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Vic man arrested after five hour stand-off

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 09 Maret 2013 | 11.25

A MAN has been arrested and a number of firearms and other weapons seized following a five hour stand-off with police west of Melbourne.

The Black Hill man, aged in his 30s, has received medical treatment for an injury police believe was sustained during an altercation with other men earlier on Saturday.

Officers had responded to a call-out to Black Hill, about 120km west of Melbourne, about 8am (AEDT) following reports of an argument involving up to five men.

Upon arrival the officers were told a number of men had left the premises in a vehicle and one, who may have been armed, had entered a residence on the street.

Police cordoned off the road and attempted to make contact with the man.

Following the arrest, police searched the premises and discovered firearms and weapons.


11.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Communication key lesson of SARS: experts

A DECADE ago, a highly contagious and deadly new illness sent people worldwide scrambling to cancel flights and holidays as schools closed and sales of surgical masks spiked.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) was the first "new" disease of the 21st century to jump from an animal host to humans, then easily from one person to another.

It caught the world unawares and exposed health system weaknesses in an era in which people are ever more exposed to strange, new viruses lurking in hitherto undisturbed places.

The outbreak was contained within months with about 800 deaths, settling fears of a plague-like global wipeout but also yielding important lessons for the future.

"The experience from the first SARS outbreak is helping us now," virologist John Oxford from the Queen Mary University of London told AFP.

The world is currently dealing with another coronavirus like the one that caused SARS which has killed eight people since it was first detected in mid-2012.

The most important lessons cited by experts include information sharing, rapidly raising the global alert, and finding and containing the outbreak source.

"We have learnt that it is important to say what we know," Isabelle Nuttall, director of the alert and response department at the World Health Organisation (WHO) told Agence France-Presse.

A lack of communication was a key criticism of the handling of the 2003 outbreak, with China accused of trying to cover it up.

Since then, the world has adopted International Health Regulations, said Nuttall, which bind all countries to report any severe, new disease with spread potential.

SARS also showed it is easy to overreact - millions of people were screened at airports with little or no success.

Flights were cancelled as panic spread, tens of thousands of people were placed in quarantine in Asia and Canada, and hundreds of schools were closed - all measures whose usefulness are now questioned.

The World Bank says these steps cost the world some $54 billion ($A52.73 billion at today's rates), much of it in lost tourism revenue.

In fact, simple hygiene - washing your hands and masking your cough - turned out to be a much more effective deterrent, according to Oxford.

"Everyone thought it was perhaps bigger than it was," he said of the way SARS was handled.

"Today, I doubt whether there would be this restriction on travel. Another thing the SARS outbreak told us, is that to clamp down on people's movement, it doesn't work and it causes a lot of trouble."

SARS infected about 8000 people around the world, claiming most of its victims in Hong Kong, Taiwan, mainland China, Canada and Singapore.

The first case was detected in China's Guangdong province in November 2002 but information about it was not released until February 2003.

On March 12 that year, the WHO issued a global SARS alert. By July, it declared the outbreak contained.

We may not be so lucky next time, say the experts.

"Without substantially more attention and spending, the risks of a catastrophic global disease outbreak keep increasing," warned Olga Jonas, an economic adviser who coordinates the World Bank's response to pandemic threats.

"The annual cost of robust systems for pandemic prevention in developing countries is around $US3.4 billion ($A3.33 billion), compared to current spending of less than $US450 million. This is woefully inadequate," she told AFP by email.

The odds of a new outbreak multiply each year as more and more globetrotters are exposed to strange new pathogens before going home to ever-more-crowded cities and towns where disease can spread quickly.

"There are viruses out there somewhere, lying quiescent and every now and then they are going to pop up and cause trouble," said Oxford.

A 2012 World Bank report warned a severe pandemic on the scale of the 1918 Spanish Flu that killed about 50-100 million people, may occur once every 100 years and could cost the world $US3 trillion ($A2.94 trillion) today.


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WA leaders cast their votes in state poll

THE Liberal and Labor leaders have cast their votes in the West Australian election, with Premier Colin Barnett playing down polling that points to a landslide win for his Liberal party.

