Wilderness Society targets fossil fuels

An Australian environment group is shifting its focus to campaigning against fossil fuel mining. Source: AAP

THE Wilderness Society will shift its focus from protecting wildlife to campaigning against fossil fuel mining, saying fossil fuels are the greatest driver of climate change.

Australia's fossil fuel reserves make it one of the countries that can do the most to prevent catastrophic changes to the world's weather, Wilderness Society national director Lyndon Schneiders said as he announced the shift in focus on Saturday.

The group, which is Australia's largest environmental organisation, has vowed to fight to keep fossil fuels in the ground and out of the atmosphere.

Mr Schneiders said burning Australia's known fossil fuel reserves will take the world halfway to the two-degree tipping point of dangerous climate change.

"Australia's Climate Council says 80 per cent of our fossil fuel reserves must stay in the ground if we are to avoid dangerous climate change," he said.

"Australia will be one of the countries most effected by climate change and one of the countries that can do the most to stop catastrophic climate change. We must act."

The organisation has identified six deposits that contain "globally significant" amounts of fossil fuels.

These sites, Maules Creek and Pilliga forest in NSW, the Cooper Basin (SA and Queensland), the Canning Basin (WA), Arckaringa Basin (SA) and the Great Australian Bight, will become the focus of its multi-faceted campaign.

The Wilderness Society will launch litigation, market campaigns, community-based activism and non-violent direct action to prevent the mining of fossil fuels.

The new focus will begin with support for a community blockade against a proposed Whitehaven Maules Creek coal mine in NSW.

"This is just the beginning," Mr Schneiders said.

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Honduran candidate calls for protest

OPPOSITION candidate Xiomara Castro has announced that she won't recognise the result of Honduras' presidential election because of alleged voter fraud and called on her supporters to protest the win by the ruling party candidate.

Castro, whose husband Manuel Zelaya was ousted in a 2009 coup, told a news conference that she would demand a vote-by-vote recount of Sunday's balloting, which she described as "a disgusting monstrosity that has robbed me of the presidency."

Honduras' electoral court declared conservative Juan Orlando Hernandez the winner. The court says he received 36.5 per cent of the votes compared to 28.8 per cent for Castro, with 93 per cent of the votes counted. Six other candidates shared the remaining votes.

Claiming her campaign had found "innumerable examples" of voting irregularities, Castro said "we are not going to accept the results released by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal and we will not recognise the legitimacy of the government that is the product of this shameful assault."

Castro, 54, presented what she described as evidence of fraud and provided a document detailing alleged irregularities. She called on her supporters to hold massive and peaceful street protests against the result.

Castro led for months in the polls until Hernandez, 45, erased her lead by presenting himself as the law and order candidate in an impoverished country with the world's highest homicide rate and much of the cocaine travelling from South America to the US.

The European Union and the Organisation of American States observer missions have released reports calling Honduras' election process transparent despite some irregularities.

The electoral court has acknowledged that there were delays in the vote count because 20 per cent of the vote tallies from the polling stations couldn't be fed into the scanner and needed to be counted by hand. Former President Zelaya said Wednesday that the fraud occurred in that 20 per cent.

But Jose Antonio de Gabriel, deputy head of the European Union's team of election observers, said the irregular votes came from all over the country and not from areas that heavily favoured Castro.

The US State Department issued a statement after the election congratulating "the people of Honduras for their strong participation" in the vote.

"We note that Organisation of American States and European Union electoral observation mission reports reflect a transparent process," it said earlier in the week.

Castro's campaign was considered an attempt at a political comeback by Zelaya, whose ouster left Honduras politically unstable. Poverty and violence have worsened over the last four years under outgoing President Porfirio Lobo.

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$A loses 6 US cents in 6 weeks

THE Australian dollar has fallen for the sixth consecutive week as the greenback strengthens on expectations that the US Federal Reserve's economic stimulus measures.

At 1700 AEDT on Friday, the local unit was trading at 91.02 US cents, down from 91.23 cents on Thursday.

The currency has fallen steadily over the past six weeks, losing six US cents since October 25.

Recent interventionist comments by the central bank have kept a lid on the local currency.

St George trader Janu Chan said a weak performance on Asian markets on Friday and the blocked bid for Graincorp had kept the Australian dollar under pressure.

"It's a combination of those factors and then there's the ongoing uncertainty of quantitative easing in the US and when that will start to unwind," Ms Chan said.

