Pilgrim robber on journey to Vic hold-up

HE was dressed as a pilgrim but he was not on his way to a holy place.

Wearing a purple pilgrim top with a white collar and green gloves, a man entered a suburban Melbourne milkbar, demanded cash from the front counter and then produced a knife.

When the staff member refused to hand over money, the bandit jumped on the counter and pulled out the entire cash register.

He fled with a second offender, who was standing at the door of the Ringwood East milkbar.

The incident happened on Old Lilydale Road on November 28, about 9.20pm (AEDT)

The pilgrim bandit is described as 180cm tall with a solid build, an Australian accent and wearing black track suit pants and black shoes.

The second offender is described as tall and thin but it is not known it was a man or woman.

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Obama, Bush, Clinton to attend funeral

At least three US presidents are set to attend memorial services for Nelson Mandela in South Africa. Source: AAP

AT least three American presidents will travel to South Africa to attend memorial services for anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela.

The White House said on Friday that President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama would travel to South Africa next week to pay their respects.

They will be joined on Air Force One by former President George W. Bush and wife Laura Bush, who "gratefully accepted" the invitation from the Obamas, a Bush spokesman said.

The White House said travel arrangements were still being made and it was unclear when the Obamas and Bushes would depart.

A memorial service for Mandela will be held Tuesday at a stadium in Johannesburg, followed by a smaller funeral on Dec. 15 in Mandela's hometown.

Former President Bill Clinton said he also planned to travel to South Africa, along with his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

It was unclear whether the Clintons would also fly on Air Force One.

"My whole family will be there," Clinton said in an interview with CNN.

"And we're looking forward to having the chance to say goodbye one last time."

Obama also invited 89-year-old former President George H.W. Bush to travel with him to South Africa, but a spokesman for the elder Bush said he would not be able to make the trip. Mandela's death has sparked an outpouring of memorials and celebrations of the former prisoner turned president who led his country out of apartheid rule.

In remarks following Mandela's death, Obama counted himself as one of the countless millions inspired by the South African leader.

"Like so many around the globe, I cannot fully imagine my own life without the example that Nelson Mandela set," Obama said on Thursday.

For Obama and Bush, the trip to South Africa will mark the second time they have been on the continent together this year.

The two men were in Tanzania at the same time this summer, though on separately planned trips.

They held a brief event together to honour victims of the 1998 US Embassy bombing in Dar es Salaam.

Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Bush both also attended an African first ladies summit during the trip.

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PM Abbott to travel to Johannesburg

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott will travel to Johannesburg to attend a memorial service for Nelson Mandela.

Mr Abbott said in a statement on Saturday he would extend an invitation to Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to accompany him on the trip to South Africa in the coming week.

It is also the last parliamentary sitting week of 2013.

"There is a long bipartisan history of Australian support for South Africa and the campaign to abolish apartheid," the prime minister said.

Australian flags will be at half mast on the day of the former South African president's official memorial.

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House 'cleanest in world': Lawson

Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson has again denied allegations of heavy drug use in a London court. Source: AAP

NIGELLA Lawson may be a "domestic goddess" but she doesn't accept being called "the lady of the house".

In a second day of evidence on Thursday, Lawson stood in high-heeled boots for another four-and-a-half hours of answering questions in a UK court - with some of her responses sparking a few smiles and giggles.

Testifying at the trial of two former assistants accused of fraudulently using her and former husband Charles Saatchi's credit cards, the celebrity cook took issue with defence barrister Karina Arden referring to her as "the lady of the house" - a home she later joked must have been the "cleanest house ever in the world".

Repeating the term back to the barrister, Lawson said: "I don't think it is the job of a woman to run a house."

She said it was the job of both herself and Saatchi, and has already told London's Isleworth Crown Court she is an "independent woman".

When asked if the multi-millionaire Saatchi Gallery owner had an interest in the house, Lawson said: "Absolutely. He would go round and point out marks he wanted removed.

"He is a person with a tremendous eye for detail."

