Jobless rate to stay just short of 6%

Jobs figures out on Thursday are expected to show a slight rise in the unemployment rate. Source: AAP

JOBS growth is still sluggish and the unemployment rate is expected to remain a little under six per cent for the coming months.

Official labour force figures will be released on Thursday, and the unemployment rate is expected to rise 0.1 percentage points to 5.8 per cent, according to an AAP survey of 13 economists.

The number of people with jobs is forecast to have increased by 10,000 in November, compared to a rise of 1,100 the month before.

JP Morgan Australia chief economist Stephen Walters said recent economic indicators do not point to a turn around in the weaker parts of the economy.

"Employment growth has been dismal in the second half of 2013, with the economy shedding a net 16,000 jobs over the past six months," he said.

"Weak employment growth has not had the expected impact on the jobless rate, however, largely due to the continued decline in labour force participation, which is tracking at multi-year lows.

"In this week's release, our forecast looks for a 10,000 gain in jobs, which, with an unchanged participation rate, should bring the jobless rate up to 5.8 per cent."

The participation rate - the percentage of the working-age population either in work or looking for a job - is expected have stayed at a seven-year low of 64.8 per cent for the third month in a row in November.

ANZ head of Australian economics Justin Fabo said the labour market will remain weak as the economy has a bumpy transition away from being one that is mainly driven by mining investment.

"The resources boom is now moving into the operational/production phase which is expected to be less labour intensive than the investment phase," he said.

"While this will likely see net exports contribute strongly to gross domestic product (GDP) growth over the next few years, growth in domestic demand and employment is likely to remain more subdued."

Mr Fabo said the jobs growth is not keeping up with employment growth and that will keeping the unemployment rate relatively high in November and the coming months.

"The unemployment rate is expected to have increased modestly to 5.8 per cent.

"ANZ forecasts the unemployment rate to remain between 5.75 per cent and six per cent for several months.

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Burn gone wrong causes WA bushfire

A BURN-OFF gone wrong has turned into a bushfire that is threatening homes in Dwellingup south of Perth.

The out-of-control and unpredictable blaze has prompted a watch and act alert to be issued for people near Pinjarra Williams Road, in the eastern part of Dwellingup.

More than 30 firefighters are on the scene using a front-end loader, a bulldozer and water bombers.

The initial cause of the blaze is believed to be a burn on private land.

Emergency authorities say there is a possible threat to lives and homes as the fire, with flames up to two metres high, is approaching the area and conditions are changing.

Pinjara Williams Road is closed, and motorists are being warned to avoid the area and be aware of fire and emergency services working on site.

The bushfire is said to be rapidly moving south-west towards the eastern part of Dwellingup, and has already burned through three hectares.

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Labor about values, not revenge: Bowen

TONY Abbott and Bill Shorten are heading to South Africa for Nelson Mandela's memorial service while MPs prepare to battle for some key coalition legislation in the final sitting week of federal parliament.

Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen says Labor's moves to block the coalition in parliament are not motivated by revenge.

The party's position is about staying true to its values, he says, in a sign the government can expect more frustrations in the final sitting week for the year.

But the business of government will continue, with the coalition likely to suffer mixed fortunes on its legislation.

While the Greens have thrown the coalition a lifeline on debt, the stoush over the carbon tax is unlikely to be resolved despite the prime minister's threats of keeping parliament open until Christmas.

After a deal between the government and Greens, amendments that scrap the debt ceiling are expected to pass through the Senate on Monday.

But the government will have less success on another coalition pledge - laws to abolish the carbon tax and its associated entities, such as the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.

With Labor accused of being obstructive, and of seeking revenge against Mr Abbott for his own obstructionism in opposition, Mr Bowen said: "We'll call it as we see it, and we'll call it on its merits."

"It's not revenge. It's staying true to our values," he told Sky News on Sunday.

"When people vote Labor, they expect us to stay true to our values, and we'll be doing that."

Environment Minister Greg Hunt on Sunday demanded Labor back the carbon tax repeal, which the opposition and Greens have vowed to block.

"We don't want delays. We don't want excuses," he told reporters in Melbourne.

"This is the week when the carbon tax should be voted upon and should be repealed.

"The Australian people voted. They chose a new government. They chose to repeal the carbon tax."

