Meaty tale launches Vic weekend court

THE first weekend sitting of the Melbourne Magistrates Court has opened with little fanfare - but was presented with the tale of a hungry couple and a packet of hidden meat.

Chief Magistrate Peter Lauritsen presided over the first hearing, designed to help ease overcrowding in prisons and jail cells.

Dozens of court cases have been delayed or adjourned this year because remand centres are full and prisoners can't be brought over to court.

One magistrate called the situation "so far beyond a joke".

Mr Lauritsen made no comments about overcrowding when he opened the Saturday sitting and instead heard its first case: about a 27-year-old man and his girlfriend arrested outside a supermarket.

The court heard the woman put a $20 pack of beef in her shopping basket on Friday before her boyfriend stuffed it down his pants.

Their Legal Aid lawyers said the couple ran out of money for food and made the "stupid decision" to steal.

Mr Lauritsen released the man on bail while the woman pleaded guilty and was released on a one-year good behaviour bond.

It is one of dozens of small-time cases that pile up over the weekend, backlogging the courts come Monday morning.

The pilot program could be extended until October next year if successful in reducing the backlog.

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Govt to give $100m to Commonwealth Games

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott says the federal government will contribute at least $100 million towards the Commonwealth Games to be hosted by the Gold Coast in 2018.

Mr Abbott was a guest at a Commonwealth sports breakfast in Sri Lankan capital Colombo on Saturday, on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

He spoke with Britain's Commonwealth Minister Hugo Swire, who is involved in next year's Glasgow Games.

Mr Abbott said the Games were of "continuing importance" to the Commonwealth.

"We've got our own Games on the Gold Coast in 2018 which is very exciting," Mr Abbott said.

"It will be nice to see what the Scots are proposing for their Games."

Mr Abbott said the federal government was "committed to providing comparable support to the Games on the Gold Coast that were provided to the Games in Melbourne in 2006".

"That is in the order of $100 million or so."

Federal support is expected to include services for security, customs and immigration.

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Severe storms, hail hit southeast Qld

INTENSE thunderstorms with damaging winds and large hailstones are battering parts of southeast Queensland.

The Bureau of Meteorology is warning on Saturday afternoon "very dangerous" thunderstorms have been detected near Maroochydore, Boonah, Caloundra and the area between Boonah and Beaudesert.

Tennis ball-sized hailstones have been reported in Buderim on the Sunshine Coast.

The storms are moving east-southeast and are forecast to hit Beaudesert, Marburg, Lowood, northern Lake Wivenhoe and Mount Kilcoy by about 1.25pm (AEST).

The severe weather is expected to affect Canungra, Mount Tamborine, Tamborine, Jimboomba, Ipswich, Crohamhurst, Maleny and Conondale later on Saturday.

Emergency Management Queensland is advising residents move cars under cover and secure loose outdoor items.

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Government confirms Darwin boat arrival

THE federal government has finally confirmed that an asylum-seeker boat reached Darwin on Monday and was one of three to arrive in Australian waters in the past week.

Operation Sovereign Borders commander Lieutenant General Angus Campbell said the two other vessels arrived at Christmas Island on November 10 and 11.

The three boats carried a total of 163 passengers and eight crew.

Despite various reports during the week, the government wouldn't confirm or deny the arrival of the Darwin vessel, or any others.

General Campbell defended the policy to stick to weekly briefings, and limit discussion about the details of operational information regarding boat interceptions.

It was designed to protect the integrity of the operations, which he is overseeing to combat people smuggling.

"I do not believe in secrecy for secrecy's sake," he told reporters in Sydney.

General Campbell said he wouldn't disclose anything which would give people smugglers an advantage or could be used by them to manipulate or confuse their potential customers.

"They use official announcements of vessel interceptions to persuade people that the way to Australian remains open. It does not," he said.

General Campbell said information about arrivals led to release of final payments to the smugglers, but delays would complicate their operations in an increasingly tight market.

"We know that passengers have been told on occasion by people smugglers not to be concerned by the poor state of their vessel, by the inexperience of their crew by the lack of provisions on board because their voyage will be short and they will very quickly marry up with an Australian vessel," he said.

"People smugglers are using these announcements to claim victory."

General Campbell declined to provide further details of the Darwin boat arrival.

