Building approvals ease from record high

Approvals for the construction of new homes fell 1.8 per cent in October, official figures show. Source: AAP

THE housing sector is still going strong, with home building approvals in October suffering only a small fall from the three-and-a-half year high recorded the month before.

Home building approvals fell 1.8 per cent across Australia in October, the Australian Bureau of Statistics data said on Monday.

Local councils approved the construction of 16,491 new homes in October, down from the 16,791 approvals in September, which was the highest since March 2010.

JP Morgan economist Tom Kennedy said a fall in building approvals was inevitable after strong rises in recent months.

"We are viewing the building approvals data in a positive light," he said.

"If you look at a two or three month rolling average, clearly the trend is higher."

Mr Kennedy believes the housing sector is capable of being a significant driver for economic growth in the future.

"This does add a bit of credence to the theory that the Reserve Bank of Australia's interest rate cuts are getting traction, the construction sector is lifting and the housing market in general is turning higher.

"It's still is early days though, building approvals are still tracking at levels that are probably pretty low, compared to where they should be with the cash rate at 2.5 per cent.

Macquarie Group senior economist Brian Redican said the disappointing data for October would be unlikely to encourage the RBA to cut rates this month or early next year.

"This data won't change the RBA's perspective here," he said.

"We think they're marginally on the weaker side but you need several more months of substantially weaker data to change the RBA's mind."

Housing Industry Association chief economist Harley Dale was encouraged by the result.

"The upward momentum to building approvals is impressive and augers well for new home building activity heading into a new year," he said.

"Evidence of faster growth across a wider number of geographical jurisdictions and building approval types will be an important additional element to observe in coming months."

Over the year to October, total building approvals were up 23.1 per cent.

Approvals for private sector houses fell 0.3 per cent in the month, and the 'other dwellings' category, which includes apartment blocks and townhouses, was down 2.7 per cent.

11.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tiger shark attacked NSW surfer: expert

A THREE-METRE tiger shark was responsible for the attack that killed NSW surfer Zac Young, an expert says.

Marine Biologist Amy Smoothey has completed a detailed forensic analysis of Mr Young's wounds.

The 19-year-old was attacked while surfing at Coffs Harbour on the NSW north coast on Saturday.

Dr Smoothey's study included an analysis of the jaw width, which was compared to the three main predatory shark species in the area.

Dr Smoothey on Monday concluded a three-metre tiger shark was responsible.

It fits the description given by Mr Young's mates, who bravely struggled with the shark when it attacked him.

They dragged him to the shore and started CPR, but the talented surfer and photographer died from heavy blood loss from massive injuries to his legs.

Mr Young's father Kevin revealed to a crowd at a memorial service on Sunday that his son told his friends "I love you" as they tried to save him.

Coffs Harbour Mayor Denise Knight said Mr Young's death was a shock to the community.

"The community will always pull together in, particularly, regional areas," she told Macquarie Radio on Monday.

Mr Young's death follows a fatal shark attack at Gracetown in Western Australia last weekend.

11.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

G20 to shutdown tax leaks: Abbott

Australia is the new chair of the G20, the top global forum for examining the world's economic. Source: AAP

AUSTRALIA hopes to lead a united global charge against profit shifting during its Group of 20 presidency.

The nation on Sunday assumed host rights for the 2014 forum of the world's leading economies, with Prime Minister Tony Abbott setting a clear agenda.

"We are determined to ensure that we, as far as we can, improve the world's international taxation arrangements so we don't have the kind of leakage we've had in recent times through transfer pricing," Mr Abbott told reporters in Brisbane, the host city for November's leaders summit.

"The principle here is you should pay tax in the country where you earn the revenue and we will be talking to our G20 partners to make sure this is the case."

There will be a focus on private sector-led economic economic growth with talks on trade and banking, Mr Abbott added.

"We will be demonstrating what we believe is sound economic policy," the prime minister said, championing his domestic agenda of reduced taxation and regulation to drive productivity.

"It isn't just a meeting, it is a year to show practical leadership."

