Man goes missing from NSW aged care home

Police are concerned about a 63-year-old man who was last seen at a Sydney aged care home on Sunday. Source: AAP

A MISSING 63-year-old man from Sydney's inner west has not been seen since he left an aged care home on Sunday.

Police are appealing for information about the location of 63-year-old Reginald Bates, last seen leaving an aged care home on Albert Street, Campsie, on Sunday.

A police spokesman told AAP Mr Bates did not suffer from dementia but might be disorientated.

"We've certainly got huge concerns for his safety due to some sort of health (problem)," he said.

Mr Bates is Caucasian in appearance, 183 centimetres tall and 102 kilograms.

He was last seen wearing a blue-and-white chequered shirt and navy blue tracksuit pants.

People with information are urged to contact police or to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

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Nurses to join medicare protest in Sydney

NURSES and midwives are to join a protest in Sydney against proposed changes to Medicare.

Acting General Secretary of the NSW Nurses' and Midwives' Association (NSWNMA), Judith Kiejda, says nurses will turn out in numbers to a rally in defence of Medicare at the Sydney Town Hall at 1pm (AEDT) on Saturday.

A National Commission of Audit in late December received a proposal for a co-payment scheme for GP consultations.

Doctor groups and political parties have criticised such a move, claiming it would destroy Medicare and limit access to GPs for some community groups.

"Wage and salary earners pay the Medicare levy to make that possible - so anyone can get treatment whether they are rich or poor," Ms Kiejda said in a statement.

"Money should never be a barrier to medical care in Australia."

Ms Kiejda likened the move to the Howard government's unpopular Workchoices legislation.

"That cost them the very next election," she said.

"An attack on Medicare, forcing pensioners and everyone else to pay to see a doctor when they have already paid a levy for years, that will have exactly the same result."

Federal Health Minister Peter Dutton said he would not comment on "speculation around what the Commission of Audit may or may not recommend".

"The commission's work is still being compiled and will be provided to the government in 2014," he said in a statement last week.

"The government will be able to consider any recommendations and respond after that time."

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NSW towns post record-breaking temps

EIGHT hinterland NSW towns have baked through their hottest day on record.

The Bureau of Meteorology says records were broken across northern and central inland regions of the state on Friday.

In Walgett, residents sweltered through temperatures not experienced anywhere in the state for more than 70 years.

There the mercury reached a record 49.1 degrees Celsius - the highest temperature posted anywhere in NSW since 1939, when 50C was recorded in Wilcannia.

Other NSW records set on Friday include 47.8C in Mungindi and Narrabri and 47.6C in Coonamble.

In Moree temperatures climbed to 47.3C, smashing the previous record of 46.1C set in 1932.

Tamworth, Coonabarabran and Mudgee also hit their highest-ever temperatures on Friday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

The bureau says further records could be revealed on Saturday, when official maximum temperatures are transmitted from additional climate monitoring stations.

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Replacement party cancelled at Wet n Wild

THE recently opened Wet 'n' Wild theme park in Sydney won't be hired out for big events in the near future following the last-minute cancellation of a New Year's Eve music festival.

Thousands of people who bought tickets to ring in the new year at the western Sydney theme park were let down at the last minute when the organisers, One Cube Entertainment, cancelled the event six hours beforehand, citing technical issues.

After announcing the cancellation on Facebook, One Cube Entertainment promised an "even better" festival would take place on Australia Day.

However, Wet 'n' Wild owners, Village Roadshow Theme Parks, on Friday said that event would not go ahead.

Ticket-holders are being refunded, with One Cube Entertainment working with promoters to ensure they are processed as quickly as possible.

Village Roadshow Theme Parks spokesman Darrin Davies said they were extremely disappointed at the cancellation.

He could not comment on media reports One Cube Entertainment was vastly inexperienced for such an event, having been set up four months ago.

"We entered into a commercial agreement with them to hire a venue and that's all it was," Mr Davies told AAP on Friday.

"From our point of view we are not currently entertaining more requests for hiring the venue."

Mr Davies said the decision was not linked directly to the New Year's Eve incident.

"We've had this event cancelled and we're focusing now on what we do best, which is running a theme park," he said.

Annual music festival the Big Day Out takes place in Sydney on Australia Day, which also played a role in the decision not to host the festival, he added.

