Take or leave media reform, says Conroy

THE government's proposed media reforms are a "take it or leave it" package which, if not passed by the end of next week, will be dumped, says Communications Minister Stephen Conroy.

Senator Conroy said there will be no bartering or cross-deals to get the legislation passed, adding that the government won't be dragged around for months to try to get the reforms passed.

"It is a package, take it or leave it," Senator Conroy said.

He said an independently appointed advocate would overlook the media landscape and could rule on whether proposed mergers would go ahead.

He said there was enormous economic pressure coming to bear on the industry which could lead to consolidation of ownership.

Senator Conroy said Fairfax Media and the TEN Network were under pressure, while Nine had just emerged from a mountain of debt.

"Diversity of opinion is a vital life blood of any democracy so we cannot afford further concentration of media ownership in this country," he said.

The criteria to be used by the media advocate to define what is in the public interest would include a media organisation's audience reach, the frequency and depth of its services, and whether it going out of business was worse than blocking the merger and having a reduced number of voices.

Reforms were needed because the Howard government watered down the cross-media laws in 2007, he said.

"We have got greater economic pressure today to see greater merger activity and that is not going to be in the public interest of all Australians or the interest of a democracy to have less voices," he said.

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Cost cuts or peril, Access tells retailers

EDS: Not for use before 0001 AEDT Wednesday, March 13

By Colin Brinsden, AAP Economics Correspondent

CANBERRA, March 13 AAP - Short-term gains from discounting which come at the expense of profit margins have made it more important than ever for retailers to cut costs, an independent forecaster says.

Deloitte Access Economics expects soft consumer demand will continue to affect the sector in 2013, after a disappointing 2012.

In its latest quarterly retail forecasts report, real or inflation adjusted sales are likely to grow by 2.2 per cent in 2012/13 and by 2.5 per cent in 2013/14.

But by 2014/15, retail growth should improve by 3.6 per cent as broader economic conditions and housing activity improves.

"Retailers waiting for the cavalry to arrive are increasingly focusing on containing their costs in order to stay viable," Deloitte Access Economics partner David Rumbens said on Wednesday.

While discounting can help sales in the short term, he said it was often at the expense of profit margins.

"In order to keep prices low on a sustainable basis, and remain competitive in the market, cost control is key," Mr Rumbens said.

However, there were signs retailers were having some success, with wage growth in the sector slowing to the pace seen immediately after the 2008-2009 global financial crisis.

Mr Rumbens said Australia's underlying economic story was not as strong as it had been in recent years, providing the rationale for Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) interest rates cuts.

He said the cutting cycle was still to fully work through the economy.

"So future consumer spending growth should at least match income growth," he said.

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Rate of temporary work concerning: ACTU

EDS: Not for use before 0001 AEDT Wednesday, March 13

CANBERRA, March 13 AAP - Australia has overtaken recession-hit Spain as the OECD country with the second-highest rate of temporary workers.

Empirica Research to be released on Wednesday at a national summit on jobs and society shows 27.9 per cent of work in Australia is temporary.

Only Chile has a higher rate of temporary work.

ACTU President Ged Kearney will open the National Community Summit with a speech outlining how workplace changes are threatening social cohesion.

"We have forgotten that the burdens of economic change do not fall equally, that the drive to a more efficient and flexible economy has hurt some people more than others and increased inequality," Ms Kearney will say.

The Empirica Research also found 55 per cent of respondents' greatest concern for the future was their children not having access to good jobs when they grow up.

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Sharks, manta rays win trade protection

SEVERAL shark species and the manta ray have won international trade protection in a move hailed by conservationists as a breakthrough in efforts to save them from being wiped out by overfishing.

The deal at a major wildlife conference in Bangkok on Monday marked a rare victory in the fight by environmentalists to reverse a slump in populations of sharks - the world's oldest predator - due to rampant demand for its fins.

Rather than a complete ban, the 178-member Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) voted to restrict cross-border trade in the oceanic whitetip, the porbeagle, three types of hammerheads and the manta ray.

The agreement, which must still be formally approved by the CITES plenary session, delighted conservationists who warn that Asia's voracious appetite for shark fins is causing their population to plunge.

"The tide is now turning for shark conservation," said Elizabeth Wilson of Pew's Global Shark Conservation Campaign.

"With these new protections, oceanic whitetip, porbeagle, and hammerhead sharks will have the chance to recover and once again fulfil their role as top predators in the marine ecosystem."

Monday's deal would require countries to regulate trade by issuing export permits to ensure their sustainability in the wild, otherwise they could face sanctions by members of CITES, a global treaty which protects some 35,000 species.

Under the CITES framework, however, a party may ask to reconsider the decision at the plenary session, as happened in 2010 when an initial agreement to control international trade in the porbeagle was later overturned.

Conservationists say sharks are slow to reproduce and may become threatened with extinction without better monitoring and management.

"During their lifetimes they have relatively few offspring and they only start reproducing at a relatively late age - they're more like mammals in many ways than fish," said Colman O'Criodain, an expert with the WWF.

Asian nations led by Japan and China - where shark fin soup is considered a delicacy - tried in vain to block the proposals, which were pushed by countries including Brazil, Colombia and the United States.

If the deal gets final approval, the five species would join the great white shark, the whale shark and the basking shark, which already enjoy international trade controls. Members would have 18 months to introduce the new measures.

