Family heartache over Arctic 30 detention

The family of "Arctic 30" crew detained in Russia have spoken of their anguish over their detention. Source: AAP

RELATIVES of two Greenpeace activists detained with 28 others in Russia over an Arctic oil drilling protest have told of their heartbreak over their extended detention.

Tasmanian Colin Russell, 59, and Sydney resident Alex Harris, 27, are among the so-called Arctic 30 charged with piracy and hooliganism over a protest against the oil drilling in September.

Russian authorities announced on Friday they would apply for a three-month extension to their detention.

Mr Russell's daughter Maddy broke down on Saturday morning as she spoke about not having her father back by Christmas during a support rally near the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

"We've had only one call in the whole 60 days since this happened," Ms Russell, 24, said.

"I had a hope in the back of my mind that he would be home in time for Christmas and I don't know what to make of it now."

Ms Harris, who is a UK citizen living in Manly in Sydney's north, has been writing letters to her cousin and housemate Gemma.

"As she writes each letter, each time I read them she becomes stronger and stronger," Gemma said.

As part of a global day of solidarity, about a hundred people gathered in Hickson Road Reserve holding up big white letters that spelled out "Free the Arctic 30".

They also released 30 doves, one for each person detained.

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Sydney bikie associate charged over arms

A Hells Angels associate has been charged with weapons offences after a raid in southwestern Sydney. Source: AAP

A HELLS Angels associate has been charged after police seized a stun gun, ammunition and steroids from a house at southwestern Sydney.

The items were seized by police from Strike Force Raptor as they undertook a raid at a house in Ambarvale.

Police arrested a 20-year-old man at the house and he was charged with possessing an unauthorised pistol, possessing an androgenic steroidal agent, possessing a prohibited weapon and possessing ammunition.

He was refused bail and will appear in Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.

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Second round of severe storms coming

Steve Ots catches massive hailstones falling in the water of the Sunshine Coast.

ANOTHER day, another storm in the southeast. Follow all the weather action here.

6.50pm: THE Bruce Highway has been reopened at two sections following separate incidents earlier this evening.

Motorists can now use one lane of the highway after a minor car crash 40km north of Gin Gin.

Emergency services are still removing the damaged vehicle from the road.

The highway is also open near Marlborough, north of Rockhampton, after a tree-related incident about 3pm.

6.30pm: THUNDERSTORMS may rain on the parade of school leavers with another round of severe weather warnings issued for southeast Queensland.

The weather bureau has warned residents near the NSW border to expect storms near the McPherson Range by 6.25pm and Springbrook and Little Nerang Dam by 6.55pm.

The storms are moving northeast and forecasters have advised locals near the Gold Coast to prepare to batten down the hatches.

A 'very dangerous' thunderstorm on the Sunshine Coast brings hailstones the size of tennis balls.

Further north, similar warnings have been given to residents near Mackay, Prosperine, Moranbah, Collinsville, Hamilton Island and Sarina on the central Queensland coast.
 

PICTURES: Readers capture southeast storms

3pm: DOUBLE Island Point, Rainbow Beach and Wide Bay are now being warned to brace for thunderstorms with the Bureau predicting impact at around 3.05pm.

At 2.35pm severe storms were detected near Beenleigh and Russell Island, they are forecast to affect Mount Cotton, Macleay Island and Victoria Point by 3.05pm.

Police are advising motorists that the Bruce Highway is closed near Marlborough, north of Rockhampton, after trees fell onto the road.

PICTURES: Readers capture southeast storms

Hail hits the water at Maroochydore and leaves huge splashes. Picture: Steve Ots

2.50pm: Steve Ots is visiting the Sunshine Coast from the Gold Coast and witnessed the hail storm from his twelfth storey apartment on the Maroochydore esplanade.

Got a storm pic?  MMS 0428 258 117

"I started hearing really loud noises - like a construction site," he said. 

"When I looked in the distance I could see all this splashing up the river and I realised it was hail. 

PICTURES: Readers capture southeast storms

"Originally I thought someone was throwing things from the apartment above us.

"The hail was orange-sized and it looked like a war zone…it was crazy, I've never seen hail like it before."

Taking shelter on his balcony Mr Ots said the hail caused considerable damage on the ground below.

A resident of Mooloolah Valley holds up a massive hailstone from a storm that sounded like explosions on the roof.

"I wonder about the damage that it must have done," he said, 

"You wouldn't want to be on the ground when these things were coming down…the speed was pretty phenomenal."

2.45pm: Double Island Point, Rainbow Beach and Wide Bay are now being warned to brace for thunderstorms with the Bureau predicting impact at around 3.05pm.

At 2.35pm severe storms were detected near Beenleigh and Russell Island, they are forecast to affect Mount Cotton, Macleay Island and Victoria Point by 3.05pm.

Police are advising motorists that the Bruce Highway is closed near Marlborough, north of Rockhampton, after trees fell onto the road.

2.40pm: The Bureau of Meteorology has updated weather warnings with very dangerous thunder storms detected near Maroochydore and Beenleigh, both cells are moving east.

Got a storm pic?  MMS 0428 258 117

Very dangerous thunderstorms are forecast to affect Jacobs Well and Russell Island by 2:45 pm.

Thunderstorms were also located north of Noosa and at Lake Cooloola.

Hail at Novotel Twin Waters on the Sunshine Coast.

2pm: The Bureau of Meteorology has added to the list of southeast Queensland towns warned to brace for oncoming storms.

Dangerous storm cells have been detected on radars near Jimboomba, Logan Village, Greenbank and Conondale.

PICTURES: Readers capture southeast storms

Very dangerous thunderstorms are forecast to affect Beenleigh, Logan City, Nambour and Mapleton by 2:20 pm.

Cleveland, Manly, Wynnum and Yandina may be affected by 2:50 pm.

1.35pm: The Bureau of Meteorology has updated its storm warnings, with two storms cells centred around Maroochydore and the area between Boonah and Beaudesert.

The storms are moving towards the east to northeast.

The storms are classed as "very dangerous" and are forecast to affect Tamborine, Jimboomba, Logan Village and waters off Coolum Beach by 1:55 pm.

Massive hailstones pounded the Mooloolah Valley. Picture: Higgins Storm Chasing/Rebecca Shepperson

Beenleigh, Coomera, Hope Island and Jacobs Well will be hit by 2:25 pm.

Other severe thunderstorms were located near the NSW border and the area south of the NSW border.

They are forecast to affect the area southwest of Noosa Heads, the area west of Noosa Heads, Tewantin and Pomona by 1:55 pm.

Coolangatta, Caboolture, Noosa Heads and waters off Noosa Heads are predicted to be affected by 2:25 pm.

Residents are warned to brace for large hailstones and damaging winds.

