Thousands march in Thai capital

TENS of thousands of anti-government protesters have marched through the streets of the Thai capital, reviving their whistle-blowing, traffic-blocking campaign to force the resignation of the country's prime minister.

The protest on Saturday came after a lull in anti-government rallies and amid growing concern of violence between opponents and supporters of embattled Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Yingluck's opponents have previously tried to force her ouster by blocking Bangkok's major intersections, and have stormed government offices.

The protesters have demanded that the government yield power to an interim appointed council to oversee reforms before new elections.

They say Yingluck is a proxy for her brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup after being accused of corruption and abuse of power.

The march was the first major rally since Thailand's Constitutional Court ruled on March 21 to nullify last month's general election.

"The fact that the election has been nullified means that our campaign is successful," protest leader Thaworn Senniem said.

Yingluck's ruling Pheu Thai party and its predecessors have easily won every national election since 2001. It had been expected to win again in February, especially because the opposition Democrat Party boycotted the election.

Election officials say it would take at least three months for a new vote to be held, prolonging Thailand's political paralysis.

Yingluck's Red Shirt supporters have vowed to stage their own mass rally next Saturday, though they have not yet said if it will be held in the capital, which many fear could lead to clashes between the two sides.

The sporadic violence over the past four months has left at least 23 people dead and hundreds hurt.

Thailand has seen political conflict since 2006, when Thaksin was ousted by a military coup.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Teen girl missing in inner Brisbane

A TEENAGE girl with a suspected medical ailment has gone missing from an inner Brisbane suburb.

Alice Barlow, 13, was last seen on Friday afternoon in Ascot, and has not made contact with her family since.

Police are concerned for her welfare.

She is described as caucasian, about 169cm tall with a fair complexion and long, dark hair.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Canning of safaris a croc: NT govt

THE federal government's decision not to allow crocodile hunting safaris in the Northern Territory has been derided as "a croc" by the NT government.

Two NT ministers have accused federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt of being shortsighted and ill-informed.

"Canberra needs to take its foot off the Territory's throat," Minister for Land Resource Management, Willem Westra van Holthe said in a statement on Thursday.

"Crocodile safari hunting has the potential to create real employment for indigenous people in remote parts of the Territory."

Mr Westra van Holthe said the NT government had extensively consulted with traditional owners and lodged an application for a one-year crocodile safari trial, under a scientifically researched plan that demonstrated the economic benefits to the Territory.

Under the existing crocodile management plan, the NT government is able to harvest up to 500 crocodiles from the wild each year, while the safari proposal sought to harvest 50 crocodiles from within the existing quota on a one-year trial basis.

It was suggested that crocodile safari packages could cost between $20,000 to $50,000, appealing to high-end hunters from around the world seeking to bag themselves a croc.

Mr Westra van Holthe said the proposal was humane, with animal welfare standards maintained by having a conservation officer and traditional owner attend every safari.

"We are severely disappointed with Greg Hunt's short sighted and ill-informed decision," he said.

It was taking away work opportunities for indigenous people who needed it the most, said Bess Price, Minister for Parks and Wildlife.

"Greg Hunt has made a decision which will do nothing to improve the lives of indigenous Territorians living in remote communities," she said.

The decision was at odds with the Commonwealth government's priorities of developing the north and ending welfare dependency, she said, as well as boosting tourism.

The NT government is now exploring alternative pathways to make crocodile safari hunting a reality.

It may be able to legislate to permit the safaris but could face an obstacle with foreign hunters being unable to take crocodile carcasses out of Australia without a federal permit.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Art Gallery of NSW to give back sculpture

AUSTRALIA is returning a stolen statue worth more than $300,000 to India.

The 1000-year-old Ardhanariswara idol, depicting Hindu god Shiva and his consort Parvati, was on display at Sydney's Art Gallery of NSW after being purchased during the tenure of former director, Edmund Capon.

However, it later emerged that the valuable stone sculpture was stolen from a temple in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

It was sold, along with five other items to the Art Gallery of NSW by New York dealer Subhash Kapoor.