The CITES meeting is also discussing how to tackle illegal trade in ivory and rhino horn with environmentalists calling for wildlife trade sanctions against countries that fail to take sufficient action.

A proposed ban on international trade in polar bears was rejected last week, with opponents warning that it would distract from the bigger threat from global warming.

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Frenchman to proclaim new pope to world

THE honour of announcing the next leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics will fall to French cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, who will proclaim the outcome of the conclave from St Peter's Basilica.

The Bach-loving former Vatican diplomat will speak in Latin on a porch over St Peter's Square after the conclave of cardinals announces a new pope has been elected by sending out white smoke from the Sistine Chapel.

"Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum. Habemus papam! (I announce to you a great joy. We have a pope!)", Tauran will say and then announce the name of the elected cardinal and the papal title he has chosen.

The 70-year-old from Bordeaux has the official title of "cardinal proto-deacon", meaning he is the most senior cardinal from the order of deacons.

The college of cardinals is divided up into three orders: bishops, priests and deacons.

Tauran used to be the top Vatican official for inter-religious dialogue. He previously served as head of the Vatican's diplomatic service and travelled the world for late pope John Paul II.

His own election is seen as highly unlikely but if this happens then it would fall to another cardinal to announce his name in front of the cheering crowds in St Peter's and TV cameras from around the world.

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Queen delivers Commonwealth Day message

THE Queen has promoted the theme of opportunity through enterprise in her Commonwealth Day message for 2013.

She said the theme was a celebration of achievements, "particularly those that may have seemed challenging, daunting or even impossible which have helped to build strength, resilience, and pride in our young people, in our communities and in our nations.

"Great achievements in human history have a number of common characteristics. From climbing the highest mountain, to winning a sporting competition, making a scientific breakthrough, building a successful business or discovering unique artistic talent, these outcomes all begin as a simple goal or idea in one person's mind.

"We are all born with the desire to learn, to explore, to try new things. And each of us can think of occasions when we have been inspired to do something more efficiently, or to assist others in achieving their full potential. Yet it still takes courage to launch into the unknown.

"Ambition and curiosity open new avenues of opportunity.

"That is what lies at the heart of our Commonwealth approach: individuals and communities finding ways to strive together to create a better future that is beneficial for all.

"Our shared values of peace, democracy, development, justice and human rights, which are found in our new Commonwealth Charter, mean that we place special emphasis on including everyone in this goal, especially those who are vulnerable.

"I am reminded of the adage, nothing ventured, nothing gained. As we reflect on how the Commonwealth theme applies to us individually, let us think about what can be gained with a bold heart, dedication, and teamwork.

"And let us bear in mind the great opportunity that is offered by the Commonwealth of joining with others, stronger together, for the common good."

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Real estate bosses nabbed in Vic drug bust

TWO real estate franchise owners have been charged after police uncovered thousands of cannabis plants at dozens of residential properties across Melbourne's north and west.

Chris Lio and Con Constantinou, owners of Barry Plant Real Estate's Epping franchise, are among eight men arrested in connection with a large quantity of drugs.

Barry Plant chief executive Mike McCarthy said he was shocked to learn the pair allegedly used 25 properties managed by their branch to hydroponically grow some 3000 cannabis plants.

"Nothing like this has occurred in our history," Mr McCarthy said in a statement on Saturday.

"These are serious charges and everyone in our group, from head office right through our 82 franchises, is shocked and dismayed."

Mr McCarthy said the Epping branch was independently owned and operated.

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Cardinals to decide conclave date

CARDINALS will vote on the date to begin a conclave to elect a new pope later on Friday, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said.

"We can expect the congregation in the afternoon session today to vote on the date for the start of the conclave," Lombardi said, referring to talks that will begin at 1600 GMT (0300 AEDT Saturday) and end at 1800 GMT (0500 AEDT).

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Sydney man drink driving with kids in car

A MAN who had four children aged between two and eight in his car has been charged for drink driving at more than five times the limit in Sydney's southwest.

Police say the 29-year-old man initially tried to avoid a random breath test at Ruse before he was stopped by officers.

He was then breath tested and blew 0.265.

The children's mother, who does not have a licence, was called and on her arrival at the scene she was driven home with her children by police.

A police spokesman would not tell AAP if the man was the children's father.

The man was charged with high range drink driving and his licence was suspended.

Bail was granted and he's due before Campbelltown Local Court on April 3.

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Man charged over Vic double hit and run

A 21-YEAR-OLD driver has been charged over an alleged double hit and run that injured two men, one of whom was dragged 40 metres in Melbourne's north.

Jordan Kostopoulas, of Preston, was charged with conduct endangering life, dangerous driving causing serious injury and other traffic offences at an out of sessions hearing late on Friday.

Police believe two men were struck by a car in Heidelberg West around 10pm (AEDT) on Thursday after an argument.

The driver allegedly sped off following the crash.

A man aged 31 was critically injured after being dragged by the car. A 32-year-old man was admitted to hospital with less serious injuries.

The two victims had been part of a group who were involved in a heated argument over the car at a home earlier that evening, police say.

Two people were injured before the group left the home.

The car was found at an Ivanhoe shopping centre on Friday morning.

Kostopoulas was granted bail and will face court at a later date.

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