1.15pm: Tennis ball-sized hail has fallen at Buderim as a large storm cell sweeps over the Sunshine Coast.

Got a storm pic?  MMS 0428 258 117

The Bureau of Meteorology has reported "very dangerous thunderstorms" detected on weather radar near Maroochydore, Boonah, Caloundra and the area between Boonah and Beaudesert.

The water funnel as seen from a dive boat off Wynnum. Picture: Josh Keen

PICTURES: Readers capture southeast storms

They are forecast to affect Beaudesert, waters off Caloundra and waters off Maroochydore by 1:25 pm and Canungra, Mount Tamborine, Tamborine and Jimboomba by 1:55 pm.

Marburg, Lowood, northern Lake Wivenhoe and Mount Kilcoy will receive falls at around 1:25 pm.

Ipswich, Crohamhurst, Maleny and Conondale will receive further falls by 1:55 pm.

12.55pm: Residents are reporting a blanket of hail, some the size of large marbles, after more than 20 minutes of solid falls.

The storm cell is moving east to northeast and are forecast to hit Maroochydore by 12.55pm.

The Bureau of Meteorology has also detected severe thunderstorms near Esk and to the west of the town.

The storms are forecast to affect Boondah, Esk and the northwest of Esk by 12.55pm, and the area between Boonah and Beaudesert, northern Wivenhoe and Toogoolawah by 1.25pm.

Got a storm pic?  MMS 0428 258 117

Damaging winds and very large hailstones are likely.

Capricornia, parts of the Central Coast, the Whitsundays, the Central Highlands and the Coalfields districts are being warned to brace for damaging winds and large hail stones in the next two hours.

Emerald, Rockhampton, Clermont, Blackwater, Yeppoon, Baralaba, Marlborough, St Lawrence and Dysart may be affected.

Earlier, walkers on the Wynnum foreshore got a shock this morning when a large water funnel was spotted just off the coast.

Reader Janet Rough snapped a picture about 6.45am, with the odd formation dominating the skyline.

Commonly referred to as a water spout, Bureau of Meteorology Duty Forecaster Gordon Banks said the formation was more likely to be a small tornado over water.

Meet the one man weather bureau

Readers capture southeast storms

"In this instance being as it was associated with a thunderstorm it's most likely a tornado over water," he said.

"It would actually pick up water as it moved; it's hard to see if they don't have water or dirt wrapped around them."

Also spotted from the airport, if the formation is a tornado Brisbane could be on the receiving end of a weather phenomenon.

"If it was a tornado, and I suspect it was but it's hard to prove, then it's very unusual and very rare," Mr Banks said.

"Statistically we're unlikely to get another one, but if the environments produced one there remains a chance of another.

"It's just another part of the danger associated with thunderstorms and why it's always best to take cover."

Southeast Queensland's wet weather is expected to continue, with the bureau predicting significant rain over Sunday and Monday with thunderstorms also predicted.

- additional reporting by Kathleen Donaghey

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Two-time shark victim feels he was spared

An abalone diver who survived two separate shark attacks nine years apart feels God saved his life. Source: AAP

THE abalone diver who incredibly survived a second shark attack has revealed he did not see the great white that tried to bite his head off - but instead recognised the sound of teeth on bone.

Greg Pickering, 55, was diving for abalone off a remote part of Western Australia's southern coast last month when he was attacked by a suspected great white shark.

It was the second time Mr Pickering had lived through a shark attack, after being bitten by a 1.5 metre bronze whaler while in waters near Cervantes, north of Perth, in 2004 as he was trying to help a friend.

Speaking about his ordeal for the first time, Mr Pickering told the Seven Network's Sunday Night program about the circumstances of the attack, which left him needing 10 hours of surgery on facial and other wounds.

"I heard the sound, the thrashing sound, of teeth on bone - and I remembered the sound from the last time I was bitten," Mr Pickering said.

"I thought 'that is probably a shark', but I didn't see it - I heard the attack."

The show claims Mr Pickering is now the only man in the world to be attacked by sharks in separate incidents and live to tell the tale.

And the interview will also detail how Mr Pickering used his 40-year diving experience to hold his breath and rise to the surface slowly after the attack, despite the water turning red around him from the blood pouring from his horrific injuries.

A roll of duct tape and a towel was then used to hold Mr Pickering's shredded face together, as his eight-hour journey to hospital began.

Mr Pickering told reporter Mark Ferguson how he felt he had been spared his life.

"It (the shark) suddenly stopped and let me go - so I have definitely been given another chance," Mr Pickering said.

"I do believe I have been given a second chance. God has given me a second chance there is no doubt about that."

Soon after the attack, Mr Pickering's family expressed their thanks to paramedics, surgeons, doctors and nurses who helped save his life, while Fisheries Department director-general Stuart Smith slapped a kill order on the shark.

But the order was then called off because the shark was not sighted again and was no longer considered a threat to school-holiday campers in the area.

Mr Pickering returned to the area where he was attacked, Poison Creek at Cape Arid National Park, about 180km east of Esperance, to tell his story.

*The interview with Mr Pickering will air on the Seven Network's Sunday Night at 6.30pm AEDT on Sunday November 17

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Anyone could be a danger to kids: Qld cops

PEDOPHILES no longer fit the common image of an old man living alone, meaning anyone could be a danger to children, Queensland police and child advocates warn.

Federal police swooped on 65 Australian men, charging them with involvement in the Canadian website that allowed customers to trade and purchase sex images and videos of young males from the Ukraine, Romania and Germany.

Queensland police arrested 32 of those men, including four teachers, a student, a bank manager, a nurse, an accountant and a number of tradesmen.

Detective Senior Sergeant Cameron Harsley says that offenders ranged in age between 22 and 76, with most towards the younger end of the range.

"The idea of an old man living alone is gone, they are young offenders," he told reporters on Friday.

"Those that were downloading these images are just as guilty as those who were procuring these boys.

"People in (positions of) trust, we put a higher value on their morals.

"It's very important to risk manage the contact your children have with members of the public or anybody, it's very important to communicate with your child every night."

Child protection advocacy group Bravehearts said stranger danger was coming back via the internet and mobile phones.

"It makes it very difficult, it makes people scared of every new person in their life really," the organisation's founder and executive director Hetty Johnston told AAP.

No Queensland children were exploited by the international ring, but Det Sgt Harsley said it could have easily gone that way.

"Where there's a market, there's a will for children, so I'm confident that if the opportunity existed for these people to exploit children in Queensland, they would," he said.

"I think the market is flourishing, I think we have got to be vigilant all the time."

But law enforcement officials and parents can only do so much.

Most of the men charged have already appeared in court and are due back in the dock over the next two months.

