Cruise ship returns with sick toll at 700

A cruise ship on which nearly 700 passengers and crew fell ill has arrived home in the US. Source: AAP

A CRUISE ship on which nearly 700 passengers and crew fell ill has arrived at its home port in the US after a Caribbean voyage was cut short by the outbreak.

One woman aboard the Explorers of the Sea yelled, "We made it!" as the ship docked Wednesday at New Jersey. Other passengers, with blankets wrapped around them, stood on deck to watch the ship pull in.

The cause of the outbreak is yet to be determined.

Bill Rakowicz of Canada said he suffered from vomiting, pain and diarrhoea and that his experience was simply "awful".

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said its latest count puts the number of those sickened at 630 passengers and 54 crew members. The ship was carrying 3050 passengers.

Health investigators suspect norovirus, but lab results are not expected until later this week.

If norovirus is to blame, it would be one of the largest outbreaks in last 20 years, the CDC said. A 2006 norovirus outbreak on a Carnival Cruise Lines ship also sickened close to 700.

Norovirus - once known as Norwalk virus - is highly contagious. It can be picked up from an infected person, contaminated food or water or by touching contaminated surfaces. It causes bouts of vomiting and diarrhoea for a few days.

The CDC said it recommended to cruise operator Royal Caribbean that people who still have symptoms be housed in nearby hotels or seen at medical facilities before travelling home.

CDC investigators boarded the ship during its US Virgin Islands Port call on Sunday. They said no single food or water source or other origin has been identified.

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Treasury Wines tank on share market

Treasury Wine Estates has issued a profit warning in the wake of weaker than expected sales. Source: AAP

TREASURY Wine Estates has been hammered on the stock market, with its shares falling by 20 per cent after it issued a profit downgrade due to weaker sales in Australia and China.

The company behind Penfolds and Wolf Blass has cut its full year earnings forecast from between $230 million and $250 million to between $190 million and $210 million.

It expects first half earnings, which will be announced in February, to be between $41 million and $46 million, down from $73 million last year.

Treasury Wine shares fell to $3.64, their weakest price in almost two years, wiping $589 million from the value of the company.

Weaker than expected sales in Australia, following the company's decision to lift prices on some products and focus less on Christmas promotions, had contributed to the profit downgrade, it said.

A decline in Chinese demand for premium wine had also hit sales volumes.

Treasury Wine also said it had continued to reduce shipments to the US while increasing investment across the group, especially in Asia.

The profit downgrade is the latest in a string of bad news for Treasury Wine, which last year poured more than $35 million worth of excess or aged commercial stock down the drain in the US.

The controversial move, which was part of a broader $160 million writedown, ultimately led to the departure of chief executive David Dearie.

Law Firm Maurice Blackburn and litigation funder IMF last October announced funding of a class action against Treasury Wine, alleging the company misled the market and breached its continuous disclosure obligations in its communication of the financial impact of over-stocked US distributors to investors.

On Thursday, Maurice Blackburn managing principal Ben Slade said the latest profit downgrade raised "questions of transparency" about the company's operations.

"TWE's announcement this morning suggests that continuous disclosure requirements may not have been complied with," he said in a statement.

"We are confident that the company's shock $190 million downgrade announcement in July last year was indicative of such a breach. It may have happened again."

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MP says give 'measly' $25m to SPC

Federal cabinet will discuss a proposal to co-invest in SPC Ardmona's fruit processing operations. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has used the rejection of taxpayer support for fruit processor SPC Ardmona to set an important "marker" for how his government will deal with requests for industry assistance.

The 93-year-old Victorian company wanted a $25 million federal grant, topped up by $25 million from the Victorian government and its own $150 million investment, for new product development and technology to prop up its operation.

But after three hours of debate in federal cabinet on Thursday, Mr Abbott said the plan was rejected because it was not the government's job to restructure a particular business.

The decision, which workers and growers fear will lead to the operation's closure, comes weeks after Holden's bid for support was rejected and its parent company General Motors announced the end of car production in Australia in 2017.

"The decision that came from the cabinet today does set an important marker," Mr Abbott said.

"This is a government which will make sure that the restructuring that some Australian businesses need, that some Australian sectors need, is led by business, as it should be."

The government's role was to create the right climate for business, he said.

Mr Abbott said SPC Ardmona - owned by food giant Coca-Cola Amatil - was a strong business with the resources to allow it to restructure.

The company advised the government it was prepared to invest an extra $161 million into the business and renegotiate its enterprise bargaining agreement.

Mr Abbott said the company's present EBA had conditions "well in excess of the award", including a wet allowance and generous redundancy provisions.

However SPC Ardmona managing director Peter Kelly said the company would review its business plans.

"This is an unexpected and extremely disappointing decision by the coalition, particularly after the enormous support we have received for our business plans from the local community and beyond," Mr Kelly said.

Acting Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek said the government had failed in its fundamental role - to protect jobs and bring on new investment.

"First they forced General Motors Holden out - now they are sending SPC Ardmona to the wall," Ms Plibersek said.

Labor pledged at the 2013 federal election to provide the $25 million grant.

If the plant closes, it is estimated 1500 direct and 2700 indirect jobs could be lost in the Shepparton region.

Shepparton mayor Jenny Houlihan said workers faced an unknown future.

"The $25 million that the government refused to let go today will be eaten up in unemployment benefits," she said.

Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union national secretary Paul Bastian said workers had been improving productivity, but other factors were affecting the business, such as the dumping of cheap imports and the high dollar.

"The government directly and indirectly subsidises mining, agriculture, finance, fisheries and other important Australian industries and yet it is continually cutting investment in manufacturing," Mr Bastian said.

"Soon, when we go to the supermarket ... there will be nothing left made in Australia."

