Young on DSP to face work ability scrutiny

YOUNGER people on the disability support pension (DSP) are set to have their ability to work reviewed under a budget plan to rein in the rising cost of social security payments.

That's set to be announced in the budget on Tuesday, targeting some 30,000 DSP recipients aged under 35, media reports say.

This is in line with the report of the National Commission of Audit which said a risk-management approach should be taken in assessing those with the greatest potential for work.

"Examples could include younger people under the age of 35 and recipients who currently earn some employment income," the report said.

Liberal MP Alan Tudge, parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Tony Abbott, said the DSP was growing rapidly with more than 800,000 current recipients and tens of thousands more assessed as disabled each year.

"What we would like to do is to ensure that those who are able to work are encouraged to do so," he told Sky News.

"At the moment the system tends to put a person on the disability support pension and then.... set and forget and leave them for a very long time, even though there might be a willingness, a desire and a capacity to at least make some contribution."

Labor frontbencher Matt Thistlethwaite said Labor in government had introduced a number of reforms designed to get those on the DSP into work.

He said that aimed to ensure there was support available for those who wanted to work and the necessary home support available through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

"The Commission of Audit recommendations are to slow down the rollout of the NDIS," he told Sky.

"If that is the approach the Abbott government is going to take, then that's not the way we should be supporting people with disabilities, particularly encouraging them into work."

In its report, the Commission of Audit said the DSP was costing $15.8 billion a year.

However, new disability assessment criteria introduced in 2012 only apply to new entrants, creating inequalities between the newcomers and existing DSP recipients, an anomaly which should be addressed.

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NRL star Inglis in third-party deal probe

An Aboriginal charity says NRL star Greg Inglis's work will continue amid a funds investigation. Source: AAP

NRL star Greg Inglis will continue his $50,000 a year job with an Aboriginal charity amid an investigation into the use of Medicare funds to pay him for his services.

Inglis signed a three-year deal with Redfern Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) in December 2010, where South Sydney Rabbitohs fullback has been paid as much as $90,000 for doing promotional and ambassadorial work, according to Fairfax.

The contract was last year renewed at the reduced rate of $50,000.

But the federal Department of Health's own rules dictate that Medicare income at grant-funded Aboriginal medical services "must be used for primary health care services".

The department has confirmed it is investigating despite having already looked into allegations raised about the Inglis deal.

"The department has previously considered the specific allegations raised that Greg Inglis has been paid $90,000 a year by the AMS at least in part through Medicare billings income," a spokeswoman said.

"Our investigations have found no evidence that commonwealth health funding was being used inappropriately."

The department will now consider new information received from community contacts, the spokeswoman said.

The AMS says it received conflicting advice about how the income could be used and is seeking clarification from the government about the use of the funds.

However, a spokesman for the service said Mr Inglis's role will continue.

"His role is very important for the AMS," an AMS spokesman told AAP.

"He will continue in the role - there is no question about that in our perspective."

The spokesman said Inglis was an integral part of the AMS's health campaign.

The third-party deal between Inglis and the AMS was lodged with the NRL and there has been no suggestion of any salary cap breach.

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Levy investigation suspended in Qld

AN investigation into whether the head of Queensland's corruption watchdog misled a parliamentary committee has been suspended.

Parliament's select ethics committee on Friday said it would wait until a police investigation into Dr Ken Levy was completed.

The committee was set up to consider whether Dr Levy misled another committee about what contact he had with the government before penning a newspaper article backing its controversial bikie laws.

Dr Levy has said the article was his idea, and no one from the government told him what to write.

But he's faced questions after failing to disclose that he met with the government's top media adviser Lee Anderson to discuss the article before it was published.

Dr Levy has denied any wrongdoing and remains the acting chair of the newly renamed Crime and Corruption Commission, formerly known as the Crime and Misconduct Commission.

The select ethics committee took over the Levy investigation after the government used its large majority to sack the entire Parliamentary Crime and Misconduct Committee (BECAME) in November last year.

The government said it had no choice because the BECAME had shown bias against Dr Levy, and allowing it's investigation to continue would not have been fair to him.