Question Time is expected to be dominated by debate over the future of the car industry and Qantas, as well as the secrecy behind the government's immigration policies.

But the prime minister and opposition leader won't be taking part until Thursday, when they are expected to return to the hurly burly of Canberra.

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Free transport urged for fire recovery

THE NSW government should provide free bus and train rides to and from the Blue Mountains these holidays to help businesses recover from the October bushfires, the state opposition says.

The government needs to encourage visitors back with the message that the Blue Mountains is open for business, Opposition Leader John Robertson says.

Analysis by Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism and Blue Mountains Economic Enterprise estimates 200 jobs and more than $47 million in tourism revenue have been lost in the six weeks following the bushfires.

Domestic day trips alone are estimated to be down by more than 144,000.

Mr Robertson says there are dozens of bus and train services to the Blue Mountains every weekend.

"These public transport services should be free and promoted across the Sydney Trains network to encourage families and tourists to plan a trip to the mountains."

Opposition transport spokeswoman Penny Sharpe says she's written to Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian asking that Labor's proposal be implemented immediately, effective until the Australia Day long weekend.

"For a family of two adults and two children it would cost $34.80 on a Saturday to travel from Central to Springwood by train ... that's $34 better spent in a Blue Mountains small business."

Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill says many visitors had been scared away by the bushfires.

"We have hundreds of thousands of hectares of world heritage listed National Park with breathtaking scenery, pristine waterways and amazing walking tracks," he said.

"We welcome any proposal that encourages visitors and their wallets to our region."

Ms Berejiklian said in a statement that the NSW government had announced funding for a campaign to encourage tourists to visit the Blue Mountains and continued to work with the community to help those impacted.

"An auction of Sydney Trains lost property items held on Saturday raised thousands of dollars that will be donated to victims of the Blue Mountains bushfire," she said.

The minister also said the government had announced residents would not be charged for water used to defend their homes during the bushfires.

Fees to replace documents such as birth certificates and driver licences had also been waived along with fees for taking bushfire waste to the tip, Ms Berejiklian said.

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Abbott, Shorten to attend Mandela service

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will present a united Australian front to honour and farewell Nelson Mandela.

The pair will this week fly to Johannesburg to join world leaders past and present, mourning the former South African president who died at his home on Thursday (local time) aged 95.

A huge memorial service is planned for the nation's first black leader on Tuesday, with US President Barack Obama already confirming his attendance.

On Saturday Mr Shorten's office said the Labor leader had accepted an invitation from Mr Abbott to accompany the prime minister to South Africa. Both men will miss most of the final 2013 parliamentary sitting week.

It is unknown how long the men will be out of Australia.

"There is a long bipartisan history of Australian support for South Africa and the campaign to abolish apartheid," Mr Abbott said, announcing his intention to attend the service.

After facing criticism for not lowering flags at the news of Mr Mandela's death, Mr Abbott said Australian flags will be set at half mast on the day of the official memorial.

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Choppers, 16 crews battle fire

Sinead Duncan took photographs of the fires from Buderim and closer to Kawana Way. "We're just trying to get out of Brightwater at the moment .... it's getting bad." Reader picture: Sinead Duncan Source: Supplied

FIRE crews are asking Sunshine Coast residents to avoid an out-of-control grass fire near Mountain Creek.

3.50pm: Sinead Duncan took photographs of the fires from Buderim and closer to Kawana Way.

"We're just trying to get out of Brightwater at the moment because we've been visiting friends," she said.

"The smoke is still thick and billowing, but thankfully the wind is keeping most of the smoke away from the houses."

The grass fire near Mountain Creek. Picture: QPS/Sara Matulich

GALLERY: Reader pictures of Sunshine Coast blaze

Jackie Clark said aerial support was trying to control the situation.

"It's getting bad," she said.

Resident Nadine Brooks took these pictures from her vantage point at nearby Grand Pde, Parrearra. Reader picture: Nadine Brooks

"Police, fire and ambulance have set up on Kawana Way."
 

GALLERY: Reader pictures of Sunshine Coast blaze

Resident Nadine Brooks took these pictures from her vantage point at nearby Grand Pde, Parrearra. Reader picture: Nadine Brooks

3.30pm:  Resident Nadine Brooks said there seemed to be two or three different blazes from her vantage point at nearby Grand Pde, Parrearra.