Kapoor is now facing trial in India for allegedly trafficking stolen antiquities from two Indian temples, with museums around the world also said to be examining items bought from him.

The Australian Attorney-General's department received a formal request from the Indian government to return the Ardhanariswara this month.

The statue depicts a hermaphrodite human form and is said to represent the 'synergy of man and woman'.

The Attorney-General's department said India's request to return the idol was being acted upon under Australia's international obligations.

Delhi's request stated that the statue was exported from India illegally.

The National Gallery of Australia in Canberra has already agreed to return a dancing Shiva statue, which it bought in 2007 for $5.6 million from Kapoor.

It is understood that Mr Capon's successor, Dr Michael Brand, is in favour of returning all six works that the Art Gallery of NSW bought from Kapoor.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Man found dead in suburban Newcastle park

A SEARCH for a potential murder weapon is underway at a suburban park in Newcastle after a man was found dead with his hands bound.

A dog walker made the grisly discovery at the Thomas Armstrong Oval at Wickham at about 8.20am on Wednesday.

The oval, part of Wickham Park, is neighboured by industrial businesses and a residential street, near Newcastle's CBD.

News Corp reports the man was discovered lying face down in the grass, naked from the pants down, with his hands tied.

Newcastle crime manager Acting Inspector Jeff Little said the man was a 52-year-old but was reluctant to release any other details until the man's next of kin were informed.

Insp Little said it was "early days" and would not comment on the man's injuries.

"We will look at anything that is at the crime scene," Insp Little said.

"I won't say what we are looking for at this point."

However, a nearby business owner told AAP that police informed him they were searching for a knife.

Strike Force Harrogate will investigate the death.

Police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cape York plan lacks consultation: mayors

SOME indigenous mayors say they've been left out of talks about the future of Queensland's Cape York.

Three mayors have joined a chorus of traditional owners who say officials haven't consulted their communities on the draft Cape York Regional Plan, which maps out future land use for the peninsula.

All three mayors sit on the planning committee for the draft plan which was released in November.

"We didn't put in a submission because it's something nobody can stop," Hope Vale Mayor Greg McLean told AAP.

"It's something the state is going to push like everything else."

Mr McLean claims the government has only spoken with a select few, none of whom are indigenous.

The government has said the plan will develop Cape York by bringing more jobs and cash to the region, but green groups have argued it would open up vast pristine areas to development.

Aurukun Mayor Dereck Walpo said he's yet to properly read the plan and he'd like to see the Tuesday deadline for submissions extended.

"The people who put this plan together should explain it a bit more in detail because they haven't come and visited us about it," he said.

Wujal Wujal Mayor Clifford Harrigan was happy with the blueprint, but was disappointed no one had visited his shire to discuss it.

"It's just like any other plan they want to put up through Cape York - there's been no on ground consultation," he said.

Cook Shire Mayor Peter Scott, whose council covers 80 per cent of the cape, was pleased with the level of consultation, but said the draft lacked detail.

Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney says extensive consultation has already taken place and the submissions deadline would not be extended.

Officials from his department have visited the cape 35 times and Mr Seeney himself has held five meetings across the region.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Business wants even more red tape to go

FOR thousands of Australian businesses the Abbott government's first so-called repeal day can't come soon enough.

But there will also be disappointment that among the thousands of pieces of regulation that will be ditched on Wednesday - in what the government describes as a "red tape bonfire" - three areas that are the real bugbears of trying to do business are largely untouched.

Research by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry found safety and workers compensation; wages, conditions and superannuation; and tax compliance obligations are the biggest hindrances to doing business.

The chamber's acting chief economist, Burchell Wilson, said that while that was unfortunate, he was optimistic they would be on the agenda at some point.

Even so, business is highly supportive of repeal day, which is part of the government's promise to remove $1 billion worth of red tape a year.

"Red tape is strangling small business," Mr Wilson told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday.

Almost three quarters of businesses believe the regulatory burden has increased over the past 12 months alone, while more than half said they had no capacity to pass on compliance costs to consumers.

