Victorian hit-run accused faces court (AAP)

A 69-year-old man who allegedly hit another man with his car has faced a Melbourne court on a murder charge.

Anthony Richard Dockerty, 63, died after being hit by a car in Thornbury on December 2 last year.

Balwyn North man Joseph Drago was arrested on Monday following a police investigation into whether Mr Dockerty was deliberately hit.

Drago has never been in custody before, his lawyer told a brief hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

He will next appear for a committal mention on December 2.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24936807/victorian-hit-run-accused-faces-court/

Gunshot in Vic home, not explosion (AAP)

A man has been injured after a suspected explosion at a Melbourne home.

A man has minor injuries after a gun discharged at a Melbourne home.

Victorian police have quashed earlier reports that his injuries were caused by an suspected homemade bomb exploding at the Heidelberg West address.

Police checked the home on Tuesday morning after a man showed up at the Austin Hospital with minor injuries.

A Victoria Police spokesman said they were searching the Ramu Parade property and investigating the circumstances surrounding the man's injuries.

They say there was no explosion and detectives believe the man was injured after a firearm was discharged at the property.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24933714/gunshot-in-vic-home-not-explosion/

Two officials at Metro North Hospital and Health Service referred to corruption watchdog (ABC)

ABC Mr Stamp had decades of experience in the UK before moving to Metro North.

Two senior officials at Metro North Hospital and Health Service, which spans from Brisbane's north and parts of the Moreton and Somerset regions, have been referred to the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC).

Chief executive Malcolm Stamp and executive director of corporate services Scott McMullen were stood aside pending an investigation into matters that are yet to be revealed.

Statements issued by Queensland Health and Minister Lawrence Springborg's spokesman did not explain why the two senior bureaucrats were suspended, but it was confirmed the pair had been referred to the state's corruption watchdog.

Labor's health spokesperson Jo-Ann Miller said Queenslanders have a right to know what was going on at the service.

"This Government must tell the truth about why they have suspended the CEO and another senior executive from their offices," she said.

"This is an extraordinary turn of events dealing with Queensland's biggest and busiest hospitals that also hold the biggest budget.

"Taxpayers, patients and staff deserve to know what is happening."

Mr Stamp had over 39 years' experience in the United Kingdom's National Health Service (NHS) and during his career secured the largest public-private sector funding agreement to develop the new Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. 

The service's board chairman, Dr Paul Alexander, sent an email to staff on Monday advising of the suspensions and explained an investigation was being coordinated by Minter Ellison Lawyers.

"The board will ensure staff receive appropriate information about the outcome of the investigation when completed," he said.

Chief operating officer Kerrie Mahon will step in as acting chief executive and chief financial officer, Rob Dubery, will fill in for Mr McMullen.

"The implementation of clinical streams and the process of organisational transformation will continue while these interim arrangements are in place," Dr Alexander said in his email.

"The board has met with the executive leadership team, including the executive leads of facilities, professional streams and new clinical streams, to discuss these arrangements."

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24933175/two-officials-at-metro-north-hospital-and-health-service-referred-to-corruption-watchdog/

Wages key to boosting growth: report (AAP)

Increasing wages and spending more money on infrastructure could drive global growth higher than the target set for G20 nations, a new study shows.

The Group of 20 leaders, who will meet for the annual summit in Brisbane in November, have been asked to put forward plans for their countries to deliver a two per cent hike in growth beyond current projections.

But economic modelling to be presented to G20 labour ministers at a meeting in Melbourne on Wednesday shows almost six per cent growth could be achieved with the right settings.

The University of Greenwich modelling suggests a one percentage point rise in wages as a share of GDP could lead to a 0.36 per cent increase in global GDP.

A coordinated increase in wage share of between one and five per cent across G20 nations could achieve the two per cent target being sought by leaders.

Coupled with a boost in public infrastructure, it could deliver between 3.9 per cent and 5.8 per cent growth depending on the spending mix.

"A policy mix of raising the wage share together with increased public investment in social and physical infrastructure would give a significant stimulus to growth and employment over five years," the report said.

The report said when profit share increased, the fall in domestic consumption outweighed the rise in private investment.