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News Corp keeps faith in newspapers

Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation has suffered an 85 per cent fall in quarterly profit to $US28m. Source: AAP

RUPERT Murdoch's News Corp is confident advertisers will return to its Australian newspapers, despite a 21 per cent slide in revenue.

Revenue from the local newspaper business, which includes mastheads like The Australian, Herald Sun and The Daily Telegraph, fell by $US103 million ($A111.44 million) in the three months to March 31, compared to the same period a year ago.

News Corp said more than half of the decline was due to the impact of a lower Australian dollar, while weakness in the print advertising market and lower circulation revenue was also a factor.

The Australian newspapers dragged revenue from News Corp's overall news division, which includes The Times in the UK and The Wall Street Journal in the US, down nine per cent in the quarter.

News Corp's profit in the three months to March dropped by 85 per cent to $US48 million ($A51.93 million), though the result was skewed by a one-off gain a year ago from the sale of SKY Network Television in New Zealand.

But the result beat market expectations and the company's share price lifted 46 cents to $18.21 at 1435 AEST on Friday.

Chief executive Robert Thomson said while the newspaper business faced obvious challenges, he was confident advertisers would come to see the value of newspapers again.

"I do think there will be a reconsideration of the value of print in the next year or so because it's a platform we know can deliver results to advertisers," he said.

"We will be doing our best with the Australian team over the next 12 months to prove that point.

He said despite the loss of readers to websites, newspapers held their own advantages for advertisers.

"I think what will become more clearly understood over time is the relative power of print in a digital world where you literally cannot multi-task when you are reading a newspaper."

Meanwhile, News Corp's Australian websites passed 200,000 subscriptions last week, and the company was looking to bolster digital revenues by better targeting local advertisers, he said.

"The digital strategy in Australia has been recast in recent months; our aim is to strengthen ties with local communities and develop far closer relations with local advertisers," Mr Thomson said.

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Qld deputy attacks Palmer in parliament

Queensland's deputy premier has used parliamentary privilege to criticise Clive Palmer (pic). Source: AAP

JUST a day after Clive Palmer applied to sue Queensland's premier for defamation, the deputy premier has called the federal MP a "crook" in parliament.

Using the protection of parliamentary privilege, Jeff Seeney told Palmer United Party's state leader Alex Douglas he was in "the best party money could buy".

"It's not even Australian money - the best party Chinese money can buy," Mr Seeney told state parliament on Thursday.

"The best party that fraudulently obtained money can buy.

"The best party that a crook using other people's money can buy."

Mr Seeney was referring to a News Corp Australia report that Mr Palmer's private company Mineralogy had been accused of siphoning more than $12 million from Chinese business partners and using some to fund his party's federal election campaign.

Mr Palmer on Wednesday lodged papers in the Supreme Court and served papers on Premier Campbell Newman through the Crown Solicitor.

Mr Palmer said the premier's claims during a recent media interview were false and damaged his integrity.

The federal MP for Fairfax is seeking $1.1 million in damages.

If he wins the case, he's promised to give the money to a charity that's working with public servants sacked by the Newman government.

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Ballot security response inadequate: audit

THE Australian Electoral Commission failed to adequately respond to warnings about the transport and storage of ballot papers made years before the West Australian Senate debacle.

An Australian National Audit Office report into the security of ballots during last year's federal election is scathing of the AEC, saying the commission failed to react to recommendations made in 2010.

The AEC has been under fire over its botched handling of the poll, with the loss of 1370 ballot papers forcing a fresh WA Senate vote in April.

The 2010 audit by the ANAO found the AEC needed to improve the security of ballot papers during transport and storage.

However, in its report released on Thursday, it says the commission adopted a narrow interpretation of the recommendation, which resulted in "inadequate action" being taken.

The commonwealth auditor said the AEC response to the 2010 recommendation - training employees about better ballot security - simply reinforced existing practices within the commission.

"It did not involve the identification and assessment of options that would improve on past practices and provide greater physical security of ballot papers during transportation and storage," the report said.

The 2013 WA Senate election was dubbed a "disaster" by former Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Keelty after his investigation into the missing ballot papers.

The debacle claimed two scalps, with the resignations of Australia's electoral commissioner Ed Killesteyn and WA's electoral officer Peter Kramer.

