Man charged over Vic stabbing death

POLICE have charged a 33-year-old man with murder after a man was allegedly stabbed to death following a heated argument in Victoria's east.

A 32-year-old man was rushed to hospital, but died from his injuries after being stabbed in Traralgon - about 160km east of Melbourne - shortly after 12.45am (AEDT) on Saturday, police say.

William Scriven, of Traralgon, faced a bail justice on Saturday afternoon and was remanded in custody to appear in the Morwell Magistrates Court on Monday.

Homicide detectives had said three men had been involved in an argument, which escalated and led to the alleged stabbing in Thexton Street.

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Man throws loaded firearm on Sydney street

A man has been charged after allegedly being found with a loaded firearm in Sydney's southwest. Source: AAP

A MAN has been charged with 10 offences after allegedly being found with a loaded firearm in Sydney's southwest.

Police from the State Crime Command's Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad said they spotted the man acting suspiciously outside a unit complex in Bankstown just before midnight (AEDT) on Friday.

When they approached him, he allegedly threw a loaded firearm on to the street and then ran away.

When he was caught shortly after, he allegedly also had ammunition.

The 30-year-old was taken to Bankstown Police Station where he was charged with 10 firearm-related offences, including carrying a firearm in a manner likely to injure person/property.

The Punchbowl man was due to appear in Parramatta Local Court later on Saturday.

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N Ireland police open Bloody Sunday probe

Northern Ireland police have opened a criminal probe into the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre. Source: AAP

NORTHERN Ireland police say they have opened a criminal probe into the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre, when British soldiers shot to death 13 unarmed Irish Catholic protesters.

A police commander, Judith Gillespie, confirmed the move after meeting families of the Bloody Sunday dead on Thursday.

Nobody has ever been charged over the killings, which inflamed Catholic support for the outlawed Provisional Irish Republican Army.

Gillespie says 15 full-time detectives will collect witness testimony, and then question former soldiers who opened fire as criminal suspects.

When asked how long the investigation would take, Gillespie said she couldn't know but detectives would "go where the evidence takes us".

The Bloody Sunday victims' families and the IRA-linked Sinn Fein party, which represents most of Northern Ireland's Catholic minority, welcomed the move.

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Christmas greetings to diggers on duty

DEFENCE Minister Stephen Smith has extended Christmas greetings to all defence personnel and their families on behalf of the country.

Mr Smith also said Christmas would be a very difficult time for the families of the seven Australian Defence Force (ADF) members killed in Afghanistan in 2012.

"We honour and remember those brave Australians who have lost their lives serving their country," he said in a statement on Friday.

"On behalf of my ministerial and parliamentary colleagues and all Australians, we wish all members of the ADF, their families and friends a peaceful Christmas and a safe and happy New Year."

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Time limits don't apply for Thomson: FWA

FAIR Work Australia (FWA) has rejected the defence filed by independent MP Craig Thomson and his argument that a two-year time limit applies to its allegations against him.

The workplace relations watchdog has initiated civil proceedings in the Federal Court alleging the MP misused union funds when he was the Health Services Union (HSU) national secretary between 2002 and 2007.

It alleges he used credit cards to spend thousands of dollars on personal expenses, including prostitutes.

Mr Thomson has strenuously denied the claims and his lawyers argued some of the allegations should be dismissed because they exceeded a two-year statute of limitations, or time limit.

In its reply filed in the Federal Court on Wednesday, FWA said all matters were still in controversy and rejected the defence claim that a two-year time limit applied for actions against Mr Thomson.

FWA issued nine subpoenas to companies including brothels and escort agencies earlier this month requesting information regarding its federal court action against Mr Thomson.

But five of the nine failed to respond to the subpoenas and four companies said there was nothing to produce, Mr Thomson's lawyer Chris McArdle told AAP on Wednesday.

The MP faces fines of up to $450,000 if the court finds, among other things, he spent thousands of dollars of union funds on prostitutes.

Mr Thomson was suspended by the Labor Party in April and moved to the cross benches following findings made by a lengthy FWA investigation.

The matter is listed for a directions hearing the Federal Court on February 1.

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Aust shares finish 0.3% higher

THE Australian share market has continued its stellar run, finishing higher despite falls on Wall Street amid caution about the outcome of the US budget talks.

At the close on Thursday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was 16.3 points, or 0.35 per cent higher at 4,634.1, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up 13.4 points, or 0.29 per cent, at 4,646.6.

On the ASX 24, the March share price index futures contract was five points higher at 4,608, with 36,206 contracts traded.

CommSec market analyst Steve Daghlian said Australian shares made solid progress later in the session, rising over six per cent over the past five weeks.

