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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