Australia will extend an invitation for the upcoming G20 to "key member of the global economic system" Singapore and "closest friend" New Zealand.

And as Australia continues to heal its wounds with Indonesia over spying allegations, Mr Abbott deflected speculation that visiting G20 leaders could be subject to eavesdropping, as was allegedly the case in 2013 when Russia hosted the summit in St Petersburg.

"I can promise leaders around the world that are visiting Australia that I'm going to be absolutely candid with them," Mr Abbott said.

"I won't be saying anything in private that I don't say in public. That's my commitment to the leaders of the world and I want to build the best possible G20."

The G20 presidency will see Australia host meetings of finance ministers, trade ministers and employment ministers, culminating in the leaders' summit, with some 4000 delegates and 3000 media representatives due to visit the country.

"The cost to the commonwealth is in the order of $400 million ... but we believe that the benefits of hosting a gathering like this ... far outweigh the costs," Mr Abbott said.

But at least one group will be voicing opposition to the event.

"While the coming together of nations could be an opportunity to promote peace, social justice and ecological sustainability, the G20 is perpetuating financial and economic system that is failing the majority of the world and destroying the planet," Kim Stewart said on behalf of the Brisbane Community Action Network G20.

11.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Thousands of bikies rally in Australia

THE roar of motorbikes echoed through Australia's capital cities on Sunday as thousands of riders united in opposition to Queensland's anti-bikie legislation.

The Australian Motorcycle Council (AMC) says the new laws, aimed at criminal bikie gangs, have resulted in the harassment of law-abiding motorcyclists.

Many have reported being pulled over by police multiple times a day and questioned over links to outlaw gangs.

More than a thousand bikers, lawyer groups and civil libertarians protested outside Queensland parliament on Sunday.

Melbourne had a similar turnout, while 500 people gathered in Sydney and 200 in Hobart, AMC chair Shaun Lennard told AAP.

Mr Lennard says they don't want to see the laws replicated in other states.

"We continue to reject the premise that simply riding a motorcycle makes you worthy of questioning about criminal activity," he told AAP.

"We fully support any reasonable action to crack down on crime, but we believe the laws go beyond that.

"It's stereotyping and discrimination."

Queensland organiser Gabriel Buckley says of primary concern is that the laws reverse the onus of proof for people accused of links to proscribed criminal gangs.

"Any organisation can be listed as a criminal gang with fewer checks and balances," he told AAP.

Police and the Newman government have previously asked recreational riders for patience amid the bikie crackdown, but concede there will be disruptions for law-abiding motorcyclists.

Premier Campbell Newman gets personal updates on the crackdown each morning and says four to 10 outlaw gang members are being arrested each day for assault and drug, weapon and money laundering offences.

He asked for recreational bikies to be patient.

"I'm just saying to people who love their motorbikes, to understand that right now we're trying to shut down gangs who manufacture drugs, sell them to kids, who infiltrate all parts of the economy and pretending they are just wonderful loveable outlaw types - they're not," he said.

"They are vicious gangs, who belt people up and intimidate business owners and cause scenes of mayhem.

"These policing efforts are very important to shut down these gangs, that's what we're doing."

The AMC has launched a fighting fund to raise money for any High Court challenge to the laws and is due to meet with the state government on Tuesday.

11.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Jackson doctor may testify in Aussie case

The doctor convicted of killing Michael Jackson could be a witness in an Australian legal battle. Source: AAP

THE doctor convicted of killing Michael Jackson could become a star witness in Australian dance choreographer Wade Robson's $US30 million ($A33.00 million) molestation legal battle with the King of Pop's estate.

It was Conrad Murray's recent headline-making interview with Australia's 60 Minutes that captured the attention of Robson's Los Angeles-based legal team.

Murray, when asked if he believed Jackson was a pedophile, paused for 15 seconds and then declined to answer.

"Wade wants Murray to speak to his lawyers because if he has vital information on Michael then it could be significant," the New York Daily News newspaper, quoting a source close to Robson, said.

"It is obvious the way he answered the question he has much more to tell and that could be dynamite for Wade's case."