One, a bank manager from northern Brisbane, has already faced court and was fined $1000 with no conviction recorded.

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Australians in global child sex sting

33 Queenslanders have been arrested in a global sting that uncovered a massive child porn ring. Source: AAP

A WEST Australian teacher charged with sexually abusing and filming five of his students is among 65 Australians arrested as part of a worldwide operation to dismantle an international child exploitation network.

Australians from six states and territories - including teachers, priests, a nurse, a policeman, a carer and an accountant - were among the 348 people arrested as part of the Canadian-led investigation.

The five pupils from WA's Goldfields region, and one from the ACT, were now safe from further abuse, the Australian Federal Police said.

"They were all being filmed or had photos taken of them in horrible circumstances," AFP national co-ordinator of child protection operations Todd Hunter said on Friday.

They are among 386 exploited children around the world rescued as a result of Operation Spade.

The WA children were all primary school-age pupils of the 30-year-old teacher who was arrested after his details surfaced on a Canadian website, www.azovfilms.com, run by Toronto man Brian Way.

The teacher was sacked in June and faces more than 100 charges of indecently dealing with and indecently recording a child under 13.

WA police are still investigating whether the films he made were distributed to other online pedophiles via the azovfilms website.

Officers are concerned that, as they delve deeper into their investigation and make more arrests, more children will be identified, Superintendent Hunter said.

Five other West Australians, including another teacher, were charged with possessing child abuse material and have already appeared in court.

Federal authorities say they anticipate more charges being laid as investigations continue.

In Queensland, 33 people were charged with 209 offences. Among the nine men charged in NSW were a 42-year-old school teacher from Cowra and another 42-year-old teacher from Emu Plains.

A 72-year-old retired Catholic priest, and a 57-year-old priest are also facing NSW court dates.

State police also confirmed five arrests in Victoria and 12 in South Australia.

Many of them have already appeared in court.

Glen McEwen, the AFP's manager of cyber crime operations, said police executing more than 100 search warrants across the country were shocked by the "abhorrent and disgusting" quantity of child exploitation material uncovered.

"It gives just a snapshot of the sort of enormity of what we're dealing with, and the appetite of people," he said.

The Toronto operation was launched three years ago to investigate Way's film website, which claimed to depict "nudist life in Russia and Ukraine" according to its Twitter feed - but Canadian police allege it in fact sold child exploitation movies and images across the world.

Way is said to have paid people to film children around the world for the purpose of creating movies for sale on his website, with over 45 terabytes of data seized. He was reported to have made $4 million out of his website.

Joanna Beaven-Desjardins, the Commander of the Toronto police sex crimes unit, said the international operation was unprecedented.

"When we work together, regardless of the borders that divide us, we can successfully track down those who not only prey on our most vulnerable but also those who profit from it," Ms Beaven-Desjardins said.

Police in Spain, Mexico, South Africa, Hong Kong, Norway, Sweden, Ireland, Greece and Gibraltar were all involved.

"The company operated a website - www.azovfilms.com - where customers from around the world placed orders to have movies sent to them through the mail or internet," Ms Beaven-Desjardins said.

Superintendent McEwen said the operation showed professions were also irrelevant - anyone could be involved.

"Professions do not dictate the behaviours or the interests these people have," he said.

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Devil-heavy zoo adds echidnas to menagerie

A FAMILY-OWNED zoo south of Perth is expanding its sizeable menagerie with two young echidnas whose enclosure was provided thanks to the kindness of strangers.

Peel Zoo in Pinjarra on Friday welcomed two female echidnas, Moa and Kain, both four years old.

Surplus to Perth Zoo's breeding requirements, the echidnas are now housed in a new enclosure built from recycled materials donated by local businesses, including about 1300 second-hand timber sleepers.

Zoo co-owner David Cobbold said he simply put the word out on social media that help was needed.

"It's really heartwarming to see people chip in," he told AAP.

Another preparation for the echidna's arrival - devising a diet that nutritionally matched the termites the egg-laying mammals normally eat - was more complicated, Mr Cobbold said.

The concoction includes jelly-meat cat food and soy protein powder.

"The diet of these things is insane," he said.

Mr Cobbold said he and wife Narelle aimed to expand on the collection of well over 100 native species at their hands-on, bushland-set zoo.

He couldn't tally exactly how many animals were there, given it is reproduction season.

"Because it's spring, whatever I tell you now might change by this afternoon. There's babies everywhere."

The zoo made headlines last year when three Tasmanian devils - Itchy, Scratchy, and Genghis - escaped after their enclosure was damaged by a fallen tree.

They were recovered days later.

Peel Zoo is also building a name for itself for devil breeding programs, recently moving the trio's half-brothers Saxon and Vandal to Featherdale Wildlife Park in Sydney, where they have added genetic diversity to the resident colony.

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Morrison to defy Senate motion

Immigration Minister says he will defy an order to hand over communications about asylum seekers. Source: AAP

IMMIGRATION Minister Scott Morrison says he will continue to release limited information to the press about asylum seeker boat arrivals ahead of the parliament in defiance of a Senate order.

Mr Morrison also confirmed for the first time on Friday an asylum seeker boat reached Darwin this week, one of three to arrive in Australian waters in the past seven days.

The Senate this week passed a motion compelling the minister to table all communications about "on-water operations" since the election, as well as email and correspondence between the minister, his office and the Department of Immigration and Customs.

At his weekly Operation Sovereign Borders media briefing in Sydney on Friday Mr Morrison told reporters he "noted" the Senate resolution.

When asked if it was likely he would continue to give the briefings to the press ahead of the parliament, Mr Morrison said he would honour the protocol.

The Senate order impacted on information that was available to him "and our response to that will be made in due course".

Mr Morrison added that the previous government refused to comply with 75 such orders to produce documents.

The motion also requires the minister to table documents about future incidents within 24 hours of the events.

Attacks on the border protection policy increased following confirmation this week a 31-year-old asylum seeker was separated from her newborn child in Brisbane.

Mr Morrison said a review into the matter was underway, while Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he deeply regretted the incident.

The vessel that arrived in Darwin was one of three boats carrying a total of 163 asylum seekers that entered Australian waters this week.

Operation Sovereign Borders commanding officer Lieutenant General Angus Campbell defended the policy's call for weekly briefings and limited discussion regarding boat interceptions.

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

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

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

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

In future Lt Gen Campbell will make his report, take a few questions and then withdraw to leave Mr Morrison to take questions.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said on Friday the briefings were farcical and she dismissed Lt Gen Campbell's reasoning.

"The idea of operation secret boats is simply to make the boats look like they've disappeared - it's got nothing to do with stopping them," she said.

Opposition immigration spokesman Richard Marles said the change to the briefings was an admission Mr Morrison had been wrong.

