VW to make hefty Brazilian investment

Volkswagen has become the latest automaker to plan investment in Brazil. Source: AAP

VOLKSWAGEN is to invest 520 million reais ($A252 million) to develop a new model of its highly popular Golf compact, which will be manufactured in the southern Brazil.

Volkswagen do Brasil President Thomas Schmall made the announcement on Thursday after meeting with Brazil's head of state, Dilma Rousseff, to present the company's plans.

The new Golf model will be manufactured at the multinational's plant in Parana, and sold in Brazil from in 2016, Schmall said.

The announcement comes after Mercedes Benz and Audi unveiled big bets on Brazil's promising auto market.

Mercedes said last week it would invest some $US230 million ($A246 million) to build a second plant in the southeastern state of Sao Paulo.

The luxury automaker's factory will have a production capacity of 20,000 vehicles per year and begin operating in 2016.

Audi also has announced plans for a big push into Brazil's luxury vehicle market, saying last month it would invest $US500 million over the next two years to build a new assembly plant in Brazil.

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Vic Facebook house party ends in riot

POLICE have been pelted with bottles and fireworks during a riot after a massive Facebook-organised party called "mayhem" in an unoccupied Melbourne home.

Up to 400 teenagers clashed with police after partygoers set off fireworks and gatecrashers showed up at the Glen Waverley house.

About 700 people had been invited to the party, mostly through Facebook, according to a group of youths who returned to the house on Saturday.

"They called it mayhem," one teenager said of the Facebook invite.

"It's also written inside on the walls."

The youths, who didn't provide their full names, say there may be "mayhem round two".

Neighbours said the event had been advertised on Facebook as an end of year 12 and Halloween party.

People were lining up to get into Friday's party and were being charged for entry, before gatecrashers turned up about 11pm, the youths said.

"The guy who was hosting the party ran screaming there's a gang trying to get in by the back," a neighbour, who did not want to be named, told AAP.

Police officers that were first on the scene had to wait for back up to deal with a massive crowd throwing bottles and fireworks at them.

A police spokeswoman says 70 officers had to be called in to shut the party down, but not before rampaging youths jumped on the bonnet and roof of two police cars.

The youths damaged gardens, fences and a house under construction in the street during the melee, she said.

Some cars were also damaged as riot police pushed the youths up the street to get them to leave.

The youths say the party was well organised, with only people whose names were on a list at the door allowed in.

The six teenagers say the organisers had permission to stage the party and the owner of the house was there at one stage.

No one has lived in the house for about three years and it is set to be demolished.

Party organisers even cleaned up the rundown property in preparation for the party and had the power turned back on, neighbours said.

"They knew that the house was being demolished so it didn't matter how much damage was going to be done," the woman said.

One teenage girl was taken to hospital and two men were arrested for drunkenness.

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Meth blast left young boy badly burned

A DRUG user who blew up a Perth house while attempting to manufacture a batch of methamphetamine - seriously injuring a four-year old boy in the process - has been imprisoned for five years.

Mark Joseph Dennehy, 33, was using a gas bottle to make the drugs in the bathroom of the rented house in Bertram, south of Perth, in July 2012 when an explosion lifted the roof by two metres and started a serious fire.

The boy, who was in a nearby bedroom at the time, suffered serious burns to his face, hands and feet in the blast, requiring weeks of hospital treatment.

Dennehy was also badly injured, suffering burns to his legs, arms and face.

But as he was being taken to hospital, he told emergency services the blast had been caused by a gas heater exploding.

The house was virtually destroyed, with damage estimated at about $300,000.

Perth's District Court was told the youngster had made a good recovery, but would bear the scars to his face for life, needed psychological counselling, and was alive only by "the grace of God".

Judge Kevin Sleight said Dennehy had exposed his neighbours, emergency services, and most significantly the child to serious risk.

"You must surely have been aware of the risk, but you selfishly ignored the risks and selfishly exposed others to harm," Judge Sleight said.

Dennehy becomes one of the first people in Western Australia to be jailed under new laws that mandate a minimum sentence of 12 months for anyone convicted of manufacturing a prohibited drug in circumstances that cause bodily harm to a child under 16.

He admitted to manufacturing methamphetamine, injuring a person under 16 while attempting to manufacture methamphetamine, and criminal damage.

Dennehy was made eligible for parole in three years, and ordered to pay compensation of $231,000 to the company that insured the house.

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Bikies tensions still rising: Vic police

TENSIONS are still rising between bikie gangs in Victoria and police say they will continue their crackdown.

