WA man granted bail after wife's death

A 56-YEAR-OLD Perth man accused of wilfully murdering his wife has been granted bail with strict conditions.

Janene Devine was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999 and died in March 2007 from the disease and underlying sepsis.

Her husband, Andrew, was her sole carer at the time.

A coronial inquest was held in October last year to investigate if neglect was a factor in her death.

At the conclusion of the inquest, the matter was referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions who charged Devine with wilful murder.

He was granted bail in the West Australian Supreme Court on Friday with a $50,000 personal undertaking and surety.

Devine was also ordered to report to police daily, surrender his passport and to not contact any prosecution witnesses except for his brothers.

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NT one of National Geographic's top 20

RED earth, blue skies and the golden eyes of watchful crocodiles in the flower-tangled waterways of Kakadu National Park have won the Northern Territory the only Australian mention on a list of the best tourist destinations in the world, according to National Geographic.

The NT is listed in its 2014 top 20 Best of the World.

"This is fantastic news for the Territory," Tourism Minister Matt Conlan said in a statement on Friday.

"It means now the whole world knows the Territory is the place to visit if you want an unforgettable holiday like no other."

The list says that apart from the NT's undeniable physical beauty, the people make the place come alive.

National Geographic Traveller Magazine claims to be the most widely read travel magazine in the world, with 7.6 million readers, and it is published in 12 languages in 21 countries.

The Best of the World list reflects what is authentic, culturally rich, sustainable and superlative in the world of travel.

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CMC boss to stay in job despite fallout

THE head of Queensland's crime and corruption watchdog says he'll continue in the role despite calls for him to quit.

Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) acting chairman Dr Ken Levy announced his intention to remain in the job less than 24 hours after an entire parliamentary committee investigating him got sacked.

A defiant Dr Levy told reporters: "As I said in my statement to parliament yesterday I believe I have acted honestly in all my duties as acting chairman.

"I have not and will not, in discharging my responsibilities, be swayed by the views of the government of the day or indeed by political considerations more generally."

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Protests erupt as Abbott responds to SBY

Indonesia has asked phone companies to investigate whether they helped to tap the President's phone. Source: AAP

THE Australian embassy in Jakarta is being pelted with eggs by protesters as Prime Minister Tony Abbott responds to calls for an apology from Indonesia over the phone-tapping scandal.

More than 1600 police have been deployed near the Australian and US embassies plus several other potential targets in the capital ahead of members of the hardline group, the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), attending rallies after Friday prayers.

Already protesters in front of the Australian embassy have burnt photos of Mr Abbott and an Australian flag.

The protesters, from the Kommando Perjuan Merah Putih (Red and White Fighter Commandos) have also for a second day called for war with Australia and demanded the Australian ambassador, Greg Moriarty, be expelled from Indonesia.

"Our nation has been insulted by Australia. Let's attack them," one of the group shouted outside the embassy on Friday afternoon.

The FPI has previously rallied in support of convicted terrorist and suspected Bali bombing mastermind Abu Bakar Bashir.

Mr Abbott, who has promised a swift and courteous response to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's call for apology, met with the national security committee of cabinet on Thursday night and was declining to comment on Friday.

Indonesians are angry over reports Australia tapped their president's phone, and that of his wife, in 2009 and have demanded Mr Abbott apologise and explain how and why it occurred.

Indonesia's former intelligence chief said the diplomatic row could be resolved with an apology.

"Just apologise and ... forgive and forget," Abdullah Mahmud Hendropriyono told the ABC on Friday.

Mr Hendropriyono admitted in a 2004 television interview that Jakarta had spied on Australia.

Since this row began, Indonesia has halted co-operation on tackling people smuggling and the sharing of intelligence. Military exercises scheduled to take place in Darwin have also been put on hold.

Gita Wirjawan, Indonesia's trade minister, has warned his country may suspend talks on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with Australia.

A senior ranking source from the Indonesian National Police anti-people smuggling taskforce said the asylum-seeker issue remained highly sensitive.

"It's too sensitive to talk about," he told AAP.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison declined to comment on the state of border protection activities with Indonesia but said Australia's Operation Sovereign Borders was continuing.

"(It) is designed to ensure the operation stands or falls on no single measure," he said.

"We have the ability to work through our chain of measures to ensure that whatever circumstances we face ... we are able to adapt and ensure the people smugglers will be frustrated."

The issues between Mr Abbott and President Yudhoyono were being addressed by them personally and he would not comment further.

Former prime minister Julia Gillard said US President Barack Obama's approach to German Chancellor Angela Merkel over a similar bugging scandal set the benchmark for a diplomatic response.

