Monarchists angry over GG's republic push

PM Tony Abbott says it's appropriate for the governor-general to publicly support gay marriage. Source: AAP

ANGRY constitutional monarchists have called for the governor-general's scalp after she backed the republican movement in a landmark speech.

Quentin Bryce threw her support behind gay marriage and the republican movement while delivering the final ABC Boyer Lecture of the year in Sydney.

She reflected on her hope that "one day, one young girl or boy may even grow up to be our nation's first head of state".

Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who was director of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy before entering parliament, said it was "more than appropriate" for Ms Bryce to share her personal views as the end of her term approached.

"She did it with grace and style," he told reporters in Sydney on Saturday.

"Obviously different people have different views on these subjects."

Australians for Constitutional Monarchy accused Ms Bryce of blotting her record in office by weighing into political debate.

"It will be said she has damaged the institution," the group said in a statement.

"The problem now is that in breaching protocol and convention, Her Excellency has now become a divisive figure."

Ms Bryce's term expires in March.

NSW Liberal MP David Elliott said Ms Bryce should retire immediately for "partaking in a blatantly political debate over the constitution".

"If Quentin Bryce wants to debate policy and legislation she should run for parliament, not use her vice-regal position to pursue her own political agenda," Mr Elliott, who led the 1999 "no republic" campaign, said in a statement.

Australian Republican Movement spokesman Geoff Gallop told reporters in Canberra Ms Bryce had given authentic reflections on her views for the future.

"We don't want her saying things that don't have any meaning attached to them," he said.

"She sees what's happening in the community, she sees the pain, she sees the happiness, she sees Australia from a particular vantage point and we're delighted she's reached this conclusion."

Mr Gallop said her comments may re-energise the movement.

"There's no doubt we've been in lean times," he said.

"The people need to own this cause."

Asked if the popularity of Prince William and his wife Catherine had set back the cause, Mr Gallop said there was no doubt the "celebrity" status of the royal family gave them an entry point to popular consciousness.

"Australia has outgrown our old dependence on Britain for our identity," he said.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said Ms Bryce's comments would carry weight with voters of all ages.

"To have the governor-general step forward and say this is something Australians care about, and as the governor-general, she believes that marriage equality is a human right ... it's hugely influential across all voter groups."

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has defended his mother-in-law's comments, saying he supports both gay marriage and Australia becoming a republic.

"The governor-general has made a remarkable contribution to our country and she is entitled to express her views," a spokesman for Mr Shorten said.

He's married to Ms Bryce's daughter Chloe.

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GG marriage stance 'influential': Greens

GOVERNOR-GENERAL Quentin Bryce's open support for same-sex marriage will be hugely influential across all voter groups, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says.

Ms Bryce said during a lecture in Sydney on Friday she hoped for Australia to become a nation where "people are free to love and marry whom they choose".

At a marriage equality rally in Melbourne on Saturday, Ms Hanson-Young said the comment represented the desires and the aspirations of Australians to have a fair, decent country.

"(The governor-general) is using her position to speak and give voice to the aspirations of many Australians," Ms Hanson-Young said.

"Australia is falling behind.

"To have the governor-general step forward and say this is something Australians care about, and as the governor-general, she believes that marriage equality is a human right ... it's hugely influential across all voter groups.

Ms Hanson-Young rejected criticism Ms Bryce had attracted for her comments, saying it was an issue that should be above politics.

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Six die in horror day on Vic roads

A MAN in an induced coma will wake up to learn his wife and daughter have been killed and his two sons hospitalised following a horror day on Victorian roads that claimed six lives.

The mother and child died after two vehicles crashed head-on on the Princes Highway at Rosedale just before 2.30pm (AEDT) on Friday.

The child died at the scene while the woman in her 40s was pronounced dead after paramedics tried to revive her at the roadside.

The man, in his 40s, was put into an induced coma after suffering injuries to his chest and hip, while his 11-year-old son was critically injured and his four-year-old son hospitalised with minor injuries.

The driver of the second vehicle, a man in his 20s, was taken to hospital with leg and pelvic injuries.

Assistant Commissioner Bob Hill said it had been an incredibly difficult day, with four women, one girl and a man losing their lives in a 12-hour period on Friday.

"You can't even imagine how that particular gentleman will wake up, recovering from injuries and then dealing with the emotional scar that has been caused as a consequence of this collision," Mr Hill said.

The deaths added to the grim toll on a day in which a 70-year-old woman died in a two-car collision in Carwarp, in the state's northwest, and an 18-year-old died after her vehicle crashed into a tree in Mount Evelyn.

About 10.30pm on Friday night a man and woman, both 81, died in a collision on the Western Freeway in Melton.

Three men from the second vehicle were taken to hospital.

Mr Hill appealed to all drivers to think about their behaviour on the road.

"These are the days that stick with you forever," he said.

"I can't begin to imagine the feeling of loss those families and their communities must be facing right now."

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Hardline group to hit Australian embassy

Indonesia has asked phone companies to investigate whether they helped to tap the President's phone. Source: AAP

A SECOND wave of protests is expected in front of the Australian embassy in Jakarta as fallout over the spying controversy continues.

