Furniture factory ablaze in Sydney

Fifty firefighters are battling a large blaze at a western Sydney furniture factory. Source: AAP

FIFTY firefighters are battling a large blaze at a western Sydney furniture factory.

Fire & Rescue NSW (FRNSW) says no one is feared missing but the fire has spread into the roof of the single-storey factory on Warren Avenue, Bankstown.

The fire has been contained but crews were still working to extinguish the flames on Saturday evening.

One man has been taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation, a FRNSW spokesman told AAP.

"Firefighters have managed to protect adjoining properties," he said.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Man injured in Bathurst ute roll

A man has sustained serious head injuries in a ute accident in NSW, police say. Source: AAP

A MAN has sustained serious head injuries in a ute accident on a private property south of Bathurst, NSW.

Police say the ute rolled at a property at Perthville about 4.30am (AEDT) on Saturday.

A 29-year-old local man who'd been travelling in the ute tray was thrown from the vehicle and suffered serious head injuries.

He's been airlifted to Westmead Hospital and is in a serious but stable condition.

The driver, a 33-year-old man from North Richmond, was taken to Bathurst Hospital with suspected rib injuries.

His front-seat passenger, a 29-year-old man from Pokolbin, escaped with bruising.

Police will interview the men once they are deemed well enough.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Govt embarrassed over Huawei: Labor

Labor says confusion over the coalition government's stance on Huawei's NBN ban is embarrassing. Source: AAP

CONFUSION over whether or not the coalition government would back a ban on Chinese telecoms giant Huawei tendering for work on the NBN was "amateurish and somewhat embarrassing", a senior Labor MP says.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott ruled out overturning the ban this week, despite his Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Trade Minister Andrew Robb earlier indicating it could be reviewed.

The former Labor government instituted the ban based on security advice from spy agencies ASIO and the Defence Intelligence Organisation.

Matt Thistlewaite, Labor's shadow parliamentary secretary for foreign affairs, said Mr Turnbull and Mr Robb were guilty of dangling a carrot in front of the Chinese telco.

"Having Tony Abbott and the Attorney General George Brandis come out and put paid to those arguments I think was a little bit amateurish and somewhat embarrassing for this government," Mr Thistlewaite told Sky News on Saturday.

"I have no argument with the approach that they've taken in terms of the outcome of the policy. The issue I have with is the comments of Andrew Robb and Malcolm Turnbull in the lead up to the decision being made."

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Japan, Russia to expand defence ties

JAPAN and Russia have held their first high-level defence and diplomatic talks and agreed to step up cooperation between their militaries amid regional security concerns such as North Korea and China.

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera, and their Russian counterparts Sergei Lavrov and Sergei Shoigu also agreed on Saturday to hold joint military and anti-piracy exercises and establish a defence consultation framework. Their countries' defence ties are geared up toward peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and would not affect existing alliances, including one between Japan and the US, they said.

Lavrov told a news conference after Saturday's talks that upgrading defence ties between the two countries could serve their national interests in resolving terrorism and North Korea's nuclear threats, as well as other regional disputes. He welcomed the talks as a landmark development for Russia and Japan, and said that this new cooperation would not interfere with the Japan-US alliance.

Kishida also said that Japan's alliance with Washington remains "the cornerstone" of Tokyo's foreign and security policy.

Earlier Friday, Japan and Russia agreed to continue discussing a territorial dispute that has kept the nations from signing a peace treaty.

"We need to act constructively. We should not be emotional, and avoid provocative remarks," Lavrov said in Friday's news conference.

The diplomats also agreed to hold vice-ministerial talks in late January or February, ahead of Kishida's planned visit to Russia in the spring.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pakistani Taliban selects new leader

THE Pakistani Taliban has selected Khan Said Sajna as the insurgent group's new leader after Hakimullah Mehsud was killed in a US drone strike, members of the organisation say.

Sajna is from a group within the Pakistani Taliban that was in favour of peace talks with the government.

He was a close associate of Baitullah Mehsud, the founder and former leader of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), who was also killed by a drone in 2009.

A Taliban council picked the Mehsud tribesman as the new chief at a meeting at an undisclosed location in the tribal region on Saturday.

Hakimullah Mehsud was killed on Friday, one day before the government and the TTP were about to open peace talks after a decade of conflict.

Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said the government would not cease its efforts to seek a peace deal with the militants despite the US attack.

"We had removed all hurdles in opening dialogue with the Taliban, and we will still try to build on that," Rashid said.

It was not immediately known whether the Taliban was also interested in initiating a process of reconciliation.

A militant commander in the northwestern town of Dera Ismail Khan said it was too early to say if the militia would still respond to government overtures.

Analysts said the future of the TTP and the proposed peace talks depend upon how well the new leader keeps the militia united.

"If the organisation splits into many groups, it will not be easy for the government to deal with each one of them," said Irfan Shehzad, lead researcher at an Islamabad-based think tank, the Institute of Policy Studies.

Pakistan's government declared a red alert overnight after Hakimullah Mehsud's killing out of fear of retaliatory attacks.

It ordered increased security around airports and other key installations.

The army was deployed on Saturday in all major cities near tribal areas after intelligence agencies warned that the TTP might launch improvised attacks to avenge the killing of their leader.

Hakimullah Mehsud was buried on Saturday, an official said.

He and four other militants were killed when an unmanned aircraft fired four missiles at a compound in the Dande Darpa Khel area of the North Waziristan tribal district near the Afghan border.

A security official said the dead rebel leader and his associates were buried in different areas of the tribal region but declined to give the exact locations.

Hakimullah Mehsud headed the banned TTP, a group of more than a dozen rebel outfits, since 2009. He succeeded Baitullah Mehsud.

Sajna hails from the Laddah area of the South Waziristan tribal district.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Second bikie case postponed in Qld

A SECOND bikie court case has been postponed in Queensland because of comments made by Premier Campbell Newman.

A case in the Cairns Magistrates Court was adjourned on Friday, a day after a Supreme Court judge put a Brisbane bikie bail case on indefinite hold.

The defence lawyer in the Cairns matter asked for the case to be postponed pending the outcome of an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions against Justice George Fryberg's decision in the Supreme Court.

Justice Fryberg ruled on Thursday there was a risk comments by Mr Newman would be seen to have influenced the outcome and the court's integrity would have been affected.