"I think that I've made a fairly reasonable position that I am not going to talk about the procedures the events so forth of vessels that we intercept," he said.

Asked if those who arrived in Darwin were being held in detention in that city, he said "those people, and those people who arrive on Christmas Island, immediately enter into the 48 hour rapid transfer process (to Manus Island or Nauru)".

"There will be some who do not complete that process in 48 hours, but the greater majority do," he said.

Further to the general's remarks, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison also drew a line under how the weekly briefings would run in the future.

This was to offset any "improper reflections" on the role of defence in Australia's border protection polices and implementation.

General Campbell would in future make his report, take a few questions and then withdraw from the briefing to leave Mr Morrison to take questions on general operational matters.

Mr Morrison described the change as "preventative".

This week, Labor has pursued Mr Morrison in parliament for more up-to-the-minute details over the latest boat arrivals.

The general said he was aware of the political debate in parliament and that the comments he had made on Friday were his own.

Mr Morrison said he had raised concerns about protecting the integrity of defence in a meeting with Australian Defence Force (ADF) chief General David Hurley.

"In order to avoid any suggestion or perception being promoted - for whatever purposes - about the role of the ADF in Operation Sovereign Borders, at my initiative and without being requested or without any issue being raised with me, I will be drawing a clear line between the operational and more general components of this briefing," he said.

General Campbell said he was unaware of any concerns within defence on this issue.

He said he was also not aware if concerns were raised with defence under the previous Labor government.

"Before September 18 (when the operations began) I was doing very different things," he said.

Further to the general's remarks, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison also drew a line under how the weekly briefings would run in the future.

This was to offset any "improper reflections" on the role of defence in Australia's border protection polices and implementation.

General Campbell would in future make his report, take a few questions and then withdraw from the briefing to leave Mr Morrison to take questions on general operational matters.

Mr Morrison described the change as "preventative".

This week, Labor has pursued Mr Morrison in parliament for more up-to-the-minute details over the latest boat arrivals.

The general said he was aware of the political debate in parliament and that the comments he had made on Friday were his own.

Mr Morrison said he had raised concerns about protecting the integrity of defence in a meeting with Australian Defence Force (ADF) chief General David Hurley.

"In order to avoid any suggestion or perception being promoted - for whatever purposes - about the role of the ADF in Operation Sovereign Borders, at my initiative and without being requested or without any issue being raised with me, I will be drawing a clear line between the operational and more general components of this briefing," he said.

General Campbell said he was unaware of any concerns within defence on this issue.

He said he was also not aware if concerns were raised with defence under the previous Labor government.

"Before September 18 (when the operations began) I was doing very different things," he said.

In any case, it is not right to offer information that amounted to "proof of life and proof of transit" to people smugglers about their boat passengers.

Mr Morrison agreed his government was doing things differently to Labor on border protection "to make sure the pledges made to the Australian people are honoured".

Meanwhile, Mr Morrison also revealed he had asked his department to review the circumstances surrounding the separation of a female asylum seeker and her newborn baby.

The minister has defended the woman's treatment after it was reported that she was only allowed to visit her sick newborn during the day and forced to sleep overnight in a Brisbane detention centre.

"I have requested my department to look at the arrangements ... to ensure that a mother would have as much access to their child as they would request, consistent with the standards and opportunities that would be otherwise available to any Australian at that hospital," he said.

However, he pointed out the woman had not been treated any differently.

"The doctors at the hospital had advised that this is common practice with mothers not to stay overnight with their children in special care due to bed restrictions," he said.

"My advice was that this mother was being treated the same ... in terms of access to the hospital, as any other Australian would."

Australian Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has ridiculed Mr Morrison's latest boats briefing as "farcical Friday", and dismissed claims the secrecy is needed for operational reasons.

"This is all political," Senator Hanson-Young said.

"This is a government whose policy is in tatters," she told reporters in Canberra.

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Surfer dies after suspected heart attack

A SURFER has died after suffering a suspected heart attack in the water on the Sunshine Coast.

The man, believed to be aged about 60, was not breathing when he was pulled from the surf by lifeguards at Noosa around 8.40am (AEST) on Friday.

A Surf Life Saving Queensland spokesman says both they and paramedics attempted to revive the man but he died at the scene.

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Surfer dies after suspected heart attack

A SURFER has died after suffering a suspected heart attack in the water on the Sunshine Coast.

