Student tells of abuse at SA school

An intellectually disabled man has told a royal commission of being abused at a SA Catholic school. Source: AAP

A CATHOLIC school's bus driver sexually abused an intellectually disabled student in the bus, in the woodwork classroom and at weekend sleepovers, an inquiry has been told.

The now 38-year-old man also told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that other students from Adelaide's St Ann's Special School also attended sleepovers at the home of Brian Perkins.

Perkins sexually abused him regularly and another man took photos of him naked, the witness, known as LH, said on Monday.

Perkins once took him to another house where the student's hands and legs were tied up, while a piece of string was tied around his and the driver's genitals, he said.

The other man then smacked them both.

LH said the bus driver warned him not to tell anyone about the abuse as they both would get into trouble with police.

The abuse made him feel "very angry" and he put a knife to Perkins' face, "because I wanted to kill him, make him die".

The mother of another student, who has Downs Syndrome, broke down while telling of the change in her son after he was secretly abused by Perkins.

"He even distrusted Santa Claus when he previously loved Christmas and Santa Claus," she said.

She often queried St Ann's staff about why the school bus was regularly late in dropping off her son and was told the vehicle had broken down or had mechanical problems or children were being disruptive.

On three occasions, Perkins asked if her son could attend sleepovers at the school or go on a camp, requests she agreed to as he was very convincing and seemed trustworthy.

However, in 1991 the school asked her to attend a meeting where she was informed police suspected Perkins had molested her son.

But, despite repeated requests in the ensuing years, neither the police or the school gave her any further information.

More than 10 years later, her husband had to identify their son in pornographic photos, although she believed police had the pictures for a decade.

Perkins was arrested in 1993, skipped bail in 1994 and was extradited from Queensland in 2002.

Some 12 years after allegations were first made, he pleaded guilty to sex charges and was sentenced to 10 years jail where he died in 2009.

The hearing is continuing.

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Tas govt to meet loggers on forestry plan

The Tasmanian Greens are urging the new government not to take the state back to forestry war. Source: AAP

TASMANIA'S incoming Liberal government will meet with the timber industry this week as it pushes ahead with plans to tear up the state's forestry peace deal.

Liberal forestry spokesman Peter Gutwein on Monday said the meeting would seek a "way forward" for the timber industry, and reaffirmed his party's pledge to abandon the peace deal between loggers and environmentalists brokered by Labor in 2012.

"We will sit down with industry stakeholders this week and we will talk with them about rebuilding the industry," Mr Gutwein said.

"We have a mandate to tear this deal up, we have not supported this deal over the last three years."

Mr Gutwein's comments come after the Liberals swept to power in Saturday's state election, grabbing 52 per cent of the primary vote, a swing of 12 per cent, to win at least 14 of the lower house's 25 seats.

With more than 80 per cent of the vote counted, the ALP has secured six lower house seats, the Greens probably three, while two are in doubt.

Mr Gutwein said environmentalists would not be included in this week's discussions unless they did a "180 degree about turn" on forestry issues.

"They have locked up large tracts of Tasmania for no good purpose," he added.

The peace deal took almost three years to negotiate after 30 years of conflict between conservationists and the timber industry in Tasmania.

The deal locks up an extra 500,000 hectares of high value forest and commits millions of dollars to downsize the timber industry and create alternative jobs.

Tasmanian Greens leader Nick McKim warned premier-elect Will Hodgman not to take the state "back to war" by ripping up the deal.

"If there is a return to the dark days of conflict division, it will be one person's responsibility and one person's only, and that will be Will Hodgman," Mr McKim told reporters.

Mr McKim would not be drawn on whether the Greens would join other environmental groups in protest action if the deal was torn up, but said his party would always defend the state's "wild places".

"What people can expect from the Greens is that we will stand up strongly in defence of the forests," he said.

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union also reaffirmed its support for the peace deal.

"Ending this agreement will put timber workers' jobs on the path to destruction," its forestry division national president, Jane Calvert, said in a statement.