The premier was quoted in media urging judges to act according to community expectations.

In Cairns, Odin's Warriors bikies Peter Johnson and Mark Filtness, both 47, were the first gang members arrested and charged with offences under the state's new anti-bikie gang laws.

Both were released on bail, but they returned to court on Friday afternoon, where Defence Lawyer Philip Bovey asked for the case be postponed.

"I have asked the magistrate to adjourn pending a consideration of the issue raised by Justice (George) Fryberg in the bail review matter of Brown," Mr Bovey told reporters outside court.

The Cairns case was adjourned until November 15.

In the appeal documents, the DPP argued Justice Fryberg shouldn't have taken into account a media report of the premier's comments as it was irrelevant.

The documents also reject the judge's finding that a reasonable member of the public would perceive the comments would influence the court, and that an appropriate response was to stay the proceedings.

Alleged Bandido Jarrod Brown was granted bail in the Holland Park Magistrates Court on October 18.

He's charged with drugs and ammunition possession, possessing drug paraphernalia and obstructing police.

He faced court a day after strict new laws designed to stop bikies walking free on bail were passed.

The DPP applied for a Supreme Court review of the magistrate's decision last week, but Justice Fryberg put the application on hold until further order because of Mr Newman's comments.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Qld reef assessment paints grim picture

The federal and Queensland governments have released a new plan to protect the Great Barrier Reef. Source: AAP

FEDERAL Environment Minister Greg Hunt says a new long-term plan will improve the health of the Great Barrier Reef and increase protection, but green groups say it doesn't go far enough.

The long-awaited strategic assessment draws on scientific evidence to give an overview of the state of the reef and outlines a plan to better protect the World Heritage site.

Mr Hunt acknowledged there were some serious concerns, but is hopeful the strategy will ensure the reef's survival.

"What has happened in the past is what we have to live with, but we can control and improve the future of the reef through our actions," he told reporters on Friday.

The assessment concluded the best way to halt and reverse damage to the reef was to put in place a new management framework and examine the "cumulative effect of human activities and natural forces", rather than threats in isolation.

Mr Hunt said the framework would set tougher environmental standards for future developments.

"We make no apology for applying tougher standards going forward," he said.

The report also called for a "net benefit policy", so that any activities along the coast and in the marine park produced an overall benefit to the reef.

It also said a new reef recovery program was needed, involving local communities, industry and indigenous groups, as well as a reef-wide monitoring and reporting program.

Australian Marine Conservation Society spokeswoman Felicity Wishart welcomed the assessment but said developments along the state's coast must be stopped if Australia was serious about protecting the reef.

"If the target is to improve the health of the reef then stop doing anything that's going to damage it," she told AAP.

Ms Wishart called for Mr Hunt to reject a proposal to expand the Abbot Point coal port near Bowen if he was serious about improving water quality.

That project involves dredging three million tonnes of soil and dumping it on the reef.

WWF Australia spokesman Nick Heath said the report confirmed large sections of the reef were in "dire straits".

He said given the assessment showed inshore areas were in either poor or very poor condition, those in power couldn't justify approving inshore dredging projects.

The report found that while corals were in good condition at the northern end of the reef, both inshore and offshore corals in southern areas were in decline.

The biggest threats came from the crown-of-thorns starfish, severe weather, nutrient and pesticide run-off from farms, illegal fishing, bycatch and dredging.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority chairman Russell Reichelt said while many of the impacts of those threats were already widely known, the assessment had looked at their "accumulative impact".

"There needs to be a multi-pronged approach," he said.

"(With this in mind) we can make a difference and restore the damage to the reef."

Queensland Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said it was important for decisions about the reef to be based on scientific facts, not "alarmist claims" by environmental groups that can't be verified.

The strategic assessment will be open for public comment until January 31.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

WA Senate result to be revealed

Greens senator Scott Ludlam says the AEC should hold off declaring the WA Senate election. Source: AAP

THE result of the West Australian Senate vote recount is set to be revealed this weekend amid concerns that more than 1300 missing ballots may mean the state has to go to a new election.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) directed a recount of some WA Senate ballot papers, prompted by the close result of just 14 votes for the sixth Senate seat and appeals by the Australian Greens and Australian Sports Party.

During the recount, that looked at informal votes and 1.2 million above-the-line ballot papers, 1375 votes which had been verified in the initial count could not be "located, rechecked or verified in the recount process".

The AEC apologised and has hired former Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Keelty to independently, and urgently, inquire into the matter.

Meanwhile, the AEC WA manager Peter Kramer says the results of the recount and distribution of preferences will be known on Saturday afternoon and the candidates have been asked if they want to appoint scrutineers to observe the distribution of preferences.

But some politicians including Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam, and Palmer United Party leader Clive Palmer have decried the process.

Mr Palmer believes the original election result should stand.

The initial result gave seats to the Palmer United Party's Zhenya Wang, Labor's Louise Pratt and Joe Bullock and the Liberals' David Johnston, Michaelia Cash and Linda Reynolds.

AEC spokesman Phil Diak said there was nothing to suggest an "untoward removal" of the ballot papers.

Special Minister of State Michael Ronaldson did not think it was an "issue of skulduggery", but said it was a disturbing development which required an inquiry.

Independent senator Nick Xenophon thinks there should be a fresh election in WA if the ballot papers cannot be found.

"Better to cost money now than have a result where there is a question mark over those that have been elected," he said.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said WA deserved an explanation and while there was a way to go with due processes, another election could not be ruled out.

"This is a very serious matter," he said in Canberra.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bashed man stumbles home after Vic attack

A BLEEDING man who was bashed in a Melbourne park managed to stumble down a road for nearly a kilometre until he reached his parents' house.

The 38-year-old is now recovering in hospital from severe head and facial injuries after his parents heard him collapse on their front doorstep.

Police say the unprovoked and random attack, which occurred last Sunday, left a trail of blood about a kilometre long as the man staggered through the city's south.

"It's absolutely brutal and vicious," Detective Leading Senior Constable Ric Anderson said of the attack.

"If he hadn't have been able to raise the alarm, it certainly could have been life-threatening."

The man remembers hearing someone rapidly approaching from behind before he was struck in the head with a blunt object.