For Mr Wilson the most disturbing finding was that 40 per cent said the red tape burden was restricting the growth in their businesses.

"If you are preventing businesses from expanding, you are also preventing them from taking on new staff," he said, adding that was seriously bad news for both them and the economy.

The Labor opposition will support most of the government's repeal day laws that cover some 9500 pieces of unnecessary regulation and 1000 redundant acts of parliament that come at a cost to the economy of $700 million a year.

But it has baulked at legislation to axe the Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission.

And a bill to streamline the way in which agricultural and veterinary chemicals are approved will be referred to a Senate committee for an inquiry.

Separately, the government has temporarily deferred rolling back Labor's financial advice reforms amid concerns it would weaken protections for investors.

The government decided on Monday to wait until Finance Minister Mathias Cormann consults with all relevant stakeholders "before pressing the go button" on changes to Future of Financial Advice laws.

"We are committed to the polices we took to the last election," Senator Cormann told the Senate on Tuesday.

Senator Cormann took charge of the issue after Arthur Sinodinos stepped down as assistant treasurer last week pending his appearance as a witness before anti-corruption inquiries in NSW.

Industry groups have supported the delay, but shadow treasurer Chris Bowen said the government was avoiding implementation of the controversial changes before the April 5 West Australian Senate election, a state where consumer protection is a key concern after the Westpoint collapse.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Abbott restores knights and dames

RETIRING Governor-General Quentin Bryce has become a dame and her successor Peter Cosgrove will become a knight, after Prime Minister Tony Abbott restored the system of pre-eminent honours.

The Queen has amended the letters patent for the Order of Australia to allow for the new honours, Mr Abbott said on Tuesday.

The honours category, which was removed in 1986 after only 10 years of operation, will recognise pre-eminent Australians and up to four knights or dames can be appointed each year.

"I believe this is an important grace note in our national life," Mr Abbott said.

The chairman of the Order of Australia Council will be consulted on any recommendations.

Mr Abbott, a former director of Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy, defended the decision, saying it would enhance the dignity of the existing system.

"I don't think it's really any surprise," he said.

The prime minister made the decision to ask the Queen for the new category in the past few weeks, as he contemplated Dame Quentin's retirement and General Cosgrove taking on his new role.

He consulted both governors-general on the proposition and said they were happy to accept.

Asked whether it would lock in future governors-general to the monarchy, Mr Abbott said: "People who love our country, I think would be happy to accept this honour."

Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus said the move showed the government was rushing back to the 19th century.

Australian Greens leader Christine Milne said Australia had gone socially backwards under Mr Abbott's government.

"Bring on a republic," she said.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten didn't have much to add.

"It's good to see the government has a plan for Knights and Dames - where's their plan for jobs?" he said in a statement.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Curriculum experts help review

AUSTRALIA'S curriculum developers have emphasised in a submission to an independent review the large amount of consulting and the lengthy time taken to create subjects to be taught.

The Australian Curriculum and Reporting Authority notes that ministers from every state and territory and the Commonwealth have to endorse each subject before it can be published.

The authority's statement outlines the process the authority has gone through during the past five years to develop the national curriculum.

It published 30 subjects, ranging from foundation or kindergarten to Year 12.

Each subject takes two to three years to develop and almost 17,000 submissions have been considered in their formation.

The authority decided that the topics of indigenous history and culture, engagement with Asia and sustainability could be taught under other relevant subjects rather than being subjects in themselves, chairman Barry McGaw said on Monday.

For example, under the maths curriculum, Year 10 students studying statistics can compare data for the entire Australian population with data for indigenous people.

Professor McGaw says there is international interest in ACARA's work and Australia is recognised as a world leader.

"We have not yet seen the true benefits of a national curriculum," he said.

While change would always be debated, the imperative was for any revisions to be evidence-based and focused on achieving the best possible education outcomes.

Reviewers Kevin Donnelly and Ken Wiltshire will report to the government by the end of July.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Archbishop fronts abuse inquiry in SA

THE Archbishop of Adelaide has agreed the Catholic Church's response to sexual abuse claims at a special school should have started about a decade earlier than it did.