A Newspoll released on Friday night showed the incumbents would win 59.5 per cent of the vote on a two-party preferred basis.

Mr Barnett maintained that at least a dozen seats hung in the balance.

"I can honestly tell you I don't know who's going to win those seats," he told reporters at a polling booth in Cottesloe, in his affluent western suburbs electorate, where he cast his vote.

"There's going to be a very close contest.

"I hope I can continue and I hope we get the chance to finish many of the projects around the state, around the city, and carry on."

Labor leader Mark McGowan was first off the mark in casting his vote in the working-class satellite suburb of Rockingham, south of Perth.

Mr McGowan, who had also kicked off the party's official election campaign 10 days ahead of his opponent, arrived in his trademark red campaign bus.

He remained optimistic despite the polling, saying he'd wait and see what happened.

He said he would spend the day visiting polling booths around the city.

Deputy federal opposition leader Julie Bishop was full of praise for Mr Barnett, saying he would continue to stand up for the state's interests.

Ms Bishop said Mr McGowan had tried to distance himself from federal Labor, but that was futile because there was a deep distrust of the Gillard government that the state party couldn't shake.

Polls close at 6pm WST.


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WA's Barnett promises AFL stadium by 2017

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 08 Maret 2013 | 11.25

THE Liberals can deliver a new AFL stadium in Perth three years earlier than the opposition, Premier Colin Barnett says.

Mr Barnett last month said a stadium at his preferred site, next to James Packer's Crown Casino at Burswood, could be delivered by 2018.

But on election eve, he said the party was "very confident" it could deliver the new football venue in time for the finals in September 2017.

He's been consistent on how long he thinks Labor's Subiaco proposal will take, however, saying it won't get up before 2020.

On a bus tour of Perth with journalists on Friday, Mr Barnett was joined at Burswood by West Coast Eagles player Andrew Embley and Aaron Sandilands from the Dockers, who backed the Liberal plan over Labor's proposal for Subiaco's Kitchener Park.

Former Eagle Glen Jakovich and ex-Fremantle player Peter Bell were also there, saying they also supported the Burswood concept.

The most heavyweight endorsement for the Liberal option, however, came last month from Eagles coach John Worsfold.

Perth's favourite footballing son said the stadium needed the capacity for expansion that was available at Burswood, whereas it appeared there were many space restrictions at Subiaco.

Mr Barnett said the Burswood site had enough room to expand to up to 80,000 seats, from an initial 60,000 seats.

In identifying savings to fund its ambitious Metronet rail project, Labor said its stadium plan was $300 million cheaper.


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Staying safe during the Vic heatwave

DRINK plenty of water, wear sunscreen, keep covered and drink responsibly.

That's the advice being given to Melburnians as they deal with an extended period of extreme heat.

Victorian paramedics say unrelenting heat drains people of energy and they should be especially vigilant in protecting the elderly and children.

Ambulance Victoria emergency manager Justin Dunlop said people should avoid exercise, not leave children in cars, turn airconditioners on and keep hydrated.

For those going away, be prepared for emergencies by making sure mobile phones are working.

He also urged people not to ignore the symptoms of heatstroke.

The early signs of heatstroke include feeling drained of energy and pale and sweaty skin.

It can also include headaches, nausea and vomiting.


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Rebel MP promises to back Vic government

INDEPENDENT MP Geoff Shaw has promised to support the Victorian coalition government but won't return to the Liberals.

The rebel MP called Premier Denis Napthine on Thursday night to deliver the news he would support the government on key issues, including the budget and matters of confidence.

It means the coalition can rely on his vote to get laws through parliament.

Dr Napthine also announced former premier Ted Baillieu's chief of staff Tony Nutt had quit the government staff.

He also reassured Mr Shaw, the member for Frankston, that superannuation entitlements were being considered as part of a review of politicians' pay.

"There was no agreement, no undertakings made with Mr Shaw, nor were there any demands made by Mr Shaw of me and my government," he said.

"I believe we have a workable government. I believe we have the opportunity to provide good, stable government to the people of Victoria."