Mr Davies said while the park had no current booking requests, it would take any on their merits.

About 8700 people bought tickets for the event, described by One Cube Entertainment as a "world first", "new and fresh" way for Sydneysiders to celebrate New Year's Eve.

Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe assured all ticket holders they would receive full refunds.

Mr Davies said Village Roadshow Theme Parks returned the hiring fee to One Cube Entertainment on the grounds that refunds would take place.

The Fair Trading hotline is 1800 213 428.

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Study pinpoints arrival of deadly stingers

A new forecast system could warn swimmers in advance of the arrival of deadly Irukandji stingers. Source: AAP

SWIMMERS could be warned a week in advance of the arrival of deadly Irukandji stingers after researchers found a way to pinpoint when the jellyfish would arrive at a certain spot.

Queensland CSIRO scientists studied wind and water current patterns for the past 30 years to create a forecasting system to predict the arrival of the stingers.

This week they successfully tested the method at Palm Cove, north of Cairns, where Irukandji stingers were discovered in the 1940s.

CSIRO Wealth from Oceans research scientist Lisa Gershwin says if tests in other areas are successful the method could be used to warn swimmers against going in the water.

"Hopefully this will ultimately lead to a reduction in the number of stings and keep people safe," the marine biologist, who has studied jellyfish for the past 20 years, told AAP on Thursday.

"It's similar to weather forecasting ... but we're still in the research and development stage."

The method will be particularly useful in areas where there are no lifeguards, she says.

At present, lifeguards conduct tests and close beaches if jellyfish are found in the water, a method Dr Gershwin says is not reliable.

"There is a lot of luck involved in this method, and it's also about the skill of the lifeguard to recognise the jellyfish in different growth stages."

Irukandji jellyfish are found in the tropical waters off north Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

Their stings can cause severe muscular pain, anxious behaviour, headaches and vomiting.

Queensland Health says the sting from some species can cause very high blood pressure or affect the heart, potentially resulting in death.

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Woodside pushes ahead with Browse sales

Woodside Petroleum will push ahead with plans to jointly sell gas from its proposed Browse project. Source: AAP

WOODSIDE Petroleum says it will push ahead with plans to jointly sell gas from its proposed Browse project despite a Japanese partner terminating a purchase deal.

Japan Australia LNG, known as MIMI as it is a joint venture between Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsui, had agreed to buy around 1.5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas a year from the Browse LNG development, subject to a final investment decision on Browse being taken by December 31, 2013.

Woodside and its joint venture partners - Japan's Mitsui, PetroChina, Shell and BP - recently decided to pursue a floating LNG option, and will make a final investment in the third quarter of 2015.

"As a result of the Browse joint venture participants deciding not to proceed with an onshore development and to enter basis of design for a floating LNG development concept, both parties recognise that this condition will not be satisfied," Woodside said in a statement on Thursday.

"Consequently, MIMI has today given Woodside notice terminating the sales and purchase agreement."

It comes eight months after Woodside's sale of equity in the Browse LNG development to MIMI.

Woodside said it will continue to work actively with MIMI on the marketing of co-mingled LNG volumes in the Japanese market.

"In addition, Woodside remains in ongoing discussions with other regional customers regarding potential sales from its portfolio of Australian LNG developments, including Browse," the company said.

In December Woodside chief executive Peter Coleman indicated the company was in a strong position to sell gas in Japan as the nation struggles to secure energy after the Fukushima nuclear accident, but he would not reveal details of recent price negotiations.

Woodside expects to complete its pricing negotiations by April 2014.

Meanwhile, analysts expect Royal Dutch Shell, which owns a 23 per cent stake in Woodside, to begin selling down its interest in coming weeks as its new chief executive Ben van Beurden takes the reins.

Shares in Woodside dropped 34 cents, or 0.87 per cent, to $38.56.

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Bondi shooting victim leads gang: reports

A MAN found on the streets of Bondi with a gunshot wound to his shoulder is reportedly a Brothers 4 Life kingpin who has previously been linked to three killings.

The 31-year-old is also believed to have been on a luxury cruiser at Rose Bay in Sydney's eastern suburbs on New Year's Day when it was shot at from the shore, police say.

