Aust govt urged to act on whale killings

The anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd says it has evidence of whale kills by the Japanese. Source: AAP

ANTI-WHALING group Sea Shepherd is urging the Australian government to take action to stop the Japanese whale hunt in protected Antarctic waters.

As the whaling season gets under way, the Sea Shepherd is pursuing Japan's five vessels in the Southern Ocean to disrupt and shut down their operations.

The conservation group has obtained footage of three dead minke whales, a protected species, on the deck of the Nisshin Maru, and a fourth whale, also believed to be a minke, being butchered on the ship.

Bob Brown, Sea Shepherd Australia chairman, says the group will run a peaceful but relentless campaign to defend the whales.

He urged the federal government to step in and send a customs vessel to police the activity.

"I've now written to the minister for the environment, Greg Hunt, asking him what action he's taken because he said he would intervene on this but there's little sign of that," he told AAP.

"The pictures speak for themselves. It's a bloody outrage."

The Abbott government made an election promise to send a customs vessel to monitor Japanese whalers in Antarctica, but after the election promised only a plane to observe protesters and whalers in the Southern Ocean.

But Dr Brown said there is no sign of even that.

"The Australian government have effectively said to its fleet, 'don't intervene on this crime', that's the problem here," he said.

"They're Australian whales, effectively, and they're been slaughtered, illegally."

Sea Shepherd has three ships in Antarctic waters to confront the Japanese in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, where commercial whaling is banned.

The federal court ruled Japan's hunt illegal in 2008 and issued an injunction against it.

But Dr Brown says Australian governments have failed to act on the ruling.

Last June, the New Zealand government joined the Australian government's challenge to the legality of Japan's whale hunt in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary at the International Court of Justice, but a judgment has yet to be delivered.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Man hit and killed by train in Melbourne

A man was crossing railway tracks in Melbourne's southeast when he was fatally hit by a train. Source: AAP

A MAN has been struck and killed by a train in Melbourne's southeast.

Police say it appears the man was crossing the tracks at Aspendale, about 200 metres south of the station, when he was hit just before 11.30am (AEDT) on Monday.

The man's age and identity have not been confirmed.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Senior lawyer says SA's courts the worst

A SOUTH Australian barrister says the state's courts are the worst in the country.

David Edwardson, QC, says chronic under-resourcing means that victims and offenders must wait longer for overworked judges to deliver justice.

"Our courts are the worst in the country, we are completely under-resourced and there are not enough courtrooms or judges ... it's that simple," he told the Adelaide Advertiser on Monday.

"Our courts are falling apart - they are just a joke - and their condition is very, very poor.

"To be brutally frank, it really is no more than a reflection of the government's pathological hatred of the legal profession and refusal to properly resource the courts."

Morry Bailes, president of the Law Society of South Australia, said there had been a chronic under-funding of the law in South Australia for some time.

He said the state does not have its full quota of judges, and even if it did the argument might be that it didn't have enough.

"Its probably the District Court where we're noticing the cracks beginning to appear," he told ABC radio.

Mr Bailes said there had been a significant increase in the number of criminal matters coming before the District Court in recent years with no corresponding increase in the number of judges, which meant that more cases were being delayed.

In Western Australia, he said, the wait for a District Court trial was about six to eight weeks, but in South Australia it could be a year to two years.

But acting Attorney-General Jack Snelling said the solution to any problem was not just "throwing more money at it".

"The answer is to make sure our legal system works as efficiently as possible to make sure cases are heard as quickly as possible," he said.

Opposition justice spokesman Stephen Wade said the government needed to stop blaming others for the issues and engage more positively with the legal profession and the courts.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

NSW parliament siege man refused bail

The man at the centre of a siege outside the NSW parliament has been refused bail. Source: AAP

A FORMER taxi driver charged over a two-hour siege outside NSW parliament has been refused bail, with a magistrate citing the need to protect the community.

Abdula Ganiji, 58, appeared via video link before Central Local Court on Monday charged over the incident on December 20.

The Wollongong man caused a lockdown of Macquarie Street in Sydney's inner city when he drove his car on to the footpath outside parliament and allegedly made a number of threats.

A two-litre fruit juice container, fuel and a cigarette lighter were allegedly found after a dozen tactical officers swarmed his car, fired a canister of gas inside and dragged him into custody.

He was charged with threatening sabotage, possessing an explosive device to damage property, and threatening to destroy or damage property.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Ross Mitchell said the charges against Ganiji were of the "utmost seriousness".