Indonesian national police have confirmed the hardline group, the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), will converge on the embassy after Friday prayers (about 1700 AEDT) to express their anger over the issue.

Authorities expect at least 500 protesters outside the building, which on Thursday was the scene of violent demonstrations.

The embassy is again expected to take precautions to protect staff.

The US embassy is also expected to be targeted on Friday.

More than 1600 police have been deployed near the two embassies and several other potential targets in the capital.

The FPI is a renowned hardline organisation, having in the past rallied in support of convicted terrorist and suspected Bali bombing mastermind Abu Bakar Bashir.

On Thursday, images of the Australian and US flags were burnt, red paint was spattered on the embassy's walls and some protesters carried a banner calling for war.

The protest became physical when police moved in to restrain a number of protesters.

Indonesians are angry over claims Australia tapped Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's phone in 2009 and have demanded Prime Minister Tony Abbott apologise for it.

On Thursday night, Mr Abbott was preparing his response to a letter from the Indonesian president seeking an apology and a full explanation.

Having pledged to respond "swiftly, fully and courteously", Mr Abbott met with the national security committee of cabinet to consider the matter.

Indonesia's former intelligence chief said the diplomatic row with Australia can be resolved with an apology from Mr Abbott.

"Just apologise and ... forgive and forget," Abdullah Mahmud Hendropriyono told the ABC on Friday.

Mr Hendropriyono admitted in a 2004 television interview that Jakarta had spied on Australia.

Meanwhile, Indonesia has halted co-operation on tackling people smuggling and the sharing of intelligence. Military exercises scheduled to take place in Darwin have also been put on hold.

Gita Wirjawan, Indonesia's trade minister, has warned his country may suspend talks on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with Australia.

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Two freed on bail in British slavery case

BRITISH police have released two suspects on bail after they were arrested in connection with the case of three women who allegedly spent 30 years as slaves.

A 69-year-old Malaysian woman, a 57-year-old Irish woman and a 30-year-old Briton who had apparently spent her entire life in servitude were rescued last month after calling a charity, police said.

Police arrested a man and a woman, both aged 67 and described as non-British nationals, at the house in south London on Thursday, but the unnamed pair were later freed after questioning.

"Two people arrested on Thursday, 21 November, in connection with an investigation into slavery and domestic servitude have been bailed until a date in January pending further enquiries," a police statement said on Friday.

Police had earlier described it as one of the worst cases of its kind they had seen.

"We have never seen anything of this magnitude before," said Detective Inspector Kevin Hyland, who leads Scotland Yard's Human Trafficking Unit.

"These women are highly traumatised, having been held in servitude for at least 30 years with no real exposure to the outside world, and, trying to find out exactly what has happened over three decades will understandably take some time," he told reporters late on Thursday.

Police said there was no evidence to suggest that the case involved sexual abuse.

Detectives said they did not know where the youngest woman was born, adding that the relationship between the three women was "part of an ongoing investigation and we are not willing to speculate.

"However, we believe that the 30-year-old woman had been in servitude all her life," a Scotland Yard statement said.

The women, who are now in an unspecified location, were rescued after the Irish woman "found the courage" to call the Freedom Charity on October 18 after it was featured in a television program about domestic slavery, police said.

The charity usually deals with forced marriage and honour-based abuse, but it is also used to working with women who feel trapped in difficult situations.

The Irish woman said she and two others had been held against their will in a house in London for 30 years.

The charity raised the alarm with police and with the help of secret telephone calls, the 30-year-old British woman and the Irish woman agreed to meet with charity workers and police on October 25.

Police identified the address where they had been held, in the south London borough of Lambeth, and went there to rescue the Malaysian woman.

The two arrests were made almost a month later "as soon as officers had established the facts and were satisfied the victims were aware of police intentions", the police statement said.

The three women had "controlled freedom", but Hyland said it was still not clear what that meant in practice.

"Their life was greatly controlled and for much of it they would have been kept in the premises."

Aneeta Prem, the founder of the Freedom Charity, said the women's treatment was "barbaric", adding that she believed they had suffered physical, but not sexual abuse.

"You're basically looking at domestic slavery, and you wouldn't expect that to be happening in the UK, in London, in 2013," she told Sky News.

A spokesman for Britain's interior minister Theresa May said she was "shocked by this appalling case".

He said May would wait for the outcome of the police investigation, but "she's made clear her determination to tackle the scourge of modern slavery".

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Hospital designs of high quality

OPEN space, educational uses, large public plazas, youth centres and residential buildings all feature in the six final designs being considered for the existing Royal Adelaide Hospital site.

The South Australian government has been running a design competition, with the winner to be announced in December.

A panel of experts will determine the successful architectural group while a people's choice winner will also be named.

Deputy Premier John Rau says the quality of the final designs is very high and they include many innovative and imaginative concepts for the site's future use.

"Open spaces, educational uses, large public plazas, youth centres, cultural uses, residential and commercial opportunities are some of the many possibilities explored by our diverse teams making up the six finalists," Mr Rau said on Friday.

"One of the obvious themes that has come out of the final concepts is the ability for this site to have a mix of uses that will underpin the East End and connect to the city."

