Stoush sign of chaotic government: Abbott

THE stoush between federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson and Independent MP Rob Oakeshott is just another example of a "divided and dysfunctional" Labor government, says Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.

Mr Ferguson accused Mr Oakeshott of making a "baseless attack" on his integrity in a newspaper article and had begun a legal action against him.

But after a chat with Prime Minister Julia Gillard early on Saturday morning, the defamation case was dropped.

Mr Abbott said the matter was further evidence of a chaotic government.

"Apparently the prime minister has been giving Martin Ferguson his instructions and it seems to be just further evidence of a divided and dysfunctional government," he told reporters in Melbourne.

"(The government) seems to be fighting with everyone and this is just more evidence of that."

Mr Ferguson said in a statement released on Saturday that he had intended to settle the matter privately with Mr Oakeshott.

"It was always my intention and expectation that this matter, so far as it directly concerns Mr Oakeshott, would be settled privately without the need for any public disclosure," he said.

"Consistent with my initial expectation, I will not pursue legal action against him."

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Four injured in NSW learner driver crash

A TEENAGE learner driver and her mother are in a serious condition in a Sydney hospital after her car crashed into a power pole.

Her sister, also a teenager, and a boy who is a friend of the family were also injured after she lost control of her car.

All four were trapped inside the vehicle after the accident on Ingleburn Road in Leppington, southwest Sydney, at about 2.10pm (AEDT) on Saturday, NSW police said.

It took almost 90 minutes for firefighters to free the last person from the car.

The teenage driver and her mother, the front seat passenger, are thought to have been the last two to be removed from the car. They suffered multiple fractures and have suspected internal injuries.

The other two passengers are also being treated at Liverpool Hospital.

Describing how the crash happened, a police spokesman said: "It is believed a blue Daihatsu Charade was travelling west when it lost control and spun across the road before hitting a power pole."

Ingleburn Road remains closed while crash investigators examine the scene. No other vehicles were involved.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Green backs Labor to form ACT government

LABOR will form a minority government in the ACT with the support of Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury.

A 100-point agreement with Labor leader Katy Gallagher includes an early start on a Canberra light rail system, legislation for gay marriage, a clean-up of Canberra's lakes, better social housing and 90 per cent use of renewable energy in the ACT by 2020.

Mr Rattenbury will take a yet to be decided cabinet position in the six-member ministry.

As a consolation, the Liberals will gain the parliamentary Speaker position and will chair the powerful public accounts and estimates committees.

The agreement follows the ACT election on October 20 which returned eight Labor and eight Liberal MPs, but cut Greens numbers from four to one.

Mr Rattenbury said the poll result left him with "an unexpectedly singular responsibility" to decide on what was best for all of Canberra, based on good policy.

"The negotiations have been conducted with goodwill with both leaders but I have decided to support Katy Gallagher and the Labor Party to be the government in the ACT for the next four years," he told reporters.

Mr Rattenbury said he had not secured everything on the Greens election platform.

"I am mindful that as one Green in the assembly we needed to be responsible in the requests we have made," he said.

"We feel we have put forward a package that is affordable and is fiscally responsible. The things that have been agreed to were all fully costed by Treasury."

Ms Gallagher, who will resume her position as chief minister, said she was proud to have led the Labor team back into government, achieving a small but significant swing.

"But I can assure every member of the community that Labor will be listening hard to the echoes that reverberate from October 20 and heeding the messages both positive and negative," she said.

Ms Gallagher said the agreement with Mr Rattenbury wasn't unconditional.

"We have sought a very strong commitment that he wouldn't withdraw his confidence other than for a very very significant matter," she said.

ACT Opposition Leader Zed Seselja said he was disappointed and many Canberrans would feel the same way.

But he conceded there was never any reasonable prospect Mr Rattenbury would have backed the Liberals.

"I have now seen it in numerous different circumstances ... that no matter who won the popular votes, the Greens have backed Labor, no matter what policies were on the table, the Greens backed Labor, and no matter whether ministries were on offer, the Greens backed Labor," he said.

"I think that speaks for itself."

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Westfield tipped to open more US centres

SHOPPING centre giant Westfield is tipped to open a string of new centres in the US as Americans spend up while Australian retailers continue to struggle.

Local Westfield retail tenants are finding it tough to absorb higher shopping centre rents amid soft sales growth.

Westfield Group said it expects to start up to $1.5 billion in new developments in fiscal 2013 as it reassures the market that its United States shopping centres escaped major damage from superstorm Sandy.

The news came as Westfield delivered its latest quarterly trading update, which showed comparable specialty retail sales growth in the 12 months to September 30 was just 1.2 per cent in Australia, and 1.8 per cent in New Zealand.

