Fmr Qld MP's wife charged with fraud

THE wife of a disgraced former Queensland MP has been charged with fraud.

Police charged former Redcliffe MP Scott Driscoll's wife Emma after a joint investigation with the state's corruption watchdog.

The investigation was looking into allegations that Norsefire, a company in which she had a controlling interest, received $522,266 from a lobby group and a community association her husband controlled while he was an MP.

The Driscolls' joint bank account allegedly received payments totalling $215,670 from Norsefire that were not declared on his official interests register.

Mr Driscoll resigned from parliament earlier this month over the allegations before he could be expelled and fined $90,000.

Emma Driscoll is facing three counts of perjury, 10 counts of fraudulently falsifying records and three counts of falsifying documents.

She is due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on December 10.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

NSW Health reports several babies unwell

PARENTS are being urged to heed good hygiene habits, with several NSW babies being diagnosed with parechovirus infections.

NSW Health says parechovirus usually causes mild respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms, but occasionally can lead to more severe symptoms.

While infected babies can get unwell quickly, most typically recover in a few days.

NSW Health director of communicable diseases Dr Vicky Sheppeard says in addition to a high fever there are a range of other signs including a red rash, irritability, diarrhoea, hepatitis or encephalitis.

"Most cases make a complete recovery after several days in hospital," she said.

Sydney and Newcastle hospitals have seen about 20 admissions of babies aged less than 16 weeks old since October.

Parechovirus is usually spread from person to person through contact with respiratory droplets, saliva or faeces from an infected person.

It can be hard to prevent, but washing hands with soap and water after going to the toilet, before eating, after wiping noses, and after changing nappies should help reduce the risk.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Nhulunbuy rocked by Rio Tinto closure

AFTER a long, slow, downward slide, Rio Tinto will close its Gove alumina refinery, taking with it some 1500 jobs and, perhaps, the soul of the town.

Rio Tinto on Friday announced what many had feared for the past year: that the refinery is no longer a viable business in the current market.

The company is not saying how many jobs will be lost as it works on the scope and phased timing of the suspension.

About 1500 workers are employed at the Gove refinery, while 350 people work at the bauxite operations, which will continue.

Rio chief executive Sam Walsh says it's an extremely difficult decision that will have a significant impact on workers and the Northern Territory as a whole.

"There is no doubt it is a challenging path ahead," he said.

The refinery has been losing money for years due to long-depressed global aluminium prices and over-supply.

Both the federal and territory governments offered subsidised gas to Rio and to take on the financial risk of a gas pipeline to prevent Friday's decision.

"I want the people of Gove to know that my government and I fought until the end to keep the refinery open, but Rio Tinto has disappointingly decided that the economics of the business no longer stack up," NT Chief Minister Adam Giles said in a statement on Friday.

"I know this is a dark day for the people of Gove, but ... we will be working with Rio Tinto in supporting the community over the difficult months ahead."

He held a panel meeting that included Rio management at Nhulunbuy's town hall on Friday morning, as hundreds of residents crammed in to hear how the town will be salvaged.

About 4000 people live in Nhulunbuy and about 1500 work at the Gove refinery. Most of the other businesses in the area support the mining activity.

"It was as full as I've ever seen that place. People were hanging out the doors and windows," said Dean Johnson, a bore operator at Rio's bauxite mine.

"It was mainly businesspeople who've invested in the town in one way or another. Those poor people are losing out twofold, they've got families and bought houses here," he told AAP.

"There were some tears, and you could hear it breaking up in their voices. Towards the end it got a bit bitter."

Rio says key factors in the decision were continuing low alumina prices, a high exchange rate and substantial after-tax losses for the refinery despite considerable efforts to improve performance.

It said it would try to create new opportunities for employees, which could involve fly-in fly-out work in the Pilbara or on Darwin's Inpex LNG plant.

Earlier this week, the NT government was putting in place contingency plans to bail out the township, looking at whether airlines and supermarkets would abandon Nhulunbuy, how many schoolchildren would remain, demands on the hospital and impacts on homeowners with home loans.

Mr Giles said Rio would continue to provide power, water and sewerage and, along with the government, was seeking assurances from airlines that they would continue to service the area.

The government will continue to provide key public services such as hospitals, schools and police.