The winning design team will pocket $200,000, with $70,000 going to the runner-up and $30,000 to the third-placed group.

The people's choice winner will receive $10,000.

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NT says no more to domestic violence

SPORTING clubs are being called upon to help fight the blight of domestic violence in the Northern Territory.

A new Aboriginal men's group committed to ending violence in the Northern Territory says one woman every minute experiences domestic violence in Australia.

A permanent advisory group has been established by the NT government, with Catholic Care NT to come up with strategies to reduce rates of family violence and child abuse, particularly as they increase in the lead-up to the holiday season.

"(Holidays) pull families together and sometimes they're fractured, dysfunctional families and they do get together and you have problems at the end of it," the group's coordinator Charlie King told reporters in Darwin on Wednesday.

"We've seen it year after year, and this time we want to speak to families and say: let Christmas be a festive season, let it not be a time when violence happens."

Domestic violence is a blight on the Territory, said Chief Minister Adam Giles.

"(We'll) make sure we get runs on the board and it's not just a talkfest," he said.

"But let me just say it's not just about indigenous men and women, it's about all Territorians and seeing a reduction in domestic violence."

But having an advisory group made up of indigenous men representing communities from all across the NT was a key recommendation, Mr King said.

"To be able to look at where ceremony for Ab men actually fits in this. Traditionally, violence is not a part of what Aboriginal men do, so bringing men together and having discussion about it is such an important part of this."

A second key recommendation is to invite sports clubs to join in publicly condemning family violence.

"We will contact every sporting club and say, 'we want you to develop a strategy for your club that deals with this issue' so this becomes core business for every sporting club in the Northern Territory," Mr King said.

"It's an all of community responsibility."

Other teams that come to play in the NT such as Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Fremantle and Parramatta will all be asked to join the fight against domestic violence.

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Tasmanian abortion law reformed

TASMANIA has become the third jurisdiction in Australia to remove abortion from its criminal code.

The state's upper house voted by a nine to five margin to allow terminations up to 16 weeks with the woman's consent, and after that if two doctors agree.

Doctors opposed to abortion will be required to give women a list of those willing to perform the procedure.

Tasmania joins Victoria and the ACT in removing the procedure from the criminal code.

The private members bill from health minister Michelle O'Byrne passed on what is likely to be the last sitting day of Tasmania's parliament before next year's state election.

It is the one social reform bill with which the Labor-Green government has had success after failing to have same-sex marriage and voluntary euthanasia bills passed in recent months.

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Lift ban on Vic gas fracking, report says

THE Victorian government should lift its moratorium on coal seam gas, appoint a gas commissioner and offer incentives to businesses to develop the industry, a report on the state's gas market says.

Communities should also be offered a share of the benefits of a CSG industry through a Royalties for Regions program, and the compensation limit for loss of amenity be doubled to $20,000, the report says.

Premier Denis Napthine released the final report and recommendations of the Gas Market Taskforce on Thursday, three weeks after it was handed to government.

The report makes 19 recommendations, including lifting the moratorium on fracking and the approval of new CSG exploration licences.

Taskforce chair Peter Reith says it is sensible for the government and other eastern states to promote production of additional gas supply to help keep prices down.

The report recommends the government introduce legislation and licence conditions to allay environmental concerns.

The opposition and Greens have described Mr Reith's inquiry as a sham as it did not consult widely enough and its eight members were all representatives of energy and industry groups.

However, on Thursday the premier announced an 18-month consultation process with farmers, environment groups and community bodies before any decision is made about the introduction of fracking in Victoria.

Dr Napthine also said the moratorium on CSG would remain in place until the consultation process was complete.

"We will never, ever allow onshore gas if it jeopardises our underground water, if it jeopardises our environment and if it jeopardises our food and agricultural production," he said.

Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said CSG was a divisive issue, the science was at best unclear and it was appropriate to have an open consultation process.

"This has got to be based on science and there's got to be a community consensus - we're a long way away from that now," he said.

Victorian Greens environment spokesman Greg Barber said the report was a propaganda exercise, with the proposed gas commissioner the salesperson and the consultation process a roadshow.

He said the government should be looking at energy alternatives.

The Australian Pipeline Industry Association said the recommendation to appoint a gas commissioner should be given high priority.

Chief executive Cheryl Cartwright said the gas industry had to earn the social licence to operate in Victoria and not brush aside community concerns.

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Qld bikie cops accused of overreacting

QUEENSLAND police's anti-bikie squad has been accused of overreacting after a former gang member's house was raided and he was arrested over a drug driving offence.

The 41-year-old man and two younger men were arrested on Tuesday after police from task force Maxima allegedly found an SKS semi-automatic rifle, ammunition and methamphetamines at the Northgate address in Brisbane's north.

In a statement on Wednesday, police alleged Scott Robert Paton was a member of the motorcycle gang Highway 61 and said he had been charged with possessing ammunition and failing to appear in court.

However, when Paton faced the Brisbane Magistrates Court, the ammunitions charge had vanished and there was no mention of his gang association.

Paton's lawyer Debbie Kilroy said her client quit the bikie gang some time ago, and he'd been charged with failing to show up in court over a drug driving offence.

