Come clean over raids, Bowen urges Barry

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell should suspend three state MPs who are reportedly caught up in an ICAC investigation, acting federal Labor leader Chris Bowen says.

The Central Coast offices of Liberal MPs Chris Spence and Darren Webber were reportedly searched on Friday, with officers seizing computers and documents.

The raids came after the Liberals referred matters relating to political donations to the Electoral Funding Authority in May 2012.

A senior staff member of Energy Minister Chris Hartcher, Tim Koelma, resigned last year and his electorate officer Ray Carter was suspended over the allegations on full pay.

Mr O'Farrell has hosed down calls for him to stand down Mr Spence, Mr Webber and Mr Hartcher, saying until the ICAC releases a statement it is all just "pure speculation".

Mr O'Farrell has said he could not ask the MPs whether or not the search had occurred, as they were legally bound not to comment.

But Mr Bowen said on Tuesday that Mr O'Farrell should "come clean ... about what is going on here".

"Clearly he should be suspending his state MPs from his Liberal party room while this investigation is under way," he told reporters.

On Monday the likely new federal Liberal MP for Dobell, Karen McNamara, was also drawn into the controversy, as she was Mr Webber's campaign manager for the 2011 election, Fairfax Media reported.

Mr Bowen said that was a matter for Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Ms McNamara to explain.

"It is important that they are very clear about her level of involvement in this investigation," he said.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Forrest spends big on Fortescue shares

Fortescue Metals chairman Andrew Forrest has increase his majority stake in the iron ore miner. Source: AAP

ANDREW Forrest has spent close to $24 million increasing his majority stake in iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group.

The Fortescue founder and chairman bought more than 5.2 million Fortescue stocks on the share market between September 17 and 23, for a total price of $23.61 million.

That takes his ownership stake to 33 per cent, which is currently worth more than $590 million.

Meanwhile, Fortescue has taken control of ore processing at its Christmas Creek mine, where a worker died in an accident in a crushing plant last month.

Fortescue says it has exercised its step-in rights to immediately take over the management and supervision of ore processing from contractors Crushing Services International.

The company stepped in to ensure the safe and hazard free operation of the ore processing facilities, Fortescue said.

Crushing Services International's owner, Mineral Resources, said it was confident the issues would be resolved shortly.

While there has been disruption at Christmas Creek, Fortescue does not expect its full year production target range of 127 million tonnes to 133 million tonnes of ore, to be affected.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Nine buys back Perth station

The Nine Network has finalised its purchase of WIN television in Perth. Source: AAP

THE Nine Network has bought back its Perth broadcaster from wealthy businessman and WIN Television owner Bruce Gordon.

The deal comes as its parent, Nine Entertainment, readies for a $3 billion listing on the Australian share market, potentially before the end of the year.

Nine Entertainment will buy Nine Perth, which has been owned by WIN Corporation since 2007, in a deal believed to be worth up to $200 million.

It comes after Nine's purchase of WIN Adelaide for $140 million earlier this year, and means it now owns the Nine Network in five capital cities.

"Following detailed discussions with WIN proprietor Bruce Gordon and the completion of due diligence requirements, we are now in a position to finalise the contracts on this pivotal deal for the Nine Network," Nine Entertainment chief executive David Gyngell said in a statement.

David Mott, the former head of programming at Network Ten, has been appointed Nine Perth's managing director.

"He's coming home to help us build this market and really make an impact," Mr Gyngell said.

Meanwhile, Nine Entertainment's owners, US hedge funds Apollo Global Management and Oaktree Capital Management, are reportedly eyeing early December as the most logical time for a $3.3 billion float of Nine.

In January this year, Nine and its shareholders agreed to a $3.4 billion recapitalisation plan, which ended private equity group CVC Asia Pacific's stewardship of Nine.

While the timing and value of a public listing of Nine is yet to be confirmed, the proceeds would be used to repay shareholders and reduce the company's debt.

Nine Entertainment also owns NBN Television and Ticketek.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Origin streaker has jail sentence cut

STATE of Origin streaker Wati Holmwood choked back tears as he apologised for his nude dash which has cost him two months in jail.