"The fact we've had to wait until today to have it confirmed from our own government that a boat did arrive in Darwin shows enormous contempt for the people of Darwin," he said.

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Cop in Milne case biased, court told

Lawyers for Stephen Milne have accused an ex-detective of being prejudice in his investigation. Source: AAP

LAWYERS for Stephen Milne have accused an ex-detective of being prejudiced in his investigation of rape claims against the former AFL player.

Former detective Scott Gladman denies the claims.

Milne, 33, has been charged with four counts of rape over an alleged incident at the Highett home of his former St Kilda teammate Leigh Montagna.

Despite the alleged incident occurring in March 2004, charges were only laid in June after a police review, and chief commissioner Ken Lay has said the initial investigation was inadequate.

At Milne's committal hearing on Thursday, defence barrister Philip Dunn QC said Mr Gladman was a prejudiced and mean-minded investigator.

Mr Dunn told Melbourne Magistrates Court Mr Gladman had wanted to be a "white knight" for the alleged victim.

Mr Gladman rejected that, and any claims of bias.

"Theatre, pure theatre; a complete fantasy," Mr Gladman replied via video link from Panama.

"I resent being called a white knight."

Mr Dunn accused Mr Gladman of ignoring key evidence that tended to exonerate Milne, which Mr Gladman also rejected.

"Absolute and total rubbish," Mr Gladman replied.

He denied making up an allegation that Milne had referred to "footy sluts" as he was being fingerprinted.

Mr Gladman said there was an incorrect perception that he was out to get Milne and had always believed he was guilty.

The hearing has previously been told Milne repeatedly tried to have sex with the woman, despite her objections, and that she initially thought he was Mr Montagna.

The hearing continues.

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Govt refuses call for RBA papers

THE Abbott government has refused to produce documentation about its decision to give $8.8 billion to the RBA's Reserve Fund, saying it would breach cabinet confidentiality.

Labor's Doug Cameron earlier this week called for the production of all documents and communication relating to the one-off grant, which Treasurer Joe Hockey said was needed to buffer the central bank against economic volatility.

But in a letter tabled in the Senate on Thursday, Assistant Treasurer Arthur Sinodinos knocked back the request, in recognition of the public interest in maintaining the confidentiality of the deliberative process of Cabinet.

"The 'decision' referred to in the Order was a decision of the Cabinet, and the various categories of documents listed relate directly to that Cabinet decision," Mr Sinodinos said in the letter.

Labor has accused Mr Hockey of playing politics with the RBA, after the treasurer accused the former government of refusing an RBA request for more funding.

Speaking in parliament, shadow treasurer Chris Bowen asked what Mr Hockey had to hide.

"You say the Reserve Bank asked for $8.8 billion this year. Well, show us the request," Mr Bowen said.

"The Reserve Bank transfer of $8.8 billion, of course, increases this year's deficit by that amount.

"Not only has the Treasurer declined to outlined the reasons for that, he has outright refused to release the documentation in breach of an order of one of the houses of the Australian parliament."

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Vic parly shut down in day of drama

Speaker Ken Smith has suspended the Victorian parliament amid calls for his resignation. Source: AAP

THE Victorian government and opposition are pointing the finger at each other after parliament was shut down in uproar, sitting for just nine minutes.

The drama unfolded when Labor repeatedly questioned Speaker Ken Smith about his support on the floor and Mr Smith accused Labor leader Daniel Andrews of "appalling" behaviour.

Labor wanted a vote to test Mr Smith's support on the floor, but after suspending parliament twice on Thursday, Mr Smith reconvened the house a third time for just a minute, only to shut it down again until the next sitting day on November 26.

Premier Denis Napthine blamed Labor for a deliberate campaign of disruption, saying the stunt cost $1 million in taxpayer funds.

"What we've seen today is parliament at its worst," he told reporters.

"It is a disgrace and Daniel Andrews ought to have a good hard look at himself.

"This was a deliberate tactic of disruption, petulance and absolutely appalling childish behaviour."

But Mr Andrews says the premier is blaming everyone else but his government for parliament shutting down.

"The shrill and angry and frankly desperate attempts of Denis Napthine to blame everyone else just doesn't cut it," Mr Andrews told reporters.

"This government is out of control. This government is an embarrassment."

The Labor opposition has been questioning Mr Smith's authority and called for him to resign, saying he is biased and does not enjoy the confidence of most of the lower house.

The move came after former Liberal turned independent MP Geoff Shaw, who holds the balance of power in the lower house, sided with Labor to stall government business on Tuesday and express no confidence in the Speaker.

Dr Napthine stood by Mr Smith, saying he understands why he may have taken the decision to suspend parliament.

He also refused to blame Mr Shaw for the affair, only saying by voting against the government business program earlier in the week, he allowed the "childish, immature irresponsible behaviour of the Labor Party to fester".

Dr Napthine said he expected a vote against the business program will not occur again.

But Labor says a lack of confidence in the Speaker will not change.

"Mr Smith has done everything, Mr Napthine has everything, to avoid having that vote because they know the Speaker does not have a majority of support on the floor of the parliament," Mr Andrews said.

The events led to only one of seven bills slated to go before the lower house this week being passed.

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Six soldiers booted for demeaning women

DEFENCE has booted out six soldiers for their part in the so-called "Jedi Council", an informal ring that shared offensive material including vision of secretly filmed sex acts.

Another seven may be sacked.

Army chief Lieutenant General David Morrison said their services had been terminated for production or distribution of highly inappropriate material demeaning women - and the message was clear.

"If you engage in misconduct, or you fail to uphold the army's standards, then you will be held to account," he said in a statement.

The "Jedi Council" scandal emerged in June when it was revealed a group of about 100 people, mostly soldiers, had been exchanging offensive material on the Defence computer system and the internet.

The group was allegedly co-founded by a former commando reservist officer who emailed video of himself having sex with a woman to associates on the network.

Up to 60 Defence personnel viewed the imagery, commenting on her appearance and performance.

Police identified several female victims of the "Jedi Council", variously referred to as "married moll number five" or "virgin moll". The group made references to gang-bangs and demands for more images.

Group members also allegedly exchanged images of women accompanied by offensive commentary, digitally altered images and images of naked women.

Of the six now discharged - ranging in rank from sergeant to major and from regular army and reserve units - NSW police are still investigating three who might face civil charges.

Another 11 have been implicated and Defence is considering whether to sack seven. The other four have faced, or will face, internal action.

General Morrison said Defence had concluded investigations into another 172 mostly army members identified as peripheral to the group's email exchanges. They too may face internal action.

"The Australian Army is overwhelmingly an organisation of 44,000 talented and professional men and women, who serve their country with pride and distinction," he said on Thursday.

"The standard of behaviour we expect of our serving members is clear."

