cardiac arrest calls on the last day of the heatwave on Friday, seven times the usual rate.

Mr Holman said the heat-exhaustion cases and spike in cardiac arrests would continue for the next 24 hours to 48 hours, with the elderly and people with chronic illnesses still recovering from the heatwave.

"They've had four days of incredible stress on their bodies without any time to recover and that's going to continue certainly in the next 24 hours."

Paramedics have also responded to more than 50 cases of children being locked in cars this week despite repeated warnings about the danger.

Mr Holman said demand for ambulance services was up more than 20 per cent but there had been no delays in dealing with the most urgent cases.

"We've had probably the best response that we've had for a major incident like this ever."

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Man falls 10 metres down Bondi cliff

A MAN has been winched to safety after he fell about 10 metres down a cliff at a Sydney beach.

The 48-year-old was attempting to scale the cliff at Ben Buckler in North Bondi on Saturday when the rope he was using broke, police say.

Police and other emergency services winched the man to safety on Saturday afternoon.

He was taken to hospital in a stable condition, having suffered injuries to his legs.

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Forecaster says heatwave a class act

ADELAIDE'S heatwave is a "class act" as it challenges records dating back more than 70 years, a senior forecaster says.

Adelaide sweltered through 45C on Tuesday, just one degree short of its all time high of 46.1C set on January 12, 1939.

The heatwave was also forecast to give the city five consecutive days above 40C, making it the city's third longest hot spell.

In 1908 and 2009, Adelaide recorded six days above 40C, but Bureau of Meteorology acting regional director John Nairn said they both came at a time when Australia was gripped by drought.

"It's a class act in terms of a heatwave, so it does deserve our attention," Mr Nairn said.

While Adelaide sizzled, the hottest spot in SA on Tuesday was Keith, in the southeast, where the mercury hit 47.2C while at Pallamana, east of Adelaide, it reached 46.3C and at Lameroo and Port Augusta 46.2C.

The conditions prompted Premier Jay Weatherill to convene a special Emergency Management Council meeting to allow the government and emergency services to discuss the threats posed by the high temperatures.

"People need to closely monitor the weather in their area and ensure they are prepared for extreme circumstances," Mr Weatherill said.

The premier said forecast thunderstorms in some districts were also increasing the risk of major bushfires.

On Tuesday the Country Fire Service battled a string of incidents, including fires in the Adelaide Hills, on Kangaroo Island, on Eyre Peninsula, at Cape Jervis and in the mid-north.

In the Barossa Valley about 1000 homes and businesses lost power while almost 4000 suffered a cut to services across Adelaide's inner-northern suburbs.

The state's ambulance service reported a 12 per cent rise in demand for its services with about 20 heat-related admissions to local hospitals in the 24 hours to 8am (CDST) on Tuesday.

An ambulance service spokesman said Wednesday and Thursday were likely to be the worst days for heat-related calls.

Temperatures are expected to hit 45C on Wednesday and 46C on Thursday before a cool changes sweeps across the state on Friday.

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Two accused one-punch murderers in court

A grieving family has called for justice as two one-punch murder cases appear in the same court. Source: AAP

AS two accused murderers came before the same court charged over one-punch killings in Sydney, yet another grieving family has called for justice for the "tragedy of inexcusable proportions".

The murder cases against Shaun McNeil, 25, and Nicholas Lambaditis, 33, were briefly mentioned in Central Local Court on Tuesday, with neither man required to appear in court.

McNeil is accused of murdering Daniel Christie by punching him in an unprovoked attack at Kings Cross on New Year's Eve.

The murder charge was formally laid against McNeil in court in the wake of 18-year-old Mr Christie's death at St Vincent's Hospital on Saturday.

Lambaditis is charged with murdering 34-year-old Lucio Stein Rodrigues, a Brazilian national he allegedly punched outside a bar in Sydney's CBD last November.

Like Mr Christie, Mr Rodrigues's life support was turned off days after the attack due to irreparable brain damage.

In a statement read outside court by their lawyer, the Rodrigues family expressed their grief and anger at the death of their son.

"Lucio hasn't been mentioned in the media much at all lately and it's very important that he's not forgotten," the statement said.

"His family are extremely distraught over the death of their son and they desperately want justice to be done.

"We need to ensure the community and the judiciary understand the family's outrage, that his death will be in vain if the accused is treated as leniently as other one-punch offenders in recent times."

They were referring to Kieran Loveridge, who was jailed for four years for killing 18-year-old Thomas Kelly with a single punch in July 2012.

Mr Kelly was attacked just yards from where Mr Christie was punched in Kings Cross.

Both attacks, along with a string of other one-punch attacks over the summer break, have prompted calls for tougher sentencing laws for alcohol-fuelled violence.

