Woman set alight in vile act: police

POLICE have described as a "vile act" an attack on a woman who was set alight in Sydney's CBD in a domestic dispute.

Emergency services were called to a building on Castlereagh Street about 6.15pm (AEDT) on Friday after receiving reports that the 34-year-old woman had been splashed with an unknown liquid and set on fire.

The woman, who's an Australian resident of Thai background, was taken to St Vincent's Hospital before being transferred to Concord Hospital where she remains in a serious and stable condition.

About 6.35pm emergency service crews found a 28-year-old man with burns to his arms in Wattle Street, Ultimo.

He was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital where he remains under police guard.

Police said the man, who's also of Thai background, was a suspect in the attack and "was in a domestic relationship with the victim".

Detective Superintendent Mark Walton told reporters police were investigating the attack as an attempted murder and expected to question the man when he was released from hospital.

"This is a vile act and I personally struggle to think of a worse act that one person can commit upon another," Mr Walton said.

"Domestic violence occurs in the home in most occasions not in a public place where others will report the crime.

"It (domestic violence) is a terrible blight on our community."

Mr Walton said it was fortunate there were people nearby who were able to assist in treating the woman shortly after the attack occurred.

He said the attack was carried out in a public part of the property and that there had been a "history of issues" between the couple.

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Will and Kate in Maldives sans baby George

Prince William and Kate are holidaying in the Maldives ahead of their three-week tour Down Under. Source: AAP

PRINCE William and Kate have jetted off to the Maldives for a week-long holiday just a month out from their three-week tour of New Zealand and Australia.

British tabloids report the couple have left Prince George with Kate's parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, at their Berkshire mansion west of London.

The royal couple reportedly took a commercial flight to Male before a private hydroplane whisked them off to a paradise isle.

"The Duke and Duchess are staying at one of the most exclusive resorts in the Indian Ocean - the five-star Cheval Blanc Randheli Hotel on Noonu Atoll," the Daily Mail reported on Friday.

Prince William is meant to be completing an intensive 10-week agricultural management course at Cambridge University in preparation for managing the Duchy of Cornwall estate. Reports suggest there's a short break in classes.

Kate recently enjoyed a week-long family holiday with Prince George in Mustique in the Caribbean.

The Queen has given special permission for William and baby George to travel to Australia on the same plane in April.

Multiple heirs are not normally allowed on the same flight in case of an accident.

After touring New Zealand the royal family will visit Sydney, Brisbane, Uluru, Adelaide and Canberra from April 16 to 25.

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Australians on board missing plane

A search and rescue mission is underway for a Malaysia Airlines flight, which has lost contact with air traffic control.

Flight with 227 passengers and 12 crew on board missing ... Malaysia Airlines service bound for Beijing lost. Source: Supplied

• Beijing-bound flight loses contact at 5.40am AEDT
• 239 passengers missing
• Six or seven Australians were on board
• DFAT hotline: 1300 555 135 or 02 6261 3305

SIX or seven Australians are among the 239 people on board a Malaysia Airlines flight that lost contact with air traffic control and may have gone down in the Gulf of Thailand.

The Beijing-bound Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, a Boeing 777-200 aircraft, lost contact with Subang Air Traffic Control at 5.40am (AEST).

"The flight was carrying 227 passengers (including two infants), 12 crew members," the airline said in a statement.

Malaysia Airlines said the passengers were from 14 different nationalities. Initial reports stated seven passangers were Australians but a subsequent statement from the airline put the number at six. Two were from New Zealand.

Grim news ... Malaysian Airlines Group CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya addresses the media near Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Picture: Manan Vatsyayana Source: AFP

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the government

"fears the worst" for those aboard the flight, and that they had so far confirmed the names of six Australians on the flight's passenger manifest.

"Australian consular officials are in contact with family members living in Australia of those believed to be on the flight and will continue to provide the families with all possible consular assistance," the spokesperson said.

"Australian consular officials are in urgent and ongoing contact with Malaysia Airlines.

Malaysia Airlines has advised that it is contacting relatives of the passengers on the flight."

The airline has established a call centre – phone +60 37884 1234 – for those seeking more information.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's 24 hour Consular Emergency Centre is contactable on 1 300 555 135, or +61 2 6261 3305 (if calling from overseas).