"If he (Obama) had been aware he wouldn't have authorised it, and he could certainly say for the future that it wouldn't happen again," she told CNN.

"I think that that's an appropriate response from Australia to Indonesia at this very difficult time."

Former foreign minister Alexander Downer said Mr Abbott should "extend a friendly hand to President Yudhoyono", but not confirm the bugging occurred or say sorry.

"If Tony Abbott were to say 'gee I'm sorry about that', that would reveal that in fact, the allegation was true," he told Sky News.

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Regret over church abuse claim delay

BY not acting on a letter revealing horrific abuse at the hands of an Anglican Church clergyman, Philip Gerber admits he may have put other vulnerable children at risk.

Pressed before a royal commission on why he did not look up the offending cleric, the former professional standards director said the alleged perpetrator had a common surname - Brown.

It is in retrospect that Mr Gerber has admitted his oversight and expressed remorse at not referring the 2005 letter detailing physical and sexual abuse to police.

The letter was from Richard "Tommy" Campion, a survivor of abuse at the North Coast Children's Home at Lismore in NSW.

The Royal Commission into Institutionalised Responses to Child Sexual Abuse is examining the Anglican Diocese of Grafton's response to abuse at the Anglican-owned home.

At a hearing in Sydney on Thursday, the commission heard Mr Gerber, former standards director for Sydney, Grafton and Newcastle dioceses, saw Mr Campion's letter in August, 2005.

In it, Mr Campion named the clergyman - "Reverend Brown" - who took advantage of him in the minister's residence and in the children's home.

Counsel assisting the commission Simeon Beckett put it to Mr Gerber that from the letter he had an alleged perpetrator, the victim's name and contact details.

Mr Gerber agreed he had a duty to go to police with abuse allegations but couldn't say why he didn't.

Pressed on why he did not search the Anglican directory for the alleged offender, Mr Gerber said Brown was not an uncommon name.

"There was not any first name given or anything," he offered.

But it wouldn't have taken much research to find his name, Mr Beckett suggested.

Mr Gerber admitted his failings and said he was not trying to defend himself.

"I am very unhappy with myself, I didn't take the sort of steps that you are talking about," Mr Gerber told Mr Beckett.

"... and am quite embarrassed and apologise that it might have potentially put other people at risk, children and other vulnerable people at risk."

More than a year later Mr Campion's complaints were forwarded to police.

The clergyman Campbell Brown was stripped of his licence to officiate at church in June this year.

The commission also heard convicted pedophile Reverend Allan Kitchingman was allowed to lay claim to his "Rev" honorific despite being convicted of indecent assault.

Kitchingman, who assaulted a 13-year-old boy in 1975 while chaplain at the North Coast Children's Home, did not face disciplinary action from the Anglican Church once he finished his jail sentence.

"You didn't consider that there was a particular danger to that in terms of both the reputation of the Anglican Church but also in terms of those people who would come in contact with him?" Mr Beckett put to Mr Gerber.

Mr Gerber agreed.

"I'm very regretful of that and in retrospect, looking back certainly if it had been a Sydney person I would have acted decisively," he said.

The hearing continues.

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Flags burn as tension rises in Jakarta

Demonstrators in Indonesia have burnt Australian flags in protest over alleged spying claims. Source: AAP

PROTESTERS burned flags and threatened to target Australians living in Indonesia as tension over the phone tapping scandal boiled on Jakarta's streets.

Some hardline protesters even called for war during a protest outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta on Thursday as Prime Minister Tony Abbott told parliament in Canberra he wanted "Australia to remain Indonesia's trusted partner now and in the future."

Mr Abbott said he would respond to the letter he received from Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who has sought an official apology and a full explanation as to why Australian spies targeted his mobile phone, as well as those of his wife and some of his closest confidants, in 2009.

Protesters also demanded an apology, with one activist from Pemuda Panca Marga, a group representing children of Indonesian veterans, warning Australian citizens in Indonesia would be targeted.

"Within 24 hours, if the Australian government does not apologise, we're ready to attack this place. We're ready to sweep Jakarta for Australians," he said.

Anti-Australian sentiment was palpable on the street outside the embassy.

One banner held by protesters read: "PPM, GM, FKPPI Ready!!! War with Australia", while graffiti on the road and the wall of the embassy read: "Mr Abott (sic) is stupid" and "F... you Ausi".

Another Pemuda Panca Marga member called for police to allow protesters into the embassy.

"We want the ambassador to get out of here. Get out of Jakarta. Police, please let us climb this fence for us to get in."

Australian travellers in Indonesia have been warned to avoid rallies.

