Fire at Vic car firm

A FIRE has destroyed a number of imported cars in Melbourne.

The blaze at a high-performance car importer in Clayton South burned four modified Nissans, but two large 'Mr T-style' vans got away with just some smoke damage.

The fire at Auto Project caused $500,000 damage on Sunday, with fire investigators unable to immediately determine the cause.

Firefighters got the Fairbank Rd fire under control within 30 minutes.

A large quantity of oils and lubricants helped fuel the blaze but firefighters managed to stop the flames reaching a bank of acetylene cylinders.

Mr T's character B.A. Baracus drove a large, black GMC van in the 1980s tv series 'The A-Team'.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Reasonable chance of finding plane: RAAF

Three planes have left Perth to continue the search for a missing Malaysia Airlines plane. Source: AAP

LONG-RANGE aircraft have joined the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane, boosting confidence that suspected debris from MH370 will be found.

The large debris that was captured on satellite imagery on March 16 and publicly revealed on Thursday after being analysed is the most credible lead so far in the hunt for the missing plane.

While it is yet to be spotted by search aircraft, the HMAS Success is due to arrive at the search area on Saturday afternoon.

Acting Prime Minister Warren Truss told a large international media contingent at the Royal Australian Air Force Pearce air base north of Perth, from where the search is being coordinated, that the Australian effort has so far covered some 500,000 square kilometres.

Mr Truss said there had already been 15 sorties from the base, mainly Australian and New Zealand Orion aircraft.

Two longer range aircraft being deployed this weekend had intercontinental capability and would be able to search the area for five hours, compared to the 2-3 hours that military aircraft had available over the past two days, he said.

Aircraft from China will arrive at Pearce later on Saturday and join the search on Sunday, when Japanese aircraft will land at the base.

They will become involved on Monday.

Several vessels from around the world are also en route to assist.

No aircraft or vessels have been sent from Malaysia to help with the Indian Ocean search, but it has sent military personnel to Pearce to act as liaison officers.

"They have other search areas where they are concentrating their efforts, in their own waters and nearby," Mr Truss said.

He said Malaysian authorities were being contacted every few hours

The search area has been adjusted to account for considerable drift.

Weather conditions had much improved and would remain so for the foreseeable future, Mr Truss said.

"If there's something there to be found, I'm confident that this search effort will locate it," he said.

RAAF group captain Craig Heap was cautiously optimistic.

"There's a reasonable chance of finding something," Captain Heap said.

At a press conference in Papua New Guinea, Prime Minister Tony Abbott described the lead as "tenuous", while Mr Truss conceded the debris may be a shipping container.

He said the search would continue as long as there was hope.

"It is important from the perspective of those who have families, whose whereabouts are unknown ... and indeed for the future of the aviation industry, that we do whatever we can to firstly confirm whether or not the sightings as a result of the satellite imagery are indeed connected in any way with the Malaysia Airlines flight," Mr Truss said.

"And then if so, what can be recovered so we can learn more about what has happened on this flight and learn any lessons that are necessary to make sure this doesn't happen again." Australian authorities would their utmost to keep the public informed, he said.

"These families .... they're anxious for information," Mr Truss said.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Area of Vic mine fire declared safe

IT'S taken 40 days but the Victorian coalmine fire that smoked out a nearby town is just about over.

The northern walls of the Hazelwood open-cut mine, the critical area of the fire closest to Morwell, are now safe.

But firefighters warned some hot spots could develop into bigger fires if they weren't contained.

Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said the northern fire had put most of the smoke and ash over the town.

"This is excellent progress and has been achieved by firefighters working 24 hours a day for over five weeks to finally secure the northern batters," Mr Lapsley said on Friday.

Deputy Premier Peter Ryan said possible breaches of fire safety laws at the mine would be examined in an independent inquiry headed by former Supreme Court justice Bernard Teague.

He will be supported by Professor John Catford, a former Victorian chief health officer, and Sonia Petering, a corporate lawyer and chairwoman of the Rural Finance Corporation of Victoria.

Mr Ryan said he expected the board would "extensively" examine mine owner GDF Suez as well as the government's response to the blaze.

"I think it's very important we go into this inquiry on a basis that anything and everything ought properly be on the table and those issues I'm sure will be the subject of close examination," he told reporters on Friday.

Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said the inquiry's hearings needed to be open to the public so people could have confidence in the final report.

Control of the 1.5km northern area of the mine has been handed back to GDF Suez, but fire services will continue to work on other sections until they are deemed safe.

Firefighters have also checked a fire dubbed "Old Faithful" that's been smouldering in an area of the mine for years, possibly since 1977.