A total of 153 passengers were Chinese nationals.

There were also 38 from Malaysia, 12 from Indonesia, three from France, two from New Zealand, four from the USA, two from Ukraine, two Canadians, two Russians, one Italian, one from Taiwan, one from The Netherlands and one from Austria.

Reports on Twitter appeared to show a list of names of passengers on board the flight, but this had not been confirmed.

Yahoo News quoted local newspaper reports that the Vietnamese Navy said the plane went down into the sea about 153 miles south of Phu Quoc Island, just off the coast of the Vietnamese / Cambodian border.

According to the reports, Vietnamese military radar recorded the plane crashing into the sea.

There was no confirmation of the report from Malaysia Airlines, however.

Other media outlets reported that the Chinese Navy had deployed two vessels to the South China Sea to search for the missing plane.

"Malaysia Airlines is currently working with the authorities who have activated their search and rescue team to locate the aircraft," Malaysia Airlines said.

Search and rescue under way ... a map of the Malaysia Airlines flight's approximate flight path to Beijing. Source: Supplied

China's state news agency reported that the Malaysia Airlines aircraft lost contact over Vietnam while an unconfirmed report on a flight tracking website said the aircraft had plunged 200m and changed course shortly before all contact was lost.

The route would have taken the plane across the Malaysian mainland in a north easterly direction and then across the Gulf of Thailand.

Grief ... A possible relative cries at the Beijing Airport. Picture: Mark Ralston Source: AFP

Chinese news agency Xinhua quoted Chinese aviation authorities saying the plane did not enter China's air traffic control sphere.

China's foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a statement: "We are very concerned learning this news."

"We are contacting relevant authorities and are trying to confirm relevant information.''

Malaysia Airlines vice president told CNN that the missing plane had enough fuel for seven hours.

In shock ... A woman, center, surrounded by media covers her mouth on her arrival at a hotel which is prepared for relatives or friends of passengers aboard the missing plane, in Beijing. Picture: Andy Wong Source: AP

Malaysia Airlines' Chief Executive Officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said in a statement: "We deeply regret that we have lost all contacts with flight MH370 which departed Kuala Lumpur at 12.41am earlier this morning bound for Beijing."

MORE: PLANE CRASHES THAT CHANGED AVIATION HISTORY

Seven Australians have been confirmed to be on board a Malaysian Airlines flight which has gone missing.

"The aircraft was scheduled to land at Beijing International Airport at 6.30am local Beijing time (9.30am AEST).

Subang Air Traffic Control reported that it lost contact at 2.40am (local Malaysia time) today.

Flight MH370 was operated on a Boeing B777-200 aircraft," he said.

"The flight was carrying a total number of 239 passengers and crew — comprising 227 passengers (including 2 infants), 12 crew members. The passengers were of 13 different nationalities."

Recording the grief ... media hover over a possible relative of a passenger on the Malaysia Airlines flight. Picture: Mark Ralston Source: AFP

The pilot was 53 year old captain Zahari Ahmad Shah, who joined the airline in 1981 and had over 18,000 flying hours.

An interesting Tweet from The Daily Telegraph's Beijing correspondent shows Beijing Airport full of police but no one waiting for the plane to arrive.

"Malaysia Airlines is currently working with the authorities who have activated their Search and Rescue team to locate the aircraft," Mr Yahya said..

"We deeply regret that we have lost all contacts with flight MH370 which departed Kuala Lumpur at 12.41am earlier this morning bound for Beijing.

"Our team is currently calling the next-of-kin of passengers and crew.

"Focus of the airline is to work with the emergency responders and authorities and mobilise its full support.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected passengers and crew and their family members."

Fearing the worst ... Chinese police stand beside the arrival board showing the flight MH370 (top red) at Beijing Airport. Picture: Mark Ralston Source: AFP

Follow Malaysia Airlines on the incident on Facebook

Showing the strain ... a Malaysian policeman stands guard outside a reception centre for family and friends at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Picture: Manan Vatsyayana Source: AFP

Malaysia Airlines is the national carrier of Malaysia and one of Asia's largest, flying nearly 37,000 passengers daily to some 80 destinations worldwide.