"It looks like they are moving north," she said.

"We are lucky the smoke is not coming (our) way."

3pm: TRAFFIC is heavy along the Sunshine Coast Motorway thanks to a large grass fire.

Motorists are reporting congestion from the Dixon Rd turnoff to Mountain Creek.

Kawana Way has been closed as 16 fire crews battle the blaze.

GALLERY: Reader pictures of Sunshine Coast blaze

1pm: The fire at Kawana Way, near Brightwater Estate, was first reported at 11.20am.

Helicopters are currently water bombing the fire between Brightwater Estate and the Chancellor Park area, and 16 fire crews are battling the blaze.

No property is under threat, but a large smoke haze has settled over Mountain Creek and neighbouring suburbs.

Residents have been advised to close windows and doors, with reports of ash the size of fingernails falling on the area.

Motorists using Kawana Way have been urged to drive to conditions.

GALLERY: Reader pictures of Sunshine Coast blaze

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Govt to remove special protection visa

The coalition will remove a protection visa for a specific class of refugees created by Labor. Source: AAP

THE federal government will remove a protection visa for a specific class of refugees created by Labor and give the immigration minister the final say on individual cases.

Since the visas began in March 2012, only 57 cases had satisfied the requirements on complementary protection grounds.

They were created to protect people who don't meet the full refugee criteria but would be at risk of serious harm if returned to their homeland.

The main aim was to protect women fleeing honour killings and genital mutilation.

However, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said the visas were being granted to people who had committed serious crimes in their homelands and others fleeing because of their links to criminal gangs or involvement in blood feuds.

While Australia accepted its obligation not to return people when they could face harm, it had no obligation to follow a particular process or to grant a particular type of visa.

As well, the process created by Labor was complicated and convoluted.

Mr Morrison told parliament he intended to remove the complementary protection criterion from the Migration Act.

"It is the government's intention to re-establish the consideration of complementary protection issues within an administrative process," he said on Wednesday.

"It will allow the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection to exercise his or her intervention powers to grant the most appropriate visa dependent upon the individual circumstances of the case."

Australian Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said Mr Morrison wanted the power to determine cases on his own and it shouldn't be allowed.

"Do we really want to see Mr Morrison in charge of saying which refugees deserve protection and which don't. Mr Morrison is drunk on power," she told reporters.

Debate on the Migration Amendment (Regaining Control Over Australia's Protection Obligations) Bill 2013 was adjourned.

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Sanook dies playing with his favourite toy

LITTLE Sanook loved playing with his favourite toy but somehow the fun-loving elephant calf's head became so tangled up in the suspended tyre that he stopped breathing.

The 11-month-old died at Melbourne Zoo on Tuesday night playing with the tyre he frequently used and that was also previously enjoyed by his sister and brother.

Melbourne Zoo director Kevin Tanner described the death as a tragic and unforeseen accident but said the zoo would continue to use the tyres for its elephants.

He said tyres were commonly used in zoos around the world as a form of enrichment for elephants.

"We have removed the tyre that caused the death but tyres out in the yard will remain," he said.

The elephant calf has been described by staff as a very playful character, loved by many at the zoo.

Zookeepers say Sanook's mother Num-Oi has been spending time alone on Wednesday and suggest that this might be her grieving process.

"Our keepers are keeping a very close eye on them," Mr Tanner said of the herd.

The death of Sanook is also having an impact on the zookeepers.

"Our elephant team are devastated, they are all extremely upset about the situation but they are extremely professional people and they wanted to tend to the elephant herd first," Mr Tanner said.

Sanook's death came as shock as he was playing energetically and suckling from Num-Oi as usual on Tuesday.

CCTV footage showed him playing with the suspended tyre in his barn on Tuesday evening when he managed to manoeuvre it in an unusual way that caused his head to become caught.

An autopsy confirmed that the pressure on his neck prevented him breathing.

"We were worried about infectious disease. That was our first thought because there was no signs of trauma," the zoo's head vet Dr Michael Lynch said.

The timing is bittersweet for zoo staff with Asian elephant Dokkoon 22-months pregnant and due on Thursday.

