Abbott's plea to WA voters

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has pleaded for Western Australian voters to back Liberal candidates. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has made a last-ditch plea to West Australian voters as they head to the polls for a Senate election re-run.

Before jetting out of the country to Asia on Saturday, Mr Abbott recorded a message saying Labor and the Australian Greens in the Senate were standing in the way of his government's plan to repeal the mining tax and carbon tax.

"If you want to get rid of these anti-West Australian taxes ... that means voting Liberal," Mr Abbott said.

He said coalition candidates are "absolutely committed" to scrapping the taxes and the government hoped to get the numbers in the upper house from July to pass the repeal legislation.

"Send a strong message to Canberra, send a strong message to the Labor Party," Mr Abbott said.

"You can't say one thing in Perth and do the opposite in Canberra.

"That's my plea."

The outcome of Saturday's election is important for Australia's future, the prime minister added.

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Boy's parents located

POLICE have tracked down the parents of a young boy who was found wandering alone through suburban southwest Sydney.

Residents of Claymore called police after spotting the boy in the street wearing pyjamas about 7.30am Saturday.

Estimated to be aged two or three years old, the boy was cared for by officers until his parents were located and the search was called off.

The police thanked and updated the public about 2pm.

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Asylum seekers stranded by Abbott policy

PM Tony Abbott's hard line on the boats has left many asylum seekers stranded in Southeast Asia. Source: AAP

A UNITED Nations expert on people smuggling and human trafficking says Canberra's tough policy on dealing with asylum seekers arriving by boat has successfully destroyed the current migrant smuggling model into Australia.

Sebastian Baumeister, from the UN's Office on Drugs and Crime, says the government has halted the boats heading to Australia, but questions remain over the whereabouts of thousands of asylum seekers stranded in Asia.

"With the changes in Australian migration asylum policies, there's now been a significant drop of arrivals by boat to Australia," Mr Baumeister told AAP.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Tony Abbott declared no asylum-seeker boats had arrived in Australia for 100 days.

Mr Abbot dismissed those who had questioned the government's ability to prevent asylum-seeker boats reaching Australia, but he did not disclose the numbers of vessels turned back under Operation Sovereign Borders.

In January, Australia's Department of Immigration and Border Protection said throughout 2013, there were 300 suspected illegal entry vessels with 20,587 asylum seekers on board.

Mr Baumeister said thousands remain in Asia waiting for a fresh opportunity to travel to Australia.

"I'm pretty sure that there must be still in this region, a lot of people from southwest Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq who were on their way to Australia," he said.

"Usually people would come through Thailand or from Thailand to Malaysia, and then to Indonesia. So they are somewhere here in Southeast Asia - Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia. So what happened to them? That's one question, but I cannot give you an answer."

He said the government's policy, while controversial, had succeeded.

"In this regard, the Australians I think quite successfully destroyed the migrant smuggling model.

"But I would assume there must be still significant numbers of people who are there already on the move, who are somewhere stranded," he said.

"So that's why I tend to believe that people still - migrants from southwest Asia - I would think there are still significant numbers in Indonesia, Malaysia and also perhaps Thailand.

And the question remains where these stranded asylum seekers will travel to next.

"This was a significant change on this route (to Australia). On this route, this was very well organised, the migrant smugglers had specialised basically on persons who had good prospects of being granted asylum," he said.

"They had specialised on asylum seekers to whom they could sell this basically," Baumeister said. "So this was a dramatic change and it remains to be seen what happens next," he said.

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NZ commits $NZ300k after Solomons flooding

NEW Zealand will make an initial $NZ300,000 ($A280,177) contribution to help in the immediate aftermath of deadly flooding in Solomon Islands.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says heavy rain has caused flash flooding in the capital, Honiara, and reports are coming in of flooding in other parts of the island group.

At least eight people have been killed and thousands have been left homeless, according to media reports.

"The death toll is likely to rise and there appears to be significant damage to homes and infrastructure," Mr McCully said.

New Zealand will provide $NZ250,000 to agencies working on the ground to help provide emergency relief supplies and shelter to those affected by the flooding.

A further $NZ50,000 in emergency funding has been released to the New Zealand High Commission to help address areas of immediate need identified by the Solomon Islands government.

"We are in close contact with the local authorities in Honiara and stand ready to provide further assistance as required," Mr McCully said.

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Unions superglued site padlocks: court

Striking union bosses allegedly used coercive action to block a construction site in Brisbane. Source: AAP

UNION officials allegedly superglued padlocks at a Brisbane construction site to stop workers entering during a strike.