Malaysia Airlines has 15 777 planes in the fleet and is an experienced operator of this type of aircraft.

Aviation Week reported that the missing plane was a 777-2H6ER with tail number 9M-MRO and serial number 28420. It had been built in 2002 and had been used by Malaysian Airlines since that time.

The last major crash of Malaysia Airlines flight was in 1995, when a Fokker 50 (9M-MGH) crashed during approach in Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia, killing 34 people.

In 1977, a Malaysia Airlines flight was hijacked and crashed in Tanjung Kupang, Johor, Malaysia, killing all 100 people aboard.

Anyone wanting more information on the flight should call the airline on +60-378841234.

Commercial flight missing ... The image from @flightaware shows the last known track of flight MH370 over southern Asia. Picture: Flightaware.com Source: Supplied

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Malaysian couple to hang for starving maid

A MALAYSIAN couple has been sentenced to hang for murdering their Indonesian maid by starving her to death, according to reports that say she weighed just 26 kilos when she died.

In the latest case of abuse against the legion of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia, the High Court ruled on Thursday that 26-year-old Isti Komariyah died of deliberate starvation in June 2011.

Judge Noor Azian Shaari said Fong Kong Meng, 58 and his wife Teoh Ching Yen, 56, consistently withheld food from the young woman during the three years she worked for them.

"She was 26 and weighed barely 26kg when she was taken to the University Malaya Medical Centre with bruises and scratch marks on her back, arms and forehead," The Star newspaper reported.

Isti was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. She had weighed 46 kilos when she first started working for the couple.

The court and the couple's lawyer could not be immediately reached for comment.

Malaysia relies on an estimated two million Indonesians who toil in plantation, construction, factory and domestic work - both legally and illegally.

Allegations of abuse against foreign labourers have included overwork, beatings, sexual abuse and torture.

A Cambodian maid was starved to death in 2012 by her employers, earning them 24 years in jail. Cambodia had stopped sending maids a year earlier over other abuses.

But poor Indonesian women have continued to arrive.

Malaysia has taken some steps towards improving the welfare of domestic workers, including requiring at least one day off per week and nearly doubling minimum monthly salaries to 700 ringgit ($A232).

But activists say it is difficult to enforce these requirements.

The Indonesian embassy estimates 400,000 women work in Malaysia as maids - about half illegally. Indonesian workers account for roughly half of all foreign labourers.

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RBA acknowledges the unknowns

AS always, it's what the Reserve Bank of Australia doesn't know that's important for the interest rate outlook.

When he fronted a parliamentary committee on Friday, RBA governor Glenn Stevens reiterated the central bank's recent switch to an on-hold stance for interest rates.

After its monetary policy meeting in February, and again after the meeting earlier this week, the RBA said "a period of stability" is likely for interest rates.

Economists have wondered just how long that might be, but rather than clear up the mystery, Mr Stevens just joined the club.

"I have not said how long a period because I do not know," he said.

And that's because he doesn't know how the economy's transition from the mining investment boom to whatever replaces it as a driver of growth will pan out.

"It is pretty typical for sectors to be going in opposite directions," he said.

The RBA would like to see "significant bits of the non-mining part of the economy" gain momentum.

"I think that is happening in certain areas and, hopefully, this is going to work out about right.

"It will be no small achievement if that turns out to be the case," Mr Stevens said.

But the RBA doesn't know if that transition - the fabled "rebalancing" of the economy - will be achieved without the need for more interest rate cuts.

The governor said he did not currently think that would be needed.

And if it is achieved, it's not known how quickly or strongly that will happen, so the timing or size of any eventual interest rate rises can't be pinned down either.

Elements of this "handover" are falling into place as demand for goods and services picks up outside the mining sector.

"The question really is whether that additional demand likely to be generated outside of mining as a result of all those trends will be just the right amount to offset the large decline in mining investment that we know is coming, so keeping the economy at near full employment," Mr Stevens said.

"The honest truth is that no-one can answer that question with great confidence."

Even then, there's no guarantee that tweaking the stance of policy will resolve any imbalances either fully or quickly.

"Monetary policy has a powerful effect on the general environment but it just cannot fine tune quarterly or even annual pace of demand that well," Mr Stevens said.