Dr Napthine said Mr Shaw had not won more power and the Frankston electorate would not be favoured over other areas of the state.

"Geoff Shaw has no more influence," he said.

Mr Shaw had told him he wanted to best represent the people of Frankston and pursue their concerns.

Dr Napthine said Mr Shaw did not ask for any specific investments in his electorate.

"All parts of the state will be given special treatment," he said.

Mr Shaw said he was confident Dr Napthine would be a strong leader for Victoria.

"My resignation from the parliamentary Liberal Party was based on my belief that I can best serve Frankston as an independent member," he said in a statement.

"I strongly believe in the values of the Liberal Party and that a return of Labor would be disastrous for Victoria."

Dr Napthine said he did not need a written document formalising the agreement with Mr Shaw.

He did not tell the deputy premier, Nationals leader Peter Ryan, that Mr Shaw had guaranteed supply and confidence until he revealed the news to other senior government MPs on Friday.

Earlier on Friday, Mr Ryan went on Melbourne radio and said Dr Napthine had not dealt with Mr Shaw.

On the question of his cabinet, Dr Napthine refused to confirm Kim Wells would remain treasurer.

He said he would sort out his ministerial team later.

Dr Napthine said he had confidence in Liberal state director Damien Mantach but the party employed him and was responsible for negotiations concerning his future.

Mr Mantach reportedly authorised $22,500 in payments to an adviser after the man had quit Mr Ryan's office in disgrace over his role in a plot to undermine former police chief commissioner Simon Overland.

Mr Nutt released a statement on Friday saying he had resigned because he did not want to distract from the new government's work.

Mr Baillieu referred "secret tapes" involving Mr Nutt to the corruption watchdog before quitting as premier.

"Over more than 30 years as a staff member, I have worked with many parliamentarians and political leaders, and Ted Baillieu is one of the finest men it has been my privilege to know," Mr Nutt said.


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One hour for Qld cops to respond to call

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 07 Maret 2013 | 11.25

A QUEENSLAND police inquiry is under way into why police took an hour to respond to a call for assistance at a house in Cairns where a woman died.

When police arrived at the home around 9.20pm (AEST) on Wednesday, they found an unconscious woman inside.

Attempts to revive her were unsuccessful and she was later pronounced dead at the scene.

A statement from Queensland Police says initial inquiries found that it took an hour for police to respond to the call for assistance.

Police would not say who made the call or how the woman died.

The response time is being investigated by the Ethical Standards Command and the Crime and Misconduct Commission.

A 38-year-old Townsville man has been charged with acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm.

Investigations are continuing.


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PM sidesteps polls after 'good week'

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard says she's had a good week touring Sydney's west but won't comment on opinion polls signalling big electoral losses for Labor in the region.

Ms Gillard on Thursday wrapped up her five-day stay in the west, widely seen as a bid to sandbag the area for her party before the September election.

Asked at a jobs expo in Liverpool whether Labor was "dead in the water" in the west, she repeated her response that she did not comment on opinion polls.

"People will make their own decisions in September about how they want to vote, and the choice will be an incredibly clear one.

"This government has a very clear plan for the future, we've charted the course and we want to pursue it.

"On the other side of politics we just see negativity. Come September, people will make their choice."

When asked if the local Labor MPs with her wanted to comment on the party's standing in the west, Ms Gillard said she had answered "for the team".

"We're not here to talk about opinion polls. We're here to talk about issues that matter for the people we've just met."


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Napthine wants ceasefire with Canberra

Victoria's new premier will seek to secure the support independent MP Geoff Shaw. Source: AAP

VICTORIA'S new premier Denis Napthine wants to heal the rift between the state government and Canberra.

Under former premier Ted Baillieu, relations with Prime Minister Julia Gillard's government have been bitter, particularly on the health and education front.

"I would very much like to have a better relationship with the federal government," Dr Napthine said during his first press conference as premier.

"It's in the best interests of all Victorians if we have a constructive working relationship between the federal and state governments."

Dr Napthine urged Ms Gillard to reinstate in full $475 million removed from the state's hospitals over four years due to revised population figures.