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Slain SKorean woman's dad seeks justice

IN a foreign country and unable to speak English, the father of a young murdered Korean woman is hoping Queensland delivers justice.

The family of Eunji Ban gathered in Brisbane on Friday - five days after the 22-year-old woman was found murdered in an inner-city park.

She had been in Australia a few weeks, killed on the way to a cleaning job in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Her father Hyeonggyu Ban had flown from the South Korean port city of Busan to express, through a translator, his desire for justice.

"I trust the justice system to impose a firm and just sentence on the offender," he told reporters at Queensland police headquarters after his daughter's funeral.

Eunji's uncle Seongkyu Ban was beside him, holding a framed picture of the young woman.

Hyeonggyu Ban read from a statement in Korean, describing his grief.

"There is nothing to replace her," he said.

"To a parent, your children are your biggest treasure.

"My daughter was my hope and she was bigger than life itself.

"For me as a parent, the loss of my daughter was sadness and despair - it is impossible to express with words."

The murder victim's father described his appreciation at Brisbane's outpouring of grief, after more than 1000 people gathered at Wickham Park on Wednesday to pay their respects at the crime scene.

"Watching from a distance, I was deeply moved by the large number of Queensland community who attended and paid their respects," he said.

Mr Ban expressed gratitude to Queensland police, Premier Campbell Newman and Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk "for their kind words and condolences", along with the Korean consulate.

"I can only hope that my daughter's death plays a role in making this community more aware of their safety and aid, and further protecting the lives of Queenslanders," he said.

"I sincerely hope my daughter's death will not go to waste."

A 19-year-old man, Alex Reuben McEwan, fronted court on Tuesday charged with Ms Ban's murder.

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Treasurer agree GST threshold must be cut

THERE is a broad consensus among state and territory treasurers that Australia must lower the GST-free threshold on goods bought online from overseas retailers.

The treasurers meet in Canberra on Wednesday with Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey to discuss the issue.

At present, overseas-purchased goods valued at less than $1000 are exempt from the 10 per cent consumption tax.

Local retailers want the threshold lowered to $20, while the states and territories argue they are missing out on much needed GST revenue.

"It was a very positive discussion, it is clear there are a lot of consensus across the room," NSW Treasurer Mike Baird said after the talks in Canberra.

"We need to do this."

The business case for lowering the GST-free threshold is close to being finalised and key planks were talked through by the treasurers.

"If there is an agreement, we will come together - that is, the states and the federal government will work though every line of that business case," Mr Baird said.

"We'll ensure that whatever model is considered it will be done in the most cost-effective way."

The treasurers will meet again in March next before a final decision is made.

South Australian premier Jay Weatherill agreed the treasurers were of the view that the GST threshold should be lowered from the current $1000.

"The whole meeting generally took the view there needs to be improved integrity measures, which includes the threshold, but we aren't yet at reaching an in-principle agreement about that," he said.

While the proposed move "doesn't have a dramatic effect on revenue", it does go to the integrity of the overall GST collections system, he added.

However, consumer advocates have labelled the proposal an "internet tax" designed solely to prop up the domestic retail sector.

If the threshold was cut to $20, and Australia adopted the UK's assessment process, CHOICE says the cost of a $20 parcel would rise to more than $35.

The UK Royal Mail charges a STG8 ($A13.60) fee for assessing a parcel for value-added tax and customs liability.

"If you lower the threshold without streamlining the process, you turn every parcel-delivery business into a doorstep tax collector," CHOICE director of campaigns Matt Levey said on Tuesday.

CHOICE research shows only 12 per cent of shoppers use the internet to escape the GST.

The majority shop online because of the convenience of getting products delivered to their door.

15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More

Set record straight on China, Abbott told

THE federal government is being advised to address growing mistrust over China if it wants to sign a free-trade agreement (FTA) with the Asian powerhouse within a year.

Trade Minister Andrew Robb has just returned from East Asia, where he met with Chinese officials to discuss progress on the long-sought FTA.

Securing an FTA with Australia's largest trading partner has been on the agenda since the Howard years and the present government has fast-tracked talks and wants a deal done within 12 months.

But China's expansion is fostering suspicion in Australia, with concerns it could use its significant economic influence to steer negotiations in its favour.