He revealed on Thursday that 122 army members had been sacked this year.

That includes 15 officers and 35 soldiers for misconduct or unacceptable behaviour, one officer and 52 soldiers in relation to drugs and 19 soldiers for civilian offences.

"Where any serious case of misconduct or unacceptable behaviour is proven, the Chief of Army is resolved to take every step available to remove the individual responsible from the army," Defence said in a statement.

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Miners glad to see back of MRRT

Treasurer Joe Hockey has introduced legislation to repeal Labor's mining tax and related measures. Source: AAP

THE mining industry says the former Labor government's minerals resource rent tax (MRRT) was an unnecessary impost and it's glad to see the back of it.

Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey has introduced legislation to repeal the controversial MRRT and associated spending measures in federal parliament.

"The bill ends a sordid history of poor taxation policy," Mr Hockey told MPs on Wednesday.

"Given that the mining tax has failed to deliver meaningful revenue, the government has had to borrow to pay for the expenditure associated with the mining tax."

Scrapping the mining tax and associated expenditure measures is expected to save the budget $13.4 billion.

Mr Hockey said only Labor could have introduced a tax that raised little money and left the budget worse off.

The MRRT is a 30 per cent impost on the super profits of coal and iron ore producers.

Since it began, the tax has raised a net $400 million - despite Labor's initial forecasts of more than $3.7 billion in its first year.

Minerals Council of Australia chief Mitch Hooke said the MRRT was an unnecessary impost on industry.

"Its repeal is all the more important when the industry is facing pressing challenges to improve productivity and cost competitiveness to encourage continued investment and growth," he said.

Fewer than 20 individual taxpaying groups had contributed to the net $400 million raised so far.

But about 145 other miners had to submit tax instalment notices despite making no payments.

"Repealing the tax will restore confidence and promote mining activity, which in turn will create jobs and deliver prosperity to the broader community," Mr Hockey said.

But Labor plans to vote against the bill because of the flow-on effects for superannuation and small business.

The legislation seeks to scrap other measures associated to the MRRT package, including small business initiatives such as the loss carry-back initiative - where a company can retroactively apply net operating losses to a preceding year's income to reduce tax liability.

The government has also used the cover of the mining tax to scrap the schoolkids cash bonus paid to parents, saving $4.5 billion.

Opposition families spokeswoman Jenny Macklin described it as a "savage cut" to low and middle income families and "cruel hit" to parents trying to find the money to pay for school shoes and excursions.

"This will hit struggling families hard, and it means their kids risk missing out on all the things they need to do well at school," she said.

The bonus was never explicitly linked by Labor documentation to the MRRT legislation.

It was a cash revamp of an earlier tax rebate program.

The low income superannuation contribution is covered by the repeal package, but the government will keep incremental increases in the superannuation guarantee to 12 per cent - although the rises will be delayed for two years.

The super guarantee rate is currently 9.25 per cent.

It won't rise to 9.5 per cent until July 1, 2016 and will then increase by half a per cent a year until it reaches 12 per cent on July 1, 2020.

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Christine Campbell quits Vic parliament

LABOR'S member for Pascoe Vale, Christine Campbell has announced she will quit state parliament at the next election.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Ms Campbell announced her retirement after 17 years of service.

"It remains my honour to represent the Pascoe Vale electorate in the Victorian Parliament and I have decided that on 28 November, 2014 I will conclude my time as a member of parliament," Ms Campbell said.

"Until the election, my magnificent electorate officers and I will continue to give the party and electorate our total service."

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New MPs look to history for inspiration

NEW MPs in Australia's 44th parliament have taken inspiration from history as they made their first speeches in the House of Representatives.

New Liberal MP Sarah Henderson, a former ABC television journalist, pointed to lessons from the first women in the House of Representatives, Dame Enid Lyons, while Labor's Jim Chalmers, who was an adviser to former treasurer Wayne Swan, said he was inspired by former prime minister Paul Keating.

A total of 42 new MPs will make their first speeches in the House of Representatives over the coming months.

Ms Henderson, the new Liberal member for the Victorian seat of Corangamite, pledged to be a strong, local voice for her constituents.

She was inspired to study law and eventually enter politics by Lyons, who won a seat in parliament in 1943 and after the death of her husband, former prime minister Joseph Lyons.

The first female member of the House of Representatives might have made history but she never made an issue of her gender, Ms Henderson said.

That example should inspire the government and parliament to fight discrimination everywhere.

"Let us ensure that we are a country where equality knows no bounds," she said.

Mr Chalmers was inspired to join the Labor Party when the Keating government was thrown out of office in 1996.

The new Labor MP for the Queensland seat of Rankin said he turned 18 the day Keating lost power.

"I won't claim to remember much about the late evening of 2 March 1996. But I do recall that election being a formative experience," Mr Chalmers said.

"It helped me decide I wanted to be part of a vision like Keating's: bold, progressive and exciting.

"He championed the economic vision, Asian integration, and republicanism that I admired."

Former Senator and now MP for the Sydney seat of Kingsford Smith, Matt Thistlethwaite, used his first speech in the lower house to focus on history, the arrival of the First Fleet and French explorers, and World War One veterans who settled in his beachside electorate.

He then went on to urge Australians to change the constitution to recognise the contribution of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, and to become a republic.

"I despair that my two daughters, or any other Australian child, cannot aspire to one day be our nation's head of state," Mr Thistlethwaite said.

"As a parliament and a nation, we must begin to again discuss our identity and our constitutional arrangements.

"I hope that in my time in this place, we see our nation fully recognise our maturity and become a republic."

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Kevin Rudd quits parliament

KEVIN Rudd has announced he is quitting parliament.

He said there came a time in every politician's life when their family said "enough is enough".

The former prime minister and foreign minister said he would not be continuing beyond this week.

He said the slings and arrows of parliament "hit home to our families as well".

"For our family, recent statements since the September election have been particularly hurtful," Mr Rudd said.

"As parliamentarians you might say we become inured to all of this, although I doubt it."

He paused several times to compose himself, though at one stage joked he could use some gin, prompting laughs.

First elected as MP for Griffith in 1998, Rudd became prime minister in 2007, defeating John Howard.

But his time as prime minister came to an abrupt end in June 2010 when he was dumped by his party in favour of Julia Gillard.

Rudd reclaimed the job of prime minister in June this year when he defeated Ms Gillard in a party-room showdown.

But he went on to lose the September 7 election to Tony Abbott.

Mr Rudd thanked the "good burghers of Griffith", saying they were a good people and community.

"The decision that I have made has not been taken lightly, particularly given the big attachment I have for the community I proudly represented in this place these past 15 years," he said.

He also thanked the people of Australia for electing him as their prime minister.