Victorian Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said if state premier Denis Napthine could not convince Mr Abbott to stump up $25 million for SPC Ardmona, he struggled to see how Dr Napthine could secure $300 million for Toyota as it considers its future.

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Police given bus CCTV after woman pinned

A woman has died in hospital after being pinned under a bus for two hours in Sydney's CBD. Source: AAP

AFTER the death of two pedestrians on the same day in Sydney, police are urging the public to be more careful crossing roads.

A 51-year-old Granville woman died on Wednesday night after being hit by a bus in Sydney's CBD. She was trapped in its axles for two hours before emergency services freed her and she died only hours after undergoing emergency surgery.

Earlier that day, an 83-year-old man died instantly when he was hit by a truck in Monterey in southern Sydney while crossing the road.

NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol operations commander Stuart Smith said the deaths were tragic.

"It was a dreadful day on NSW roads," he told reporters on Thursday.

Superintendent Smith said crash investigators are looking into both accidents, including CCTV footage from the State Transit bus as well as an examination of traffic and pedestrian control records.

"It's a complex calculation that can only be provided once a re-enactment is provided," he said.

Police say the bus was turning right when it struck the woman, and the 70-year-old driver was provided with counselling.

"We believe he is a very experienced driver with the State Transit Authority," Supt Smith said.

He could not comment on whether jaywalking was a factor in the accident but reminded pedestrians and drivers to look out for each other.

"It is a place where we all need to be aware and to keep a proper lookout," he said.

He warned people about the dangers of jaywalking and using electronic devices such as mobile phones and MP3 players.

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Cruise ship returns with sick toll at 700

A cruise ship on which nearly 700 passengers and crew fell ill has arrived home in the US. Source: AAP

A CRUISE ship on which nearly 700 passengers and crew fell ill has arrived at its home port in the US after a Caribbean voyage was cut short by the outbreak.

One woman aboard the Explorers of the Sea yelled, "We made it!" as the ship docked Wednesday at New Jersey. Other passengers, with blankets wrapped around them, stood on deck to watch the ship pull in.

The cause of the outbreak is yet to be determined.

Bill Rakowicz of Canada said he suffered from vomiting, pain and diarrhoea and that his experience was simply "awful".

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said its latest count puts the number of those sickened at 630 passengers and 54 crew members. The ship was carrying 3050 passengers.

Health investigators suspect norovirus, but lab results are not expected until later this week.

If norovirus is to blame, it would be one of the largest outbreaks in last 20 years, the CDC said. A 2006 norovirus outbreak on a Carnival Cruise Lines ship also sickened close to 700.

Norovirus - once known as Norwalk virus - is highly contagious. It can be picked up from an infected person, contaminated food or water or by touching contaminated surfaces. It causes bouts of vomiting and diarrhoea for a few days.

The CDC said it recommended to cruise operator Royal Caribbean that people who still have symptoms be housed in nearby hotels or seen at medical facilities before travelling home.

CDC investigators boarded the ship during its US Virgin Islands Port call on Sunday. They said no single food or water source or other origin has been identified.

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Treasury Wines tank on share market

Treasury Wine Estates has issued a profit warning in the wake of weaker than expected sales. Source: AAP

TREASURY Wine Estates has been hammered on the stock market, with its shares falling by 20 per cent after it issued a profit downgrade due to weaker sales in Australia and China.

The company behind Penfolds and Wolf Blass has cut its full year earnings forecast from between $230 million and $250 million to between $190 million and $210 million.

It expects first half earnings, which will be announced in February, to be between $41 million and $46 million, down from $73 million last year.

Treasury Wine shares fell to $3.64, their weakest price in almost two years, wiping $589 million from the value of the company.

Weaker than expected sales in Australia, following the company's decision to lift prices on some products and focus less on Christmas promotions, had contributed to the profit downgrade, it said.

A decline in Chinese demand for premium wine had also hit sales volumes.

Treasury Wine also said it had continued to reduce shipments to the US while increasing investment across the group, especially in Asia.

The profit downgrade is the latest in a string of bad news for Treasury Wine, which last year poured more than $35 million worth of excess or aged commercial stock down the drain in the US.

The controversial move, which was part of a broader $160 million writedown, ultimately led to the departure of chief executive David Dearie.

Law Firm Maurice Blackburn and litigation funder IMF last October announced funding of a class action against Treasury Wine, alleging the company misled the market and breached its continuous disclosure obligations in its communication of the financial impact of over-stocked US distributors to investors.

On Thursday, Maurice Blackburn managing principal Ben Slade said the latest profit downgrade raised "questions of transparency" about the company's operations.

"TWE's announcement this morning suggests that continuous disclosure requirements may not have been complied with," he said in a statement.

"We are confident that the company's shock $190 million downgrade announcement in July last year was indicative of such a breach. It may have happened again."

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MP says give 'measly' $25m to SPC

Federal cabinet will discuss a proposal to co-invest in SPC Ardmona's fruit processing operations. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has used the rejection of taxpayer support for fruit processor SPC Ardmona to set an important "marker" for how his government will deal with requests for industry assistance.

The 93-year-old Victorian company wanted a $25 million federal grant, topped up by $25 million from the Victorian government and its own $150 million investment, for new product development and technology to prop up its operation.

But after three hours of debate in federal cabinet on Thursday, Mr Abbott said the plan was rejected because it was not the government's job to restructure a particular business.

The decision, which workers and growers fear will lead to the operation's closure, comes weeks after Holden's bid for support was rejected and its parent company General Motors announced the end of car production in Australia in 2017.

"The decision that came from the cabinet today does set an important marker," Mr Abbott said.

"This is a government which will make sure that the restructuring that some Australian businesses need, that some Australian sectors need, is led by business, as it should be."

The government's role was to create the right climate for business, he said.

Mr Abbott said SPC Ardmona - owned by food giant Coca-Cola Amatil - was a strong business with the resources to allow it to restructure.

