Jobless might stymie rate rise: ACCI

ACCI economist Buchell Wilson has warned that the jobless rate could hit 6.5 per cent this year. Source: AAP

DIFFICULT business conditions could push the jobless rate above government predictions to 6.5 per cent this year, a key business group has warned.

As such, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) acting chief economist Burchell Wilson believes it is still too early to completely rule out another interest rate cut.

The chamber's latest survey of investor confidence showed sales and profits remained weak in the first three months of 2014, the later falling back towards a recent record low.

Such trading conditions are undermining the willingness of business to invest and employ.

"This challenges the view that there is going to be an upswing in non-mining investment that will offset the downturn in the resources sector in the year ahead," he told reporters in Canberra on Monday.

The business conditions index eased to 49 points in the March quarter from 50.6 points in the previous quarter - back below the key 50-mark that separates contraction from expansion.

The survey's employment index has been sub-50 since June 2010.

"There is a risk that we see (unemployment) moving towards more like 6.5 per cent by the end of the year," Mr Burchell said.

This would be the highest in nearly 12 years and above the 6.25 per cent forecast by Treasury.

Labour force figures for March are released on Thursday.

Some economists expect an increase from the six per cent rate recorded in January and February.

However, ANZ chief economist Ivan Colhoun is somewhat more optimistic after his bank's own data showed job advertisements rose by another 1.4 per cent in March, on top of a 4.7 per cent jump the previous month.

"This suggests the peak in the unemployment rate may be close, although the rate of improvement in job advertising does not suggest a rapid fall in the unemployment rate," Mr Colhoun said.

Separately, the Australian Industry Group-Housing Industry Association performance of construction index posted a third consecutive monthly increase, rising two points in March.

However, at an index of 46.2 points, it also remains below the critical 50-point mark.

"The rebalancing of the construction sector as mining-related activity slows still has a considerable way to go," Ai Group director Peter Burn said.

Respondents to ACCI's survey fear interest rates will rise in the next 12 months and now see this, along with lending charges and raising a loan, among the top 10 of perceived constraints in doing business.

Mr Burchell believes the Reserve Bank may yet have to step in a cut the cash rate if the economy does not pan out as it hopes.

"Growth remains below trend, the unemployment rate is rising, wages growth is moderating, so this isn't really an environment in which we would necessarily expect to see expectations of a rate hike on the horizon," he said.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Man arrested over Collombet case

THE man wanted by police for questioning over the Brisbane murder of French student Sophie Collombet is in custody.

Benjamin James Milward, 25, was arrested in Coffs Harbour, on the NSW mid north coast, shortly before 3pm after being spotted at a Coles supermarket, it has been reported.

He was later arrested outside a home.

Ms Collombet's naked and battered body was found in a park on the banks of the Brisbane River more than a week ago.

Mr Milward, who was described by police as an itinerant, is due to appear in a Coffs Harbour court on Tuesday and Queensland police are expected to seek an extradition order.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Firm donated $5000 to meet Newman: ICAC

Australian Water Holdings donated $5000 in 2007 to meet Campbell Newman, an inquiry has heard. Source: AAP

AN Obeid-linked company forked out $5000 to meet Queensland Premier Campbell Newman when he was lord mayor of Brisbane, a NSW corruption inquiry has heard.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is probing claims infrastructure firm Australian Water Holdings (AWH), linked to former Labor MP Eddie Obeid and his family, corruptly billed Sydney Water for limousine rides, luxury hotel stays and lavish salaries.

The inquiry heard on Monday that AWH and a related firm, Australian Water Pty Ltd, paid $225,000 to a company owned by NSW Liberal Party fundraiser and Australian Hotels Association lobbyist Paul Nicolaou.

Counsel assisting Geoffrey Watson SC has told the inquiry there is "hard and fast evidence" the money was charged back to Sydney Water as "administrative costs" incurred by AWH as it built sewerage and water infrastructure around the city's northwest.

"What work did you do that related to the northwest growth centre," Mr Watson asked.

"I didn't know anything about it," Mr Nicolaou replied.

Instead, his work involved providing advice and opening doors, he said, including in Brisbane, where he arranged a meeting between former AWH chief executive Nick Di Girolamo and Mr Newman in the lead-up to his re-election as lord mayor of Brisbane in 2007.

"The Lord Mayor of Brisbane is happy to see you. The person whom I am liaising with on your behalf would like you to donate the $5k as soon as possible," he wrote in one 2007 email to Mr Di Girolamo.

