Iran nuclear talks date set: official

World powers will meet Iranian representatives to discuss the disputed nuclear program in Istanbul. Source: AAP

WORLD powers will meet Iranian top representatives to discuss the Islamic state's disputed nuclear program in Istanbul at the end of January, a Russian official says.

Iran and the so-called "P5+1" nations - the five permanent UN Security Council members along with Germany - have not all met since a June session in Moscow, but an unnamed Russian source told the state RIA Novosti agency that the next meeting has been provisionally scheduled for the end of the month in Istanbul - host of the first such talks last April.

The source did not name a specific date or say when one might be announced.

However, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov - Russia's pointman at the talks and most senior Iran expert - expressed frustration that an exact date had not been fixed.

"We have had situations in the past when we had trouble agreeing a time and place, and we have one now today," Interfax quoted Ryabkov as saying on Friday.

He said Moscow wanted to see the momentum of talks continue "without significant delays".

Ryabkov gave no indication whether it was Iran or Catherine Ashton - the EU foreign affairs chief and main Western representative at the negotiations - who had the most serious reservations about new talks.

Three prior "P5+1" meetings have been held with Iran at the most senior level envisioned for the Istanbul session.

None has produced a compromise that sees the powers accept Iran's right to enrich uranium in exchange for its provision of access to closed nuclear facilities and its promise not to make higher-grade material.

Israel and much of the West suspects Iran is trying to develop atomic weapons under the guise of its nuclear energy program. Tehran denies the charge.

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Pole embedded in teenager's head

A metal pole has been embedded in a teenager's head during a row at a Sydney birthday party. Source: AAP

A SYDNEY teenager is fighting for his life after a metal pole was embedded in his head during a birthday party brawl.

Police and paramedics were called to a Forestville home in Sydney's north at 11.40pm (AEDT) on Friday after gatecrashers tried to force their way into an 18th birthday party.

In the ensuing fight, an 18-year-old man was struck in the head with a 2.5 metre metal pole.

The pole became embedded in the right side of his head and he was taken to the Royal North Shore Hospital, paramedics said.

He underwent surgery and remains in a critical condition.

Police have set up a crime scene at the home and were continuing to question witnesses on Saturday afternoon.

No arrests have been made.

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Aust shares close lower

THE Australian share market closed lower amid profit taking on Friday and mixed messages about economic data out of Asia.

At the close on Friday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was 13.5 points, or 0.28 per cent lower at 4,709.5, while the broader All Ordinaries index was down 11.4 points, or 0.24 per cent, at 4,733.8.

On the ASX 24, the March share price index futures contract was 11 points lower at 4,681, with 25,099 contracts traded.

IG Markets market strategist Evan Lucas said sentiment had turned negative following Chinese data showing that inflation was at a relatively low 2.6 per cent for 2012, but had increased in December indicating no stimulation is likely soon.

However that was offset by Japan's premier Shinzo Abe unveiling a $US226.5 billion ($A214.68 billion) stimulus package.

"That helped our market move off its lows and it ramped up," Mr Lucas told AAP.

"But we had some profits locked in, weighing on the mining sector, despite the iron ore price still sitting at $US158 a tonne."

"It was a bit of a mixed market despite strong leads from the US ... a lot of people are watching what will happen with corporate earnings week there."

The mining giants continued to fall.

BHP Billiton led the falls, losing 73 cents, or 1.95 per cent, to $36.68, Fortescue fell 12 cents, or 2.47 per cent, to $4.73 and Rio Tinto tumbled $1.30, or 1.9 per cent, to $65.80.

The four major banks were mixed.

ANZ gained 10 cents to $25.25, National Australia Bank jumped 14 cents to $25.57, Westpac lost two cents to $26.58 and Commonwealth Bank dived 23 cents to $61.38.

The spot price of gold in Sydney closed at $US1,672.72 per fine ounce, up $US14.34 from Thursday's local close of $US1,658.38.

