Senin, 08 September 2014

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)

Suspected explosion at Vic homeA 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)

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

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

Vic teen karaoke lover found (AAP)

Vic police seek 15-year-old karaoke loverVic police seek 15-year-old karaoke lover

Victorian teenager Si-Tian Wang has been located safe and well.

Her family and police feared for the safety of the 15-year-old after she left her Vermont home on Saturday night.

Her family said her disappearance was very out of character and police were concerned because of the girl's age.

"The teenager made contact with her family this evening," Victoria Police said in a statement.

It was reported Si-Tian may frequent karaoke bars in the Melbourne CBD.

Police thanked the public and media for their help in the matter but declined to elaborate about the teenager's movements while she was reported missing.


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24926945/vic-teen-karaoke-lover-found/

Charleville truck explosion: Transport Workers Union calls for review of trucking of chemicals (ABC)

The Transport Workers Union (TWU) has called for a review of the trucking of dangerous chemicals in the wake of a catastrophic explosion in south-west Queensland.

A two-kilometre exclusion zone was declared near Charleville after the truck, carting more than 50 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, crashed and rolled about 10:00pm (AEST) on Friday.

It was being transported to South Australia for the mining company, Orica.

Experts from the company were assisting authorities in investigating the accident.

The blast was so powerful it "disintegrated" the truck, destroyed two firefighting vehicles and two bridges, and blew a hole in the Mitchell Highway.

The truck driver, two fire officers, and two passers-by remain in hospital with serious injuries, while three other rescue workers were recovering at home.

TWU spokesman Peter Biagini said there should be restrictions on which trucks could carry which chemicals.

"I think we need to have a good look at this sort of product, and maybe when they are carting these sort of chemicals that the trucks that are carting them should run on natural gas instead of diesel, so if there is an incident like that happened on the weekend you don't have those two products mixing together and causing the explosion," he said.

Queensland Trucking Association CEO Peter Garske said the cause of the crash had to be thoroughly investigated before any discussion could begin on tightening regulations.

"If there's no crash, there's no explosion," he said.

"I'll be looking to cooperating. I've got no doubt my industry and the company concerned will cooperate with all the authorities to see what lessons are to be learned, was it avoidable, was that an issues with the tuck, the driver, the road or indeed some other person on the road as is the case in heavy vehicle crashes."

In a statement, Orica said its team would work alongside emergency services and regulators to understand both the cause of the accident and its aftermath and also provide advice regarding the management of the site and clean up activities.

"The thoughts of all Orica employees in Australia are with the driver of the contractor's vehicle and emergency service workers who responded to the accident and who are now being treated for injuries," the statement said.

"It is not appropriate to speculate on the cause of the accident and subsequent events as these are the subject of the investigations now underway.

"The safe transportation of ammonium nitrate is regulated under the Australian dangerous goods code and in Queensland under the Explosives Act, which is overseen by the Department of Natural Resources and Mines and Inspector of Explosives."

Explosion, emergency response to be probed

Fire Assistant Commissioner Tom Dawson said around 20 investigators would return to the scene today, with police and forensic experts already having been granted access to the site on Sunday.

"The rain came in late yesterday afternoon and hampered the work, but the scene is now safe," he said.

"There is a lot more photographic [evidence], more measurements to be taken — a lot more documentation.

"We hope to have that concluded by just after lunch and then we are going to start recovering the vehicles - that's the two fire trucks, and there are two private trucks near the crash scene, as well."

Mr Dawson said authorities would also review the emergency response to the explosion.

The assistant fire commissioner said emergency workers reported problems with telephone and radio coverage at the site in the aftermath of the blast.

"Then you get into sat phones, and if you're not standing in the right place 30 kilometres outside of town your sat phone just won't work," he said.

"You may have to move three or four metres, but you spend half your time trying to find reception and that's when you have time to do it, and you're calm and just looking and you have time to achieve, then you will achieve it.

"But if you're having to think on the spot and move quickly, very challenging."


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24924878/charleville-truck-explosion-transport-workers-union-calls-for-review-of-trucking-of-chemicals/

Kathy Lin*s Triple *0* played in court (AAP)

Moments after discovering the battered bodies of her brother's family, Kathy Lin can allegedly be heard pleading with her husband in a Triple '0' call not to leave her.

In the series of calls played to the Supreme Court on Monday, Kathy can be heard screaming and crying while the operator tries to calm her down.

Asking "What's wrong? What's wrong" before telling her to "Stop screaming", Kathy cries "I'm not sure but maybe someone killed my brother's family".

It is during this fever pitch that the crown says she can also be heard pleading with her husband Robert Xie.

"You stay," she allegedly tells him in Cantonese crying, "I was in agony, in agony. I am more scared than you are", before he is heard driving off.

It's the crown case that Xie had his wife at the scene on July 18, 2009 because he knew she was in no danger.

He knew this, the crown says, because he was the one who had crept into her brother Min "Norman" Lin's home in Sydney's northwest in the early hours of July 18 and murdered him, his wife Yun "Lily" Li Lin, 44, their young sons Henry and Terry, and Lily's sister, Yun Bin "Irene" Lin, 39.

When Min Lin failed to turn up to work later that morning, Xie and Kathy went to their home and discovered the scene that prompted the first call at 9.47am.

But Xie's barrister Graham Turnbull SC questioned the validity of the crown's transcript of the panicked calls which are punctuated by high pitched screaming.

The court heard interpreter Albert Au had been called back to review his transcript after a clerk at the DPP was able to "pick up some more words" from the tape.

"You were asked to come in and see if you could hear them too isn't that right?" Mr Turnbull asked him.

"Some staff did say something to me yes," Mr Au replied, later adding they had heard something "dramatically different" to one another.

The trial continues.


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24929709/kathy-lins-triple-0-played-in-court/

Minggu, 07 September 2014

Roller door dispute: Council, owners in stand-off over Albert Park lane title deed (ABC)

The door blocks off the end of the lane and cuts across a neighbour s garage.ABC The door blocks off the end of the lane and cuts across a neighbour's garage.

Police have intervened in a tense stand-off between a Melbourne couple and the local council over a roller door blocking access to a lane.

Justine and Paul Cubbin erected the door behind their property in Cameron Place, in the suburb of Albert Park, about two months ago with a permit issued by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

Port Phillip City Council wants the door removed because it blocks off the end of the lane and cuts across a neighbour's garage.

Council contractors attempted to pull it down this morning, but the Cubbins called police.

The couple said they owned the land at the end of the laneway and had a right to block it off.

They have shown ABC News a deed from the 1800s which shows the land belongs to them.

The council said they had a later title that did not include the land.

Police said the door could not be removed today because the council did not have the authority to pull it down.

'No bad blood' between neighbours

The Cubbins said they were relieved, but wanted a more permanent solution.

Ms Cubbin said they have felt bullied and intimidated by the council's tactics to protect their courtyard which is 12.29 square metres in size.

"I've got a planning permit to erect the roller door. I have a building permit," she said.

"I've done everything by the book so if council now say that I can't act on a planning permit I can't see what that means for other planning permits."

Ms Cubbin said she had been in contact with her neighbour about the access issues.

"There's no bad blood between us, we're both looking to the council to resolve the problem one way or the other," she said.

"But we need to make it abundantly clear, that council allow that roller door to be constructed on her property while this dispute was going on.

"I have never intentionally blocked anybody's access."

Chris Carroll from the council issued a brief statement after its contractors were denied access to the site.

"Unfortunately the resident who has illegally erected a roller door on a public road, will not grant access for the power to be cut," he said.

"Therefore, we need to consider incurring the expense of further legal action to reinstate public access to the road way, particularly for the landowner whose access is currently being obstructed."


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24923664/roller-door-dispute-council-owners-in-stand-off-over-albert-park-lane-title-deed/

Top End locals warn Pakistani sailor who jumped ship near Darwin will struggle to survive in scrub (ABC)

A long-time resident of the Cox Peninsula says a Pakistani navy sailor who jumped ship in Darwin Harbour will struggle to survive in the rugged, sparsely populated scrub west of the city.

The sailor was onboard one of the navy vessels taking part in Exercise Kakadu, Australia's largest maritime exercise, which has 15 nations from the Asia Pacific participating this year.

