Sydney teen critical as party gatecrashed

A teen is in a critical condition in hospital after being stabbed at a party in Sydney's inner west. Source: AAP

IT was meant to be a small gathering of friends for a 14-year-old girl's birthday.

But the get-together at a house in Five Dock, in Sydney's inner west, turned into a violent brawl after gatecrashers showed up.

Now a teenage boy is fighting for his life in hospital after being stabbed several times at the out-of-control party on Friday night.

Another is facing criminal charges.

Police were called to the home on Charles Street and found two injured teenagers in the backyard.

A 17-year-old boy was stabbed in the chest and in his side and is in hospital in a critical but stable condition.

On Saturday a 16-year-old, who also sustained minor head injuries during the brawl, was charged with assault and affray. He was released on bail and is expected to appear at a children's court on June 20.

Another teenager, 17, was allegedly hit in the head with a bottle and was also taken to hospital. He was discharged on Saturday.

It is understood a 14-year-old girl, who was staying at the dual-level brick home with her grandparents, was having friends over for her birthday.

Her grandmother told AAP she allowed the girl to have half a dozen people over but the gathering was gatecrashed.

She said she was coming home from the Blue Mountains when she received a call from her daughter telling her the party had escalated.

"I went straight to Burwood police station," she said on Saturday morning.

It is understood most of the party-goers were from Concord High School.

The granddaughter is now with her father and on her way to Canberra, the woman, who did not want to be named, said.

Burwood police Inspector Michael Penfold said officers faced chaotic scenes when they arrived on Friday night.

He said there was at least one adult home.

Surrounding residents of the usually quiet suburban street heard bottles smashing and people screaming.

Jay Nam looked out her window to see young people on the street yelling at each other.

"Some of the residents came out and tried to get them away from the street," she said.

Next-door neighbour Ed White said the party-goers were about 15 or 16 years old.

"They were really young," he said.

"There was just lights flashing, sirens and cops up and down the street."

Insp Penfold had a warning for parents planning a party for their children.

"One of the main issues is make sure only invited guests attend and adequate security provisions beforehand," he said.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ash grounds flights to Darwin, Bali

A massive ash cloud from an Indonesian volcano may disrupt aviation in parts of Australia. Source: AAP

DARWIN remains cut off to all air services until Sunday, and flights from Australia to Bali are now affected, as three separate ash plumes billow from an Indonesian volcano.

A meteorologist with the Bureau of Meteorology's Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in Darwin, Tim Birch, said the Sangeang Api volcano off the Indonesian island of Sumbawa is now erupting continuously after an initial blast on Friday afternoon.

Darwin International Airport was closed to all inbound and outbound flights on Saturday, and Mr Birch said Bali's airspace is now also affected.

The major plume affecting Australian aviation is sweeping southeast over the west side of the Northern Territory as far south as Alice Springs, Mr Birch said.

The plume that is affecting Darwin will be around for the next 18 hours. We will see the plume here start to move east will start to move out of the Northern Territory and move steadily east in the location of Mount Isa (in Queensland) and it will start to dissipate," he told AAP.

This would affect Darwin flights on Sunday and is likely to dissipate, Mr Birch said.

A second, hovering north of Darwin between 9.5km and 16km in the air, may cause problems for flights between Australia and Malaysia and Singapore, he said.

A third, lower-level plume is drifting west from the volcano and is within 100km of Bali.

"The volcano is still erupting as it has done for most of the day, but not as violently as initially erupted but there is a steady plume," Mr Birch said.

Virgin Australia spokeswoman Jacqui Abbott confirmed two Saturday afternoon flights to Denpasar - one from Adelaide and on from Melbourne - have now been cancelled.

Qantas Group spokeswoman Kira Reed said Jetstar has cancelled an Adelaide-Denpasar flight that went via Darwin, and all its services to and from Darwin remain grounded.

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss said it may be days before flights through northern Australia return to normal.

"Depending on wind and other weather conditions, the ash has the potential to affect flights to and from other airports, including Brisbane, during coming days. This is currently being fully assessed," he said.

"Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for further information."

Airservices Australia has begun diverting international flights around the ash cloud.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority says volcanic ash can affect all aircraft with piston or jet engines at all flight levels.

Fine particles of pulverised rock consisting mainly of silica contained in volcanic ash clouds can be highly abrasive and damage aircraft engines, structures and windows.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Qld nurse stabbed in face by patient

A NURSE has been reportedly stabbed in the face by an elderly male patient at a Queensland hospital.

The 88-year-old man is believed to have used a surgical instrument, possibly forceps or a clamp, to inflict the nasty injury.

Police say they're investigating the alleged attack against the 37-year-old nurse, which happened about 3am Monday and left her with cuts and bruises.

The incident, at the Redcliffe Hospital in Brisbane's bayside, has outraged the Queensland Nurses' Union (QNU).

It will ask director-general of Queensland Health on Friday to review hospital safety policies.

"It was a very, very nasty injury and was totally unexpected from what we've been advised," QNU secretary Beth Mohle told AAP.

"It is totally unacceptable.

"We will not allow it (violence against nurses) to become normalised, it's not part of the job."

Ms Mohle says while it is common for health staff to be verbally abused, physical attacks against them are rare.

"It highlights systematic issues and we need to be vigilant about violence towards health staff," Ms Mohle said.

Metro North Hospital and Health Service says the victim has been treated and discharged.

The elderly patient is being monitored and security has been bulked up to ensure patient and staff safety.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Conditions now adequate on Nauru: Morrison

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison says children being held in detention in Nauru are in safe. Source: AAP

IMMIGRATION Minister Scott Morrison insists children being held in detention in Nauru are in safe conditions, despite serious health risks identified in a leaked report.

The report, compiled by five clinical experts, found children were not being properly screened for diseases and there was a lack of a child protection framework.

Conditions in detention are "crowded, hot and humid", with high levels of mental illness and self-harm, the report published in the Guardian says.

But Mr Morrison said conditions in Nauru had dramatically improved since the coalition took office in 2013.

"That report was of some time ago," he told reporters in Melbourne on Friday.

"There's been significant investment put in place by the government to upgrade the facilities and services and conditions in Nauru."

Mr Morrison said Operation Sovereign Borders commander Angus Campbell recently visited the island and noticed the improvement.

"I received a very positive report from him," Mr Morrison said.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

ASPI warns of defence spending spree

DEFENCE has done so well from a tough budget that it has raised concerns the money might be wastefully splurged on expensive new equipment.

The latest Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) defence budget brief says the extra money has given the government a good start on its promise to lift defence funding to two per cent of gross domestic product in a decade.

Based on growth projections, that would be about $42 billion in today's money in 2023/24. The 2014/15 defence budget is $29.3 billion, an increase of $2.3 billion, which takes defence share of gross domestic product to 1.8 per cent.

The report's author, ASPI analyst Mark Thomson, said the budget established a credible base to reach the two per cent target, although it would still need 5.3 per cent annual growth from 2017/18.

But the risk was defence would splurge on new equipment and extra personnel.

Recent proposals exemplified the risk of generous funding leading to wasteful spending, he said.

They include suggestions to retire Anzac frigates early to give work to local shipyards or the "equally profligate proposal" for Australian construction of support ships that could be bought more cheaply overseas.

"By setting a generous financial target for defence, the government has effectively sent the military on a shopping expedition," he said.

Dr Thomson said the government's commitment to increased defence funding would be tested.

In the next three to five years, it will want to balance the books, giving it a choice between sustaining defence funding or delivering an early surplus at an opportune time in the electoral cycle.

Ability to spend up on defence will also depend on voters' willingness to cop higher taxes and forgo social services.

Australia's 10 million workers would each contribute about $5000 a year to sustain defence spending of two per cent of GDP, he said. However, polls show support for higher defence spending has fallen from 60 per cent in 2001 to less than 40 per cent now.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Westfield restructure on shaky ground

Westfield chairman Frank Lowy has endured vocal criticism from shareholders over a restructure plan. Source: AAP

WESTFIELD'S $70 billion restructure plan looks like it will go down to the wire, with a significant number of investors voting against the move.

