$2.5m of cannabis found in northern NSW

MORE than 1200 cannabis plants valued about $2.5 million have been seized by police during raids in northern NSW.

The plants were found in bushland around Lillian Rock, Barkers Vale, Rappville and Woodburn during the latest round of the cannabis eradication program (CEP), which ran from Monday to Wednesday, police said.

More than $4 million of cannabis was found and destroyed after similar searches in the first week of February.

"The CEP has been running since the mid-1980s and, to date, has prevented cannabis with an estimated potential street value of more than $250 million reaching NSW streets," police said in a statement.

"The CEP is generally operational during cannabis-growing season, which stretches from the late spring through summer and into early autumn."

The drug squad, dog unit, aviation support branch and local police were involved in the raids.

More busts will take place in the coming months.

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Sydney scientist leads Laos dam protests

AN Australian scientist is leading a call for Laos to halt a planned hydro-electric dam on the Mekong River that could damage fish stocks vital to the hundreds of thousands of poor in neighbouring Cambodia.

Philip Hirsch, a professor at Sydney University's School of Geosciences and the Mekong Research Centre, says the Mekong River, in its role as the "world's most productive inland fishery" would be affected if the 260 megawatt Don Sahong Dam was to go ahead.

"The overall hydrological impacts of Don Sahong will be quite small, but it has a major, major impact in Cambodia on the source of that country's animal protein which the poor depend on for the bulk of their dietary requirements," Hirsch told AAP.

The proposed Don Sahong Dam, is located in Laos' Champasak Province and situated on the five-kilometre long Hou Sahong, one of the 'braided channels' of the Mekong River about two kilometres upstream of the Lao-Cambodia border.

The Don Sahong dam is one of eleven dams planned for the lower Mekong River. Laos has already pressed on with construction of the US$3.5 billion Xayaburi Dam in northern Laos despite criticism from environmentalists and donor countries, including the US and Australia.

A study by the Mekong River Commission - an intergovernmental body bringing together Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, has warned that damming the river could reduce fishery by 300,000 tonnes a year, having a major impact on a million people, especially in Cambodia.

Hirsch says the go ahead the Xayaburi Dam has raised fears of an "unstoppable momentum" it would be "more difficult not to be build a second, third until you've got all eleven" dams.

"When you have all eleven then the hydrological as well as the ecological impacts are significant in Cambodia and all the way down to the Mekong Delta in Vietnam," he said.

A meeting by the MRC in January delayed a final decision on the dam, calling on ministers from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, to further appraise the project. Hirsch said the delay marked a "silver lining" in the Mekong co-operation framework.

He said Cambodia and Vietnam have realised the potential impacts from the dam and have put in objections.

The issue will now be referred to the ministerial or political level, "and a lot depends on what happens at the council meeting", so far unscheduled.

"It's still a ways to go," Hirsch said.

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Flight Centre lifts 1H profit 21%

FLIGHT Centre has lifted its first half profit more than 20.7 per cent thanks to strong sales growth in both corporate and leisure travel.

The company on Wednesday said it had made a net profit of $110.8 million for the six months to December 31, up from $91.8 million a year ago.

Revenue increased 15 per cent to $1.05 billion during the half, thanks to strong online and in store sales growth in both corporate and leisure travel.

Managing Director Graham Turner said four businesses - Australia, the UK, Singapore and China - had helped the company deliver record first half earnings (EBIT).

But, he added: "The Australian business has, so far, been the key contributor to overall results although we have also seen continued growth in offshore earnings".

Meanwhile, the company continued to expand its store network, with 2,643 stores in operation as of the end of 2013, an 8.2 per cent increase on the previous year. It had created an additional full-time jobs during the year.

Flight Centre said it had also increased in-store productivity and lifted its income margin slightly to 14.1 per cent during the half.

The company said it expects to post a pre-tax profit of between $370 million and $385 million for the full 2013/14 financial year, up between eight and 12 per cent on the underlying 2012/13 result.

"The company sees growth opportunities in all markets and will continue to focus on its seven strategic priorities that lead to what we refer to as our Killer Theme - our evolution from travel agent to world class travel retailer," he said.

Flight Centre announced an fully-franked interim dividend of 55 cents per share, up from 46 cents per share a year ago.

