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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Ford CEO's pay up 11% to $US23.2 million

FORD chief executive Alan Mulally's compensation rose 11 per cent to $US23.2 million ($A25.12 million) in 2013, as the company reported record profits in North America and Asia.

Mulally earned $US2 million in salary, the same as 2012.

But he earned more in bonuses, at $US5.9 million, and in stock and option awards, which totalled $US14.6 million.

The company's board noted that Mulally helped keep the company's European restructuring on track.

It said Ford exceeded internal profit and cashflow targets, and noted that the Michigan-based company doubled its dividend in 2013. But the board said Ford missed internal targets for market share increases and quality improvement.

Ford earned a record pre-tax profit of $US8.8 billion in North America and a record profit of $415 million in Asia last year.

Ford saw strong demand worldwide for small SUVs such as the Escape, EcoSport and Kuga last year. In the US, sales of the F-Series pick-up truck jumped 18 per cent as the economy continued to improve.

Mulally's compensation included $232,153 for personal use of private planes.

Mulally, 68, announced in January that he would stay at Ford at least through the end of this year, putting to rest rumours that he might leave to become chief executive of Microsoft.

Mulally has made $197.65 million since joining Ford in 2006, according to the AP's calculations. He led a major restructuring at the automaker, cutting costs by closing factories and globalising its product offerings worldwide. Ford has earned $42.4 billion since returning to profitability in 2009.

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PM celebrating an ALP win on boats: Marles

THE coalition government shouldn't be chalking up 100 days without a single boatload of asylum seekers reaching Australian shores as a victory, Labor says.

"This is not a footy match", opposition immigration spokesman Richard Marles told reporters in Melbourne on Saturday.

"This is not about scoreboards and banners and slogan."

And anyway, it was Labor's tactics that resulted in the win, he said.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced on Saturday that "the way is closed" for people smugglers hoping to reach Australia.

But he stopped short of declaring it mission accomplished, with the end of the monsoon season looming.

"The monsoon is coming to an end and traditionally people smuggling operations have picked up at the end of the monsoon," he told reporters in Sydney.

"It's too early to declare the job has been done but nevertheless we can safely say that the way is closed."

He said that during the same period under the former Labor government there were 66 boat arrivals.

Mr Marles said saving lives at seas was "unequivocally good".

But it was too early to proclaim victory.

"It's fine for the prime minister and (Immigration Minister Scott Morrison) to stand in front of big banners on this issue, but ... the critical piece of policy which changed the game here was the arrangement which Labor put in place," Mr Marles said.

The most important step Australia had taken in reducing the loss of life at sea was the regional resettlement arrangement with Papua New Guinea that Labor put in place last year, he said.

Ninety per cent of the flow of boats had stopped before the election occurred, Mr Marles said.

If the coalition had supported Labor's proposed Malaysia arrangement in 2011, the 100-day milestone would have been reached years earlier, he added.

While it might be too early for "chest-beating", Labor would support any scheme that was saving lives at sea, Mr Marles said.

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