"We harbour no illusions of our capacity to do that."

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Falconio murderer withdraws appeal

LAWYERS for Bradley John Murdoch, convicted of murdering British backpacker Peter Falconio, have withdrawn an appeal against his conviction.

Murdoch is serving a life sentence with a 28-year non-parole period, but wanted his conviction quashed and a retrial ordered due to what his lawyers called "a miscarriage of justice".

He launched a leave to appeal in December, but a notice to withdraw was lodged at the Northern Territory Court of Criminal Appeal on Friday.

He was convicted in 2005 over the 2001 murder of Mr Falconio, whose body has never been found.

Murdoch believed a News Corp interview with prosecutor Rex Wild QC showed that the prosecution felt Joanne Lees, Mr Falconio's girlfriend and the key witness in the case, was so unlikable that she might have endangered their case, and so groomed her "secretly, deliberately and improperly" to improve her behaviour in order to obtain a conviction from the jury.

Mr Wild said he was happy to hear the appeal had been withdrawn.

"Relieved isn't the word for that; I'm pleased," he told AAP.

All decisions on submitting and withdrawing appeals had come from Murdoch himself, a spokesman for his lawyers said.

He denied that Murdoch had withdrawn his appeal due to having a weak case.

"Not at all," the spokesman said.

"It's certainly not over yet. There's more to come."

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High wind a hurdle for Vic mine fire crews

FIREFIGHTERS battling a coal mine fire in a Victorian township will have to deal with high winds on Saturday as they try to contain the blaze by the end of the long weekend.

Wind speeds on Wednesday afternoon caused the multi-million dollar fire to intensify and generate more heat, creating a challenge for crews over the next two days, Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said on Thursday.

But while upcoming weather will be good for firefighters, high winds forecast for Saturday could be a setback.

"That again will challenge firefighters to ensure they've got the appropriate strategy in place," Mr Lapsley told reporters.

"They've got good plans that are working well."

Fire authorities are hoping to declare the fire contained by the end of Monday but it depends on weather and the operation's success.

"The last 15 per cent is still difficult and will take a number of days," Mr Lapsley said.

"Even after that, we know there'll be smoke coming out of the mine for probably weeks but it'll be in very isolated areas."

Many people have left with those over 65 years, preschool-aged children, pregnant women and anyone with a pre-existing heart or lung condition advised last Friday to temporarily move from Morwell South, the area close to the mine.

Chief Health Officer Rosemary Lester says the advice will be reviewed once the fire is under control.

"We'll update our advice once we're satisfied the air quality is been stable and the advice from the fire services commissioner is that the fire is not likely to flare up," Dr Lester said.

"Then there will be a clean-up strategy to make sure when residents and workers return that Morwell is safe and clean for them."

The fire began on February 9 when a deliberately-lit blaze spotted into the Hazelwood mine. Mr Lapsley says it has caused a multi-million dollar damage bill.

Meanwhile, one fire has yet to be contained after burning for 51 days in far east Gippsland.

The blaze, sparked by lightning during a record heatwave, has scorched more than 165,000ha.

Planned burns will take place across other parts of the state as temperatures ease over coming weeks.

The burns of 260,000ha of public land, recommended by the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission, aim to make any bushfires easier to control.

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WA sailor's mystery death investigated

THE mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of a sailor off the West Australian coast are being investigated by the state's water police.

The body of 69-year-old Roger Liebmann was found floating near his catamaran on Thursday morning after a major search.

Mr Liebmann left the Koombana Bay Sailing Club at Bunbury in his 18-foot catamaran about noon (WST) on Wednesday.

The search began when there was no sign of him by nightfall.

Five vessels, three helicopters and one aircraft scoured an area 250 square nautical miles off Koombana Bay.

About 9.35 (WST) on Thursday, a rescue aircraft found the catamaran and Mr Liebmann's body floating close by.

Acting Inspector Mark Smith said the family was devastated by the tragedy.

"It is way too premature to speculate on the cause of death, but we can confirm he was in the water with the vessel," Insp Smith said.

No emergency beacon was detected by authorities, and the sea conditions were favourable.

Rescuers said they found the catamaran in an upright position with its mast broken.