The company advised the government it was prepared to invest an extra $161 million into the business and renegotiate its enterprise bargaining agreement.

Mr Abbott said the company's present EBA had conditions "well in excess of the award", including a wet allowance and generous redundancy provisions.

However SPC Ardmona managing director Peter Kelly said the company would review its business plans.

"This is an unexpected and extremely disappointing decision by the coalition, particularly after the enormous support we have received for our business plans from the local community and beyond," Mr Kelly said.

Acting Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek said the government had failed in its fundamental role - to protect jobs and bring on new investment.

"First they forced General Motors Holden out - now they are sending SPC Ardmona to the wall," Ms Plibersek said.

Labor pledged at the 2013 federal election to provide the $25 million grant.

If the plant closes, it is estimated 1500 direct and 2700 indirect jobs could be lost in the Shepparton region.

Shepparton mayor Jenny Houlihan said workers faced an unknown future.

"The $25 million that the government refused to let go today will be eaten up in unemployment benefits," she said.

Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union national secretary Paul Bastian said workers had been improving productivity, but other factors were affecting the business, such as the dumping of cheap imports and the high dollar.

"The government directly and indirectly subsidises mining, agriculture, finance, fisheries and other important Australian industries and yet it is continually cutting investment in manufacturing," Mr Bastian said.

"Soon, when we go to the supermarket ... there will be nothing left made in Australia."

Victorian Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said if state premier Denis Napthine could not convince Mr Abbott to stump up $25 million for SPC Ardmona, he struggled to see how Dr Napthine could secure $300 million for Toyota as it considers its future.

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Police given bus CCTV after woman pinned

A woman has died in hospital after being pinned under a bus for two hours in Sydney's CBD. Source: AAP

AFTER the death of two pedestrians on the same day in Sydney, police are urging the public to be more careful crossing roads.

A 51-year-old Granville woman died on Wednesday night after being hit by a bus in Sydney's CBD. She was trapped in its axles for two hours before emergency services freed her and she died only hours after undergoing emergency surgery.

Earlier that day, an 83-year-old man died instantly when he was hit by a truck in Monterey in southern Sydney while crossing the road.

NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol operations commander Stuart Smith said the deaths were tragic.

"It was a dreadful day on NSW roads," he told reporters on Thursday.

Superintendent Smith said crash investigators are looking into both accidents, including CCTV footage from the State Transit bus as well as an examination of traffic and pedestrian control records.

"It's a complex calculation that can only be provided once a re-enactment is provided," he said.

Police say the bus was turning right when it struck the woman, and the 70-year-old driver was provided with counselling.

"We believe he is a very experienced driver with the State Transit Authority," Supt Smith said.

He could not comment on whether jaywalking was a factor in the accident but reminded pedestrians and drivers to look out for each other.

"It is a place where we all need to be aware and to keep a proper lookout," he said.

He warned people about the dangers of jaywalking and using electronic devices such as mobile phones and MP3 players.

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Cruise ship returns with sick toll at 700

A cruise ship on which nearly 700 passengers and crew fell ill has arrived home in the US. Source: AAP

A CRUISE ship on which nearly 700 passengers and crew fell ill has arrived at its home port in the US after a Caribbean voyage was cut short by the outbreak.

One woman aboard the Explorers of the Sea yelled, "We made it!" as the ship docked Wednesday at New Jersey. Other passengers, with blankets wrapped around them, stood on deck to watch the ship pull in.

The cause of the outbreak is yet to be determined.

Bill Rakowicz of Canada said he suffered from vomiting, pain and diarrhoea and that his experience was simply "awful".

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said its latest count puts the number of those sickened at 630 passengers and 54 crew members. The ship was carrying 3050 passengers.

Health investigators suspect norovirus, but lab results are not expected until later this week.

If norovirus is to blame, it would be one of the largest outbreaks in last 20 years, the CDC said. A 2006 norovirus outbreak on a Carnival Cruise Lines ship also sickened close to 700.

Norovirus - once known as Norwalk virus - is highly contagious. It can be picked up from an infected person, contaminated food or water or by touching contaminated surfaces. It causes bouts of vomiting and diarrhoea for a few days.

The CDC said it recommended to cruise operator Royal Caribbean that people who still have symptoms be housed in nearby hotels or seen at medical facilities before travelling home.

CDC investigators boarded the ship during its US Virgin Islands Port call on Sunday. They said no single food or water source or other origin has been identified.

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Treasury Wines tank on share market

Treasury Wine Estates has issued a profit warning in the wake of weaker than expected sales. Source: AAP

TREASURY Wine Estates has been hammered on the stock market, with its shares falling by 20 per cent after it issued a profit downgrade due to weaker sales in Australia and China.

The company behind Penfolds and Wolf Blass has cut its full year earnings forecast from between $230 million and $250 million to between $190 million and $210 million.

It expects first half earnings, which will be announced in February, to be between $41 million and $46 million, down from $73 million last year.

Treasury Wine shares fell to $3.64, their weakest price in almost two years, wiping $589 million from the value of the company.

Weaker than expected sales in Australia, following the company's decision to lift prices on some products and focus less on Christmas promotions, had contributed to the profit downgrade, it said.

A decline in Chinese demand for premium wine had also hit sales volumes.

Treasury Wine also said it had continued to reduce shipments to the US while increasing investment across the group, especially in Asia.

The profit downgrade is the latest in a string of bad news for Treasury Wine, which last year poured more than $35 million worth of excess or aged commercial stock down the drain in the US.

The controversial move, which was part of a broader $160 million writedown, ultimately led to the departure of chief executive David Dearie.

Law Firm Maurice Blackburn and litigation funder IMF last October announced funding of a class action against Treasury Wine, alleging the company misled the market and breached its continuous disclosure obligations in its communication of the financial impact of over-stocked US distributors to investors.