"To have served as prime minister of Australia has been a great honour afforded to very few in our country's history," he said.

"For the future I wish the prime minister and this government well. I do that because I wish Australia well.

"The prime ministership of this Commonwealth is not easy; it is the hardest job in the land.

"The expectations of whoever holds the office are infinite while the resources available are finite."

He also wished Opposition Leader Bill Shorten all the best in that role.

He thanked Anthony Albanese for his "extraordinary service" as deputy prime minister, and Chris Bowen for his "great contribution" to the Australian Labor Party.

Mr Rudd said as prime minister he'd navigated Australia through the great financial crisis without a recession or mass unemployment, and maintained the nation's AAA credit rating.

His government had introduced a national curriculum, first ever paid parental leave scheme and a pension increase.

But it was the official apology to indigenous Australians in 2008 that remained the highlight of his political career.

"Nothing has brought me greater joy in political life than the smiles I have seen on the faces of our Aboriginal brothers and sisters, young and old, country and city, as a result of the apology," he said.

"I hope though that what we've archived through some healing of the soul will be the first step, the second of course is closing the gap to achieve a healing of broken bodies as well."

Mr Rudd said it was a privilege to be asked to return to the prime ministership this year, and that they'd been able to "save the furniture" in the election.

"In fact I think do considerably better than that," he said, to cheers of "hear hear" from the opposition frontbench.

"I'm glad that all you folk in the frontbench were returned in one piece as well, and that we return Labor as a fighting force for the next election."

He said the internal reforms made to the ALP this year were a "great experience for the party", but should only be the first step.

"In the meantime I look forward to a full democratic preselection process for all local party members to elect our next candidate for Griffith," he said.

MORE TO COME

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16,000 Australians a week fly to Bali

AUSTRALIANS are still flocking to the Indonesian island of Bali at the rate of more than 16,000 a week - making up more than quarter of the visitors to the holiday idyll every year.

New figures from Indonesia's Central Statistics Agency reveal that of the near 2.5 million arrivals in Bali from January to September this year, more than 600,000 came from Australia.

That is despite increasing warnings of potential illness amongst travellers, with at least seven Australians recently catching measles while holidaying on the island, and a dramatic increase in other infectious diseases caught while there in recent years.

Local tourism bosses in Bali are upbeat that the number of Australian visitors will continue to grow as infrastructure improves and the number of direct flights increases.

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Migration Tribunal case load increases

SRI Lankans asylum seekers had the highest rate of applications to the Refugee Review Tribunal in the last financial year.

The Migration Review Tribunal (MRT) annual report was tabled in the Senate on Tuesday.

The report said the Refugee arm of the tribunal received 4229 applications - 1518 from asylum seekers who arrived by boat.

The bulk of applicants among boat arrival asylum seekers were from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan.

Chinese asylum seekers were heavily represented in the non-boat arrival category.

Overall, the Migration Review Tribunal completed 19,347 reviews in 2012/13, up from 10,815 the previous year.

Skilled visas, students visas and partner visa cases made up the majority of cases.

The MRT and Refugee Review Tribunal conduct merit reviews of visa and visa-related decisions made by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

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Combet joins SA manufacturing group

FORMER federal Labor minister Greg Combet has been appointed to South Australia's Advanced Manufacturing Council.

Mr Combet was industry and innovation minister from December 2011 to July 2013 and retired from politics at the September federal election.

He previously held a number of trade union positions, including secretary of the ACTU from 1999-2007.

South Australian Manufacturing and Trade Minister Tom Kenyon said Mr Combet would bring a wealth of experience to the manufacturing council.

"Mr Combet has extensive experience in developing and implementing industry and innovation policy at a national level which positions him to make a significant contribution to the council's work and to SA more broadly," Mr Kenyon said in a statement on Tuesday.

Mr Combet takes up his position immediately and will serve until June 30, 2015.

The Advanced Manufacturing Council steers development and implementation of policies and programs to support the growth and international competitiveness of South Australia's manufacturing sector.

It meets every two months.

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Measles fear for Bali-bound Aussies

Health authorities are urging travellers to Bali to check they're vaccinated against measles. Source: AAP

AUSSIE schoolies have been told to check they're vaccinated after 27 Australians caught measles while holidaying in Bali recently.

Health authorities have told travellers, especially young school leavers, to the Indonesian island to ensure they are vaccinated against the highly infectious disease before they leave.

There have been 27 cases of measles connected to travel to Indonesia, particularly Bali, across Australia in recent weeks, NSW Health says.

There have been 29 measles cases in NSW this year, 20 of which were acquired overseas or interstate or were closely linked to these cases.

More than a quarter of these have been linked to those in Bali.

Five Victorians, who were not vaccinated, contracted measles in Indonesia in a five-week period.

Victoria's acting chief health officer Michael Ackland said the health department had tracked three additional cases back to the five travellers since their return.

Queensland health authorities detected three cases of measles in the state's southeast in October in males who had recently returned from Bali.

Queensland Health spokesman Craig Brown said two were confirmed to have been infected in Bali.

NSW Health's Dr Vicky Sheppeard has urged people travelling to Bali for schoolies to ensure they're up to date with their vaccinations.

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US family rescues woman, kills abductor

THE family of an American woman being held captive by her abusive former partner in an abandoned house staged a dramatic rescue, storming the building and shooting him dead in the process.

The drama began on Wednesday when Bethany Arceneaux, 29, was abducted on a street in Lafayette, Louisiana, by Scott Thomas.

Arceneaux, a victim of domestic violence, had reported numerous threats from Thomas, the father of her two-year-old son, in June and August.

On Wednesday evening, the Lafayette Daily Advertiser reports, Thomas cornered Arceneaux near a day care centre after a car chase.

She tried to run from him with her son in her arms, screaming for help. A woman who watched them struggle intervened, managing to pull the child away.

Thomas dragged Arceneaux into his car and drove off.

This triggered a hunt for the pair, with Arceneaux's large family of sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles and cousins determined to find her.

Two hours later, Thomas's car was found abandoned in a field.

Police brought in bloodhounds and began searching the area, but were unsuccessful, with Thursday passing with no sign of the pair.

The family, fearing for Arceneaux's safety, joined the hunt on Friday.

A tip about an abandoned house in a nearby field led family members to where Arceneaux was being held.

A half dozen people converged on the house, kicked down the door and found Arceneaux inside.

She was bloody and had been stabbed repeatedly, according to the Lafayette Daily Advertiser's photographer who had been with the family.

A confrontation ensued and Thomas was shot dead.

Arceneaux was treated for the stab wounds before being released from the hospital on Saturday and reunited with her son.

She told police she hadn't had anything to eat or drink since Wednesday.

When Thomas heard family members enter the house, she said, he began stabbing her, the paper reported.