That amount was then paid out by Australian Water Pty Ltd to a fundraising entity with the "fabulous Orwellian title" Forward Brisbane Leadership, Mr Watson told the inquiry.

"There was a price on meeting Campbell Newman," he put to Mr Nicolaou.

"Yes, if you look at it that way," Mr Nicolaou replied.

"He would meet Di Girolamo if Di Girolamo paid $5000, correct?" Mr Watson asked.

"Correct," the witness said.

Mr Nicolaou said the money went towards Mr Newman's lord mayoral re-election campaign.

Mr Newman flew to China on Monday morning for a trade mission with other premiers and Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Deputy Opposition leader Tim Mulherin says the premier needs to explain if any favours were given as a result of any meeting.

"Was this the way business was done under Campbell Newman as Lord Mayor?" he asked.

"If necessary the premier should come back to Queensland and provide explanations to what are very serious allegations."

A spokeswoman for Mr Newman told AAP the premier never asked for money to go towards his re-election, nor was it habit to do so.

The Brisbane City Council said the LNP returned the $5000 donation last month following revelations concerning Australian Water Holdings.

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Terrorist Bashir 'wants elections bombed'

SUSPECTED Bali bombing mastermind Abu Bakar Bashir has encouraged his supporters to attack this week's Indonesian legislative elections, according to a report.

The convicted terrorist has asked supporters not to be "unproductive" and to disrupt the polls, to be held on Wednesday, Police Lieutenant Colonel Adi Deriyan Jayamarta told Indonesia's Kompas news website.

He says police have already been warned by Indonesia's anti-terror forces that a terrorist network could be planning an attack.

The police chief, based in Malang, East Java, has ordered officers to stay in communication with religious leaders and approach any suspicious object with care, especially near polling stations.

"There's expert personnel who will handle it," he said on Monday.

"Don't think that you have some kind of 'blast-free magic' and handle it yourself."

According to Lt Col Adi, Detachment 88, Indonesia's counter-terror squad, had information from a terror suspect involved with a network "that has done military training for firearm and bomb usage".

Bashir, the founder of Jemaah Islamiah (JI), is serving 15 years in Nusa Kambangan, a high-security jail off the coast of central Java dubbed the Alcatraz of Indonesia.

He was acquitted over the 2002 Bali bombings, but was jailed over his role in setting up a terror cell in Aceh.

Indonesia's counter-terrorism agency chief in 2012 told AAP Bashir was still giving orders from behind bars, albeit to a group with a different name, but the same radical ideology as JI.

The bombing of two Kuta nightclubs in 2002 killed 202 people, including 88 Australians.

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Salvo boss 'delayed' reporting abuser

Salvation Army Commissioner James Condon did not report historical abuse, an inquiry has heard. Source: AAP

ONE of the Salvation Army's top leaders in Australia waited nine months before telling authorities about a known sex abuser, who was also his friend, an inquiry has been told.

Commissioner James Condon delayed reporting Colin Haggar, who was running an army crisis shelter for women and children in 2013, a witness told a royal commission hearing in Sydney.

The commission heard last week that Mr Haggar confessed in 1989 to the mother of an eight-year-old girl that he had sexually assaulted her.

He was dismissed by the army, but re-admitted in 1993 and promoted.

On Friday, the hearing was told that other army officers were concerned about Mr Haggar's continued contact with children and in early 2013 raised the matter with Mr Condon, commander of the army's eastern territory of NSW, Queensland and the ACT.

During this hearing, it has been revealed Mr Condon officiated at Colin and Kerry Haggar's wedding and went with Mr Haggar to police after he admitted assaulting the girl.

Simeon Beckett, counsel for the commission, said no records of that police report could be found.

On Friday, the commission heard it was nine months after concerns were raised with Mr Condon that Mr Haggar was involuntarily retired and demoted from lieutenant colonel to major.

Captain Michelle White, director of the army's Young Hope foster care service, said she was approached in early 2013 by two officers who had concerns about Mr Haggar.

They had told Mr Condon, but nothing had happened. Ms White explained there was a mandatory reporting obligation and followed up the matter with Mr Condon.

She pointed out she had a legal, ethical and moral obligation to report "my knowledge that we have an active Salvation Army officer with a known history of a child related sexual offence."

Ms White then met with Mr Condon who said: "Michelle, if what you are telling me is correct, there are hundreds of matters that should have been reported over the years, that haven't been reported".

He also told her "that couldn't be possible".

Ms White said she understood from Mr Condon it would now be reported, but later learned Salvation Army's obligations to report were being explored.

On August 23, she again wrote to Mr Condon and received a short reply that "this matter has been dealt with".

