Large bushfire threatens homes

A LARGE, fast moving bushfire is burning near Hervey Bay with residents advised to leave their homes for their own safety.

The Rural Fire Service has told residents near Old Rifle Range Rd at Nikenbah to enact their bushfire plan and to leave now if their plan is to do so or if they don't have a plan.

They have been told that leaving is the safest option.

A Department of Community safety warning said only people who had well prepared and defended homes should stay with fire fighters making no guarantees every home can be protected.

Currently, 15 fire crews are working to contain the blaze which is burning near Booral Road and Pindari Crescent at Sunshine Acres.

"Residents should not expect a firefighter at their door," the warning read.

They have warned that property may be consumed by the fire at Nickenbah with the chance power, water and mobile phone supply may be lost in the area over the coming hours while the fire rages.

The fire broke out about 2.45pm at Vanderwold Rd at Nikenbah and is travelling quickly in a north west direction.

It is expected to effect the areas of Old Rifle Range Rd and Barrenjoey Rd at Nikenbah.

Fire fighters are having difficulty controlling the fire and are warning that spot fires may occur ahead of the fire front and embers are being thrown from the fire.

The Department of Community Safety is warning residents it will be very hot and windy as the fire approaches and it could make breathing, hearing and seeing difficult.

Police are asking motorists to stay away from Booral Road at Sunshine Acres due to the fire.

Motorists are also being urged to not travel to the area.

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Palmer wins but says AEC is a disgrace

CLIVE Palmer has labelled Australia's electoral commission "a national disgrace" and will keep highlighting ballot discrepancies despite apparently winning the seat of Fairfax.

While Mr Palmer calls for electoral reform, his LNP opponent Ted O'Brien says the Fairfax count is a "great example of democracy in action".

Although Mr Palmer finished 36 votes ahead of Mr O'Brien, the mining magnate will have to sweat out a recount before he can claim victory.

Mr Palmer says he is amazed he finished with more votes and will continue to "pursue the AEC and push for reform".

"I will continue to fight to hold the AEC accountable as they've shown themselves to be greatly incompetent with no transparency," Mr Palmer said in a statement.

"We will be highlighting the many discrepancies we've uncovered in the Court of Disputed Returns.

"The ballots have no security and the AEC is a national disgrace that needs to be heavily scrutinised."

Meanwhile, Mr O'Brien has thanked those involved in the count.

"While the past two weeks may have been intense for everyone involved, its also been a great example of democracy in action," the first-time campaigner said.

"When all is said and done, its up to the people to decide who they want representing them."

The AEC will begin a recount of the Sunshine Coast based seat on Monday - more than two weeks after the election.

"There will be a full distribution of preferences, which is a fresh count in any case," AEC spokesman Phil Diak told AAP.

A recount is automatically triggered when there are fewer than 100 votes separating two candidates after all preferences have been distributed.

Mr Palmer led by 111 votes when counting began on Saturday morning, however his lead shrunk as votes were tallied.

Fairfax has traditionally been a conservative electorate. Retiring LNP member Alex Somlyay has held the Sunshine Coast-based seat since 1990.

While there were big swings to the Coalition nationally, preference flows to the Palmer United Party (PUP) has hurt the LNP's bid to retain Fairfax.

Mr Palmer attracted 26.47 per cent of the primary vote, compared to Mr O'Brien's 41.35 per cent.

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PM Abbott faces GST debate

THE federal coalition has again rejected calls by cash-strapped Western Australia to lift the rate of the GST but still plans to include the impost in a broader review of the taxation system.

The Tony Abbott-led government will unveil a discussion paper on tax reform in coming months inviting comment on the GST, ahead of a white paper due before the end of its first term.

Liberal Premier Colin Barnett says GST revenues flowing to the states and territories from the consumption tax aren't growing fast enough to fund basic services like health and education.

He acknowledges Mr Abbott made a promise during the recent federal election not to lift the 10 per cent GST or broaden its base to include food and health services before the next poll.

But Mr Barnett believes most Australians would be prepared to "cop" a rate rise to 12.5 per cent if it meant delivering vital state services.

WA was this week downgraded by global credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's for showing "limited political will" to adopt measures to increase state government revenue.

ACT Labor Chief Minister Katy Gallagher supported the WA leader's call for a debate on the GST.

"If there is to be any rational discussion about the GST, all states and territories need to back in any federal government that's prepared to examine and look at whether the rate does need to go up, or exemptions need to change," she said.

Treasurer Joe Hockey said there would be "no change to the GST, full-stop, end of story".