The federal government restored $107 million, or one year's worth, of the funding last month.

"One of the first things that Prime Minister Julia Gillard could do to enhance that working relationship is restore the full funding that was withdrawn from Victorian hospitals," Dr Napthine said.

Dr Napthine was sworn in as the state's new premier on Wednesday night after Mr Baillieu quit.

Mr Baillieu will remain in parliament on the government backbench.

Dr Napthine said he decided to nominate for Mr Baillieu's job on Wednesday afternoon after the former premier decided that he no longer had his colleagues' backing.

He said he did not go into Mr Baillieu's office and tap him on the shoulder.

"I went in and spoke to Mr Baillieu and offered him my support for him to continue in the role," Dr Napthine said.

The numbers on the floor of the parliament are now 44 to the coalition, and 42 to Labor, which will likely increase to 43 after the April 27 by-election for Lyndhurst, a safe Labor seat.

The unknown factor is now independent MP Geoff Shaw, who - less than an hour before Mr Baillieu resigned - blamed the premier's leadership for his decision to quit the Liberals.

Dr Napthine said he planned to have discussions with Mr Shaw but refused to be drawn on whether he would welcome him back into the Liberal fold.

He said he was unaware whether it was the case that Mr Shaw threatened to block key legislation, including the budget, if Mr Baillieu remained leader.

Dr Napthine said he had no plans to alter abortion laws, amid rumours Mr Shaw was pushing for change.

"The parliament of Victoria has made a decision with respect to abortion laws in this state. I respect the decision of the parliament," he said.

Dr Napthine said he had not made a succession deal with Planning Minister Matthew Guy, who was once his chief of staff and is widely considered a future leader.

He said he spoke with Mr Guy after Wednesday's partyroom meeting around lunchtime "in general terms".

"I recognise in Matthew a man of great talent and great skill," Dr Napthine said.

"So Matthew Guy is also a close personal friend and colleague."

Dr Napthine said he would provide good, strong and stable government.

"The last person who was described as a stop-gap premier was Sir Henry Bolte who stayed for 17 years."


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Economy grows around trend as exports jump

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 06 Maret 2013 | 11.25

THE Australian economy grew close to trend in calendar 2012, after a jump in exports during the final three months of the year.

The national accounts released on Wednesday showed production expanded by a seasonally adjusted 0.6 per cent in the December quarter, for an annual rate of 3.1 per cent.

The result was close to market economists expectations but fell short of the 3.5 per cent annual rate forecast last month by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).

Treasurer Wayne Swan said it reaffirmed Australia's position as one of the most resilient economies in the world.

"Australia has managed to achieve solid growth in the December quarter at a time when around half of all advanced economies contracted, including five major advanced economies," Mr Swan said in a statement.

The annual growth rate was more than four times the average of other nations in the Organisation for Economic Development (OECD) in the year to the December.

"This is a pretty impressive outcome," he told reporters in Canberra.

Net exports - exports minus imports - added 0.6 percentage points to gross domestic product (GDP), after growing by 3.3 per cent during the quarter, which was the second fastest increase in almost a decade.

"What we are starting to see here is the upswing in the next phase of the mining boom ... as projects ramp up and go into production," Mr Swan said.

However, overall conditions remained patchy and households were still cautious.

Household consumption grew by just 0.2 per cent in the December quarter, taking the expansion to 2.8 per cent for the year to December.

"The recent uptick in consumer confidence, if sustained, may provide support to consumer spending going forward, along with the impact of low interest rates," Mr Swan said.

As well, price pressures remain subdued, showing inflation is not a threat at present.

He said expenditure figures between private and public spending were somewhat distorted by the Victorian government buying an infrastructure project.

Excluding this one-off factor, private business investment increased 1.2 per cent to be 14.1 per cent higher over the past year.

ANZ Banking Group head of Australian economics Justin Fabo doubts there are any implications for interest rate movements from the annual economic growth result falling short of the RBA's forecast.

"The RBA is likely to remain in 'assessment mode' for the next few months at least," Mr Fabo said in a note to clients.

The central bank left the cash rate unchanged at three per cent at Tuesday's monthly board meeting but saw scope to ease policy again if the economy needed it.