When Arden was asking if a property owned by Saatchi was sold for STG25 million ($A45.3 million), and Lawson said she was not aware of the exact sum, the barrister said the figure had been reported in the press, to which the TV star replied: "Then it must be correct."

Her response prompted laughter from the members of the court press bench.

The food writer said among other duties, defendant Francesca Grillo would organise Saatchi's frappuccinos and sew buttons on his suits.

Arden asked if Francesca did the food shopping, to which Lawson replied: "I do a fair amount myself."

The barrister then said: "This is no criticism of you as a domestic goddess."

At one point, Arden referred to Saatchi as Charles and quickly apologised, to which Lawson replied, as quickly: "I don't mind what you call him."

Arden told Lawson she shares her "penchant for things Italian" and added that she did not mean that as a criticism.

Lawson said: "I don't see how that could ever be interpreted by anyone as a criticism."

When asked by Arden about specialist cleaners who came to their home, Lawson said Saatchi "likes to have control over every element".

She said: "You make the wrong assumption if you think I was in control of the decisions, and I don't think for one minute your client would disagree with me."

Speaking about weekends in which she would have been happy to spend time with family and do her own washing up, Lawson said she "complied" with her ex-husband's decision to call in help.

Arden said the former couple's home had a "silver room" filled with tea services, candlesticks and trays.

The barrister said silver cleaners visited once or twice a month and charged STG400 per visit.

Lawson disputed this, saying "mostly the silver looked awful" and she was glad to see the back of it.

When Arden suggested she probably did not clean the silver very often herself, Lawson said: "I do like cleaning silver and cleaning shoes.

"I find it incredibly therapeutic."

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Asthma hampers play, sex and work: study

NEARLY a third of dads with uncontrolled asthma avoid running around with their kids, according to a study that shows the condition affects almost every aspect of adult life.

It takes a toll on dating, sexual pleasure and people's careers, according to an Asthma Australia report on the study of more than 1000 people with poor asthma control.

More than one in 10 mothers in the study avoid playtime with their children and 16 per cent of parents find it difficult to carry their child. 

More than two million Australians have asthma, and the condition can be controlled with the right medication and treatment plan, says respiratory physician Dr Simon Bowler.

"There is absolutely no reason why people with asthma can't gain better control."

He said the place to start was to discuss an action plan with a GP.

Dating and socialising are a major problem, with a large proportion of people in the study saying they cannot not keep up with friends during a night out. Many say they go home early.

A third say they worry about wheezing at the theatre or movies.

One young woman said she didn't tell her boyfriend about her asthma on their first few dates. When she could not hide it any more, she pretended it wasn't important.

A third of men and about 20 per cent of women in the study say their asthma interferes with their sex life.

Asthma Australia CEO Mark Brooke says it is essential for people to ask their GP for help.

"Often simple changes like getting a treatment plan or reviewing their medication can help minimise the impact on patients' sex lives," said Dr Bowler, chair of the organisation's medical advisory committee.

More than half of the people in the AstraZeneca-sponsored study miss work every year because of their symptoms.

Almost 20 per cent take time off six times a year or more.

A large proportion say asthma has hampered their career.

Almost two thirds have had an asthma attack at work, with 40 per cent saying stress made their symptoms worse.

One senior executive said he had been embarrassed by staff who tried to keep away from him when he had an asthma cough.

Only six per cent say their colleagues are supportive and many do not feel comfortable taking medication in front of others.

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Coles, Woolies to limit fuel discounts

THE days of big shopper docket fuel savings are over after Coles and Woolworths agreed to limit discounts to four cents a litre.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on Friday announced the two supermarket giants had agreed to the four cent a litre maximum discount limit.

Coles and Woolworths have also agreed to stop funding the discounts through their supermarket division and any future discounting will need to be covered by their fuel retailing business.

The two supermarket chains made the voluntary undertakings to address the competition watchdog's concerns their discount offers would reduce competition in the fuel retail sector.