Mr Lapsley said the "fire scar" will continue to be managed by GDF Suez by using a clay cap to block its oxygen supply.

The Hazelwood mine fire began on February 9 when a deliberately lit fire spotted into the mine.

It was brought under control on March 10.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Long road to secure $8b for Roy Hill

IT'S been a long road for billionaire Gina Rinehart to secure the money for her $US10 billion Roy Hill iron ore project.

Almost four years after the crucial rail component of the project was approved, Ms Rinehart has proved her naysayers wrong as she fulfils a long-held dream of running her own mine.

The Hancock Prospecting chairman shored up a massive $8 billion debt funding package in Singapore overnight after months of talking to investment bankers.

Clinching the deal is a massive win for Ms Rinehart, but it has come later than planned.

While construction of the Pilbara mine, rail and port project is now 30 per cent complete, steel-making customers in China, Japan and Korea will still have to wait 18 months until shipments begin arriving.

Back in 2012, when Hancock prospecting sold down a 30 per cent stake in the project, the company was predicting production would begin in 2014.

It now expects to begin shipping 55 million tonnes per year in September 2015.

Still, analysts, industry commentators and the WA government have congratulated Roy Hill on the agreement at a time of lower iron ore prices and warnings about an oversupply in China, the world's biggest iron ore market.

Some analysts warn that a forecast oversupply of seaborne iron ore, stringent environmental rules affecting steelmaking in China and worries about financing large construction projects could cause further iron ore price weakness.

But Roy Hill's financiers are banking on China's continued appetite for the steel making ingredient as high quality, low cost Pilbara iron ore replaces lower quality, high cost Chinese production in the years ahead.

Iron ore prices have fallen from around $US130 per tonne at the start of the year to trade at $US110 per tonne this week.

Some analysts believe the price will fall to around $US80 or $US90 in 2016-18.

Still, Roy Hill Chief executive Barry Fitzgerald has cast aside concerns about medium-term price volatility, saying the company is comfortable with long-run iron ore forecasts.

He said Roy Hill was in a favourable position following a dramatic turnaround in the local labour market.

Shortly after inking the 10-year funding package Ms Rinehart began trumpeting the economic benefits to Australia in the midst of global economic uncertainty.

"We look forward to becoming a major iron ore producer on an international scale," Ms Rinehart said.

Ms Rinehart says the 2500 people working on the constructing the project will increase to 3600 later this year before 2000 permanent staff are employed during the operations.

Hancock Prospecting owns a 70 per cent stake in Roy Hill Holdings and the remaining 30 per cent is controlled by Posco, Japanese trader Marubeni, Taiwan's China Steel Corporation and Korean Shipper STX.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cootes granted NSW govt reprieve

EMBATTLED trucking company Cootes Transport has been granted a reprieve, with the NSW government allowing the firm to continue driving on the state's roads.

Cootes came under scrutiny after one of its fuel tankers was involved in a double fatality in Sydney's north in October 2013.

Compliance checks and an audit of the truck's fleet uncovered hundreds of defects, including faulty brakes, loose brackets and oil and fluid leaks.

NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay put Cootes on notice earlier this month.

Cootes were asked to show cause within two weeks as to why it should not be banned from operating on NSW roads.

Mr Gay said the company had provided an action plan, including decommissioning 50 older trucks.

Cootes has pledged to purchase or bring in new prime movers to join its NSW fleet and review maintenance processes.

Mr Gay said the commitment meant Cootes would be allowed to continue operations in NSW "for the time being".

"I am encouraged to know the company has taken sensible action to address the issues," he said.

"But it is not a time to be complacent.

"The company is aware that should compliance issues continue to be detected, action will be reinstated to ensure the safety of all road users."

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Post-election manufacturing bounce fades

THE post-federal election bounce enjoyed by the manufacturing sector already appears to be running out of steam.

Coinciding with a series of high-profile job loss announcements, confidence in manufacturing fell sharply in the first three months of 2014.

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI)-Westpac industrial trend survey also shows actual conditions declined during the quarter.

ACCI acting chief economist Burchell Wilson said the result was a "little bit disturbing".

"If actual conditions continue to disappoint expectations, we may see a further correction in the year ahead," he warned reporters in Canberra.

The survey's composite index dropped 5.4 points to 50.9 in the March quarter after spiking in the final three months of 2013, after the September election.

Future expectations for the index tumbled from 60.3 points to just 51.6 points.

However, Westpac senior economist Andrew Hanlan drew some positives from the report, saying the actual composite index held above 50 points for two consecutive quarters for the first time since early 2011, indicating the sector is still expanding.