Peppered with bullets, the boat left the wharf but was stopped by police a short time later and towed to Balmain.

Less than two hours after the shooting, a 31-year-old was discovered at Lamrock Avenue opposite Bondi Beach with a gunshot wound to his shoulder.

AAP understands the man is linked to the Brothers 4 Life street gang.

He has been identified in media reports as the leader of one of the gang's factions.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was last year set to face trial over a body found in a suburban backyard but the charges were reportedly dropped.

Five years ago, a NSW Supreme Court jury acquitted him of murdering a high school friend and another man in Sydney's west.

He admitted shooting the two men dead in 2006 but was found not guilty of murder after his lawyer argued he acted in self-defence.

Following this week's shooting, a witness said he spoke to the injured man before police arrived.

"We just walked past and this guy's just said, 'Man, I've been shot in the back,' and these coppers just showed up and they've taken over the scene," the passer-by told Fairfax Media.

Emergency services took the man to St Vincent's Hospital, police say, and he has since discharged himself.

It is understood he is not co-operating with police.

Residents of Sydney's west and southwest witnessed gang violence this year as feuds between Brothers 4 Life members erupted in shootings.

The group was founded by Bassam Hamzy, who was jailed in 1998 for the murder of Kris Toumazis outside the Mr Goodbar nightclub in Sydney's inner-city suburb of Darlinghurst.

He has had his jail time increased after orchestrating kidnappings and assaults and running a drug ring from within prison.

A man believed to be his cousin was shot dead in Revesby last year and another man, Omar Ajaj, suffered multiple bullet wounds in the attack.

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Antarctic ship rescue underway

Authorities say the rescue mission for the passengers stranded off Antarctica will commence shortly. Source: AAP

A RESCUE helicopter has loaded the first two groups of passengers from a Russian ship stuck in sea ice in Antarctica.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) estimates the rescue of the ship's 52 passengers, including scientists, tourists and journalists, will take at least five hours, depending on the weather.

Expedition leader Chris Turney confirmed in a tweet that the mostly Australian and New Zealand passengers stuck in ice on the Akademik Shokalskiy since Christmas Eve were being airlifted to safety.

"The Chinese helicopter has arrived @ the Shokalskiy. It's 100% we're off! A huge thanks to all." Prof Turney tweeted on Thursday afternoon.

He then tweeted a video of passengers walking through the ice and loading onto the helicopter.

"The first of the helicopters to take us home. Thanks everyone!"

Just after 7pm (AEDT) on Thursday, he tweeted "Take off! second team gone. Looking good."

The group will be moved in five flights of up to 12 passengers, with each return journey to the Xue Long some 10 nautical miles away expected to take 45 minutes.

The helicopter from the Chinese icebreaker the Xue Long finally reached the ship around 5pm after several attempts were thwarted by severe weather.

After initially saying the rescue would go ahead on Thursday, AMSA then announced around 1pm that sea ice conditions would delay the mission.

But the helicopter arrived at the makeshift helipad in the ice next to the ship just before 5pm and loaded the passengers shortly after.

AMSA took to social media on Thursday evening to say the first helicopter carrying 12 passengers had successfully transferred them.

Passengers are due to be dropped off on the Chinese ship, then transferred on a barge to the Aurora Australis icebreaker.

That ship will carry the passengers to Tasmania, arriving by mid-January.

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Alleged king hit attacker refused bail

A SYDNEY teenager is likely to be left with brain damage after allegedly being punched to the ground on New Year's Eve by a man claiming to be a mixed martial artist, a court has heard.

Daniel Christie, 18, is in a critical condition in St Vincent's Hospital after he was punched in the face in Kings Cross during New Year's Eve celebrations.

The court heard Mr Christie will likely suffer from a considerable brain injury after being punched by his alleged attacker, Shaun McNeil, while shielding two other alleged victims.

Police Prosecutor Sergeant Lisa McEvoy said McNeil, who has a history of violence, was celebrating in the city from 9am on Tuesday and had drunk around eight beers and one glass of wine.

"At the end of his time in town, there's a man on the floor with a fractured skull and suspected brain injury and other people with cut lips," she said.

Sgt McEvoy said the police facts in the case were "horrific".

"This was completely unprovoked," she said.