Mr Abbott has ruled out apologising, saying only that he regretted the personal hurt caused to Dr Yudhoyono by media reports on the claims and on Thursday reiterated his desire to maintain strong relations with Indonesia.

"As always my intention is to do everything I reasonably can to strengthen the relationship which is so important to both our countries," he told parliament.

Mr Abbott said he would respond "swiftly, fully and courteously" to Dr Yudhoyono's letter.

Cooperation on tackling people-smuggling and the sharing of intelligence and military exercises have already been halted.

And Indonesia's trade minister Gita Wirjawan warned his country might suspend talks on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with Australia.

"We must guarantee that we are comfortable in our communications (with Australia)," he said on Thursday.

But he said Australian cattle imports would continue.

The phone tapping activities by Australia's Defence Signals Directorate four years ago was revealed in US National Security Agency documents leaked by whistleblower Edward Snowden.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said Labor supported government efforts to recover relations.

"The seriousness of this matter, or the sense of offence that our Indonesian friends are feeling, means that we must redouble our efforts to return to positive and construction dialogue between our governments," Mr Shorten told parliament.

Professor Tim Lindsey, an expert in Australia-Indonesia relations at the University of Melbourne, told AAP only a formal apology would be acceptable.

"It's a matter of personal insult to the president himself and his wife," he said.

"Unless Tony Abbott comes up with a form of words that the president can present in public as something constituting an apology of sorts then the dispute will not be resolved."

Labor on Thursday attempted to use a senate estimates hearing to ask foreign affairs officials about Indonesian policy, but Attorney-General George Brandis blocked the questions saying it was a "very delicate time".

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Patel nurse worried he'll operate again

FORMER doctor Jayant Patel's past patients are angry he has walked free from court and a former colleague is concerned he may seek work as a surgeon again.

The 63-year-old was handed a two-year suspended sentence on Thursday for fraudulently registering and working as a medical practitioner in Queensland.

Outside court in Brisbane the Indian-born US resident said he was pleased proceedings were over and would go "back to my life and my work".

The former Bundaberg Base Hospital nurse who blew the whistle on Patel said the reference to returning to work was alarming.

"I hope not," Toni Hoffman told AAP.

"I still don't think he understands or accepts the gravity of what's happened."

Former patients said they were disappointed and angry Patel walked free from court, and upset he had shown no remorse for his actions.

"He has no remorse because he thinks he's done nothing wrong," former patient Beryl Crosby said.

"He got a two-year sentence; those who lost loved ones got a life sentence."

Ian Vowles, another patient who accused Patel of causing him grievous bodily harm in an operation, said the sentence didn't reflect the crime.

And the wife of one of Patel's patients who later died said she was "very disappointed".

"I'd love to have seen something done about it, but for the people that have passed on it's too late for them," said Vilma Blight, wife of Darcy Blight.

The Medical Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency announced they were taking legal action to prevent the disgraced former surgeon registering as a medical practitioner in the country again.

Patel is expected to return to the US where his wife and family live.

He showed little emotion as the sentence was handed down but told reporters outside court he was glad the "long and difficult journey" had ended.

"I'm pleased that it's over and I'll being going back to my life and my work," he said.

Judge Terry Martin told the sentencing hearing the seriousness of Patel's offending couldn't be overstated but took into account the two and a half years Patel had served in prison.

He said there was little doubt Patel's career was "forever ruined".

The court heard Patel lied about professional disciplinary action in the US to Queensland medical authorities so as to gain employment as head surgeon at Bundaberg Base Hospital in 2003.

He returned to the US under a cloud in 2005 before being extradited to Queensland in 2008 to face allegations of killing and maiming patients.

In 2010 Patel was convicted of three charges of manslaughter and one of grievous bodily harm and sentenced to seven years' prison, but the convictions were quashed on appeal.

Criminal negligence charges against him were finally dropped last week after two retrials failed to secure a conviction.

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Newman 'has found sympathiser in CMC'

THE Newman government is standing by embattled crime and corruption head Ken Levy because they've finally found a sympathiser, a political analyst says.

The acting chairman of the Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) will be investigated by a specially-tailored Ethics Committee to determine whether he deliberately hid contact with the government before penning an opinion piece supporting its anti-bike crackdown.

Despite claims about Dr Levy's impartiality emerging more than a fortnight ago, the government has extended his acting chairmanship until May next year.

Political analyst Paul Williams says it was an unwise decision, but made in the best interests of their long-term political strategy.

Relations between the CMC and the conservatives have often been strained.

"One would suspect they have found a man in Dr Levy with whom they can work comfortably," Dr Williams told AAP.