Mr Swan said RBA Governor Glenn Stevens' statement accompanying the decision appeared to be more optimistic about Australia's economic outlook than it had for a while.


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Gas canister removed from Gold Coast beach

A GOLD Coast beach has been re-opened after Fire and Rescue crews removed a potentially lethal gas canister which washed ashore.

The canister, which had a slight leak, has been disposed of safely.

Police acted swiftly to shut down a section of Broadbeach just after 8am (AEST) on Wednesday.

It's believed the canister is similar to others found along Queensland's east coast, and in northern NSW, over the past year.

They contain the potentially lethal substance aluminium phosphide.

Even mild exposure causes nausea, fatigue and pressure in the chest.

Authorities have been urging beach-goers to avoid the canisters if they see them, as the gas can self-ignite.

Anyone who discovers a canister is being told to stay well clear and call police.

In January this year, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said the canisters had likely been lost from a ship.

Aluminium phosphide is often used to fumigate ships.


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GDP data reveals govt mismangement: Hockey

SHADOW federal treasurer Joe Hockey says the latest national accounts show the cost Australia is paying for the government's economic and fiscal mismanagement.

While the report shows real gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.5 per cent in the December quarter for an annual rate of 3.1 per cent, nominal GDP - which takes out the impact of price pressures - grew just 0.5 per cent in the quarter and two per cent annually.

Treasurer Wayne Swan says this undershooting by nominal growth is probably as a result of sustained high Australian dollar and relatively high terms of trade.

But Mr Hockey says it's a clear symptom of company profitability remaining in decline.

He says it makes the government's projection of four per cent nominal GDP in 2012/13 very unlikely, and keeps pressure on the budget.

"The government cannot blame the decline in the terms of trade," Mr Hockey said in a statement on Wednesday.

He said the terms of trade enjoyed by Labor remained far more favourable than experienced by the coalition.

"This government's reckless spending has placed the nation's budget in a precarious position," Mr Hockey said.


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Newman not convinced about power sell-off

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 05 Maret 2013 | 11.25

Premier Campbell Newman says he's yet to read the full Costello report on Queensland's finances. Source: AAP

PREMIER Campbell Newman isn't convinced that selling Queensland's electricity assets is a good idea, although he is yet to read the full Costello report on the state's finances.

The report recommends selling electricity and port assets to pay down debt.

Mr Newman says he has read the report's executive summary but isn't yet sure that selling the poles and wires of Queensland's electricity network is a good idea.

"I'm going to have to be convinced. This is a natural monopoly," he told parliament on Tuesday.

Mr Newman said he and Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney were yet to receive a copy of the final 1000-page audit report and that Treasurer Tim Nicholls was only 250 pages into it.

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said the report, which she estimated cost $2 million, had been touted as one of the most important the government had ever received.

"And yet no one has had the opportunity, the will or the desire to read it," she told parliament.

"Most novels are 1000 pages and I can get through that in a night or two."

Treasurer Tim Nicholls has promised not to sell assets without an election mandate.

But he's warned that Queenslanders have a difficult choice to make: sell assets or face massive tax and fee hikes.

Mr Newman said his government had to deal with the state's debt or basic services would suffer.

"What this actually means that in 10 or 20 years' time, we won't have a health system that delivers for you in the way you expect," he said.

"It means that the services that you have every right to believe that you are going to get ... it simply cannot happen if we continue to see the mess left unattended."

The Services Union fears jobs will be lost if electricity assets are sold and has urged Energy Minister Mark McArdle to guarantee no sell-off.

The Katter party says the government must use the proceeds of any electricity asset sales to offset the spiralling power bills low income households will face as a result of privatisation.

Meanwhile, the peak mining lobby group, the Queensland Resources Council, is demanding full consultation to avoid the kind of problems that followed the Beattie government's sale of Dalrymple Bay coal terminal in Mackay.

"We will want to understand planned protections against price gouging by a new owner," chief executive Michael Roche said.