Ms Kilroy told the court Paton claims never to have received the notice to appear in June following a roadside swab that allegedly tested positive for amphetamines.

He was released on bail after his case was adjourned until January 30.

Outside court, Ms Kilroy said police were reacting to a public fear of bikies that was being whipped up by news reports.

"When we see men being charged for minor offences or fail to appear warrants that are not doing anything wrong, and when 10, 12 taskforce Maxima (officers) come at them with guns, that's a pretty scary event, not just for my client but for those in the community that witness that," she told reporters.

A 23-year-old man charged with possessing a weapon and drugs had his case adjourned until Thursday, while a 28-year-old man who was charged with drug possession is due to appear in court next month.

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Police investigate WA officer's outburst

A PERTH policeman who swore at a man while apparently issuing a traffic infringement has admitted to his superiors that he acted inappropriately.

Video footage of the confrontation that was posted on Facebook by John Gds Martin has attracted more than 21,300 likes since it was uploaded on Tuesday and has been shared nearly 6000 times.

In the clip, the man argumentatively asks what crime he has committed and tells the officer to go "stop some f***ing criminals".

The policeman then walks close to the man and says: "If you swear one more f***ing time I will put you in the lock up for disorderly, just like last time".

"I will deny your bail and some big fella is going to play with your arsehole during the night.

"If that's what you want, say one more f***ing swear word."

When the man tells the officer to relax, he replies: "Pull your head in. Don't tell me to relax. You don't tell me what to do. You don't swear in public. Switch on."

Facebook users have been divided in their reactions to the video with some championing the officer and others condemning him.

Inspector Dominic Wood said officers dealt with thousands of interactions with the public on a daily basis, often under very trying circumstances.

"It's also a reality today that police officers are going to be recorded by people out in the community," he said.

"Clearly, on this occasion, the officer hasn't handled the situation as well as he should have and he has acknowledged that his actions were inappropriate.

"We don't have the entire content of the video, so we don't know the full circumstances, but we will be investigating the matter and speaking further with the officer concerned."

Police Minister Liza Harvey indicated to reporters on Wednesday that using foul language was inappropriate but she would leave the matter to police to investigate internally.

WA Police Union president George Tilbury said officers were sometimes in "frustrating and stressful" situations when dealing with the public.

"As the full video has not been uploaded and the entirety of the circumstances are unknown, it is very difficult to comment on the actions of the officer," he said.

"However, police officers should always do their utmost to portray a professional image.

"Our members need to be aware that in this modern age of technology their actions and interactions with the public will be filmed, often without their knowledge or permission."

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Packer's casino licence a step closer

JAMES Packer's new Sydney casino is one step closer after legislation for the project's licence passed the NSW upper house.

The controversial $1.3 billion project at Barangaroo, on Sydney Harbour, requires a special licence.

Expected to be open for business from November 2019, the city's second casino will only admit invited VIP gamblers and guests, with high minimum bets and no poker machines.

The bill received bipartisan support but there has been disquiet from independents and the Greens.

In parliament on Wednesday, Greens MP John Kaye tried to move a number of amendments, including one to erase a clause that says the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority can only amend licence conditions with the agreement of Mr Packer.

Mr Kaye said the clause shifted power from the independent body back into the hands of the casino.

"Keeping the regulatory authority with the capacity to hold conditions over the licence is an essential ingredient ... of maintaining some degree of discipline over that casino," he told parliament.

But his efforts failed with the bill passing the upper house 27 votes to seven.

Premier Barry O'Farrell announced his support for the development earlier this month, saying it would attract international tourists to Sydney.

The agreement guarantees total licence fees and gaming tax payments of at least $1 billion to the NSW government over its first 15 years.

Independent MP Alex Greenwich has previously urged the government not to rush through the legislation, saying it should allow time for community consultation and input from crime and welfare experts.

"Twenty-five dollar roulette tables do not attract high rolling 'whales'," he said earlier this month, arguing that planned multi-player gaming terminals are just "dressed up poker machines".

University of Sydney problem gambling expert, Dr Chris Hunt, told AAP the government should consult experts and others about the casino's potential social impacts.

"They're taking the casino operator at their word which I think is a very dangerous precedent," he said.

Dr Hunt also said high minimum bets and a 24-hour "cooling off" membership period wouldn't stop problem gamblers from betting at Barangaroo.

"Wherever you have a casino there's going to be problem gambling and for him (Packer) to say 'we've designed it for high rollers' is being disingenuous," he said.

Mr O'Farrell said Crown still needs to get statutory approvals before the project is finally approved.

The processes by the Department of Planning and Infrastructure and the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority will include an "opportunity for public input".

But there seems little doubt that Barangaroo will house Mr Packer's casino.

"Passage of the legislation ... brings closer the investment of $1.3 billion to develop a high quality tourism resort, combining world class accommodation, premier tourist activities and a highly regulated members-only gaming facility," Mr O'Farrell said.

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Water spouts smash two homes

The southeast corner of Queensland is in the firing line for another set of severe thunderstorms this afternoon.

THE state's southeast is mopping up after severe storms swept through the area on Monday afternoon.