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Westfield says Aust business resilient

Shopping centre giant Westfield Group has suffered a 6.7 per cent slide in its full year profit. Source: AAP

AUSTRALIAN Westfield shopping centres have proved highly resilient, with near record low vacancy rates and growing rents despite retail conditions continuing to be challenging.

Shopping centre owner Westfield Group announced on Wednesday that its annual profit has dropped by seven per cent due to its sale of several US malls and the buyback of its own securities.

But the company said the Australian business had performed well in tough but improving trading conditions.

"In Australia our portfolio remains strong and robust with vacancies near historic lows, improved retail sales environment, continued growth of average rents and comparable net operating income," co-chief executive Steven Lowy said.

The company's shopping centres in the US were 94.5 per cent leased, while UK shopping centres were 99.3 per cent leased and Australian and New Zealand centres were 99.5 per cent leased.

The company will spend $4.7 billion on construction projects which are currently underway including Mt Gravatt in Brisbane and Miranda in Sydney as well as Bradford in the UK.

It also plans to spend a further $3 billion on future development activities in Australia and New Zealand.

During the year, the group sold seven malls in the US, as well as joint venture interests in Brazil and Karrinyup in Western Australia.

Westfield Group also bought back 150.3 million securities in 2013, at an average price of $10.53 per security.

In December Westfield Group announced a restructure proposal to split its Australian and New Zealand business from its international business.

Under the proposal, the Australian and New Zealand business would merge with Westfield Retail Trust, a joint owner of Westfield's Australian centres, to form Scentre Group.

The international business would become Westfield Corporation.

Westfield Group and Westfield Retail Trust shareholders are expected to meet in late May to vote on the proposal.

Shareholders will receive an interim fully-franked dividend of 51 cents per security, up from 49.5 cents in 2012.

At 1520 Westfield shares were down 31 cents, or 2.9 per cent, to $10.37.

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Ambos declare zero tolerance on assaults

The Health Services Union has urged the community to join the fight against alcohol violence. Source: AAP

ASSAULTS against paramedics will be pursued in the courts after NSW Ambulance Service declared zero tolerance of violence against its staff.

A paramedic was allegedly assaulted on Sydney's George St in the early hours of Sunday as she came to the aid of an intoxicated 21-year-old man.

The ambulance officer was allegedly punched, kicked and pushed by the man.

"We will absolutely pursue you through the legal system if you attack our paramedics," NSW Ambulance Inspector Ian Johns told reporters in Sydney.

"It is absolutely not on."

Insp Johns said assaults against paramedics increased from 89 in 2012 to more than 133 in 2013.

He agreed with calls from the Health Services Union to improve community awareness about alcohol and violence.

"We all have a responsibility in this," Insp Johns said.

"Anything our community organisations can do is welcome."

He said there was a time in the state when paramedics were considered off limits.

Recalling a bikie battle in the 1980s, Insp Johns said those involved understood paramedics were there to help.

The paramedic allegedly assaulted on Sunday was treated in hospital for her injuries and is now at home resting.

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Avicii heads album chart after Aust tour

AVICII'S album True has jumped five places to top the ARIA album chart this week.

The Swedish DJ finished touring Australia last week after a string of shows in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

Avicii toppled Bruce Springsteen from No.1 with The Boss's High Hopes falling to No.3 while Lorde's Pure Heroine jumped up three places to No.2.

Veteran local rockers Australian Crawl claimed the No.4 spot with their Greatest Hits album while the Frozen soundtrack dropped three places to No.5.

London Grammar climbed back a couple of places to No.6 with If You Wait, and Beyonce's self-titled album fell four spots to No.7.

The Very Best by INXS also slipped, by a place, to No.8. American metalcore band Of Mice & Men debuted at No.9 with their third album Restoring Force, while returning to the top 10, with AM, are British indie-rock group The Arctic Monkeys, who are set to tour Australia from the first week of May.

On the singles chart, Pharrell Williams remains at No.1 with his hit Happy for a fifth consecutive week.

At No.2, after jumping seven places, is A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera's Say Something, which has been used by the Seven Network to promote its drama-thriller series Revenge. The hit pushed local Joel Fletcher and Savage's Swing down a spot to No.3.

London Grammar's Strong jumped three spots to No.4, while Rudimental featuring Emeli Sande and Nas remain at No.5 with Free.