National turnover was 1.44 billion shares worth $3.14 billion, with 492 stocks up, 402 down and 373 unchanged.

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$A higher os positive Europe sentiment

THE Australian dollar hit a four-month high, rallying on positive comments from the European Central Bank on Thursday night.

At 1700 AEDT on Friday, the currency was trading at 105.82 US cents, up from 105.49 US cents on Thursday.

On Friday morning, it rose to 106.00 US cents, its highest level since mid-September, after markets reacted enthusiastically to a statement from ECB President Mario Draghi.

Following the ECB's latest board meeting, Mr Draghi said recent signs suggested the situation in Europe had broadly stabilised and financial market confidence had improved significantly.

ANZ Foreign exchange strategist Andrew Salter said the ECB statement had added strength to the Australian dollar by weakening demand for safe haven currencies like the US dollar.

"That really was the catalyst for sustained US dollar weakness overnight," he said.

"Really today's session in Asia has been about consolidation of that pretty profound move."

Mr Salter the the Australia dollar was also still benefiting from better-than-expected Chinese trade data, released on Thursday.

The Australian dollar has climbed more than one US cent since the start of the week.

Mr Salter expected the currency to move towards 107 US cents over the next few weeks, depending on the strength of local and international economic data to be released in that time.

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Greens wrong on Whitehaven hoax: Joyce

LIBERAL National Party Senator Barnaby Joyce has slammed the Greens' endorsement of the Whitehaven Coal hoax and criticised the prime minister for staying silent on the issue.

Senator Joyce says it was wrong for Greens Leader Christine Milne to endorse an anti-coal mining activist's scam that wiped millions from the coal miner's share price.

"That is not a noble action of an environmental warrior," he told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday.

"That is the action of a person who's lied and defrauded people out of their money."

Having strong views against coal mining did not justify telling a lie, he said.

"You can't go out tomorrow and just say, well, to remove the Greens from the political scene I'll say that (Greens Senator) Lee Rhiannon is marrying a whale farmer.

"It would be a lie and it would be the wrong thing to do."

Senator Joyce added that given the government's relationship with the Greens, Prime Minister Julia Gillard should not remain silent about the hoax.

"The prime minister is sitting back, silently, just accepting the fact that she's in business with a party that a couple of weeks ago said they'd changed their ways and today are back out endorsing lies," he said.

Earlier this week, Senator Milne reportedly described activist Jonathan Moylan's hoax as being part of a proud tradition of civil disobedience to highlight wrongdoing.

Mr Moylan, a member of Frontline Action on Coal, sent a fake press release to media outlets claiming the ANZ Bank had pulled its $1.2 billion loan to Whitehaven Coal.

The anti-coal mining group accuses Whitehaven of planning to destroy a koala habitat and force farmers off their land near its Maules Creek project in NSW.

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Man refused bail over Sydney stabbing

A MAN accused of stabbing another man 11 times in Sydney's west has been refused bail, with a court hearing that CCTV footage showed him chasing his alleged victim.

Nasher Kahwaji, 27, has been charged with causing wounding and grievous bodily harm with intent to murder after he allegedly stabbed a 24-year-old man on a median strip in Bankstown in April last year.

In a bail application on Thursday, the Supreme Court heard that the man sustained 11 stab wounds to the neck, chest and stomach.

Kahwaji's barrister George Thomas said one of the "significant" weaknesses in the crown case was that the alleged victim hasn't made a statement.

A previous statement by the stabbed man's partner claiming that Kahwaji had told her: "We're going to get you next" has also since been retracted, Mr Thomas said.

But Justice Peter Hall said the nature of the alleged offence was of a "very high order".

While there is no CCTV footage of the actual stabbing, which took place around 100 metres outside the Three Swallows Hotel, Justice Hall said Kahwaji and others were captured pursuing the then 24-year-old.

"With the evidence that is before me I'm of the opinion that the crown case should be regarded as a reasonably strong case," he said.