He saw a small, white vehicle parked at nearby tennis courts in Roy Dore Carrum Reserve prior to the attack and also seeing two women in the front of the car carrying torches.

Police say nothing was stolen and there's no known motive for the bashing.

His attacker said nothing before fleeing.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Myanmar rebel groups agree on peace plan

EIGHTEEN ethnic rebel groups have reached an agreement to sign a ceasefire with the Myanmar (Burma) government if it agrees to their conditions.

The rebels agreed to negotiate with the government over the armistice, something the country has not had in 64 years.

The groups were drafting a nine-point ceasefire plan, conference spokesman Khun Oakka said at the end of the three-day conference in Laiza, 890 kilometres north of Rangoon.

It was called to discuss the government's proposal on a country-wide ceasefire.

The insurgents' demands are to be presented to government representatives at a conference November 4-5 in Myaitkyina, the capital of Kachin state.

The government of reform-minded President Thein Sein, which came to power in March 2011 after Myanmar's first elections in 20 years, has signed separate ceasefires with 14 of the country's ethnic rebel groups.

Some of the groups have been fighting since 1949, many for semi-autonomy for ethnic minorities in their traditional territories.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mixed views on NSW same-sex marriage bill

Same-sex marriage has been described as unconstitutional and evil during debate in NSW parliament. Source: AAP

SAME-SEX marriage has been variously described as unconstitutional, evil and inevitable during debate in the NSW parliament.

NSW on Thursday became the fourth Australian state or Territory, after Tasmania, South Australia and the ACT, to introduce a bill that would allow gay marriage.

If passed, it would erase discrimination from state law and help young people struggling with their sexuality, Labor MLC Penny Sharpe, a member of the working group which drafted the bill, said.

"There are still young people in this state who get up every day hoping that no one notices or no one asks if they are gay, a fag, a poof, a lezzo, a dyke or words much, much worse," Ms Sharpe said.

"I want every person who has struggled simply for being who they are ... to know there are people in the community who won't accept this discrimination."

Liberal MP John Ajaka told parliament state laws would simply create different classes of marriage across the country.

But same-sex marriage was "inevitable" in Australia given growing support in the community, Labor MP Walt Secord said.

Liberal MP Peter Phelps said he'd rather marriage be out of the reach of all governments, while Christian Democratic MP Fred Nile warned the bill threatened to undermine the "sacred institution" of marriage between a man and a woman.

In an article in the Sydney gay community newspaper, The Star Observer, NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell re-stated his preference for national same-sex marriage laws to avoid a "patchwork quilt" of state legislation.

Only a change to the federal Marriage Act would deliver marriage equality, he wrote.

Outside parliament a throng of protesters gathered to rally against the bill, holding up signs reading "God Loves Sinners, But Hates Sin" and singing hymns.

Protester Ken Higgs, 61, of Taree, said same-sex marriage was "evil".

"Of course it's evil. It's a perversion of the concept of marriage," he told AAP.

The ACT passed same-sex marriage laws, to come into effect on November 7 - only to face a possible High Court challenge by December.

On Tuesday an attempt to revive Tasmania's same-sex marriage debate in the state's upper house was voted down.

The South Australian parliament threw out a gay marriage bill after it was introduced in June.

Attempts to allowing same-sex marriage have also been rejected in the federal parliament.

The NSW bill had been carefully drafted to withstand potential High Court challenges, Penny Sharpe told ABC Radio.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Clive Palmer wins seat of Fairfax

Clive Palmer has won the seat of Fairfax and says he'll have no conflict of interest as an MP. Source: AAP

NEWLY declared federal MP Clive Palmer doesn't have a clue how much money, or how many company directorships or properties he has, but reckons it'll be no problem to declare his pecuniary interests.

"Well, you've got within 28 days from when you've been sworn in, so it will be there," a jovial Mr Palmer told ABC television on Thursday after being declared the winner of the Sunshine Coast seat of Fairfax with a final margin of 53 votes.

Mr Palmer thought he might own up to 20 properties.

He said "who knows, who cares ... don't worry about money" when asked how much he had, and denied he would have any conflict of interest as an MP because of his business interests.

"Conflict of interest only comes if you are a minister of the crown," he said.

He was unable to say how many company directorships he had because he didn't think of them in terms of numbers.

"I wouldn't have a clue, but a lot, maybe 40 or 50," he told the 7.30 program.

Mr Palmer told AAP he was looking forward to the Palmer United Party making a positive contribution to the battle of ideas in Canberra.

"We have three senators and have the balance of power, so I think we can make a significant contribution as a party."

His Liberal National Party (LNP) opponent Ted O'Brien congratulated Mr Palmer, but the party may still challenge the result.

LNP state director Brad Henderson said the validity of any election could be disputed by a petition addressed to the Court of Disputed Returns within 40 days of a declaration.

"Given the sheer scale of this process, in terms of the number and nature of challenges and determinations made, the LNP will now take some time to consider its position", he said in a statement.

Mr Palmer was concerned by the three recounts in Fairfax, one of closest electoral races in Australian history.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) finally declared him the winner almost eight weeks after the September 7 federal election, and following his party challenging more than 50,000 ballot papers.

Mr Palmer originally finished 36 votes ahead of Mr O'Brien, but the AEC on September 21 automatically ordered a recount because the margin was less than 100 votes.

"I'm very disappointed in the AEC because the first count I won by 36 votes, the second count I won by seven votes and the third count I won by 53 votes," he told AAP.

"That's a bit of a worry, isn't it?"

He said he'd been criticised for challenging the validity of 50,099 of the 89,176 ballots, another Australian record, but the result had vindicated his actions.

The Palmer United Party leader has over the past two months accused both the LNP and AEC of vote fraud and applied for a Federal Court injunction to stop the count in Fairfax.

Mr Palmer also claimed former military officers were controlling the electoral commission and rigging the election.

Despite his grievances, he thanked rival candidates and the local AEC officials "who had a very difficult job and had a great deal of pressure on them from the AEC apparatchik from Canberra and Brisbane".

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Obeid 'pressured ministers over leases'

Eddie Obeid lobbied ex-treasurer Eric Roozendaal (pic) for special treatment in regard to leases. Source: AAP

EDDIE Obeid lobbied former NSW treasurer Eric Roozendaal for special treatment in regard to leases in which the Obeid family held an interest, the state's corruption watchdog has heard.