Acting deputy commissioner Steve Fontana said, despite 10 arrests this week linked to outlaw motorcycle gangs, police would keep the pressure on.

"We've made some really good inroads this week, but we are still concerned," he said.

"We're concerned that tension is still there.

"We're are not scaling down our operation."

Police seized about 10 firearms as part of this week's blitz but Mr Fontana says police intelligence suggests there are a number of high-powered military-style weapons still out there in the community.

He called on gang members to reconsider any decisions of violence, saying he did not want innocent people or police officers caught up in it.

Fourteen warrants were issued on OMCG clubhouses and homes this week.

Ten people were arrested for charges including drugs, weapons and extortion.

Mr Fontana appealed to the public for any information on OMCG bikies.

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Fifteen charged over Aurukun riot

Queensland police have charged 15 people over a violent riot in the Cape York town of Aurukun. Source: AAP

FIFTEEN people have been charged for rioting outside a police station in a far north Queensland indigenous community.

Police say the disturbance began at a shop in Aurukun then spread to the local police station on Monday after a local man was taken into custody.

It has been alleged police tasered the man during a riot at the general store.

Rocks were then allegedly hurled at the police station and vehicles, so police had to call in reinforcements from Cairns and Thursday Island.

A 33-year-old man has been charged with serious assault, assaulting police, obstructing police and causing a public nuisance.

He is expected to reappear at the Cairns Magistrates Court on Thursday.

A further twelve men and two teenage boys have been charged with a range of offences, including rioting while armed, wilful damage of police property, serious assault of police while armed, wilful damage and for entering premises and committing an indictable offence by breaking and entering.

Six men are due to appear at the Cairns Magistrates Court on Friday.

The remaining men are due to appear at the Aurukun Magistrates Court on October 14.

The two boys, both aged 15, are to be dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justice Act.

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Tanker crash company hit with 100 notices

The company believed to be involved in a tanker crash has been issued more than 100 defect notices. Source: AAP

MORE than 100 notices for vehicle defects including brake failure and steering faults have been handed to the company linked to a fatal tanker crash on Sydney's northern beaches.

An investigation has been launched after a fuel tanker went out of control on Mona Vale Road on Tuesday, ploughing into a power pole and four cars before erupting in a fireball.

Two men died in the blaze and six other people were taken to hospital.

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell said the number of braking problems identified so far in trucks owned by Cootes Transport was unacceptable.

"As of a few minutes ago, more than half of the fleet that's based in NSW has been inspected," he told reporters in Sydney on Thursday.

"More than 100 defect notices have been issued.

"I was concerned last night to see that ... 51 of those defects related to brakes and braking systems."

The number of defect notices was alarming, assistant police commissioner Ian Hartley said.

"We could lose many more lives on the roads due to trucking companies not complying with safety regulations," he said.

Cootes has been ordered to get all its vehicles to a station or risk being grounded, Roads and Maritime Services customer and compliance director Peter Wells said.

The premier said Cootes trucks stationed outside NSW are also likely to be inspected.

"My advice is that this checking regime is about to go national because of the concerns identified through the checks currently being carried out by police and RMS," he said.

"I'm told that one truck in Newcastle for instance had severe issues around brakes.

"How anyone allows a truck in that condition to get on the road is beyond my imagination."

A Cootes spokesperson said the company was working closely with road services and police to undertake a rigorous inspection of its NSW fleet.

Investigators say it's still unclear what caused the truck in Tuesday's crash to go out of control, overturn, then explode into flames.

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US MPs still get paid even in shutdown

In the US, the 532 members of Congress continue to be paid despite the government shutdown. Source: AAP

THERE'S at least one constant in a government shutdown: The 532 members of Congress continue to be paid - at a cost of $US10,583.85 ($A11,379.87) per hour to taxpayers.

MPs are getting their pay even as hundreds of congressional staffers are sent home, packs of tourists are turned away at the Capitol, and constituent services in many offices grind to a halt.

House members and senators can't withhold their own pay even if they want to.

Under the Constitution's 27th Amendment, MPs can only change the pay of those in a future Congress, not the one in which they serve.

MPs aren't oblivious to how it looks.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz and others are pledging to donate their salaries to charity during the shutdown.

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Last Post sounds for Rusty Priest

THEY called him the soldier's soldier.

But Rusty Priest was also a stirrer, a prankster, a husband and father who loved his family unreservedly.

Family, dignitaries and diggers packed into St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney on Wednesday to farewell the former NSW RSL boss at a state funeral.