"I don't want to say friend or ally, but making sure there is not an unsympathetic person."

Dr Levy insisted the article was his own idea and he had no contact with the government, but previously secret documents reveal a different story.

The head of the government's media unit, Lee Anderson, "prepped" Dr Levy during a one-to-one meeting, documents tabled in parliament late on Wednesday night show.

The Newman government on Thursday used its majority to block the release of further documents.

The opposition has questioned Dr Levy's independence and want him to resign for compromising the impartiality of the commission.

Labor's Jackie Trad said staff in the premier's office must have known Dr Levy's account of events wasn't accurate.

Premier Campbell Newman has refused to sack Dr Levy or hold an independent judicial review.

He refused to say, despite multiple questions in parliament, if he knew about the meeting between Dr Levy and Mr Anderson.

"The clear point here is that the government had no sort of contact with Dr Levy in terms of getting him to do an opinion piece, or writing the opinion piece, or telling him about what should be in the opinion piece," he told MPs.

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Cops found not at fault in fatal Qld siege

A CORONER has cleared police of blame over the death of a depressed alcoholic during a siege in north Queensland.

Peter Alan Sutcliffe, 39, took his own life while he was barricaded inside a shed during a stand-off with police in Cairns on January 25, 2011.

A two-day coronial inquest in Cairns heard police were called to Mr Sutcliffe's ex-partner's house after he became aggressive towards her and her child.

He was armed with a knife and told officers he had booby trapped the area and also had a shotgun.

Despite making several attempts to talk to him, he was later found dead.

On Tuesday, Coroner Terry Ryan concluded the police response was appropriate and proportionate.

Ruling that Mr Sutcliffe took his own life, the coroner wrote in his report that police "did their best to resolve a volatile situation peacefully".

Mr Sutcliffe's ex-partner told triple-zero she had locked herself and her child in a bedroom around 9pm (AEST) and could hear Mr Sutcliffe sharpening a knife.

When police arrived minutes later he barricaded himself inside a shed.

Officers tried numerous times to talk to Mr Sutcliffe, but, after initially telling police to go away, he didn't respond.

Noises could be heard from the shed until about 11pm.

It was about this time the Special Emergency Response Team surrounded the building and officers again tried to engage with Mr Sutcliffe.

A light was shone into the shed about 11.30pm, revealing Mr Sutcliffe's body.

The coroner's findings revealed the father-of-three had battled alcoholism and depression.

Mr Sutcliffe was also involved in another siege in Cairns three years earlier in which he told police he'd doused himself in petrol.

He was later charged and jailed for 106 days.

Mr Ryan didn't make any recommendations, but said night vision goggles used by officers may have made it difficult for them to see Mr Sutcliffe.

The equipment has since been replaced.

* Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.

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AEC boss didn't seek legal advice over WA

THE Australian electoral commissioner hadn't taken any legal advice when he appointed former federal police chief Mick Keelty to investigate Senate ballot papers missing during a recount of the West Australian vote.

Commissioner Ed Killesteyn told a Senate estimates hearing he was looking for an inquiry to give an assessment on what had happened.

"(Legal advice) wasn't something that entered my mind," Mr Killesteyn said on Tuesday.

Mr Keelty was called in when it was clear that more than 1300 ballot papers were missing when a recount was taken in a tight WA Senate election.

"We had reached a view that the ballot papers were not going to be found," Mr Killesteyn said.

Mr Keelty was chosen by Mr Killesteyn and the Australian Electoral Commission's (AEC) chair Peter Heerey.

With his inquiry in its third week, Mr Keelty is assisted by five Canberra-based AEC staff who are interviewing AEC staff in Perth and others involved in the transportation of the ballot materials.

Mr Killesteyn did not know how much the investigation had cost so far when quizzed by Labor stalwart Senator John Faulkner.

He said Mr Keelty was paid on a daily rate, but declined to say what that was because he had not asked the former police chief if he wanted it made public and took the question on notice.

Senator Faulkner was not happy with that response.

"I think this parliamentary committee as it works through these issues will want to come to grips with the consequences, including the costs, of what you told us in your opening statement was a 'significant failure'," the senator said.

"That's not unreasonable and frankly would ordinarily provided. I would commend you reflect on that and perhaps come back to us with what costs you can."

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Abbott says his team is governing well

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has told his coalition colleagues he believes his team is responding intelligently to the demands of government, including the escalating tensions with Indonesia.

Mr Abbott addressed a joint coalition party room meeting in Canberra on Tuesday, telling MPs and senators that his government is "purposefully, calmly and methodically" getting on with the business it was elected to do.