Construction workers who tried to get into the South Brisbane building site were verbally abused and their futures in the industry threatened, according to court documents.

Federal regulator Fair Work Building & Construction (FWBC) has taken the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union to court claiming the union engaged in coercive behaviour.

The allegations arise from a strike at a Queensland government housing project last month.

FWBC claims union officials allegedly used cars to block the entrance to the construction site, which was a 14-level building with 146 apartments, and abused workers who tried to enter.

The matter has been set down for a directions hearing in the Federal Court in Brisbane on May 2.

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Victims walk out on Vic priest's apology

Victims of a pedophile priest have walked out of a Melbourne court as he offered them an apology. Source: AAP

VICTIMS of a pedophile priest have walked out of a Melbourne court as he stood to deliver an apology.

Frank Gerard Klep, 70, has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing 15 boys while a teacher and principal at Salesian College Rupertswood from 1973 to 1984.

As Klep stood to read a prepared apology, many of his victims left the courtroom.

"I abused your trust and betrayed you in the most appalling circumstances, for that I am truly sorry," Klep said.

It is the third time Klep has either pleaded guilty to or been convicted of abusing schoolboys.

Many of the boys were sexually assaulted or raped while in beds at the school's sick bay, which was operated by Klep.

One boy passed out in the bathroom and woke in Klep's bed, with his genitals being fondled by Klep.

Another victim was sexually assaulted when he used a pay phone outside Klep's office to call home.

Their suffering was laid bare in the Victorian County Court on Thursday, as they spoke of the failed relationships, depression and alcoholism they have experienced in the years since Klep's crimes.

"Frank Klep you left a lasting impression on me that will never be erased," one victim said.

"I'm often ashamed of myself, how did I let this happen to me?"

Another victim told the court he abused alcohol as a coping mechanism for the trauma of the abuse.

"When I had dark days I would drink myself into unconsciousness," he said.

He said he often woke in a cold sweat after dreaming he was back at the Sunbury school.

Defence barrister Julie Sutherland said Klep had successfully completed a sex offenders course when he was last jailed for child abuse in 2006, and was remorseful for his crimes.

Klep's bail was revoked and he was taken into custody with his pre-sentence hearing continues next week.

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Home building sector still strengthening

Approvals for the construction of new homes fell five per cent across Australia in February. Source: AAP

HOME building approval numbers are still higher than a year ago, as low interest rates encourage investment in new homes.

Approvals for the construction of new homes fell five per cent in February, after a 6.9 per cent gain in January.

Over the 12 months to February, building approvals were up 23.2 per cent, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday.

Despite a fall in the construction of new homes in February, the breakdown of the figures show the residential construction sector is strengthening, JP Morgan economist Tom Kennedy says.

"If you look at the data over the past few months, there is a clear uptrend in single family dwellings," he said.

"Multi-unit buildings are typically bought by investors, whereas single dwellings are bought by families, so it's a more accurate indication of what is going on at the household level."

Approvals for private sector houses fell 2.1 per cent in February, and the 'other dwellings' category, which includes apartment blocks and townhouses, was down 8.7 per cent.

Mr Kennedy said it was a strong result despite the big February fall.

"The data does suggest there are signs of life out there in the residential construction sector," he said.

CommSec chief economist Craig James also said building approvals remained strong.

"We are seeing building approvals, in trend terms, at record highs. We've got activity up 30 per cent compared to a year ago," he said.

However he said the data will continue to be volatile from month to month.

But the recent run of good economic data shows the chances of another interest rate cut from the Reserve Bank of Australia are "pretty much dead and buried", Mr James said.

"We think that rates won't rise until the end of the year at the earliest," he said.

Housing Industry of Australia senior economist Shane Garrett said a continuing low interest rate environment will help the construction sector strengthen further.

"A continuing strong volume of new supply will flow through to help alleviate dwelling prices for the existing stock," he said.

"Strong residential building activity is a good thing for affordability."

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Aggressive 4.2m croc trapped in north Qld

RANGERS have trapped a 4.2-metre crocodile spotted chasing another croc at a popular fishing spot in north Queensland.

The huge reptile was one of two male crocodiles seen chasing a female crocodile near a boat ramp on a river south of Townsville.

Rangers laid floating traps in the Haughton River last week and managed to catch the big croc on Tuesday.

It will be relocated to a farm or zoo.

State Environment Minister Andrew Powell urged boaties to take extreme caution or avoid the area until the other crocs have been trapped.

"These are very large crocodiles and they are showing very aggressive behaviour," he told reporters on Wednesday.