Mr Priest died last week at the age of 86, after a life devoted to Australia's military legacy and nearly a decade at the helm of the NSW RSL, between 1993 and 2002.

NSW Governor Marie Bashir led the tributes, describing Mr Priest as a "soldier's soldier" and a fierce advocate for fellow veterans.

"Godfrey 'Rusty' Priest's life certainly was a life of unstinting service to his country and to the men and women who protect it," she told the ceremony.

"Once he set himself a goal, he was not one to be easily distracted or deterred."

Mr Priest's successor as RSL president, Don Rowe, Premier Barry O'Farrell and retired army chief Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie were among those came to pay tribute.

The World War II veteran was instrumental in creating the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway at Concord and getting the Glebe Island Bridge renamed the Anzac Bridge and is credited with lifting the profile of Anzac Day.

NSW MP Charlie Lynn, the state's parliamentary secretary for veterans' affairs, remembered his late friend as a larrikin who put his mates first.

He told the gathered mourners that for one brief spell during his 22-year military career, Mr Priest had been a pilot.

"It was a relatively short flying career, because as a dare to one of his mates he buzzed the brigadier's house early one morning, as the brigadier's wife was hanging out the washing," Mr Lynn said to laughs from the cathedral hall.

On another occasion, he said, Mr Priest misappropriated an oak table from his general so that men standing sentry duty for that night could get a fire going.

Curiously, when the same men were asked to find the culprit, they were unsuccessful.

Son Michael 'Tim' Priest remembered his father as a man who stuck to his guns.

"He would never take a backward step if he was right," he said.

Carol-Anne Priest described her father as a man who "delighted in the ridiculous" in life, and inspired her still in death.

Veterans' medals glinted in the midday sun as the mourners' procession travelled through the Sydney CBD to the Anzac Memorial at Hyde Park for a gun salute and the playing of the Last Post.

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Stuntwoman gives cruising a new edge

CRUISING has traditionally been viewed as a fairly sedate holiday option but on Monday P&O launched a bid to change that image - with the help of a stuntwoman.

Janene Carleton, who has performed stunts for the likes of Angelina Jolie and Jessica Biel, sped upside-down on a zip line across the Pacific Jewel's Level 14 deck as the ship stood at Sydney's White Bay terminal.

Carleton not only hooked herself to the zip line, she also posed for a Titanic moment, arms spread out at the bow of the ship, in imitation of the famous scene in James Cameron's 1997 film.

It was all to publicise the cruise company's new P&O Edge program, which gives thrill-seeking passengers on the Pacific Jewel the chance to climb, swing, race and jump.

The ship offers 20 activities including a funnel climb, flying-fox lines, high rope swings, laser tag, slack lines and Segway obstacle courses.

"We're proud to offer passengers the most comprehensive range of onboard adventure activities ever seen in the cruising world," said Ann Sherry, head of P&O Cruises.

"Whilst other cruise lines offer passengers a limited selection of activities, P&O Edge is the first to roll out a fully integrated program - something we're confident our passengers will love."

The program of activities caters for all ages, said John Sharpe of Pacific Adventures, who devised the P&O Edge program to incorporate many of the ship's existing features.

At the moment the program is available on Pacific Jewel cruises but P&O has plans to roll it out in 2014 across its fleets.

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OZ Minerals shares rise on takeover talk

SHARES in copper miner OZ Minerals are higher because of speculation global mining giant Glencore Xstrata is considering making a takeover bid.

But OZ Minerals says it has not received an offer from Glencore Xstrata, nor is it aware of the Swiss-based company buying a large amount of its shares.

OZ Minerals shares rose by as much as six per cent in early trade on Monday after a news report in the UK said Glencore Xstrata has increased its stake in OZ Minerals and was considering making a takeover bid.

But both companies were unable to shed any light on the rumour.

OZ Minerals has not received a substantial shareholder notice from Glencore Xstrata, and has not been approached with any proposal, it said.

A Glencore Xstrata spokesman said the company was making no comment.

OZ Minerals shares ended at $4.43 on Monday, up two cents, or 0.45 per cent, taking its market value to $1.34 billion.

The company operates the Prominent Hill copper and gold mine and the Carrapateena copper and gold exploration project, both in South Australia.

Morningstar resources analyst Mathew Hodge said Glencore Xstrata had previously said it was not interested in developing new mines, which were often plagued by high risks and low returns.

"So this is the kind of thing they might be interested in, particularly Carrapateena which could be a fairly large copper mine in the future," Mr Hodge said.