The Lowy Institute think tank has warned sentiments toward China has "cooled" in the past year and the government needs to be on the front foot if it wants public support for the elusive FTA.

The institute's James Reilly says fears China's government will manipulate its trade and investment to undermine Australian autonomy or security are "overblown".

"Both sides need to do a better job of explaining this reality to the Australian public," he wrote in a report called China's Economic Statecraft: Turning Wealth Into Power.

"The Abbott government will also have to pay more attention to public sentiments at home if it wishes to get a trade deal with China within the year."

A good place to start would be dispelling concerns about Chinese investment in Australia, which makes up just three per cent of all foreign direct investment.

In a survey conducted this year, the institute found that despite this, 57 per cent of Australians believed the government was allowing too much investment from China.

A sizeable minority of those surveyed also saw China as a potential military threat in coming decades.

China's use of economic statecraft - using economic clout to further its foreign policy objectives - would hit a wall if tried on Australia, the report said.

One fear is China could pressure the government over its military co-operation with the United States, or engagement with Taiwan, by holding hostage primary Australian exports - like iron ore.

But the report claims Australia enjoys "considerable economic leverage over China", and while economic statecraft posed challenges, it was no excuse for opposing deeper ties.

Mr Robb said China was "very enthusiastic" about the FTA proposal and he was hopeful a deal would be signed within the 12-month deadline.

"Where there's a political will, there's a way," he told ABC TV on Wednesday.

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WA man could face more child abuse charges

A PERTH man facing child abuse charges against two boys could face further charges from a third alleged victim.

Neville Ross Mader has been charged with 11 offences including aggravated sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, sexual penetration of a juvenile male and sexual penetration without consent.

Mader appeared briefly in the Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday and had his bail renewed.

The court also heard there could be further charges laid against him from a third complainant.

Mader is due back in court in January.

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Indigenous celebrate Qld parks handover

REGAN Hart's grandfather began the struggle to take back his clan's traditional land on Cape York more than two decades ago.

With tears in his eyes, Mr Hart on Wednesday accepted the title deeds to what is now the Cape Melville National Park.

His people, the Gambiilmugu, are one of several Aboriginal groups handed back seven Queensland national parks on southeast Cape York.

The 354,800-hectare area takes in the Cape Melville, Jack River, Mount Webb, Melsonby (Gaarraay), Starcke, Flinders Group and Howard Group national parks.

Six small coastal islands along the cape have also been returned.

The day was bittersweet for Mr Hart, whose grandfather Roger Hart died in the 1990s.

"It's sad he's not here to witness this," he told AAP.

"I'm thinking he's looking down and he's very proud of what we've done to get this land back.

"I will always remember the first time I went up country (Cape Melville).

"When I jumped off the boat my granddad met me on the beach and he put his hand out to shake my hand and said, 'Welcome grandson, this is our country."

Roger Hart was taken from his birthplace at Barrow Point on Cape Melville when he was a boy because he was mixed race. He didn't return until he was in his 50s.

During that time the area became a national park and Roger Hart, with the help of Noel Pearson, began negotiations in 1992 to have the land returned to his people.

Regan Hart took over land negotiations after his grandfather passed away.

A group of traditional owners and government officials gathered in Cooktown, north of Cairns, on Wednesday to witness the signing over.

Traditional owners say they're keen to establish tourism ventures at the parks.

They also plan to designate more public camping sites.

Mr Hart hopes having ownership over the land will inspire more of his people to return and reconnect with their culture.

"Our goal, because we've been away for so long, is to try and get back on country to understand the culture before it's all lost," he said.

State Environment Minister Andrew Powell told reporters the emotion and passion in the room was palpable.

"It's taken too long, that's not good enough. But to be here and to right that and hand over the deed of grants was just amazing."

Although traditional owners technically own the land, they have agreed to Indigenous Land Use Agreement and Indigenous Management Agreement conditions.

The areas will remain national parks, public access won't be restricted and the land can never be sold.

Traditional owners will have more say over how the land is used and will jointly manage the parks with state park rangers.

They will also take part in projects researching the flora and fauna on Cape York.

The transfer of ownership is the largest number of national parks handed back to Aboriginal people.