The man, believed to be aged about 60, was not breathing when he was pulled from the surf by lifeguards at Noosa around 8.40am (AEST) on Friday.

A Surf Life Saving Queensland spokesman says both they and paramedics attempted to revive the man but he died at the scene.

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AEC petitions High Court for new WA poll

THE Australian Electoral Commission has lodged a petition with the Court of Disputed Returns seeking a new West Australian Senate election.

That petition, lodged with the High Court registry on Friday, seeks an order from the court that the WA Senate election of six senators be declared void.

The AEC said the petition was based on loss of 1,370 ballot papers which likely affected the outcome, given the close margins for the final two senators.

"As the matter is now before the court the AEC will not be making any further comment," it said in a statement.

When the AEC sought to conduct a recount and realised the ballot papers were missing, it appointed former Australian federal Police commissioner Mick Keelty to investigate.

His inquiry is continuing.

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Government confirms Darwin boat arrival

THE federal government has finally confirmed that an asylum-seeker boat reached Darwin on Monday and was one of three to arrive in Australian waters in the past week.

Operation Sovereign Borders commander Lieutenant General Angus Campbell said the two other vessels arrived at Christmas Island on November 10 and 11.

The three boats carried a total of 163 passengers and eight crew.

Despite various reports during the week, the government wouldn't confirm or deny the arrival of the Darwin vessel, or any others.

General Campbell defended the policy to stick to weekly briefings, and limit discussion about the details of operational information regarding boat interceptions.

It was designed to protect the integrity of the operations, which he is overseeing to combat people smuggling.

"I do not believe in secrecy for secrecy's sake," he told reporters in Sydney.

General Campbell said he wouldn't disclose anything which would give people smugglers an advantage or could be used by them to manipulate or confuse their potential customers.

"They use official announcements of vessel interceptions to persuade people that the way to Australian remains open. It does not," he said.

General Campbell said information about arrivals led to release of final payments to the smugglers, but delays would complicate their operations in an increasingly tight market.

"We know that passengers have been told on occasion by people smugglers not to be concerned by the poor state of their vessel, by the inexperience of their crew by the lack of provisions on board because their voyage will be short and they will very quickly marry up with an Australian vessel," he said.

"People smugglers are using these announcements to claim victory."

General Campbell declined to provide further details of the Darwin boat arrival.

"I think that I've made a fairly reasonable position that I am not going to talk about the procedures the events so forth of vessels that we intercept," he said.

Asked if those who arrived in Darwin were being held in detention in that city, he said "those people, and those people who arrive on Christmas Island, immediately enter into the 48 hour rapid transfer process (to Manus Island or Nauru)".

"There will be some who do not complete that process in 48 hours, but the greater majority do," he said.

Further to the general's remarks, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison also drew a line under how the weekly briefings would run in the future.

This was to offset any "improper reflections" on the role of defence in Australia's border protection polices and implementation.

General Campbell would in future make his report, take a few questions and then withdraw from the briefing to leave Mr Morrison to take questions on general operational matters.

Mr Morrison described the change as "preventative".

This week, Labor has pursued Mr Morrison in parliament for more up-to-the-minute details over the latest boat arrivals.

The general said he was aware of the political debate in parliament and that the comments he had made on Friday were his own.

Mr Morrison said he had raised concerns about protecting the integrity of defence in a meeting with Australian Defence Force (ADF) chief General David Hurley.

"In order to avoid any suggestion or perception being promoted - for whatever purposes - about the role of the ADF in Operation Sovereign Borders, at my initiative and without being requested or without any issue being raised with me, I will be drawing a clear line between the operational and more general components of this briefing," he said.

General Campbell said he was unaware of any concerns within defence on this issue.

He said he was also not aware if concerns were raised with defence under the previous Labor government.

"Before September 18 (when the operations began) I was doing very different things," he said.

Further to the general's remarks, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison also drew a line under how the weekly briefings would run in the future.

This was to offset any "improper reflections" on the role of defence in Australia's border protection polices and implementation.

General Campbell would in future make his report, take a few questions and then withdraw from the briefing to leave Mr Morrison to take questions on general operational matters.

Mr Morrison described the change as "preventative".

This week, Labor has pursued Mr Morrison in parliament for more up-to-the-minute details over the latest boat arrivals.