He said the government had had a good two weeks and was "intelligently responding to the exigencies of the day", making a fleeting reference to the tensions between Australian and Indonesia over spying claims.

Colleagues praised Mr Abbott's recent visit to Sri Lanka for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Mr Abbott told the meeting he has "no interest in taking sides in fights in other countries", referring to his decision not to raise human rights concerns with the Sri Lankan government.

Mr Abbott said the Labor party was consumed with one question: was Kevin Rudd or Julia Gillard a worse prime minister?

He said he had settled on Mr Rudd because he did not even resign from parliament properly, subjecting the people of Griffith to three months without a member of parliament before a by-election can be held.

Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss also spoke about regional infrastructure funding, saying he had no intention of delivering on all Labor's promises.

However the government would conduct a "proper merit analysis" of individual Labor projects and may proceed with some, he said.

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Probe into cow hide quarantine breakdown

QUARANTINE officials have been asked how they allowed a shipment of cow hides from Colombia into the country, when several tonnes of cocaine hidden in similar skins had been smuggled into Spain earlier this year.

Department of Agriculture officials told a senate hearing on Tuesday that an internal review was underway into how untanned cow hides, which had been imported from the South American nation since May, were cleared for entry.

The alleged quarantine breakdown has been described by senators as one of the most serious they've seen.

Liberal Senator Bill Heffernan asked why "alarm bells" hadn't gone off when the freight arrived, given 4.5 tonnes of cocaine was brought into Spain this year hidden in cow hides.

"Even I know that the freight on the cow hides is more than the worth of the cow hides," he told a Senate estimates committee.

"It's as plain as the nose on your face that something is going on."

He said it was a serious biosecurity breach involving "many, many containers", and he wanted to know why the man who received them was told by officials he could dispose of the "rotting" hides.

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry deputy secretary Rona Mellor said the interim inspector-general of biosecurity would report to the minister responsible once the investigation was complete in February.

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Indonesia demands phone tapping answers

Australian spies have reportedly tried to listen to the phone calls of Indonesia's president. Source: AAP

INDONESIA is demanding answers after revelations Australian spies targeted the mobile phones of the country's president, his wife and other senior figures.

The federal government is in damage control after more top secret documents relating to Australia's spying operations were leaked by fugitive US intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden.

The Defence Signals Directorate documents, obtained and published by the ABC and The Guardian, list 10 officials and their phone details - beginning with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and wife Ani.

The papers - dated November 2009 - also list Vice-President Boediono, former VP Jusuf Kalla, former finance minister Sri Mulyani and former presidential spokesmen Dino Patti Djalal and Andi Mallarangeng.

The papers suggest the president's mobile activity was tracked for 15 days and at least one eavesdropping attempt was made.

The president's foreign affairs spokesman, Teuku Faizasyah, has called for an urgent explanation.

"The Australian government urgently needs to clarify on this news, to avoid further damage," he told AAP on Monday.

"The damage has been done and now trust must be rebuilt."

Australia's deputy ambassador to Jakarta, David Engel, and other officials arrived at Indonesia's foreign ministry on Monday afternoon.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott refused to comment on the specific claims but defended Australia's intelligence activities.

"All governments gather information," he told parliament. "All governments know that every other government gathers information."

The prime minister said Australia uses all the resources at its disposal, including information, "to help our friends and our allies, not to harm them".

"My first duty is to protect Australia and to advance our national interest and I will never ever depart from that," he said.

"Consistent with that duty I will never say or do anything that might damage the strong relationship and the close co-operation that we have with Indonesia."

The latest allegations will ratchet up tensions between Canberra and Jakarta, after an earlier Snowden leak showed Australia engaged in a US-led intelligence operation from its Jakarta embassy.

Mahfudz Siddiq, head of the Indonesian parliament's foreign affairs and defence committee and a member of the ruling coalition, said the president should review all co-operation with Australia.

"It's clear that Australia is not a good neighbour, and even a threat," he said.

"Indonesia has been wrong to establish strategic partnerships with Australia because it has turned out that Australia has treated Indonesian officials as the enemy."

The committee's Deputy chairman, T B Hasanuddin, warned the allegations could lead to an explosion in anti-Australian sentiment.

"Indonesia and Australia are friendly countries, neighbouring countries. It's very improper and an insult that wire-tapping was conducted," he told AAP.

"This is the kind of incident which could see nationalism grow."

Former coalition government foreign minister Alexander Downer said the revelations were damaging to Australia.

"It's a shocking situation in which Australia will pay a big price," Mr Downer told Sky News.