Westfield Group had wanted investors to approve a controversial plan to split its Australasian and offshore businesses.

The plan was to merge the Australasian businesses with Westfield Retail Trust (WRT), which was spun off by Westfield Group in 2010, to create a new company called Scentre.

The offshore businesses, which includes shopping malls in the UK and US, would then be known as Westfield Corporation.

While 98 per cent of Westfield Group investors gave the green light to the deal at a meeting Thursday morning in Sydney, WRT investors were not as keen during a separate vote in the afternoon.

Westfield needs the backing of 75 per cent of WRT investors to get its deal over the line.

But with only 74.1 per cent of WRT proxy votes cast in favour the planned merger of the Australasian businesses with WRT, the entire restructure plan appeared to be on shaky ground.

Investors at the WRT meeting are yet to cast their votes.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ramsay Health appoints new chairman

Michael Siddle has been made chairman of Ramsay Health Care after the death of Paul Ramsay (pic). Source: AAP

RAMSAY Health Care has appointed Michael Siddle as its new chairman following the death of the company's founder Paul Ramsay.

Mr Siddle served as Mr Ramsay's deputy chair for 17 years.

The private hospitals operator has appointed Peter Evans as its new deputy chairman.

Mr Ramsay, one of Australia's richest men, died in early May after suffering a heart attack while sailing in Spain.

He founded Ramsay Health Care in 1964 and left most of his fortune to charity.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hyundai-Kia gets greenest gong

Hyundai-Kia has overtaken Honda as the greenest automaker in the United States. Source: AAP

HYUNDAI-KIA is now the greenest automaker in the United States, unseating Honda for the first time since the rankings by a group of scientists began.

The Union of Concerned Scientists ranks the eight top-selling automakers based on carbon and smog-forming emissions of their fleets.

The group says that for the first time since the rankings began in 1998, all eight automakers reduced pollution. Honda had led the rankings since then.

Hyundai-Kia beat Honda by equipping many models with smaller turbo-charged engines. The scientists also say Hyundai-Kia introduced gas-electric hybrid versions of its two top-selling models, the Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima.

Toyota, Nissan and Volkswagen tied for third. Detroit automakers, which sell more trucks, finished at the bottom, with Ford the highest-ranked of them.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Baird sets up campaign donation panel

THE former head of Sydney Water who was the victim of a smear campaign will lead an expert panel to look at ways of reforming political donation rules in NSW.

Premier Mike Baird said on Tuesday the independent expert panel would be led by "respected businesswoman and senior public servant" Kerry Schott to consider whether full public funding of election campaigns should be introduced in NSW.

The panel will also look at what the appropriate cap on election campaigns should be.

The measure is part of the government's response to the Independent Commission Against Corruption's (ICAC) probes into political donations in NSW.

The corruption watchdog has heard allegations that illegal donations were funnelled back into the NSW Liberal Party.

"This is about the public's confidence in our democracy over the long term," Mr Baird told parliament during question time on Tuesday.

Mr Baird said the ICAC inquiries showed the current donation system in NSW was broken.

"We need to change the culture of hidden influence and misplaced expectations of access that appear to follow even modest political donations in this state," he said.

The ICAC has heard Dr Schott was the subject of a false and anonymous corruption complaint lodged by the brother of Eric Koelma, a former staffer for ex-NSW minister Chris Hartcher.

It has also heard that crooked former Labor MP Eddie Obeid demanded that a NSW minister "sack the bitch", referring to Dr Schott, when she began asking questions of Australian Water Holdings (AWH).

AWH allegedly corruptly charged Sydney Water for luxury hotel stays and limousine rides.

Dr Schott demanded justification for the company's "ballooning" expenses.

The three-member panel will also include former Labor deputy premier John Watkins and former Liberal shadow attorney-general Andrew Tink.