"There's no fiscal cliff news and there doesn't seem like there's been huge progress will be made but it does seems like the Republicans and Democrats will vote it through," Mr Daghlian said.

"The futures market was pointing to a flat start but we've picked up."

It followed weak leads from Wall Street after political leaders disagreed overnight about the Republicans' 'Plan B' to avoid the fiscal cliff.

The fiscal cliff refers to a series of automatic tax hikes and spending cuts that will come into effect on January 1, and could send the US economy into a recession, if a deal is not reached beforehand.

On Wednesday the Dow Jones industrial average lost 98.99 points, or 0.74 per cent, to 13,251.97 points.

Local financial stocks led the afternoon gains, with all the major banks finishing higher.

ANZ shares closed 16 points higher at $24.80, Commonwealth Bank was 18 cents stronger at $61.51, Westpac added 17 cents to $25.97 and National Australia Bank finished eight cents higher at $24.88.

In contrast, major resources stocks finished lower, with Rio Tinto down 41 cents to $65.30, BHP Billiton had shed two cents to $37.04 and Fortescue Metals had given up 16 cents to $4.50.

In other resources news legal action has been launched over the environmental approval process for Woodside's controversial Browse gas hub at James Price Point in Western Australia.

Woodside shares were 39 cents lower at $33.51.

In local news Qantas' partnership with Emirates is set to receive approval from the competition watchdog, following a draft decision from Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

Qantas shares were one cent stronger at $1.46.

The spot price of Sydney gold closed at $US1,668.58, down $6.57 from Wednesday's close of $US1,675.15.

National turnover was 2.1 billion shares worth $6.6 billion, with 472 shares higher, 445 lower and 348 unchanged.

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Artificial insemination ban upheld

A LONG-STANDING ban on using artificial insemination (AI) technology in thoroughbred racehorses has been upheld by the Federal Court, with racing figures expressing relief at the verdict.

Under international racing law, only horses conceived by the stallion directly inseminating the mare are allowed to race and breed.

Bruce McHugh, a former chairman of the Sydney Turf Club, had challenged that rule in the Federal Court in 2011, arguing the ban on artificially bred horses was both a restraint of trade and a breach of the Trade Practices Act.

Handing down his judgment in Sydney on Wednesday, Justice Alan Robertson dismissed both arguments.

He said Mr McHugh had failed to show the court the AI rule was a restraint of trade, because he accepted it was a reasonable provision when it was established "many decades ago to prevent the attribution of incorrect paternity to a thoroughbred horse".

Justice Robertson also dismissed the argument the ban on AI breeding was a breach of the Trade Practices Act.

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Qld cleaner rescued after high-rise fall

A HOTEL guest has helped rescue a window cleaner left dangling on a rope after falling four storeys at a Gold Coast high-rise.

The man had been cleaning windows on the 21st floor of the Sunbird Beach Resort at Main Beach, when a rope went slack.

The 35-year-old, who was wearing a safety harness, fell four floors and hit a 17th floor window.

A woman staying at the hotel reportedly pulled the dangling man onto a balcony.

He has been taken to the Gold Coast Hospital in a stable condition, with suspected rib injuries.

The cleaner, reported to have the ironic name of Lee Heights, was left dangling next to the balcony of the room where the Nicol family, from Brisbane, were holidaying.

Mum Jenny Nicol helped pulled the man to safety before she and husband Richard raised the alarm with the building managers.

"He was yelling out in pain and groaning and looked a bit dazed," Ms Nicol told The Courier-Mail.

"He must have knocked himself out for a bit. I'm just glad he's okay."

Police as well as the Department of Workplace Health and Safety are investigating the incident.

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Man faces 10 years jail over flight abuse

AN international flight was diverted after a drunken Perth man allegedly tried to smoke a cigarette on the plane before punching and spitting on crew members.

The 34-year-old man was taken off the flight, enroute from Sydney to Japan on Monday night, when it was diverted to Cairns.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) allege the man was heavily intoxicated and was abusive towards the crew and other passengers.

He had to be forcibly restrained by the crew and was arrested when the plane landed in Cairns, police said.

Assistant commissioner Shane Connelly said the public needed to remember that when they travelled on an aircraft their behaviour was subject to Australian laws.

"Enough is enough. An aircraft captain and co-pilot can ill-afford to be distracted from their duties of safely flying an aircraft by having to deal with drunk, violent or disorderly passengers," he said.

"The cabin crew are there to make your flight safe and enjoyable.

"They should not have to restrain violent passengers, be abused or assaulted, or be interfered with in conducting their duties."

AFP responded to more than 1000 alcohol-related incidents at Australia's 10 major airports during the 2011-12 financial year.