A Defence spokeswoman said the man was from the Pakistani vessel PNS NASR, and police said he was reported missing at 4:30am CST on Sunday.

A backpack was found in the water and the sailor was spotted on the mainland in a fairly remote area by a caretaker from the local YMCA.

Cox Peninsula local Chris Chaplin has told 105.7 ABC Darwin that helicopters had spent Monday morning searching the Talc Head area, a short distance across Darwin Harbour from the CBD, but more than 100 kilometres by road from the city.

"If he's got no shoes and no supplies, you wouldn't think he'd last very long. It's tough country," he said.

"We live in the tropical environment and people think naturally think that means green grass and lots of rainfall, but of course we're at the end of the dry season.

"There's no fresh ground water over there. There's a handful of people that live there but the track in is as rough as rough.

"He can't follow the coastline, that coastline over that side of the harbour, it would be 80 to 90 per cent mangroves and mudflats, you can't just walk around the coastline to somewhere either.

"He's in a pretty rough spot that's for sure."

The defence adviser to Pakistan's High Commission in Australia, Brigadier Muhammad Asghar said authorities were trying to reach the man's family in Pakistan.

But he would not reveal the man's name and said a ground search is continuing.

A spokeswoman for Exercise Kakadu said the two-week exercise had not been affected by the incident.


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24926687/top-end-locals-warn-pakistani-sailor-who-jumped-ship-near-darwin-will-struggle-to-survive-in-scrub/

Trees uprooted, powerlines downed as severe cold front sweeps across Perth (ABC)

SES crews work to secure the roof of an apartment in Attadale this morning.ABC SES crews work to secure the roof of an apartment in Attadale this morning.

Winds of more than 100 kilometres per hour have uprooted trees and brought down powerlines as a severe cold front moved across Perth and the South West.

More than 10,000 homes were left without power, with Como, Manning, Salter Point and Hocking among the worst hit.

A tree landed on a house in Morris Drive, in Forrestfield, and the roof peeled off a garage and slammed into a house in nearby Carissa Way.

The roof of a block of units in Attadale was also damaged.

Resident Tom Hope said about 3:30am he heard an ominous sound.

"There was a big rumbling sound, and the next minute I just had the premonition something was going to happen," he told the ABC.

"I got up and I ran into the bathroom [and] just as that happened the whole roof came off.

"It was like being in a war zone.

"It took me half an hour to get out of there, I couldn't even get out the door."

Payal Jaim was home with her two children, aged two and six, when the roof caved in.

She was hit in the leg by flying debris, leaving it bruised and swollen. But she said she was most concerned about getting her children out.

"I can't hear anything, everything .. for me [was], I have to save my kids," she said.

The children sustained some minor scratches she said, but were otherwise fine.

Boats are reported to have broken their moorings in Fremantle Harbour and sea containers were blown over at Rous Head.

Residents in the Perth suburb of Forrestfield believe they were hit by a mini tornado, but the weather bureau has not yet said if this was the case.

A plane was flipped completely over, and trees were uprooted on Rottnest Island.

State Emergency Service volunteers rally to fix damaged homes

The State Emergency Service had received 29 call outs by 8:30am.

The majority of calls have involved minor damage to homes, fallen trees on homes, cars and fences.

More than 96 SES volunteers from 16 units were working to fix damaged houses throughout the metropolitan area, a spokesman said.

Forrestfield was worst hit with 10 calls for help. 

The majority of calls have involved minor home damage, fallen trees, cars and fences, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said.

Crews were also called to Port Denison, Brunswick Junction and Yallingup.

Bureau of Meteorology Duty forecaster James Ashley said the wind gusts had been widespread.

"The strongest wind gust so far has been around 102 kilometres an hour at Rottnest Island and also at Busselton Jetty and also through Munglinup," he said.

"Jandakot, Cape Leeuwin all seen gusts up around 95 to 100 kilometres an hour.

"The damaging winds up around that 100 kilometres an hour mark have been right across the metro area and the south-west of the state.

"Forrestfield just sounds like, unfortunately, it copped one of the better gusts."

He said damage patterns would reveal more about the weather patterns.

"It's quite difficult to confirm a tornado, having said that it's certainly possible," he said.

A fresh front is expected to bring gusty, potentially damaging winds and more rain this afternoon for areas south of a line from Lancelin to Lake King to Israelite Bay.

The storm has also filled rain gauges across the city.

Bickley received the most rain in Perth, recording 28.2mm.

In the South West, Dwellingup clocked 24.6mm.


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24923496/trees-uprooted-powerlines-downed-as-severe-cold-front-sweeps-across-perth/

Aust to receive UN rap over asylum seekers (AAP)

The UN high commissioner will censure Australia s treatment of asylum seekers in a speech in Geneva.AAP The UN high commissioner will censure Australia's treatment of asylum seekers in a speech in Geneva.

The United Nations' incoming top human rights official will use his first speech to challenge Australia's policies on asylum seeker boat arrivals and and border protection.

Incoming US High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein will make the speech in Geneva about 1.20am AEST on Tuesday.

He will say offshore processing of asylum seekers and the policy to turn back boats is leading "to a chain of human rights violations", including arbitrary detention and possible torture when detainees return to their home countries.

He will also censure plans to resettle people in countries "that are not adequately equipped" - a possible reference to Australian government negotiations with Cambodia.

The speech will cover a range of other issues including Syria and Iraq, according to an advanced copy available online.

Mr Al Hussein, who is from Jordan, replaces South African Navi Pillay in the role as commissioner.


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24923402/aust-to-receive-un-rap-over-asylum-seekers/

Bushwalkers missing in Vic (AAP)

Three bushwalkers including a 12-year-old boy are missing in a Victorian state park.

The group set off for a hike in the Lerderderg State Park about 11am on Sunday.

The man, 24, woman, 21, and 12-year-old boy, from Werribee in Melbourne, expected to be gone for a couple of hours.

They were reported missing about 5pm.

Police and SES crews searched for the trio overnight and were back out there at first light on Monday.

The Lerderderg State Park is about an hour away from Melbourne.


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24921791/bushwalkers-missing-in-vic/

Rozelle shop blast: Father, husband of mother and baby killed says he is *devastated* by loss (ABC)

Local residents attend a meeting at Balmain Town Hall over the Rozelle fire investigations.ABC Local residents attend a meeting at Balmain Town Hall over the Rozelle fire investigations.

The father and husband of two victims of a shop explosion in Sydney last week says he is devastated by the loss of his wife and their 12-month-old son, who "made everyone smile".

The NSW Police Arson Squad is leading a criminal investigation into the Rozelle blast and fire on Thursday that killed Bianka O'Brien, 31, and her son, Jude, along with 27-year-old Chris Noble.

John O'Brien described his wife of eight years as "an inspiration to all who knew her", saying she was a wonderful wife and an even better mother.

He said people gravitated towards her because of her "beautiful and warm personality".

"Bianka and I were together for eight years, married for two, and to say she was the love of my life is an understatement," he said in a statement.

"I can't believe how quickly those eight years have flown by but they have definitely been the best years of my life.

"I know I was truly loved by her and the feeling was entirely mutual."

Mr O'Brien said he loved his son Jude with all his heart, describing him as the perfect baby who "never stopped smiling".

"By far the proudest moment of my life was becoming a father," he said.

"Jude had just started to walk and was only just discovering the world around him. Everything was exciting to him and he was just a joy to be around. He made everyone smile."

He said the events of the past few days had been devastating, but he has been overwhelmed by the support from the community.

"Finally, I would like to extend my sympathy to the family of Chris Noble and everyone else who has been affected by this," he said.

The owner of the convenience store on the Darling Street block, Adeel Khan, remained in intensive care at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

Asbestos concerns at blast site

Concerns over asbestos contamination and an exclusion zone around the site the explosion and fire were discussed at a town hall meeting on Sunday.

The area around the blast site has been described by investigators as "very dangerous" and shut off to residents and business owners since Thursday.

Inspector Gary Coffey assured the gathering that authorities were addressing concerns over asbestos and the impact of an exclusion zone around the site.

"We understand the very real need to restore this community in a timely manner so that the healing process can begin," Inspector Coffey said.

"I can assure you that we are all working very hard every minute of the day to try and achieve this.