The general said he was aware of the political debate in parliament and that the comments he had made on Friday were his own.

Mr Morrison said he had raised concerns about protecting the integrity of defence in a meeting with Australian Defence Force (ADF) chief General David Hurley.

"In order to avoid any suggestion or perception being promoted - for whatever purposes - about the role of the ADF in Operation Sovereign Borders, at my initiative and without being requested or without any issue being raised with me, I will be drawing a clear line between the operational and more general components of this briefing," he said.

General Campbell said he was unaware of any concerns within defence on this issue.

He said he was also not aware if concerns were raised with defence under the previous Labor government.

"Before September 18 (when the operations began) I was doing very different things," he said.

In any case, it is not right to offer information that amounted to "proof of life and proof of transit" to people smugglers about their boat passengers.

Mr Morrison agreed his government was doing things differently to Labor on border protection "to make sure the pledges made to the Australian people are honoured".

Meanwhile, Mr Morrison also revealed he had asked his department to review the circumstances surrounding the separation of a female asylum seeker and her newborn baby.

The minister has defended the woman's treatment after it was reported that she was only allowed to visit her sick newborn during the day and forced to sleep overnight in a Brisbane detention centre.

"I have requested my department to look at the arrangements ... to ensure that a mother would have as much access to their child as they would request, consistent with the standards and opportunities that would be otherwise available to any Australian at that hospital," he said.

However, he pointed out the woman had not been treated any differently.

"The doctors at the hospital had advised that this is common practice with mothers not to stay overnight with their children in special care due to bed restrictions," he said.

"My advice was that this mother was being treated the same ... in terms of access to the hospital, as any other Australian would."

Australian Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has ridiculed Mr Morrison's latest boats briefing as "farcical Friday", and dismissed claims the secrecy is needed for operational reasons.

"This is all political," Senator Hanson-Young said.

"This is a government whose policy is in tatters," she told reporters in Canberra.

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AEC petitions High Court for new WA poll

THE Australian Electoral Commission has lodged a petition with the Court of Disputed Returns seeking a new West Australian Senate election.

That petition, lodged with the High Court registry on Friday, seeks an order from the court that the WA Senate election of six senators be declared void.

The AEC said the petition was based on loss of 1,370 ballot papers which likely affected the outcome, given the close margins for the final two senators.

"As the matter is now before the court the AEC will not be making any further comment," it said in a statement.

When the AEC sought to conduct a recount and realised the ballot papers were missing, it appointed former Australian federal Police commissioner Mick Keelty to investigate.

His inquiry is continuing.

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More Vic Jewish home abuse claims likely

MORE victims are expected to come forward with allegations of abuse at children's homes run by Victorian Jewish welfare organisations in the 1960s.

Jewish Care Victoria has set up an independent support scheme to investigate claims by three people that they were abused in residential care run by previous Jewish organisations.

Manny Waks, the founder of Jewish victims' support group Tzedek, believes more victims are likely to come forward following the allegations.

"At this stage, it has come to my attention that there is at least one other alleged victim in this case," he told AAP.

"I would assume that there would be additional victims in this case, whether or not they come forward at this stage is something that remains to be seen."

Jewish Care Victoria president Mike Debinski said they had referred the allegations to police and the victims would retain their right to pursue legal action.

Mr Debinski would not say how old the children were at the time of the alleged offences, or whether the claims were against more than one person.

He said they encouraged anyone who believed they may have experienced abuse in the care of these organisations to come forward.

"We do not seek to sweep this issue under the carpet," he said.

Mr Debinski said they would thoroughly assess all allegations and offer support through counselling and case management.

Mr Waks said Jewish Care had taken the right steps to give victims the opportunity to come forward in a confidential and sensitive manner.

He said a number of court cases involving members of the Jewish community, the establishment of his own organisation and the Victorian government's inquiry into child abuse had helped victims come forward.

"What has become very clear to us is that the ongoing public campaign is yielding the desired results," he said.

"Until not long ago, this was a taboo topic within the Jewish community in particular.

"It was very rarely discussed up until the last two years, whereas now it's being discussed around the Sabbath table on a regular basis, parents are finally talking to their children about it, schools are taking it much more seriously."

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Libs launch Rudd-style donations plea

THE Liberal National Party is copying Kevin Rudd's small donations tactic as it attempts to wrest the former prime minister's Brisbane seat.