The move was sparked by an ACCC investigation into the effects of the shopper dockets, which was sparked by extended periods of eight cents a litre discounts from both companies.

"We were concerned that those offers could have longer-term effects on the structure of the retail fuel markets and also short term effects of increasing general pump prices in those markets," ACCC chairman Rod Sims said.

The ACCC said some fuel retailers had complained they could not afford to match the eight cents per litre discounts because they were subsided by Coles and Woolworths' supermarket divisions.

The four cent a litre limit for offers to supermarket customers will apply from January 1.

Coles managing director Ian McLeod said the supermarket chain did not believe its discounts amounted to a breach of law but recognised the ACCC's concerns.

"Coles has agreed to address the concern that larger discounts could adversely affect competition over time and from 1 January 2014 Coles will no longer offer any fuel discounts above the four cents per litre to supermarket customers," he said.

But he said Coles would continue to offer its four cent per litre fuel discounts to its customers.

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Australia seals FTA with South Korea

AUSTRALIA has sealed a Free Trade Agreement with South Korea, Prime Minister Tony Abbott says.

Mr Abbott told parliament Trade Minister Andrew Robb had successfully concluded negotiations with Korea, which is Australia's third largest export market.

Mr Abbott said it was good news for exporters, jobs, farmers and the country at large.

"Under this agreement, tariffs will be eliminated on Australia's major exports to Korea and there will be significant new market openings in services and investment," he said.

Tariffs will be phased out over the next 15 years on products such as beef, wheat, dairy, sugar, wine, seafood and fruits.

The deal will now go to cabinet and the joint standing committee on treaties.

"The conclusion of this free trade agreement will see the delivery of a key election commitment," the prime minister said.

Mr Abbott told parliament Trade Minister Andrew Robb had successfully concluded negotiations with Korea, which is Australia's third largest export market.

Mr Abbott said it was good news for exporters, jobs, farmers and the country at large.

"Under this agreement tariffs will be eliminated on Australia's major exports to Korea and there will be significant new market openings in services and investment," he said.

Tariffs will be phased out over the next 15 years on products such as beef, wheat, dairy, sugar, wine, seafood and fruits.

The deal will now go to cabinet and the joint standing committee on treaties.

"The conclusion of this free trade agreement will see the delivery of a key election commitment," the prime minister said.

Negotiations for the South Korea deal commenced under Labor in March 2009.

It is one of three FTAs Mr Abbott has pledged to secure in his first 12 months as prime minister. He also hopes to sign agreements with Japan and China.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten said Australia and Korea were strong friends during both war and peace as they shared common values and interests.

He said the FTA presented significant opportunities for Australia, including boosting economic growth, creating more competitive industries, and providing consumers with access to goods and services at lower prices.

"The pursuit of these objectives drives Labor's support for a more open, global trading system," Mr Shorten said.

He requested that senior government officials soon provide a briefing to the opposition, and that the government release details of the agreement at the earliest possible time so it can be reviewed and assessed.

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Qantas CEO says airline management 'great'

QANTAS chief executive Alan Joyce has launched a spirited defence of his management team's performance, saying they're doing a "great job in tough circumstances".

Qantas said on Thursday it would shed at least 1000 jobs as it works to save $2 billion over the next three years, after announcing it expects to post a half-year loss of up to $300 million.

Qantas' shares dropped 14.5 per cent to $1.06 as of 1235 AEDT following the announcement.

The news comes as Qantas continues to talk to the federal government about possible support for the airline.

Speaking on Thursday afternoon, Mr Joyce said he'd be taking at least a 38 per cent pay cut in 2013 due to the the airline's poor performance.

But he defended the work of Qantas' board and management.

"I believe the management of Qantas are doing a great job in tough circumstances," Mr Joyce told Sky News.

"The Qantas board and management are operating in tough environments and I believe are continuing to do a good job in tough circumstances."

He said there were a lot of airlines around the world that "would love to be reporting a profit nine of the last 10 years".