On Thursday, Maurice Blackburn managing principal Ben Slade said the latest profit downgrade raised "questions of transparency" about the company's operations.

"TWE's announcement this morning suggests that continuous disclosure requirements may not have been complied with," he said in a statement.

"We are confident that the company's shock $190 million downgrade announcement in July last year was indicative of such a breach. It may have happened again."

16.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

MP says give 'measly' $25m to SPC

Federal cabinet will discuss a proposal to co-invest in SPC Ardmona's fruit processing operations. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has used the rejection of taxpayer support for fruit processor SPC Ardmona to set an important "marker" for how his government will deal with requests for industry assistance.

The 93-year-old Victorian company wanted a $25 million federal grant, topped up by $25 million from the Victorian government and its own $150 million investment, for new product development and technology to prop up its operation.

But after three hours of debate in federal cabinet on Thursday, Mr Abbott said the plan was rejected because it was not the government's job to restructure a particular business.

The decision, which workers and growers fear will lead to the operation's closure, comes weeks after Holden's bid for support was rejected and its parent company General Motors announced the end of car production in Australia in 2017.

"The decision that came from the cabinet today does set an important marker," Mr Abbott said.

"This is a government which will make sure that the restructuring that some Australian businesses need, that some Australian sectors need, is led by business, as it should be."

The government's role was to create the right climate for business, he said.

Mr Abbott said SPC Ardmona - owned by food giant Coca-Cola Amatil - was a strong business with the resources to allow it to restructure.

The company advised the government it was prepared to invest an extra $161 million into the business and renegotiate its enterprise bargaining agreement.

Mr Abbott said the company's present EBA had conditions "well in excess of the award", including a wet allowance and generous redundancy provisions.

However SPC Ardmona managing director Peter Kelly said the company would review its business plans.

"This is an unexpected and extremely disappointing decision by the coalition, particularly after the enormous support we have received for our business plans from the local community and beyond," Mr Kelly said.

Acting Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek said the government had failed in its fundamental role - to protect jobs and bring on new investment.

"First they forced General Motors Holden out - now they are sending SPC Ardmona to the wall," Ms Plibersek said.

Labor pledged at the 2013 federal election to provide the $25 million grant.

If the plant closes, it is estimated 1500 direct and 2700 indirect jobs could be lost in the Shepparton region.

Shepparton mayor Jenny Houlihan said workers faced an unknown future.

"The $25 million that the government refused to let go today will be eaten up in unemployment benefits," she said.

Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union national secretary Paul Bastian said workers had been improving productivity, but other factors were affecting the business, such as the dumping of cheap imports and the high dollar.

"The government directly and indirectly subsidises mining, agriculture, finance, fisheries and other important Australian industries and yet it is continually cutting investment in manufacturing," Mr Bastian said.

"Soon, when we go to the supermarket ... there will be nothing left made in Australia."

Victorian Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said if state premier Denis Napthine could not convince Mr Abbott to stump up $25 million for SPC Ardmona, he struggled to see how Dr Napthine could secure $300 million for Toyota as it considers its future.

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Police given bus CCTV after woman pinned

A woman has died in hospital after being pinned under a bus for two hours in Sydney's CBD. Source: AAP

AFTER the death of two pedestrians on the same day in Sydney, police are urging the public to be more careful crossing roads.

A 51-year-old Granville woman died on Wednesday night after being hit by a bus in Sydney's CBD. She was trapped in its axles for two hours before emergency services freed her and she died only hours after undergoing emergency surgery.

Earlier that day, an 83-year-old man died instantly when he was hit by a truck in Monterey in southern Sydney while crossing the road.

NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol operations commander Stuart Smith said the deaths were tragic.

"It was a dreadful day on NSW roads," he told reporters on Thursday.

Superintendent Smith said crash investigators are looking into both accidents, including CCTV footage from the State Transit bus as well as an examination of traffic and pedestrian control records.

"It's a complex calculation that can only be provided once a re-enactment is provided," he said.

Police say the bus was turning right when it struck the woman, and the 70-year-old driver was provided with counselling.

"We believe he is a very experienced driver with the State Transit Authority," Supt Smith said.

He could not comment on whether jaywalking was a factor in the accident but reminded pedestrians and drivers to look out for each other.

"It is a place where we all need to be aware and to keep a proper lookout," he said.

He warned people about the dangers of jaywalking and using electronic devices such as mobile phones and MP3 players.

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Troops may stay in Afghanistan beyond war

President Barack Obama says a small US military force may remain in Afghanistan next year. Source: AAP

PRESIDENT Barack Obama says a small US military force may remain in Afghanistan next year, but he's promising to declare an end to the 12-year war there at the end of 2014.

Obama said during his State of the Union speech Tuesday that Afghanistan will take responsibility for its own future after the end of the year.

He said any US troops that remain beyond 2014 will only help continue to train Afghan forces and carry out counterterror operations against al-Qaida and other extremists.

Obama did not say how many troops might remain in Afghanistan after this year.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has so far refused to sign a security agreement with the US that would allow American troops to remain.

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D-day looms for massive Qld coal port plan

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority have to decide by Friday to allow a dredging project. Source: AAP

SOME warn it will be the death toll for the Great Barrier Reef, others say it will bring a golden age of prosperity to Queensland.

Friday is D-day for the controversial Abbot Point coal port expansion near Bowen, south of Townsville.

The project involves the dumping of three million cubic metres of dredged spoil within the marine park area to expand the port.

Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt approved the project in December, subject to what he says are strict environmental conditions.

But the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) has the final say over whether the dredge spoils can be dumped in the park - the only disposal option that's on the table.

It must make a decision by Friday.

Environmentalists say the spoil will damage marine life and coral and expanding the port will turn the reef into a shipping super-highway.

