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

Cyrus rang in New Year in Times Square

Miley Cyrus rang in 2014 with a headlining spot at Times Square's annual NYE bash in New York. Source: AAP

MILEY Cyrus rang in 2014 with a headlining spot at Times Square's annual New Year's Eve bash in New York.

The pop star, who scrapped a show in Florida to perform as part of TV network ABC's end-of-year TV marathon, sang Get It Right and Wrecking Ball just before midnight, but it was too cold for her to "twerk" or show off too much skin.

Instead, she and three dancers hit the stage in matching gold outfits and the pop star also wore a floor-length white winter coat to keep off the chill.

Cyrus smiled through the show even though she was ill - shortly before taking to the stage, she tweeted, "This cough/cold is not a good combo. please keep praying for me. If I can just get thru tonight I can have a nice lil break."

She cheered up just before taking the stage when she told host Ryan Seacrest all about her "modest" costume, revealing, "This is the most clothed I've been in all of 2013... Due to standards and practices and also the cold weather, this is what we came up with."

And she started 2014 with high praise from Courtney Love, who ended 2013 with the post: "if it wasn't for @MileyCyrus 2013 would've been a dull dreary year. if you can't agree with that, you're an idiot."

Melissa Etheridge also got the Times Square revellers ready for 2014 by singing John Lennon's peace anthem Imagine just before midnight, and the coverage then bounced to Billy Joel performing across the Big Apple at the Barclays Center just after the famous ball drop and the start of 2014.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Icona Pop and Blondie were also part of the countdown celebrations in Times Square.

15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bon Jovi still highest-grossing tour act

Bon Jovi ended 2013 on a high after banking $US259.5m to score the year's highest-grossing tour. Source: AAP

BON Jovi have re-affirmed their status as the highest-grossing tour act.

The American rockers have ended 2013 on a career high after banking $US259.5 million ($A292.61 million) to score the year's highest-grossing tour.

The Livin' On A Prayer stars have been trekking across the globe on their Because We Can: The Tour shows since February, and their huge success has landed them the top spot in Pollstar.com's annual list.

The figure is a record for the stars themselves, despite guitarist Richie Sambora quitting the gigs in April to spend more time with his daughter.

Beyonce's The Mrs Carter Show World Tour, which kicked off in April, was a distant second with a haul of $US188.6 million, while Pink claimed third place with $US170.6 million for her The Truth About Love tour.

Justin Bieber and Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band rounded out the top five, while Rihanna, Taylor Swift and One Direction also placed high on the list.

The Pollstar data re-affirms Bon Jovi's status as the highest-earning touring act of the year - Billboard magazine editors also honoured the band with the same title in early December.

15.03 | 0 komentar | Read More

Almost 10,000 NSW drivers caught speeding

2013 saw the lowest number of people die on NSW's roads for almost 90 years, the government says. Source: AAP

POLICE nabbed almost 10,000 motorists for speeding on NSW roads during the Christmas holiday period, but no lives have been lost on the state's roads in the past two days.

NSW police said 9972 drivers had been caught speeding since December 20, when this year's Operation Safe Arrival began.

They said 486,087 breath tests had been issued, with 710 drivers charged for drink-driving.

Provisional and learner drivers were "dominating the most serious incidents", police said.

"We are still seeing too many people breaking the road rules - particularly drink-driving and speeding," Assistant Commissioner John Hartley said in a statement.

"The fact we are still seeing learner and provisional drivers continuing to put others at risk by breaking the law is also of concern."

NSW's road toll is at seven, with no reports of fatal crashes on the state's roads on Tuesday or so far on Wednesday.

On Monday, a young girl was killed and five other people injured in a single-vehicle crash about 50 kilometres south of Cessnock.

Earlier on Wednesday, the state government said 2013 had the lowest number of people die on NSW's roads since 1924.

Roads Minister Duncan Gay said provisional figures showed the death toll was 339 last year, down from 369 in 2012.

But cyclist fatalities have doubled since 2012.

The national road toll period runs from midnight December 23, 2013, until midnight January 3, 2014, local times, in line with the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Board.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Deadline set for Stradbroke Island exodus

Campers have been told to leave a North Stradbroke Island beach or face being removed by police. Source: AAP

CAMPERS have been told to leave a North Stradbroke Island beach by 4pm (AEST) or face being removed as a large bushfire burns nearby.

Queensland authorities want to have Main Beach cleared of people before they close the only road out.

"We are asking people to evacuate. However, we would suggest if you aren't removed from that area by four o'clock today you will be forced to evacuate," a police spokeswoman told AAP.

The fire, which was set off by lightning, has been burning in thick bushland for days.

It's not threatening lives or property, but authorities are concerned about an expected wind change on Wednesday afternoon.

About 900 campers could be at risk if the fire changes direction, they say.

A massive exodus began earlier on Wednesday and many people are arriving in the town of Dunwich.

Ferries and barges will take the holidaymakers back to the mainland from there.

A Stradbroke Ferries manager told AAP they could not comment because they were too busy organising the evacuation.

15.02 | 0 komentar | Read More