He said Qantas had a strong domestic franchise, a strong Jetstar business and a strong frequent flyer business.

"The value that we've created in this company and the strategic position that we've put the company in has been great," Mr Joyce added.

He said Qantas had made money in the domestic market in two out of the last three years.

But he said Qantas wasn't operating on a level playing field because its main domestic competitor Virgin was funded by three state-owned enterprises.

"That's created this unbalanced ... playing field," Mr Joyce said.

He said the airline was talking to the federal government about getting support, but refused to be drawn on what specific options were in play.

"I'm not going to give a running commentary," he said.

Trading conditions for Qantas deteriorated markedly in November with a steeper decline in passenger loads and yields.

In August, Australia's major airline swung to a $5 million full year profit, from a historic $245 million loss in the previous year.

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Three undergo surgery after machete attack

THREE victims of a machete attack in Queensland are recovering from surgery as police try to establish the motive for the horrific crime.

The three were among six people who were viciously attacked by two masked men who broke into a Rockhampton house on Wednesday night.

Four of the six were rushed to hospital with serious but not life-threatening wounds.

Three of the four have since had surgery for wounds to their arms, legs and bodies.

The other two victims were treated at the scene for less serious wounds.

One of the six victims was also sexually assaulted during the attack, it's been alleged.

Two men have been remanded in custody as police try to establish a motive for the crime, which has left neighbours shocked.

"At this point in time we can't quite pinpoint the trigger or the catalyst for this incident," Acting Senior Sergeant Paul Elliot said on Thursday.

The victims - three men and three women - are aged in their late teens to early twenties.

Neighbours have told of police descending on the Macalister Street home in the north Rockhampton suburb of Park Avenue.

"It was just a sea of flashing lights, and police and the ambulance taking people away," one neighbour told the ABC.

Police say the attackers had their faces covered during the incident and allegedly stole money and mobile phones from the property.

The alleged attackers, aged 29 and 33, were arrested nearby soon afterwards.

"They were caught very, very close to the house," Acting Snr Sgt Elliot said.

"One was in a car and one was on foot."

The accused men were remanded in custody when they faced the Rockhampton Magistrates Court on charges including acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, armed robbery and entering a dwelling with intent.

The 33-year-old is also facing a sexual assault charge.

The case has been adjourned to February 12.

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Man charged after NSW knife attack

A MAN and a teenage girl have been charged with attempted murder after a NSW man was allegedly knifed in the neck.

A 32-year-old man allegedly slashed a 61-year-old man in the neck and stabbed his leg at a caravan at Wellington, near Dubbo, about 1.15am (AEDT) on Saturday, police say.

The attacker fled in a waiting car.

Officers arrested the 32-year-old and 17-year-old girl on Tuesday.

They were charged with wounding with intent to murder and aggravated break and enter.

The man was refused bail at Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday and will reappear at Wellington Local Court on February 11.

The girl was refused bail and will reappear in a Children's Court on Tuesday.

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Branson attacks Qantas management, service

BILLIONAIRE Richard Branson has urged the federal government to resist helping Qantas, saying the airline's management and service are to blame for its financial woes.

Qantas' rival Virgin Australia on Tuesday received approval from the Takeovers Panel for its planned $350 million equity raising which will allow major foreign shareholders to increase their stake in the airline.

It comes as Prime Minister Tony Abbott this week left the door open to allow greater foreign ownership of Qantas which is subject to laws ensuring it is at least 51 per cent Australian-owned.

Mr Branson, whose Virgin Group owns a 10 per cent stake in Virgin Australia, said it seemed strange that a liberal government would consider tilting the playing field in Qantas' favour.

"It would be grossly unfair and bewilder investors in Australia and worldwide," Mr Branson tweeted on Wednesday.

"If Qantas was better managed and offered the public a decent service it would not be in the financial mess it is currently claiming it is in."

He said the government should encourage competition, not "prop up the weak" when the going gets tough.

Virgin Australia's major shareholders Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines and Etihad Airways own about 73 per cent of Virgin and plan to take up their full entitlement of new shares.