"In Australia retail conditions remain subdued," joint chief executives Peter Lowy and Steven Lowy said in a statement on Friday.

Sales growth was strongest in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia, while sales fell in South Australia and the ACT and were flat in NSW.

Despite weak conditions in Australia, Westfield centres remain 99.5 per cent leased.

But analysts said the high occupancy rate could mask incentives given to tenants to allow them to keep their stores open during the difficult trading conditions.

Westfield has 49 major shopping centres in Australia and New Zealand, which it owns in a joint venture with its property investment arm Westfield Retail Trust.

It has 47 centres in the US, and several in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut where superstorm Sandy has caused severe damage.

"Thankfully our centres on the east coast which were affected by Hurricane Sandy did not sustain any major damage," the Lowys said.

The majority of centres were operational within 12 hours of the storm passing.

Comparable specialty retail sales in the year to September rose by 8.4 per cent in Westfield's United States portfolio, and by 14.5 per cent in Brazil.

Leasing demand at the new World Trade Centre in New York was strong and the performance of Stratford City in the UK had been outstanding, the group said.

It also confirmed its forecast of a 49.5 cent distribution per security in 2012.

Westfield Retail Trust confirmed its forecast of a distribution of 18.75 cents per stapled security.

Westfield shares closed one cent, or 0.1 per cent, lower at $10.58.

CBA analyst David Lloyd said occupancy rates in the Australian portfolio reached a record high but the retail environment remained tough.

"Retailers are suffering from already high rents so we believe we'll continue to see negative releasing spreads across Australian assets simply because retailers cannot absorb higher rents," Mr Lloyd said.

Better consumer conditions in the US resulted in positive releasing spreads and rental growth as occupancy costs pulled back to 2007 levels.

"We'd expect that to continue," he said.

"We anticipate more stores opening than closing in the US this year and potentially more development activity."

He said Westfield would be able to increase rents at a faster pace than the past five years.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rayney sad his wife's killer is still free

ACQUITTED murder suspect Lloyd Rayney has spoken of his sadness that his wife's killer is still at large, rather than the relief he feels at being cleared of killing her himself.

After one of the most high-profile murder trials in West Australian legal history, the barrister was unequivocally cleared on Thursday of killing his wife Corryn in 2007 and burying her in Perth's iconic Kings Park.

Following a 40-minute judgment from former Northern Territory chief justice Brian Martin that brought an end to the five-year legal soap opera, a massive contingent gathered to hear Mr Rayney say how hard it was to still not know how his wife had died.

"It's been five years since Sarah and Caitlyn have been without their mum - they haven't been treated well by many people - but apart from that they still don't know, we still don't know what happened to Corryn," Mr Rayney said.

"That is a terrible tragedy.

"Despite the best-funded investigation, despite unlimited, apparently, resources at the disposal of those people investigating, this is still unresolved and that is an extremely hard thing for my family to accept."

An emotional Justice Martin - who was flown in from interstate and presided over the trial alone because the Rayneys were well known in the local legal community - choked back tears as he paid tribute to the conduct of Mrs Rayney's father Ernest Da Silva throughout the ordeal.

As Mr Da Silva was led away from the waiting throng outside the WA District Court, Ms Rayney's sister Sharon Coutinho read a prepared statement, thanking the police and friends for their support and vowing to continue the hunt for her killer.

"We would like to express our sincere appreciation for their determination and perseverance over the last five years in seeking justice for Corryn. Our gratitude and thanks also goes to Mr (John) Agius and the prosecution teams for finally giving Corryn a voice," Ms Coutinho said.

"Our special thanks and love goes to all our family and friends who have stood by us through this tragedy.

"Their love and support has given us the strength to deal with the loss of our beloved Corryn.

"Our quest for seeking justice for Corryn will continue."

Neither the WA police nor Mr Agius would comment after the verdict was read out.

The Rayney trial has been the biggest and most discussed in Perth since the murder and subsequent arson trial of Gypsy Joker bikie Graeme Slater, who was acquitted of the murder of former Perth chief of detectives Don Hancock in 2003.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Gambling addict found guilty of murder

A GAMBLING addict has been found guilty of bludgeoning his wife to death so he could receive her life insurance payout.

Ian Robert Hunter attacked Vicki Hunter, 55, with a metal bar at their home at Raceview, west of Brisbane, in May 2010.

Hunter, 58, pleaded not guilty to her murder, however, the crown alleged he killed her so he could claim her $180,000 life insurance payout.