While states like WA faced "structural challenges" to fund schools and hospitals, there was no easy solution.

"Sometimes it's too easy to default to a single silver-bullet solution when in fact the solution needs to be much broader and far more sophisticated," Mr Hockey said on Friday.

Mr Hockey was speaking in Bali, where he was attending an APEC Finance Ministers meeting.

Acting Labor leader Chris Bowen said the ALP remained opposed to any change to the GST.

Tasmanian Labor Premier Lara Giddings spoke with the prime minister by telephone on Friday and urged Mr Abbott not to change the way the GST revenue is distributed.

WA and Queensland say the funds should be paid out on a per capita basis, but Ms Giddings says this would leave Tasmania $700 million short.

"Liberal state governments around this nation have to get their hands off Tasmania's fair share of the GST," she said, adding she also did not support any change to the base or rate of the tax.

WA Liberal Senator Alan Eggleston supports a review of federal-state financial relations, including the GST, to fund roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

"The GST in its present form ... needs to be discussed," he told AAP.

Acting Queensland Premier Jeff Seeney says the Newman government won't push to change the GST.

But Liberal Victorian Premier Denis Napthine wants a larger slice of the GST pie.

South Australia - like Tasmania - opposes any changes to the distribution, base or rate of the GST.

Northern Territory Treasurer Dave Tollner said changing the GST could hurt Australia's exports.

WA this week lost its coveted triple-A credit rating when it was downgraded to AA+.

NSW Treasurer Mike Baird would not comment on lifting the rate of the GST, but said all states were united in the push to lower the GST threshold for overseas online purchases.

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Bangladeshi charged with sexual assault

A FOREIGN student has been charged with sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl while she was sleeping at a Sydney university campus.

A 21-year-old Bangladeshi man was arrested on Thursday over the alleged assault at the Macquarie University campus.

The girl told police she woke in a bedroom on the campus and found a man sexually assaulting her in the morning of August 31.

Police said the Bangladeshi, who's in Australia on a student visa, was charged on Friday with the indecent and sexual assault of the girl.

He was granted conditional bail to appear Ryde Local Court on October 16.

Two similar incidents were reported earlier this year.

A 20-year-old student was sexually assaulted at the same campus in March.

In June, a female student was indecently assaulted by a man who snuck into her room at the Parramatta campus of Western Sydney University.

A Macquarie University spokeswoman later clarified the alleged sexual assault took place in a student accommodation facility that was near the university campus.

A 20-year-old male Sri Lankan asylum seeker was in February charged with indecently assaulting a 20-year-old student at the same student village.

The accommodation is owned and run by Campus Living Villages (CLV), who the spokeswoman said is also responsible for security.

CLV said they are providing assistance to police as they investigate.

"CLV is focussed on providing continued support to village residents to ensure the continued safety, security and well-being of all residents," a CLV spokeswoman told AAP in a statement.

"As the matter is subject to an ongoing police investigation, CLV is unable to make any further comment."

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Andrews booted from Vic parly for 3 days

VICTORIA'S Opposition leader has been thrown about of parliament for three days after a shouting match triggered by questions over embattled MP Geoff Shaw.

Daniel Andrews had been pressing the premier on the Liberal-turned-independent MP, who is facing 24 misconduct and fraud-related offences for misusing his taxpayer-funded car.

Mr Andrews said the government had descended into a "dysfunctional circus", with Mr Shaw holding the balance of power.

"It's not the government Victorians voted for three years ago," Mr Andrews said.

But Speaker Ken Smith objected to Mr Andrews accusing him of biased rulings during question time on Thursday and tried to toss him out.

Mr Andrews refused his order and stood his ground even when the sergent-at-arms was called to remove him.

The house was suspended while the coalition tried to find the numbers to force Mr Andrews to leave, but came back with a deadlocked vote of 40-40 with Mr Shaw failing to turn up for the vote.

With the vote therefore tied, the Speaker cast his vote with the coalition, forcing Mr Andrews to finally leave.

His Labor shadow cabinet followed him out the door in protest.

The opposition was quick to point out how the government had failed to achieve a majority for the first time without the Speaker's help.

But Deputy Leader Louise Asher said Mr Andrews' behaviour was disgraceful and Mr Shaw was only absent from parliament because of illness.

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Stocks to watch at close on Thursday

STOCKS to watch on the Australian stock exchange at close on Thursday:

ASX - ASX - up 13 cents, or 0.4 per cent, at $35.26

Two directors of the Australian Securities Exchange have resigned in the wake of a share trading scandal in the United States.