They've spent months campaigning through social media, petitions and protests trying to stop the project.

Paul Oosting, from campaign group GetUp, says dredging could also jeopardise the state's reef-based tourism industry.

"The flow-on effects are really worrying both in terms of the health of the Great Barrier Reef, its World Heritage status and importantly people's livelihoods," he told AAP.

The United Nation's environment arm UNESCO says they're reviewing the federal government's decision to allow the Abbot Point expansion to go ahead.

North Queensland Bulk Ports, the corporation that has proposed the dredging project, has said dredging could possibly make the water cloudy during a short period and may damage seagrass but it's unlikely to affect other flora and fauna.

They say dumping the spoil in the water will be less damaging to the environment than depositing it on land.

But green groups argue they're opting to dump it at sea because it costs less.

A Bulk Ports spokeswoman says it may not be as simple as granting or rejecting a dredging permit - conditions could be attached, which the firm would need to address.

GBRMPA, which isn't commenting until a decision has been made, could also outline other locations that spoil could be dumped.

If the permit is rejected altogether there could be wider implications for the mining firms looking to exploit coal resources in the Galilee Basin.

Initial approvals have been granted to Warratah Coal-China First and GVK Hancock to mine in the basin.

Coal from both mines would be transported to Abbot Point for export.

If the expansion goes ahead, an extra 70 million tonnes of coal each year - worth $1.4 billion to $2.8 billion - would go through the port.

Warratah Coal managing director Nui Harris says there are a number of options available to the mining firms if the expansion doesn't go ahead.

Both sides are waiting for GBRMPA's decision, which is now only hours away.

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O'Farrell unconcerned about gang wars

NSW premier Barry O'Farrell is not concerned with warring gangs shooting each other in Sydney. Source: AAP

NSW premier Barry O'Farrell says he is not worried by the spate of shootings between warring gangs in Sydney.

There have been 20 shootings on Sydney streets in the past month and more than 320 since March 2011.

"I'm not concerned about targeted shootings," Mr O'Farrell told reporters.

"What I'm concerned about is targeted shootings having a bad impact on an innocent party."

His comments followed a man suffering gunshot wounds in his shoulder in Sydney's west on Tuesday night.

Police said initial investigations suggested the shooting was targeted but they could not confirm reports he was driving past the memorial of a fatal shooting victim when he was shot.

NSW Opposition Leader John Robertson said residents were living in suburbs resembling "shooting galleries" and needed the state's tough anti-gang laws to be used.

The laws allow Supreme Court judges to outlaw criminal gangs and stop members from associating.

Applications to outlaw gangs are submitted to the Supreme Court by the NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione.

But Mr Robertson blamed Mr O'Farrell for the laws not being used.

"We have some of the toughest anti-gang laws in the country and unlocked police powers if the government would move to outlaw these gangs," he said.

"That would mean that we could stop these individuals meeting and police could break the cycle of violence ...occurring on our streets".

He also said the residents of suburbs where shootings are common are "living in fear of a stray bullet".

Mr O'Farrell said police "are working hard".

"One shooting is one too many," he said.

"Police are working hard, police have been successful and they have my full confidence."

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Salvaging burnt yachts may yield clues

Three 40-foot luxury yachts have been destroyed by fire at a Gold Coast marina. Source: AAP

QUEENSLAND police hope recovering luxury yachts worth a reported $5 million will unravel what caused the fire on the Gold Coast in which they sank.

Four yachts were damaged in the blaze at the Palazzo Versace marina in the early hours of Wednesday, with three sinking due to the damage sustained.

Police are yet to determine how the fire began but hope salvaging the wrecked boats on Thursday will help bring them answers.

"We've got three large vessels underwater at the moment and until we can raise them and have a good look, we've got no answers at this stage," Queensland Water Police Senior Sergeant Lucas Young told reporters.

Sandy Savage's $1.5 million Mustang was among the vessels destroyed, as was John Turner's Riviera-brand yacht.

"At four o'clock in the morning, when you get a phone call and they tell you your boat's on fire, you don't feel real well," Mr Turner told reporters.

The damage bill could have been even higher without the quick actions of a pair of boaties and winds ensuring the fire was directed away from neighbouring boats.

Ross McCallum and his friend pulled three boats away from the flames and were being hailed by owners for their heroic actions.

"Decided to pull a couple of boats out otherwise it was just going to be a domino effect along the jetty and more boats would've gone down," Mr McCallum told the Nine Network.

A fourth yacht, which suffered fire damage but didn't sink, was towed away from the marina in the hope it could be repaired.

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Boy, 16, charged over double murder in Qld

A teenager has been charged after a woman and girl were found stabbed to death west of Brisbane. Source: AAP

A BOY, 16, has been charged with two counts of homicide after a woman and a girl were found stabbed to death at a home west of Brisbane.

Police and paramedics were called to the home in suburban Toowoomba, on Queensland's Darling Downs, at 9.20am (AEST) on Tuesday.

They discovered the bodies of a woman and a girl, believed to be aged 12.

On Tuesday evening, Queensland Police said a boy, 16, had been dealt with over two counts of homicide under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act.

Officers had spent the day scouring the home.

The deaths of the woman and girl shocked those living near the suburban home.

One local resident said it was "unbelievable".

"They were nice, very quiet. You know the most they'd say is, 'Hello, how are you?'" she told ABC Radio.

"Lovely little kid, quiet, pleasant little girl. It's just dreadful.

"It's just unbelievable."

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Govt won't be rushed on tax reform agenda

Prime Minister Tony Abbott is sticking to the government's timetable and commitments on tax reform. Source: AAP

FRUSTRATION among businesses about the slow pace of tax reform is growing but Prime Minister Tony Abbott says he is sticking to the timetable and commitments he took to last year's election.