With a by-election imminent in Griffith, Queensland's LNP is asking supporters to hand over as little as $15 to pay for leaflets.

Mr Rudd used a similar tactic as prime minister when he called the September 7 election - and asked supporters to contribute $10 to Labor's campaign.

LNP state director Brad Henderson has sent an email to supporters, asking for contributions of between $15 and $5000.

But he has rejected a suggestion from Labor that the LNP would splurge millions on trying to gain a seat the ALP holds by just three per cent.

"It is a facetious claim for Labor to make - they run well resourced campaigns," he told AAP but declining to say how much the LNP would spend.

"I don't have a figure in mind."

In its email, the LNP says a $5000 donation would pay for "powerful" TV ads while smaller contributions would fund leaflets, online ads, election signs, direct mail to swinging voters and billboards.

"Labor will spend a fortune on this election and can rely on the unions to bankroll their campaign machine," it said.

Former Australian Medical Association president Bill Glasson is yet to reveal whether he will contest the by-election for the LNP, following a strong showing during the September poll.

On the Labor side, environmental lawyer Terri Butler and former state MP Di Farmer are believed to be the frontrunners.

Brisbane City councillor Shayne Sutton has ruled herself out but there's speculation her husband Stephen Beckett, a chief of staff to former Queensland premier Anna Bligh, may run.

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Bikie arrests will test new law: premier

QUEENSLAND Premier Campbell Newman says the arrest of three bikies for gathering at a bar for a drink will test the government's new anti-association laws.

Three alleged members of two declared criminal motorcycle gangs in Queensland were arrested on Wednesday night for gathering at a hotel foyer.

Detectives charged the men under the state government's new laws that prohibit participants in a criminal organisation from grouping in public places.

Mr Newman believes it's the first time alleged bikies have been arrested under the anti-association laws.

"I'm sure some people will view this situation as a (test case)," Mr Newman said.

"The laws are now being implemented for the first time, essentially."

The premier said he had no issues with the men being arrested while having a drink at the hotel.

"These are criminal gangs involved in drugs, extortion, blackmail, and the community has asked the community to deal with it," he told reporters.

It is alleged police found the men, two alleged Mongols bikie gang members and one Finks member, together at a hotel foyer at Seaworld Drive at Main Beach about 11.30pm (AEST) on Wednesday.

The men, a 26-year-old from WA, a 28-year-old from Southport, near the Gold Coast, and a 36-year-old from Arundel, a Gold Coast suburb, have been charged with being a participant in a criminal organisation being knowingly present in a public place.

The 26-year-old is also facing charges of possession of a dangerous drug and tainted property.

It is "highly likely" the alleged Finks member was meeting the accused Mongols to patch over to the new group, says the Gold Coast's top bikie cop, Superintendent Jim Keogh.

Three Mongol caps were recovered from the scene.

"It's highly likely - we are not seeing many Finks remaining with the club as such," Supt Keogh said.

"The legislation has been there, they have been well aware the legislation is there and police will allege they disregarded the legislation and moved together in a public place in a group of more than two," Supt Keogh said.

"It's a very public resort."

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Two secret drug labs uncovered in Brisbane

TWO concealed drug labs and $170,000 worth of goods have been uncovered in a police operation in Brisbane.

Authorities charged 32 people with 98 offences during the 10-month operation, which focused on the production and trafficking of methylamphetamine.

Detective Inspector Geoff Sheldon says the operation hit significant drug distribution networks in Brisbane's south.

The operation finished on Wednesday, while more arrests are expected.

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'Indefensible mistakes' by Catholic Church

MELBOURNE Archbishop Denis Hart says senior figures in the Catholic Church made indefensible mistakes in response to sexual abuse claims.

Archbishop Hart said the church acknowledged the failings of the past, as highlighted in a Victorian parliamentary report handed down on Wednesday.

"The committee's report is rightly called Betrayal of Trust," he told reporters in Melbourne.

"It is the worst betrayal of trust in my lifetime.

"I fully acknowledge that leaders in the church made mistakes - these are indefensible."

Archbishop Hart said the church had made significant progress since 1996, when it set up the national Towards Healing protocol and the Melbourne Response to handle abuse complaints.

He said the church would back recommended changes to the law to make concealing or failing to report child abuse a crime.