A key business group has also questioned the surprise decision that ended Archer Daniels Midland's $3.4 billion offer for Australia's largest grains handler Graincorp, saying it risks undermining the government's own statement that "Australia is open for business".

Traders expect some volatility in the Australian dollar next week because of the large amount of economic data coming out locally and the US.

The highlights of next week's local economic diary are the Reserve Bank of Australia's interest rate decision on Tuesday and Wednesday's release of September quarter national accounts, which includes gross domestic product data.

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Govt should prop up Qantas: Labor

Labor has slammed the government for its approach to a debate on foreign ownership of Qantas. Source: AAP

THE government should consider taking a small equity position in Qantas, the opposition says, after the airline called for urgent changes to foreign-ownership rules to stay competitive.

Treasurer Joe Hockey has called for a national debate on whether to loosen the airline's foreign-ownership rules.

However, Labor doesn't support changes to the Qantas sale act to allow foreign investors to hold more than 49 per cent of the airline.

"Qantas is an iconic Australian airline. Qantas must remain in majority Australian hands," opposition infrastructure and transport spokesman Anthony Albanese told reporters in Sydney on Friday.

"The government should consider measures such as perhaps taking a small equity position in the airline."

However, Mr Hockey said if Australians wanted to retain a national carrier with ownership restrictions, "there is a price that needs to be paid".

He would not comment on speculation that taxpayer money would be used to prop up the airline.

"I am not someone that is prepared to kick the can down the road on issues," he said. "If decisions need to be made, they will be made,"

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said while he had not seen a specific proposal on the future of Qantas, basic principles should be upheld.

"Qantas is a great Australian icon and the government wants to see a strong and continuing Qantas," Mr Abbott said.

"And what we want to see is a strong and competitive aviation sector here in Australia."

Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen said Mr Hockey acted irresponsibly by slating changes to foreign-ownership restrictions in Qantas.

"What's not appropriate is for the treasurer to float big ideas ... which are market sensitive, which saw the Qantas share price move, and it's quite irresponsible and frankly naive for him to do that," Mr Bowen told ABC Radio on Friday.

Qantas shares surged over five per cent on Thursday before ending at $1.22, 3.6 per cent higher than the opening price, after news broke of Mr Hockey comments.

Mr Bowen said launching a discussion paper or white paper would have been the more responsible approach to the issue.

Laws require there be a majority Australian shareholding in Qantas as part of a deal that gives the national carrier privileges including airspace priority.

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Three critical after Vic tank accident

THREE people are fighting for their lives after being overcome by fumes while cleaning a tank at a Victorian dairy farm, with another seven who rushed to their aid also affected.

The three became ill as one man was using an ammonium cleaning agent to clean the tank, which contained stockfeed.

Others who went to help, along with two police officers and at least one paramedic, were also affected by the fumes at the Cloverlea property, near Warragul in the state's east.

Ambulance Victoria said the man cleaning with ammonium was the first to be overcome by a lack of oxygen.

"The chemical is not toxic, but it does replace the oxygen in the tank," Air Ambulance operations manager Paul Holman said.

"A number of other people have been overcome. They were all very sick ... in a low-oxygen environment."

The seven people injured while offering aid were taken to the Warragul hospital in serious but stable conditions.

Mr Holman said they suffered from nausea due to the smell of the chemical.

The trio in a critical condition were flown to Melbourne hospitals.

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Aust and Indon envoys to heal rift

Indonesia says Australia will have to agree to a code of conduct before relations can normalise. Source: AAP

FOREIGN Minister Julie Bishop could be given the delicate job of helping mend the diplomatic rift with Indonesia over allegations of Australian spying activities.

While her appointment as special envoy hasn't been confirmed, it's understood Ms Bishop is a strong candidate given the likely Indonesian counterpart will be Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Wednesday agreed with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's proposal that trusted envoys meet to start the process to rebuild ties between the two nations.

The president wants a new code of ethics between Australia and Indonesia that would include guarantees about spying activities.

He insists an agreement must be signed by him and Mr Abbott before the relationship can be fully normalised.

While he will take time to fully respond to Dr Yudhoyono's statement over the next few days, Mr Abbott embraced the idea of an envoy meeting.

"I think that's a good way forward," he told reporters in Melbourne.

The prime minister is keen for a quick resolution built "on a strong and lasting basis".

"That's why I want to reflect for a short period of time ... then the trusted envoys need to sit down and work through some of these issues," Mr Abbott said.

The prime minister has proposed the establishment of a security round table, so both nations could build greater mutual trust.

"Obviously, that relationship does depend on a great deal of intelligence sharing," he said.