An annual survey by tax consultant BDO found nearly all respondents feared there was too much talk about reform by the federal government but not enough action.

BDO tax partner Mark Molesworth says the survey sends an overwhelming message to the government.

"The years of talk need to come to an end. The years of action must begin," he said.

Mr Molesworth said the survey found strong support for the GST to be included in any new tax discussions, even if it is "politically unpalatable".

But Mr Abbott is sticking to the promises he made during last year's election campaign - abolishing carbon and mining taxes and cutting the company tax rate in 2015 to 28.5 per cent from 30 per cent.

"The only thing we will do in this term of parliament when it comes to tax is what we said we will do prior to the election," Mr Abbott told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday.

"Obviously from time to time anomalies will come up and we will address them in the ordinary course of events."

But he remains committed to a tax reform white paper two years into his first term.

Its recommendations will be taken to the next election, due in 2016.

In a separate report, Deloitte Access Economics economist Chris Richardson believes taxes should be part of the government's attempts to repair the budget.

"All programs need to be assessed on merit, rather than just focusing cuts on the newest programs," Mr Richardson said.

"Taxes need to be on the table, too - it's dumb to pretend they can't be touched."

Mr Abbott's national Commission of Audit into government spending is due to present its first report to the government in early February but it has not been tasked to look at taxes.

However, the prime minister insists the government is committed to "lower, simpler, fairer taxes".

"In order to have lower, simpler, fairer taxes, you have obviously got to have the most efficient and effective administration," he said.

Businesses believe Australia's complex tax system is a drag on the economy.

Mr Richardson, in his latest business outlook, expects government cutbacks to address the budget black hole and cautious businesses and households, and the peaking of resource-related investment should keep economic growth slightly below a trend rate of 3.25 per cent through to late 2015.

While National Australia Bank's latest monthly business survey - also released on Tuesday - finds trading conditions jumping to their highest level in two and a half years, it still points to sub-trend growth pace.

The bank also questions the sustainability of the rise, given forward orders and employment remain weak.

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North Qld braces for possible cyclone

TOWNSVILLE'S disaster management team has been activated as a potential cyclone brews off north Queensland.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issued a cyclone watch warning on Tuesday afternoon for northern communities from Port Douglas, north of Cairns, to Proserpine, north of Mackay.

The tropical low was sitting about 760 kilometres east northeast of Cairns on Tuesday afternoon and was headed towards the mainland at a speed of 9km/h.

Forecasters say it could form into a category one cyclone when it reaches the mainland on Thursday afternoon.

Up to 400 millimetres of rain and gale force winds are expected to batter some areas. Falls of over 100mm have already been recorded in areas north and south of Cairns.

"The take-home message is it could remain a low or could be a category one cyclone," BOM forecaster Julian De Morton told AAP.

"But regardless it's going to be windy, there's going to be heavy rain and there's going to be abnormally high tides and in some areas possibly destructive winds."

Premier Campbell Newman urged Queenslanders to be prepared.

"Just be ready," he said.

"I don't think anybody wants to go through the trauma and pain of what we've seen in the last few years."

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill says the city's disaster management group had been activated on Tuesday afternoon.

"We've assessed the real risk for us and we believe there's a risk of high winds on the king tides which could mean storm inundation in low-lying areas," she said.

"We've made sand available and we're asking people (in low-lying areas) to assess the risk to their properties and how they might seal their homes to prevent inundation."

Cairns councillor Steve Brain, who chairs the city's disaster management group, said emergency groups were meeting the determine the best course of action.

He said the District Disaster Coordination Centre was being set up and would activate if the storm crossed land and formed a cyclone.

But Mr Brain said current models predicted the storm would bring heavy rain rather than destructive winds.

Cassowary Coast Regional Council Mayor Bill Shannon says he doesn't want the region to have another cyclone.

But he says heavy rain would help drought-affected inland communities.

The Bureau of Meteorology says gales could develop between Port Douglas and Proserpine on Wednesday afternoon and possibly Thursday.

Heavy rain, which may lead to flash flooding, is expected to batter coastal areas from Cooktown to Cardwell and the Atherton Tablelands, inland from Cairns.

Heavy rain is also expected in Herbert, lower Burdekin, Bowen and the Whitsundays region on Wednesday afternoon and possibly Thursday.

As the tropical low approaches the mainland on Wednesday and Thursday a storm tide is expected between Port Douglas and Proserpine. This could produce large waves and cause minor flooding along the shoreline.

The bureau is warning residents in these areas to take measures to protect their property from flooding.

Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Commissioner Lee Johnson said it was important to prepare, regardless of whether the storm became a cyclone or not.

* Further information can be found at www.disaster.qld.gov.au.

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NSW baby girl circumcised in Indonesia

An Australian father allegedly travelled to Indonesia to have his baby daughter circumcised. Source: AAP

AN Australian father charged with organising to have his baby daughter circumcised allegedly travelled to Indonesia for the procedure.

The NSW man, who cannot be named, took his then nine-month-old girl overseas, where she was circumcised sometime between February and March of 2012, police allege.

But it wasn't until the girl's mother took her to a doctor six months later that authorities were alerted to what had allegedly happened.

Following an investigation, the father was arrested on December 31 last year by officers attached to the Sex Crimes Squad.

He was later charged with aiding, abetting or procuring female genital mutilation.

Police have previously said that it was unclear in what country the alleged procedure took place.

But papers tendered during the father's brief appearance at Manly Local Court on Tuesday state it took place in Jakarta.

The girl had her clitoral tissue removed and underwent a labial fusion, the documents state.

The man said nothing during the appearance in which his lawyer applied for a national suppression order on his identity and that of his wife and daughter.

The court heard the father recently moved to Victoria where he remains on bail.

The father is believed to be the first person to have been charged in NSW with procuring a genital procedure abroad.

However, it is the second prosecution in the state of the practice.