Holmwood had his three-month sentence cut on Tuesday, but will still serve time behind bars even though his lawyer told the Parramatta District Court that many in the community "would not want to see a streaker go to jail".

He appealed against the jail term he received earlier this month for streaking 90 metres across Sydney's ANZ Stadium during the NSW versus Queensland rugby league match in July in front of more than 83,000 spectators and seen by millions watching live on television.

The 33-year-old ran onto the field wearing nothing but joggers during the final minutes of the Origin decider.

Choking back tears, Holmwood simply replied "sorry" when asked by Mr Tuckey what he would say to members of the public who didn't like what he did.

Holmwood, whom the court heard suffers depression and social anxiety, said his family must be "ashamed" and "upset" by his actions.

Mr Tuckey told the court Holmwood's streak was part of a longstanding tradition in Australian sport.

"It was seen as a comedic act ... It was a larrikin act," Mr Tuckey said.

"Mr Holmwood is not the first person to streak at a football match or a cricket match."

But Judge Martin Sides said a sentence of imprisonment was appropriate given Holmwood's "poor compliance with conditional liberty in the past".

Mr Sides on Tuesday ruled the Tempe man would not be fined for his Origin dash, but sentenced him to two months jail for breaching a bond over going nude at a Kurrajong campsite in June 2012.

Mr Sides also sentenced Holmwood to one month behind bars for the streak and one month for breaching a bond over a streak in 2011 at a Warriors vs Tigers NRL match at Leichhardt Oval.

After being sentenced to three months earlier this month, he was subsequently granted bail to appeal before being arrested last week for breaching a bail condition.

The sentences will be served concurrently, meaning Holmwood will be eligible for release from prison on November 18.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

NZ stocks dip ahead of Meridian listing

NEW Zealand shares have fallen as investors prepare for the Meridian Energy sale and mull the potential end of US monetary stimulus.

On Monday, the NZX 50 fell 29.003 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 4701.374. Within the index, 39 stocks fell, seven rose and four were unchanged. Turnover was $117 million.

The government is expected to raise between $1.9 billion and up to $2.3b from the sale of 49 per cent of Meridian next month in what will be the nation's largest ever initial public offering.

Sky TV fell 0.2 per cent to $5.56 and was the most heavily traded stock by value, with about $39m in shares changing hands. Contact Energy declined 1.3 per cent to $5.27.

"Share prices will come back as people move money to prepare for Meridian," said James Lee, head of institutional equities at First NZ Capital.

The New Zealand market got a reasonably negative offshore lead and more volatility is expected until it is clear when the Federal Reserve will begin tapering its stimulus programme.

"The market is very sensitive currently to changes in macro policy," Mr Lee said.

Fonterra units fell 1.2 per cent to $7.18 ahead of its full-year results on Wednesday. In July it said earnings would miss last year's prospectus forecast.

Michael Hill International fell 3.3 per cent to $1.49, leading a decline among consumer related companies. Warehouse Group dropped 2.1 per cent to $3.76 and Trade Me declined 1.5 per cent to $4.62.

Kathmandu fell 1 per cent to $2.85. Hallenstein Glasson Holdings fell 1 per cent to $5 while Pumpkin Patch gained about 1 per cent to $1.03.

Rural services company PGG Wrightson fell 2.6 per cent to 38 cents after announcing that John Anderson will retire as chairman at the annual meeting next month.

OceanaGold, the operator of the Macraes gold field, fell 6.7 per cent to $1.95 and Steel & Tube Holdings dropped 2 per cent to $2.88.

Fletcher Building slipped 0.7 per cent to $9.51, Auckland International Airport fell 0.8 per cent to $3.315 and Telecom gained 0.4 per cent to $2.28.

15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More

ALP wins McEwen in federal election

Labor's Rob Mitchell has retained the Victorian seat of McEwen by 345 votes. Source: AAP

LABOR has held onto the Victorian seat of McEwen in the federal election.

Counting is complete in the central Victorian seat and Labor MP Rob Mitchell has retained it by 345 votes.