According to facts tendered in court, McNeil had just left the Punchbowl bar in Kings Cross with his girlfriend when he got into a verbal altercation with two young men and an unidentified boy.

After allegedly telling them he was a mixed martial arts fighter, McNeil struck the boy before punching both of his friends, causing them to fall to the ground, the facts said.

As the boy ran one way, the two men ran down the street and attempted to hide behind Mr Christie, who was then allegedly targeted by McNeil.

"The victim has fallen backward and struck his head on the pavement, causing immediate life-threatening injuries," the facts said.

When Daniel Christie's brother Peter tried to intervene, McNeil then turned on him, allegedly punching him and splitting his lip.

McNeil, 25, faced Parramatta Bail Court via videolink on Wednesday where he cried as he was refused bail.

He has been charged with one count of causing grievous bodily harm to Daniel Christie, one count of assaulting Peter Christie, and two counts of common assault.

Wearing a forensic suit, he said little during his court appearance on Wednesday.

McNeil has several convictions for violence and dishonesty, the court heard.

The court heard McNeil told police he was acting to protect his girlfriend.

His lawyer said the young men tried to sell him drugs.

McNeil was "very sad" when he heard about Mr Christie's life-threatening injuries, the court heard.

Registrar Chris Steptoe refused bail, noting the "current climate" of unprovoked assaults in Sydney.

The alleged assaults occurred on the same street on the late-night strip where teenage king hit victim Thomas Kelly was killed in 2012.

"Mr McNeil does not live in a box," Sgt McEvoy said.

"He is aware of the circumstances surrounding the recent death of a young man, not to mention the few other young men who ended up in hospital (in similar circumstances)."

McNeil will face court again on Monday.

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Violence mars Australian NYE celebrations

New Year celebrations around Australia have been marred by deaths and violence among revellers. Source: AAP

ONE man died and two others are in critical condition after violence marred New Year's Eve celebrations in Western Australia, NSW and South Australia.

While millions of people rang in 2014 without incident, there were ugly scenes in Victoria, where revellers clashed with police at an out-of-control Melbourne party.

In the most serious incident in the country, a man died after a fight at a beach party on tiny Wedge Island off the West Australian coast.

Police say the man died after being assaulted just before 1.30am on the 400-metre-long island, 160 kilometres north of Perth.

Two other people were injured, with one flown by rescue helicopter to Royal Perth Hospital.

In the state's southwest, a woman died after a suspected drug overdose, WA police said.

In Sydney, an estimated two million people lined Sydney Harbour to view the 12-minute midnight fireworks display, with pyrotechnic displays also going off at 9pm and 10.30pm.

But in nearby Kings Cross, 18-year-old Daniel Christie was left in critical condition after being hit in an allegedly unprovoked attack about 9pm.

He is fighting for life at St Vincent's Hospital.

His alleged attacker, Shaun McNeil, 25, was refused bail on Wednesday, with a Sydney court told Mr Christie was shielding others when he was struck.

In Adelaide, a 63-year-old man was left in critical condition after being stabbed several times.

Police charged a 55-year-old woman with attempted murder over the stabbing.

More than 100 people were arrested in Adelaide suburbs, authorities said.

More than 170 were arrested in NSW during festivities, charged with offences including assault and robbery. Ninety-seven people were charged last New Year's Eve.

NSW Ambulance Deputy Commissioner Mick Willis said more than 1000 patients were treated in the metropolitan region overnight.

"Overall the crowd was very good ... but sadly, again, through the use of alcohol and drugs we saw a number of violent clashes," he told reporters.

On the water, more than 100 New Year's Eve revellers had to be rescued from boats across Sydney, with three people taken to hospital.

Further south, at least two police officers were assaulted at a New Year's Eve party in Melbourne.

About 15,000 people attended the monster bash at Edinburgh Gardens in North Fitzroy that forced authorities to set up a triage facility to treat about 20 revellers.

Twenty-three people were arrested in Melbourne's city centre, while at least 160 people were treated by ambulance officers in the city surrounds.

In Queensland, more than 80,000 people packed Brisbane's inner city about midnight and 44 people were arrested, down from 62 last New Year's Eve.

The Gold Coast recorded less crime, with 92 arrests compared with 121 during the previous celebrations.

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