Mr Roozendaal told the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) he was unaware Mr Obeid's family owned properties at Circular Quay.

The ICAC is investigating allegations Mr Obeid lobbied several state ministers to have leases on government land at Circular Quay renewed without going to public tender after their expiration in August 2005.

The Obeids ran two restaurants and a cafe at the harbour through a company owned by a family trust, with associate and relative John Aboud acting as the face of the business.

During his time at NSW parliament from December 2004 until March 2011 Mr Roozendaal held several senior portfolios, including ports and treasury.

He also was a member of Mr Obeid's Terrigal faction.

Mr Roozendaal was ports minister from August 2005 to February 2006, and was ultimately in charge of policy governing the retail leases in which the Obeids had secret interests.

It was while he held this portfolio that Mr Obeid made representations to him on behalf of the lessees.

"He felt they were being poorly treated because they had invested a lot of goodwill into their businesses in the lead up to the Olympics," Mr Roozendaal said, recalling a conversation that likely took place in Mr Obeid's office.

"And that they felt that they should, if there was going to be a market evaluation of their leases, they should get the first right of refusal."

Counsel assisting the commission Ian Temby then asked "did you understand him to be urging that case upon you?"

"Yes," Mr Roozendaal replied.

Earlier on Thursday the ICAC heard Mr Obeid had also told Joe Tripodi, who took over the waterways portfolio from Mr Roozendaal, he wasn't happy expressions of interest would be sought for the leases.

Mr Tripodi's former deputy chief of staff Lynne Ashpole said her boss had told her of discussions he had with Mr Obeid.

"My memory of his exact words were that Mr Obeid wasn't very happy with him for wanting to have an expression of interest process," she said.

Mr Tripodi was initially in favour of putting the leases out to tender when they were to be renewed, Ms Ashpole said.

The decision to seek expressions of interest was later suspended until direct negotiations with tenants for ten year fixed terms were offered in July 2008.

Mr Obeid's lawyer Stuart Littlemore argued that his client "had a go" at Mr Roozendaal on behalf of retailers in general and only mentioned the Circular Quay leases as an example.

"Mr Obeid's position is 'I had a go at Eric about retail leases, generally, yes I had a go at Eric about the way the retail lease regime was working at Circular Quay'," Mr Littlemore said.

"(He) did that because (he) was speaking in general about unfairness. (He) didn't want to disclose to (Mr Roozendaal) that here was a family interest because he might have felt compromised."

The hearing continues before Assistant Commissioner Anthony Whealy.

Mr Tripodi is expected to appear on Friday.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Drug tunnel found on US-Mexico border

A SOPHISTICATED border tunnel has been discovered connecting San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico, the latest find by investigators who have encountered a number of secret passages in recent years used for drug smuggling.

The passage was recently completed, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a brief statement on Wednesday night.

A spokeswoman, Lauren Mack, declined to elaborate but said more details would be released on Thursday.

Mexican news organisations published photos that show a deep, well-built tunnel near Tijuana's main airport.

Alberto Capella, Tijuana's public safety chief, said a law enforcement operation was under way and he couldn't provide details.

More than 75 tunnels have been discovered along the US-Mexico border since 2008, designed largely to smuggle marijuana to the US.

The tunnels are concentrated along the border in California and Arizona.

San Diego is popular because its clay-like soil is easy to dig, while in Nogales, Arizona, smugglers tap into vast underground drainage canals.

San Diego's Otay Mesa area - site of the latest discovery - has the added draw of plenty of nondescript warehouses on both sides of the border to conceal trucks being loaded with drugs.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Jakarta summons Aussie envoy over spying

INDONESIA has summoned the Australian ambassador in Jakarta over media reports Australian embassies have taken part in secretly intercepting calls and data across Asia.

Indonesia's Foreign Affairs Ministry is demanding an explanation from ambassador Greg Moriarty after media reports alleged the existence of a "tapping facility" in Australian embassies in Jakarta and other countries in the region.

"The Australian ambassador in Jakarta has been summoned to the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Friday for an official explanation from the Australian government regarding the story," a statement from the Indonesian ministry said late on Thursday night.

"As a neighbouring country and friends, such an act as has been reported does not reflect at all the spirit of friendship ... and this is something regarded by the Indonesian government as totally unacceptable."

It has been reported that surveillance collection facilities are in place at embassies in Jakarta, Bangkok, Hanoi, Beijing and Dili, and high commissions in Kuala Lumpur and Port Moresby - without the knowledge of diplomats.

Some of the details are in a secret US National Security Agency (NSA) document leaked by whistleblower Edward Snowden and published by Germany's Der Spiegel magazine.

The document reveals the existence of a signals intelligence collection program - codenamed STATEROOM - and conducted from sites at US embassies and consulates and from the diplomatic missions of other intelligence partners including Australia, Britain and Canada.

The document says the Australian Defence Signals Directorate operates STATEROOM facilities "at Australian diplomatic facilities".

A former Australian Defence Intelligence officer has told Fairfax Media the directorate conducts surveillance operations from Australian embassies across Asia and the Pacific.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Aussie drinkers poured into four labels

WE'VE been called a nation of drinkers, but what kind of drinker are you?

A Victorian study has poured punters into four types of tipplers: the initiator, the follower, the moderator and the protector.

At least 40 per cent of us are an "initiator" and drink at nearly every social event, according to the latest research by VicHealth and RMIT University.

Those of us who are "followers" account for 13 per cent of drinkers, according to the research, released on Thursday, while "moderators" make up the second most-common category with 26 per cent.

RMIT Associate Professor Mike Reid, who led the survey of 2500 people and in-depth interviews with 187 drinkers, says Australia's deeply ingrained booze culture sees many believe they need a reason not to drink.

"Initiators and followers are clearly the most problematic," he said of the four categories.

"One pushes the boundaries and drinks too much, while the other follows, thinking if they don't they will be seen in a negative light."

He said more work needed to be done to encourage people to drink less and others to accept them when they choose not to pick up a pint.

VicHealth CEO Jerril Rechter said the research also showed how alcohol had become so entrenched in Australian life that it was acceptable to drink everywhere from baby showers and picnics to work lunches and functions.

"We can't ignore the fact that this is problematic," she said.