"Undoing the conservation outcomes achieved by the agreement will reintroduce conflict - and conflict will destroy markets both nationally and internationally."

Ms Calvert said if markets stopped taking Tasmanian timber products, then jobs would be lost.

Meanwhile, ALP state president Rebecca White urged her party to retain defeated premier Lara Giddings as leader, despite the election loss.

"She's shown herself to be a really strong leader for the party," Ms White told ABC Radio.

"At this stage I can't really see a reason why we'd move away from having her stay on in that role."

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Hi-tech serenity for people with dementia

HEALTHCARE experts have found a way to bring serenity to the lives of people with dementia - thrill-a-second gaming technology.

They want to use the technology to create virtual experiences people can enjoy at home or in care centres.

The idea is to replace bouts of anxiety, agitation and depression with a distraction that is calming and engaging.

Alzheimer's Australia Vic has teamed up with Opaque Multimedia, a Melbourne digital-design studio, to develop the technology, which will use the same consoles as other video games.

Their first project is a virtual forest, which will allow people with dementia to control their environment as they wave their arms to make the wind gust through the trees.

"It creates a complete sensory experience of sight, sound and kinetic interaction," says Alzheimer's Australia Vic CEO Maree McCabe.

"Imagine being able to take a person with dementia out of their everyday experience and into a virtual environment through which they will experience awe, wonder, giggles, amazement and joy," Ms McCabe told AAP over the phone from San Francisco, where she is attending a game developers' conference to source crowdfunding.

She says the idea was inspired by a previous IT project aimed at helping people understand what it feels like to have dementia.

The forest is just the beginning, Ms McCabe says. She is excited about other concepts such as a beach experience or a festive Christmas scenario.

"The developers are using the same technology as the most visually impressive video games," says Opaque Multimedia director Norman Wang.

This will break new ground in the use of virtual sensory therapies to create feelings of safety, novelty and stimulation, he adds.

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Toronto mayor slams actor Kevin Spacey

Kevin Spacey cracked jokes at Toronto Mayor Rob Ford's expense when he appeared on a US talk show. Source: AAP

TORONTO'S combative mayor claims he wouldn't know Kevin Spacey "if I ran over him", a week after the House of Cards star poked fun at Rob Ford when both appeared on a late night talk show.

Ford's brother called the actor "an arrogant SOB".

The reason for their displeasure?

Spacey cracked several jokes at the mayor's expense when he appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live on March 2 shortly after a brief cameo by Ford.

"That's the first time I've had to follow a Ford," Spacey quipped. "And one that was so banged up."

When Kimmel thanked Spacey for sharing a dressing room with the mayor, Spacey responded: "Well, he threw up all over it, but those are the chances you take."

Ford has been under great pressure to resign since he admitted smoking crack last year, and several videos have emerged that showed him seemingly drunk or high.

His antics have made him the target of late-night television comedians and embarrassed Canadians.

City Council stripped him of many of his powers but does not have the authority to remove him.

Undaunted, Ford has vowed to run for re-election this year.

The Ford brothers took on Spacey during their show on YouTube named after the mayor's supporters, who he refers to as "Ford Nation".

Rob and Doug Ford complained that they were told they could not talk to, or have their picture taken with Spacey.

"In my opinion, he's an arrogant SOB," said Doug Ford, who however prefaced his comments by acknowledging that Spacey is an "incredible actor".

He then added: "Kevin, why don't you get off your high horse and be real and take pictures with people?"

Calls and emails to Spacey's publicist seeking comment were not immediately returned.

Rob Ford then softened the criticism, and cautioned that maybe Spacey "does take pictures and we're not aware of it".

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Double fatality on NSW north coast

Two men have been killed in a car crash on the NSW north coast. Source: AAP

TWO men have been killed in a car crash on the NSW north coast.

Just after 2.30am (AEDT) on Saturday police were called to The Coast Road at Lennox Head, south of Byron Bay after two cars collided.

A driver in a Toyota Camry died at the scene.