"The priorities for the police operation are to assess the asbestos management at the site, reducing the exclusion zone to allow unaffected businesses to re-open and to provide pedestrian access to those businesses and crime scene examination."

Local business owner Steve Isaac said his electrical store on Darling Street had been closed since Thursday and the exclusion zone set up around the blast site had been having a major impact on his business.

"Because it's a crime scene and the street is closed off, it's hard to get deliveries in and out and we've had a lot of cancellations," Mr Isaac said.

"Most of us have had to stay shut."

Inspector Coffey said a demolition order had been issued for the building next to the convenience store on Darling Street.

An accredited company carried out an asbestos inspection on Friday and told police asbestos had been detected on the ground and immediately around the site.

"An asbestos exclusion zone was put in place at the site, and the clean up commenced (on Saturday), and at the same time a hygienist commenced air monitoring at several locations around the site.

"The result we received was that there was no airborne asbestos detected.

"Early this morning asbestos clean up at the site recommenced and we will be conducting further testing today and these results will determine how quickly we can reduce the exclusion footprint so that businesses can re-open.

"The site itself is very dangerous and the conditions are constantly changing, and we'll keep everyone informed of developments."


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24919143/rozelle-shop-blast-father-husband-of-mother-and-baby-killed-says-he-is-devastated-by-loss/

Suspicion surrounds Sydney man*s death (AAP)

The death of an elderly man in Sydney's west is being treated as suspicious.

Police were called to the man's home in north Parramatta on Sunday following concerns from family, and found the 76-year-old dead.

A post mortem examination is being conducted to determine his cause of death, but police say the case is being treated as suspicious.


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24920928/suspicion-surrounds-sydney-mans-death/

Son charged with murder after fight with father, death of neighbour (ABC)

The fatal attack in Woodvale may have resulted from an argument between a father and son.ABC The fatal attack in Woodvale may have resulted from an argument between a father and son.

A man has been charged with murder after a fight that left his father critically injured and a neighbour dead in suburban Perth.

Officers were called to a home on Justicia Close, Woodvale, about 1:20pm yesterday after reports of a fight.

Witnesses said a woman ran to her neighbour's house for help to break up the altercation between her husband and son.

Two neighbours then rushed to the scene of the fight, where they found the 69-year-old father injured.

One neighbour reportedly stayed with the injured man, while the other went to the front of the property to wait for an ambulance.

Witnesses said the son then chased and attacked one neighbour, aged 68, in the driveway, beating him unconscious.

Paramedics resuscitated both victims at the scene, but the neighbour later died from his injuries at Joondalup Hospital.

The father remained in a critical condition in Royal Perth Hospital on Sunday.

The son was also treated in hospital for minor injuries.

WA police said Major Crime Squad Detectives charged a 23-year-old man, the son of the critically injured man in Royal Perth Hospital, with murder.

The accused man is still at Royal Perth Hospital and a bedside court hearing is planned.

Police are seeking witnesses to the incident.

They appealed to a young woman driving along Justicia Close at the time of the incident, and who stopped to assist the 68-year-old man in the driveway, to contact them.

Major Crime Squad officers attended the scene again on Sunday.


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24918107/son-charged-with-murder-after-fight-with-father-death-of-neighbour/

Ashby alleges Pyne offered him job (AAP)

Former political staffer James Ashby says he was allegedly offered a job and told he would get a lawyer by coalition minister Christopher Pyne when he came forward with sexual harassment allegations against former Speaker Peter Slipper.

Mr Ashby says he met twice, secretly, with Liberal MP Wyatt Roy to seek advice about a series of text messages and alleged incidents of sexual harassment directed towards him by Mr Slipper in 2012.

Mr Roy told Mr Ashby a lawyer would be paid for within 24 hours to help him take a complaint against Mr Slipper.

He said he later went to confirm this with then opposition frontbencher Mr Pyne.

"He said a lawyer would be paid for as promised and I would have a job in state Liberal National politics or federal, if I chose to come back," Mr Ashby told the Nine Network.

"He did say to me I may never want to come back to Canberra, that I may choose to take up a job in state politics instead.

"As we exited he said 'if you discuss or tell anyone we had this discussion I will be forced to call you a pathological liar.' "

Mr Ashby also said in the interview it was later made clear to him there was no offer of financial assistance.

"It was made very clear to me there would be no jobs, no lawyer, no preferential treatment, nothing," he said.

In 2012, while still a Liberal Party frontbencher, Mr Pyne confirmed he met with Mr Ashby, but said he was not informed of the pending court action.

In a statement Mr Pyne moved to distance himself from the matter, claiming he nor any other member of the government are in no way involved.

"All these matters have been aired over and over again for the last three years," Mr Pyne said.

"Mr Slipper has been found guilty of fraud against the taxpayer.

"Mr Ashby settled a sexual harassment case with the Commonwealth.

"I had no specific knowledge of the allegations made by Mr Ashby and the first I knew that he was suing Mr Slipper was when I read it in the newspapers.

"This is a dispute between two individuals - not a dispute that includes me or any other member of the government."

Mr Slipper resigned as parliamentary Speaker in October 2012.


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24920403/ashby-alleges-pyne-offered-him-job/

Sydney tobacco fire smokes out residents (AAP)

More than 100 people have been smoked out of their homes following a fire at a tobacco shop in Sydney's west.

The fire broke out at the rear of the tobacconist on Auburn Road, Auburn on Sunday evening.

Six fire engines and 35 fire fighters are battling the blaze, which is being described as being "in hand" by emergency services.

It is unknown if anyone has been hurt.

About 100 residents living near the tobacconist were evacuated shortly after 7pm (AEST).


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24920133/sydney-tobacco-fire-smokes-out-residents/

Port Adelaide eliminates Richmond from finals with 57-point thrashing at Adelaide Oval; will play Fremantle in sudden-death final (ABC)

Port Adelaide destroyed Richmond's play-offs campaign with a 57-point hammering in the second elimination final at Adelaide Oval.

The Power kicked 14 goals to three in the first half and were never threatened, coasting to a 20.12 (132) to 11.9 (75) win on Sunday afternoon.

Richmond had come into the finals in top form, having beaten Sydney in round 23 for the club's ninth straight win to qualify for the top eight.

In contrast Port Adelaide had returned from a tough loss to Fremantle at Subiaco Oval last weekend before gearing up for the first final played at Adelaide Oval.

But the Power kicked 7.1 without reply in the opening 18 minutes to all but end the game as a contest, before Richmond finally got on the board with a goal from Reece Conca in time on.

The home side led by 42 points at quarter-time, and the mismatch continued in the second term, as Richmond struggled to create chances while Port Adelaide refused to let its control of the game slip.

The Power kicked six goals to two to lead by 69 points at the main break, and then booted five goals to three in the third quarter to extend the lead to 82 points at the final change.

Richmond had nothing but pride left to fight for, and the Tigers managed to win the final quarter, kicking five goals to one to avert the possibility of a 100-point hiding.

Jake Neade kicked three goals and seven others kicked two goals each for the Power - Jack Riewoldt led the way with three goals for the Tigers.

Port Adelaide will now return to Perth for a rematch against the Dockers at Subiaco Oval next Saturday evening, with the winners playing Hawthorn in the preliminary final.

The home side were left with a couple of injury problems, as former Richmond player Matt White suffered a suspected fractured jaw, while Hamish Hartlett picked up a hamstring injury.

More to follow.


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24919767/port-adelaide-eliminates-richmond-from-finals-with-57-point-thrashing-at-adelaide-oval-will-play-fremantle-in-sudden-death-final/

Sabtu, 06 September 2014

Qld truck driver critical after blast (AAP)

A truck driver burned in a massive explosion in outback Queensland is fighting for his life. The area the accident occurred in remains too dangerous to enter.

The 33-year-old Mackay man is in a critical condition after he and seven others were caught up in Friday night's huge blast on the Mitchell Highway about 30km south of Charleville.

The man's truck was carrying more than 50 tonnes of ammonium nitrate when it exploded after rolling about 10pm (AEST).

He'd been transporting the chemical substance from Gladstone to South Australia but is now in the Royal Brisbane Hospital with life-threatening burns and head injuries.

The blast destroyed a bridge and injured a police officer and four firefighters who had been called to the crash scene, as well as two motorists who stopped to help.