"It's an amateurish thing he's done, but there's been some forethought and some planning," he said.

The prosecution also put forward a fresh allegation that Ganiji had more than one container and a total of 40 litres of fuel when he was arrested.

However, Ganiji's barrister, Jane Healey, said her client had been assessed by a psychiatrist and posed no risk to the community.

She said only a small amount of fuel was discovered after the incident and he "did not have the capacity to destroy parliament house".

"This accused has no prior criminal record despite his history of lawful protests," she said.

"The threat posed by this individual were he to be released on bail is almost negligible."

In a report tendered to court, Ganiji's psychiatrist said his patient had thoughts of dying by burning himself or by hunger strike, and although he posed a risk to himself, he was not a danger to others.

But magistrate Les Mabbutt said he could not be sure of that view and he refused bail, citing the seriousness of the charges and the need to protect the community.

After the decision was handed down, Ms Healey, on behalf of her client, put in a plea of not guilty to the charge of threatening sabotage.

The matter will return to court on January 20.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

NSW posts big reduction in road deaths

NSW police say fewer people have died on the roads in 2013 compared with any year since 1924. Source: AAP

NSW in 2013 recorded its lowest road toll for 89 years, but police are warning drivers not to become complacent.

And fewer people died on the state's roads over the holiday period than in previous years, with 10 fatalities throughout NSW Police's Operation Safe Arrival period from December 20 to January 2.

The toll is seven down on the same period in 2012-2013 when 17 people died in 15 crashes.

The Operation Safe Arrival period is separate from the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Board's national road toll period, which started at midnight on December 23 and ends at midnight on January 3.

NSW police carried out 571,664 breath tests and issued 960 drink-driving charges during Operation Safe Arrival.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn said despite the road toll reduction, there was still unacceptable loss of life on NSW roads.

"We can't become complacent because we have seen a massive reduction in road injury and road death," she told reporters on Friday.

"It really is now the crucial time for us to focus on keeping this road toll as low as we possibly can."

The overall road toll for 2013 of 339 is the lowest since 1924, Ms Burn said.

About 11,540 speeding infringements were also detected over the Christmas-new year period - about 400 more than the same period in 2012.

Assistant Commissioner John Hartley, of the NSW Traffic and Highway Patrol, said the highway patrol had resources on every highway and backstreet in NSW.

While the traffic blitz might be over, police are expecting heavy traffic over the weekend as people return home from holidays.

"Certainly tomorrow will be the day it is change over for accommodation down the coast in NSW," Mr Hartley said.

"So it will be very busy coming out of the city tomorrow and coming in.

He said while the operation in name has stopped, "all the resources are still out there to make sure people get the message".

NSW Police Minister Michael Gallacher said there was no excuse for people not heeding the message from police about speeding and drink driving.

"Quite simply when you see these statistics you really wonder why is it that people are not heeding the message during a period of double demerit points in particular ..." he said.

15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More

Fortescue operations resume after death

Operations have resumed at Fortescue Mining Group's Christmas Creek mine after a contractor's death. Source: AAP

SURFACE mining operations have resumed at Fortescue Metals Group's Christmas Creek mine, four days after the death of a contractor.

The man was carrying out maintenance on a large piece of mining machinery in the Pilbara mine's heavy vehicle workshop when the accident occurred on Monday.

Surface mining operations at Christmas Creek were suspended as WA Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) inspectors carried out a site investigation.

It is the second death at the iron ore mine in less than five months.

The DMP also issued special directions ensuring that Fortescue tightens safety procedures at all of its operations, including lock out/tag out procedures, ahead of a safety audit.

Fortescue said the heavy vehicle workshop was "released" by the coroner and DMP safety inspectors on Thursday, and will now be brought back into service.

The company is now reviewing safety isolation and lock out/tag out procedures.

DMP Director General Richard Sellers said the department was conducting a thorough investigation into the Christmas Creek death and Fortescue was assisting inspectors with investigations.

Another worker who suffered leg and hand injuries in the incident has been released from Royal Perth Hospital.

15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More

Recall NSW parly over booze violence: oppn

The NSW opposition wants parliament to be recalled to pass legislation on alcohol restrictions. Source: AAP

THE NSW opposition wants parliament to be recalled immediately to pass legislation on alcohol restrictions.

As 18-year-old Daniel Christie continues to fight for his life after he was felled by a punch at Kings Cross on New Year's Eve, the opposition is calling for Premier Barry O'Farrell to take action on alcohol-fuelled violence within the next week.