Robson's pursuit of a large payday from Jackson's estate is set to go before a judge in Los Angeles on June 2.

Brisbane-born Robson, 31, who as a five-year-old dance prodigy befriended Jackson, had been one of Jackson's staunchest supporters and testified under oath at the King of Pop's 2005 molestation trial in California that Jackson never molested him.

Robson's evidence was key to Jackson's acquittal.

Robson, however, now says Jackson was a "monster" who brainwashed, manipulated and molested him.

"He performed sexual acts on me and forced me to perform sexual acts on him," Robson said in an interview on the US Today show in May.

Jackson's family and lawyers have branded Robson's delayed allegations "outrageous and pathetic".

Robson, who has worked with Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears and won an Emmy Award for the US version of TV competition So You Think You Can Dance, claims he was so traumatised by Jackson's abuse he can no longer dance, sing or write songs.

11.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Stabbed woman hails cab to NSW hospital

A NSW woman mustered the strength to wave down a cab to rush herself to hospital after suffering critical stab wounds.

Police say a 42-year-old woman waved down a taxi driver on Villiers Street in South Grafton at 11.40pm (AEDT) on Friday and asked for help, saying she had been stabbed.

A man who had been standing next to the woman fled while the taxi driver took her to Grafton Hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery for stab wounds to her stomach, upper chest area and neck.

Police believe the stabbing was related to a domestic incident and apprehended a 55-year-old man as he returned to a Villiers Street home in the early hours of Saturday.

He was taken to Grafton Police Station and charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder.

He will appear in court at a later date.

The woman remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition.

11.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pyne faces angry schools ministers

The NSW education minister says the Abbott government must keep its promise on schools funding. Source: AAP

FEDERAL Education Minister Christopher Pyne faces a battle on multiple fronts over his plan to overhaul schools funding but denies he is at war with any part of the sector.

State and territory education ministers left a meeting with Mr Pyne in Sydney on Friday angry over his decision to renege on agreements they entered into with the previous Labor government.

NSW education minister Andrew Piccoli described the meeting as "passionate and heated".

"All in all the ministers are very disappointed (that there was) no greater clarity over what the Commonwealth is proposing," Mr Piccoli said.

There is also a growing public campaign calling for the funding agreements to be honoured, and a showdown is looming in federal parliament with the minister confirming he will need to amend laws to put in place a new scheme to fund schools from 2015.

Mr Pyne told reporters outside the meeting he was not to blame for the "shambles" of Labor's schools funding policy.

"It's not my fault that Bill Shorten ripped $1.2 billion out of the funding envelope," Mr Pyne said.

The minister this week announced the coalition government would only honour one year of the funding agreements, and allocate a further $230 million in 2014 to the states that did not sign onto the so-called Gonski scheme.

Labor made deals with NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT, as well as independent and Catholic schools, but Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory held out.

Mr Piccoli said his federal Liberal colleagues had breached the trust of voters, and he and Premier Barry O'Farrell would continue to press for the four-year agreement to be honoured.

He said the next step would be to escalate the issue to the Council of Australian Governments meeting on December 13.

"It can't stop here," Mr Piccoli told AAP.

"As an education community, pressure will be placed on the Commonwealth to change their mind."

Mr Piccoli said there was majority support among the ministers for a needs-based funding system, in line with the Gonski review.

ACT education minister Joy Burch said the territory's six-year agreement was now the victim of federal government "policy on the run".

Tasmanian minister Nick McKim said there was a "unity ticket" between Labor, the Greens and coalition states on sticking up for Australian schools and said Mr Pyne had created a "crisis of uncertainty."

"(Mr Pyne) has dropped a stick of dynamite into what was a very tranquil pool," Mr McKim said.

Mr Pyne declined to criticise any of the state and territory ministers.

"I'm not at war with anybody," he said.

"I will work collaboratively and respectfully with all my colleagues."

He said the government would keep its pre-election promise to match "dollar for dollar" schools funding allocated by the previous Labor government for 2014.

But beyond that, he would sit down with the state ministers and develop a new model in the early part of 2014.