Alcohol has been linked to more than 60 medical conditions, she added.

A 2012 state government study also found the cost of alcohol-related harm had reached more than $4 billion a year in Victoria alone.

The research led to creating the website www.yourdrinkingprofile.com.au, where users can find out which category of drinking they fall under.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Imax creates home systems for China market

IMAX says it's partnering with Chinese TV maker TCL to design and manufacture a home theatre system aimed at China's growing ranks of affluent movie fans.

The companies said on Tuesday the joint venture expects to launch the new system in China and other unnamed markets starting in 2015.

The systems will feature "Imax-enhanced" films delivered straight to homes through a secure system.

Financial terms and the "premium" system's selling price were not disclosed.

Imax and TCL have an equal share of the venture.

It's the latest move by the maker of big-screen technology to tap rapid growth in China.

In July, it teamed up with local partner Wanda to open 120 giant-screen cinemas in China, the world's second biggest movie market.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

More first home buyers entering WA market

THE number of first home buyers in Western Australia has soared 31 per cent in the past year, research from Bankwest shows.

The Bankwest first time buyer deposit report, released on Thursday, showed 19,949 people entered WA's housing market during 2012/13, compared to 15,205 in the previous financial year.

There were more first home buyers in WA in the past year than in any other state in Australia, the report found.

Bankwest executive general manager for retail Mark Reid said strong wage growth and relatively consistent house prices had made WA attractive to first home buyers.

Over five years, house prices in WA had plateaued, taking the median house price to $471,000 in 2013, Bankwest said.

In contrast, wages had increased by 21 per cent over that five year period, bringing the average wage for people aged 25-34 to $57,727.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Barnes & Noble releases new Nook e-reader

BARNES & Noble is releasing a new Nook e-book reader for the Christmas holidays while it evaluates the future of tablet computers.

Nook tablets haven't sold well amid intense competition with Apple's iPad, Amazon's Kindle Fire and others. Barnes & Noble Inc had a slim 2 per cent share of the worldwide tablet market in the fourth quarter of 2012, but fell off IDC's top five list this year.

The company said it isn't giving up on tablets, but it will focus on a new e-reader this year while continuing to sell last year's tablet models.

The move comes as research firm IDC says the market for dedicated electronic-book readers is declining. Instead, consumers have been more interested in tablets, which can do much more, including video, email, Facebook and games.

Barnes & Noble's new e-reader, Nook GlowLight, is available in its retail stores and online starting Wednesday for $US119 ($A125.88), the same as the standard model of Amazon.com Inc.'s Kindle Paperwhite reader.

At 176g, the GlowLight is 15 per cent lighter than the Paperwhite. It's also ad-free, while Amazon charges $US20 more for a Paperwhite without ads on its screensaver or home screen.

Barnes & Noble officials say the new e-reader's design is based partly on feedback received at the company's retail stores, where Nook devices are prominently displayed.

Consumers' suggestions led to a brighter screen on the brightest setting and more durability in the form of a rubber-like silicone edge, which also provides comfort in the hands. In addition, the frame is white, not black, to match the screen colour.

Jonathan Shar, general manager for emerging digital content at Barnes & Noble, said that even as attention has turned to tablets, e-readers are still popular for long-form reading. The GlowLight has an electronic ink touch screen, which has better battery life and less glare than typical tablet screens.

Unlike Kindles, which are tied to Amazon's bookstore, Nook devices are compatible with books bought at other stores that use the EPub standard, including Apple's iBookstore.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

GM 3Q earnings fall, but beat forecasts

GENERAL Motors' third-quarter net income fell 53 per cent compared with a year ago, as one-time expenses masked a strong performance in North America and a narrowed loss in Europe.

The company earned $US698 million ($A738 million) in the quarter, or 45 US cents per share.

That compares with $US1.48 billion, or 89 US cents per share, a year ago.

But without $US900 million in one-time items, GM earned $US1.7 billion, or 96 US cents per share, beating Wall Street's expectations.

Analysts polled by FactSet expected 94 cents per share.

Revenue rose 4 per cent to $US39 million, just short of Wall Street's estimate of $US39.2 billion.

Investors viewed the results favourably, and the company's shares rose 3 per cent to $US37.15 in trading before the opening bell.

GM's performance in North America was especially strong, with pretax earnings up 28 per cent to $2.2 billion on solid pickup truck sales and better pricing. GM rolled out updated versions of its Silverado and Sierra pickups in the spring.

The company's profit margin in North America - the percentage of revenue it gets to keep after expenses - was the highest in two years at 9.3 per cent.

In Europe, GM cut its loss by more than half to $US214 million, and revenue there rose year-over-year for the first time in two years.

One-time items included $US800 million to buy preferred stock from a health care trust for union retirees and a $US48 million impairment charge in South Korea.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Nokia in Q3 net loss as sales plunge

NOKIA has reported a third-quarter net loss as sales at the handsets unit it is selling to Microsoft continued to plunge.

However, the network business, which will constitute the bulk of operations going forward, did well, causing shares in the company to rise.

The third-quarter net loss of 91 million euros ($A132 million) compared with a net loss of 969 million euros a year earlier. Revenue fell more than 20 per cent to 5.6 billion euros.

The struggling company says it sold 8.8 million Lumia smartphones, a 40 per cent increase from three million a year earlier and slightly more than markets had expected.

But that was not enough to keep Nokia Corp from giving a negative outlook for the devices and services unit it has agreed to sell to Microsoft Corp for $US7.2 billion ($A7.5 billion).

Net sales at the devices and services unit fell by another 19 per cent in the quarter, to 2.9 billion euros. It sold 64.6 million mobile devices in the period, down from 83 million a year earlier.

Although smartphone sales were up near nine million, they lagged well behind chief competitors Apple with quarterly sales of 33.8 million and China's Huawei's at 13 million. The world's No.1 mobile phone maker, Samsung Electronics sold more than 88 million smartphones in the third quarter.

Without the loss-making handset unit, the Finnish phone maker can look forward to better earnings from its more profitable networks business.

Nokia, which bought the other half of its joint networks venture from Siemens, expects a positive operating margin of some 12 per cent in the unit, known as Nokia Solutions and Networks, with "solid net sales growth on a sequential basis".