Export orders posted their best result since 2010/11 and investment also improved.

But most encouraging was the survey's labour index remaining positive for a second quarter in a row and coming off nine consecutive negative quarters.

"It definitely does suggest that employment growth has turned the corner," Mr Hanlan told reporters.

Separate data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows manufacturing jobs grew by 13,900 in the three months to February to 949,700, building on the recovery from 911,500 in in the three months to August, which was the lowest level since the survey began in 1984.

At the other end of the scale, retail jobs declined by 31,800 between September and November.

Retailers want the issue of the GST threshold on foreign goods to be resolved as soon as possible to prevent more jobs being sent offshore.

The ruling that has existed for more than a decade exempts the 10 per cent GST on overseas-bought goods valued at less than $1000.

Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA) chief executive Margy Osmond wants the exemption lowered to $20 to bring it in line with Canada's consumption tax ruling.

In the UK, the threshold is STG15 ($A27.57).

"This is about closing a tax loophole from a time when nobody shopped online," Ms Osmond told reporters in Canberra following a two-day retail leaders forum.

Federal, state and territory treasurers will discuss the issue again when they are expected to meet next Friday, although South Australia's treasurer is still unknown after last weekend's state election.

The ANRA also wants state treasurers to bring some uniformity to trading hours across the nation.

"These laws were written when horses and carriages were around and we need to catch up," chairman John Gillam said.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Govt aims to free-up economy: Hockey

THE federal government's aim to ditch $700 million of regulation to lift a massive burden off business has come as new data points to sub-trend economic growth, and only tentative signs of growing demand for new workers.

The government on Wednesday detailed 9500 pieces of unnecessary regulation and 1000 redundant acts of parliament for its first repeal day next week.

Treasurer Joe Hockey said the best way to help business was to lift this massive burden.

"The best way to help the economy is to free it up to give people the chance to get on with their lives without Canberra telling them how they should behave or what they should do," Mr Hockey told parliament.

Business groups agreed.

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's chief operating officer, John Osborn, said that at every level of government, regulation was suffocating business.

"The costs and time involved in complying with red tape is bad for productivity and hurts our competitiveness," Mr Osborn said in a statement.

The Tax Institute said while this was a step in the right direction, a crucial aspect of deregulation was the need for wholesale tax reform.

"Tax reform is essential to reducing overlap and complexity and moving towards a simple, fair and efficient tax system," the institute's president Michael Flynn said in a statement.

The government should set the timetable for its promised tax reform white paper as soon as possible, he said.

Meanwhile, new figures indicate there has been a sharp loss of momentum in the economy since late 2013 that looks set to extend into at least the middle of 2014.

The Westpac-Melbourne Institute leading index for February, which indicates the likely pace of economic growth three to nine months into the future, recorded its first sub-trend reading since December 2012.

Westpac senior economist Matthew Hassan said this was in line with the bank's forecast for 2.7 per cent growth in 2014 and below the trend of about 3.25 per cent.

Westpac this week ditched its expectation for two interest rate cuts by the Reserve Bank this year as the central bank continues to show a "considerable comfort" in holding policy stable.

"We still see a number of headwinds for employment, the consumer, business investment and confidence restraining the pace of recovery," Mr Hassan said.

New government data showed job advertisements posted on the internet fell by a seasonally adjusted 3.3 per cent in February.

Economists at ANZ Bank were encouraged that this was only a partial retracement of the steep 7.6 per cent rise in January, and were modestly higher in trend terms.

Alongside other measures of demand for labour, they believe this is consistent with the unemployment rate stabilising around its present decade-high of six per cent.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Police eye NSW ticket cheats

Police say a crackdown on fare evaders on NSW transport will help them fight more serious crime. Source: AAP

POLICE say a crackdown on fare evaders and concession cheats on NSW buses, ferries and trains will help them fight more serious crime.

The Police Transport Command and NSW Transport Officers have launched a joint operation targeting those who abuse ticketing systems or commit anti-social crimes on public transport networks in Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle.

The six-month Operation Javelin will involve 550 enforcement officers and target fare evasion hotspots including Blacktown and Liverpool train stations in Sydney's west, northern beaches bus routes from Manly and Dee Why to Mona Vale, and buses from Central station to the eastern suburbs.

"It's about making it fairer for all," NSW Police Transport Commander Max Mitchell told reporters on Wednesday.

"What the general public and commuting public will see over the next six months will be police working alongside transport officers - really targeting those areas known for high-level fare evasion, crime and anti-social behaviour."