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GG Bryce supports gender equality

Governor-General Quentin Bryce has said society needs to support young gay and bisexual people. Source: AAP

GOVERNOR-GENERAL Quentin Bryce has voiced her support for gender equality at an event focused on mental health, just days after speaking out about gay marriage.

The Queen's representative, who ends her term in March, refused to comment on her landmark speech on Friday after launching Beyondblue's manual for families of lesbian, gay, bisexual and gender diverse people in Melbourne.

Ms Bryce said society needs to be supportive of young gay, bisexual and gender diverse people who are at risk of discrimination.

She said the fear of social rejection can cause anxiety and increases the risk of suicide in LGBTQ people.

"Coming to grips with gender identity and revealing it to those close to you can be a challenging time and very painful and distressing," Ms Bryce said on Tuesday.

She said a supportive family can assist young people to feel supported.

Ms Bryce on Friday said she hoped Australia would become a country where "people are free to love and marry as they choose".

Beyondblue chairman and former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett has pledged his full support behind the governor-general for speaking out about her beliefs on gay marriage, mental health and gender equality.

"No I don't think she's wrong at all," Mr Kennett said.

"I am very grateful for the voice she gives to so many who have no voice at all."

Mr Kennett said the governor-general was prepared to attract a bit of flack for her opinions.

He said it was better she said something than nothing.

"God help her successor, he or she will have big shoes to fill," he said.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Consumers lose under "internet tax"

Consumers have been warned they will pay more for online purchases if the GST threshold is lowered. Source: AAP

AUSTRALIANS have been warned they will pay more and wait longer for online purchases from overseas if the GST threshold on imported goods is lowered.

The nation's treasurers will gather in Canberra on Wednesday to try and thrash out an agreement to lower the $1000 threshold.

Local retailers want to see a more level playing field given many foreign goods are GST-free under existing rules, while the states and territories argue they are missing out on much needed GST revenue.

But consumer advocate CHOICE believes consumers and the economy will suffer from what it labels an "internet tax".

"Australia does not need a new tax on the internet, designed to prop up parts of the local retail sector," CHOICE director of campaigns Matt Levey said in a statement on Tuesday.

If the threshold was lowered to $20 and Australia adopted the UK's assessment process the cost of a $20 parcel would rise to more than $35.

The UK Royal Mail charges a STG8 ($A13.60) fee for assessing a parcel for VAT and customs liability.

"If you lower the threshold without streamlining the process, you turn every parcel delivery business into a doorstep tax collector," Mr Levey said.

"Bizarrely, the higher threshold would not address the main reasons Australians shop online overseas, which has nothing to do with the GST."

CHOICE research shows the main reason Australians buy online is so they can shop at the hours that suit them, followed closely by the convenience of getting products delivered to their door.

Only 12 per cent nominated saving on duties and taxes.

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Letter from Abbott met Indon expectations

The government says Indonesia is taking time to respond to the PM's letter about the spying scandal. Source: AAP

INDONESIA says a letter from Prime Minister Tony Abbott in response to demands for an explanation over the tapping of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's phone is in accordance with expectations.

Dr Yudhoyono was on Tuesday set to hold a high-level meeting with some of his closest advisers and senior ministers to discuss a response to the letter from Mr Abbott, which was received on Saturday.

While the contents of the letter have not been revealed, a spokesman for the president said it was "just as we expected".

"I do not have the capacity to give details about the content of Prime Minister Abbott's letter," presidential spokesman Julian Pasha said at the presidential palace ahead of the talks.

"The answer from Prime Minister Abbott is in accordance to what we expected. I will stop there."

He refused to say whether the letter contained an apology.

It was unclear whether Dr Yudhoyono or a spokesman for the president would provide an official response to Mr Abbott's letter immediately following the meeting.

Indonesia has suspended all co-operation with Australia in terms of strategic partnerships as a result of the spying claims, including in combating people smuggling, intelligence gathering and anti-terrorism efforts.

Labor said earlier on Tuesday that it was worrying there had been no response from Indonesia since Mr Abbott took steps to mend ties between the nations.

But Parliamentary Secretary Simon Birmingham has played down concerns Indonesia hadn't responded yet to the letter.

"We'd expect Indonesia to take their time, and respond thoughtfully. That's obviously what's occurring," he told Sky News on Tuesday.