A driver in a Ford Fairlane also died at the scene while his male passenger was taken to hospital and is in a stable condition.

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Lusi batters Auckland beaches

EMERGENCY services are warning people to stay away from Auckland's northern beaches as high tide approaches and ex-Cyclone Lusi causes havoc.

Lusi hit Northland on Friday night, unleashing 91mm of rain near Whangarei over 27 hours and wind gusts of 139km/h at Cape Reinga.

A storm surge damaged a restaurant on Paihia's wharf and a seawall, several boats came ashore, Marsden Point was closed to all shipping and roofing iron lifted on a building in Mangawhai.

On Saturday, Auckland became the target.

Localised power outages, surface flooding and landslips occurred across New Zealand's largest city. Three boats broke from moorings and ferry services were disrupted.

One ship heading to Ports of Auckland was diverted to shelter off the Coromandel Peninsula.

An 11-year-old boy was reportedly swept out to sea at Takapuna Beach but police have not been able to find the person who alerted them, the boy, or any witnesses to the incident.

Auckland Council Civil Defence controller Clive Manley says weather conditions will deteriorate and coastal erosion will be a problem from 4pm to 10pm on Saturday at Snells Beach, Waiwera, Orewa, Milford, Cheltenham and Whangateau.

High tide is expected at 8pm local time.

"It's best to keep away from beaches," he said.

Power company Vector is providing frequent updates on power outages to thousands of customers across Auckland.

Wind gusts off 122km/h brought trees down and heavy rainfall fell in northern Auckland, the Waitakere Ranges, Hunua Ranges and south Auckland.

The storm is expected to pass over the South Island on Sunday.

Apple growers in Nelson are bracing for damage while residents of low-lying suburbs in Christchurch who have experienced two recent flooding events on top of earthquake damage are preparing for more woe.

Several events around the country, including Auckland's Polyfest, have been postponed or cancelled but thousands turned out to hear Tim Finn open the Womad music festival in New Plymouth with a moving ode to Parihaka and some Split Enz classics.

Lusi killed three people as it passed over Vanuatu.

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Man shot in western Sydney street

A MAN has been shot in the leg in a busy street in Sydney's west.

A spokeswoman for the NSW Ambulance Service has confirmed paramedics were called to Railway Parade, near Granville train station, just after 4pm (AEDT) on Thursday.

"We treated a 25-year-old male for a gunshot wound to the leg," she told AAP.

"That patient was transported to hospital in a stable condition."

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Leighton supports improved Hochtief offer

Hamish Tyrwhitt has resigned as chief executive of construction group Leighton Holdings. Source: AAP

THE board of construction and contract mining group Leighton has supported an improved offer from its majority shareholder Hochtief for a greater stake in the company.

Leighton has also axed chief executive Hamish Tyrwhitt and chief financial officer Peter Gregg, in line with Hochtief's request to change Leighton's management and board.

Mr Tyrwhitt will be immediately succeeded by Hochtief chief executive Marcelino Fernandez Verdes.

The new chief executive said Hochtief was committed to improving the performance of Leighton for the benefit of all shareholders, and the area of risk management was a priority.

"I intend to work with my colleagues on the Leighton board to complete the broad-based general review of Leighton's operating model that is currently being undertaken by Leighton management," Mr Verdes told reporters.

Speculation that Leighton may combine or sell some of the operating businesses such as Theiss and John Holland was premature, he said.

Hochtief also sees a benefit in maintaining Leighton's listing on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), and an Australian head office, Mr Verdes added.

Hochtief, A German-based and Spanish-owned construction company, lifted its offer for three out every eight Leighton shares to $22.50 per share, from its prior offer on March 10 of $22.15 per share.

Hochtief will lift its stake in Leighton from 58.77 per cent to a maximum of 73.82 per cent, for a total price of about $1.2 billion.

The offer is now unconditional other than requiring approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB).

The improved offer from Hochtief resulted from talks between Hochtief and Leighton's independent non-executive directors.