ALP Victorian assistant state secretary Kosmos Samaras said the party was declaring the seat.

"We're very pleased, under the circumstances, to hold onto that seat," Mr Samaras said on Monday.

Liberal candidate Donna Petrovich has released a statement conceding defeat.

"I congratulate Rob Mitchell on retaining the seat of McEwen," Ms Petrovich said.

McEwen was the final Victorian seat to be decided in the federal election.

Ms Petrovich spoke to Mr Mitchell and conceded defeat on Monday, Mr Mitchell said on Twitter.

"I appreciated her taking the time to call and wish her well in the future," he said in his message.

Ms Petrovich, who gave up her upper house Victorian seat to contest the federal seat of McEwen, said she had no regrets.

"Leaving the state parliament to contest the federal seat of McEwen was driven by my desire to continue serving the community and deliver real outcomes for this diverse region," she said.

Mr Samaras said despite the McEwen win, the party would have to do some soul-searching after a 10 per cent swing against Mr Mitchell was recorded in the seat.

15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More

NT men unite against domestic violence

IN the face of shocking domestic abuse statistics in the Northern Territory, indigenous men from the Tiwi Islands to Alice Springs have signed a memorandum of understanding to say enough is enough.

In front of Parliament House in Darwin on Monday, they declared their intention to fight family violence by entreating other men to tackle the problem.

"Aboriginal men have been disenfranchised since colonisation," said Deputy CEO of the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, Des Rogers.

He pointed to statistics showing the NT homicide rate is five times the national average, and Aboriginal women are 80 times more likely to be hospitalised due to assault.

The group, drawn from five regions, has been galvanised by NT Chief Minister Adam Giles' announcement last month that he wants to be an ambassador for the effort.

"I believe some Aboriginal men need a greater supportive framework in place to help them break away from welfare, stay out of the justice system and avoid alcohol abuse," he said in a statement.

Indigenous men's campaigner Charlie King said the commitment had buoyed the group.

"You try to get men to fix men's problems and they can do it; you try to fix it from outside, it doesn't get fixed," he told AAP.

"We want to change the attitude of men to say, 'this is unacceptable behaviour, this is not what men do'."

Mr Rogers said indigenous men were often left out of community programs, which necessarily tend to focus on women and children.

"In order to stop it we need to empower men to do more about it, we can't leave them out of the picture," Mr King said.

The group have declared their intention to bring men together to reduce family violence, and engage with educational, medical and social support providers.

"We think the Territory can lead the way here, we want to surf in front of the wave if we can," Mr King said.

He will convene a forum of men's groups representatives in Darwin in October.

15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More

Discussion over Boston bomber's penalty

LAWYERS for Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev will ask a judge to discuss the timeline and procedure for prosecutors to decide whether to seek the death penalty.

A joint status report filed in court says the defence wants the court to address "the death penalty protocol" in federal court on Monday.

US Attorney General Eric Holder will ultimately make the decision about whether to seek the federal death penalty, but the US attorney's office in Boston will make a recommendation. Tsarnaev's lawyers also have the right to make the case against the death penalty.

Tsarnaev, 20, is accused in twin bombings that killed three people and injured more than 260 others at the April 15 marathon. He's also accused of killing a Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer while on the run three days later.

Prosecutors say Tsarnaev and his brother, Tamerlan, built and planted pressure cooker bombs near the finish line of the marathon.

Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, died following a shootout with police several days later. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was wounded in the shootout and later captured hiding in a bloodstained boat in a suburban backyard after a manhunt that paralysed much of the Boston area. He has pleaded not guilty to 30 federal charges, including using a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death and 16 other charges that carry the possibility of the death penalty.

Massachusetts does not have a state death penalty.

Prosecutors say Tsarnaev, an ethnic Chechen from Russia, wrote about his motivation for the bombing on the inside of the boat, scrawling that the US government was "killing our innocent civilians." Authorities say he also wrote: "We Muslims are one body, you hurt one you hurt us all."

Tsarnaev isn't expected to be in court for Monday's status conference.

15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More