The weather phenomenon severely damaged two homes in the suburb of Urangan at Hervey Bay, sweeping the roof of one down the street.

"The houses had substantial roof damage," the Department of Community Safety told AAP.

Police say the damage is surprising.

Amazing Monday storm pics

A waterspout is being blamed for the damage to this home at Urangan.

Senior Constable Jules Tyson says officers were called to the first home, which had lost half its roof, amid concerns there may have been people trapped inside.

"When we attended the first one, the house next door had completely lost its roof and (it) had blown down the road," he told ABC radio.

Bruce Creed had just gone to bed when the tornado ripped through his King St home, pulling the roof off.

"The wind came on up and blew my curtains but the next thing after that there was a loud bang and that was it, in 30 seconds, it had peeled off the whole back section (of the roof)," he said.

It is believed a waterspout damaged the roof of this house.

Mr Creed said everyone in the house was shaken up.

"The roof peeled on up and the timber came through the ceiling and knocked the ceiling stuff onto me - it just broke out a section. All the walls have moved," he said.

He said it was not raining, so the home's interior escaped water damage.

Amazing Monday storm pics

Marian Jones posted this picture on Higgins Storm Chasing Facebook page saying "Can see as to why Mt Tamborine copped it so hard." Picture: Marian Jones

SES crews and emergency services were on the scene this morning helping Mr Creed and his neighbour.

Across the road, neighbour Robin Forrest said he heard the tornado coming.

"Up to 15 to 30 seconds before it hit there was an enormous roaring sensation, a lot of crashing and banging and things flying around then it was gone," Mr Forrest said.

"It was all so quick that you really didn't have time to take it in."

Cheryl Stonehill Power posted this picture on Higgins Storm Chasing Facebook page showing storm clouds over Berrinba in Brisbane. Picture: Cheryl Stonehill Power

He said he watched the wind come towards him through the window and pull the roofs off of homes across the road.

"I'm surprised there hasn't been more homes damaged," he said.

Amazing Monday storm pics

Urangan local Mark Tandy cycled through King St and said he saw a trampoline that had flown into a person's fence with the home owner unsure where it had come from.

A fierce hailstorm forced the closure of Dreamworld on Monday afternoon. Picture: Dreamworld staff

"This morning on my early morning bike ride I noticed branches all over the place and fences knocked down - it seems to have had a really narrow focus."

There are no reports of any injuries.

The Bureau of Meteorology says water spouts are very small areas of concentrated swirling winds, which can produce a narrow column of condensed water.

Storms have again lashed the South East with large hail and damaging winds

"It's like an ice skater with her arms out and when she draws them in she spins faster and faster," a bureau spokesman told AAP.

Amazing Monday storm pics

"When you get that spiralling around, it concentrates, and you get that spout tighten up and the winds strengthen.

"It's that motion, that spiralling and also the air lifting, that creates that vortex."

Monday storms. Picture: Leigh Mellon

A fierce hailstorm forced the closure of Dreamworld on Monday afternoon. Picture: Dreamworld staff Source: Supplied

The southeast has been given two days to recover from the recent battering by severe weather.

But Bureau of Meteorology forecaster David Grant said storms could gather over Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast for the start of the Ashes in Brisbane on Thursday.

"We've been given a couple of days reprieve before unstable conditions start to develop on Thursday in the southeast," he said.

The southeast continues to mop up after yesterday afternoon's fierce storms, which forced the closure of a Gold Coast theme park following 139km/h winds and large hail. 

Gold Coast SES crews responded to 330 calls for help between 4-9pm after homes were left battered by hail stones.

Taken from my balcony at Benowa on the Gold Coast as the storm came over Surfers on Saturday night. Picture: Dean Johnson.

Amazing Monday storm pics

An uprooted tree also caused havoc for a father and daughter on their way home from school after it fell on their car. They suffered cuts and abrasions and were taken to the Gold Coast University hospital for treatment.

Yesterday's rolling storm coverage

EARLIER, Golf ball-sized hailstones hammered Dreamworld at Coomera on Monday afternoon, forcing the theme park to close down operations.

A Dreamworld spokesperson said rides were evacuated shortly before 4pm with the hail storm lasting for about 10 minutes.

There have been no reports of any injuries to visitors at this stage and park operators are currently assessing property damage.

A 139km/h wind gust was also recorded at Upper Coomera at about 3pm.

Drivers in the vicinity raced for cover as the storm whipped through , breaking branches off trees and shaking up the area's other theme parks which were packed with tourists.

SES crews took 88 calls for help in an hour.

Hail of 3-4cm was recorded at Samford, northwest of Brisbane.

Amazing storm pics

4.55pm: Ipswich City Council mayor Paul Pisasale said the storms had missed his city.

"We've been blessed again,'' he said. "This is three times in a row they've gone past us.

"Hey, but what's happening with the weather? This is just like it was back when I was a kid, a storm every afternoon.

"Every time the school bell went you knew you were in for a drenching on the way home.''

Is Paul Pisasale right? Is this year's storm season reminiscent of when you were a kid? Tell us your memories below.

4.45pm: A worker at the BP Upper Coomera service station between Brisbane and the Gold Coast said the 10-minute storm caused chaos at the garage and on the highway.