Former intelligence analyst and now independent MP Andrew Wilkie said while all governments spy on other countries, it was in the public interest that "a light is shone on the way these agencies do business and how they spend billions of dollars of our money".

Australian Greens senator Scott Ludlam said there needed to be full disclosure on what Australian spy agencies were up to.

After emerging from a 20 minute meeting with Indonesian officials, Mr Engel revealed little.

"It was a good meeting," he said.

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Wild weather hits Sydney's north

WILD weather described as a mini-tornado has hit a shopping centre, pub and train station at Hornsby in Sydney's north, causing significant damage but only minor injuries.

Eight people were taken to Hornsby Hospital for treatment after blasting winds tore off roofing, toppled large trees, blew a demountable off its base onto a car and caused a cinema ceiling to collapse.

Emergency authorities said it was extremely fortunate no one was in the Westfield shopping centre cinema at the time.

The stormy blast hit about 2.40pm (AEDT) on Monday, causing power blackouts, the closure of part of the Pacific Highway and disruption to train services.

Dennis Magaropolous, who works in an office next to the shopping centre, said the storm felt and sounded like a bullet train approaching.

"The whole building started shaking," he told AAP.

"It was quite freaky. It was almost like a sonic boom."

State MP Matt Kean was in his office near the shopping centre when the storm struck.

"I could only describe it as a wall of sound that was cascading toward my office," he said.

"I looked out the window thinking a freight train was ripping though the centre of Hornsby to see cyclonic winds destroying anything in its path."

It wasn't a train but the roof of the neighbouring pub, which had been ripped off and was "scraping the concrete as it was smashed down the road", Mr Kean said.

Other witnesses described seeing debris such as roofing and rubbish spiralling into the air like a "mini-tornado".

Ambulance NSW Superintendent Michele Jordan said CCTV footage showed 14 people leaving the cinema just before its ceiling collapsed.

"The movie finished and then the roof blew in, so it was a lucky escape," she said.

Paramedics treated two people at the shopping centre, including one person hit by flying glass when trees smashed against a doorway.

Paramedics also treated five Sydney Trains staff at Hornsby railway station after a demountable was blown on its side, with some of them inside.

One of the patients was treated for a cut to his head caused by flying debris.

Paramedics also treated a 19-year-old woman for shock at the Hornsby library after windows blew in.

Hornsby Mayor Steve Russell praised emergency services for their speedy response.

"They were here within 15 minutes, very quick" he said.

A spokeswoman for the Westfield Group told AAP that customers had been moved out of the centre, which stopped trading and was operating on emergency power.

The Pacific Highway was reopened later on Monday after a fallen tree was cleared, but blackouts kept traffic lights out of action.

The wild weather also brought down a large tree on the railway lines between Asquith and Hornsby, but train services were later restored.

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Warrnambool shares up on new takeover bid

Canadian dairy giant Saputo has increased its bid for Warrnambool Cheese and dropped all conditions. Source: AAP

SHARES in Warrnambool Cheese and Butter have hit another record high after the company recommended the latest, higher takeover offer from Canadian dairy giant Saputo.

Saputo offered $9 a share on Friday night and Warrnambool's board immediately recommended acceptance.

Trade of Warrnambool shares resumed on Monday, and they gained 19 cents, or 2.1 per cent, to $9.29.

Saputo will also make its revised offer unconditional on November 28, removing a 50.1 per cent minimum acceptance target.

Warrnambool chairman Terry Richardson said the board of the Victorian dairy company unanimously recommended acceptance of the revised Saputo offer, in the absence of a higher bid.

"The board's recommendation reflects the increased cash consideration offered by Saputo and the compelling timing and execution certainty that it provides, particularly compared to the highly conditional Murray Goulburn proposal," Mr Richardson said in a statement released on Friday night.

Murray Goulburn has also offered $9 a share, but its bid still needs regulatory approval from the Australian Competition Tribunal.

"We are currently reviewing our options and will respond in due course," a company spokesman said.

Bega Cheese is also bidding for Warrnambool Cheese and Butter with an offer of $2 cash and 1.5 Bega shares per Warrnambool share - worth $9.17 at present.

The Warrnambool board has rejected the offer as uncertain, saying the current value of Bega's shares do not reflect the true value of the suitor and are fuelled by speculation and the increased value of Bega's 18 per cent stake in Warrnambool.

Bega Cheese is holding meetings with Warrnambool shareholders in Victoria and South Australia on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Saputo CEO Lino Saputo jnr said his revised offer underscored the Canadian company's commitment to Australia.

"Saputo's offer will be freed from all conditions, giving certainty to Warrnambool shareholders that they will receive this substantial cash offer on shortened payment terms if they accept," Mr Saputo jnr said in a statement.