Now police and prosecutors have to decide whether to lay charges against the person who shot Thomas.

At present no one has been arrested and legal experts say there may not be any charges because they were defending Arceneaux.

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Govt urged to scrap Sydney plane cap

MORE planes should be allowed to fly in and out of Sydney Airport until a second airport is built at Badgerys Creek, a tourism industry body says.

The Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) believes the current cap of 80 plane movements per hour at Kingsford Smith Airport should be lifted to boost visitor traffic in and out of Sydney.

TTF chief executive Ken Morrison said the cap - brought in two decades ago - was outdated.

"The number of people flying to and from Sydney is forecast to double over the next 20 years," he said in a statement.

"The current restrictions make it harder than it needs to be for Sydney Airport to manage that demand."

But should the federal government heed the TTF's call, Labor says it won't support an increase to the cap on aircraft movements at the Sydney Airport.

Shadow minister for infrastructure and transport Anthony Albanese says the solution to Sydney's aviation capacity constraints is a second Sydney Airport.

Mr Morrison backed the construction of another airport at Badgerys Creek, in western Sydney, but said it would be years until any second airport opened.

In the meantime, freeing up capacity at Sydney Airport would help NSW double its visitor intake by 2020.

"We are urging the federal government to ensure the need to modernise Sydney Airport's operating conditions is part of any consideration of Sydney's future aviation needs," Mr Morrison said.

The call comes after Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce last month confirmed there was no reason why Qantas and Jetstar couldn't operate out of Badgerys Creek - putting to bed the idea that major airlines wouldn't use the facility.

Locals oppose the Badgerys Creek plan, first proposed 30 years ago, saying it would mean round-the-clock noise.

The federal government has previously called the Badgerys Creek site a "prime contender" for a second airport, but says it will also look at the capacity of Richmond and the existing airport at Mascot.

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Labor aims to limit debt ceiling to $400b

LABOR will only let the government increase the debt ceiling to $400 billion, $100 billion less than the sum Treasurer Joe Hockey wants.

Mr Hockey will on Wednesday introduce a bill to raise the national debt ceiling to $500 billion, from $300 billion.

But shadow treasurer Chris Bowen told Labor's Monday caucus meeting that while there was clearly a need to extend the debt ceiling, there was no justification in any publicly available information for putting it up as high as $500 billion.

Caucus agreed to his proposal to try to amend the legislation to only allow a $400 billion limit.

In announcing the planning increase, Mr Hockey said he's been advised the existing debt limit of $300 billion would be reached on December 12 and was projected to exceed $400 billion by 2015/16.

He wanted to put the limit beyond doubt so it didn't need to be revisited.

Caucus on Monday also decided to vote against the repeal of the mining tax and endorsed shadow cabinet's position to move amendments to the carbon tax repeal legislation that would see the tax scrapped but replaced with an emissions trading scheme.

However it didn't approve the exact wording of any amendments, since the legislation is yet to be seen.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten told the caucus meeting the party would be stronger for being united.

"There is too much at stake for Australia to lose under this government," he said.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd did not attend the caucus meeting and it's unknown whether he will be in Canberra for the first sitting week of the new parliament.

New Labor MP Tim Watts, who won Nicola Roxon's former seat of Gellibrand, was chosen to be caucus secretary.

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Sydney's second casino one step closer

SYDNEY'S second casino is one step closer to opening its doors after the NSW government entered into a binding agreement for James Packer's $1.5 billion development.

The third stage of the approval process for Mr Packer's Crown Group project was signed off on Monday.

The restricted gaming development will include a luxury six-star hotel and VIP-only casino at Barangaroo.

Premier Barry O'Farrell said legislation would be introduced into parliament this week to enable the casino's approval.

"What we have agreed is to introduce legislation for a restricted gaming facility to be allowed to operate at Barangaroo south from November 2019," he said.

Mr Packer, Crown Resorts chairman, said in a statement he was going to do everything he could to make Crown Sydney the best hotel in the world.

"I am humbled that we have reached formal agreement with the New South Wales government," he said.

"We believe that Crown Sydney will help attract Asian high net worth travellers to Sydney, in particular from China, creating economic growth, extra taxes and over 1200 jobs for the people of New South Wales."

A independent assessment committee assessed earlier this year Crown's bid as well as plans Echo Entertainment, owner of Sydney's existing casino The Star, put forward.

The committee - chaired by former banking chief David Murray - found Crown's contribution to gross state product and tax was 26 per cent and 31 per cent larger than Echo's respectively.

Mr O'Farrell said on Monday minimum bet standards would apply to Crown's casino.

For baccarat, the minimum bet would be $30 but that equated to an hourly betting minimum of more than $2000, Mr O'Farrell said.

"This is as we said when approving stage two about the Asian-based high-range gaming market," he said.

"It's about high worth individuals. It's about that tourism which Australia catches a very small part of and NSW is determined to be a bigger part."

The government says at least $1 billion will be gained in the first 15 years from licence fees and gaming taxes.

Mr O'Farrell said statutory approvals were still needed from liquor and gaming authority and planning consent for construction, which would include public consultation.

But NSW Greens MP John Kaye said the approval process to date had been anything but independent and accountable.

"It is not surprising NSW is a step closer to another casino with all of the corruption risks, all of the gaming risks and all of the economic risks it brings with it," he told AAP.

Sydney Business Chamber executive director Patricia Forsythe welcomed the announcement.

She said if the state was not attracting the high rollers there were plenty of other locations for them to go.

"It's restricting the casino to the so-called high rollers, so it's restricting the gambling to a very narrow group," she told AAP.

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UK MP pledges stables energy bill payback

British MP Nadhim Zahawi (R) says he will pay back an expenses claim he made for his energy bills. Source: AAP

A CONSERVATIVE MP has apologised and promised to repay part of a STG5822.27 ($A9,970) expenses claim for his energy bills - after it emerged taxpayers were paying for the electricity supply to his stables.

Nadhim Zahawi, a founder of market research firm YouGov, said he was "mortified" to discover the error which came to light after he was among politicians criticised over subsidised energy bills.

The Stratford on Avon MP claimed the most, with a bill totalling STG5822.27 to cover electricity and heating oil for his estate in Warwickshire.

In a statement posted on his website, he said: "Since last week's coverage of my energy bills I have been looking into them further and can confirm that all claims for heating fuel relate purely to my second home.

"However I have made a mistake with my electricity claims.

On investigation I have discovered that the electricity supply for a mobile home located in the stable yard and for the stables themselves was linked to my house.

"Whilst a meter was installed in the stable yard I have only been receiving one bill, it was wrong to assume I was receiving two and to have not checked this sooner.

"I am mortified by this mistake and apologise unreservedly for it.