Before refusing bail, Justice Hall also pointed to police concerns that they held fears for the safety of the alleged victim and the crown witness.

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Experts slam Truss' CO2 emissions claims

ENVIRONMENTAL experts have shot down acting Opposition Leader Warren Truss' claim current bushfires are emitting more carbon dioxide than coal-fired power stations.

"Indeed I guess there'll be more CO2 emissions from these fires than there will be from coal-fired power stations for decades," Mr Truss told reporters in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Associate director of the Australian National University's climate law and policy centre Andrew Macintosh says Mr Truss' comment is way off the mark.

"It's utter rubbish," Associate Professor Macintosh told AAP.

"The electricity emissions in Australia at the moment are around 200 million tonnes a year.

"These fires wouldn't come even near that."

University of Queensland climate change professor James Shulmeister says Mr Truss has made a "ridiculous" statement.

"Yes bushfires do create a lot of carbon emissions but it's a silly argument against coal-fired power stations," Prof Shulmeister told AAP.

He said bushfires were more frequent in hotter conditions and climate change caused by the use of fossil fuels have played a big role in that.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Tuesday warned there would be more extreme weather because of climate change.

But Mr Truss said: "It's too simplistic to link a finite spell to climate change."

"These comments tend to be made on hot days rather than cold days.

"I'm told it's minus one in Mt Wellington at the present time in Tasmania.

"Hobart's expecting a maximum of 16.

"Australia's climate, it's changing, it's changeable. We have hot times, we have cold times."

Bushfires driven by soaring temperatures have burned out of control across Tasmania, NSW and Victoria in recent days.

Mr Truss is standing in as opposition leader for Tony Abbott who has joined his local fire brigade on bushfire watch in NSW.

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Christchurch homes asbestos a 'landmine'

PLASTERBOARD will be used to encase potentially deadly asbestos in more than 4000 earthquake-damaged Christchurch homes due for repair.

Canterbury District Health Board medical officer of health Alistair Humphrey says the Earthquake Commission (EQC) decision not to remove the asbestos creates a "landmine".

Christchurch-based Labour MP Ruth Dyson, in a statement on Wednesday, said the asbestos looked set to create a potentially fatal legacy, akin to the trail of events which culminated in the huge loss of life with the CTV building collapse in 2011.

Leaving asbestos in houses contravened EQC's own guidelines, she said.

It was also unfair that home owners could not decide to have the asbestos removed, and future owners could be unaware of the asbestos.

"This is obviously about saving money, but at what cost? It is risking lives. The practice must stop."

Ms Dyson said the matter needed an urgent response from the government.

But a spokesman for Duty Minister Anne Tolley said it was an operational matter for EQC, and the minister would not comment.

Dr Humphrey told The Press the encasement practice is a serious health risk, and homeowners selling their house could try to hide the presence of the now discredited building material.

"We have an opportunity to make sure houses are safe. They should just take it all out.

"It is a landmine sitting there which we won't know about."

Prolonged, chronic exposure to disturbed asbestos can cause various lung diseases, including cancer, but can take decades to develop.

But EQC home repair program manager Reid Stiven said encasing followed health guidelines.

Asbestos ceilings were encased only when they were not damaged or deteriorating, he said.

"Enclosing is a reliable method for ensuring asbestos is safely contained," he told The Press.

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Call for compromise in health blame game

VICTORIA'S nursing union has called for a compromise in a federal-state dispute over hospital funding, as jobs and many beds are set to be cut.

Victoria's Health Minister David Davis says the loss of $107 million this year in commonwealth funding to hospitals will have a significant impact on the ability to provide timely patient care.

"There will be many beds closed and there will be some job losses," he told reporters on Tuesday.

The federal government points to the fact the state will receive almost $1 billion in additional federal funding over four years.

The dispute centres around population figures used to calculate the funding, with the federal government saying numbers have fallen and the state government saying they have risen.