Assistant Commissioner Mitchell said a large number of those caught cheating the public transport system turned out to be wanted on bench warrants or in relation to other crimes.

"One in five people who haven't got a ticket will be identified as having been wanted for various crimes," he said.

NSW Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian said public transport users who did not pay their way stripped millions of dollars from the system each year.

She has also warned the operation would include plain-clothes officers.

"People who are intending to do the wrong thing shouldn't think that because they don't see anyone in uniform, there's not actually people around that can come down on them," Ms Berejiklian said.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Coalition approves red tape cuts

Coalition MPS have approved a package of bills to cut red tape ahead. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has declared he will light the nation's "biggest bonfire of regulations" on Wednesday as he aims to take $1 billion of red tape off business this year.

But Labor and the Greens fear that some of the changes will adversely impact on families, business and the environment.

Mr Abbott will tell parliament on Wednesday the government intends getting rid of 10,000 redundant acts of parliament and regulations, putting it about three-quarters of the way to meeting the $1 billion target.

"This is essential if we are to get our competitiveness and our productivity up," he told parliament on Tuesday.

"It will be the biggest bonfire of regulations in our history."

The government to date claims to have found $350 million in savings, taking away the administration of the carbon and mining taxes and easing checks on financial advisers.

It will also save business and charities $48 million a year by getting Centrelink to administer parental leave payments.

Savings are expected to come from companies operating across state borders being able to join the federal workers' compensation scheme.

A simplified government tendering process and electronic payment system is expected to save $38 million.

Also listed for the axe are re-approval and re-registration processes for agricultural and veterinary chemicals.

Bills will be introduced to parliament on Wednesday with the expectation of passing the lower house the following week.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says changes to accountability in the financial planning system could leave the industry open to another crisis, just when the future of financial advice had been bedded down.

"We've seen the Assistant Treasurer Arthur Sinodinos engage in the wholesale dismantling of oversight which protects our consumers," he said.

Another of the changes under fire is a "one-stop shop" for environmental approvals of major projects, which Mr Abbott says will save $120 million a year.

Former independent MP Tony Windsor, who on Tuesday launched an Australia Institute report critical of the coal seam gas industry, said there was strong public support for federal oversight of CSG development.

But a trigger for federal environment checks on CSG, relating to water quality, was now under threat.

Greens leader Christine Milne said it was "farcical" to repeal so many regulations in one day and the party would scrutinise every change especially in regard to the environment and women in the workplace.

The government earlier this week announced every policy proposal or submission to cabinet would need to have a regulatory impact statement attached to it, outlining its cost impact on business and whether better ways can be found to achieve the same aim.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rolling Stones cancel Perth concert

British rock group The Rolling Stones are set to make an announcement about their Australian tour. Source: AAP

THE Rolling Stones have cancelled their Perth concert following the death of the girlfriend of frontman Mick Jagger.

The concert at the new Perth Arena was scheduled for Wednesday night.

The veteran band flew into the West Australian on Sunday.

Jagger's partner of 13 years, L'Wren Scott, was found dead in her at Manhattan apartment at 10am (local time) on Monday.

In a statement posted on social media on Tuesday afternoon, organisers Frontier Touring said the first concert of the 14 On Fire tour would not be going ahead.

"No further information is available at this time," Frontier Touring said.

"Ticket holders are asked to hold on to their tickets until a further update is available."

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hi-tech serenity for people with dementia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Aust could quit Afghan mission altogether

Australian forces might be withdrawn from Afghanistan if an agreement with Kabul can't be reached. Source: AAP

ALL Australian defence personnel might be withdrawn from Afghanistan unless a suitable legal agreement can be negotiated with Kabul, parliament has been told.

While the government remains committed to the post-2014 NATO-led mission to train, advise and assist Afghan national security forces, it will be subject to legal arrangements.

"Without a status-of-forces agreement in place there is very little likelihood of Australian forces remaining in Afghanistan," Defence Minister David Johnston said on Monday.

Australia concluded all combat operations in Afghanistan last year, with more than 1000 troops returning home.

About 400 remain in a variety of roles to advise and mentor the Afghan National Army in skills such as logistics.

The International Security Assistance Force mission concludes at the end of this year and for troops to stay on, there needs to be legal agreements that, among much else, exempt them from prosecution under Afghan law.

The US, which plans to keep about 10,000 troops in Afghanistan, has negotiated a detailed bilateral security agreement that needs only the signature of Afghan President Hamid Karzai to come into effect.

Australia and other nations plan to use the US agreement as the basis for their own.

But Mr Karzai has declined to sign, saying that should be left to his successor who will be chosen at the election on April 5.