Mr Liebmann's family were too distraught to comment, but Koombana Bay Sailing Club Commodore David Doherty said the loss of Mr Liebmann was a very sad day for the club and the community.

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Labor goes on attack over Qantas safety

LABOR has been taken to task by the government for questioning whether allowing Qantas to send its maintenance operations offshore will lead to safety problems.

The new line of attack came as laws to remove the 49 per cent cap on foreign ownership of the airline passed the House of Representatives within four hours of being introduced.

Transport Minister Warren Truss introduced the amendment to the Qantas Sale Act on Thursday morning.

"This bill means Qantas will no longer compete at a competitive disadvantage," Mr Truss said.

But in a surprise move, rather than let the legislation routinely sit on the table for a week or more, Labor successfully moved for it to be brought on for debate immediately.

Leader of the House Christopher Pyne then fast-tracked the debate and, after some delaying tactics by the opposition and a speech by Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, it was put to a vote which the government won 83-53.

"It's taken 94 years to build Qantas, it's taken the Abbott government 94 minutes to tear Qantas down. Shame," Mr Shorten told parliament.

The opposition later asked the government whether it had conducted a risk analysis of allowing Qantas - considered one of the world's safest airlines - to move its maintenance operations offshore.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Qantas' safety record did not depend on whether or not it was foreign-owned.

"It's reckless of the leader of the opposition to suggest it does," Mr Abbott said.

Independent MP Bob Katter weighed into the debate, asking how a "cut-rate, cheap-jack, overseas-based workforce" could be trusted to keep Qantas aircraft safe.

Mr Truss said the government was talking to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority about the airline's plan to cut 5000 staff over three years to save $2 billion in costs.

The minister told parliament the government would not be changing the Air Navigation Act, which would ensure Qantas' international operations would need to remain majority Australian-owned and based onshore.

The legislation is expected to fail in the Senate, with Labor and the Greens opposing it.

The Senate on Thursday set up two inquiries - one to examine the bill and a second to hear from Qantas executives, workers and the government on what initiatives the government could take to ensure the airline remains a strong national carrier.

Both inquiries will report later this month.

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NZX record-breaking rally continues

NEW Zealand's NZX 50 Index has extended its record-breaking rally as investors are drawn to a market with robust economic growth.

The benchmark index rose 39.829 points, or about 0.8 per cent, to 5073.090 on Wednesday.

Within the index, 21 stocks rose, seven fell and 14 were unchanged. Turnover was $148.1 million.

Auckland Airport rose 1.9 per cent to record high of $3.85.

Air New Zealand increased 2.2 per cent to $1.855 and Fletcher Building, the country's largest listed company, gained 1.1 per cent to $9.65.

"The local market is really rallying on expectations on what is going to be improving economic growth," said Grant Williamson director at Hamilton Hindin Greene.

There was a "relief rally on international markets" overnight after Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country would not invade Ukraine, Mr Williamson said.

Local gains were also helped by figures showing stronger than expected Australian economic growth.

Restaurant Brands New Zealand rose 2.1 per cent to $2.86. The nation's largest food operator said fourth-quarter sales rose at a faster pace reflecting the contribution of the Carl's Jr burger chain.

Z Energy rose 2.1 per cent to $3.81, after saying it will save $50 million on new storage facilities after cutting a deal with BP and operators of the Marsden Point oil refinery.

Ryman Healthcare rose 1.6 per cent to $8.19, extending a six day rally as investors returned to the stock after a month of profit taking, Mr Williamson said.

NZX fell 0.3 per cent to $1.27. New Zealand's stock market operator said activity on the bourse grew for the 18th month in a row in February, though transaction value was lower than the same month a year earlier.

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Senate inquiry set to probe Qantas

QANTAS managers are expected to front a Senate inquiry into the airline, as debate continues over what the government should do to support the company.

Labor is set to gain the support of the Senate on Thursday for an inquiry into measures that would ensure Qantas remains a strong national carrier, including a government debt guarantee, equity stake and other forms of support.

The inquiry will also look at the benefits of Qantas remaining in majority Australian hands, in terms of national security, tourism marketing and emergency assistance.

Qantas last week announced it would cut 5000 jobs, ditch purchases of new aircraft and make other changes in a bid to save $2 billion over three years and return to profit.