Qantas, which had been lobbying the federal government to stop Virgin's capital raising, released a statement saying the playing field was tipped in favour of Virgin whose three government-owned foreign airlines covered their losses.

"Qantas doesn't have that luxury and yet our customers have never been better served," the airline said.

"That's thanks to Qantas staff, who are the people responsible for our record customer service ratings."

The escalation of the feud between the two airlines comes after Virgin boss John Borghetti said his company was considering legal action over Qantas boss Alan Mr Joyce's claims that backing from foreign airlines allowed Virgin to run at a loss, thereby undermining competition.

In August Qantas recorded a $5 million profit as the battle for Australian airways reduced local earnings.

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International Rebels chip in for Qld fight

Bikies are preparing to challenge the Queensland government's anti-gang laws in the High Court. Source: AAP

THOUSANDS of Rebels bikies around the world are expected to chip in $50 each to help their Queensland mates launch a High Court challenge against anti-bikie laws.

Others have offered to open up their homes or provide holidays overseas so bikies can ride out the new laws which impose hefty mandatory sentences and bans on working in certain industries.

The anti-bikie laws were meant to tear the now outlaw motorcycle gangs apart, but they're banding together to raise a half-a-million-dollar fighting fund.

Rebels veteran Mick Kosenko says they've asked about 3000 members in 21 countries to contribute, and everyday Queenslanders are also contributing.

"It's almost like a Eureka stockade feeling, we're the underdogs," he told AAP.

Mr Kosenko has worked as a tattoo artist for 25 years and employs six people on Brisbane's northside.

The veteran biker doesn't have a criminal record, but feels like he's being treated like an outlaw because he is a member of the Rebels.

They were declared a criminal organisation in October alongside 25 other groups.

He's been waiting for a tap on the shoulder to close his business down or at least be slapped with a fine.

"My wife is crying every day, we're probably going to lose everything," he said.

"The police commissioner is going to decide who can tattoo and who can't.

"Not if they're good artists or they're clean."

Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie says the laws will target only criminal motorcycle gangs, the groups that are linked to murder, rape, extortion and drug trafficking.

"We always expected a challenge and we are ready to fight back," he said.

"We'll fight the good fight.

"We believe we're on the right side of Queenslanders here."

The United Motorcycle Council of Queensland will lodge the High Court challenge on behalf of recreational and outlaw groups within weeks.

Wayne Baffsky, a Sydney barrister who successfully defeated similar legislation in NSW, will lead the challenge with Zeke Bentley of Brisbane-based Irish Bentley Lawyers.

Mr Bentley says the laws interfere with the administration of criminal justice.

While the government's campaign had focused on bikies, the laws could be used quite broadly.

"They apply to any group the government of the day decides to classify as unlawful, and they apply to innocent people who meet a member of an unlawful group socially," Mr Bentley said.

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Antarctic crash probe to take months: ATSB

Three Australians are in a stable condition after being injured in a helicopter crash in Antarctica. Source: AAP

AN investigation into a helicopter crash in Antarctica that injured three Australians could take several months to complete.

An Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) spokeswoman says the agency will investigate Sunday evening's crash but that gathering information on the incident will likely take "several months".

The chopper's pilot and two passengers were injured while returning from a mission to survey a penguin colony near the Amery ice shelf, around 278 kilometres from Davis Station.

All three were transferred to Davis Station, part of the federal government's Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), on Monday night and are currently in a stable condition.

They're being treated by the Davis Station doctor, with support from the AAD's Polar Medicine Unit at Kingston in Tasmania.

An AAD spokeswoman on Tuesday said she couldn't provide any more details about the crash.

The AAD previously said the injured were cared for by crew from a second helicopter, which was travelling in tandem, while awaiting rescue from the crash site.

The AAD said it chartered the chopper from Helicopter Resources based in Melbourne.

In a statement, Environment Minister Greg Hunt praised the effort of rescuers.