The Australian Nursing Federation says the past two years have seen $723 million slashed from Victoria's health budget, with $616 million cut by the state government and $107 million by the federal government.

It wants a compromise and is calling for each side to fund the $107 million equally as an interim measure.

"Winning the blame argument will be of little comfort to Victorians who are waiting in emergency departments, or who are suffering as they languish on elective surgery waiting lists," ANF Victorian branch secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said.

Ms Fitzpatrick said the state government was elected on a promise to fix the public health system and cut elective surgery waiting times.

But she said since 2010, elective surgery waiting lists had risen by 7000 patients and more beds had closed or were now called "hospital in the home", where people stayed in their own homes for acute care.

The ANF has written to state and federal auditors-general asking for an urgent investigation on which government is behind the cuts so they are held to account.

Ms Fitzpatrick said if the dispute is not resolved, thousands of Victorians will miss out on vital surgery or be waiting hours in emergency departments or sitting in ambulances on hospital ramps.

The full impact of the cuts is unknown.

At the Royal Women's Hospital, Australia's largest specialist hospital for women and newborns, there was already a shortage of obstetrics beds, Ms Fitzpatrick said.

She said that had forced blowouts in wait times for patients needing gynaecological surgery.

The Royal Children's Hospital is also considering cutting the number of nursing staff on night duty, she said.

"We're waiting for their data to show that the presentations have fallen on that night duty shift to support any reduction in staffing," Ms Fitzpatrick said.

She said in 2011/12, the hospital's waiting list for children needing treatment grew by 2150.

About 60 beds remain closed at the Royal Children's since the new hospital opened in 2011 due to funding shortfalls, she said.

"We think it's critical to remember there was decreased funding provided by the Baillieu government in 2011-2012, which is why there were some nearly 8000 less procedures taking place in public hospitals in Victoria," she said.

Royal Women's Hospital chief executive Dale Fisher said job losses are not anticipated as a result of the budget cuts at this stage.

But patients will have to wait longer for elective surgery, Ms Fisher said in a statement.

She said the hospital has extended the Christmas and New Year holiday closure of elective surgeries until the end of January.

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Constitutional fight looms over Chavez

A CONSTITUTIONAL fight over ailing President Hugo Chavez's status intensified with the government planning a massive show of support in the streets on the day he is supposed to be sworn in to a new term.

Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said that Chavez's medical condition has remained "stationary" since the latest complication from surgery was reported four days ago.

Chavez, who underwent his fourth round of cancer surgery in Havana nearly a month ago, is suffering suffering from a severe pulmonary infection that has resulted in a respiratory insufficiency.

The call for a rally January 10 outside the Miraflores presidential palace comes amid a stormy debate over whether Chavez and his current government can remain in office if he is too sick to take the oath of office.

The Catholic church waded into the controversy for the first time on Monday, with a warning that it would be "morally unacceptable" to override the constitution and that Chavez's prolonged absence had put the country's stability at risk.

But the leftist government and the conservative opposition brandished conflicting interpretations of the constitution, with Chavez's allies calling the president's swearing in a "formality" that can be fulfilled sometime after January 10.

"We rule out absolutely nothing," said National Assembly speaker Diosdado Cabello, when asked at a news conference if Chavez's return in time for the inauguration had been ruled out.

"But we're not going to get to the 10th and not know what we are going to do. We know what we're going to do," he said.

Part of the plan is to hold a huge pro-Chavez rally, with the participation of as yet unidentified foreign leaders, in a reminder of the 55 per cent support that won the leftist firebrand re-election to another six-year term October 7.

"All of Venezuela will come here in front of the Miraflores presidential palace, the people supporting our president -- the people supporting comandante Chavez -- in an overwhelming manner, the people in the street," said National Assembly speaker Diosdado Cabello.

The only foreign leader who has confirmed he will attend is Uruguay's President Jose Mujica, who was scheduled to arrive Thursday.