The airline has succeeded in lobbying the government to change legislation allowing it to take on greater than 49 per cent foreign ownership, but had a bid for a debt guarantee or $3 billion loan facility knocked back.

Treasurer Joe Hockey on Wednesday confirmed the government had conducted due diligence at the company's request, but concluded the best way forward was to change the Qantas Sale Act.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce told a business function in Sydney the airline's management would be happy to assist any parliamentary inquiries.

Mr Joyce said he was not surprised by the government's decision to refuse a debt guarantee.

The future of Qantas dominated question time in parliament on Wednesday, a day ahead of the government introducing its legislation.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott challenged Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to stand by Labor's 2009 commitment to amend the Qantas Sale Act to allow foreign airlines to hold more than a 35 per cent stake in Qantas or a greater than 25 per cent stake for any single foreign shareholder.

"Come on across - vote with us," he said.

Mr Shorten said both Mr Hockey and Transport Minister Warren Truss five years ago had said that it was in the national interest and would protect Australian jobs if the act remained unchanged.

Labor transport spokesman Anthony Albanese called on the government to release its due diligence on Qantas.

Mr Hockey said the report was commercially confidential and the government would not be revisiting the issue of either the debt guarantee or loan.

"They are not on the table," he said of the option.

Mr Hockey said Qantas should also step up its lobbying of Labor and crossbench senators to pass the repeal laws.

Qantas said in a statement that it would focus on what it could control, and not the political debate.

ACTU secretary Dave Oliver, who met with Mr Joyce on Wednesday, said Qantas workers had yet to be given any indication which jobs would go.

"We want to work to secure the future of the airline but it can't just be a case of cutting jobs or workers' conditions."

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Manus, Nauru detention under UN spotlight

AUSTRALIA is set to face a high-level international call to review its offshore asylum seeker detainment arrangements after the death of an Iranian man on Manus Island.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay will deliver her annual report, which outlines issues of global concern, in Geneva on Thursday.

Australia gets a mention.

"Recent violence in the regional processing centre on Manus Island ... has underscored the need to review the regional resettlement arrangements," Dr Pillay will say.

The review was necessary to ensure that the human rights of migrants and asylum seekers were fully protected in accordance with international law.

Reza Berati, 23, died on February 17 when violent riots erupted at the Manus Island centre, leaving scores of other people injured.

Dr Pillay will raise Australia's agreement with Papua New Guinea along with other worldwide human rights concerns including terrorism and poverty.

"Today the task of protecting and promoting human rights is as vital as it was 20 years ago," she will tell the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

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Fatal Qld ship blast sparks global warning

A FATAL explosion on board a bulk carrier was mistaken for a wave crashing into the ship, an investigation has found.

On March 20, 2013, the 229-metre Liberian-registered Nireas was anchored off Gladstone, Queensland, during its maiden voyage when one of the ship's engineers began draining water from an air receiver.

An observation window exploded during the process, sending debris flying toward the man, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) reports.

Its investigation was finalised on Tuesday.

"On the bridge, the master, chief mate and third mate heard a loud thump, but thought the noise was a wave slamming against the hull in the rough seas," the ATSB report says.

The Ukrainian man was found unconscious a short time later but died before a rescue helicopter reached the vessel.

During its investigation, the bureau noted a build-up of condensation in the receptacle as water flow prevented ventilation.

While the report notes the Nireas system had not been properly tested and the drainage pots were not fit for purpose, the ATSB says similar devices continue to be installed in ships around the world.

It has issued safety advisory notices to Nireas's Chinese builders, Greek operators and international safety agencies.

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Aussies drawn to the Big Apple

THE Big Apple continues to seduce Aussies, topping our holiday wish lists for the second year.

According to the latest hotels.com Hotel Price Index (HPI), New York is our favourite overseas destination.

Our love for Bali is showing no sign of waning - the Indonesian island has come in as our second favourite destination, up from No 6.

Singapore and London remain popular, in third and fourth positions respectively, unchanged from the year before.

Las Vegas rounds out Australians' top five favourite places, although it's not as hot as it was in 2012, when it was in second position.

The HPI, released bi-annually, is based on hotel bookings made by Australians on hotels.com last year. Along with our favourite destinations, it looked at the cost of staying in these places.