"I will obviously be paying back any money that was wrongly claimed immediately and have already contacted IPSA (Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority) regarding the correct procedure."

Some 340 MPs, including government ministers, have used the parliamentary expenses system to recoup the cost of heating their second homes, it was reported.

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No Iran nuclear deal in Geneva

Diplomats in Geneva say world powers have failed to agree on an initial nuclear deal with Iran. Source: AAP

IRAN and world powers have failed to clinch a long-sought deal on Tehran's nuclear program despite marathon talks in Geneva but kept hopes alive by agreeing to meet here again on November 20.

In Tehran, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani pleaded for parliament's backing in the negotiations while insisting that Iran would not abandon its nuclear rights, including uranium enrichment.

Diplomats said significant progress had been made in three days of intense negotiations aimed at reaching agreement in the decade-long standoff.

Hopes had soared for an impending deal after top world diplomats rushed to Geneva to join the talks, but faded after cracks began to show among world powers when France raised concerns.

Emerging in the early hours of Sunday from a last-ditch negotiating session, EU diplomatic chief Catherine Ashton and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the two sides had not been able to come together on a deal.

"A lot of concrete progress has been achieved but some issues remain," Ashton said.

"Our objective is to reach a conclusion and that's what we'll come back to try to do."

Zarif said he was not discouraged by the failure of the talks, saying the meetings had taken place in a positive atmosphere and that he hoped to reach an agreement at the next talks.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius was the first to reveal that the deal had failed, pre-empting the official announcement after the talks broke up.

Fabius had earlier raised concerns that the proposal did not go far enough to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions.

He insisted that France wanted an agreement, despite claims from some officials that Paris had stymied efforts to reach a deal.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, who had cut short a Middle East tour to join the talks, said "significant progress" had been made.

"There's no question in my mind that we are closer now as we leave Geneva," he said, adding that Washington remained intent on ensuring that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.

"We came to Geneva determined to make certain that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon. That remains our goal," Kerry said.

The talks involved the P5+1 group, which includes the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - plus Germany.

The draft deal said to be on the table could have seen Iran freeze parts of its nuclear program in exchange for the easing of some of the sanctions that have battered its economy.

The world powers in the talks suspect Iran's program is aimed at developing nuclear weapons, despite Tehran's repeated denials.

Rouhani - whose election is widely credited with kick-starting the nuclear talks - earlier urged world powers to seize what he called "an exceptional opportunity" for a deal.

Reports said the proposed deal could have seen Iran stop enriching uranium to 20 per cent, which is just a few technical steps from weapons-grade, reduce existing stockpiles and agree not to activate its plutonium reactor at Arak.

Global powers would have in exchange taken limited and "reversible" measures to ease sanctions, such as unfreezing some Iranian funds in foreign accounts.

Iran is anxious for relief from crippling US and European Union economic sanctions that have cut oil revenues by more than half, caused the value of its currency to plunge and pushed inflation above 40 per cent.

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Ex-Sydney priest among Philippines dead

An Australian man, believed to be a former priest, has been killed by a typhoon in the Philippines. Source: AAP

A FORMER Sydney priest who secretly married a woman he met in the Philippines is among the hundreds killed in the typhoon that has devastated the archipelago nation.

Kevin Lee, a whistleblower on child sex abuse in the Catholic church, was defrocked last year after he went public about his 2011 marriage and admitted to having had girlfriends during his 20 years as a priest.

Mr Lee founded the Padre Pio parish in Glenmore Park, in western Sydney, but moved to the Philippines after leaving the ministry.

It's been reported he went swimming as part of a religious ritual, as Super Typhoon Haiyan lashed the Philippines with winds of around 315km/h.

On Sunday the Bishop of Parramatta, Anthony Fisher, paid tribute to the late father and husband.

"I extend my deepest sympathy to his widow Josefina and her children during this time of personal tragedy for them and devastation for the people of the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan," he said.

He also expressed his condolences to Mr Lee's parents and family in Australia and paid tribute to the work Mr Lee did for his parish.

"Last year, Kevin left his ministry as a Catholic priest in very public circumstances and was recently 'laicised' at his request," Bishop Fisher said.

"He had made a new life with Josefina and they recently celebrated the birth of a daughter.

"Difficult as was the mode of his departure, we honour the work Kevin did as the founding parish priest of Padre Pio Parish, Glenmore Park, and his ministry as a chaplain with NSW Police."

Ray King, who as a former Fairfield police commander was once a colleague of Mr Lee's and, more recently, beat him to a Liberal party pre-selection for a tilt at federal MP Chris Bowen's seat of McMahon, has described his death as a shock.

But he said it was "fairly reckless" for Mr Lee to go swimming during the storm, ABC Radio reports.

"Kevin had a choice when he went into the surf," he told the broadcaster.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed the death of a 50-year-old NSW man in the typhoon but declined to name him.

"Consular officials are providing assistance to his family," a DFAT spokesperson said.

Officials fear the death toll in the Philippines could reach 10,000 people after Haiyan tore into the eastern islands of Leyte and Samar on Friday.

The Abbott government has pledged nearly $400,000 worth of emergency aid to devastated communities and says it stands ready to do more.

DFAT says Australians concerned for the welfare of family and friends in the region should first attempt to contact them directly.

If unsuccessful, they should call DFAT's 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135 or +612 6261 3305.

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Four die in SA in weekend crashes

A SWISS national and a pedestrian are among four people killed in crashes on South Australia's roads this weekend.

A Victorian woman has been charged over one of the crashes which killed a Swiss woman and injured two others on Saturday.

A sedan and four-wheel drive crashed head-on at Langhorne Creek, south of Adelaide just after 4pm (CDT).

The sedan driver, a 56-year-old woman from Switzerland, died at the scene.

Another passenger and the driver of the other vehicle were airlifted to the Flinders Medical Centre with serious injuries.

Both are in a stable condition.

Police arrested and charged a 61-year-old woman from Victoria with aggravated careless driving.

Meanwhile, a young man died when a car veered onto the wrong side of the road and hit a taxi and then a tree at Clearview, north of Adelaide, just before 6am (CDT) on Sunday.

Police said a passenger of the car, believed to be a 23-year-old male, was killed while six others from both cars were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Another young man was killed in a separate hit-and-run collision south of Adelaide.

Police say the 21-year-old was struck by a car as he walked along Hermitage Drive, Angle Vale, early Sunday morning.

Police have arrested an 18-year-old man from Angle Vale after he presented himself to police following reports of a fatal hit-and-run.

He is being interviewed.

In a separate collision, one person was killed and five others hospitalised after a head-on crash between two cars at Northfield, in Adelaide's northern suburbs.

The cause of the crash is yet to be determined.

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