Two fire trucks were severely damaged, and shock waves rattled houses in Charleville, making residents think there had been an earthquake.

A two-kilometre zone around the blast site has been cordoned off and a scientific team is waiting in Charleville until the area is safe to enter.

Assistant fire commissioner for the southwest Tom Dawson said some ammonium nitrate was still burning following the explosion, which had damaged foliage up to three kilometres away.

Two firefighters remain in hospital in Toowoomba in a stable condition, while two others were released from Charleville Hospital on Saturday with minor burns and cuts and bruises.

A police officer who suffered cuts was also released from hospital on Saturday.

Queensland Transport Minister Scott Emerson said a 4WD track would let cars detour the blast site but bigger trucks couldn't go around the blocked highway, which links Charleville with Wyandra and Cunnamulla to the south.

Ammonium nitrate is used in the mining sector as an explosive ingredient and as a fertiliser in agriculture.


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24919389/qld-truck-driver-critical-after-blast/

Abbott open to more flexible childcare (AAP)

Tony Abbott considers extending a rebate to qualified childcare workers employed in the family home.AAP Tony Abbott considers extending a rebate to qualified childcare workers employed in the family home.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says his government will seriously consider any Productivity Commission recommendation to help more parents hire nannies.

A 50 per cent rebate is already available for family day care providers who look after children in the childcare worker's home, but the same worker employed in the family home is considered a nanny and therefore not eligible.

Mr Abbott says the Productivity Commission is considering subsidies for in-home care as part of its childcare inquiry.

"This is one of the issues that we've asked the Productivity Commission to look at," Mr Abbott told reporters in Sydney on Sunday.

"It is something that is happening to some extent under the existing system, but obviously we want to make the system as flexible and as accessible as possible.

"Let's let's see what the productivity commission comes up with."

The commission is due to hand up its final report to government at the end of October.


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24918207/abbott-open-to-more-flexible-childcare/

ALP critical of Abbott Government*s first-year efforts in Tasmania (ABC)

A Tasmanian Labor MP has accused the Federal Coalition, led by Prime Minister Tony Abbott, of achieving little for the state in its first year.

One year ago the Coalition came to power promising to turn Tasmania into an economic powerhouse.

Federal Labor MP Julie Collins accused the government of breaking promises on health and education and failing to start work on key Tasmanian projects, including the Midland Highway upgrade and Hobart airport runway extension.

"I don't think that the Federal Government can do anything but improve after this dismal first year," she said.

The state's unemployment rate fell slightly in the past year, but Ms Collins said the anniversary was no cause for celebration.

"Nothing is happening to actually improve jobs and productivity in Tasmania," she said.

However, Tasmanian Senator Eric Abetz defended the Government's efforts.

"If you want good, sound policy you don't rush it all out the door without thinking about it without doing due diligence," he said.

He blamed the slow start in delivering promises to Tasmania on a hostile Senate, claiming the Government was hampered by a Labor Green majority in the Senate until July.

"So nine months was denied us in that important space, but having said that I think there's a new mood of optimism," he said.

Senator Abetz said the Government had laid the foundations and was working to restore the Tasmanian economy in a methodical way.


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24918553/alp-critical-of-abbott-governments-first-year-efforts-in-tasmania/

Ammonia truck explosion site still unsafe, Queensland fire authorities say (ABC)

The site of an ammonia truck explosion near Charleville in Queensland's south-west is still too unsafe for authorities to enter, Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) says.

A two-kilometre exclusion zone remains in place at the scene of the blast, which occurred after a truck carting more than 50 tonnes of ammonium nitrate crashed and rolled about 10:00pm (AEST) on Friday.

Eight men, including a police officer and four firefighters, were injured in the blast, which police said was so powerful it "disintegrated" the truck, destroyed two firefighting vehicles and two bridges, and blew a hole in the Mitchell Highway.

Two motorists who stopped to help were also injured and the truck driver remains in a critical condition with serious burns and head injuries in the Royal Brisbane Hospital.

Shockwaves from the blast were felt by residents in nearby towns, and the local fire chief described the fact no-one died as "a miracle".

Tom Dawson, the Assistant Fire Commissioner for the south-west region, said a team of experts was gathering in Charleville this morning to determine the best way to stabilise the blast area.

"We still actually believe we've got a little pocket of ammonium nitrate burning, so that in itself, with the fumes that'll come from that burning process, still indicates we've got an unstable situation," he said.

"It's going to be a very scientific call to say it is now stable, then we'll go about it very guardedly to go closer to determine the degree of safety.

"We now believe a lot of the product is actually buried under earth."

Police said motorists should avoid the area while specialist officers examine the scene.

Workplace Health and Safety officers would conduct their own investigation into the explosion.

The owner of the truck, Kalari, said it was deeply saddened that people were injured in the explosion and that their welfare was the company's priority.

In a statement, Kalari said it had stopped the service route pending more information about the incident.

Highway damage will affect transport industry

The Queensland Trucking Association (QTA) said the road damage would cause big problems for the national transport and heavy vehicle industry.

QTA spokesman Peter Garske said the Mitchel Highway connected several states.

"My understanding is they expect to have up - in a fairly short space of time - a side track, but that will only be suitable to motor vehicles; it will not be suitable to heavy vehicles," he said.

"It could be quite some days before a route in and around the Mitchell highway for heavy vehicles [is available].

"It will conceivably be weeks or months before the infrastructure is properly restored to its original condition."

Mr Garske said the accident was a warning to companies hauling dangerous goods.

He said the extent of the damage would resonate in the industry.

"It is a wake-up call to everybody in the industry - whether it is a heavy vehicle owner or whether it is a heavy vehicle driver or indeed the customers, the owners of the freight, the consignors the consignees - we all have a responsibility in the safe movement of heavy vehicles in Australia and the safe carriage of the freight," he said.

Mr Garske said he had never seen an accident like it in Australia.

"I have been involved in this industry for 20 years now and to my knowledge an incident of this type and this size has not occurred anywhere in this state and to the best of my knowledge Australia in that 20 years," he said.

No concerns over road transport of chemicals: fire chief

Firefighters said the damage and destruction caused by the truck explosion was rare.

Assistant Fire Commissioner Dawson said trucks hauled dangerous chemicals and fuels on Australian roads every day and it was not a problem unless they crashed.

"This product - and trucks like this very same truck - travel these roads every day," he said.

"Every day they're out there and they don't go bang.

"Something's happened to bring this truck in a situation, which has possibly mixed the product on the back of the truck - maybe with the diesel fuel, the impact of the initial [crash]when it goes off the road - so those circumstances have had more of a connection to the end result.

"You'd be surprised - there's a lot of these trucks - they do it very safely and very effectively.

"It's when they leave the road there is a problem."

Fears region has lost tourism and trade

Murweh Shire Council Mayor Dennis Cook said damage to the Mitchell Highway would affect tourism and trade in the region.

He said the Department of Main Roads needed to act quickly.

"We have lost our tourist trade as well, because the main road is gone," he said.

"We need to do a bypass of some description before we even put the bridge back together because it will take a while.

"We need someone to find some emergency money to get moving on this because this is what we need it is our main thoroughfare through the west."


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24917766/ammonia-truck-explosion-site-still-unsafe-queensland-fire-authorities-say/

Truck hauling fertiliser explodes in outback Queensland, injuring 8 (ABC)

The explosion was felt in nearby towns, with the scene likened to a bomb blast .ABC The explosion was felt in nearby towns, with the scene likened to a "bomb blast".

A police officer and four firefighters were among those hospitalised after a truck carrying ammonium nitrate rolled over and exploded near Charleville in south-west Queensland.

A police spokesman said the blast was so powerful the truck "disintegrated", destroying two firefighting vehicles along with it and causing "catastrophic" damage to the Mitchell Highway.

Authorities said it could be more than a week before they reopen the road. Two road bridges were destroyed and a major section of the highway was missing.

The tanker, carrying more than 50 tonnes of the chemical, rolled on the highway about 30 kilometres south of Charleville just before 10:00pm (AEST) on Friday.

Firefighters were trying to extinguish the blaze when the truck exploded, injuring eight people, including four firefighters, a police officer, two passers-by and the truck driver.