Senator Birmingham said the prime minister had opted for a "hand-delivered gesture" by asking retired army chief Lieutenant-General Peter Leahy to take the letter to Indonesia personally.

A spokesman for Mr Abbott said the prime minister "felt it was appropriate that his letter was conveyed with the utmost respect befitting the importance of the subject matter and his high regard for President Yudhoyono".

But Labor frontbencher Brendan O'Connor said it wasn't important how the message was sent as long as every effort was made to repair the relationship.

He said if all was well, the Indonesian president would be on the phone to Mr Abbott.

"The fact that it's taken so long for Indonesia to respond is of some concern," he told Sky News.

"Clearly they are disappointed with the government's response to date."

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Tiger mauls trainer at Qld zoo

A TRAINER is in a serious but stable condition in hospital after being mauled by a tiger at a Queensland zoo.

The big cat attacked the 30-year-old man during a tiger show for visitors at the Australia Zoo in Beerwah on Tuesday afternoon.

The tiger reportedly bit into his neck before a group of co-workers nearby realised what was going on and helped drag him away.

The Department of Community Safety says the trainer was bleeding heavily from two large puncture wounds on his neck when ambulance officers arrived about 3pm (AEST).

Paramedics managed to stop the bleeding and the man was then flown to a Brisbane hospital in a serious, but stable condition.

DCS says he was conscious and breathing when he was loaded into the helicopter.

The Australia Zoo keeps three Bengal and eight Sumatran tigers.

The zoo has not returned calls since the news broke.

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Taylor Swift wins AMA artist of the year

Taylor Swift has been voted American Music Awards artist of the year for a third time. Source: AAP

TAYLOR Swift's fans have voted her the American Music Awards artist of the year for a third time.

Swift won the night's top honour, giving her a leading four trophies as fans celebrated the women of pop music.

Her win came after Katy Perry dazzled with her show-opening performance, Lady Gaga found another inventive way to grab viewers' attention, Rihanna starred with her mother and Miley Cyrus closed performances with the assistance of a giant lip-syncing CGI kitty on her song Wrecking Ball.

Swift also won country album of the year for Red and favourite female country and pop/rock artist.

"Red is very different than any album I've made before and the reason I was able to do that was because of the fans," the 23-year-old pop star said.

"I cannot believe what you've done in the last year. This album came out almost exactly a year ago and the fact that 6 million of you went out and bought it is crazy."

Justin Timberlake was next with three wins. One Direction and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis won two awards and Rihanna was given the AMA's first Icon Award to go with her win as favourite soul/R&B female artist.

Rihanna and her mother took centre stage midway through the show when Monica Fenty presented her pop star daughter with the first Icon Award at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.

Rihanna performed Diamonds with an orchestra and took favourite soul/R&B female artist. Justin Timberlake won soul/R&B album, soul/R&B male artist and pop/rock male artist.

Nickelodeon star Ariana Grande was named favourite new artist, Florida Georgia Line won single of the year for Cruise with Nelly, Luke Bryan won favourite male country artist, and favorite rap/hip-hop act Macklemore & Ryan Lewis used their rap/hip-hop album acceptance speech pay tribute to African American teen shooting victim Trayvon Martin.

It was the first win of the night for Macklemore and Lewis, whose album The Heist has been an unexpected hit and made them the AMA's top nominees with six.

Katy Perry opened the show dressed in a traditional Japanese dress to give a show-starting performance of Unconditionally.

One Direction was at times drowned out by screams during an understated performance of Story of My Life.

Jennifer Lopez nailed the elaborate dance numbers during her tribute to Salsa queen Celia Cruz, taking two dozen dancers through their paces while wearing a shimmering silver dress.

Lady Gaga and R Kelly put on an elaborate production for their song Do What U Want, staging a presidential affair with Kelly playing the president and Gaga a Marilyn Monroe-like mistress.

Miley Cyrus shut things down with a performance that wasn't quite as over the top as her previous appearances this year but is likely to be talked about just as much.

The camera stayed on Cyrus and the lip-syncing tabby throughout, and the cat ended the song by winking and sticking out its tongue - Cyrus' signature move.

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Lawyers to stop baby going to Nauru

AN urgent request to stop the transfer of a newborn baby and his family to Nauru will be heard in a Brisbane court on Tuesday.