``I couldn't count the number of cars trying to get under cover,'' he said. ``We got hail about golf ball size and got absolutely inundated with cars.

``It lasted about 10 minutes with hurricane-like wind.

``I don't know if any cars were damaged but it was big enough to do make a mess.''

4.25pm: The Bureau of Meteorology has updated their severe thunderstorm warning after storms were detected on the weather radar near Jimboomba, Logan Village and Southport.

Forecasters expect the storms to strike Beenleigh, Logan City and Macleay Island by 4.45pm and Cleveland, Peel Island and Manly by 5.15pm.

Other severe thunderstorms are impacting Ipswich and Fernvale.

That storm cell, with destructive winds and large hailstones, will hit Mount Nebo, Highvale and southern Lake Wivenhoe by 4.45 pm and Brisbane CBD, Albany Creek and the D'Aguilar Ranges by 5.15 pm.

Cricket-ball sized hail hits Ironman legend
WEEKEND PICTURES: Readers capture the storms
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4.15pm: Leigh Mellon was driving home to Sunshine Beach when the thunderstorms dropped pea-sized hail on the Sunshine Coast.

"I was heading back from work and saw the dark clouds when we were near the Coolum roundabout," Mr Mellon said.

"It was fast moving and kept pace with us all the way to Peregian Springs. That's when the hail started failing."

Mr Mellon said the hail stones were not as large as the weekend, but fell heavily for 15 minutes.

"Cars had to pull over because of the rain and the hail," he said.

"It caused quite a few disruptions for traffic."

Cricket-ball sized hail hits Ironman legend
WEEKEND PICTURES: Readers capture the storms
Got a storm pic? MMS 0428 258 117

3.50pm: "Very dangerous" thunderstorms have been detected on the weather radar between Boonah and Beaudesert in the southeast.

Forecasters have predicted that they will affect Coolangatta, Southport and Tamborine by 3.55 pm.

Other severe thunderstorms likely to cause destructive winds and large hailstones near Hatton Vale are expected to affect Rosewood and Marburg by 3.55pm.

Cricket-ball sized hail hits Ironman legend
WEEKEND PICTURES: Readers capture the storms
Got a storm pic? MMS 0428 258 117

3.45pm: Claire Libke of the Canungra Caltex service station in the Gold Coast hinterland said a storm had brought grape-sized hail for five to 10 minutes.

``It was the biggest storm we've had so far. Very impressive, with lightning and thunder,'' Ms Libke said. ``But it didn't do any damage to cars or buildings.

``It's raining fiercely now and the rain has washed all the hail away.

``It was terribly dry here until these storms started.''

The Energex lightning tracker has recorded almost 300 lightning strikes every half hour since storms started this afternoon.
 

3.17pm: The Bureau of Meteorology is also monitoring storms near Numinbah Valley, Laravale, Kooralbyn and Canungra that are moving in an eastern direction.

They are forecast to hit Boonah, Beaudesert, and Little Nerang Dam by 3.20 pm and Canungra by 3.35 pm.

Cricket-ball sized hail hits Ironman legend
WEEKEND PICTURES: Readers capture the storms
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2.52pm: Warwick, the Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Brisbane, Dalby, Maroochydore, Gympie, Kingaroy and Stanthorpe are in the storm's path.

"There are reports of small hail already falling on the area, with a couple of reports of hail bigger than 2cm, which means we have to classify the storm as severe," senior forecaster Tony Wedd said.

Mr Wedd said the main driver of today's storm is an upper trough of cold air over the region.

"It's a bit unusual to have such severe storms quite a few days in a row," he said.

"We've certainly had isolated incidents, but this relentlessness is unusual."

Cricket-ball sized hail hits Ironman legend
WEEKEND PICTURES: Readers capture the storms
Got a storm pic? MMS 0428 258 117

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Activist case a 'circus': Greenpeace

A Russian court has extended the pre-trial detention of Aussie Greenpeace activist Colin Russell. Source: AAP

THE wife of a Greenpeace activist detained in Russia has described watching him appear in court as "bittersweet".

A Russian court extended the pre-trial detention of Arctic 30 protester Colin Russell by three months on Monday, denying a request for bail or house arrest.

He has already spent two months in jail.

Christine Russell said watching proceedings in St Petersburg's Primorsky Court had been "pretty tough, bittersweet".

"Sweet in that we were able to watch a live stream of Colin's proceedings taking place ... because we haven't had a lot of contact with him," she told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday.

"Good to be able to hear that he's still got his sense of humour ... that seems to be holding him up through this absurd circus that's going on with these ridiculous charges."

The 59-year-old Tasmanian is one of 30 Arctic Sunrise crew members facing charges of piracy and hooliganism after being arrested by Russian authorities in September.

The so-called Arctic 30 had been protesting drilling in the Arctic, and were detained after two activists tried to scale a state-owned oil platform.

Describing her husband as looking haggard, incredibly tired and having lost a lot of weight, a visibly upset Mrs Russell said "he obviously doesn't look like the Col that I know".

She again called on Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Prime Minister Tony Abbott to intervene directly with Russian authorities, saying she was disappointed with the level of representation so far.