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Group says Google ads fuel ivory trade

A CONSERVATION group claims that Google has something in common with illicit ivory traders in China and Thailand. It says the internet search giant is helping to fuel a dramatic surge in ivory demand.

The Environmental Investigation Agency, a conservation advocacy group, says there are some 10,000 ads on Google Japan's shopping site that promote the sale of ivory.

About 80 per cent of the ads are for "hanko," small wooden stamps widely used in Japan to affix signature seals to official documents. The stamps are legal and typically inlaid with ivory lettering.

Google prohibits the promotion of ivory sales on its shopping sites.

A spokesperson for Google in Japan did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


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Mad Max 4 destroyed Namib Desert: claim

Namibian environmental groups have expressed fury over damage caused by the latest Mad Max film. Source: AAP

NAMIBIAN environmental groups and tourism companies have expressed fury about a film crew's alleged destruction of sensitive areas in the world's oldest desert while shooting Mad Max: Fury Road.

"They added tracks in untouched areas," tour operator Tommy Collard told AFP.

"What is worse is the film crew tried to remove the marks they left themselves by dragging nets over them, ripping plants out," Collard said.

"Together with other coastal tour operators we have collected a lot of photographic evidence. One cannot rehabilitate the landscape of the Namib Desert."

Smaller animals such as lizards, geckos and chameleons suffered, as well as the rare lithops cactus, Collard said.

Mad Max: Fury Road is the fourth Max film of George Miller's and stars Charlize Theron.

Filming took place in a section of the Namib Desert recently proclaimed as Dorob National Park.

Coastal watchdog NACOMA (Namibian Coast Conservation and Management) commissioned ecological scientist Joh Henschel to compile a report on the environmental damage.

"NACOMA contracted me as consultant about the tracks left by the Mad Max film crew and yes - some areas in the Namib Desert were destroyed," Henschel said. "In one area a ploughing device was used." He declined to give more details citing "contractual obligations".

In an angry response to media reports about the alleged devastation, the Namibia Film Commission (NFC) placed a full-page advertisement in state-owned newspaper New Era to "refute the allegations ... in the strongest terms".

"Mad Max(4): Fury Road has to our satisfaction ... faced up to their responsibilities within Namibia ... we register no reservations and give Mad Max(4): Fury Road a clean bill," the NFC said.

Similarly, the ministry of environment's permanent secretary Simeon Negumbo said the film company conducted land rehabilitation to the ministry's satisfaction.

"From the beginning the experienced, dedicated team used tried and tested methods like vehicle and hand-dragged fishing nets, tyres, brooms, chains, ropes and leaf blowers, which worked perfectly in the area," Negumbo said.


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SA Labor MP should quit over new job: oppn

Written By Unknown on Senin, 04 Maret 2013 | 11.25

THE South Australian opposition is calling for the immediate resignation of Labor MP Pat Conlon claiming he is working for a law firm three days a week.

Earlier this year, Mr Conlon stepped down from his position as transport minister, saying he would not contest his seat of Elder in the next state election in 2014.

He said he would remain on the back bench until his retirement.

Opposition transport spokeswoman Vickie Chapman says Mr Conlon has joined the law firm Minter Ellison for three days a week.

"Mr Conlon should be working for his constituents in Elder, not for a law firm," she said in a statement on Monday.

Mr Conlon had been elected to represent the people of Elder for four years but they would have thought twice if they had known he would leave them high and dry, she said.

"If Mr Conlon wants to work as a lawyer he should resign immediately from office and force a by-election, Ms Chapman said.

"In the event Mr Conlon will not resign voluntarily, Premier Weatherill must show true leadership by intervening and urge his factional ally to stand down."

AAP has sought comment from Mr Conlon.


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ACTU to consider anti-corruption measures

CODES of conduct for union officials and better financial transparency will be on the table at a meeting of the ACTU executive this week.

The executive will consider the findings of a report written in the wake of the Health Services Union (HSU) scandal, at its meeting in Melbourne on Tuesday and Wednesday, .

A panel headed by former Federal Court judge Rod Madgwick is understood to have recommended formal codes of conduct for union officials and staff, an ombudsman to hear grievances from union members and better guidelines on financial accountability and governance standards.