The company's share price jumped more than five per cent to 5.28 euros in early afternoon trading in Helsinki.

Nokia board chairman and interim CEO Risto Siilasmaa described the third quarter as "the most transformative" in the company's history.

He was upbeat on the purchase of NSN and the sale of the handset unit to Microsoft, saying they would "significantly improve the earnings profile".

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Better preschools paying off, stats show

THE evidence is in: better quality preschool education is leading to smarter primary school students.

The COAG Reform Council says that halfway through the Council of Australian Governments' 10-year agreement to improve early childhood and school education, there are encouraging signs it's working.

"There has been a significant pay-off in terms of the COAG reforms in early education which is now trickling down the system," council deputy chairman Greg Craven told reporters in Canberra.

"We can see, for example, improved results in literacy among the group of children who are now entering years like Year 3, who were the first beneficiaries of those COAG reforms."

The benefits could be even bigger if more young kids spent at least 15 hours a week at preschool, the council said.

The council's report on education, released on Wednesday, used national testing (NAPLAN), enrolment, international testing and census data to assess student performances over the five years from 2008 to 2012.

It finds improvements in student achievements in primary school but not secondary school.

Similarly for attendance rates, almost all primary students went to school but the rate dropped off in high school.

Year 10 had the lowest attendance rates across all jurisdictions, with little change since 2008.

Professor Craven said it was concerning that reading and numeracy results for secondary students hadn't improved significantly.

But he said the overall picture was mixed, citing an increase in the proportion of students completing Year 12.

Although the country isn't on track to meet its target of 90 per cent of students completing Year 12 by 2015, it should get there by 2020.

"If more Australians are attaining the end of school, we can expect that the children of those Australians are going to do better," Prof Craven said.

"There is good news in this that we're improving at the bottom, we're improving at the top; if we can move to meet in the middle where the problems seem to be then there is a significant hope of general improvement."

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Disengaged youth cause for concern

MORE than a quarter of young Australians are neither learning nor earning in the years after school, a report says.

Experts are concerned if the disengaged youth of Australia aren't drawn back into the economy they could become a "lost" generation.

The new COAG Reform Council report on education, released on Wednesday, shows the proportion of 17- to 24-year-olds not fully engaged in work or study grew to 27.3 per cent in 2011.

Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory were above the national average while in the ACT just 17 per cent of youth were not fully engaged.

The report found there were more in full-time study but fewer in full-time work in 2011 than in 2006.

Council deputy chairman Greg Craven said the global financial crisis and subsequent drop in jobs available would have had an impact.

He said all those young people weren't necessarily sitting around doing nothing - they could be in part-time study or work, but not enough hours a week to count as fully engaged.

Nevertheless, the results were worrying.

"This is a very, very complicated problem," he told reporters in Canberra.

"More research would be good because we don't want people in that age group to become entrenched in non-participation."

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Disadvantage persists in schools: report

A NEW report paints a bleak picture of how disadvantaged students do at school, say the people who work with those children.

The COAG Reform Council report on education, released on Wednesday, shows there are still huge gaps between the performance of indigenous and non-indigenous students.

The Smith Family, a leading provider of education support to disadvantaged students, says the results are depressing.

"It's really clear that there's a significant group of young people ... who just aren't getting the education that they deserve," chief executive at The Smith Family, Lisa O'Brien, told AAP.

Indigenous children are twice as likely to be developmentally vulnerable and unprepared for starting primary school, then have poor literacy and numeracy results and school attendance.

After school, 60 per cent of young indigenous people weren't fully engaged in study or work - almost three times more than non-indigenous people.

There are also big differences between students from low socio-economic backgrounds compared with their wealthier, more advantaged peers.

"It remains the case in Australia that if you are disadvantaged for any reason, you will perform less well," council deputy chairman Greg Craven said.

"It's a mixed picture but it's clearly something that COAG's work is not finished on."

Dr O'Brien said students weren't getting a firm grounding early on and problems were exacerbated by a lack of good role models.

In a western Sydney school, teachers kicked off a careers program by asking their Year 7 students to interview an adult they knew about their job, career choices and training.

"All the kids were looking a little bit concerned about how to do it so (the teacher) was wondering what's the issue," Dr O'Brien said.

"Only two in that class actually knew someone who was employed.

"What does a post-school career look like when inter-generational poverty is set and unemployment is all that you've known?" he said.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Business credit hit by FBT uncertainty

UNCERTAINTY surrounding the previous Labor government's planned changes to fringe benefit tax (FBT) on cars had a dampening impact on overall business credit in the run-up to the September election.

However, credit data provider Veda says low interest rates and a new government appears to be giving businesses greater confidence with credit demand in October looking strong.

Veda said its business credit demand index for the September quarter, released on Wednesday, fell 0.7 per cent over the year, a sharp fall from 5.5 per cent annual growth in the June quarter.

"The September quarter was the first contraction in business credit demand since the end of the GFC, so it is clear that weak economic conditions and political uncertainty were affecting business confidence," Veda's general manager of commercial credit risk Moses Samaha said in a statement.

While inquiries for business loans rose 3.1 per cent in the September quarter, trade credit fell 0.6 per cent and asset finance tumbled 5.9 per cent, reversing two quarters of growth.

"We saw a large drop in the number of businesses seeking to hire or lease equipment in the September quarter, which may have been a result of changes to fringe benefit tax implemented by the Labor government at the beginning of the quarter," Mr Samaha said.

The coalition government has scrapped the FBT changes.

He said the Veda index was highly correlated with growth in gross domestic product (GDP), investment in machinery and building construction.

The September quarter reading would be consistent with annual GDP growth of 2.5 per cent compared with 2.6 per cent as of the June quarter.

20.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Man fractures face in boat backflip

A MAN has sustained head injuries after trying to backflip off the top of a ferry on NSW's Central Coast.

Police responded to reports of drunk passengers on board a ferry at Ettalong Wharf on Saturday night.

Paramedics treated a man with head injuries.

Police say the man, 25, tried to back flip from the top of a ferry but hit his head on the boat railing on the way down.

The man was taken to Gosford Hospital with fractures to his head and face.

NSW Police transport commander Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell labelled the incident as dangerous and stupid.

"It's quite clear alcohol was a factor in this incident, which by anyone's definition was dangerous, foolish and stupid," he said in a statement.