In 2012, eight members of a small religious order in Sydney - including a sheikh, a retired nurse and two parents - were charged over the female genital mutilation of two sisters, aged six and seven.

Their case remains before the courts.

Community Services Minister Pru Goward said earlier this month that anecdotal evidence showed the practice was "more common than the reports would suggest".

She said the crime often only came to light when the child suffered a complication from the procedure or there was a marital breakdown.

The father is due to appear at Downing Centre Local Court in March.

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ANU investigates Sri Lanka rape reports

A YOUNG Australian woman is believed to have been raped during a trip to a coastal town in southern Sri Lanka.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) did not give details of the incident but says it is in contact with a young woman in the south Asian nation.

"We are providing consular assistance to a young Australian woman in Sri Lanka," a spokeswoman told AAP on Monday.

"The individual seeks privacy at this time."

Local news site ColomboPage reports the woman told police in the southern town of Ambalangoda that she had been raped on a beach by a tourist guide.

The site reports she was in the country as part of a 15-strong study group from the Australian National University (ANU).

"The Ambalangoda Police says the suspect has fled the area and investigations are underway island wide to arrest him and to produce him before the court," the site reported.

An ANU spokesman said the university was aware of media reports and was investigating the incident.

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Bahrain 'man dead after police shooting'

Bahrain's main Shi'ite opposition bloc says a young man has died after being shot by authorities. Source: AAP

BAHRAIN'S main Shi'ite opposition bloc says a young man has died after being shot by authorities earlier this month.

The al-Wefaq bloc said on Sunday that 19-year-old Fadhil Abbas Muslim and a friend were hit with live ammunition on January 8 in the village of Markh, near the capital Manama.

It says Muslim's family received no information about him or his whereabouts until his death was confirmed on Sunday.

Bahraini authorities had no immediate comment on the allegations.

The shooting appears to match an incident announced by the interior ministry earlier this month in which it said two suspects in an investigation into a suspected weapon smuggling plot were injured while trying to flee police.

The man's father, Abbas Muslim, said his son is innocent and uninvolved in political activities.

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Political unrest unsettles Aus sharemarket

The sharemarket is in for a volatile week after turbulence in emerging markets spooked investors. Source: AAP

THE Australian sharemarket is in for a volatile week after turbulence in emerging markets spooked investors on Friday.

At the close on Friday, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was 22.1 points, or 0.42 per cent, lower at 5,240.9 and the broader All Ordinaries index was down 21.2 points, or 0.4 per cent, at 5,254.3.

It was the third straight week local shares had finished in the red.

AMP Capital Investors chief economist Shane Oliver says the main issue worrying investors on Friday was political trouble in the emerging markets.

Mr Oliver says the instability has occurred at the same time the US Federal Reserve is winding back its monetary stimulus.

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US officials probe illness on cruise ship

At least 300 passengers aboard Royal Caribbean International's Explorer have reported getting sick. Source: AAP

US health officials have boarded a cruise ship docked in the US Virgin Islands to investigate an illness outbreak that has stricken at least 300 people with gastrointestinal symptoms including vomiting and diarrhoea.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that 281, or nearly 10 per cent, of the 3050 passengers aboard Royal Caribbean International's Explorer of the Seas have reported getting sick during a Caribbean cruise that left Cape Liberty, New Jersey, on Tuesday.

Twenty-two crew members also reported feeling ill.

Janet Diaz, spokeswoman for Royal Caribbean Cruises, said CDC representatives boarded the towering, 15-deck ship on Sunday as it made a port call in St Thomas, the main island of the US Virgin Islands.

At least two CDC officials, an epidemiologist and an environmental health officer, were expected to do the investigation and evaluate the outbreak response on the cruise liner.

During the previous port call in Puerto Rico, the ship underwent "extensive and thorough sanitising" to help prevent more people from getting sick, the company spokeswoman said.

The ship bypassed a scheduled stop at the company's fenced-in beach destination in northern Haiti to sail directly to Puerto Rico's capital.

"This was a difficult decision to make; however, we feel it is best to make this itinerary modification to help prevent any more guests from becoming ill," Diaz said.

The passengers and crew who fell ill have "responded well to over-the-counter medication being administered onboard the ship," she said.

Fast-spreading norovirus is often to blame for similar symptoms sweeping closed quarters such as those on cruise ships, but a determination will likely have to wait until samples are tested in a lab.

Diaz said special cleaning products and disinfectants that are proven to kill norovirus are being used to clean the ship.

In a statement, Beverly Nicholson-Doty, the US Virgin Islands' tourism commissioner, said the territory was grateful for the CDC's "quick response" and St Thomas was ready to welcome ship passengers cleared to disembark.

On Friday, an Explorer of the Seas passenger named Arnee Dodd tweeted that she had fallen ill aboard the ship and was quarantined with the other sick people.

The Connecticut woman wrote that ship employees "put a lock down on food & are constantly cleaning everything."

It was not clear if any passengers were still being quarantined Sunday.

The ship's next scheduled stop is the Dutch Caribbean country of St Maarten.

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Vic fire threat downgraded

A grassfire northeast of Melbourne has been contained and is no longer threatening properties. Source: AAP

A GRASSFIRE northeast of Melbourne has been contained and is no longer threatening properties, the CFA says.

An emergency warning was issued for the town of Malmsbury just after 1.30pm (AEDT) on Sunday.

But the fire was downgraded to an advice message just before 2.30pm.

Firefighters will remain in the area for some time and residents should continue to stay informed and monitor conditions, the CFA says.

Smoke will be visible from nearby communities and roads.

Earlier, the fire had travelled in a westerly direction towards the town of Malmsbury after jumping Old Quarry Road.