Authorities said the two passers-by dragged the truck driver out of the vehicle.

The driver was airlifted to a Brisbane hospital in a serious condition.

The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) said two firefighters were still in Toowoomba Hospital and were considered "walking wounded".

The two other firefighters taken to Charleville Hospital had since been released.

An exclusion zone is in place around the scene, and police are encouraging drivers to avoid the area.

Assistant Fire Commissioner for the south-west region Tom Dawson said the Mitchell Highway had been blocked to traffic since Friday night.

"We've had a primary and a secondary explosion out there - it's quite a devastating scene," he said.

"The infrastructure damage to that road is significant."

He said injuries varied depending on the proximity to the "epicentre of the blast zones".

"There's a lot of bruising, cutting, very minor burns from flying pieces of debris, and certainly a lot of internal bruising, which is what the medical people are looking at," he said.

The fact that no-one was killed in the blast went "beyond luck", he said.

"They tell me from Charleville that on a clear night that sometimes you can see heaven, so I reckon someone's been looking down on them," he said.

"But certainly to have eight people in a major explosion like that alive today - and we'll eventually talk to all of them - that is a very good miracle."

Truck 'disintegrated' in blast; firefighting trucks destroyed

The blast was so powerful, police officers had not yet been able to find any "specific" remnants of the truck, a spokesman said.

"When we were extricating in an emergency situation we could not locate any specific wreckage of the vehicle," Senior Sergeant Adrian Rieck said.

"This could be for a couple of reasons - one we were unable to conduct an appropriate assessment based on the amount of smoke and the ammonium nitrate and risk of further injury; we had to evacuate as soon as we could.

"The second issue for that is the fact that due to the type of explosion that the vehicle has disintegrated."

Senior Sergeant Rieck said he felt the explosion at his home in Charleville.

"The scene is likened to literally a bomb blast - it has caused catastrophic damage to the roadway and the highway," he said.

Senior Sergeant Rieck said officers were amazed no-one had been killed.

"We believe possible the location of the truck and where it's exploded and the construction of the roadway may have shielded them slightly from the majority of the blast, but there is a significant amount of debris that has been thrown a significant amount of distance from the initial explosive site," he said.

"It is certainly amazing that no-one was killed, but obviously a Godsend that that occurred."

Assistant Commissioner Dawson said he had visited the two injured fire officers in the Toowoomba Hospital.

"They're in extremely good spirits - they're certainly hard of hearing the moment," he said.

"It's typical firies - they ask me, "Boss, what's the truck like', and I tell them, 'Don't worry about the truck, we'll get you another one.

"But typical firies, more concerned about their mates and their families and their local communities."

No concerns over road transport of chemicals: fire chief

Assistant Commissioner Dawson dismissed concerns that such a volatile material was being carried in trucks.

"Not so much a worry; this product - and trucks like this very same truck - travel these roads every day," he said.

"Every day they're out there and they don't go bang.

"Something's happened to bring this truck in a situation, which has possibly mixed the product on the back of the truck - maybe with the diesel fuel, the impact of the initial when it goes off the road - so those circumstances have had more of a connection to the end result.

"You'd be surprised - there's a lot of these trucks - they do it very safely and very effectively."

Blast coincided with earthquake; both shook houses

Resident Jill Nelder said she thought she had felt the explosion from her house in Charleville.

"We were just sitting here talking and it was just like something sort of banged into the side of the house," she said.

"I just thought something had run into the side of my house - that's just what it felt like, it was a bang.

"We just got up to see what we could find and couldn't see anything.

"We walked round outside, but we couldn't find anything - gave us a hell of a fright."

However 20 minutes after the explosion, a magnitude 2 earthquake was recorded 55 kilometres south of Charleville.

Geoscience Australia seismologist Hugh Glanville said there was no link between the two incidents.

"We had reports of both the explosion and the earthquake because people get the house-shaking from both," he said.

"Often with a shockwave travelling through the air, you'll get your windows and doors rattling things like that.

"For a shockwave travelling through the ground, you'll get your floors, chairs and tables rattling.

"Also the time difference helps us to differentiate between the two [incidents].

"It's quite common for this area of Australia to get these occasional earthquakes of this size - it's quite a small one."


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24915136/truck-hauling-fertiliser-explodes-in-outback-queensland-injuring-8/

Injured Sydney man dies on footpath (AAP)

Police are investigating how a man who died on a footpath in Sydney's inner west, was injured.

Emergency services were called to Dunmore Street in Croydon Park in the early hours of Sunday after receiving reports of an injured man on a footpath.

Paramedics tried to revive the man but he died at the scene, police said.

Officers are urging anyone who may have information about the incident to come forward.


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24917128/injured-sydney-man-dies-on-footpath/

North Melbourne beats Essendon by 12 points at the MCG to earn semi-final matchup against Geelong (ABC)

Essendon's tumultuous season has come to an end with a 12-point loss to North Melbourne in the elimination final at the MCG.

The Bombers led for most of the night but were over-run in the final quarter as the Kangaroos triumphed by 14.9 (93) to 12.9 (81) on Saturday night.

A year after being banned from the finals and fined $2 million for their involvement in the supplements scandal, and with a court case and ASADA show cause notices hanging over the club, the Bombers were out to win their first final since 2004.

Essendon began the match in strong form, with five scoring shots and two goals before their opponents got on the board.

But steadying goals to Nick Dal Santo and Levi Greenwood made it a point the difference to the Bombers at quarter-time.

Essendon broke the game open in the second term, kicking 4.3 to a solitary rushed behind to push the margin out to 27 points at half-time.

Paul Chapman kicked the first goal of the third quarter to make the lead 33 points, but then the Kangaroos turned the game around, grabbing five straight goals to trail by three points entering time on.

Both sides scored two more goals apiece before three quarter-time, with Tom Bellchambers booting a team-lifting goal from 50 metres with the last kick of the quarter to give Essendon a nine-point lead with a quarter to go.

Young forward Ben Brown kicked his fourth of the night two minutes into the final term to get the Kangaroos within three, then Joe Daniher answered with his fourth for the Bombers, but consecutive goals to Ben Cunnington and Lindsay Thomas put North in front at the 11 minute mark.

Then Patrick Ryder - who reports suggest may be about to try to leave the club - snapped a goal from 30 metres to change the lead again approaching time on.

But Drew Petrie put the Kangaroos back in front again with a snap at the 24-minute mark, and then he kicked another a minute later to put North 11 points up.

The win, the Kangaroos' first finals win since 2007, puts North Melbourne into a cut-throat semi-final against Geelong next Friday night at the MCG, while Essendon was left to plan for 2015.

More to follow.


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24916843/north-melbourne-beats-essendon-by-12-points-at-the-mcg-to-earn-semi-final-matchup-against-geelong/

Sydney fire *worst tragedy*, police say (AAP)

Roads remain blocked and the crime scene remains as investigations into the Rozelle blast continue.AAP Roads remain blocked and the crime scene remains as investigations into the Rozelle blast continue.

A senior police officer says the Sydney fire which left a mother, her baby son and another man dead is the worst tragedy he has had to deal with.

Leichhardt Local Area Command Inspector Gary Coffey says the "very traumatic incident" had taken an emotional toll on his officers.

"This is certainly the worst tragedy that I've had to deal with," he told reporters on Sunday.

"It's a very difficult time for the police, particularly for the young police involved in this matter."

Investigations into the explosion and subsequent inferno that destroyed a convenience store and adjacent units early on Thursday morning are continuing.

The bodies of Bianka O'Brien and her baby boy Jude were recovered from the charred remains of the Darling Street building on Friday.

The grim find followed the retrieval of 27-year-old Chris Noble's body from the wreckage on Thursday night.

The Rozelle crime scene in the city's inner west remains in place on Saturday.

A large stretch of the street has remained closed since Thursday as emergency services worked meticulously to remove bricks from unstable walls at the site.

Insp Coffey said the exclusion zone around the wreckage site would soon be reduced to allow local businesses to reopen.

Police will host a public meeting on Sunday at 10am at Balmain Town Hall to update the public on the exclusion zone and the asbestos risk, which Insp Coffey says remains "very low".

Reports of a car fleeing the area after the explosion are being investigated.