"I want to deepen and extend that in the weeks and months ahead."

Dr Yudhoyono suspended military, security and people-smuggling co-operation last week after revelations Australian spies targeted his mobile phone, and those of his inner circle.

He remains disappointed a letter to him from Mr Abbott did not apologise for the 2009 phone-tapping activities.

But he did welcome Mr Abbott's commitment that "Australia would not do anything in the future" to harm or damage relations with Indonesia.

The task facing Australia's envoy is unlikely to be easy.

Indonesian Industrial Minister Mohamad Suleman Hidayat was quoted in the Koran Tempo newspaper on Wednesday as saying Dr Yudhoyono was angry.

"The president is not embarrassed, he's angry. Tell Australia, I'm angry," Mr Hidayat reportedly said.

Mr Abbott wouldn't comment on the contents of his letter to the president.

Meanwhile, Trade Minister Andrew Robb appeared to break protocol and stray from the government script by confirming the phone tapping did take place.

"It's unfortunate that this taping that took place several years ago has been made public," he told ABC television.

"But it's there. It's a fact of life. We've got to deal with it."

Later, Mr Robb backed away from his remarks, saying he wasn't privy to specific details of intelligence matters.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was sticking to his promise not to make political hay out of the Indonesian rift until he received a briefing on the negotiations from the government.

"We're pleased Indonesia is providing some initial signs of working with Australia," he told reporters, adding Labor wanted the relationship back on track.

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Nationals' Davies elected to WA cabinet

WEST Australian wheat-belt MP Mia Davies has been chosen as the state's newest cabinet minister and deputy leader of the state's Nationals.

Parliamentary members of Nationals WA voted for Ms Davies to take over the cabinet position formerly held by Brendon Grylls, who quit as party leader and minister this month.

Ms Davies beat Kalgoorlie MP Wendy Duncan for the position of deputy leader.

Ms Davies' appointment as deputy leader was endorsed by new Nationals WA leader Terry Redman, who confirmed she would receive a ministerial portfolio.

"Mia has demonstrated a tremendous political capacity since joining parliament five years ago and has now been endorsed by the party to fill both a leadership role and serve as a minister," Mr Redman said.

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GST change would leave consumers worse off

THE nation's treasurers are being urged by consumer groups not to be too hasty in lowering the GST threshold, and therefore increasing the cost, on foreign goods bought online.

Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey will host his state and territory counterparts in Canberra on Wednesday at his first Standing Council on Federal Financial Relations.

High on the agenda will be the GST anomaly that means goods less than $1000 bought online from overseas companies are not subject to the 10 per cent consumption tax.

Australian retailers want to see a more level playing field by having the threshold lowered to $20, while the states and territories argue they are missing out on much-needed GST revenue.

Queensland Treasurer Tim Nicholls says most other countries have a much lower threshold.

He says state treasurers asked the former Labor government to consider a change eight months ago, but it put the issue in the too-hard basket.

However, he said Mr Hockey had indicated he was "very willing" to discuss the issue.

"What we're saying is that it really does disadvantage Australian retailers and suppliers, because if you want to buy here in Australia you have to pay the GST irrespective of price," Mr Nicholls told ABC radio on Tuesday.

But he concedes there could be some issues around the cost of collecting the tax from overseas companies.

Retailer Harvey Norman chairman Gerry Harvey described the GST exemption as "a rort", saying it was out of control three years ago and "now it's totally out of control".

He is confident the ministers will agree to the move.

But consumer advocate CHOICE believes consumers and the economy will suffer from what it labels an "internet tax" designed to prop up parts of the retail sector.

If the threshold were lowered to $20 and Australia adopted the UK's assessment process, CHOICE says the cost of a $20 parcel would rise to more than $35.

The UK Royal Mail charges a STG8 ($A13.60) fee for assessing a parcel for VAT and customs liability.

"If you lower the threshold without streamlining the process, you turn every parcel delivery business into a doorstep tax collector," CHOICE director of campaigns Matt Levey said in a statement.

CHOICE research shows only 12 per cent of shoppers use the internet to escape the GST, but the majority do so to be able to shop at the hours that suit them or for the convenience of getting products delivered to their door.

Wednesday's treasurers' meeting will also consider productivity, infrastructure partnerships and the economic and fiscal outlook.

Reserve Bank of Australia deputy governor Philip Lowe told a conference in Sydney that infrastructure investment could help improve productivity.

"While our exports are set to grow strongly, we will need to lift our rate of productivity growth substantially if we are to continue to enjoy the type of increases in our living standards that we have become used to," he said.