The opposition has repeatedly called for the government to implement its alcohol policy, which includes imposing 1am lockouts and 3am last drinks.

"Barry O'Farrell can recall parliament and this could be brought into policy by next Friday," opposition liquor regulation spokesman, Dr Andrew McDonald, told reporters in Sydney on Friday.

"If he weren't in bed with big alcohol he would have passed this legislation by now."

Dr McDonald said he would love to see legislation passed within the next week if parliament could be recalled for an emergency sitting.

"There will be more deaths from alcohol this summer than we will have on the roads," he said.

The opposition's demands for change have previously been echoed by emergency service workers and doctors, who last month urged the government to implement the plan.

They say the Newcastle trial cut alcohol-fuelled violence by 37 per cent and emergency department admissions by 26 per cent.

But Mr O'Farrell on Thursday said the government had already imposed measures in Kings Cross, which had seen assaults in the precinct drop by one-third.

"That's of no comfort to the Christie family but equally, the slogan being put forward by my opponents is of no comfort to someone who was assaulted at 9pm," Mr O'Farrell said.

The Christie family broke their silence on Thursday, saying their lives have been turned upside-down since their son was attacked.

He remains in a critical condition in St Vincent's Hospital.

"We have all been affected so much by this tragedy, and our clear focus remains with our son and brother through this difficult time," the family said in a statement.

They said they didn't agree with the term "king-hit", adding that "coward punch" was more appropriate.

Police Minister Michael Gallacher agreed, saying the term "coward punch" should be used in legislation

People needed to understand king-hitting people and other gutless acts should not be respected, he told reporters on Friday.

"They should not be hidden in words like assault occasioning actual bodily harm or assault occasioning grievous bodily harm," he said.

15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More

Men quick to give up new year diets: study

A poll shows some 26% of men who make a resolution to lose weight abandon their diets after one day. Source: AAP

A QUARTER of men who make a New Year's resolution to lose weight have already given up on their diets by January 2, a poll suggests.

Some 26 per cent of men abandon their diets after one day, a survey found.

Meanwhile, one in 10 women cave in to cravings for unhealthy food after 24 hours and 31 per cent give up their diet within one week, according to health company Bupa.

Its poll of 2000 adults found that a third of Britons thought about losing weight at least once a day.

And while experts say that shedding weight works best with a combination of a healthy diet and exercise, only 30 per cent of people said they would always do physical activity alongside a diet.

Dr Tim Woodman, medical director at Bupa said: "This time of year we see a flurry of diets offering a quick fix.

"Fad diets might help you lose a few pounds at first, but they won't help you stay a healthy weight in the long run.

"The only healthy way to shed excess fat and keep it off is to eat healthy, nutritious meals and increase physical activity."

15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More

Vic saved from scorching heat

Southerly winds are protecting Victoria from a blast of desert heat that's baking other states. Source: AAP

VICTORIANS could be putting on jackets and dodging rain clouds while some parts of the country sweat through record-breaking temperatures.

Weather bureau senior forecaster Terry Ryan says Victoria won't be hit by the blast of hot desert heat that's struck elsewhere.

"We're protected by this generally southwest to southerly air flow," he said on Thursday.

"We've got nothing here that's very hot at all."

Melbourne only reached a high of 20C by midday on Thursday with temperatures forecast to stay between a low of 12C and a high of 24C during the next five to six days.

Even in the far north, Mildura reached the state's highest temperature of 25.5C at 1pm (AEDT).

The town isn't forecast to break above 30C until Wednesday.

A band of rain has also been crossing the state as the remnants of ex-Tropical Cyclone Christine is picked up by southerly winds.

Scattered showers are forecast in Melbourne over the next five days.

Victoria's fire danger ratings have also dropped to low across northern parts of the state.

15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bondi shooting victim in Brothers 4 Life

A MAN found on the streets of Bondi with a gunshot wound in his shoulder has been linked to the Brothers 4 Life gang.

The 31-year-old is also believed to have been on a boat 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.

The boat, the OSCAR II, is a 105-foot luxury motor yacht available for hire for more than $2000 an hour, Fairfax Media reported on Thursday.

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.

The man is believed to be a member of the Brothers 4 Life gang, which is linked to recent shootings throughout Sydney.

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 man told Fairfax Media.

Emergency services took him to St Vincent's Hospital, from where he has since discharged himself, police say.

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.

15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More