It found that in 2013 we paid the most for a hotel room in New York - $295 a night on average, an increase of six per cent on the previous year.

It was good news for travellers to Bali. They paid on average $135 per night for accommodation - nine per cent less than in 2012.

While Singapore and London were popular, both cities were among the top 16 most expensive places to stay. Accommodation costs in Singapore (in 12th place) averaged $229 a night, a rise of five per cent, while in London (in 16th place), hotel prices averaged $223, an increase of six per cent.

Las Vegas may be king of casinos, but you don't have to be a high-roller to visit. A night there averaged $150, up three per cent.

Looking at costs internationally, not just in our favourite destinations, Phnom Penh ($69) in Cambodia was the best value for Aussie travellers in 2013.

Siem Reap ($70), also in Cambodia, and Hanoi ($70) in Vietnam, tied for second spot, followed by Cebu ($74) and then Manila ($80) in the Philippines.

In Australia, the top five best-value destinations were Alice Springs ($109), Cairns ($136), Launceston ($141), Adelaide ($146) and Townsville ($147).

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Assaults of NSW paramedics rising

THREE NSW paramedics have allegedly been assaulted in 24 hours, alarming the ambulance service, which says violence against staff is on the rise.

There have been 35 reported attacks on 47 paramedics in 2014, NSW ambulance chief Ray Creen said.

"Our paramedics are being punched, spat on, physically threatened and terrorised," he said.

"It is unconscionable that they are heading out with a view to rendering medical assistance and ending up requiring treatment themselves."

On Monday night, a paramedic was allegedly punched in the face by a 50-year-old man and taken to Ryde Hospital.

On Sunday evening, two paramedics were threatened by a 33-year-old man who tried to punch them as they treated him at a Dee Why home.

He was charged with common assault and intimidation and given bail to appear before Manly Local Court later in March.

Four other men and a woman are due before courts across the state charged with assaulting paramedics in late 2013 and early 2014.

A male paramedic was punched in the abdomen by a man who had tried to break into an ambulance at Campbelltown, another man flicked blood at a paramedic at Pagewood and two paramedics were threatened with a screwdriver by a man at Blakehurst in February.

"It is a sad indictment on society when a paramedic becomes increasingly vulnerable to attack, and it is a situation NSW ambulance will not tolerate," Mr Creen said.

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Nut grower questions free trade deal snub

AUSTRALIA'S biggest walnut producer will have to wait seven years before it can export to South Korea after walnuts were excluded from a new free trade agreement.

Webster Ltd chief executive John Hosken said no clear reason was given for walnuts being excluded from the Korea Australia Free Trade Agreement (KAFTA) announced by the federal government in February.

KAFTA will remove tariffs on almost all of Australia's exports to South Korea, including beef, dairy products, wine, almonds and macadamias - either immediately or over a number of years.

Walnuts, however, will remain subject to a 50 per cent tariff because they were listed as too sensitive, along with rice and honey.

Mr Hosken said no explanation was given for the decision, which was disappointing because South Korea is a major importer of the nuts from the United States under a free trade deal with that country.

"They have claimed sensitive status on walnuts, so I'm absolutely delighted for the (Australian nut) industry but very disappointed that we have missed out," Mr Hosken said.

"We won't be able to make a start there for another seven years."

The exclusion came just as Webster's Walnuts Australia business opened a new, $11 million nut processing facility in Leeton, New South Wales, to produce shelled walnuts.

Walnuts Australia grows about 95 per cent of Australia's walnut crop and in 2013 was named Agribusiness of the Year at the National Export Awards.

Mr Hosken said he will meet with trade minister Andrew Robb in April to seek more information on why the walnut industry missed out in the free trade deal.

The United States increased its shipments of walnuts to South Korea by 21 per cent in 2012 after establishing a free trade agreement, and now counts South Korea as its biggest export market, worth about $US100 million a year.

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Windy conditions ahead for Vic fire crews

EXTRA fire crews will be on stand-by to fight Victoria's Morwell mine fire ahead of windier conditions predicted over the next two days.

Authorities have at least two extra strike teams on ready in case expected higher winds aggravate the fire that has been burning in the mine since February 9.