"Their quick thinking and precise planning ensured that all the injured were cared for and kept safe during the ordeal," Mr Hunt said.

"The accident is a reminder of the challenges facing scientists working in this environment."

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Labor won't get Xmas pass, says Abbott

The PM has threatened to keep parliament sitting until his key pieces of legislation are passed. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has repeated threats to have parliament sit through to the end of December.

He says Labor shouldn't get a "free pass at Christmas" if it won't back the government's agenda.

Mr Abbott said on Tuesday he wanted to ramp up pressure on the opposition over its failure to support government moves to scrap the mining and carbon tax, raise the debt ceiling and reintroduce temporary protection visas.

Speaking to reporters after a joint party room meeting, where he first made the Christmas sitting threat, Mr Abbott said the public had voted for a change of policy in September.

"Now, the Labor Party is doing its best to sabotage those policies," Mr Abbott said.

"The Labor Party is doing its best to give the two-fingered salute to the Australian people."

The prime minister said the parliament "should sit and do its job".

"And doing its job means supporting the policies and the legislation that the people vote for," he said.

"I don't think the Labor Party should get a free pass at Christmas time if it's not prepared to accept that the people voted a certain way."

Responding to the threat, Labor has said it is prepared for the extra sittings but accused the prime minister of manufacturing a parliamentary crisis.

"If Mr Abbott wants to bring us back to Parliament, we're all for it," manager of opposition business Tony Burke said.

The Australian Greens said Mr Abbott was simply engaging in "pre-Christmas chest beating".

"The parliament sets its own sitting timetable and we've got the sitting timetable we've got," Greens MP Adam Bandt said.

"It's incumbent on this coalition government to stop the chest beating and to work constructively with others in parliament."

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Petero turns down chance at Newman's team

RUGBY league legend Petero Civoniceva has passed on a chance to join the Queensland premier's team, believing he can do more for Redcliffe by himself.

The record-breaking former Australian forward says he was flattered by an invitation to stand for the Liberal National Party in the seat of Redcliffe, which was vacated by disgraced former LNP MP Scott Driscoll last month.

But Mr Civoniceva believes he can do a lot more for his community without aligning himself politically.

"I'm pretty proactive already. I'm an ambassador for a not-for-profit organisation that looks after a lot of community groups within Redcliffe," he told AAP on Tuesday.

"I'm pretty happy with where I am now, I work for the NRL, I still live in Redcliffe and my kids go to school here, I think I can do a lot more this way.

"No doubt Redcliffe has taken a big hit with what's happened (with Mr Driscoll) over the past year, but there are a lot more people who are more politically qualified to represent the community than me."

The LNP said nominations for the seat were still open.

Former federal MP Yvette D'Ath will stand as the Labor candidate, after she lost her federal seat of Petrie to the LNP's Luke Howarth at the September election.

Mr Civoniceva played 45 Tests for Australia and 30 State of Origin games for Queensland - both records for a forward.

He has also played 297 NRL games, including 225 for Brisbane, since he debuted for the Broncos in round 7, 1998.

Mr Civoniceva's competitive career came to an end last month, when he captained his native country Fiji and led it to semifinals of the Rugby League World Cup.

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G20 to shutdown tax leaks: Abbott

Australia is the new chair of the G20, the top global forum for examining the world's economic. Source: AAP

AUSTRALIA hopes to lead a united global charge against profit shifting during its Group of 20 presidency.

The nation on Sunday assumed host rights for the 2014 forum of the world's leading economies, with Prime Minister Tony Abbott setting a clear agenda.

"We are determined to ensure that we, as far as we can, improve the world's international taxation arrangements so we don't have the kind of leakage we've had in recent times through transfer pricing," Mr Abbott told reporters in Brisbane, the host city for November's leaders summit.

"The principle here is you should pay tax in the country where you earn the revenue and we will be talking to our G20 partners to make sure this is the case."

There will be a focus on private sector-led economic economic growth with talks on trade and banking, Mr Abbott added.