On Monday Mr Kelly's father delivered a petition with 132,000 signatures to the NSW government demanding minimum sentencing laws for manslaughter.

Mr Christie's family have termed single punches or so-called king hits a "coward's punch".

In a statement released after their son's death, they described him as a "beacon of morality".

He died while shielding three younger boys who were allegedly punched to the ground by McNeil, who allegedly boasted he was a mixed martial arts fighter before punching Mr Christie.

His brother, Peter Christie, also suffered a split lip in the alleged attack.

"No family should be forced to deal with this situation, however we are not the first and we fear that we won't be the last," the Christies said.

The Rodrigues family agreed, saying their son's death was a "tragedy of inexcusable proportions".

In a statement that echoed the Christies' sentiments, they said Mr Rodrigues was a "beacon of the community".

"He came from a good family, was well educated, well respected and dearly loved by many," they said.

"(We are) seeking to ensure that with Lucio's death, a line is drawn in the sand and offenders are dealt with in accordance with community expectations."

Lambaditis, who has not yet entered a plea, is also charged with assault causing grievous bodily harm and assaulting another man.

McNeil is facing a string of assault charges.

Both men were formally refused bail and will appear before the same court on March 4.

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Man 'on ice' before Vic triple fatal crash

A man will face court charged over the deaths of three people hit by a car in Melbourne on Sunday. Source: AAP

A MAN accused of killing three people in a Melbourne crash after speeding through a red light knows he is going to prison for a long time, a court has heard.

Brazilian national Nei Lima DaCosta, 29, is accused of fatally running over pedestrian Anthony Parsons at Oakleigh on Sunday, before losing control of his car and ploughing into a Ford sedan, killing married couple Inimi and Savvas Menelaou.

Another three people were injured, including the Ford driver, who remains in a critical condition in hospital.

DaCosta ran a number of red lights and was travelling at 120km/h - some 40km/h over the speed limit - when he hit Mr Parsons, the Melbourne Magistrates Court was told on Tuesday.

Detective Sergeant Mark Amos told a bail hearing that DaCosta, who admits being addicted to ice, had traces of methamphetamine in his system at the time of the crash.

He said road safety cameras and witness accounts indicated that DaCosta had been driving dangerously for at least a kilometre before the crash.

Defence lawyer Lisa Mendicino said DaCosta, who has a wife and infant daughter, wanted to sort out his affairs before entering custody.

"He knows it's of certainty that he will be spending a lot of time in jail," she told the court.

DaCosta has been charged with three counts of culpable driving, three of negligently causing serious injury and one of reckless conduct endangering life.

Det Sgt Amos said DaCosta, who is also accused of travelling 45km/h over the speed limit through Melbourne's Burnley Tunnel last April, posed an unacceptable risk of driving dangerously.

"He presents so great a risk that the potential could be even more catastrophic," he said.

Magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg adjourned the bail hearing until Wednesday.

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Holden workers feeling stressed

Many Holden workers are already feeling enormous levels of distress over the company's closure. Source: AAP

MANY Holden workers set to lose their jobs when the company ends local manufacturing feel "imprisoned by uncertainty", South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill says.

Mr Weatherill says government MPs have been hearing from workers affected by the company's decision to stop building cars by the end of 2017.

He said while the company's closure was still four years away, workers were feeling enormous levels of distress already.

"What they're worried about is their future," he said.

"Those worries are manifesting in real concerns now. Not in four years time but now.

"They are, in fact, imprisoned by uncertainty."

Mr Weatherill said the state government would provide significant assistance to those affected by Holden's decision and would also write to the company to ensure it provided the appropriate levels of support.

That included offering workers the opportunity to do work experience in other industries where they might find new work as well as support for counselling and training.

"The critical thing here is to make sure these workers get the skills and have access to the counselling that means when they leave, they'll have a job," he said.

The premier said the government would put a range of topics to Holden but had not yet finalised what level of financial support it believed was appropriate for the company to provide.

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Four people unaccounted for in WA fire

Four people are unaccounted for and 46 homes have been destroyed by a bushfire in the Perth hills. Source: AAP

FOUR people are unaccounted for and 46 homes and two sheds have been destroyed by a ferocious bushfire in the Perth hills.

The blaze, which burned through 650 hectares in the Shire of Mundaring on Sunday, has been contained but 275 firefighters were still battling to bring it under control.

Weather conditions have improved since reports of flames 20m high, and a warning for people in the eastern part of Parkerville, Stoneville and Mount Helena has been downgraded to a watch and act alert.

A 62-year-old man in nearby Hovea collapsed on the roof of his house and died on Sunday afternoon.

Some firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion and bee stings.

The fate of animals including horses, chickens and pets is still unknown but residents are bracing for the worst.