Hunter was found guilty by a Brisbane Supreme Court jury on Thursday at the end of a three-week trial.

During the trial the court was told Hunter and his wife had been married for 38 years and appeared to have a good relationship.

However, they had significant debt for a couple that was on the brink of retirement.

Prosecutor Vicki Loury said Hunter cashed in his superannuation in late 2009, but had almost entirely spent the $76,000 on paying off debts and playing the pokies by May.

Hunter killed his wife when she returned from work and then injured himself to make it appear he had also been attacked, the court heard.

He then ransacked the house to make it appear it had been burgled.

Hunter told police he was knocked unconscious by an intruder who had repeatedly asked for money.

The charge of murder carries an automatic life sentence in Queensland.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Qld insurers accused of price gouging

INSURANCE companies in north Queensland have been accused of "outrageous" price gouging, with premiums going through the roof.

The federal MP for Dawson, George Christensen, says insurance companies have been treating the region as a limitless ATM.

Mr Christensen says his office has been flooded with examples this week of outrageous insurance premium increases.

In one case the premium for a two bedroom home in Mackay leapt from $2642 to $13,616.

In another the premium rose from $1992 to $8133 in a single year for another Mackay home that did not flood in the 2008 "one-in-200-year" rain event.

Examples came from homes, businesses, and farms across the north, including Mackay, the Whitsundays, Bowen, the Burdekin and Townsville, as well as north to Ingham, Cairns, and Port Douglas.

Some of the most dramatic premium increases came from body corporate managers and owners of units and apartments.

"Unit owners are compelled by law to have insurance but some are not able to purchase any - either because the insurance companies won't offer it or because premiums are priced higher than property owners can afford," Mr Christensen said.

"The insurance market in North Queensland has failed and the Gillard Labor government has rejected proposals to fix the problem."

The Insurance Council of Australia said an independent Australian Government Actuary (AGA) report released on October 19 found no evidence of price gouging.

The ICA said the report found the north Queensland market remained competitive, and current market conditions were more likely to attract new insurers to the region than at any time during the past few years.

It said the report also supported evidence that insurers were readjusting their strata insurance prices to cover the underlying technical risks after many years of under-pricing and rising reinsurance costs.

However, Mr Christensen dismissed the report as a "regurgitation of propaganda from the Insurance Council of Australia."

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Qld miners want coal royalties indexed

THE Queensland resources sector is pleading with the state government to index any increases in coal royalties to stop projects becoming unattractive to miners.

Since the start of October, royalties increased from 10 per cent to 12.5 per cent for every tonne of coal sold between $100 and $150 a tonne.

Coal sold for more than that price attracts a 15 per cent royalty, under changes unveiled in the September budget.

Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche said coal royalty increases needed to be indexed for inflation.

"Because we've now got three levels of royalties ... the old bracket creep that income tax payers are so familiar with will apply to coal companies and their royalties," Mr Roche told reporters in Brisbane.

"So unless the thresholds or those royalty rates are indexed, then more and more of the coal price will edge up into the higher rates, so the tax rate will grow and grow.

"If they don't address this issue, new projects will look more and more unattractive."

The royalty increases are forecast to raise $1.6 billion over four years, but Mr Roche said indexing it with headline inflation would only be a "very small haircut for Treasury".

Mr Roche said he had had meetings with Treasurer Tim Nicholls since the budget.

"We've had a good hearing. We understand that Treasury's doing its analysis," he said.

"We wait with baited breath for hopefully a positive outcome."

The new 10-year tax regime came into effect on October 1.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

NZ hospital wards closed over virus

ELDERLY patients in two wards at Auckland City Hospital in New Zealand remain in isolation after an outbreak of the highly contagious norovirus.

Last week three wards were closed in attempt to control the spread of the virus but one ward has since reopened and 11 people released from isolation.

A hospital spokesman told AAP on Tuesday evening that the number of people who had contracted the virus had shrunk from 13 to 11 over the past few days.

But 22 patients remain in isolation.

Earlier this month a ward at Auckland's Middlemore Hospital was closed after an outbreak of the bug with almost 140 showing symptoms.

Tauranga Hospital has also dealt with a recent outbreak.

The virus can cause nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

Auckland District Health Board's executive director of nursing Margaret Dotchin earlier said the hospital was implementing standard infection control measures to prevent further spread of the virus to patients and staff.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Corrupt council officials could be charged

NINE people could face criminal charges after a major investigation uncovered a culture of corruption among NSW's local councils.

The state government will also examine legislative changes after the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) published the findings of its four-year probe into bribery and kickbacks by officials.

ICAC made adverse findings against 21 council staff and one NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) employee after they accepted gifts in return for handing out public contracts.