"We remind commuters it is an offence to consume alcohol on public transport or to behave in an anti-social manner as a result of drug or alcohol intoxication."

20.47 | 0 komentar | Read More

Royal couple return home after Sydney tour

Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary will fly out of Sydney on Tuesday after a jam-packed tour. Source: AAP

DANISH royals Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary will fly home on Tuesday after wrapping up a jam-packed Sydney tour.

What began as a trip for the Sydney Opera House's 40th anniversary turned into a visit to a state reeling from a bushfire crisis.

The fire-ravaged Blue Mountains became the impromptu public highlight of the royal couple's busy schedule, which started when they landed in NSW last Tuesday.

Enthusiastic fans greeted Mary and Frederik at each public appearance, including the opening of a Danish jewellery store in Sydney's city centre and a visit to the Australian Twins Registry.

But none were more appreciative than the hundreds of people who gathered in the bushfire-hit town of Winmalee to greet the couple on Sunday.

Swapping their leather boots and cargo pants for elegant attire, the couple attended the Opera House's 40th-anniversary celebrations on Sunday night as the event's official patrons.

Those who did not come face-to-face with the Tasmanian-born princess were still warmed by her visit.

Mary sent 12 bouquets she received from fans on her Sydney tour to cancer patients at the Westmead Hospital Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre.

The couple will attend the Crown Prince Couple Awards at Sydney Opera House on Monday night as the last official function of their trip.

It will be the first time the awards, gifted to the royal couple as a wedding present, have been held outside Denmark.

Mary and Frederik will fly out of Sydney International Airport on Tuesday.

20.47 | 0 komentar | Read More

Jackson's doctor released from jail

THE former doctor convicted of causing Michael Jackson's death has been released from jail.

Jail records confirmed Conrad Murray's release on Monday and the sheriff's office said he left a downtown Los Angeles jail at 12.01am (1800 AEDT).

The former cardiologist served less than two years in jail after being convicted in 2011 of involuntary manslaughter for Jackson's June 2009 death.

The pop superstar died after receiving a lethal dose of the anaesthetic propofol, which Murray was giving Jackson as a sleep aid.

Murray's medical licences remain suspended or revoked in three states where he previously practised medicine.

Murray had been sentenced to serve four years behind bars, but a change in California law allowed his incarceration time to be significantly cut down.

20.47 | 0 komentar | Read More

NSW trucks deregistered for tunnel delays

THREE trucks have had their registration suspended after becoming stuck in Sydney tunnels and causing lengthy traffic delays.

Their drivers are the first to be hit by state laws introduced in July.

Roads Minister Duncan Gay said one over-height truck drove into the Eastern Distributor last Friday.

It caused damage to the sprinkler system and more than two hours of delays on the busy road.

Mr Gay said the truck was deregistered for three months and the driver was being penalised for failing to stop.

Another two trucks have had their registrations suspended for 28 days after they closed the Sydney Harbour Tunnel for 20 minutes in separate incidents this month.

Mr Gay said there were $2200 fines and demerit points for truck drivers with over-height loads, but the message was not getting through.

"New laws were introduced in July this year which allow us to hit operators where it hurts and suspend a vehicle's registration for up to three months if it's driven into a tunnel when over-height," he said in a statement.

Mr Gay said the drivers who affected the harbour tunnel "ignored countless signs and warning devices" and had to be reversed out of the tunnel.

In yet another instance, a West Australian operator had his visiting rights in NSW revoked for three months for closing the Sydney Harbour Tunnel for 20 minutes last week.

20.47 | 0 komentar | Read More

Investment outlook rests with govt

HOPES are fading that non-mining sections of the economy will be taking up the slack of a waning resources investment boom any time soon.

So an independent forecaster believes government infrastructure spending must be encouraged.

In its latest Investment Monitor, Deloitte Access Economics says for the first time in a decade the total value of investment projects at all stages of construction has now declined for three consecutive quarters.

"It is clear that the investment in the resources sector which has underpinned growth for the best part of a decade is fading," Deloitte Access Economics partner Stephen Smith said releasing the report on Tuesday.

"However, the composition of growth in the medium term - and in particular what the key driver of growth will be - remains less clear."

He said despite record low interest rates, retail spending continues to be soft with few signs of a revival, while non-residential building activity "remains on shaky ground".

The value of non-residential work commenced over the past year is at the lowest since the immediate aftermath of the 2008-2009 global financial crisis, when the then Labor government rolled out the school building program in an effort to lift activity.

Mr Smith said public infrastructure spending can play an important part during an uncertain period of economic transition.

Tony Abbott has labelled himself as the 'infrastructure prime minister' and Treasurer Joe Hockey is pushing the funding of projects to the top of the government's agenda.

"In a phase in which business investment spending is looking increasingly shaky and support to economic activity is required, a more active public sector role in financing and supporting infrastructure projects should be welcomed," he said.

The forecaster's investment database showed the total value of projects decreased by $3.4 billion or 0.4 per cent in the September quarter to $873.7 billion, taking it 5.7 per cent lower than a year ago.

The value of definite projects - under construction or committed - slipped in value by 0.7 per cent to $464.7 billion, although this was a modest 0.6 per cent higher than a year earlier.

But while the value of planned projects - under consideration or possible - at $409 billion was little changed from the June quarter, this was 12 per cent down from September 2012.

20.47 | 0 komentar | Read More

Govt must justify $9b RBA payment: Bowen

Labor is demanding Treasurer Joe Hockey justify his reasons for giving the Reserve Bank nearly $9bn. Source: AAP

LABOR is demanding Treasurer Joe Hockey justify his reasons for giving the Reserve Bank nearly $9 billion in what it's calling a bid to score "expensive political points".

The federal government this week announced it would make an $8.8 billion payment to the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to ensure it was in the best shape to face the financial challenges ahead.

Mr Hockey said RBA governor Glenn Stevens had written to him indicating the bank wanted to boost its reserve funds, which had been depleted in recent years by the high dollar and "extraordinary" dividend withdrawals by the former Labor government.

Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen called on Mr Hockey to publicly release this letter, saying the government was trying to score "expensive political points" instead of justifying its decision.

"If he can't, then he's got something to hide," he told Network Ten on Sunday.