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US circus acrobat wants to return to ring

Eight acrobats remain hospitalised in the US after an accident sent them falling to the ground. Source: AAP

ONE of eight circus acrobats who plummeted about six metres to the ground during a hair-hanging stunt says she's thankful she's alive and wants to return to the ring.

"I'm hoping to join back up with the tour and show the world that I'm OK, and I'm hoping some of the other girls will do the same," Samantha Pitard said on Tuesday after she was released from a hospital.

Pitard and seven other acrobats were in an act described as a "human chandelier", in which they were hanging from an apparatus by their hair.

They were injured during a Sunday performance of the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey circus when a clip at the top of the chandelier-like apparatus snapped, dropping them to the ground.

The other women who are from the US, Brazil, Bulgaria and Ukraine are still hospitalised.

Pitard, 23, an American, said she is the only one of the troupe who can walk on her own. The others need assistance or have not tried to walk because they are still undergoing operations. But she said the others are expected to fully recover and everyone is in good spirits.

"Every single one of us in the troupe, every single circus performer, knows that they are risking their lives every time they go out there to perform or practice," she said.

"We hope it doesn't happen, but we know that we are taking that risk, and we love it enough to take that risk every day to make people happy."

Pitard said it was a normal day and normal performance on Sunday. The curtain dropped to reveal the eight women suspended in the air, but it went wrong as soon as they did their third leg position.

"We heard a huge crack, huge noise, and then we were just plummeting to the ground," she said. "It was very fast. I remember everything."

The 160-kilogram chandelier fell on top of them. She said the rescue crews got to them quickly to free them from the apparatus, then give them medical attention.

"I was sitting up, and once I caught my breath, I was looking at all the girls," she said. "I wanted to know that everybody was OK. I saw my troupe leader (Viktoriya Medeiros), she was right next to me, and I heard her say that she couldn't feel her legs."

The paramedics instructed her to lie down.

Pitard described her injuries, including fractures on her spine, a cut on her head that required three stitches and a badly bitten tongue, as minor.

Local investigators have completed an initial probe into the circus accident and are turning over the broken clip and other material to federal workplace safety investigators.

Fire investigator Paul Doughty said investigators have narrowed down the cause of the broken clip to two possibilities: a manufacturing defect or improper use.

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Health regulator too slow to act: minister

Queensland's health minister has reassured patients about the abilities of foreign-trained doctors. Source: AAP

THE national health regulator isn't acting quickly enough against a doctor accused of a string of serious surgical errors, Queensland's health minister says.

A urologist has been stood down from Rockhampton Hospital while he is being investigated for allegedly botching four operations.

He's accused of misdiagnosing a twisted testicle causing it to ultimately be removed, taking out a patient's right kidney instead of the diseased left one, nicking another's artery and incorrectly positioning a stent.

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority (AHPRA) said on Tuesday that it was reviewing the urologist's registration "as a priority", but is yet to make a ruling.

While the doctor has voluntarily stepped down from his private roles, he is still technically able to work in the sector.

Health Minister Lawrence Springborg said problems with APHRA would hopefully be fixed when the state takes control of notifications and serious complaints through an appointed health ombudsman from July 1.

"I've previously indicated my concerns about how long it takes the national health regulator to respond, but I don't control that national regulator," he told reporters on Wednesday.

Mr Springborg said he was happy with the Central Queensland Hospitals and Health (CQHH) board's swift response to stand down the doctor and sack the hospital's director of surgery and the acting executive director of medical services.

He also said it was "refreshingly honest" of board chairman Charles Ware to concede there was a systemic failure at the hospital.

The health minister said that's why he was not travelling to Rockhampton to oversee the controversy.

"If this was in the old days ... the only thing they did was cover-up," he said, referring to the notorious Dr Jayant Patel saga.

"There is nothing they (health board) have done that requires intervention centrally and nor should there be other than them asking us to conduct independent investigations and that has been done."

Mr Springborg said the incident was isolated and reflected on the individual doctor, not against all foreign-trained doctors.

The urologist, from South America, trained in medicine in Spain and then went on to gain specialist qualifications in London, where he was awarded honours.