Bega shares gained three cents to $4.78.

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PM's office vetting govt staff: Abetz

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott's office is vetting applications for all 420 new government staff appointments.

Some of his ministers are understood to be frustrated about their staff being knocked back by a committee deciding every new government appointment down to the electorate staff of new MPs.

Mr Abbott's chief of staff, Peta Credlin, reportedly sits on the internal committee with her husband, Liberal party director Brian Loughnane, and ministers Michael Ronaldson and Kevin Andrews.

Senator Penny Wong grilled Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service Eric Abetz about the staffing process during a Senate estimates hearing on Monday.

He confirmed the committee was vetting applications for all 420 jobs.

"At the end of the end of the day, all they do is recommend, they do not decide," Senator Abetz told the committee in Canberra.

"At the end of the day, it is the prime minister's decision."

Senator Abetz was referred to a newspaper article describing the committee as a "star chamber" and saying it was knocking back experienced coalition staffers, including the senator's long-time chief of staff, Chris Fryar.

Senator Abetz said Mr Fryar was now employed as a senior adviser.

"All you need to know is that at the end of the day it was decided by the prime minister as to who would be appointed to my ministerial staff and to the staff of my ministerial colleagues," he said when asked who told him about appointment decisions.

Senator Wong appeared angered by the response.

"All I need to know? That's the standard of transparency under this government, is it? All I need to know," she said.

When asked who signed the letter about his staff appointments, Senator Abetz thought it might have been Ms Credlin.

"I think. I think, and I stand corrected, but I think all of the correspondence was signed off by the chief of staff for the prime minister," he said.

"That is the best of my recollection, but I am happy to come back to you if I am not correct."

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Air NZ partial sale announced

The NZ government is to reduce its 73 per cent share holding in Air New Zealand to 53 per cent. Source: AAP

THE New Zealand government has announced it is to start the process of selling down its 73 per cent ownership of Air New Zealand to around 53 per cent.

Finance Minister Bill English and State Owned Enterprises Minister Tony Ryall say the process of selling to brokers and institutions will start on Monday and be completed by Tuesday evening.

The sale will be done and dusted just days before a referendum on the government's asset sales program, which has so far seen it sell 49 per cent each of electricity companies Mighty River Power and Meridian Energy.

During the week the government denied speculation that it had decided to sell down its Air NZ shares but the announcement was then made on Sunday.

The government owns 73 per cent of the national carrier, which is already listed on both the New Zealand and Australian stock exchanges. Because it is already listed the shares can be sold much more quickly than those of the power companies.

The government wants to drop its ownership to 53 per cent.

Mr Ryall says Air New Zealand's shares are currently trading at a five-year high, making it an opportune time to conduct the sale.

The government says New Zealanders will be at the front of the queue for shares and it is confident they will still own at least 85 per cent of the airline.

Air NZ will go into a trading halt on Monday and Tuesday and New Zealanders are urged to contact their broker if they are interested.

It is believed the sale could raise the government about $NZ400 million ($A359 million).

Mr Ryall said the government had so far raised $NZ3.6 billion from the partial sales of Mighty River and Meridian earlier this year.

Until now, the expectation was that power company Genesis Energy would be the next to be sold down.

The government had said it hoped to raise $NZ5 billion and $NZ7 billion from its assets sales but is now revising that down.

It hopes to invest the money in new assets and new infrastructure without the need to borrow money overseas.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Glasson throws hat in ring for Griffith

Bill Glasson is to run again for the Liberal National Party in the Brisbane seat of Griffith. Source: AAP

FORMER Australian Medical Association president Bill Glasson hopes his direct line to good friend Tony Abbott will win over enough voters to finally clinch the seat held by Kevin Rudd for 15 years.

The ophthalmologist will have a second crack at Griffith, after narrowly losing to Mr Rudd in September and will stand for preselection for the Liberal National Party in the upcoming by by-election.

Reducing the cost of living and financial burdens on small business are key election pledges and his close friendship with Mr Abbott will be a major asset.

The two spoke on Thursday, when Mr Abbott offered his full support.

"I will go down there with a strong voice and as I know Mr Abbott, the prime minister, very well, obviously I think I can influence policy to make life and the cost of living in Brisbane easier and make the cost of doing business easier as well," he said.

The prime minister shot out a statement supporting Dr Glasson just 40 minutes after the announcement.

He urged the LNP in Queensland to finalise the preselection process as soon as possible.

"Bill Glasson will be a strong local voice for the people of Griffith in Canberra," Mr Abbott said.