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SA govt says finances in better shape

THE South Australian government claims the state's finances have stabilised despite forecasts of increased deficits in each of the next two years.

Releasing the mid-year budget review on Tuesday, the government has revealed a $350 million boost to the state's bottom line in 2012/13 thanks to a fall in government spending and increased revenue in some areas.

But that won't stop the deficit rising to a projected $955 million in 2013/14, $44 million more than originally forecast in the state budget earlier this year.

The red ink will continue the following year when the deficit is tipped to be $511 million, $80 million than first thought.

Premier and Treasurer Jay Weatherill says the deterioration in the operating balance is modest and the budget will still return to a $303 million surplus in 2015/16.

He says the mid-year review also shows that net state debt will be lower than originally expected in each year of the forward estimates.

"This is a budget that is on track, it's improved," Mr Weatherill said.

But Opposition Leader Steven Marshall said Mr Weatherill was pretending the budget was improving at the same time that economic growth, employment growth and government revenue had been revised down.

According to the mid-year figures the government expects the state economy to grow by 2.25 per cent in 2013/14, 2.5 per cent in 2014/15 and 2.75 per cent in 2015/16.

Employment growth is expected to be just 0.25 per cent during the current financial year before rising to one per cent in 2014/15 and 1.5 per cent in 2015/16.

The government has also forecast tax revenues to be down in the coming years due to lower payroll tax and gaming machines returns and lower conveyancing duties.

GST returns have been revised up for 2013/14 but are tipped to fall in the following years.

Mr Weatherill said the government was confident of reaching its fiscal targets and the release of the mid-year figures, earlier than usual, put pressure on the state opposition to reveal how it would fund its promises ahead of the state election in March.

Mr Marshall said the early release of the mid-year review was because the premier knew the budget figures would be far worse in January.

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Vic govt safer after Shaw charges dropped

Dishonesty charges against Independent Victorian MP Geoff Shaw have been dropped. Source: AAP

THE Victorian coalition's narrow grip on government is a little safer after criminal charges were dropped against the man who holds the balance of power.

Independent MP Geoff Shaw was facing 24 dishonesty charges over the alleged misuse of his parliamentary car and fuel card, and if convicted would have lost his seat in parliament, triggering a by-election that could have brought down the government.

But in a shock move on Tuesday, prosecutors dropped the case.

"I was very pleased," a relieved Mr Shaw told reporters outside his Frankston office.

"It just means I just go about doing what I do at my home here in Frankston. That's doing the best I can for this great area."

Director of Public Prosecutions John Champion SC said he withdrew the charges after deciding there was not a reasonable prospect of criminal conviction in the matter.

Mr Shaw may still be found to be in contempt of parliament by parliament's privileges committee, which is examining the matter after Ombudsman George Brouwer found the MP used his parliamentary car for commercial purposes.

Acting Opposition Leader James Merlino said that after the scathing ombudsman's report into the matter, it was a very convenient decision for Mr Shaw and Premier Denis Napthine that the only penalty would come from parliament.

"Most Victorians will think that something stinks about this decision," Mr Merlino told reporters.

"It is hard to understand at how, at this late stage in the process, the DPP doesn't think there is a reasonable prospect for a conviction.

"How can it be right that the only sanction Geoff Shaw will receive is a wet-lettuce slap on the wrist from a parliamentary committee dominated by his Liberal mates?"

Corrections Minister Edward O'Donohue said the decision not to proceed with charges was made by an independent body.

"The DPP is independent of government and it's made its decision based on the material at its hand."

Prosecutors last month consented to a defence request that Mr Shaw's charges be dealt with by the court diversion program.

But Magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg rejected the agreement that would have allowed Mr Shaw to avoid a guilty finding and therefore be allowed to keep his seat.

Mr Shaw did not rule out returning to the parliamentary Liberal Party on Tuesday, saying he hadn't closed his doors at all.

But Mr O'Donohue does not expect he will be back.

"I think the premier has said previously very clearly, he does not anticipate any situation where Geoff Shaw would come back into the parliamentary Liberal Party," Mr O'Donohue said.

The privileges committee suspended its investigation while the matter was before the courts but said in a report last week that it had not come to any conclusions about the allegations against Mr Shaw.

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