"We will be demonstrating what we believe is sound economic policy," the prime minister said, championing his domestic agenda of reduced taxation and regulation to drive productivity.

"It isn't just a meeting, it is a year to show practical leadership."

Australia will extend an invitation for the upcoming G20 to "key member of the global economic system" Singapore and "closest friend" New Zealand.

And as Australia continues to heal its wounds with Indonesia over spying allegations, Mr Abbott deflected speculation that visiting G20 leaders could be subject to eavesdropping, as was allegedly the case in 2013 when Russia hosted the summit in St Petersburg.

"I can promise leaders around the world that are visiting Australia that I'm going to be absolutely candid with them," Mr Abbott said.

"I won't be saying anything in private that I don't say in public. That's my commitment to the leaders of the world and I want to build the best possible G20."

The G20 presidency will see Australia host meetings of finance ministers, trade ministers and employment ministers, culminating in the leaders' summit, with some 4000 delegates and 3000 media representatives due to visit the country.

"The cost to the commonwealth is in the order of $400 million ... but we believe that the benefits of hosting a gathering like this ... far outweigh the costs," Mr Abbott said.

But at least one group will be voicing opposition to the event.

"While the coming together of nations could be an opportunity to promote peace, social justice and ecological sustainability, the G20 is perpetuating financial and economic system that is failing the majority of the world and destroying the planet," Kim Stewart said on behalf of the Brisbane Community Action Network G20.

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Two dead, 45 wounded in Thai protests

One protester has been killed after an attack on a bus carrying government's supporters in Bangkok. Source: AAP

TWO people have been killed and 45 people have been wounded during political violence in the Thai capital.

The opposition has vowed a final push to overthrow the government on Sunday.

"The confirmed toll is now two dead and 45 injured," an official at the city's Erawan emergency centre told AFP.

The circumstances were unclear but the violence broke out after a confrontation late on Saturday between opposition protesters and government supporters staging their own rally at a Bangkok stadium in support of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

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Thousands of bikies rally in Australia

THE roar of motorbikes echoed through Australia's capital cities on Sunday as thousands of riders united in opposition to Queensland's anti-bikie legislation.

The Australian Motorcycle Council (AMC) says the new laws, aimed at criminal bikie gangs, have resulted in the harassment of law-abiding motorcyclists.

Many have reported being pulled over by police multiple times a day and questioned over links to outlaw gangs.

More than a thousand bikers, lawyer groups and civil libertarians protested outside Queensland parliament on Sunday.

Melbourne had a similar turnout, while 500 people gathered in Sydney and 200 in Hobart, AMC chair Shaun Lennard told AAP.

Mr Lennard says they don't want to see the laws replicated in other states.

"We continue to reject the premise that simply riding a motorcycle makes you worthy of questioning about criminal activity," he told AAP.

"We fully support any reasonable action to crack down on crime, but we believe the laws go beyond that.

"It's stereotyping and discrimination."

Queensland organiser Gabriel Buckley says of primary concern is that the laws reverse the onus of proof for people accused of links to proscribed criminal gangs.

"Any organisation can be listed as a criminal gang with fewer checks and balances," he told AAP.

Police and the Newman government have previously asked recreational riders for patience amid the bikie crackdown, but concede there will be disruptions for law-abiding motorcyclists.

Premier Campbell Newman gets personal updates on the crackdown each morning and says four to 10 outlaw gang members are being arrested each day for assault and drug, weapon and money laundering offences.

He asked for recreational bikies to be patient.

"I'm just saying to people who love their motorbikes, to understand that right now we're trying to shut down gangs who manufacture drugs, sell them to kids, who infiltrate all parts of the economy and pretending they are just wonderful loveable outlaw types - they're not," he said.

"They are vicious gangs, who belt people up and intimidate business owners and cause scenes of mayhem.

"These policing efforts are very important to shut down these gangs, that's what we're doing."

The AMC has launched a fighting fund to raise money for any High Court challenge to the laws and is due to meet with the state government on Tuesday.

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