It will report back to the premier by December 31 with options for "long term" reform of political donations.

Baird's government will face a tight deadline to enact any reforms before the March election.

The panel will also look at whether penalties for breaching donations law were sufficient and whether tighter rules around disclosure should be introduced.

Meanwhile, the government has introduced legislation that ensures corporate donations are regulated in the same way as all other political donations.

Mr Baird says the proposal closes a loophole that arose out of a High Court ruling in 2013 in response to the O'Farrell government's donation reforms.

In 2012, parliament passed laws restricting political donations from corporations with the government saying the reforms stopped third-party groups from buying elections.

But last year, the High Court found the NSW laws invalid, after the peak union body, Unions NSW, launched a challenge as a test case on the concept of freedom of political expression.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Palmer Rolls fails to proceed

Clive Palmer arrived in Canberra in a Rolls Royce - to do his job of representing the unrepresented. Source: AAP

OH dear. There was Clive Palmer peering beneath the bonnet of his chauffeured, but immobile, Rolls Royce.

In Rolls terminology, the vehicle had not broken down. It simply "failed to proceed".

Undeterred, the pinstripe-suited multi-millionaire businessman and MP, set about making it proceed again.

Wielding what appeared to be a ratchet-handle tool and making a few strategic taps, the vehicle returned to life.

Mr Palmer had been dining at the National Press Club with fellow independent MPs Andrew Wilkie and Cathy McGowan who he then whisked back to Parliament House for question time. Earlier, the MP arrived at parliament in the elegant grey chauffeur-driven Rolls, making a grand entrance to the media pack gathered to interview arriving parliamentarians, most delivered aboard much less salubrious commonwealth cars (Comcars).

Van Morrison blaring, the car enthusiast and collector of classic vehicles, fronted reporters, declaring this was his way of trying to pay his own way.

"Members of parliament really don't need Comcars that cost the taxpayer a lot of money," he told them.

Instead that money could be better spent giving it to pensioners.

And if they didn't own a Rolls, MPs could always catch a taxi.

When asked if arriving in such an ostentatious conveyance was appropriate, Mr Palmer said all Australians - regardless of race, nature and wealth - could be members of parliament.

He reminded them that two per cent of Australians were represented by lobbyists in Canberra.

As for the other 98 per cent?

"I am here to represent them," Mr Palmer said.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

ECB may hold clues for kiwi's direction

THE New Zealand dollar has held near the bottom of its recent band as the European Central Bank (ECB) forum may give investors clues to how the monetary authority will stave off threats to the regional economy.

Holidays in the US and UK are likely to keep trading volumes light, traders said.

The kiwi traded at 85.33 US cents 5pm in Wellington from 85.36 cents at 8am and 85.39 cents on Friday in New York. The trade-weighted index was 79.73 from 79.78 at the Friday close.

Traders are looking for any clues as to how the ECB will overcome low inflation and whether the bank will ease monetary policy further through a series of stimulus measures.

"The ECB speakers have started off fairly dovish" and "there's still more ECB rhetoric to come," said Alex Hill, head of trading at HiFX in Auckland.

"The euro is under pressure, which is keeping the US dollar bid firmly and commodity currencies down."

Mr Hill said the lack of liquidity in the market means traders could push the kiwi around in the northern hemisphere session.

The kiwi is trading about 20 basis points above a strong support level, he said.

It traded at 86.98 yen at 5pm in Wellington from 87.06 yen on Friday in New York, and was little changed at 92.37 Australian cents from 92.44 cents and at 62.66 euro cents from 62.63 cents.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

Drug dealer letter misrepresented: Burke

Labor's Tony Burke says a letter he wrote on behalf of a constituent is being "misrepresented". Source: AAP

LABOR frontbencher Tony Burke has rejected suggestions he asked the Abbott government to release a Nigerian drug dealer from immigration detention.

Mr Burke wrote to the government in March on behalf of a constituent who came to his Sydney electorate office to plead for help to get her partner released from Villawood Detention Centre.