On September 4, she reported the matter herself to the Ombudsman and the guardian's office.

Ms White said Mr Condon wrote to her saying he wished she had not done it without telling them.

She interpreted it as a rebuke.

Ms White also said that she felt conflicted and was aware of the sensitivities and conflicts around friendships in the army.

In the days prior to the start of this hearing, she received an email on Facebook from Kerry Haggar, with whom she was friends.

Ms Haggar is a lieutenant colonel and on the army's executive committee.

The email said "the chain of events you set in place have caused devastation and incredible pain to many innocent people. In attempting to protect families you have caused irreparable damage to mine."

Ms White said she was upset and could understand Ms Haggar's distress, but thought it inappropriate.

Kate Eastman SC, counsel for the Salvation Army, said Ms Haggar had been stood down on Friday.

The commission also heard she will seek leave to be legally represented at the commission, which resumes on Monday.

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Last drinks to last a little longer

The O'Farrell government's anti-violence measures, including last drinks at 3am and 1.30am lockouts, have reportedly seen assaults in the city fall since being introduced in February.

But Sydney's late-night revellers will have an extra hour to drink on Sunday thanks to daylight savings coming to an end.

At 3am on Sunday morning, clocks will have to be wound back an hour, giving people in the CBD and Kings Cross another hour to drink before last drinks are served.

Instead of drawing the line when the clock strikes 3am for the first time on Sunday morning, it's understood the O'Farrell government will not stop punters from having an extra hour of drinking.

Hospitality Minister George Souris says many people in NSW will likely use the extra hour to catch up on sleep, but his spokesman wouldn't comment on whether there were any concerns that drunken violence could rise that night.

Parliament this year passed a series of tough laws targeting drunken and drug-fuelled violence, including eight-year minimum mandatory sentences for fatal one-punch assaults if alcohol or drugs are involved.

The measures follow public outrage over the rise of serious drunken assaults in Sydney.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Peter Hore in custody after ICAC outburst

Serial pest Peter Hore has stormed a NSW corruption inquiry, leaving a police officer in hospital. Source: AAP

SERIAL pest Peter Hore has stormed a NSW corruption inquiry, leaving a police officer in hospital.

The special constable was bleeding from the head after he tried to restrain the man, who barged into the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) hearing room just before 11am (AEDT) on Friday screaming about his "brother" and a death in Newcastle.

The body of Hore's housemate was last week found hog-tied and half-naked at a cricket ground in the city.

Police have previously said there was no suggestion Hore had any involvement in the 52-year-old's death.

The injured officer was taken away from the ICAC's Sydney CBD offices by ambulance while Hore was led from the seventh floor in handcuffs.

"We're the second coming," he yelled.

"Stop trying to assault me ... Don't try to break my wrist."

He was later seen banging on the walls of the paddy wagon in which he was transported from the building.

Police have confirmed a 54-year-old man is in custody at Sydney City Police Station and charges are expected to be laid.

The injured officer is at St Vincent's Hospital recovering from what are described as minor injuries.

ICAC Commissioner Megan Latham, who was asked to leave the hearing room as Hore was tackled to the ground, returned to call an adjournment and said some staff were "traumatised".

She later said those in the public gallery may be required to make statements to investigators.

"I understand there were some people in the room who were able to film what was occurring," she said.

"Cameras in this room follow the speaker, so it may be that we don't have any actual footage of the event so if anyone can assist we are grateful."

Hore wore a long beard and a t-shirt with the letters "WTF" and told reporters he was "only trying to introduce myself".

A woman who arrived at the commission with Hore later told reporters she did not speak English.

The notorious gatecrasher has disrupted a string of major events including the Melbourne Cup, the funeral of rock singer Michael Hutchence and the Socceroos' 1997 World Cup qualifier against Iran.

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Drinking levels hit a 17-year low

Australians are drinking less wine and beer and more cider, figures show. Source: AAP

AUSTRALIANS are drinking less, but opting for better quality booze.

Official data shows total consumption of alcohol fell for the sixth straight year in 2013, to a 17-year low.

Over the year, Australians aged 15 or over consumed an average of 9.88 litres of alcohol, or the equivalent of 2.2 standard drinks a day.

Beer drinkers consumed less in 2013 than they have in 67 years, while wine drinking hit a seven year low, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures show.

The nation's thirst for cider gained momentum, with cider consumption rising to about double what it was four years ago.

The ABS was unable to shed much light on the reasons for the decline in consumption of beer and wine, but CommSec chief economist Craig James said anecdotal evidence suggested Australians were embracing quality ahead of quantity.