However, he said the church's confessional seal would remain sacrosanct.

Archbishop Hart said he accepted findings that senior church figures had concealed child abuse.

"I have to accept that church leaders in the past concealed crimes and caused other children to be offended against," he said.

Archbishop Hart offered the church's apologies to victims of child abuse.

"On behalf of the Catholic Church in Victoria I apologise again for these failures to the victims, to their families, to the community," he said.

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Webjet expects no earnings growth

SHARES in online travel business Webjet have fallen after it said earnings would not grow in the current financial year.

Webjet currently estimates that earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation will be $21.5 million in the 2013/14 financial year, compared to $21.6 million in the previous year.

The earnings will include spending of about $3 million on marketing and its technology.

Webjet shares were down 11 cents, or 3.85 per cent, at $2.75 at 1500 AEDT.

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Name of accused policeman still suppressed

THE name of a Perth policeman on trial for dangerous driving causing death will remain suppressed for at least 24 hours despite a judge ruling the suppression should be lifted.

Sharon D'Ercole was driving her 16-year-old daughter in April 2012 when she was fatally struck by a police vehicle chasing a stolen car that slammed into her at high speed.

The 50-year-old mother-of-three died from multiple injuries while her daughter, Lashay, has no memory of the incident.

On Tuesday, Judge Philip Eaton ruled the suppression on the identification of the first-class constable who was driving the police car should be lifted.

But the officer's lawyer immediately said she would appeal the decision in the Supreme Court.

Judge Eaton agreed to extend the order of the suppression for 24 hours until the matter could be dealt with in the higher court.

The Perth District Court has heard that the 28-year-old officer was trained to the highest level of pursuit driving.

He began chasing the stolen Audi after police database checks indicated it had been stolen hours earlier.

The car's lights and sirens were deployed as the pursuit progressed, the court was told.

The trial before a jury continues.

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Elderly man found in north Queensland

AN 87-year-old man who was missing in north Queensland bushland has been found.

He was clearing bushland, about 40km west of Ingham, with another man when they became separated about 9am (AEST) on Monday.

An extensive air and land search was launched and a helicopter spotted the man in the Mount Fox area about 1pm on Tuesday.

He is being treated at the location and will be taken to hospital after suffering from exposure.

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Number of Perth councils to be halved

THE number of councils in Perth will be halved after the West Australian government finalised its restructuring plans.

After initially proposing 14 metropolitan councils across the WA capital, Local Government Minister Tony Simpson has suggested a reduction from 30 to 15 authorities.

The main change to July's original plan will be to keep Fremantle and Melville separate.

But a super council made up of seven local governments in Perth's affluent western suburbs remains.

Mr Simpson says the tweaking of the plan proved the government listened to the community, but admitted not everyone will be happy.

"The easiest option is to do nothing. But with our population set to grow by 500,000 in the metropolitan area over the next 13 years, we must, no question about it, strengthen our councils," Mr Simpson said.

Cockburn council, which will merge with Kwinana, immediately voiced disappointment.

"If the government's changes go through, there will be substantial rates increases of up to 15 per cent, with businesses that fall under Kwinana set to pay around 10 per cent more in their rates," mayor Logan Howlett said.

In the face of opposition, Premier Colin Barnett has temporarily shelved a plan to override the existing 'Dadour provision', which currently gives public the power to veto any council mergers or boundary changes via a referendum.

The overall plans will be submitted to the Local Government Advisory Board, which will conduct a review and make final recommendations next year.

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Swan River not dead, say Perth scientists

PERTH'S Swan River is alive and generally well despite reports to the contrary, scientists say.

Researcher Chris Hallett says a new report by Murdoch University counters recent media suggestions the Swan-Canning Estuary is "dead".

Dr Hallett said the condition of the estuary remained "generally good to fair".

"The results are consistent with our previous monitoring, which has indicated an overall improvement in the ecological condition of the Swan-Canning Estuary since the mid 2000s," he said.

A Fish Community Index was used to rate the health of the estuary from A (very good) to E (very poor), compared to data collected over 30 years.

The Swan River Trust established an annual monitoring program using the index.

Scientists sampled and assessed more than 30,000 fish from 40 species at 48 locations during the first half of this year.