Greens education spokeswoman Penny Wright said her party would block in the Senate any amendment that "increased inequality in education".

Australian Education Union federal president Angelo Gavrielatos said Mr Pyne had injected "absolute uncertainty" into schools funding.

11.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Medibank sale advisors announced

The government has appointed advisors to prepare for the sale of health insurer Medibank Private. Source: AAP

THE federal government has appointed key advisers to prepare for the sale of health insurer Medibank Private, increasing the prospects it might be announced in next year's budget.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann announced on Friday that a panel to conduct a scoping study would report back in February next year so it's findings can be considered ahead of the 2014/15 budget.

Lazard Pty Ltd is the business adviser, Herbert Smith Freehills the legal adviser, Ernst and Young the accounting adviser while the Australian Government Solicitor is advising on probity matters.

The study will provide recommendations to government on all aspects of the proposed sale including method, timing, costs, regulatory issues and estimated proceeds.

The entity has previously been valued at $4.5 billion.

With 3.8 million members, Medibank Private is Australia's largest health insurance provider and government owned.

Senator Cormann said there was "no compelling policy reason" for the federal government to continue ownership of the asset.

11.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bieber's graffiti - will it stay or go?

GRAFFITI by Justin Bieber is at the centre of a stoush between a Gold Coast hotel, which wants to keep it, and local authorities, who want it erased.

Bieber landed himself in trouble after photos and video footage showed the pop star nonchalantly spraying cartoon faces in fluorescent paint on the QT Hotel wall at Surfers Paradise early on Wednesday following his first Brisbane show.

The hotel says it gave the Canadian permission and that the council had no authority to get rid of the graffiti because it is on private property and not accessible from public land.

"He asked, and we said YES", the QT Hotel on the Gold Coast said on its Facebook page next to a picture of the colourful spray can artwork.

The hotel said in a comment on the page that "we absolutely gave approval".

The hotel reckons it's a coup to have the star paint "a piece of art in appreciation of his stay".

"This piece of art is now available to be viewed by fans of the artist and we believe that it is a wonderful addition to the colourful Gold Coast arts scene," it said.

Even so, Gold Coast mayor Tom Tait says the council will order the removal of the graffiti.

"It might be on private land, but it's in prominent public view," a council spokesman told AAP.

"The mayor will be contacting our compliance officers today to have a notice issued to the hotel to clean it up."

A photo of Bieber's artistic offerings was posted on Instagram while entertainment website TMZ published a video of the incident.

Earlier, the mayor said the singer should clean up his mess.

He even suggested Bieber should perform for free at an upcoming Christmas carols event to make amends.

Mr Tait said the singer risked undermining the good work of the council in its fight against the scourge of graffiti.

"The last thing we want is to have graffiti glorified and more young people thinking it's a cool thing to do," he told AAP.

He said Bieber was welcome to use one of the council's clean-up kits to get rid of his mess.

"I know he's got beautiful eyes. I've got some goggles for him, and some gloves because I know he doesn't want to get his hands dirty," Mr Tait said.

"Just come and clean it up and we'll be happy with you," said Mr Tait.

"Alternatively come and sing at our mayoral Christmas carols on the 7th of December for an hour and I'll let you go."

11.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Aged man facing third manslaughter trial

AN elderly man is facing the prospect of a third trial over the death of a 42-year-old woman in Western Australia more than 20 years ago.

Ronald Leslie Pennington, 84, has been tried twice at the WA Supreme Court for the alleged July 1992 manslaughter of Cariad Anderson-Slater, whose remains were found in his former backyard in February 2011.

Pennington had moved to Tasmania, but was extradited to Perth to face the charges.

He was convicted of manslaughter after a trial in March last year and sentenced to eight-and-a-half years' jail.

But the conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal because the trial judge erred in his directions to the jury.

Pennington faced a retrial but the jury was discharged earlier this month because it could not reach a verdict.

At a directions hearing on Thursday, Justice Lindy Jenkins was told prosecutors were planning to try the case again.

11.51 | 0 komentar | Read More