The poll might not produce a conclusive result and could require run-off polls later in the year.

Senator Johnston raised the issue in annual Australia-United Kingdom ministerial talks last week.

He and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop attended the UK parliament's national security committee, canvassing issues such as the growing number of Australian and UK citizens fighting alongside Islamist forces in Syria.

That was a major security threat to both countries, the defence minister said.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Happy Pharrell tops singles, albums chart

FOR the 10th week Pharrell Williams' Happy is top of the ARIA singles chart, becoming the equal longest running No.1 this decade.

Williams' song from the movie Despicable Me 2 is also equal second for the longest running hit for this century. Lose Yourself by Eminem also stayed at No.1 for 10 weeks in 2002, just like I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker by Sandi Thom in 2006 and Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO in 2011.

Spending a third week at No.2 are Clean Bandit featuring Jess Glynne with Rather Be, while up a place to a new peak of No.3 is David Guetta with Skylar Grey on his new track Shot Me Down.

Peaking at No.3 last week, Sara Barielles is down a place to No.4 with Brave.

Entering the charts at No.5 is the second single for X-Factor 2013 runner-up Taylor Henderson entitled When You Were Mine, which is the follow-up to his No.1 single Borrow My Heart.

After debuting at No.17 last week, Coldplay land their sixth Top 10 entry in Australia as Magic leaps up 11 places to land at No.6. The band's last top 10 placing was back in December 2011 with Paradise which peaked at No.3.

Dropping down two places each are A Great Big World, Kim Cesarion and 5 Seconds of Summer to numbers seven, eight and nine respectively, while Rudimental with Emeli Sande and Nas go back up six places to No.10 with Free thanks to their recent Future Music Festival (FMF) and So You Think You Can Dance appearances.

Pharrell also lands the No.1 album this week as his second album G I R L takes the top spot, boosted by a full week of sales and his recent headlining of the FMF.

Eminem was the last artist to occupy the top of both charts back in November.

After four weeks at No.1, INXS and their Very Best of collection drops down a place to No.2, while steady at No.3 is Katy Perry with Prism.

Entering at No.4 is Glee star Lea Michele's debut album Louder.

Down a place to No.5 is the Frozen soundtrack and Rudimental are back up a place to No.6 with Home.

Bruno Mars' tour played further shows this past week, which keeps his current album Unorthodox Jukebox within the Top 10, down two places to No.7, while Lorde's just announced Australian tour sees her former No.1 set, Pure Heroine, back up four places to No.8.

Rounding out the Top 10 are Avicii with True at No.9, down a place, and Robbie Williams' Swings Both Ways, which slides four places to No.10.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Parliament set for red-tape repeal: PM

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott says the government will scrap 9000 regulations on a red-tape repeal day, which will free up childcare centres, cafes, schools and hospitals.

Mr Abbott said Wednesday's repeal day would be a first for the federal parliament, and was part of the government's plans to scrap $1 billion every year in red and green tape costs.

"Over 9000 regulations will be scrapped, benefiting our businesses, our schools, our hospitals and our community groups and cutting hundreds of millions of dollars from their compliance costs," he said on Sunday of the special sitting of parliament.

Mr Abbott said childcare centres were subject to 1280 pages of law, 345 pages of regulation and 1149 pages of guidelines.

"Local cafes that serve alcohol and have outdoor seating must negotiate a total of 75 sets of local, state and national regulations," he said in a statement.

"This will improve our nation's competitiveness, help to create more jobs and lower your household costs."

With parliament returning this week, a possible change in Labor's policy on the mining tax could be pounced on by the Abbott government.

The coalition's plan to abolish the minerals resource rent tax (MRRT) does not have the numbers to pass the upper house, with Labor and the Greens opposing the move.

But while campaigning ahead of the Senate election re-run in Western Australia, where there is widespread disapproval for the MRRT, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has suggested his party may be prepared to adopt a different approach down the track.

"In terms of what we do in our policies affecting the resources sector for the next election, we will engage in a dialogue with the resources sector," Mr Shorten said last week.

Also on the Senate agenda for Monday are bills to scrap the carbon tax.

On March 3 the first of the bills - to dismantle the independent Climate Change Authority - was rejected by the upper house.

Colourful Queensland MP Clive Palmer is scheduled to introduce to parliament a private member's bill to investigate the establishment of a national emergency fund that can provide speedy assistance in the event of natural disaster or industry collapse.

Mr Palmer says he has the support of other independents for the "Australian Fund", and a parliamentary committee should further investigate its viability and report back to parliament.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More