Latifar, a Rohingyan woman from Myanmar, was transferred from Nauru to give birth to Ferouz in Brisbane's Mater Hospital a fortnight ago.

They remain in detention with the child's father and siblings, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers told AAP.

Associate Murray Watt says they'll argue in the Brisbane Federal Circuit Court on Tuesday to keep the family in Australia until the child's health improves.

Ferouz remains weak, has trouble breastfeeding and his mother is recovering from a caesarean birth and suffers from diabetes.

Mr Watt says it is a test case because it concerns the rights of an asylum seeker to present independent medical advice about their health, before any decision is made to take them back to Nauru.

And, it raises questions on whether the government can take Ferouz to Nauru at all, given that he was born in Australia.

"This family of asylum seekers from Burma has already been poorly treated, with limited access to visit their newborn son, Ferouz, while he remained in hospital," Mr Watt said.

"This is an important case, not just for baby Ferouz and his family, but also in highlighting the injustice of detaining children offshore."

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Friends 'optimistic' trekker will be found

FRIENDS of a 23-year-old Perth man believed to be missing in Nepal are "very optimistic" that he will be found alive.

A search party has been looking for Matt Allpress, who embarked on a solo 10-day trek in Nepal almost a month ago, and his friends are refusing to give up hope.

Mr Allpress went trekking through the Himalayas but failed to arrive in Sydney on November 14.

There have been two unsuccessful aerial searches and several search teams are on the mountain and around the ridge of Dudh Pokhari, which sits at 4700 metres.

His former schoolmate, Rhett Nicholas, said Mr Allpress had been travelling alone from Paris to Mumbai over the past few months before heading to Nepal.

"He spoke to me a few days before he left on his last trek," Mr Nicholas told AAP.

"This was mainly a conversation wishing me happy birthday and general chit chat about his first trek."

Mr Nicholas said he usually heard from his friend at least once a week.

"It was generally prompted on my end and we would Skype maybe once a month, maybe more frequently," he said.

The last tweet sent by Mr Allpress was on November 1.

"Our close group of friends from high school are particularly upset, however we are remaining positive," Mr Nicholas said.

"We believe they are going to find him. We are very optimistic."

Mr Nicholas said social media has been instrumental in spreading the word about his friend.

Mr Allpress's family have flown to Nepal to look for him and have also been supporting the social media campaign.

His mother, Margaret Allpress, let out some frustration on her Facebook page on Sunday night, posting: "Next time someone says to you, 'no news is good news' you can quote me 'BULLSHIT'!"

It prompted replies from her friends telling her to remain strong and positive.

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman said Australian officials in Canberra and Kathmandu are continuing to provide consular assistance to the Allpress family.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

AJ Maddah on the Blur Big Day Out blowup

Blur have announced they will not be coming to Australia and New Zealand for Big Day Out 2014. Source: AAP

THE director of the Big Day Out has lashed out at Blur after the British rockers pulled out of the Australian music festival.

AJ Maddah says Big Day Out "kissed Blur's ass", but was rewarded with a cancellation less than two months before the festival.

Blur announced on Sunday they will no longer be coming to Australia and New Zealand for Big Day Out 2014, blaming the festival promoters for their withdrawal.

Maddah, the new co-owner and director of Big Day Out, has a different story tweeting: "Not sure why they would blame festival when all everyone here has done is kiss their ass".

The Blur cancellation looks extremely bad for the English band who would have signed the Big Day Out contract months ago before being announced.

"All we can do is to replace them and bring you the best show possible," Maddah said.

A replacement for Blur will be announced soon, Big Day Out said in a statement on Facebook on Monday.

"We were disappointed to learn of Blur's cancellation via their Facebook page yesterday morning.

"We are working on replacements and will bring you new additions to the Big Day Out lineup shortly."

Earlier this year, Blur was named alongside Pearl Jam and Arcade Fire as the headline acts for the 2014 festival.

Their headlining shows were due to be the band's first Australian performances in 17 years.

Other acts to play at the Big Day Out include Snoop Dogg (aka Snoop Lion), The Lumineers, Primus, Tame Impala grunge rock godfathers Mudhoney, The Naked and Famous, The Phoenix Foundation and Bliss n Eso.

The festival starts in Auckland on January 17 at the new venue of Western Springs, then moves to the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth.

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