"That is certainly the case with beer, where craft beers are gaining favour over mainstream brands," Mr James said.

Affordability of alcohol has reached its best rate in 20 years, which, coupled with the fall in consumption, reflects a more selective consumer, he said.

"But it may also be a case where Aussies are paying greater attention to health issues," Mr James said.

He noted that other data showed people were buying more sporting and recreational equipment over the past year.

Longer term influences such as random breath testing, immigration, better diets, higher disposable income and a greater variety of leisure pursuits were also contributing to the 17 year low, he said.

The data showed consumption of full strength beer continued to fall, but mid-strength beer had lifted slightly.

Beer still outweighs wine in terms of the amount of alcohol consumed.

Spirit drinkers stayed slow and steady, with consumption of spirits remaining stable over the decade.

"It remains to be seen whether alcohol consumption picks up over the coming year in line with stronger economic growth and record wealth levels," Mr James said.

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Cadet in Skype scandal leaves Defence

KATE, the RAAF cadet at the centre of the Australian Defence Force Academy "skype scandal", has left the defence force.

Defence has confirmed that Officer Cadet "Kate" was no longer a member of the Australian Defence Force, a Department of Defence spokesperson said.

For privacy reasons no further details were provided.

However it's understood she left this week after seeking a discharge on medical grounds.

In March 2011, Kate - not her real name - was 18 and embarking on a career in the defence force after being accepted to ADFA.

But then she agreed to sex with a fellow cadet Daniel McDonald in his room on the ADFA campus.

Unknown to her, he filmed their encounter on his computer webcam and streamed the vision live to other cadets viewing in a nearby room.

Appalled at the betrayal, slow progress in the defence investigation and a lack of support, Kate went to the media, with her story broadcast on Network Ten on April 5, 2011.

Community outrage prompted defence to embark on a range of reforms. That culminated in March 2012 with the launch of Pathway to Change, a five-year strategy for cultural change.

As the scandal unfolded, a large number of serving and former defence personnel came forward to recount their own experiences of sexual abuse, harassment and bullying.

The Defence Abuse Response task force is now examining many of those allegations.

15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pope outlines sex abuse commission

Pope Francis has named the initial members of a commission to advise him on sex abuse policy. Source: AAP

POPE Francis has named the initial members of a commission to advise him on sex abuse policy, tapping lay and religious experts - and an Irish woman assaulted as a child by a priest - to start plotting the commission's tasks and priorities.

The eight members, four of them women, were announced on Saturday after Francis came under fire from victims' groups for a perceived lack of attention to the abuse scandal, which has seriously damaged the Catholic Church's reputation around the world and cost dioceses and religious orders billions of dollars in legal fees and settlements.

The Vatican in December announced that Francis had decided to create the commission to advise the church on best policies to protect children, train church personnel and keep abusers out of the clergy.

But no details had been released until Saturday and it remains unknown if the commission will deal with the critical issue of disciplining bishops who cover up for abusers.

In a statement, the Vatican hinted that it might, saying the commission would look into both "civil and canonical duties and responsibilities" for church personnel.

Canon law does provide for sanctions if a bishop is negligent in carrying out his duties, but such punishments have never been imposed on a bishop for failing to report a pedophile priest to police.

The eight inaugural members include Marie Collins, who was assaulted as a 13-year-old by a hospital chaplain in her native Ireland and has gone on to become a prominent campaigner for accountability in the church.

Also named was Cardinal Sean O'Malley, one of Francis' key advisers and the archbishop of Boston, where the US scandal erupted in 2002.

Two other members are professors at Rome's Jesuit Pontifical Gregorian University, which in 2012 hosted a seminar for bishops from around the world to educate them on best practices to protect children.

Several participants from that conference are now founding members of Francis' commission, including Baroness Sheila Hollins, a British psychiatrist.

The initial group will define the scope, statutes and priorities of the commission and propose other members to better reflect the church's geographic diversity.

Other members include:

- Catherine Bonnet, a French consultant in child and adolescent psychiatry.

- Claudio Papale, an Italian canon lawyer and official of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which handles sex abuse cases.

- Poland's longtime former ambassador to the Vatican, Hanna Suchocka, a constitutional lawyer.

- The Rev Humberto Miguel Yez, an Argentine Jesuit who studied with Francis as a seminarian and currently is head of moral theology at the Gregorian.

- The Rev Hans Zollner, the vice-rector of the Gregorian, a psychologist and psychotherapist who organised the Gregorian seminar and also serves on the German government's roundtable on child.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More