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New Springsteen album makes debut at No.1

Bruce Springsteen's new album has knocked Beyonce's self-titled album off the top of the ARIA chart. Source: AAP

BRUCE Springsteen's High Hopes has knocked Beyonce's self-titled album off the top of the ARIA chart after a three-week run.

High Hopes is the Boss' third album to reach No.1 in Australia. Born in the USA took the top spot in 1984, before the singer's Greatest Hits collection in 1995.

Beyonce's album slipped to No.3 while the soundtrack for the Disney film Frozen climbed a place to No.2. Katy Perry's Prism fell two spots to No.4.

Lorde's Pure Heroine and Avicii's True both dropped a place to No.5 and No.6 respectively.

The INXS collection The Very Best made its top 10 debut, moving up four places to No.7.

London Grammar fell a place to No.8 with their album If You Wait, while Eminem dropped three places to No.9 with The Marshall Mathers LP2.

Returning to the top 10, up two places to No.10, is Imagine Dragons' Night Visions.

On the ARIA singles chart, Pharrell Williams remains in the top spot with Happy for the fourth week.

Australian DJ Joel Fletcher and rapper Savage hit a new peak of No.2 with Swing, while Trumpets by Jason Derulo falls a spot to No.3.

Magic holds at No.4 with Rude, and returning to their former peak of No.5, up two places, is Rudimental featuring Emeli Sande and Nas, with Free.

All of Me by John Legend and Strong by London Grammar both dropped a spot to No.6 and No.7 respectively.

Dutch musician Tiesto makes his singles debut with Red Lights, up four places to No.8.

American duo A Great Big World, with Christina Aguilera, also make their top 10 debut. Their single Say Something is up a whopping 41 spots to No.9. Pitbull and Ke$ha's Timber is down a place to No.10.

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Abbott on indigenous recognition crusade

Tony Abbott wants to start a "national crusade" to recognise indigenous people in the constitution. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott is determined that recognising indigenous people in Australia's constitution is a "national crusade" that should be important to everyone.

The case for constitutional recognition is getting a boost from two indigenous advocates winning Australian of the Year awards.

AFL player Adam Goodes wants to use his term as Australian of the Year to break down the boundaries between races while Senior Australian of the Year, former federal politician Fred Chaney, co-founded Reconciliation Australia.

Mr Abbott on Sunday repeated his sentiment that recognising Australia's first people would be completing the constitution more than changing it.

"If we had known in 1901 what we know now, if our hearts had been as big then as now, we would have acknowledged indigenous people in the constitution back then," he told reporters at Australia Day celebrations in Canberra.

He noted the nation's founders were products of their era but believed it was time to "complete their great dream".

He has promised to finalise a draft form of words for changing the constitution by September.

After that national debate is needed to make sure any change is a unifying moment.

"Black and white Australians, old and new Australians, Australians from everywhere have to be comfortable with it," Mr Abbott said.

"We want it to happen as quickly as possible but a rushed job might be a botched job."

Mr Chaney said it was important to work in partnership with Aboriginal people to achieve recognition.

"And if we do that then the political firepower that's being directed, the bureaucratic firepower and the community firepower, will enable the Aboriginal people of Australia to have their rightful place in this country," he said.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said change was needed to "rectify the wrong" of not recognising indigenous Australians.

"Doesn't matter what your politics, doesn't matter what football team you barrack for, what state you live in - today's the day we should say, enough is enough, let's recognise indigenous Australians in our constitution," he told reporters in Melbourne.

Early in 2013 federal parliament passed an Act of Recognition, intended to pave the way for constitutional change by allowing time to build community support for a referendum.

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Goodes represents decency: Abbott

Tony Abbott believes Australian of the Year Adam Goodes (pic) stands for decency in national life. Source: AAP

TONY Abbott thinks Adam Goodes is an excellent choice of Australian of the Year as he believes the indigenous footballer stands for decency in national life.

But while the prime minister's sentiment was echoed across the nation it was not universal, with an Aboriginal activist labelling the choice a move to offset debate on celebrating Australia Day on January 26.

Mr Abbott, who has committed to striving for constitutional recognition of Australia's indigenous people, used the national holiday on Sunday to reiterate his intention to try to achieve what New Zealand did with the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi.

"If we had known in 1901 what we know now, if our hearts had been as big then as now, we would have acknowledged indigenous people in the constitution back then," he told reporters at Australia Day celebrations in Canberra.

Similarly, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten told reporters in Melbourne that Australia's finest moments came in turning the national will to ending exclusion and bringing people in from the margins.

He, too, wants Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to have a place of honour in the constitution and to see real progress in the fight against indigenous disadvantage.

Mr Goodes, a champion AFL player with the Sydney Swans, was named Australian of the Year on Saturday for his leadership and advocacy in the fight against racism, both on the sporting field and in society more broadly.

He has confronted racism head-on, using an incident last year, when a teenage girl called him an "ape" from the grandstand, as a tool to teach indigenous Australians and minority groups to say no to racism.

However Aboriginal activist Michael Mansell said giving the award to a high-profile Aboriginal was a desperate move by the Australia Day Council to offset debate on the appropriateness of January 26 as Australia's national day.

He said Australia Day awards were inextricably linked to the celebration of Australia Day, a date that marked the arrival of white people on January 26, 1788.

"Adam Goodes' standout qualities are that he is a good footballer and was abused by a 13-year-old girl at a football match. In themselves, these attributes hardly warrant a best of the best award," he said in a statement.

Mr Abbott said Mr Goodes stood for excellence in sport and decency in national life.

"Yes, I think he has been an excellent choice," the prime minister told reporters.

Australian Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs said the award acknowledged Mr Goodes' significant contribution to understanding human rights and anti-racism initiatives.

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell said Mr Goodes had displayed outstanding leadership.

"His stand against racism last year brought the issue into the national spotlight and helped educate all Australians that racism in any form shouldn't be tolerated," he said.

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