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Honour schools deals, states tell Pyne

STATES are demanding the Abbott government stand by its pledge to honour Labor's schools funding agreements after Education Minister Christopher Pyne flagged a revamp of the reforms.

Mr Pyne accused the former federal government of leaving the so-called Gonski reforms in a "shambles", saying deals had not been finalised with the Catholic education sector, nor with the Victorian or Tasmanian governments, as claimed at the time.

Despite pledging before the election to honour Labor's Better Schools plan, Mr Pyne said he would have to go back to the "drawing board" to reconsider how the funding model is delivered.

The change of heart sparked concerns from states, with Tasmanian Education Minister Nick McKim saying the Abbott government must commit itself to the agreed schools funding deals.

"The Tasmanian government signed a binding heads of agreement with the former commonwealth government, and submitted our implementation plan," he said.

"We expect the new federal government to honour its election promise and uphold the Better Schools agreement."

A Victorian government spokesperson said Mr Abbott had promised to honour the agreement struck on schools funding in August.

"Victoria made it clear that, along with Victorian schools and school communities, we expect the Commonwealth to honour this funding," they said in a statement.

NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli said the state had a "binding agreement" and expected it fulfilled.

"We have already implemented the new funding model to NSW's 2200 schools, and it has been received with wide acclaim from the education sector," Mr Piccoli said in a statement.

"Any attempt to change the model now may see both government and non-government schools lose funding."

Federal opposition leader Bill Shorten said the government was using "weasel words" to wriggle out of the agreements it had pledged to support.

"Before the election the government said it is not an issue, it's a unity ticket, no daylight between Liberal and Labor," said Mr Shorten, who was education minister in the former Rudd government.

"Now we see the coalition government saying 'Well, actually we don't mean what we said then'."

The Catholic schools sector was supportive of the review, despite backing the Labor reforms.

Independent Schools Queensland urged Mr Pyne to improve the funding model to "ensure less complexity and more stability".

The Australian Education Union said the government was breaking an election promise to maintain the Gonski reforms.

"Minister Pyne should be focused on making sure these reforms apply to each and every state and territory," federal president Angelo Gavrielatos said in a statement.

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Albany hitman trial begins in WA

AN elderly businessman instructed a hitman to strangle his estranged daughter-in-law then bury her in a 30 foot-deep hole dug by an excavator, a West Australian court has heard.

Brian Vincent Attwell, 73, is on trial in the Albany Courthouse charged with the rare offence of attempting to procure the commission of a crime.

In his opening address on Monday, state prosecutor James MacTaggart said the well-known local businessman was approached by a truck driver who said he desperately wanted work in the historic Great Southern town and had heard Attwell might be able to offer him employment.

Attwell agreed to meet the man, Mr MacTaggart said, but left him shocked after offering him $30,000 to kill Michelle Attwell, who the AD Contractors managing director despised intensely.

"I've got $30,000 to pay you right now. I want her gone," Attwell allegedly said.

Alarmed, the truck driver told police, who launched an investigation and instructed him to call Attwell back, saying he knew "a bit of a nasty bastard" who would do it.

Attwell, who is wheelchair bound, was then called by a man named Josh, who agreed to fly to Albany from Perth to discuss the deal.

"Unbeknownst to the accused ... he was speaking to a police officer," Mr MacTaggart said.

Attwell then met Josh twice to discuss details and pay him a $10,000 down payment on the hit in two instalments.

He used foul names to describe his target, saying she had cost his son Ian $200,000 in a legal dispute.

"I just want her strangled, no blood," Attwell is claimed to have said.

But defence lawyer Tom Percy argued Attwell was simply exploring his options.

Mr Percy described his discussions with the truck driver and undercover officer as "bravado and puff, an attempt to express the depth of his frustration".

Attwell was prone to exaggeration and bluster on matters that he felt strongly about, Mr Percy said.

And he hadn't got to the point of giving the go-ahead. The undercover police officer had never been given a detailed description of the woman, her address or a time to kill her.

Instead, he'd provided "nebulous details", Mr Percy said.

It was no secret Attwell hated the woman, but was leaning towards having her followed, perhaps scared.

"At no stage was he actually committed to the prospect of causing her physical harm, let alone killing her," Mr Percy said.

"Nothing was ever concluded.

"There was a long way to go."

The trial continues.

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Shark attack victim was 'the best bloke'

SHARK attack victim Chris Boyd will be remembered by those who knew him as a great family man, surfer and role model.