He later came to Australia where he underwent two further years of training and won accreditation in 2011 to practise unsupervised, including the right to train other doctors.

"There is no evidence there is any greater issue with doctors that are trained in Australia or overseas," Mr Springborg said.

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said the government had added to the issues by cutting 80 patient care jobs designed to stop a "Patel-like situation" recurring.

"No longer can the health minister hide behind these health boards," she said.

"He is directly responsible and it is about time he stepped up to the plate and took full and complete responsibility."

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New foreign surgeon scandal in Qld

An overseas-trained doctor is being investigated in Queensland for a series of surgical errors. Source: AAP

AN overseas-trained doctor accused of incompetence, including removing the wrong kidney from a patient, could still be practising in Queensland's private sector.

Two Rockhampton Hospital chiefs have been sacked amid revelations a South American surgeon, who did his initial medical training in Spain, removed a patient's right kidney instead of the diseased organ on the left.

It's also alleged he nicked the artery of another patient, who was sent home but returned to hospital last week suffering extensive blood loss.

The case has echoes of the Jayant Patel controversy, which turned the spotlight on the credentials of foreign-trained doctors working in the Queensland health system.

The Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service Board has sacked Rockhampton Hospital's director of surgery, along with the acting executive director of medical services.

Board chairman Charles Ware has told Fairfax Media radio there's a systemic problem at the hospital.

The board has ordered a broad-ranging review of patient safety systems. A separate review will look at the specific incidents involving the surgeon.

"These reviews must be thorough and robust and I assure Central Queenslanders they will lead to decisive action that will ensure the safety of our patients," Mr Ware said in a statement on Tuesday.

The surgeon has been suspended from working at the Rockhampton Hospital, but Health Minister Lawrence Springborg has told parliament he's also been working in the private sector.

"This person doesn't only work for us. They also do private work as well. We have taken the action. Maybe it's also right for other employers to do a similar thing," Mr Springborg said.

Opposition health spokeswoman Jo-Ann Miller has called on the minister to name "Dr X", saying the Rockhampton community rightly wants to know.

The minister said four surgical procedures carried out by the doctor were being investigated.

The surgeon had trained in Spain before coming to Australia, where he completed two years of additional training and was accredited to operate here in 2011.

The Health Quality and Complaints Commission has also been asked to investigate the matter.

A spokesman for the health minister said advice was being sought from Queensland Health about if, and at what point, it would be appropriate to name the surgeon.

Any private work the doctor might be doing was a matter for the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, he said.

Matters of private practice were outside the government's control, but health complaint processes would be vastly improved from July 1, when the government's new health ombudsman would handle such cases, the spokesman said.

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School chaplains face second challenge

A Queensland father is headed back to the High Court to challenge the school chaplaincy program. Source: AAP

THE federal government's school chaplaincy program has turned into a "half billion dollar behemoth", says the man who's challenging it in the High Court for a second time.

Queensland father of six Ron Williams says the Howard government program has got completely out of control.

"I have a strong objection to the federal government funding the chaplaincy program and that's what this case is about," the Toowoomba jazz musician told reporters outside the court on Tuesday.

"There is no place in public schools for any form of missionaries or evangelists or anything that isn't secular."

Former prime minister John Howard launched the controversial program - which aims to provide guidance to students - in the lead up to the 2007 election.

The High Court upheld Mr Williams' legal challenge against the program in a landmark decision in 2012 - but the Labor government quickly passed fresh legislation to keep it going.

"Here we are - it has become a half billion dollar behemoth," Mr Williams said.

Experts believe the new case could have far-reaching effects for the Commonwealth's ability to fund a range of programs.

A defendant in the case is the Scripture Union of Queensland, which receives funding under an agreement with the Commonwealth then distributes it to Queensland schools to employ chaplains.

Union chief executive Peter James said two studies had found that students, teachers and psychologists all valued the program.

He acknowledged that it had been controversial.

"People are divided on it. But I am not sure that people who are opposed to the program necessarily understand what chaplains do in schools. It's not a clerical role, it's not a theological role - it's a caring role."

The case is listed to run for three days.

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