Police have reportedly visited the owner of the convenience store Adeel Khan, who is in a serious condition in hospital after emergency services dug him out of the debris.

On Friday police said Mr Khan was not being treated as a suspect.

Insp Coffey urged all residents and business owners in the area to attend Sunday's meeting.

"We understand many locals have been, and continue to be, affected significantly by the ongoing operation," he said in a statement.

"But we must stress the site is still dangerous and the situation is constantly changing.

"While we want to reduce the impact for affected businesses and residents, public safety is of paramount concern."

Darling Street remains closed between Victoria Road and Beattie Street.

Mr Noble's room mate Corey Cameron, who leapt to safety moments after the fire tore through his unit, described the night as a "bad dream".

"No one wants to be put through that," a visibly emotional Mr Cameron told the Nine Network.

Mr Cameron and another flatmate jumped onto their neighbour's balcony and thought Mr Noble would follow them.

Mr Noble's body was found by emergency workers later that night.

"He was always there for me," Mr Cameron said of his friend.

"I don't have family out here - he was my family, he was that brother."


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24914796/sydney-fire-worst-tragedy-police-say/

ICAC: Former Supreme Court judge Stephen Charles calls for federal anti-corruption board (ABC)

Former Supreme Court judge Stephen Charles has thrown his support behind the creation of a federal anti-corruption body as Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) hearings continue in Sydney.

The ICAC hearings are set to continue next week, with a decision due on whether to release emails concerning a well-known person and their knowledge of donations from developers.

It has been suggested that money was paid into the Free Enterprise Foundation and then paid straight back to the New South Wales Liberal Party or to individual candidates' campaign accounts, without the taint of a banned donation.

Mr Charles, a member of the Accountability Round Table, said the establishment of a federal ICAC would help deal with similar, and in his view inevitable, concerns at a national level.

"We've been calling for a federal anti-corruption body for a long time," Mr Charles told ABC's AM program.

"Sydney is simply an example of what happens in an environment where there is plenty of money - it means that corruption follows.

"Anywhere where people are in a position to spend money and [hold] influence and power, there will be others seeking to obtain them. And Canberra is where most of these things are to be found."

Mr Charles said he believed such a plan would be met with an unfavourable reaction in Canberra.

"The natural reaction from politicians in Canberra is a total lack of enthusiasm, understandably," he said.

"When they see what is happening in Sydney and in any place where you've got a good, functioning anti-corruption commission, naturally they do not want that sort of overview and surveillance of operations in their area.

"The trouble is that, when you look at Canberra and you look at its history, there are any number of examples of corruption by individual officials in Customs, in Defence, even in Treasury."


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24915739/icac-former-supreme-court-judge-stephen-charles-calls-for-federal-anti-corruption-board/

Jumat, 05 September 2014

Two dogs rescued from Melbourne house fire (AAP)

Two dogs have been rescued from a burning Melbourne home and treated for smoke inhalation.

The Kingsville house was well alight on Saturday morning when firefighters spotted the two bulldog-crosses inside and rescued them.

An off-duty firefighter who had stopped to help out gave the dogs oxygen from the first aid kit.

The owner was away on a fishing trip and has been told about the $200,000 damage to his home.

The fire took half an hour to bring under control and the cause is thought to have been an electrical fault.


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24915982/two-dogs-rescued-from-melbourne-house-fire/

Wounded Winter Olympian battles insurance company after puncturing lung in ski crash (ABC)

After puncturing his lung in a ski accident Callum Watson has a medical bill in excess of $12,000ABC After puncturing his lung in a ski accident Callum Watson has a medical bill in excess of $12,000

Until a ski pierced one of them last month, Winter Olympian Callum Watson had the best pair of lungs ever tested at the Australian Institute of Sport.

"I got my ski clipped by a competitor, found myself on the ground in the path of another skier," Watson said.

The 24-year-old, from Jindabyne in New South Wales, was racing a tight semi-final of the Australian cross-country sprint championships at Falls Creek when he fell in front of Swiss competitor Simon Hammer.

"His ski unfortunately managed to find its way through my chest, between the ribs and into my lung."

As he lay in shock, air gurgling from his side, a panicked Watson was quickly aided by fellow skiers who helped calm him.

By luck, a qualified trauma doctor was among the spectators and provided emergency assistance until Watson could be flown to Melbourne's Alfred Hospital.

There, he was seen by cardiothoracic surgeon Associate Professor Silvanna Marasco.

She initially hoped the lung may heal itself, but the two centimetre tear inflicted by the ski was too large.

"It was quite extensive, worse than I had imagined," Dr Marasco said.

"It became evident ... we would have to operate."

It was about that time that the hospital's deputy director of cardiothoracic surgery learnt that the lung she was fighting to save was far from ordinary.

An endurance cross-country skier who competes in gruelling races of 50 kilometres or more, Watson's lungs are perhaps his greatest asset.

Last year, he eclipsed Tour de France winner Cadel Evans's AIS record for the body's ability to process oxygen.

Known as a VO2 max test, athletes are hooked to breathing apparatus and pushed to the limit of their endurance, so scientists can measure oxygen levels in their blood.

Watson's AIS record of 89.6 ranks him among the world's elite.

In a bid to preserve this unique ability, Dr Marasco decided to modify her surgical approach - opting to only partially stick Watson's lung to his chest wall, for fear attaching its entirety could prevent it from fully expanding.

"I wasn't sure how that would affect lung capacity in someone at the extreme end of ability, so I chose not to do that," she said.

She undertook telescopic surgery instead of making an open incision and also took particular care to save as much lung tissue as possible, using staples to close the puncture wound.

At a check-up this week, she declared the operation a success.

"The wounds are healing well, the lung is fully expanded. I'm very happy with the chest X-ray appearance."

Insurance battle looms for Watson 

Watson's problems however are far from over.

Before leaving for Europe last year in preparation for the Sochi Olympics, the athlete says he had asked insurer NIB to pause his cover.

He said he discovered it had apparently been cancelled when he received a hefty bill for the helicopter which flew him to hospital.

Watson admitted he felt sick after learning about the situation while still in recovery.

"It's going to cost in excess of $12,000," he said.

"Knowing you're in a financial position that is going to be hard to get out of, that was really hard to take."

Like athletes from many fringe sports, he has worked part-time to fund his Olympic campaign. 

The Australian winter was a chance for him to save money working as an instructor, so he could base himself in Sweden for the European season.

He is currently negotiating with the insurer.

In the meantime Australia's cross country skiing coach Finn Marsland has turned to crowd funding to help Watson meet his medical bills.

Mr Marsland believes Watson is capable of reaching the top level of World Cup skiing.

"We believe in him, he believes in him, we just need to give him that chance to prove to the rest of the world."

The campaign has so far raised almost half of its $20,000 target.

Watson said the support is both humbling and motivating.

"That means a lot to me and makes me want to push towards my goals more than ever."

He is now hopeful he can resume training in time to return to competition during the coming European season and ultimately, the 2018 Winter Olympics.


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24915580/wounded-winter-olympian-battles-insurance-company-after-puncturing-lung-in-ski-crash/

Budget cuts forcing Tasmanian police officers to use public transport: union (ABC)

Police have had to take public transport after a training course because of a lack of police cars.ABC Police have had to take public transport after a training course because of a lack of police cars.

Revelations Tasmanian police officers were forced to catch public transport in the course of their work has the Police Association of Tasmania concerned about the impact of budget cuts.

Photos have emerged showing officers using a bus after being unable to reserve a police car to take them from training at the Rokeby academy back to Bellerive for patrol.

It comes as the new State Government's first budget demands the already depleted police force find additional $42 million in savings.

The Police Association's Pat Allen said police had also had to use their own cars to get to training.

"They've been stuck trying to get to training days, it's been happening for a while; people can't get there, they're using their own cars to do work, basically, and it's not good enough, it's a ridiculous situation," he said.

"It only occurred since the budget cuts of the previous government and obviously it's going to continue along that line."

In the 2011 state budget, the then Labor government required the Police Department to find $18 million in savings over four years.

"I mean they've got to make savings somewhere, I'm not blaming the police service for this," Mr Allen said.

"I have a bit of a sense of humour about watching all those police get on a bus it's not a good look, it's not a good thing- the bus rides are free but I don't know if it's going to save the police purse that much money."