BBG - BILLABONG - up 2.5 cents, or 5.6 per cent, at 47.5 cents

Struggling surfwear company Billabong International has appointed a new chief executive and struck a long-term refinancing deal.

BCI - BC IRON - up 11 cents, or 2.6 per cent, at $4.34

Iron ore miner BC Iron has notched up 10 million tonnes of exports and inked new exploration deals in Brazil.

BKW - BRICKWORKS - up 35 cents, or 2.8 per cent, at $12.85

Brickworks has nearly doubled full year profit on the back of stronger earnings out of its building products group and property development business.

FGE - FORGE - up 14 cents, or 2.7 per cent, at $5.37

Forge Group has lost a $290 million contract after Chinese-controlled miner MMG ceased work at its Dugald River processing facility in Queensland.

NWH - NRW HOLDINGS - up 5.0 cents, or 3.5 per cent, at $1.47

Mining services contractor NRW Holdings has secured a $620 million contract to prepare earthworks for a rail project between Gina Rinehart's planned Roy Hill mine and Port Hedland.

ORG - ORIGIN ENERGY - up 21 cents, or 1.5 per cent, at $14.07

Origin Energy has secured 432 petajoules of natural gas from ESSO Australia and BHP Billiton Petroleum to meet customer demand.

ORL - OROTON - down 38 cents, or 5.9 per cent, at $6.10

Australian accessory maker Oroton will ramp up its push into world markets while building international brands back home.

SXL - SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA - up 4.5 cents, or 2.5 per cent, at $1.87

If the Australian media watchdog is allowed to rule 2Day FM broke the law when it broadcast the infamous royal prank call, it would do "enormous damage" to the station, a Sydney judge has been told.

TTS - TATTS - up 1.0 cent, or 0.3 per cent, at $3.10

Racing Queensland allowed a wagering firm to withhold $91 million in fees owed despite being told it was illegal, an inquiry has heard.

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Starbucks says guns unwelcome, not banned

Coffee Company Starbucks says firearms are no longer welcome at its US cafes. Source: AAP

STARBUCKS says guns are no longer welcome in its US cafes, though it is stopping short of an outright ban on firearms.

The fine line the Seattle company is walking in addressing the concerns of both gun rights and gun control advocates reflects how heated the issue has become, particularly in light of recent mass shootings.

CEO Howard Schultz says the decision to ask customers to stop bringing guns into stores came as a result of the growing frequency of "Starbucks Appreciation Days," in which gun rights advocates turned up at Starbucks cafes with firearms.

Schultz says the events mischaracterised the company's stance on the issue and the demonstrations "have made our customers uncomfortable."

Schultz hopes people will honour the request not to bring in guns but says the company will nevertheless serve those who do.

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Viralytics shares surge on cancer trial

SHARES in Viralytics have jumped by 10 per cent after a significant number of patients responded well to a cancer therapy the company is developing.

The company's shares gained 3.5 cents to 38 cents.

Viralytics said a phase two clinical trial of its treatment Cavatak on late-stage melanoma patients had already achieved its main goal, even though patients were still being recruited for the study.

The trial, across 10 sites in the United States, is investigating the safety and efficacy of Cavatak on 54 evaluable patients.

The aim is to have 10 out of 54 patients go six months after their first dose of Cavatak without the cancer worsening.

Viralytics on Wednesday said 10 patients had already achieved the goal, with only 30 evaluated.

"Given the excellent progress achieved to date and the encouraging feedback from key opinion leaders in the melanoma field, we also believe it is now timely to consider the design of a randomised study in melanoma patients," Viralytics chief executive Dr Malcolm McColl said.

Currently 44 patients are enrolled in the trial. Full enrolment is expected by the end of the year.

Cavatak is a natural, genetically unaltered virus that often causes no symptoms in humans, but can induce mild upper respiratory symptoms similar to that of the common cold viruses.

Its therapeutic action results through its interaction with the ICAM-1 receptor which is present in abundance on the surface of many cancer cells.

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Customer growth lifts TPG profit

TPG has increased customer numbers at a faster rate than last year, substantially boosting the telco's annual profit.

TPG made a net profit of $149.2 million in the year to July 31, up 64 per cent on $90.96 million in the previous year.

The prior year's result was skewed by a $23 million one-off tax expense.

When that item is excluded, TPG's net profit rose by 31 per cent in 2012/13.