There was a case for allowing the RBA to build up its reserve funds but Mr Hockey had come nowhere near justifying how this payment was necessary, he added.

Mr Bowen said at no point did he or former treasurer Wayne Swan receive advice from the RBA or Treasury suggesting it would be appropriate for such a payment to be made.

"On the contrary, the former Treasurer received explicit advice that that would be a retrograde step," he said.

Labor has also questioned Mr Hockey's other decision this week to seek parliamentary approval to raise the debt ceiling to $500 billion.

Mr Bowen said the treasurer would have to release the midyear economic forecast before putting the legislation to raise the cap to a vote in parliament.

"I don't believe he's come anywhere near yet justifying that extraordinary increase to the debt limit," he said.

20.47 | 0 komentar | Read More

Teen stabbed at Melbourne party

Two people were injured at a party attended by about 200 youths in Melbourne's western suburbs. Source: AAP

A 15-YEAR-OLD boy has been stabbed during a fight at a large Melbourne party.

Police say the teenager was stabbed twice and a 17-year-old suffered head injuries at a party in a Deer Park hall on Saturday night.

Up to 200 youths attended the party.

Police were called and dispersed the crowd.

The 15-year-old boy was taken to the Royal Children's Hospital in a stable condition.

The 17-year-old was taken to Sunshine Hospital and released early on Sunday morning.

Police are looking for two men who they believe may be able to assist their enquiries.

20.47 | 0 komentar | Read More

Vic opposition slams road compo plans

Victoria's opposition say proposed changes to the road accident compensation scheme are unfair. Source: AAP

PROPOSED changes to Victoria's road accident compensation scheme are unfair and unjust, the state opposition says.

The Victorian government will this week introduce laws to parliament that would change the eligibility for Transport Accident Commission (TAC) payments.

As part of the changes, relatives of victims will face more stringent guidelines for trying to claim compensation for mental injuries suffered as a result of road collisions.

Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said the government was being unnecessarily cruel.

"They intend to make, I think, some of the worst changes that you could imagine to the way our traffic accident compensation scheme works," he told reporters on Sunday.

"They are bad changes, they are the wrong changes - unfair, unjust and we'll oppose them."

Assistant Treasurer Gordon Rich-Phillips said the laws made reasonable changes, and would provide more counselling for families.

"These reforms will ensure there is a clear, modern definition of what constitutes a serious mental injury for the purposes of lump-sum compensation," he told AAP.

"This legislation will ensure that the TAC continues to provide relevant and appropriate support to victims, preserves their common-law entitlements, and helps to keep the cost of the scheme under control for Victorian motorists."

20.47 | 0 komentar | Read More

Royals turn out for Opera House 40th

LIKE many Australians, Crown Princess Mary has a fond appreciation for the Sydney Opera House.

The Tasmanian-born Danish Royal even conceded before a crowd of 5000 on Sunday it was one of two things she knew about Denmark before her marriage to Crown Prince Frederik.

Mary told the crowd that turned out for the Sydney Opera House's 40th anniversary about a journalist who asked her what she knew about her new home country before she got engaged to Frederik 10 years ago.

"I replied Hans Christian Andersen and that the Sydney Opera House was designed by a Dane," she said.

"And today we are celebrating the masterpiece of timeless beauty and simplicity designed by that Dane architect Jorn Utzon."

The eager crowd at the Opera House forecourt strained to get a glimpse of Mary and Frederik as they arrived at the celebrations on Sunday night.

In a knee-length white coat and embellished cream and gold dress, Mary told the crowd the Opera House was a symbol of national pride for both Australia and Denmark.

"The Sydney Opera House has the ability to move us, not only with its visual magnificence but also what it holds inside and what it was built for - the arts," she said.

Among the contingent of dignitaries seated near the Royal couple were NSW Governor Marie Bashir, Premier Barry O'Farrell and Jan Utzon.

Opera House chief executive officer Louise Herron said it was an honour to have the royal couple in attendance.

She said it symbolised the enduring links between Australia and Denmark.

While many concert goers would have purchased their tickets before the Danish Royals were revealed as VIP guests, attendees viewed it as an added bonus.

Wollongong mother Tanya Cross said the princess's attendance was the drawcard for her daughters.

"I was telling them about the singers coming but they didn't really care about that," she said.

Daughter Ella, 10, said she was excited the princess was visiting Australia.

"I have only seen her on TV but now I get to see her for real," she told AAP.

The royals were entertained by some of Australia's best musicians, including Megan Washington, John Butler and Sarah Blasko, and internationally renowned director Baz Luhrmann.

The spectacular backdrop of the Sydney Harbour, Opera House and Circular Quay was a striking contrast to the fire-ravaged scenes the royal couple faced earlier on Sunday.

About 200 fans and curious locals gathered at Winmalee's Rural Fire Service station on Sunday to catch a glimpse of the home-grown princess.

The prince, dressed in leather boots and cargo pants, took a back seat as his wife - who at one point had to wave over a minder to relieve her of an armful of bouquets - did the rounds.

Six-year-old Jessica told AAP she'd been practising her curtsy at ballet class, and when the princess came around, she handed over a bunch of pink roses.

"She wanted to cut them out of the garden but there's not many flowers there at the moment," father Peter Berechree said.

"She would've found a few things with petals falling off them and bits and pieces.

"It would've been colourful. But we thought it was a bit more appropriate to go and get something that was a bit more wrapped."

The family is building a house on Singles Ridge Road, a Winmalee street that was devastated in the fires.

"We were very lucky, we didn't get touched but our neighbours did lose part of their property," Mr Berechree said.

Mary thanked volunteer firefighters and took a tour of the station before setting out for nearby Buena Vista Road, where some 40 homes were destroyed by fire.

Mary and Frederik are in Sydney as patrons of the Opera House's 40th anniversary.

20.47 | 0 komentar | Read More

Boy killed in SA playground accident

A SIX-YEAR-OLD boy has died in a playground accident in South Australia's mid-north.

Ambulance crews were called to Farrell Flat, about 20 kilometres west of Clare, after a metal slippery dip overturned and fell on the child about 5pm (CDT) on Sunday.

The boy, from Clare, was treated at the scene but died from his injuries.

Police said there were no suspicious circumstances and officers were preparing a report for the South Australian state coroner.

20.47 | 0 komentar | Read More