"Colin needs all the support from the Australian government," she said.

In comments released by Greenpeace, Mr Russell told the court: "I haven't done anything wrong.

"I don't understand the reasons why I've been detained. I've done two months hard time for nothing. I've done nothing wrong."

Australian Greens MP Adam Bandt called for the prime minister to intervene, saying the government needed to increase its diplomatic efforts.

Independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie said Mr Russell's continued detention was a "bitter blow" that made federal government intervention "all the more pressing".

"The British prime minister and German chancellor have already spoken to the Russian president to express their concerns with the continued detention of the Greenpeace activists and it is beyond time for Tony Abbott to do the same," Mr Wilkie said in a statement.

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Cop used 'secret camera' to film people

A NSW police officer has been charged with filming people using a secret camera in his bathroom.

A visitor to the home at Inverell, in northern NSW, alerted police in August after allegedly finding the camera.

Police say officers searched the home and seized a laptop.

The general duties constable, from the northwest metropolitan region, was issued with a court attendance notice on Monday for the offences of installing a device to film and attempting to film a person without consent.

He will appear in Hornsby Local Court on January 15.

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Infrastructure plan will be balanced: govt

THE federal government has defended billions of dollars worth of infrastructure cost-cutting despite promising a comprehensive nation building plan.

The coalition has forecast $4.5 billion of savings beyond the budget forward estimates from cancelled transport-related projects and an overhaul of a $952 million regional development fund, a Senate hearing was told on Monday.

Asked how individual projects would be paid for, assistant treasurer Arthur Sinodinos told the committee "it will be covered by revenue and there will still be some borrowing, I imagine, at least for some years.

"But the point is, you'll see a very comprehensive and very good infrastructure plan put together by very good group of people."

Labor senators bombarded senior infrastructure department staff with questions about the coalition's scrapping of the Regional Development Australia Fund, which had made grants of up to $2 million available to individual local governments.

Introduced in phases over seven years, Labor approved 910 grants in the latest round but under coalition changes each approval will be reviewed because none of the projects have been "contracted".

"We have provided advice to the government in relation to the status of the projects and the government is now considering the matter in the context of its budget processes," department secretary Mike Mrdak told the committee in Canberra.

Labor senator Jan McLucas highlighted a "climate change mitigation" project in the Torres Strait, which was approved for $5 million Commonwealth funding but will be reviewed because the contracts to begin work had not been signed.

"There has been a sense of urgency for about 15 years on this ... to provide protection against inundation of floods, usually of seawater, mainly during the February tides," Senator McLucas said.

Mr Mrdak said there was a "little bit of a grey area" until the government made a call on the unfunded projects.

However, unsuccessful projects can reapply to the coalition's alternate National Stronger Regions Fund, which begins in 2015.

It's funded at $200 million a year and requires a dollar-for-dollar match from proponents.

"We are looking at national projects which effect all parts of the country and we've got to make those balanced considerations," Senator Sinodinos said.

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Gas exports set to hit NSW by around 2016

AUSTRALIA'S rush to ship gas overseas could decrease local demand as prices skyrocket, an inquiry has heard.

In a submission to the NSW lower house inquiry into downstream gas supply on Monday, the Department of Trade and Investment states that a "huge decline" in available supplies at current prices were expected to hit in the next two to three years.

With the push to export the gas overseas, it argues that local customers will now have to compete with overseas counterparts who are generally willing to pay more.

"If domestic demand for gas falls because gas becomes too expensive, the economic viability of gas pipelines and distribution networks in NSW may be adversely affected," it states.

Steve Davies from the Australian Pipeline Industry Association (APIA) told the inquiry that the current pipelines ferrying the resource into the state were more than adequate to meet current and future demands.

With the closure of large industrial facilities on the eastern seaboard, Mr Davies said the predictions were that demands for gas would actually decrease over the next few years.

APIA, which represents the owners and operators of the nation's gas pipelines, believes it would be unlikely there would be greater investment in transmission networks.

"At this stage it seems it's the gas price itself and the impact of the new export industry on gas price that will have a much bigger impact on gas demand on Eastern Australia than the carbon price," Mr Davies told the inquiry.

Energy Users Association Australia, which represents companies such as BHP Billiton and Woolworths, said the government needed to encourage the development of the Coal Seam Gas (CSG) industry, rather than just restricting it.

While the association's CEO Phillip Barresi said he was not calling for a 'domestic gas reservation', he said the state government "should ensure that CSG developments do not result in greater resource availability for LNG exports".

"Energy users are very concerned over their inability to obtain long-term gas supply contracts and they are concerned that the short-term contracts reflect a preference for procuring gas to meet LNG export requirements rather than selling to the domestic market," he said in a submission.

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NFF elects its third president this year

QUEENSLAND grazier Brent Finlay has been named president of the nation's peak farming body, the third person to occupy the top job this year.

The National Farmers Federation (NFF) elected Mr Finlay, a veteran farmer with 25 years experience in agriculture, on Monday to take over from outgoing president Duncan Fraser.

Mr Fraser had only been at the helm of the NFF since April, when former president Jock Laurie stepped down to run an ultimately unsuccessfully campaign for NSW parliament.