TPG's broadband subscriber base grew by 76,000 in 2012/13, compared to growth of 47,000 in fiscal 2012.

The number of subscribers to TPG's home phone and broadband bundle plans rose by 130,000, which was partly offset by a fall of 54,000 in standalone customers and customers not using TPG's own fibre network.

TPG's mobile phone subscribers increased by 105,000, compared to a rise of 54,000 in fiscal 2012.

The company expects earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) in 2013/14 to be between $290 million to $300 million, compared to $293.1 million in 2012/13.

Earnings from TPG's corporate division, which provides wholesale and corporate telecommunications infrastructure under the PIPE Networks brand, grew by more than 10 per cent in 2012/13.

The earnings growth was largely due to improved margins from investment in the group's fibre network.

TPG is planning to increase the number of buildings directly connected to its fibre network in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

"With the evolution of new technologies now enabling speeds of up to 100Mbps this will enable the group to commence offering very high speed broadband services to its customers at ADSL2+ prices," TPG said.

TPG increased its domestic fibre network by more than 800 kilometres in 2012/13, to more than 3,800 kilometres.

More than 300 extra buildings were directly connected to the network, taking the total number connected to more than 1,600.

TPG shares were up 48 cents at $4.18 at 1532 AEST.

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Strong winds bring down Bondi balcony

A balcony collapse has forced the evacuation of 11 people at a unit block in Bondi. Source: AAP

A BALCONY collapse has forced the evacuation of 11 people in Bondi as strong winds battered Sydney and the Illawarra.

Police officers, State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers and firefighters arrived at the Wairoa Avenue shopping complex on Monday night to find a balcony, awning and part of a wall collapsed.

Eleven people from all five residential units at the complex had been evacuated amid fears of further collapse, Paul Johnson from NSW Fire and Rescue told AAP.

He said rough weather was thought to be responsible.

"There were pretty strong winds," he said.

No one was hurt but occupants from only three of the five evacuated units have been allowed to return.

In another incident, a semi-trailer crashed into the front yard of a Blue Mountains home, stopping just metres from the house with a man, woman and child inside.

Noone was injured in the accident, which occurred in beating rain.

They were among about 200 weather-related incidents attended by the SES between Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning.

SES spokeswoman Sue Pritchard said the strong winds and heavy rain had hit suburbs from the Illawarra to eastern Sydney up toward northern beaches properties in Narrabeen and Collaroy.

The winds were moving down the NSW coast on Tuesday morning, she said.

"Down south, we're now getting some calls coming through about leaky roofs and trees down," she said.

She said it was a timely reminder for people to get their roofs checked and clear out their gutters.

"Storm season is less than two weeks away, and we're already seeing some of the damage," she said.

Meanwhile the Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for the NSW south coast, which is expected to be hit by gale force winds, heavy rain, damaging surf and possible flash flooding.

In the 12 hours to 4am (AEST) on Tuesday, 199 mm of rainfall was reported from Robertson.

"An easing is expected late in the day as the low moves further south and begins to weaken," the Bureau said.

A severe weather warning for the Illawarra region has been cancelled.

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Qld woman regrets murder case actions

A BRISBANE woman accused of helping to cover up the murder of Logan man Michael Peter Klaassen says she regrets her actions.

Jasmin Kay, 32, was granted bail on Monday following a brief appearance at the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on charges of being an accessory after the fact to murder.

A police prosecutor, who opposed bail, told the court Kay played a "multi-faceted role" in covering up the murder, including the destruction of evidence.

Mr Klaassen was last seen alive on July 29. A body, believed to be his, was found in a shallow grave behind a house at Logan Reserve on Friday.

Kay said she had been led astray by people she believed were her friends.

"I have been seriously wronged by friends," Kay told reporters outside court.

"I did some stuff that I shouldn't have but I regret that. I should've rung police because now I know they're no friends at all."

Earlier, the Upper Mt Gravatt woman's husband said her arrest on Saturday had left him speechless.

"Big shock to me, I knew none of this at all," Paul Kay told reporters outside court.

"Personally I don't think she knew him (Klaassen), just through friends and family."

Kay is one of five people who have been charged in relation to Mr Klaassen's death.

Lawrence Carlton, 24, has been charged with murder and interfering with a corpse while David Darlington, 36, and Matthew-John Kirk, 28, have been charged with being accessories to murder and interfering with a corpse.

Another woman, Marri-Ann Godfrey, 45, has also been charged with being an accessory to murder after the fact and will make a bail application in court on Tuesday.

Kay will return to court on October 14, the same date Carlton is due to appear via video-link.