While the health of upper Swan and Canning estuary habitats was considered slightly poorer at times, compared to the 2012 data, it was attributed to the presence of low oxygen conditions in the deeper waters of the upper estuary zones during autumn this year.

Dr Hallett said the events had a short-term impact on the estuaries.

"Trends over the last five to eight years show that the system is fairly resilient to the algal blooms and low oxygen events that periodically affect parts of the estuary," he said.

"Our research indicates that the majority of fish species are able to avoid low oxygen areas by moving closer to shore, where oxygen levels are higher.

"The fish tend to return to deeper waters when oxygen levels return to normal."

This behaviour had been credited with reducing the extent of fish kills following a major algal bloom in the Swan-Canning Estuary in 2004, Dr Hallett said.

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Millions see chiropractors for back pain

NECK and back pain are the main reasons Australians visit chiropractors, according to a study published in Medical Journal of Australia (MJA).

The vast majority are adults, and one per cent are aged under one year, according to the study of 4464 patient encounters over about two years until September 2012.

This is the beginning of chiropractors documenting what they do in clinical practice, says Dr Simon French, leader of the Victoria-based study.

A range of conditions are managed by chiropractors, but these are usually musculoskeletal-related, he says.

Chiropractors also commonly provide care for people who have no specific complaint. "This is called wellness or maintenance care by the chiropractors in the study," says Dr French.

About three million Australians visit a chiropractor at least once a year, according to an MJA article about the study.

"This research is about documenting what chiropractors do. It's not about whether it is effective or not," says co-author Professor Jane Gunn, of the University of Melbourne's general practice and primary health care centre.

"People pay for this treatment either from their own pocket or private health insurance," says

"We did not review outcomes, but it is interesting that people pay for it themselves."

The findings of the study are not a surprise, says Andrew McNamara, CEO of the Chiropractors Association of Australia.

"But it is worthwhile to get a handle on what people are seeking from chiropractors."

He says there is strong evidence in relation to neck, back and headache treatment.

But there are other areas that are not so well understood, and the association is funding further research that will track a large group of patients over a number of years.

"There is also a need for more research into the benefits or otherwise for children.

"The fact that we have parents and practitioners reporting good clinical outcomes for kids with colic for example does not mean the question is settled. There is a need for more evidence," he says.

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Orica forecasts further profit growth

Chemicals company Orica has posted a full year profit of more than $600 million. Source: AAP

EXPLOSIVES and chemicals supplier Orica expects higher profits in 2014 as key North American coal markets improve, and the company sells more sophisticated explosives and blasting systems.

The North American coal sector - one of Orica's biggest markets for explosives - built up stockpiles of coal over 2012, but those stockpiles had since diminished, chief executive Ian Smith said.

"What we're seeing in North America is coal volumes starting to come back, and we'll see a progression, hopefully, over the 2014 year to normal levels," Mr Smith said.

Orica would benefit, should prices for thermal coal rise.

Mr Smith said it would be hard for Orica to maintain its sales volumes should the Australian dollar remain too high, and if prices of thermal coal were to drop.

But he said that by the end of 2014 Orica could be a position to return more cash to shareholders via capital management initiatives.

There were also signs of improvement in the quarrying and construction markets in Europe, Mr Smith said.

Orica expects net profit in 2013/14, before material items, to exceed the $602 million it made in the 12 months to September 30, 2013.

But it said market conditions were still volatile.

Shares in Orica were up $2.07, or 10.6 per cent, at $21.61 at 1510 AEDT.

Orica's 2012/13 profit was up more than 49 per cent from the previous year's $403 million, which was skewed by $247 million in writedowns.

The 2012/13 profit was down $48 million on the prior year, if the writedowns are excluded.

Revenue grew by 3.4 per cent to $6.9 billion despite weakness in demand for Orica's ground support products and services, which provides specialist bolts, resins and powders.

Explosives generated more revenue in all regions as Orica provided more sophisticated and more profitable products, such as emulsion explosives, which could be used in a wider range of operational environments, such as wet weather and blastholes with water in them.

Orica said it was adding services to product sales - such as new blasting techniques - which was attracting new customers.

Mr Smith said ground support services experienced weaker demand as users chose cheaper, less sophisticated ground support systems.

But Orica had restructured the ground support services business - cutting jobs, closing plants, writing off stock and discontinuing unprofitable products - and the business was now set for improvement as the US coal market improves.

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