Labor's finance spokesman says he and his staff did not know at the time that the woman's partner, Drichuckuv Nweke, was a convicted drug dealer.

Regardless, he says it is "completely wrong" to suggest he argued for Nweke's release - rather he just told the immigration department what the woman had said, as any MP would.

"All that letter says is someone has presented to my office and this is what they said," Mr Burke told ABC radio on Monday.

"There are some occasions where the member of parliament takes up the issue themselves, there are some occasions where the member of parliament actually backs in the character of an individual.

"This letter does not do that."

Mr Burke said the department's response, outlining Nweke's criminal history, had found its way into the media before arriving at his office, suggesting the government was trying to distract attraction from its unpopular budget.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said Mr Burke had shown a lack of judgment and due diligence, and he was not being "fair dinkum" by trying to distance himself from the letter.

"He needs to explain to his constituents that when he writes to ministers he doesn't really mean it," Mr Morrison told reporters in Canberra.

He denied the department's response had been leaked to the media.

"The response was sent to him on Friday," he said.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

New prison unit for dangerous Vic crims

THE Victorian government will build a maximum security prison wing to house a growing number of underworld figures, bikies and violent offenders.

The new unit of 40 cells will be built adjacent to Barwon Prison, near Geelong.

A spokesman from Corrections Victoria said the wing was needed to house the state's growing prisoner population.

"It will build on the prison system's capacity to manage an increasingly complex prisoner population, including outlaw motorcycle gang members, underworld figures and violent prisoners," he told AAP.

The Banksia Unit - used to house protected prisoners - will also be upgraded, he said.

The spokesman said the government was seeking expressions of interest from contractors to build the unit, which is expected to be built by the middle of 2016.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More

We won't compromise on co-payment: Hockey

Treasurer Joe Hockey has all but ruled out compromise on a GP co-payment. Source: AAP

TREASURER Joe Hockey has all but ruled out compromise on a GP co-payment, as Labor finally confirmed it would not block the government's deficit levy for the rich.

A bullish Mr Hockey on Sunday said the government would be willing to negotiate with senators on the budget, but warned against outright opposition to every measure.

"If the immediate answer of everyone in the Senate is no, then I think the Australian people have a low, low tolerance for that," he told Sky News on Sunday.

Labor, the Greens and cross-benchers have said they will oppose many of the unpopular changes in Mr Hockey's first budget, including the $7 Medicare co-payment.

But Mr Hockey said he did not think the government should compromise on the payment, $5 of which will go into a new medical research future fund.

"If the independents and the Labor party want to have a medical research future fund, there has to be a co-payment," Mr Hockey said.

"You cannot have both."

Health Minister Peter Dutton also signalled an unwillingness to negotiate on the $7 co-payment.

"As people realise that this package really is about strengthening Medicare ... I think that will bring pressure to bear on the senators," he told the Ten Network.

"Some people advocated that we get rid of bulk billing altogether, but we haven't."

Labor Senate leader Penny Wong revealed her party would not stand in the way of the proposed deficit levy for those earning more than $180,000, after weeks of hinting it may support the new tax.

However, the opposition was "not for moving" on changes to pensions and Medicare, or cuts to health and education funding, she said.

Senator Wong ruled out negotiation on plans for university deregulation, which will allow them to charge higher student fees.

Labor's opposition to the Medicare co-payment was also non-negotiable, she said.

"If Tony Abbott wants to do that he's going to have to come through us in the Senate," she told ABC Television.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said he won't surrender his government's budget commitments to the Senate, and has hinted a double dissolution election isn't out of the question if negotiations fail.

But Greens leader Christine Milne labelled Mr Abbott untrustworthy and incapable of negotiating with the senators.

Mr Abbott was leading a "lame duck government", she said.

The prime minister said the government's tough budget was "absolutely necessary" to rein in the country's debt and deficit.

"We need to take action now or an even greater burden will fall on our kids' generation," Mr Abbott said in a brief statement.

13.39 | 0 komentar | Read More