Police Commissioner Darren Hine said he was not aware of the bus incident.

He said the police fleet was under review but that should not affect the number of cars.

Budget cuts threaten future of police stations

After the opening of a new police station at Glenorchy, the Commissioner Hine said he could not guarantee the future of other stations as the forces struggles to find budget savings.

The Glenorchy station was officially opened by Police Minister Rene Hidding yesterday.

The station, to serve as headquarters for both the Glenorchy division and Marine and Rescue police, was five times bigger than the one it replaced.

When the police budget was slashed under Labor, stations at Lilydale and Avoca were shut to cut costs.

But as the new station was opened, the Police Commissioner, Darren Hine, admitted he could not rule out more closures.

"You can never say never," he said.

Mr Hidding focussed on the extra 108 officers the Government had promised, and said it was likely that more police would mean more stations.


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24915607/budget-cuts-forcing-tasmanian-police-officers-to-use-public-transport-union/

Truck hauling ammonium nitrate explodes in outback Queensland, injuring 8 (ABC)

The explosion was felt in nearby towns, with the scene likened to a bomb blast .ABC The explosion was felt in nearby towns, with the scene likened to a "bomb blast".

A police officer and four firefighters were among those hospitalised after a truck carrying ammonium nitrate rolled over and exploded near Charleville in south-west Queensland.

A police spokesman said the blast was so powerful the truck "disintegrated", destroying two firefighting vehicles along with it and causing "catastrophic" damage to the Mitchell Highway.

The tanker, carrying more than 50 tonnes of the chemical, rolled on the highway about 30 kilometres south of Charleville just before 10:00pm (AEST) last night.

Firefighters were trying to extinguish the blaze when the truck exploded, injuring eight people, including four firefighters, a police officer, two bystanders and the truck driver.

Authorities said the two passers-by dragged the truck driver out of the vehicle.

The driver was airlifted to a Brisbane hospital in a serious condition.

The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) said two firefighters were still in Toowoomba Hospital and were considered "walking wounded".

The two other firefighters taken to Charleville Hospital had since been released.

The Mitchell Highway was closed in both directions and a two-kilometre exclusion zone remained in place around the scene.

Police were urging motorists to avoid the area until further notice.

Specialist officers were inspecting the crash site this morning.

Truck 'disintegrated' in blast; firefighting trucks destroyed

The blast was so powerful, police officers had not yet been able to find any "specific" remnants of the truck, a spokesman said.

"When we were extricating in an emergency situation we could not locate any specific wreckage of the vehicle," Senior Sergeant Adrian Rieck said.

"This could be for a couple of reasons - one we were unable to conduct an appropriate assessment based on the amount of smoke and the ammonium nitrate and risk of further injury; we had to evacuate as soon as we could.

"The second issue for that is the fact that due to the type of explosion that the vehicle has disintegrated."

Senior Sergeant Rieck said he felt the explosion at his home in Charleville.

"The scene is likened to literally a bomb blast - it has caused catastrophic damage to the roadway and the highway," he said.

Senior Sergeant Rieck said officers were amazed no-one had been killed.

"We believe possible the location of the truck and where it's exploded and the construction of the roadway may have shielded them slightly from the majority of the blast, but there is a significant amount of debris that has been thrown a significant amount of distance from the initial explosive site," he said.

"It is certainly amazing that no-one was killed, but obviously a Godsend that that occurred."

Earthquake coincided with explosion; both shook houses

Resident Jill Nelder said she thought she had felt the explosion from her house in Charleville.

"We were just sitting here talking and it was just like something sort of banged into the side of the house," she said.

"I just thought something had run into the side of my house - that's just what it felt like, it was a bang.

"We just got up to see what we could find and couldn't see anything.

"We walked round outside, but we couldn't find anything - gave us a hell of a fright."

However 20 minutes after the explosion, a magnitude 2 earthquake was recorded 55 kilometres south of Charleville.

Geoscience Australia seismologist Hugh Glanville said there was no link between the two incidents.

"We had reports of both the explosion and the earthquake because people get the house-shaking from both," he said.

"Often with a shockwave travelling through the air, you'll get your windows and doors rattling things like that.

"For a shockwave travelling through the ground, you'll get your floors, chairs and tables rattling.

"Also the time difference helps us to differentiate between the two [incidents].

"It's quite common for this area of Australia to get these occasional earthquakes of this size - it's quite a small one."


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24915136/truck-hauling-ammonium-nitrate-explodes-in-outback-queensland-injuring-8/

Federal welfare changes blamed for spike in suicides in Tasmania (ABC)

Proposed federal welfare changes had prompted a spike in suicides in Tasmania and concerns that homelessness would also rise, the state's Mental Health Council said.

The proposed changes would force jobseekers to apply for 40 jobs a month and would prevent unemployed people aged under 30 from accessing benefits for six months.

Tasmania already had the highest suicide rate in Australia after the Northern Territory.

The council's Darren Carr said welfare changes, along with declines in the mining and forestry industries, was behind the rise in the number of suicides.

"We also know that threatened loss of income does lead to suicide and we understand there has been a spike in suicides following announcements of welfare cutbacks in the federal budget," he said.

The council was also concerned about the impact of public service job cuts in Tasmania.

In the state budget released last month, the Government announced plans to cut 700 public service positions, with 500 of those jobs to go in the first two years.

Mr Carr said job losses could be devastating.

"Anything that leads to a loss of people's employment is likely to have an impact on firstly increasing rates of mental illness and secondly on increasing rates of suicide," he said.

He has urged employers to provide counselling services to sacked staff.

Tasmania's suicide prevention plan is set to expire this year but the council says the State Government has pledged to develop another one.

Homelessness expected to rise

A Hobart City alderman says the changes to the welfare system could cause increase homelessness in the city.

There were about 700 homeless people living in the Hobart region, and over the past year the council helped distribute 500 survival packs including first aid equipment, toiletries and warm clothing.

Alderman Bill Harvey said he was expecting the council would have to offer a lot more help if the proposed welfare changes came into effect.

"Those sort of unrealistic expectations may cause a spike in homelessness, I hope I'm wrong but I have concerns," he said.

"People who are on low incomes, people who are on welfare and that any changes that the federal government implement that affect welfare recipients may lead to a spike in homelessness."

The council had also installed 34 lockers for homeless people to safely store their possessions and trained 90 parks and bushland staff to be aware of their plight.

Alderman Harvey said he was worried that despite the council's work, the problem was likely to get worse.

"I do have concerns that federal government changes increase the number of homelessness," he said.

"I'm hoping we don't see a spike but I'm thinking we might in some of the federal government initiatives like unrealistic expectations that people need to apply for 40 jobs every month, that could lead to people being put off welfare."


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24915309/federal-welfare-changes-blamed-for-spike-in-suicides-in-tasmania/

Tas man dead after fall from car (AAP)

A man is dead after he fell from the back seat of a moving car near Hobart.

Attempts to revive the 21-year-old Bellerive man were unsuccessful and he died at the scene.

The 18-year-old woman driving the car and the 19-year-old female passenger in the front seat were not injured.

Police have appealed for information from anyone who saw the incident on the Midland Highway between Brighton and Bridgewater around 8.50pm on Friday.


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24915013/tas-man-dead-after-fall-from-car/

Australia PM in Malaysia ahead of intensified MH370 search (AFP)

Australia PM in Malaysia ahead of intensified MH370 searchAFP Australia PM in Malaysia ahead of intensified MH370 search

Kuala Lumpur (AFP) - Australian premier Tony Abbott will visit Malaysia on Saturday ahead of an intensified search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which went missing six months ago and is believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean.

Abbott will meet his counterpart Najib Razak to discuss the dual tragedies of MH370 and MH17, the Malaysia Airlines plane which exploded over strife-torn eastern Ukraine in July, Malaysia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The West has blamed Russian-backed separatists for shooting down MH17, while Moscow blames Kiev.

Abbott's one-day visit is his first since becoming prime minister in September last year.

"High on the agenda is discussions on the status of the two countries' cooperation in relation to Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 and Flight MH17 incidents," the ministry said.

The two premiers will meet with Malaysian personnel involved in the missions to find MH370 and to salvage wreckage and remains from the MH17 crash site.

They will also discuss other "regional and international issues of common concern".