Crews are hoping they do not see a repeat of last Tuesday where fire escaped the mine, igniting a grass fire near the Hazlewood power station.

Incident controller Bob Barry says the fire fight in recent days has been successful, reducing fire activity in the mine, but Tuesday and Wednesday may be challenging.

"We could have a very similar scenario to last Tuesday," he told reporters.

"We're preparing for that."

Authorities plan to bring two additional aircraft to support the fire fight and extra ground crews are on ready to protect infrastructure outside the mine.

"The additional strike teams will be there to stop fires that escape from the mine - as occurred last week - so we don't have to divert resources from within the mine," Mr Barry said.

The mine operators say they are preparing for the conditions to ensure the fire does not get out of hand.

Luc Dietvorst, head of generation at GDF Suez Australian Energy, says it acknowledges the problem Morwell locals are experiencing.

"If you have to live in that smoke it's not easy. That's why we have a strategy in place with the fire authorities," he told reporters.

Mr Dietvorst says the state government regularly audits the company's fire prevention plan and all of its mitigation strategies are in place.

He says once the fire is extinguished, the company will conduct its own probe and take part in any inquiry.

"We have nothing to hide and will go through with any inquiry that is required from us," he said.

Meanwhile, Scouts Victoria have offered Morwell residents who want a break from the smoke temporary accommodation at campsites across Victoria.

Victorian Premier Denis Napthine, who visited Morwell on Monday, announced a $2 million assistance package for small businesses adversely affected by the coal mine fire.

Grants of between $1000 and $10,000 will be available to small businesses, along with a low-interest loan scheme of up to $200,000, Dr Napthine announced.

He said the funding would be provided by the Victorian government and it was also seeking federal government funding on top of that.

"When I have visited small businesses in Morwell one of the things they have emphasised to me, whether they are the local coffee shop, the local hair dresser ... their turn over has gone down significantly," he said.

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Cashed-up firms eye new workers

AT a time of high-profile job cuts, there are more tentative signs that business has the confidence to hire staff.

New figures show employment advertising jumped by more than five per cent in February, following similar strength in the federal government's job vacancies series.

The latest numbers coincide with other data on Monday showing gross operating company profits rose by 1.7 per cent in the December quarter to $68.2 billion, the largest figure in more than two years.

"Corporate Australia is well placed to spend, invest, employ ... over the next year," Commonwealth Securities chief economist Craig James says.

The profits figures will feed into Wednesday's national accounts for the December quarter.

Economists expect a relatively solid 0.7 per cent rise in gross domestic product in the final three months of 2013, although annual economic growth at 2.5 per cent will remain well below trend at just more than three per cent.

Such expectations will be taken to the Reserve Bank's board meeting on Tuesday.

Economists broadly expect the cash rate to remain at a record low of 2.5 per cent for at least another month.

A key federal parliamentary committee agrees.

The House of Representatives economics committee has tabled the findings of the RBA's twice-yearly parliamentary appearance before its members.

"The committee considers the current monetary policy settings to be appropriate," committee chair and Liberal MP Kelly O'Dwyer said.

"But the government and the RBA must ensure that sound decisions continue to be made to ensure that Australia's economy transitioned successfully to a post-mining boom era."

The committee noted the warning by RBA governor Glenn Stevens that Australia faced considerable challenges as investment in the resources sector declined and productivity gains and investment needed to occur in non-mining sectors to sustain and increase future growth.

Mr Stevens and his economic team will face the committee again in Sydney on Friday.

The committee's deputy chairman, Labor MP Ed Husic, flagged the opposition's concern about the "excessively generous and ill-considered" decision of Treasurer Joe Hockey to make an $8.8 billion grant to replenish the bank's reserve fund.

He was also concerned about the confused and contradictory decision making of the coalition government.

"We've seen a government unable to respond to job shedding occurring under its watch," Mr Husic told parliament.

Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen quizzed Prime Minister Tony Abbott on last week's worst capital expenditure figures since the 2008/09 global financial crisis, when the coalition in opposition said companies would "unleash their balance sheets" on a change of government.

Mr Abbott said the coalition was elected to fix the economy.

"We are marching to the rescue of this nation from the wreckage that we inherited from members opposite," he told parliament.

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