The 35-year-old Margaret River plumber was killed by a shark, thought to be a great white, on Saturday morning.

The father of two was surfing at the popular surf break Umbies off Gracetown, in Western Australia's South West, when the shark bounced off another surfer's board and attacked him.

Mr Boyd was carried to shore, his left arm and part of his right leg gone, witnesses said.

His brother, Nick Boyd, posted on Facebook: "Stay strong friends he was the best mate and a best brother RIP."

The Coolum Boardriders Club in Queensland, where Mr Boyd grew up, posted on Facebook that the surfing world, especially the Yaroomba surf community, had suffered an immense loss and it mourned with Mr Boyd's family including his partner Krystle Westwood.

Club chaplain Aaron Bradley told AAP Mr Boyd was inspirational to many younger surfers who were rattled by his death.

"He was a joyful and fun person to be around and a lot of the younger people looked up to him as a role model," he said.

"We're all getting together and chatting and celebrating his life.

"We're a tight-knit community ... we are going through the grieving process together."

The club will hold a memorial service for Mr Boyd this week.

Other friends on Facebook described him as a "legend", a "soldier of the sea" and "best bloke ever".

Craig Masters wrote: "How could someone so full of life be gone? ... Everyone was always laughing and smiling when he was around, such a great character and he totally ripped."

Mr Boyd's parents and brother flew to Perth on Sunday.

Meanwhile, beaches along an eight-kilometre stretch from Umbies to South Point and on to Huzzas, North Point and the main Gracetown beach will remain closed until at least Sunday night.

The situation will then be reassessed by the Department of Fisheries and local government officials.

A catch and kill order remains in place for the shark with authorities scouring the waters.

Premier Colin Barnett said it was a "tragic" incident and passed on his sympathies to Mr Boyd's family and friends.

He said while he did not support the culling of sharks, the WA government would continue to try to catch those that attacked people and had also increased patrols in WA in recent years.

"Swimming on the beaches in patrolled areas by surf lifesaving clubs has proved to be safe," he said.

"If they're surfing or diving on reefs, it is impossible to provide full protection for those people. It's just a reality of life."

Last month, the state government announced the development of an underwater shark-proof barrier in nearby Dunsborough aimed at repelling sharks, not trapping them.

Mr Boyd's death is WA's first fatal shark attack this year.

It comes weeks after abalone diver Greg Pickering was bitten on the face and body by a five-metre great white while diving off the coast of Esperance.

Gracetown has endured three fatal attacks in the past 10 years.

Surfer Bradley Smith was taken by a great white in 2004 and Nicholas Edwards was killed at nearby South Point in 2010.

The region is currently packed with people including school leavers and international visitors for the Margaret River Gourmet Escape.

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Downer says relationship rehab necessary

Former foreign minister says Australia and Indonesia will have to go through relationship rehab. Source: AAP

AUSTRALIA and Indonesia will have to go through relationship rehab to get relations back on track, former Howard government foreign minister Alexander Downer says.

Mr Downer said an apology would be the wrong thing as it would acknowledge Australia was spying on Indonesia's leaders.

But with careful diplomacy, rehabilitation could be achieved in a matter of weeks.

He said Australia and Indonesia could put together some protocols which would not compromise Australia's intelligence activities.

As well, Prime Minister Tony Abbott was also keen to upgrade the intelligence relationship.

"That isn't going to offer the Indonesians everything they want here but it does seem to me that if Tony Abbott goes down this path, it offers a sense of goodwill in the field of intelligence," he told Sky News.

Mr Downer said Mr Abbott, who has now responded to the letter from Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, would be working on diplomatic formulas which preserve the integrity of our intelligence services and contribute to rehabilitating the relationship.

"Both sides are going to have to try to rehabilitate this relationship because it's in both sides' interests," he said

In the escalating row over reports that Australian intelligence monitored President Yudhoyono's mobile phone, Indonesia has halted joint defence activities with the prospect of further retaliation.

But Mr Downer, foreign minister at the time of the 1999 East Timor crisis when relations with Indonesia hit an all-time low, said this wasn't as bad.

Despite predictions the freeze could last decades, it only lasted a couple of years and from the ashes an even better relationship emerged, he said.

"I would have thought over a few weeks with a bit of creative diplomacy, it would be possible to put this particular crisis behind us," he said.

Mr Downer said this would not have the lasting ramifications of the East Timor crisis.

"Coming out of the east Timor crisis, Indonesia lost a province. It was hugely humiliating for Indonesia," he said.

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