Darlington and Kirk are scheduled to appear on Thursday.

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Lynas loss widens, new debt deal struck

Australian rare earths miner Lynas has widened its full year loss to $107.4 million. Source: AAP

A DEPRESSED rare earths market has forced Lynas to postpone its expansion and renegotiate a $225 million debt facility.

The Australian rare earths miner, one of the world's few non-Chinese producers, will have to start repaying debt next year instead of in 2015.

Repaying the $US225 million in full a year early by 2016 was the condition its Japanese lenders put on the new agreement to waive for 15 months Lynas' previous obligations to ramp up to 'phase two' production and cash margins expansion targets.

On Monday, Lynas reported that it had widened its full year loss to $107.4 million for the 12 months to June 30, from $102.6 million the previous year.

The miner only started selling rare earths products shortly before the end of June, receiving a modest $900,000 first pay cheque.

The debt negotiations were well-received by investors, who still appear bullish about the outlook for rare earths and sent Lynas shares up 3.25 cents, or 8.0 per cent, to 43.75 cents by 1500 AEST.

Lynas had hoped to start producing at its Malaysian plant in 2011 when rare earths prices were booming but fierce opposition from local villagers was fought in the courts, delaying permits.

By the time it won that battle this year, Chinese domestic prices for rare earths products, which have a range of hi-tech industrial uses, had sunk to under $20 a tonne making it hard to be profitable.

The company said last year had been one of significant milestones for Lynas, positioning it to achieve its core objective of becoming the leading sustainable global supplier of rare earth materials to the market.

A successful Lynas would be a game changer for a Chinese-dominated industry, with its fully integrated operations from its Western Australia-based Mt Weld mine - considered the world's best - through to its Malaysian finishing plant.

Patersons analyst Rob Brierley said the move to get out of its phase two expansion for 15 months was a good one that would otherwise have left it under huge financial stress and at risk of defaulting.

He said an end to the depressed market was not yet in sight but Lynas was well placed long term, with a strong resource base and state of the art, low cost concentration and processing plants.

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Comedian Simon Pegg in Perth for film

Shaun of the Dead star Simon Pegg has arrived in Perth to film Kill Me Three Times. Source: AAP

ENGLISH actor and comedian Simon Pegg has arrived in Perth to work on the Australian film, Kill Me Three Times.

The star of Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead and the recently released The World's End tweeted on Friday: "G'day Perth. Let's make a film."

Pegg seemed to enjoy Perth's sunshine on Sunday too, tweeting: "Beautiful day in Perth, WA. I might even leave the hotel, if I can find the exit."

An hour later he joked: "People keep recommending a bar called The Lucky Shag. Australia, you beautiful bitch, I don't think I could love you more at this point."

The Lucky Shag is a waterfront bar in Perth's CBD.

Written by James McFarland and steered by Red Dog director Kriv Stenders, Kill Me Three Times is a crime thriller set in the Australian surfing town of Eagle's Nest.

It tells the story of a young woman linked to three tales of murder, blackmail and revenge.

Pegg will play a murderer in the film, in stark contrast to his previous good guy roles.

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Worst over in Vic baby illness mystery

More than a dozen babies in Melbourne's Royal Women's Hospital have fallen ill to a mystery bug. Source: AAP

VICTORIAN Health Minister David Davis says the worst is over after more than a dozen babies in a hospital nursery came down with a mysterious infection.

Fifteen newborns being cared for in The Royal Women's Hospital's intensive and special care nursery were quarantined when the illness emerged nine days ago.

Two babies had to have surgery for an inflammatory bowel condition.

Mr Davis said the outbreak was a challenge that had been well-managed.

"An infection in neonatal has been worked through and followed up with the support of the chief health officer of Victoria," he said.

"We are now eight days since any further infection. This can happen from time-to-time but has been handled appropriately and carefully."

Mr Davis said state opposition allegations that funding cuts were to blame for stress in neonatal units were false and bed numbers were at record numbers.

He said adequate bed numbers in neonatal units was a long-term challenge for government that was separate to the infection.

"From time-to-time there are peaks in demand (of beds) and there is pressure. However the state government is working to ensure their sufficient capacity," he said.

A hospital spokeswoman said there was no danger to new arrivals and that the babies are getting better.

Australian Nursing Federation state secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said she was concerned about the stress on neonatal care units across the state.

"There is continuing pressure put on those units and we know that there has been an issue this week with 20 babies still being barrier nursed," Ms Fitzpatrick said.

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