Mr Finlay, who runs a sheepmeat, wool and beef property with his three daughters, paid tribute to the outgoing president.

"Mr Fraser ... has led NFF for the past seven months, through a tumultuous period in federal politics that has seen three agriculture ministers and three Prime Ministers hold their respective offices," he said in a statement.

"Now, as we enter a period of, we hope, relative political stability, it is time to get the focus away from politics and back onto policy."

Mr Finlay was elected at the NFF annual general meeting and members' council meeting in Canberra, where elections for vice president and board director positions are currently underway.

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Protesters brave rain for climate change

THE federal government was "sacrificing the planet for politics" by not taking stronger action to combat climate change, a rally in Sydney has been told.

Thousands of protesters, many in plastic ponchos or huddling under umbrellas, braved wild weather in Sydney's Prince Alfred Park on Sunday to call for stronger action on climate change.

Organised by social activist group GetUp!, the rally is one of more than 100 similar events throughout the country, with a total of about 50,000 people expected to take part.

"Today is a challenging period in our political history. It's a time when our government is sacrificing our planet for politics," GetUp! campaigns director Erin McCallum told a crowd carrying placards with slogans such as "Aim higher on climate", "Turn up the heat, choose solar power" and "Hands off our carbon tax Abbott".

Ms McCallum said the "government might have turned climate change into a political football but they weren't counting on us to play ball".

Police estimated between 3500 and 5000 people were at the Sydney event.

Deputy federal opposition leader Tanya Plibersek said the government needed to get back to basics on climate change.

"Australia is going backwards, the rest of the world is going forwards accepting that climate change is real and accepting that we must act," Ms Plibersek told the crowd, receiving applause.

"Australia can't go backwards in the face of global action.

"Is climate change real? Yes. Was climate action working? Yes."

The rally also heard from firefighters concerned about more fire danger from hotter temperatures, the Greens, and former resources executive Ian Dunlop.

Benson Koschinksi, 18, was at the event as part of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition. He said the federal government's climate policy wasn't good enough.

"It's probably the effectiveness of farting in a typhoon," he told AAP.

"Around the world we're seeing action, but here we've got a leader who's axing credible climate policy."

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Eminem atop the ARIA charts

US rapper Eminem has claimed No.1 spot on both the ARIA singles and albums charts. Source: AAP

EMINEM has scored the ARIA double with the US rapper sitting atop both the singles and albums charts.

Eminem's duet with Rihanna, The Monster, has climbed one spot to be the No.1 song in Australia this week.

The feat gives both artists their eighth chart-topping single in Australia.

Katy Perry's Roar is back up one place to No.2, spending its 14th week within the top 3.

Last week's No.1 Borrow My Heart from X Factor runner-up Taylor Henderson is down to No.3 this week.

Hey Brother by Avicii bounces back to No.4, and also up three places are Pitbull and Ke$ha with Timber at No.5.

Australian band Justice Crew have moved up to No.6 with Everybody, while X Factor winner Dami Im is down three places to No.7 with her debut single Alive.

The remixed version of Lana Del Ray's Young and Beautiful is up three places to a new peak of No.8, while Nathaniel has dropped four places to No.9 with You.

I See Fire, Ed Sheeran's first new single for 2013, rounds out the top 10.

On the ARIA albums chart, Eminem holds the top spot with his new record The Marshall Mathers LP 2.

With Eminem holding the top spot, Lady Gaga enters the chart at No.2 with her third album Artpop. Gaga's only album to make its debut at No.1 was Born This Way.

Katy Perry is down a place to No.3 with Prism.

New at No.4 is Illy with his fourth album Cinematic.

Neil Finn and Paul Kelly collaboration's Goin' Your Way sits at No.5, followed by Lorde's Pure Heroine at No.6.

At No.7 is the self-titled album for Flume, which has been repackaged ahead of his multiple ARIA Award nominations.

James Blunt's Moon Landing is down three places to No.8 and Tina Arena is down two spots to No.10 with her album Reset.

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Warrnambool backs sweetened Saputo bid

Canadian dairy giant Saputo has increased its bid for Warrnambool Cheese and dropped all conditions. Source: AAP

CANADIAN dairy giant Saputo's latest takeover offer for Warrnambool Cheese and Butter has been backed by the Victorian company's board.

With trading in Warrnambool shares halted until Tuesday at the company's request, Saputo increased its offer to $9 a share and dropped all conditions relating to its offer.

Warrnambool board chairman Terry Richardson says the Saputo bid is the best proposal for shareholders at present.

"The board has decided to unanimously recommend the revised Saputo offer, in the absence of a superior proposal," he said in a statement.

The company originally offered $7 a share before increasing that to $8 and then to $9 late on Friday, matching an offer by Australia's Murray Goulburn Co-operative that values the company at $505 million.

A third bidder, Bega Cheese, increased its original offer of 1.2 of its shares plus $2 cash for each Warrnambool share. The revised offer of 1.5 shares plus $2 in cash was worth $8.87 for each Warrnambool share.

Mr Richardson says the board's support for Saputo's latest offer reflects the increased cash and certainty compared with rival proposals.

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