Glencore Xstrata could bring cost savings and better buying power to a mid-tier established company such as OZ Minerals, but it would need to find value, he said.

Shares in OZ Minerals have almost halved over the past year as the price of gold and copper waned.

The company suffered a $268 million loss in the first half of 2013, due to a writedown of Prominent Hill.

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Morrison rejects claims of boat delay

The Greens want an inquiry into the government's delayed response to the latest asylum seeker boat. Source: AAP

IMMIGRATION Minister Scott Morrison has defended Australia's response to an asylum seeker boat that sank off Indonesia as survivors claim the tragedy could have been prevented.

With Prime Minister Tony Abbott flying to Indonesia on Monday for his first overseas visit, his government is under fire for its handling of the disaster, which left up to 50 people dead or missing.

Indonesian authorities say there is little hope of finding more survivors from the boat that sank off Java on Friday, with searchers being hampered by rough seas on Sunday.

Twenty-one people, including seven children, have so far been confirmed dead while more than 30 remain missing.

One survivor told ABC TV that a GPS location was sent to Australian authorities when multiple distress calls were made on Thursday.

"We called the Australian government for 24 hours. They were telling us 'we're coming, we're coming, we're coming', and they didn't come," he said.

"This is because of the Australian government. I want them to know that," he said of the tragedy.

But a spokesman for Mr Morrison said suggestions Australian authorities were slow to act were "absolutely and totally wrong".

"The government completely rejects allegations of a 26-hour delay in response to this tragic incident by Australian agencies," Mr Morrison's office said in a statement issued on Sunday.

"Australian agencies acted on the information provided on this tragic incident."

Mr Morrison said initial searches failed to find the boat, which was reported to be about 25 nautical miles off the Indonesian coast.

"The Australians who work for our rescue and border protection agencies respond to all such events with great professionalism and a keenly felt sense of duty, as they did on this occasion," the statement said.

"This is a tragic event. The Australian government's thoughts and sympathies are with those affected by this tragedy. The government will continue to provide any assistance required by the Indonesian government."

Australian Greens leader Christine Milne called for an immediate inquiry into the government's involvement in the "heartbreaking" tragedy.

"I would expect that to happen before the next parliament sits," Senator Milne told Sky Agenda on Sunday.

Labor leadership candidate Bill Shorten criticised the Abbott government's approach to asylum seekers, saying "sooner or later they're going to work out that three-word slogans don't solve issues, and don't solve refugees or immigration".

People smuggling is expected to be high on the agenda when Mr Abbott meets with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Jakarta.

Indonesia's foreign minister Marty Natalegawa last week warned any violation of his country's borders could damage neighbourly relations, in a pointed criticism of the coalition's policy to turn back the boats.

Mr Shorten accused the coalition of "bagging" Indonesia in the stand-off over asylum seeker policy.

"One of the key platforms or planks to making sure we've got a safe and sustainable policy is to have a good relationship with Indonesia," he told ABC television.

"I'm not sure that getting out and bagging the Indonesians is really helpful.

"If they can't work out that Indonesia and working co-operatively with Indonesia's important to handling the challenging issues of asylum seekers and refugees, then that's a worry."

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Westpac Rescue Helicopter marks 40 years

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter has celebrated 40 years of saving Australian lives. Source: AAP

IT began with a band of daring surfies rescuing swimmers off Sydney's beaches.

Now the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter celebrates its 40th birthday as a full rescue service that has helped people caught in some of the nation's worst disasters.

Two helicopters flew in formation over Sydney Harbour on Sunday to mark the occasion, four decades after a group of surf lifesavers founded the service in 1973 with a MASH-style single-engine light helicopter, the Bell C47.

Then it was known as the Wales Bank SLSA Helicopter Surf Rescue Service.

Today it has a fleet of 15 helicopters across twelve bases around the country, and has helped rescue Australians involved in the Waterfall train crash, the Milperra bikie massacre and the Thredbo landslide, where the service helicopter was on hand to fly sole survivor Stuart Diver to Canberra Hospital after he was trapped in rubble for almost three days.

But the more things have changed, the more they've stayed the same, according to CEO Stephen Leahy.

"The reason we go out hasn't changed in those 40 years, we were set up to help the people of Sydney and NSW and we're still doing that today," he told AAP.

"The only things that have really changed are the helicopters themselves - what we use now are bigger, better and faster."

Even the bank that helped launch the fledgling service in 1973 with a $25,000 cheque remains the same, despite a name change.

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