Out of those incidents, 145 were for offences related to offensive and disorderly behaviour and excessive alcohol consumption.

AFP said the plane was forced to dump its fuel load when it diverted to Cairns and the airline would seek to recover significant costs.

The man was due to face Cairns Magistrate Court on Tuesday charged with smoking in an aircraft, disorderly and offensive behaviour on board an aircraft, and interfering with crew or aircraft.

The offences carry a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment.

He will also be charged with assaulting crew general, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.

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Price cut for some SA power users

The SA government has negotiated price cut for around 20 per cent of the state's electricity users. Source: AAP

THE South Australian government has negotiated a 9.1 per cent price cut for about 20 per cent of the state's electricity consumers, short circuiting retailer AGL's court action.

Earlier this year the Essential Service Commission of South Australia (ESCOSA) ruled that prices for AGL's standing contract should fall by eight per cent.

AGL has been fighting the ruling in the SA Supreme Court.

The government has negotiated a bigger price reduction from January, in return for locking in the new prices for two years.

ESCOSA will also lose its price-setting powers from February when the state's electricity market becomes fully deregulated.

The government says the new deal will ultimately benefit all consumers, including those on cheaper market contracts, as increased competition among existing and new retailers prompts a "race to the bottom".

"With the deregulation of the electricity retail market here in South Australia, we will see a price war that will put further downward pressure on electricity prices," Premier Jay Weatherill told reporters on Tuesday.

"This is a fantastic present for South Australian energy consumers."

Mr Weatherill said ESCOSA would remain in place to monitor prices and the government would reintroduce regulation at the first sign of collusion or other anti-competitive behaviour involving energy retailers.

The South Australian Council of Social Services welcomed the price cut.

"The opportunity is there for the energy companies to step forward and to make their case," executive director Ross Womersley said.

"They've got an opportunity now to create real competition."

The Energy Retailers Association of Australia (ERAA) also hailed the move to deregulation and price monitoring saying it would offer consumers more choice and better services.

ERAA chief executive Cameron O'Reilly said Australians had shown in the past that given greater choice they were ready to switch power retailers to get a better deal.

"As South Australia moves to deregulate energy prices, customers will see an increased range of offers which will ensure that active customers are better off," Mr O'Reilly said.

The Energy Supply Association of Australia agreed the state government's move would lead to greater savings on power bill from increased competition.

"Today's announcement will encourage cut-throat competition between retailers, with households the big winner," association chief executive Matthew Warren said.

ESCOSA chief executive Paul Kerin said the commission also believed that vigorous competition was the best way to keep prices in check.

"While the commission will no longer set standing contract prices, it will monitor prices and it notes that the government is able to reintroduce stronger price regulation if that monitoring suggests that prices set by retailers are not competitive," Mr Kerin said.

Acting Prime Minister Wayne Swan said South Australia was the first state to act on the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreement earlier this year on energy market reform.

"This decision is a great result for people of SA and will mean greater competition, more choice and lower prices," Mr Swan said in a statement.

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Two firms chosen to make combat uniforms

TWO Australian companies will share a $14.5 billion per year contract to manufacture combat uniforms for Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel.

Australian Defence Apparel in Bendigo, Victoria, and Pacific Brands Workwear Group, in West Footscray, Victoria, will produce the uniforms under a five-year contract.

The standard combat uniform comprises the camouflage printed shirt and trousers worn by ADF members deployed on operations, during training and as normal daily dress.

Defence personnel minister Jason Clare said the uniform would also use Australian made fabric.

"That means the fabric is woven in Australia and the garment is stitched together in Australia," he said in a statement on Monday.

"I have seen the dedication and pride of those who work for these companies. The high quality uniforms they manufacture support our troops serving at home and overseas."

Mr Clare said the fabric used in these uniforms would be manufactured by Bruck Textiles in Wangaratta, Victoria and Technical Fabric Services Australia in South Stapylton, Queensland.

"This is an outstanding result for the men and women of our defence force, ensuring quality, Australian-made combat uniforms into the future," he said.

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Cops 'acted reasonably' in fatal shooting

TWO NSW police officers involved in the fatal shooting of a mentally ill man on Christmas Day almost three years ago did not comply with mental health protocols, an inquest has found.

But Deputy State Coroner Sharon Freud said the officers acted reasonably in a "highly stressed, emotive and dynamic environment".

Ian Cowie, 48, was shot by police in his Lisarow home on the Central Coast on Christmas Day, 2009, after he lunged at an officer with a knife.

Handing down the findings into his death, the coroner on Monday said Senior Constables Bradley Owen and Neil Prest "did not seek the outcome that eventuated".

She said there may have been a different outcome if they had simply walked away.