A key opposition leader, meanwhile, has called for street protests if the government pushes past January 10 without a swearing-in, raising the risks of confrontation.

"People should get ready to protest and rebel against what will be a failure to uphold the constitution," said Julio Borges, national co-ordinator of the opposition Justice First party.

Borges said the opposition will also go to "institutions, countries, embassies and organisations outside of the country to let them know that authorities are trying to twist the constitution due to an internal problem."

The government, however, gained support from Latin American heavyweight Brazil, which said a constitutional process was in place to assure continuity in the event Chavez is unable to be sworn in.

Marco Aurelio Garcia, a top adviser to Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, met in Havana last week with the Venezuelan leaders and said he learned there was "constitutional cover" if Chavez fails to show in Caracas January 10.

Garcia said the process involved setting a 90 day period, renewable for another 90 days, for the Venezuelan leader's absence, after which a decision would be made on whether he is permanently incapacitated.

Under the constitution, new elections must be held within 30 days if the president dies or is permanently incapacitated either before he takes office or in the first four years of his six-year term.

The Venezuelan opposition argues that the constitution establishes January 10 as the end of the current presidential period, and a new one cannot begin until the president takes the oath of office.

Throughout his illness, which was first detected in June 2011, the 58-year-old Chavez has refused to relinquish the powers of the presidency, even when leaving for Cuba to undergo his fourth and most difficult round of cancer surgery.

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Peter Slipper to face charges

Former speaker Peter Slipper has been summonsed to face three charges in a Canberra court. Source: AAP

FORMER speaker Peter Slipper will face three charges in court after being summonsed by police who investigated allegations of travel fraud.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) on Monday summonsed the MP in relation to three offences of dishonestly causing a risk of a loss to the Commonwealth.

He will appear in Canberra Magistrates Court on February 15 where he will be formally charged.

A police statement on Monday did not say what the charges related to.

However, the summons follows claims made in April 2012 when Mr Slipper's former staffer James Ashby alleged the then-speaker had misused Cabcharge dockets by giving a sheaf of blank dockets to drivers.

Mr Slipper denied the allegation and Mr Ashby later withdrew it from his sexual harassment case.

Police finalised their investigation into the allegations of fraud in July and referred the matter to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.

A spokesman for Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said the decision to issue the summons was made by the Australian Federal Police, an independent statutory office.

"The investigation and charging of any person is a matter for the law enforcement authorities - the Australian Federal Police and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions," the spokesman told AAP on Monday.

He said defendants were entitled to the presumption of innocence.

"Prejudicial commentary must be avoided to ensure a fair trial," he said.

"This will be a matter for a court to decide."

Comment was being sought from Mr Slipper's office.

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Barnett declines two more election debates

WEST Australian Premier Colin Barnett has knocked back a challenge from Opposition leader Mark McGowan for three televised debates in the lead up to the state election in March.

Mr McGowan wanted one debate managed by the media, one in a regional town and one in Perth where the public could ask questions about core issues including traffic congestion, employment and the cost of living.

"I think West Australians are dying for more information," he said.

Mr McGowan said it was important to allow the public to see the debates "unvarnished, unedited and unscripted".

However, Mr Barnett said he would not agree to having three debates.

"As has been the convention in previous state elections, there will only be one leaders' debate - a television debate," he said.

Meanwhile, Nationals WA state president Colin Holt has ruled out preferencing Labor ahead of the Liberal Party in all lower house seats.

The Nationals negotiated with both parties after the previous election and eventually helped the Liberals form government.

Mr Holt said on Monday that the Nationals would continue its alliance with the Liberal Party in the hopes of forming a stable alliance government.

He said the Labor Party wanted to remove the Royalties for Regions program and would preference the Liberal Party ahead of The Nationals to do it.

"Labor has ruled out forming government with the Nationals and the feeling is mutual," Mr Holt said.

Nationals WA leader Brendon Grylls said the party was determined to win enough seats to ensure it could retain the balance of power on behalf of regional West Australians.