Melbourne singer-songwriter Vance Joy climbed up a whopping 29 spots to debut at No.6 with Riptide - Triple J's No.1 Hottest 100 song.

John Legend's All of Me dropped a place to No.7, while Jason Derulo's Trumpets and Magic's Rude each fell five places to No.8 and No.9 respectively.

The Love Club EP by Grammy winner Lorde jumped up 18 places to round out the top 10.

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LNP launches Griffith campaign

LNP candidate Bill Glasson has asked voters in ex-prime minister Kevin Rudd's Brisbane seat to not judge him based on the prime minister and Queensland's premier.

Instead, he wants them to judge him on own achievements.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott launched Dr Glasson's campaign for the seat of Griffith, vacated by Mr Rudd, on Saturday in lead up to the February 8 by-election.

An ophthalmologist and former president of the Australian Medical Association, he refused to say whether Mr Abbott or Premier Campbell Newman, who also joined the launch, would affect his changes of winning.

"This is not about the prime minister, it's not about (Labor leader) Bill Shorten, it's not about the premier, it's about Bill Glasson and his Labor counterpart," he told reporters.

"I want the people of Griffith to judge us; hold us up, Bill Glasson in one hand and the labor opponent in the other, and say who would you want to represent you for the next three years in federal parliament?"

He said his vast experience as a doctor, a small business owner and medical volunteer worker overseas and across Australia made him the better choice.

"In terms of life experience and in terms of leading major organisations over the past 20 years or so I think I come out in front," he said.

Mr Abbott said Dr Glasson was not an ambitious career politician.

"He's not going into the parliament to promote his career or to build his ego," he told the party faithful during the launch.

Dr Glasson did manage to effect a 5.5 per cent swing against the former prime minister at the general federal poll last year.

He said his priorities include addressing the cost of living, creating more jobs, child-care costs, more infrastructure and building safer communities.

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Obama asks CEOs for help hiring jobless

US President Barack Obama is asking major corporations to help give the long-term unemployed a job. Source: AAP

US President Barack Obama is asking major corporations for their help in putting the long-term unemployed back to work.

CEOs from companies like Apple, Walmart, Visa and Boeing are heading to the White House on Friday to deliver commitments to do their part.

More than 300 companies have signed on so far, the White House said.

Although the unemployment rate has declined to 6.7 per cent, long-term joblessness in the US remains a major problem.

The concern is that the longer someone is out of a job, the harder it gets to find a new one.

Companies are less likely to hire people who haven't used their skills in months or wonder why another employer hasn't already snatched them up.

With that concern in mind, the Obama administration has been working for months to exact commitments from companies to ensure their hiring practices don't discriminate against long-term job-seekers.

That includes doing away with candidate-screening methods that disqualify applicants based on their current employment status.

It also means ensuring that jobs ads don't discourage unemployed workers from applying.

The White House couldn't say how many unemployed Americans might benefit from the initiative but expected the effects to snowball.

"We consider this not the destination, but the launch," said Gene Sperling, who heads the White House's National Economic Council.

"Our hope is that as people see the meeting with the president, the pledge, that more will come work with us."

Among the companies taking part: Rupert Murdoch's News Corp and 21st Century Fox.

Sperling said he emailed the conservative business mogul about the initiative, and Murdoch personally wrote back to say he supported it.

Obama also plans to sign a presidential memo on Friday directing the federal government to apply the same standards to its own hiring practices.

And the Obama administration will direct $US150 million ($A171 million) in grants toward partnership programs that retrain, mentor and place unemployed workers.

The initiative marks the latest attempt by Obama to use what executive authority he has to improve economic conditions for Americans despite a political climate that makes enacting his legislative agenda nearly impossible.

In the past, Obama has supported legislation in Congress that would make it illegal for employers to discriminate based on one's employment status or history.

"In terms of legislation. Let's face it: That's not going to happen," Sperling said.

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End car subsidies: Productivity Commission

THE Productivity Commission believes the automotive sector should not receive any further taxpayer assistance beyond 2020.

In a report commissioned by the federal coalition government, the commission described as "weak" the arguments for more financial assistance.

It said the community would be better off with subsidies ending.