"He has dedicated himself to representing the people of Griffith with the same enthusiasm, zeal and commitment that he has brought to his distinguished medical career."

Mr Rudd announced on Wednesday he'd resign from politics, less than 100 days after the federal election.

The first possible date for a by-election is December 21 but it is most likely to be held early next year.

Dr Glasson says Mr Rudd broke a promise to serve a full term and has treated voters with a degree of contempt.

"My suggestion is that the people of Griffith have had enough and they want the by-election out of the road as quickly as possible," he said.

Griffith has long been one of Labor's safer seats but Dr Glasson's grassroots campaigning before September saw him beat Mr Rudd before preferences were dished out.

He attracted a 5.5 per cent swing, reducing Mr Rudd's winning margin to three per cent.

The by-election will be a revealing snapshot of the mood of Queensland voters after several months of the Abbott government.

The odds however are again stacked against Dr Glasson.

Only once has a federal government gained a seat from an opposition at a by-election and that was the Kalgoorlie by-election in 1920.

"This is going to be tough, history will tell you that," he said.

Labor is yet to announce who their candidate will be. However employment and IR lawyer Terri Butler has emerged as the front runner.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

NT doctors in Tacloban as Aussies dig deep

AUSTRALIANS have no prejudice when it comes to dealing with disaster, says the Filipino consul-general to the Northern Territory.

The NT government handed the Red Cross a cheque for $10,000 on Sunday to help with relief efforts in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the Philippines just over a week ago, while a national trauma response team deployed on Wednesday with a fully-portable hospital.

Consul-General John Rivas says the 8000-strong Filipino community in the Territory has been touched by the generosity shown by the rest of the country.

"It's the inherent nature of Australians to be very responsive to the cause, and they will bend backwards and forwards to help," he told AAP.

"Australians are unique because there's no racial barrier in terms of assistance - we are as one."

A community event held by the Filipino Association of the NT (FAANT) on Saturday night saw 2000 people raise $20,000 with more pledges rolling in, and so many bands and entertainers wanted to perform that a second event will be held next month.

One nine-year-old boy donated his entire week's pocket money.

"It breaks my heart," said Judith Ventic, the association's vice president.

The National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre (NCCTRC) on Wednesday sent a team of 37 to the hardest-hit city of Tacloban, which Mr Rivas said was being referred to as the "city of stench".

The team there is running a full 60-bed hospital, with two operating theatres, said centre director Len Notaras.

Yesterday they saw 55 people, performed five operations, and will see more than 3500 patients over the next two weeks before a second team rotates in to replace them.

"This is a first for Australia, coming out of the Northern Territory," Dr Notaras told reporters in Darwin.

He said the significance of the damage couldn't be underestimated.

"It's up there with the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami - the death, destruction and tragedy that has occurred, and the next few weeks are going to be critical in rebuilding Tacloban and the areas around it," he said.

"The first of the support is there and working very, very well. We will make a difference and there will be lives saved."

The primary concern over the coming days and weeks would be public and environmental health issues, with contagious disease outbreaks possible if infrastructure isn't repaired.

He said local authorities were responding well, with the first sanitation facilities put in place on Sunday morning.

The centre was ensuring the Australian doctors don't become overwrought in appalling conditions, Dr Notaras said.

"The huge tragedy they've seen, bodies upon bodies, the trauma and the work - almost 24 hours a day in some circumstances - we don't want to exhaust a resource so it becomes less than safe and adequate," he said.

"We're bringing first-world medicine to a circumstance we saw in Haiti and other places, where third-world responses were being conducted. We're endeavouring to bring the very best of the best."

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sydney foreign workers back-paid

FOREIGN construction workers allegedly mistreated by their boss have been given $216,000 back pay and had their wages lifted closer to the rate they were initially promised.

In August 18 Hungarian men had been promised $30 an hour to move to Australia on temporary working visas and build an automated warehouse at Eastern Creek in Sydney, CFMEU NSW assistant state secretary Rebel Hanlon said in a statement.

"Instead of the $30 an hour they were promised the men were paid about $15 an hour, worked six days a week and claim they were verbally abused on the job," Mr Hanlon said.

Three workers were sent home after complaining about conditions, he added.

Members of the Hungarian community at Blacktown raised concerns with the CFMEU who then met with the Austrian construction company, Assmont, to investigate the men's situation.

"Assmont (has) now agreed to back pay all the workers including three men who were sent home by the company after they complained about conditions," Mr Hanlon said.

"The men will also all now be paid proper rates and all other conditions they are entitled to."

Under the agreement between the CFMEU and Assmont, the men will be back-paid a total of $216,000 and their hourly wage will rise to $29.10.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More