Mr McGowan said the announcement was not surprising and it was a facade that the Nationals were independent.

"Mr Grylls (and) the National Party, can't pretend to be independent anymore," he said.

"They are now part of the Liberal Party machine.

"All of their promises need to be added together."

The ABC has reported it is hoping to show one leaders' debate on February 19.

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Search for bodies begins in Tas fires

Bushfires in southern Tasmania may have claimed a number of lives, police say. Source: AAP

AUTHORITIES will begin searching for bodies amid fears lives may have been lost in bushfires that have ravaged southern Tasmania.

More than 100 buildings have been destroyed by the fires, which continue to burn on the Tasman Peninsula and while there have been no confirmed deaths, police say they have fears for a number of people.

Acting Police Commissioner Scott Tilyard said up to 100 people have not made contact with family or authorities by Sunday afternoon and the search for bodies has so far centred on destroyed properties in Dunalley, Boomer Bay and Marion Bay.

"It's not to say those people have necessarily come to harm, but we can't totally eliminate that until we have contact with those individuals," Mr Tilyard told reporters.

"But we have to brace ourselves for the fact we may locate one or more deceased people."

He said police teams were checking around eight properties an hour.

"At this stage we have not located any deceased people," he said on Sunday afternoon.

"There are a lot of premises that need to be checked. Until we've had the opportunity to check every one of those locations we won't be in a position to confirm there has been no deaths."

Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) chief fire officer Mike Brown said crews were having trouble accessing parts of the Tasman Peninsula as they battled to bring the Forcett fire under control.

"There is still some problems getting fire vehicles into the Tasman Peninsula to work more on protecting properties and protecting assets," he said.

He said around 60,000 hectares have been burned out while another blaze of around the same size continues to burn out of control in remote areas of the southwest of the state.

While that blaze is not affecting any communities, Mr Brown said Parks and Wildlife were checking on its register for any bushwalkers who may be in the area.

He said there was no time frame on when the fires would be brought under control.

"Our predictions over the next week is that temperatures will warm up a bit," he said.

More than 1000 people have been evacuated from the peninsula to Hobart via boat, with the final ferryload of 180 people departing Nubeena for the capital early on Sunday morning.

Hundreds more have sought refuge with relatives and in evacuation centres across the region, including at the Port Arthur historic site.

Acting Premier Bryan Green has announced financial assistance saying hundreds of Tasmanians have been affected.

"This is a very harrowing time for many Tasmanians and our communities have more challenges to face in the weeks and months to come," he said in a statement on Sunday.

The threat posed to communities by the Forcett bushfire was downgraded to watch and act, but the blaze continues to burn out of control, and has already done massive damage throughout the peninsula.

The town of Dunalley was the worst hit, with around 65 homes and the town's school destroyed, while dozens more buildings were razed at Connellys Marsh, Eaglehawk Neck, Murdunna, Copping and Primrose Sands.

Mr Brown said a bushfire near Bicheno had destroyed between 10 and 15 homes, and burned around 7000 hectares.

The fire continues to burn out of control and the town's main access route, Coles Bay Road, was closed again after briefly reopening on Sunday morning.

Firefighters and support personnel have flown in from Victoria and NSW to assist the fight.

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Woman in hospital after hit-and-run

Police are asking the public for help after a woman was struck by a car in a hit-and-run in Sydney. Source: AAP

POLICE are asking the public for help after a woman was struck by a car in a hit-and-run in Sydney's east.

Police say a man, 30, and woman, 40, were walking on the footpath of Endeavour Avenue, La Perouse, when a white Mazda Astina ran into them about 4.35am (AEDT) on Sunday.

The woman was thrown backwards as a result of the collision and seriously injured her leg, police said in a statement.

Two men were seen running from the vehicle before police and paramedics arrived at the scene.

The woman was taken to St Vincent's Hospital for surgery to her right foot.

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