"Our draft proposal is that there should be no further industry specific funding beyond 2020," the commission's deputy chairman Mike Woods said in a statement on Friday.

The commission opposes a supplementary rescue package for Toyota and component manufacturers.

Instead governments could better assist by undertaking broad-based economic and regulatory reforms and removing impediments to greater workplace flexibility.

However, Mr Woods said any "significant or uneven" reduction of subsidy funding in the next few years, as outlined in December's mid-year budget review, could elevate risks of earlier closures by Ford and Holden.

It might also negatively impact on investment decisions by Toyota and its component suppliers, Mr Woods said.

The government had asked the commission for the review in October, shortly after the coalition came to power.

The request came at a time when Ford had decided to end car manufacturing in Australia in 2016 and before a decision by GM Holden to cease local manufacturing by 2017.

Toyota is expected to make a decision about its future in Australia within months as it seeks changes to an enterprise bargaining agreement with its workers.

The commission is taking submissions to its interim report by February 13.

Public hearings will be held in late February and a final report submitted to the government by March 31.

The commission is specifically seeking views on the best ways to assist employees and their communities adjust to the industry changes.

It also wants to know whether employees of some component firms that might close face more difficult circumstances than employees of Ford and Holden, and whether the benefits of early budget savings could result in even greater adjustment costs to the industry.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union says the commission's report has been tailored to support the government's policy.

"We are dismayed ... but we are not surprised," national secretary David Smith said in a statement.

The report and decisions taken by the government would likely force Toyota's hand to end manufacturing in Australia, he said.

"This government forced Holden out of Australia. Now it seems intent on destroying of what's left of the Australian car manufacturing industry," he said.

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Reef dumping allowed by park authority

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has approved the dumping of dredge spoil in the park. Source: AAP

THE Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has approved the dumping of up to three million tonnes of dredge spoil inside the park's boundary.

The decision, related to the Abbot Point coal port expansion, was announced on Friday in Townsville.

Authority chairman Dr Russell Reichelt said there'd been strong community concern and debate about the application by North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation to dispose of dredge spoil in the park.

But he said allowing the project to proceed would help contain development to existing ports, and the reef itself and seagrass meadows would still be protected.

"It's important to note the sea floor of the approved disposal area consists of sand, silt and clay and does not contain coral reefs or seagrass beds," Dr Reichelt said in a statement.

The authority's general manager for biodiversity, conservation and sustainable use, Bruce Elliot, said strict environmental conditions imposed on the project by the federal government would help protect the reef.

"The federal environment minister, as part of his approval conditions for this development, has required North Queensland Bulk Ports to identify alternate disposal sites within an identified investigation zone," Mr Elliot said.

"We would support the use of an alternative site if it is found to be equal to or better in terms of environmental or heritage outcomes."

The approved disposal site is located approximately 25km east-north-east of the port, while the investigation zone being assessed for alternative locations is located 20 to 30km from the area being dredged.

The dredge spoils bound for the ocean will be tested before they are dumped to ensure they are safe.

GBRMPA says previous testing has already shown there are no identified contaminants in the sediments to be dredged and dumped from Abbot Point.

But the Australian Marine Conservation Society's Felicity Wishart said anyone saying the decision would benefit the reef was a laughing stock and it was well known that fine sediment in dredge spoil could travel up to 80km.

"There may not be coral reefs immediately where the dumping occurs, but there's certainly going to be coral reefs within 80km and they're certainly going to be at risk from this," she told AAP.

Queensland Tourism Industry Council boss Daniel Gschwind said the situation reminded him of Gladstone Harbour, where a leak in a bund wall holding dredge spoil caused dangerous chemicals to leach into the harbour, affecting marine life in the area.

"The federal government is holding an inquiry into what happened in Gladstone and the bad decisions that were made," he said.

"But now here we are making another decision that is putting at risk the most valuable environmental asset that we have in this country."

But Environment Minister Greg Hunt said the Abbot Point project was subject to the "highest and strictest environmental" conditions in Australian history.

North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP) spokeswoman Mary Steele welcomed the approval and said it would abide by the strict environment conditions.

"It confirms offshore disposal in this case provides the best social and environmental outcomes," she said.

"The granting of the permit acknowledges development can coexist alongside sensitive environments if it's well managed and we will ensure it is well managed."

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