"This visit will undoubtedly further cement the close and outstanding relations between the two countries," the ministry said.

Later in the day, Abbott will meet business leaders as well as educationists to present his government's "New Colombo Plan", a scholarship programme to encourage more Australians to study across the Indo-Pacific region, officials said.

Australia is leading what has so far been a fruitless search in a vast stretch of the southern Indian Ocean, where MH370 is believed to have gone down after inexplicably veering off course from its Kuala Lumpur-Beijing route on March 8.

The Boeing 777-200 was carrying 239 people.

Australian authorities said Friday that "hard spots" had been found on the Indian Ocean seabed but that they would most likely be geological features.

Experts are preparing for a more intense underwater search to begin this month in a dauntingly vast stretch of ocean measuring 60,000 square kilometres (23,000 square miles), in addition to ongoing mapping through a sonar survey.

Malaysia's government and the national flag carrier were widely criticised over what many saw as a disorganised and secretive response to MH370's disappearance.

Flight MH17 went down in Ukraine on July 17, killing all 289 people aboard, including 38 Australian citizens or residents.

Dutch air crash investigators have announced that they will release a preliminary report on Tuesday into what brought down the flight, travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

The Netherlands is leading the probe into the crash, which killed 193 Dutch citizens.


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24914829/australia-pm-in-malaysia-ahead-of-intensified-mh370-search/

Court dismisses second appeal to overturn ruling on corporate human gene patenting (ABC)

Yvonne D Arcy has lost her second appeal to overturn a court ruling on human gene patening.ABC Yvonne D'Arcy has lost her second appeal to overturn a court ruling on human gene patening.

The full bench of the Federal Court has thrown out an appeal against a ruling allowing private companies to patent human genes.

Last year breast cancer survivor Yvonne D'Arcy lodged an appeal after two bio-tech companies were granted the patent to a hereditary gene associated with an increased risk of cancer.

A court had previously ruled the patent applied because the genetic material needed to be extracted from the body to be tested.

Ms D'Arcy, from Brisbane, argued the genes existed in nature, so were discovered rather than invented.

She said she launched the case even though she herself did not have the BRCA1 gene.

Her case was against US-based company Myriad Genetics and Melbourne-based company Genetic Technologies.

The full bench of the Federal Court in Sydney has today dismissed her second appeal in the case, stating that "expressions such as the work of nature or the laws of nature are unhelpful when dealing with claims of a kind in this case".

"One may distinguish between discovery of a piece of abstract information without suggestion of a practical application to a useful end, on the one hand, and a useful result produced by doing something which has not been done by that procedure before, on the other," the five-judge panel said.

'Genes owned by unknown corporation'

Ms D'Arcy's lawyer Rebecca Gilsenen from Maurice Blackburn said the judgment was disappointing.

"We are very disappointed that the Federal Court has dismissed the appeal and upheld the validity of the gene patent," she said.

"Gene patents are a matter of enormous public interest and concern to the medical community to ordinary Australians who are shocked to find that their genes are owned by an unknown corporation."  

Ms Gilsenen said they the legal team would be considering its options after looking at the judgment in detail.

"It has long-term consequences for research and genetic testing and the patent is preventing other companies doing research that might help save lives," Ms Gilsenen said.

In 2013, a nine-judge panel in the US Supreme Court ruled that genes extracted from the human body were not eligible to be patented.

Patent lawyer and Adjunct Professor in the School of Law at Murdoch University, Dr Luigi Palombi, said the Federal Court's "decision ignores the bedrock principle of 400 years of patent law".

"Only an invention can be the subject of a patent. The decision ignores the scientific facts. It ignores good policy. And it ignores common sense. Australian ingenuity in the biological sciences is now handcuffed by this decision," he said.

"How is it possible that the US Supreme Court unanimously came to the exact opposite result in only three months? Despite the attempt by the full Federal Court to try and differentiate the precise claims between the Australian and US patents that Myriad has over the BRCA 1 genetic mutations, the so-called invention is the same.

"At the end of the day, the Australian patent claims pieces of genetic material (BRCA 1 gene mutations) extracted from the human body are an 'invention'. How is that something anyone invented?

"American scientists, universities and companies now have the freedom to ignore patents over isolated biological materials that are not 'markedly different to any found in nature', but Australian scientists, universities and companies cannot.

"This decision reinforces the need for the Australian Parliament to change patent law in Australia."

The Australian Cancer Council (ACC) has released a statement saying that gene patent laws needed to be changed to protect healthcare consumers from gene monopolies.

Director of advocacy for the ACC, Paul Grogan, said he believed there was a strong case to change the law around gene patents.

"The patents system should reward innovation and help deliver affordable healthcare, not stymie research and increase costs by allowing commercial entities to control the use of human genetic materials," Mr Grogan said.


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24906725/court-dismisses-second-appeal-to-overturn-ruling-on-corporate-human-gene-patenting/

Australia, India sign long-awaited civil nuclear deal (AFP)

Australia, India sign long-awaited civil nuclear dealAFP Australia, India sign long-awaited civil nuclear deal

New Delhi (AFP) - Conservative leaders Tony Abbott and Narendra Modi sealed a long-awaited nuclear energy deal on Friday, paving the way for Australia to sell uranium to India, crippled by power shortages and blackouts.

The two prime ministers hailed the deal as "a concrete symbol" of strengthening trade and strategic ties following their talks in the Indian capital.

The agreement signing came at the end of Abbott's two-day trip to India to meet fellow right-wing leader Modi, who rode to power in May on pledges to revive and reform India's ailing economy -- including by tackling its vast power problems.

Modi called the deal a "historic milestone" in the two countries' relationship that would help provide clean energy to India's 1.25-billion people.

Abbott said he "trusted" nuclear-armed India would use the uranium solely for peaceful purposes, following proliferation concerns.

"Australia trusts India to do the right thing in this area," Abbott said after the signing.

India and Australia kick-started negotiations on uranium sales in 2012 after Canberra lifted a long-time ban on exporting the valuable ore to New Delhi to meet its ambitious nuclear energy programme.

India, which is heavily dependent on coal, is struggling to produce enough power to meet rising energy demand as its economy and large middle-class expand.

Nearly 400 million Indians still have no access to electricity, according to the World Bank, and power outages are common.

India wants to ramp up the number of nuclear plants from the 20 operating at six sites. The country derives less than two percent of its total power capacity from nuclear sources.

Although two-way trade last year was only $15 billion, the new deal, along with a massive coal mine approved in Australia for one of India's biggest conglomerates, was a sign of future cooperation and potential, Abbott said.

"We (Australia) have been an utterly dependable source of energy security, resource security and food security," Abbott told Indian business leaders earlier Friday.

"I hope that we can become an utterly reliable source of energy, resource and food security for India too," he added.

- Mutual trust -

Australia, the world's third-biggest uranium producer, had previously ruled out uranium exports to India because New Delhi has not signed the global non-proliferation treaty.

Both India and its neighbouring rival Pakistan have nuclear weapons, and along with Israel and North Korea are the only countries not to have signed the non-proliferation treaty to prevent the spread of nuclear warheads.

Abbott reiterated Friday that his government has now received the necessary commitments from New Delhi that it would only use the ore for its civilian nuclear programme.

He said India and Australia both abided by the fundamental "ethical principle" to "play by the rules".

"This is why we can work together so easily and why we're ready to trust each other on issues like uranium safeguards."

Australia's decision to overturn its ban followed a landmark US agreement in 2008 to support India's civilian nuclear programme.

Under the agreement, India won exemption from the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which governs nuclear trade, allowing it to buy reactors and fuel from overseas, after decades of being treated as a pariah for building nuclear weapons.

Asked on Thursday about India's management of its nuclear power industry and safety standards, Abbott said it was "not our job to tell India how to conduct its internal affairs".

"Our job is to try to ensure we act in accordance with our own standards of decency and that's what we intend to do," he said.

During his meeting with Modi, Abbott handed back two centuries-old statues allegedly looted from Indian temples, ending a long-running battle over the pieces.

Abbott also met senior ministers in the Indian capital, visited a hospital trauma centre and announced $20 million in funding for India-Australian scientific projects.


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/24913183/australia-india-sign-long-awaited-civil-nuclear-deal/