About 500 people gathered for a community meeting on Monday, including Premier Colin Barnett, and were told there were 13 road blocks and many fallen power lines.

Residents were told they would probably not be able to return home until Wednesday.

There have been no reports of looting, but police are patrolling the area.

Western Power says about 1000 properties are without power in Parkerville and Mundaring.

The cause of the fire is unknown.

Former firefighter Greg Dunston said he stayed home to protect his property and managed to save neighbouring homes as well by putting out spot fires, but all the trees in the area were blackened.

"We're on quite a slope, so the fire raced up the hill," he told Fairfax radio.

"It's just black and ash."

Two emergency welfare centres housed about 100 people overnight and people were being offered counselling.

The Red Cross State Inquiry Centre is operational and people seeking information on family members can call 1800 015 337.

Authorities warned people should not donate goods because they were an additional problem for welfare workers and might not be useful.

Mundaring Shire president Helen Dullard said knowing so many homes had been lost increased the devastation "tremendously", and many residents were relieved to escape the flames.

"Visually, it was a very ugly fire. It was scary," she told AAP.

Ms Dullard said the local council would eventually take over the recovery effort and manage relief funds.

The state government will contribute a million dollars towards the Lord Mayor's Distress Relief Fund, which has been activated to raise and co-ordinate donations to support victims.

Insurers have declared the fire a catastrophic event.

It has been three years since the last massive bushfire in the Perth hills region, which destroyed 71 homes in Roleystone and Kelmscott.

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Five killed on Vic roads in 24 hours

Two people are in hospital and three others have been killed in a two car collision in Melbourne. Source: AAP

TWO people have died and five have been injured in a car crash in Victoria's northwest.

Police said seven people were in a car that lost control and crashed on the Murchison Violet Town Road, near Violet Town, about 2pm (AEDT) on Monday.

A 30-year-old man has been flown to The Alfred hospital in a critical condition, an Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said.

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Vic to erase convictions for gay sex

Victoria is set to announce plans to erase the convictions of men for having consensual gay sex. Source: AAP

VICTORIAN men prosecuted for having gay sex will be able to apply to have their convictions erased under laws before state parliament this year.

Gay rights advocates welcomed the move, saying it will help end the stigma and shame endured by hundreds of men based on discriminatory laws more than 30 years ago.

Denis Napthine made the announcement to delete gay criminal records as he became the first Victorian premier to open Melbourne's 26th annual Midsumma carnival, which drew thousands of revellers to celebrate gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex (GLBTI) culture on Sunday.

"This is a good piece of legislation," Dr Napthine told reporters in Melbourne.

"I'm surprised it's taken this long but this is fair and reasonable."

The Hamer Liberal government decriminalised homosexuality in Victoria in 1981.

Under legislation before parliament this year, those convicted of consensual sexual acts with other men can apply to have the convictions expunged.

"I recognise the GLBTI community has a great contribution to make to this great state and the diversity of this state," Dr Napthine earlier told reporters.

"What we want is people to be able to enjoy their sexuality in whatever form it takes within the privacy of their own home".

Human Rights Law Centre advocacy director Anna Brown said deleting unjust convictions will help end shame endured by gay men unfairly burdened with criminal records.

"Acknowledging these laws were wrong and legislating to abolish the left-over convictions will start to heal the harm these discriminatory laws have caused," she said.

Until 1981, gay men were convicted and even jailed for offences including buggery and loitering for homosexual purposes, which created barriers to work, volunteering and travel.

In some cases, men who would now be treated as sex abuse victims were charged.

Victorian man Noel Tovey says he pleased he can remove the black mark from his name.

"It's good to know at the age of 80, that I am no longer a criminal in the eyes of the law and society," he said.

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Trade pact close to reality, says Robb

THE 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement is close to being "sealed", Australian Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb says.

Mr Robb, in the US to lead the Australian government's delegation for the G'Day USA promotion, says the Obama administration has attempted to entice him to Washington DC for TPP talks.

Mr Robb told AAP on Saturday he would wait for formal TPP discussions scheduled "in a couple of weeks".

The TPP is being negotiated between Australia, the US, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Chile, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam - countries that comprise almost 40 per cent of the world's GDP.

US President Barack Obama had set a deadline to clinch the TPP deal by the end of 2013 and is facing growing pressure from members of Congress critical of the secrecy around the discussions.

Mr Robb dismissed similar critics in Australia.

"It is nonsense to suggest that people are in the dark," Mr Robb, who attended the G'Day USA ball in Los Angeles on Saturday, told AAP.

He was upbeat about the countries agreeing to the TPP.

"It's ready to be sealed," Robb said.

"A few big things have to end up back on the table yet, but it is close.

"I would hope we are going to see progress obviously this year and sooner rather than later."

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