"But that is pure speculation and I am satisfied that the decisions made were reasonable," she said.

Police went to Mr Cowie's home before 5pm on Christmas Day, following reports that he had been throwing rocks into a neighbour's property.

Inside, Mr Cowie, who had a history of mental illness, was distressed and pacing back and forth, yelling at police to go away.

Ms Freund said as Mr Cowie became "more aggressive, antagonistic, agitated and threatening", Sen Const Owen decided to detain him under the Mental Health Act.

When Sen Cons Prest arrived at around 5.15pm, Ms Freund said Mr Cowie said something like "f***ing take me".

When the two officers followed him into his home, he grabbed a kitchen knife, cornering Sen Const Prest.

Ms Freund found the decision to take Mr Cowie under the Mental Health Act was reasonable, however, the Central Coast mental health protocol was not complied with.

Calls should have also been made for the duty operations inspector or the mental health intervention team to attend the scene, or at very least give some guidance.

She recommended additional police training at Brisbane Waters Local Area Command on the protocol.

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Fairfax TradeMe sale a good deal, analysts

FAIRFAX Media's reported sale of the company's remaining stake in NZ online auction and classifieds site Trade Me has come at a good time and will help the company reduce debt, analysts say.

Media reports over the weekend said Fairfax had engaged investment bank UBS to offload its 51 per cent stake - or about 202 million shares - in Trade Me for about $3.05 a share through an institutional placement.

Trade Me, which was listed on both sides of the Tasman, closed Australian trading on Friday at $3.22.

The sale would raise about $616 million and follow Fairfax's decision in November to offload its specialist agricultural media business in the US for $US79.9 million ($A76.24 million).

Independent media commentator Peter Cox said while Trade Me had a big market share in New Zealand its rate of growth was slowing in a maturing market.

"Even though I would agree that you are looking for businesses for the future that are internet based where there can be high rates of growth, I would suggest that this one has probably seen its best days now," Mr Cox said on Sunday.

"Therefore if they can get what they feel to be a very good price for it then definitely they should consider selling it."

Mr Cox ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the Fairfax board at November's annual general meeting.

Fairfax bought Trade Me for $NZ700 million ($A566.25 million) in 2006 and floated 34 per cent of the company in December 2011 through an initial public offering which raised $NZ363 million ($A293.64 million).

It sold a further 15 per cent in June 2012 for $NZ206 million ($A166.64 million).

Fairfax's full-year accounts said Trade Me had a "somewhat variable performance" over the second half of 2011/12.

The mooted sale would give Fairfax the opportunity to bolster its balance sheet - the company's net debt stood at $914 million at June 30, 2012.

Mr Cox said $650 million from the Trade Me sale would "put a nice dent in the debt at Fairfax".

"It also puts them in the position where if there came an opportunity for what they considered to be a good investment, they would have the funding ability from which to invest in something," Mr Cox said.

Ten (twice) and Seven West Media have both gone to the market to raise fresh capital in a bid to shore up battered balance sheets in 2012.

"If you have a lot of debt on your balance sheet, you are bit handcuffed because you can't move very quickly, you can't take opportunities," Wealth Within analyst Dale Gillham said on Sunday.

"In the last few years analysts have been looking down at companies with higher debt levels and so therefore reducing debt is what they like to see."

In 2012, Fairfax announced 1,900 job cuts, closure of printing presses in Sydney and Melbourne and the creation of online paywalls in a bid to deal with the structural shifts in the media industry.

A Fairfax Media spokesman said on Sunday the company had no comment.

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Newman defends Queensland's gun reform

QUEENSLAND Premier Campbell Newman says the state is not making it easier to own guns.

The state's gun policy has been questioned following the shocking school shooting in Connecticut, which saw a gunman kill 20 small children and six teachers.

In August, the Newman government initially announced a six-member panel, comprised of pro-gun lobbyists and gun shop owners, to look at ways to cut red tape faced by gun owners when renewing licences.

The Queensland Police Union was later invited to join after it criticised the government for stacking the advisory panel with people linked to the gun lobby.

Mr Newman insists the review won't see guns in the wrong hands.

"That's about ensuring that people who are already licensed gun owners don't have to fill out five inches of paperwork every couple of years," Mr Newman said.

"There's simply been an investigation into how to make the process around licensing of guns more efficient, and that will help police do their job rather than having to spend a lot of time on paperwork."

Mr Newman also pointed to new laws which impose jail sentences of up to five years for crimes including the unlawful possession of guns and the supply or trafficking of weapons.

"The government that I lead in recent weeks has toughened up legislation in relation to handguns and other concealed weapons like sawn-off shotguns," said Mr Newman.

"That's what we've done. We have made gun laws tougher in this state."

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