Even in profit-led countries such as Australia, a global fall in the wage share leads to a global aggregate drop in demand and potentially a contraction in those countries.

The labour ministers will discuss how to tackle global unemployment and their work will feed into the leaders' summit in November.

International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) general secretary Sharan Burrow said a "business as usual" approach would deepen inequality in G20 countries and a worsening slump in wages would slash demand unless labour ministers take action.

"The G20 finance ministers have set a target of two per cent ... the question is how to get there," Ms Burrow said.

"This new research shows 33 million jobs could be created by coordinating wage increases and investment in infrastructure and unions will be urging governments globally to act on it."

A survey by the ITUC showed 57 per cent of respondents believed the Australian government was doing a bad job at tackling unemployment, which is at a 12-year high of 6.4 per cent.

Across G20 countries 68 per cent of people marked down their governments as bad at tackling the jobless rate.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24932409/wages-key-to-boosting-growth-report/

Vic man to face sexual assault charge (AAP)

Melbourne detectives have arrested a 58-year-old man over an alleged serious sexual assault.

Chris Bahen of Ringwood was arrested by police after the alleged assault which occurred near the intersection of Bedford Road and Pitt Street in Ringwood on Monday afternoon.

Bahen faced an out of sessions hearing on Monday night where he was charged with rape, police said.

He was remanded to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court later on Tuesday.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24932012/vic-man-to-face-sexual-assault-charge/

Coalition vote drops again: Newspoll (AAP)

The coalition has marked one year in government with significantly less support than when it came to power, the latest Newspoll shows.

The poll, published in The Australian newspaper on Tuesday, also reveals one in four voters don't want Tony Abbott or Bill Shorten as prime minister, and would give their first preference to the Greens, independents or a minor party.

The coalition's primary vote has dropped to 39 per cent, more than six points lower than the 45.6 per cent election result.

The ALP's primary vote is lower than the coalition's at 35 per cent, but Labor leads in two-party-preferred terms by 52 to 48 per cent.

Meanwhile, a separate Newspoll shows three out of five Australians are in favour of the federal government providing humanitarian aid and weapons to forces opposing Islamic State militants.

Conducted at the weekend and also published in The Australian, the poll of 1207 people revealed that 62 per cent of voters supported the action taken so far by the Abbott government, which has involved humanitarian aid drops, as well as shipments of weapons and ammunition.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said the government is considering what else Australia can do to usefully contribute to the international effort against Islamic State, and could add to the US military airstrikes that have halted the advance of the jihadist group into the Kurdish areas in Iraq.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24931598/coalition-vote-drops-again-newspoll/

SA police buy TruNarc analysers that can detect drugs through plastic, glass (ABC)

ABC South Australia Police has purchased six new TruNarc drug analyers.

New drug testing equipment that can detect narcotics through plastic and glass will be deployed by South Australia Police.

The department purchased six portable TruNarc analysers, which use low-power laser technology to scan for, and quickly identify, illicit drugs without the need for direct contact.

Detective Chief Inspector John Schrader said the analysers could scan substances through plastic or glass without the need to disturb packaging.

The analysers compare the scan results of the sample against an onboard library of illicit drugs, precursors and common cutting agents, and within a few seconds identify the drug on the display screen.

"The TruNarc is capable of analysing a range of solid, powder or liquid materials and can scan directly through plastic of glass without the need to disturb packaging or interfere with the exhibit material," Detective Chief Inspector Schrader said.

"At times it can be challenging for police to know with certainty what type of drug they encounter during investigations - and suspects are often reticent to disclose that information themselves and sometimes claim that the material is a harmless substance or prescription drug.

"The TruNarc effectively gives police the closest thing to a mobile drug-testing laboratory that provides instantaneous results and enables investigators to proceed with the investigation with certainty."

The analyser will be used as part of Operation Mantle, which investigates street-level drug dealing and trafficking.

Police working in Operation Mantle have been trained and accredited to use the TruNarc analysers in the course of their drug investigation duties.

Jurisdictions within Australia and overseas have adopted processes where the presumptive test results of the TruNarc are accepted by courts in simple possession matters.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24926688/sa-police-buy-trunarc-analysers-that-can-detect-drugs-through-plastic-glass/