Archbishop Philip Wilson told the royal commission into sexual abuse in Adelaide on Monday that if his predecessor had known of the claims in 1993, he would have expected police would have been contacted, letters written to parents and other processes put in place.

"If the matter was known, it should have been dealt with in all the formal ways that are required," he said.

The commission is investigating St Ann's Special School and its bus driver Brian Perkins, who sexually abused intellectually disabled children between 1986 and 1991.

The archbishop was referred to a statement of his predecessor, Archbishop Leonard Faulkner, who said he was informally told in 1993 about the arrest and charging of Perkins, who worked at St Ann's.

Archbishop Wilson said he first learnt of the claims in late 2001, when Archbishop Faulkner told him the Catholic Education Office had received a complaint from parents saying children had been molested by a bus driver at St Ann's.

Archbishop Wilson told the commission he was appalled and horrified and took immediate steps to put appropriate responses and processes in place.

The church made an offer to police to pay for Perkins's extradition from Queensland and Archbishop Wilson said that in March 2002 he wrote to parents who had children at the school at the relevant times.

The hearing is continuing.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

NSW urged to get flu-ready

PREGNANT women and the elderly are being urged to prepare for winter and get a flu shot following an "unusually high" level of influenza in NSW this summer.

The Director of Health Protection NSW, Dr Jeremy McAnulty, said the northern hemisphere had experienced widespread influenza over the past months, with influenza A(H1N1) pandemic strain, A(H3N2) and influenza B circulating to different extents in different countries.

An unusually high level of influenza had also been seen in NSW over summer, he said.

He and other health professionals are now urging people, especially the elderly and pregnant women, to prepare for winter.

"The Australian flu vaccine has been updated to more closely match the influenza strains likely to circulate in NSW this year.

"So get a shot in preparation for this season," Dr McAnulty said on Sunday.

He said the seasonal flu shot continues to be the best defence for pregnant women and has the added advantage of protecting babies during their first six months when they are too young to have the vaccine.

NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner said the government's Be Winter Wise campaign, launched on Sunday, was focusing on pregnant women, the elderly and people with chronic medical conditions.

"Although we are still experiencing warm weather, people should not be complacent when it comes to the dangers of the flu," she said in a statement.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

One-punch killers to face life in Qld

One-punch killers will face life imprisonment under proposed changes to Queensland laws. Source: AAP

ONE-PUNCH killers would face life imprisonment under proposed changes to Queensland laws.

The Newman government's draft plan to tackle alcohol-related and drug-related violence, released on Sunday, would create an offence - unlawful striking causing death - to deal with one-punch killers.

If convicted, defendants would be required to serve at least 80 per cent of their life sentence behind bars before being eligible for parole.

"We have all seen the devastating and often tragic effects of coward punches not just in our state but across the nation," Premier Campbell Newman said in a statement.

"The Queensland government is determined to counter this dangerous trend and make Queensland the safest place in Australia for people to go out and enjoy themselves."

Under the plan, the maximum penalty for aggravated serious assaults on ambulance officers would rise from seven to 14 years' imprisonment.

Drunkenness would no longer be a viable excuse to mitigate an offender's sentence and courts would have the power to ban people from licensed premises for life.

ID would be installed in all licensed venues trading after midnight to keep out problem patrons and banned people.

The government would also set up 15 "safe night precincts" across the state where there would be late-night lockouts and more police on the beat.

Police would be given the power to detain people for their own safety if they were unduly intoxicated and at risk of serious harm, or behaving in a potentially violent or antisocial manner.

The government would also introduce a compulsory drinking awareness plan for all students between years 7-12 as part of the school curriculum.

The public has been asked to comment on the draft policy before April 21.

The opposition called on the Newman government to introduce a blanket 1am lockout across the state.

"If you don't tackle trading hours you don't tackle alcohol-fuelled violence. It's that simple," Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said in a statement.

"Unfortunately we have a premier too scared to act and showing no leadership."

Opposition police spokesman Bill Byrne questioned whether the government had failed to introduce a lockout because it was beholden to vested interests.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More