Those gifts included vouchers, holidays and electronic goods such as iPads and mobile phones.

There were also adverse findings against 15 staff at private supply firms who offered the gifts.

Five council staff were named in the report for filing fake invoices in return for cash payments totalling hundreds of thousands of dollars.

"It appeared that these benefits were provided as a secret reward to public officials for ordering goods, ordering greater quantities of goods or continuing to order goods from these suppliers," ICAC said.

Nine of the 41 people named in the report will now have their cases referred to the public prosecutor, with a view to criminal charges being laid.

They are being referred to the prosecutor either as a direct result of the corruption, or for giving false evidence to ICAC's public hearings.

ICAC's investigation began in 2008 after a single tip-off from Bathurst Regional Council.

It rapidly expanded to take in staff at 88 local councils, 22 government agencies and the three private supply firms.

That number was whittled down to what was essentially a specimen caseload of 14 councils and the RTA (since renamed Roads and Maritime Services).

The 14 local authorities included City of Sydney, City of Botany Bay and Liverpool City Council, all of which employed staff guilty of taking bribes, according to ICAC.

It singled out two former storemen, Geoffrey Hadley of Bathurst Regional Council and Kerry Smith of Yass Valley Council, who are said to have issued false invoices to their employers in return for cash kickbacks.

"Under this scheme, Mr Hadley and Mr Smith received combined corrupt payments in excess of $323,000," ICAC said.

ICAC put the cost to Bathurst and Yass councils as a result of the rorts at about $1.5 million.

Responding to the findings, acting Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner foreshadowed changes to the law.

"The government will respond in terms of closing any loopholes in our local government legislation that has enabled this to occur in the past," he told AAP.

ICAC also made 15 recommendations to the local councils to reduce the likelihood of corruption in future.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

SA bikie probably thrown off cliff: police

A FINKS bikie gang associate who claimed he fell was probably thrown off an Adelaide cliff after being assaulted somewhere else, police say.

The 26-year-old Happy Valley man was found by walkers at the base of the cliff at Marino, in Adelaide's south, at 8am (CDT) on Saturday, Superintendent John de Candia said on Monday.

"This person was conscious at the time, but unable to move, and stated that he had fallen from the top of the cliff, which is a fall of about 30 metres," he said.

The man, who had fractures and face injuries, was taken to the Flinders Medical Centre with injuries which were not life-threatening.

Superintendent de Candia said blood was found on the path hear the railing at the top of the cliff.

"We will be alleging that he was thrown from the cliff. We believe he had been assaulted at another location."

The Crime Gangs Task Force is also investigating a vehicle which was reported stolen and found burnt out at Clarendon on Saturday morning.

The 2005 Silver Peugeot hatchback, registration CC255H, is linked to the Happy Valley man.

Police said the incident was believed to be related to an internal dispute within the Finks.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Australians sick of Labor saga: Abbott

LABOR and the opposition seem united on one front: they think Australians are sick of hearing about the ousting of former prime minister Kevin Rudd.

Trade Minister Craig Emerson says he has "zero" interest in a book, Tales from the Political Trenches, by former Labor MP Maxine McKew that details Mr Rudd's removal.

The book includes a written response from Mr Rudd about how he felt when his deputy Julia Gillard replaced him as prime minister.

On Sunday News Ltd revealed Mr Rudd felt "betrayed" and "let down" because Ms Gillard and Treasurer Wayne Swan gave no indication of their intentions on the evening before the coup.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott suggested Labor should be given a stint in opposition to sort out their internal problems.

"I think the public are sick of the soap opera," Mr Abbott told reporters in Canberra.

"The Labor Party leadership is a soap opera and the only way to end the soap opera is to change the government."

Dr Emerson refused to weigh in when asked on Sunday about the latest chapter in the 2010 ousting saga.

The minister said he had no interest and suspected the Australian public felt the same.

"My interest in that book is zero. That's the truth of it," Dr Emerson told Sky News on Sunday.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Six dead in Philippines bus crash

A BUS has slammed into a wall surrounding a house after its brakes failed while negotiating a downhill curve killing six people and injuring 43 others in the central Philippines.

Police investigator Celso Makidato says the impact hurled the bus conductor out of the vehicle in the accident on Saturday night in Cebu province's Toledo city. All the casualties were from the bus, including the driver, who was arrested.

Makidato told The Associated Press on Sunday that a passenger bus also lost its brakes and crashed into the same house a year ago in an accident that left 15 people dead.

Many accidents in the country are blamed on poorly maintained vehicles and roads and inadequate driver training.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More