Recently a Port Douglas canoe club, north of Cairns, relocated its headquarters from a croc-infested waterway to a nearby beach.

The reptiles considered a threat to people in Townsville, Hinchinbrook, along the Cassowary Coast and in the Cairns region are relocated.

Under the state government's croc removal scheme 56 crocs have been trapped and relocated since early 2013.

One of the biggest was a 4.5m croc caught in the Herbert River near Ingham in August last year.

Concerns have been raised that the scheme doesn't work because other crocs may take over an area once one is removed.

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Warning over online diet pill

AUSTRALIANS are being warned against buying a potentially dangerous diet pill linked to an increased risk of heart attacks.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) on Tuesday issued a warning over the use of the herbal slimming pill, Ya Buk, over concerns it posed a serious risk to health.

The product contains the prescription-only substance sibutramine, which was withdrawn in 2010 after a study found it raised the risk of major cardiac events.

While the supply of Ya Buk capsules is illegal, the TGA says it understands some Australians may have bought the product online.

It is working with Customs to stop shipments from entering Australia.

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Vic girl assaulted after aiding fallen man

A VICTORIAN teenager has been assaulted by a man she was trying to help after he feigned injury.

The 15-year-old went to help the man after he appeared to stumble on a street in Wodonga, in the state's northeast, on Monday afternoon.

The man, believed to be aged in his 50s or 60s, asked the girl to help him to his car.

When she did, he forced her into his vehicle and assaulted her, police say.

The victim escaped and raised the alarm.

She was taken to hospital and is in a stable condition.

The man is described as balding with grey hair and a large belly.

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Mormons join Holi colour festival in US

Thousands of Mormon students are taking part in Holi Festival of Colours in the US state of Utah. Source: AAP

TENS of thousands of people have gathered at a Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork for the start of an annual two-day festival of colours in the US state of Utah.

Revellers danced to music, practised yoga and threw coloured corn flour in the air once every hour during the all-day Holi Festival of Colours.

The large majority of participants are not Hindus, but Mormons, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.

Thousands of students from nearby Brigham Young University take part in the festival, which is expected to draw 70,000 people.

The event stems from a Hindu tradition celebrating the end of winter and the triumph of good over evil.

"It's an opportunity for young LDS (Mormon) kids to come and celebrate their spirituality without alcohol or drugs," said Caru Das, the temple's priest.

Das said the event feels more like a rock concert than a religious ceremony, particularly with live music.

He appeared frequently on stage, exhorting crowd members to give hugs to strangers and not to think of themselves as ordinary.

"Each and every one of you is lovely and brilliant. No exceptions," he said.

"This festival is to remind you who you are."

The festival gives participants a chance to gain exposure to Hindu chants and beliefs while plastering others with dust of many vibrant colours that costs $US3 ($A3.25) per bag or $US12 for five bags.

The hourly throwing of rainbow-hued corn flour leaves participants drenched in colour.

"It's a place for your inner child to come out," Robynn Kirkham, a Pleasant Grove accountant who runs a construction company, told The Tribune.

Ranjan Khurana and his wife, Anu, came from Boise, Idaho, because friends in the Spanish Fork Hindu congregation raved about how electrifying the event has become.

"It's vibrant, and everybody is just so cheerful," Anu Khurana said. "It's a blessing that so many people are here celebrating the colours."

Student Haylee Buchanan said she has attended the event with friends and likened it to a big party.

"I wish that I could have read information on why and what they are celebrating," she said, "because it was fascinating."

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ALP-union member rules 'crazy': Plibersek

Deputy leader Tanya Plibersek says the Labor Party should not be putting up barriers to members. Source: AAP

DEPUTY Labor leader Tanya Plibersek says the party should in some circumstances open up its membership to those not in a union, saying it would be "crazy" not to welcome them.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten has said he wants to double the ALP's membership from 44,000 to 100,000, and according to News Corporation will soon announce changes to the party's membership rules.

He wants to scrap rules - often ignored by the party's branches - which restrict membership to those who belong in a union.

The largely symbolic reforms would further limit the party's links to a union movement, soon to be subject of a royal commission into governance and corruption.

Ms Plibersek said the ALP needed to recognise that for the likes of the self-employed, retirees and the unemployed there was no natural union in which they could be members.

"If the only barrier to someone joining the Labor Party is that there's not a natural union for them to join, then that's a crazy reason for not welcoming them into the Labor party," she told Sky News on Sunday.

"We're interested in increasing membership, opening up to people."

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