The panel also looked at how union officials' pay is set and how better to disclose the pay scale to members, as well as improving training for officials in corporate governance principles.

Australian Workers' Union (AWU) boss Paul Howes, who is on the ACTU executive, told his union's annual conference last month that unions should be held to a higher account than the corporate sector and there should be "zero tolerance" for corruption.

His union, among others, has already moved to publish officials' pay rates in its annual report and introduce financial management training.

ACTU secretary Dave Oliver said recently there was no place in the union movement for the "gross misuse of members' money".

The federal opposition has introduced a private member's bill to impose jail terms on union officials found guilty of corruption, on a similar scale to penalties for corporate fraudsters.

The HSU has been suspended from the ACTU, pending an internal clean-up after investigations by Fair Work Australia into fraudulent use of members' funds.


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French firm to launch NBN satellites

A FRENCH company will launch two satellites to deliver faster broadband speeds to parts of outback Australia that can't access the land-based National Broadband Network (NBN).

Arianespace has won a $300 million contract to build two 777-tonne rockets to send the satellites into geostationary orbit in 2015, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said on Monday.

The satellites will deliver download speeds up to 25 megabytes per second (Mbps) to about 200,000 homes, businesses and farms in remote areas of Australia and its external territories such as Norfolk Island and Christmas Island.

"It will give people in the outback, remote regions and Australia's overseas territories access to economic and social opportunities that the rest of us take for granted," NBN Co chief executive Mike Quigley said in a statement.

But while the download speed will be faster than most metropolitan broadband services using the fixed copper network, it will be slower than the top-end 100 Mbps offered over the NBN optic fibre cable.

Currently, remote centres use an interim NBN satellite service with a download speed of six Mbps.

The satellites, worth $620 million, are being built by US firm Space Systems/Loral in California and will connect with 10 ground stations.

The rockets will be launched from French Guiana on the north Atlantic coast of South America.


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PM announces anti-gang taskforce

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 03 Maret 2013 | 11.25

Julia Gillard has announced an anti-gangs taskforce to work with state and international agencies. Source: AAP

AUSTRALIA will get a new national anti-gang taskforce to boost co-operation between state and federal police to target gang-related gun crime and drug dealing.

The taskforce was announced by Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Sunday at the start of her five-day visit to key Labor electorates in western Sydney.

But she denies the plan is a ploy to win back voters in the west, where there's been a recent spate of shootings and where Labor is polling badly and set to lose seats.

Ms Gillard said gang violence was a problem on the streets of Sydney's west but it was also a problem in other parts of the nation.

"This is about a national plan and bringing new national resources to make a difference," she said.

The National Anti-Gang Taskforce will tackle sophisticated gang operations involved in weapons trading and drug dealing, which has led to shootings in Melbourne and Sydney.

Ms Gillard said the taskforce was modelled on the FBI's Violent Gangs Safe Street Taskforce, which has made 55,000 arrests in the US since 2001.

"These are new measures to try and make sure we are combating the gangs and guns on our streets," she said.

The taskforce will have $64 million in funding and comprise 70 members of the Australian Federal Police and state police forces.

It will have an intelligence centre in Canberra and strike teams in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

It will reinforce the efforts of state police strike forces and provide better intelligence, as it reaches out to international agencies to target Australian gang activity across borders.

The plan aims to give state police forces better access to the Australian Tax Office, Centrelink, the Department of Immigration and other agencies in targeting criminal gang activity and seizing assets.

The state police strike teams will also include cyber investigators.

Another key measure is the AFP Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce, which will help state strike teams seize assets bought with the proceeds of gang-related crimes.

Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare says gangs are fighting over turf and money in places like western Sydney.

"Money creates power in the criminal underworld and the more we do to help police seize the cash, seize the houses, seize the cars of these criminals, the more we can shift the balance of power on the street," he said.

Mr Clare also announced a new National Border Targeting Centre aimed at stopping high-risk international passengers and cargo, such as drugs and contraband, at Australia's borders.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says the coalition will support the anti-gang taskforce if it makes sense.

He says it sounds like a coalition proposal from the last election.