During the talks, the independent directors had urged Hochtief to make a takeover offer for all shares, rather than a proportional offer, but Hochtief refused, Leighton said.

Leighton shareholders will retain a dividend of 60 cents per share.

"In difficult circumstances, the independent directors have secured an improved offer which, we believe, is the best outcome for Leighton's shareholders and employees," chairman Robert Humphris said.

Mr Humphris described Mr Tyrwhitt and Mr Gregg as outstanding leaders who had successfully brought Leighton through a period of stabilisation and set the company on a pathway to growth.

The company's international operations have been the subject of allegations of bribery and corruption, which the company has repeatedly rejected.

Those claims remain the subject of a federal police investigation.

A long-term issue of collecting unpaid bills also dogs the company, with a $1.3 billion blowout to $5.8 billion owed at the end of 2013.

Leighton grew its 2013 full year net profit by 13 per cent to $509 million.

Shares in Leighton dropped 34 cents to $21.90 on Thursday.

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Head of The Reject Shop resigns

THE managing director of discount retailer The Reject Shop has resigned after more than four years in the role.

Chris Bryce will leave the company at the end of June, and said on Thursday it was time for a change.

Meanwhile, the retailer said it was on track to meet the full year profit guidance it provided in February.

The company expects to make a net profit of between $17 million and $18 million in the 2013/14 financial year.

The Reject Shop shares gained 36 cents, or 3.5 per cent, to $10.65.

Chairman Bill Stevens says Mr Bryce will leave the company in a very sound financial position, with the infrastructure in place to support potential significant growth.

"The board will be working closely with Chris over the next few months as we transition to a new chief executive officer," Mr Stevens said in a statement.

The retailer will launch a national and international search for a successor.

Mr Bryce joined the company 11 years ago and was appointed managing director in 2009.

"It is the right time for a change for me personally, with the chance to explore other opportunities," he said in a statement.

The company made a net profit of $16.9 million in the six months to December 31, down from $20 million in the same period a year earlier.

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Hockey confident about economic outlook

FEDERAL Treasurer Joe Hockey is confident about the medium-term outlook, even though there are conflicting economic gauges at the moment.

National Australia Bank's monthly business survey released on Tuesday showed conditions dropping sharply in February, reversing half the gains posted since September's federal election.

However, another survey showed small business is more confident about future revenues, albeit coming off a low base.

Mr Hockey also pointed to last week's run of strong data that included "astoundingly good" retail sales numbers and dwelling approvals figures that indicate an enormous pipeline of construction is building.

"There are conflicting data sets out there at the moment," Mr Hockey told Macquarie Radio, adding that people should not get distracted by one-off events either domestically or globally.

He said he was more positive about the global economy than three months ago.

"Over the medium term, things are going to get better and I think the economy will respond," Mr Hockey said.

NAB's business conditions index fell to zero in February from a three-year high of five points in the previous month, led by manufacturing unwinding January's surprising improvement.

While slightly softer business confidence remain above trend, sales and employment indicators fell markedly in the month.

NAB chief economist Alan Oster is sticking with his forecast for a jobless rate of 6.5 per cent in late 2014, but now expects it will stay "higher for longer".

He also expects the Reserve Bank will need to cut the cash rate again in November.

The latest labour force data for February is released on Thursday. In January, the jobless rate struck a 10-year high of six per cent.

Mr Hockey dismissed the opposition's continued gripes about rising unemployment, saying there shouldn't be any "shock value" because that's the economy Labor left behind and having predicted a jobless rate of 6.25 per cent by June.

Separate research by business software provider MYOB was slightly more positive, finding the number of firms enjoying rising revenues was the highest since March 2011.

The March 2014 MYOB Business Monitor also saw a significant increase in small- and medium-size enterprises anticipating a revenue rise in the next 12 months - 34 per cent compared with 25 per cent previously.

MYOB chief executive Tim Reed said the findings clearly told a positive story.

"Buoyed by record-low interest rates and a lower Australian dollar, local SMEs' hard work and resilience is now bearing fruit," he said.

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