"We'll have a good look at it, if it makes sense we'll support it," Mr Abbott said.

NSW Police Minister Mike Gallacher said the state had been calling for federal assistance to tackle gangs and drugs for a long time.

But he said there's been minimal consultation and $64 million isn't a lot when spread among the states and territories over four years.


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Black Saturday class action set to begin

THOUSANDS of Victorians are beginning their fight for compensation from groups they blame for the most destructive blaze of the Black Saturday bushfires.

Lead plaintiff Carol Matthews is joined by an estimated 10,000 members in claiming energy provider SPI Electricity's faulty equipment ignited the Kilmore East/King Lake bushfire in February 2009.

The fire killed 119 people, destroyed 1200 homes and caused an estimated $1 billion worth of damage.

The group is also suing Utility Services Corporation Limited, which was contracted by SPI to maintain the line, and the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) for allegedly failing to reduce fuel loads.

The CFA and Victoria Police are also facing allegations from Mrs Matthews that they failed to give appropriate warnings about the bushfire.

All the defendants deny the allegations and are fighting the claims.

The size of the action, which starts on Monday, has seen the Victorian government fund a purpose built courtroom to accommodate the teams of barristers, dozens of expert witnesses and large numbers of people interested in attending the trial.

The thousands involved directly in the class action will also be able to watch the proceedings streamed live on the internet.

Openings in the trial will begin in the Victorian Supreme Court on Monday morning with the case expected to run for nine months.

The Black Saturday bushfires in February 2009 killed 173 people.


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Assad says Britain wants to arm terrorists

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has accused the British government of wanting to arm "terrorists". Source: AAP

SYRIAN President Bashar al-Assad has accused Britain of wanting to arm terrorists in his country as the UN chief and his Syria envoy offer to broker peace talks between the regime and rebel leaders.

Britain has been pushing to lift a ban on the sale of arms to Syria's rebels, but at a meeting last month European Union foreign ministers ruled that only "non-lethal" aid and "technical assistance" could be given to the opposition.

"How can we expect them to make the violence less while they want to send military supplies to the terrorists and don't try to ease the dialogue between the Syrians?" Assad said in a rare interview with a UK newspaper.

"Britain has played a famously unconstructive role in different issues for decades, some say for centuries - I'm telling you the perception in our region," he told The Sunday Times.

"The problem with this government is that their shallow and immature rhetoric only highlights this tradition of a bullying hegemony."

His comments came as UN chief Ban Ki-moon and his Syria envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said they were prepared to broker peace talks between the Assad regime and the opposition.

The offer came after both sides in Syria had indicated a "willingness to engage in dialogue", the UN said.

They also warned that both the regime and opposition fighters "have become increasingly reckless with human life" and said perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity must be brought to justice.

In Tehran on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said Assad would take part in next year's presidential election and it was up to the Syrian people to choose their own leader.

Assad, who took over as president in 2000 following the death of his father Hafez, has repeatedly rejected calls by the opposition, Western and Arab nations to step down.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague had called for changes to the existing arms ban "so that we can provide a broader range of support to the National Coalition" - the opposition umbrella group in Syria.

Britain is currently bound by an EU arms embargo which European foreign ministers decided not to lift at a meeting in Brussels on February 18.

The United Nations estimates 70,000 people have been killed in the 23-month conflict.

In his video-taped interview Assad dismissed the suggestion Britain could play a constructive role in resolving the fighting, saying: "We don't expect an arsonist to be a firefighter."

Damascus has repeatedly blamed foreign-backed "terrorists" for the unrest, using the term to refer both to rebels and peaceful opponents.

On the ground, the army said on Saturday it had seized control of a key road linking the central province of Hama to Aleppo international airport, the scene of fierce battles since mid-February.

Fierce clashes raged in the northern city of Raqa, where 16 rebels and 10 soldiers were killed, according to chief of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman.

At least 133 people were killed nationwide on Saturday, the Observatory said.

They included two Palestinians hanged by rebels from trees at Yarmuk refugee camp in Damascus on suspicion of aiding the regime by pinpointing rebel targets, the Observatory said.


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