Levy could be approved within weeks

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says she will legislate to increase the Medicare levy. Picture: Hamish Blair Source: Herald Sun

THE federal government's tax hike to help pay for a new national disability care scheme could pass parliament in two weeks, after the coalition offered to support the measure.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has agreed to consider a 0.5 percentage point rise in the Medicare levy to two per cent, neutralising a key election issue for Labor Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Following talks with shadow ministers overnight and Thursday, Mr Abbott said the coalition recognised the need to secure funding for DisabilityCare, despite Labor's "mismanagement" of the federal budget.

This morning Mr Abbott said the Coalition was prepared to consider supporting a "modest increase" to the Medicare levy to help fund the scheme.

The Opposition Leader said he wanted the issue to be dealt with in this parliament, but called on Julia Gillard to release more details on how the scheme would be fully funded.

Federal opposition leader Tony Abbott says the coalition will consider supporting an increase to the Medicare levy to fund the NDIS. Picture: Mark Brake

"We want this scheme to come into being as soon as possible because we want millions of vulnerable Australians to have the security and assurance they deserve," Mr Abbott said.

"But at the same time … it is important the Prime Minister come clean with all of the details on this scheme. How will it be fully funded?"

"We do want to see this come into the parliament in this term."

Ms Gillard now plans to introduce a bill during the budget session of parliament beginning May 14.

All eyes will be on Tony Abbott today as he responds to the PM's challenge to back an NDIS funding proposal.

"I am very pleased that today the leader of the opposition has said ... he is prepared to support an increase," she told reporters in Launceston.

"The leader of the opposition has changed his mind on this matter.

"On the basis of that change of mind by the leader of the opposition, I will bring to the parliament the legislation to increase the Medicare levy by half a per cent."

This means the bill to enact the increase will be introduced to parliament before the September federal election.

Mr Abbott's consideration rests on a number of conditions and he's promised to scrap the impost if the coalition wins the September election and the budget returns to strong surplus.

Ms Gillard said most of the detail had already been legislated, while work on the remainder was under way. Other funding details will be available in the budget due on May 14.

Labor could have had the support of the Greens and enough cross-benchers to pass the bill, although it risked a battle with the Greens in the Senate if the minor party tried to link the bill with a widening of the mining tax.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced a 0.5 percent increase to the Medicare Levy to support the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Courtesy ABC News

The prime minister said to get lasting reform she needed the coalition's support.

Ms Gillard yesterday announced Labor would seek to increase the Medicare levy from 1.5 per cent to 2 per cent to pay for disability support.

The Medicare levy increase will raise about $3.3 billion a year - less than half the $8 billion or more annual cost to run the disability care scheme when it begins full operation from 2018/19.

To fill the funding gap, Labor needs to make further budget savings and the states and territories will also need to contribute.

There are just five sitting weeks left of parliament in the Lower House before the September election. The Senate will sit for just three weeks before September 14.

Mr Abbott said he had always been supportive of a National Disability Insurance Scheme and a bipartisan approach to seeing it made reality.

"I would not be riding more than 1000 kilometres to support Carers Australia if I wasn't fair dinkum about a NDIS," Mr Abbott said.

"I am profoundly committed to a National Disability Insurance Scheme. I have been calling from the beginning for a bipartisan approach to this."

Mr Abbott said it was important that the issue be dealt with in this parliament so that it had a "substantial monument".

Disability campaigner and former NSW Labor minister John Della Bosca said Thursday's outcome was "fantastic".

"We've seen the best of Australian politics in Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott showing great leadership," he said.

Meanwhile, department store Myer has apolgosied after its chief executive Bernie Brookes sparked outrage and boycott threats by saying the levy rise wasn't "good for our customers", who would have less money to spend at his department stores.

Disability discrimination commissioner Graeme Innes was furious about Mr Brookes' comments and demanded Myer employ 10 per cent more disabled people by 2015.

Earlier this morning Mr Abbott called on Ms Gillard to release the full eligibility criteria for the scheme.

He said when that came out a lot of Australians would be "disappointed" when they realised they would not be included.

But Disability Reform Minister Jenny Macklin brushed off his concerns.

"The Leader of The Opposition should read the legislation that he voted for at the end of March," Ms Macklin said.

"The eligibility of criteria is very clear in the legislation. It is not responsible to raise these issues when you have voted for this legislation just over a month ago."

The indication of support from Mr Abbott came as Tasmania became the fourth state to sign up to the multi-billion-dollar NDIS.

Ms Gillard and Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings signed a deal this morning to secure funding for the scheme.

In a statement following his press conference Mr Abbott said the NDIS was "too important to become a partisan football".

"Australians with a disability and their carers want the confidence that the NDIS means a permanent change in the way that our country supports people with a disability," he said.

"People with a disability should not have to wait any longer than is necessary for the support they need."

Mr Abbott said if elected the Coalition would ensure the Medicare levy increase was only temporary.

"If elected to government the Coalition would resolve to ensure that the increase to the Medicare levy is a temporary increase and will be removed when the budget returns to strong surplus and the NDIS can be funded without it," he said.

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A test of honesty for foreign workers

A ''Genuineness' test is being considered to  preventing 457 visas being used to fill unskilled positions. Source: Supplied

A ''GENUINENESS'' test for foreign workers on 457 visas is being considered by the government as it contemplates expanding a crackdown.

The test, if adopted, would be applied through a criteria aimed at preventing 457s being used to fill unskilled positions or as a back door way to move family and friends to Australia.

A government discussion paper was released today as former Labor MP Maxine McKew slammed the government's rhetoric about foreign workers, saying it could offend Australia's neighbours.

''Loud declarations about 'foreigners getting to the back of the queue' and 'Aussie jobs first' are a very unpleasant throwback to a time when unions demanded a protected labor market,'' she told the Australia India Institute today.

''Historically, that meant it was white labour that had to be protected - and if some in the region saw echoes of that historic artifact, I wouldn't be surprised.''

The discussion paper outlines 12 measures that were previously considered by former Immigration Minister Chris Bowen.

Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor, who was yesterday in Sri Lanka where he is meeting officials about people smuggling, has implemented five of the recommended changes with the remainder under consideration.

If the ''genuineness'' criteria was adopted a visa applicant could be scrutinised about ''whether the nomination is genuine in circumstances where the nominee is a relation or personal associate of an owner or relevant person of the sponsoring business.''

Businesses could also be required to account for the number of 457 visa holders after previously businesses who had intended to sponsor a small number of workers then employed hundreds.

Meanwhile, a 35-year-old Sri Lankan asylum seeker died of a suspected heart attack after arriving on an asylum boat at Christmas Island this week.

The man's distraught nine-year-old son travelled to Australia with him and has been comforted since the death of his father on Wednesday by an adult cousin who was also on the vessel.

Australian authorities rushed the man to Christmas Island Hospital, where he died.

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Boy bashes teacher with baseball bat

A SCHOOL has been closed after a teacher was hit on the back of the neck by a primary school student with a baseball bat.

The attack, which happened on Monday, was the latest in a string of violent assaults on staff at Angurugu School on Groote Eylandt, in the Gulf of Carpentaria, The Northern Territory News reports.

Ther Year 7 student has been suspended for a month. The male teacher is recovering.

Other attacks include a student smashing a window in the principal's office with an axe and a teacher having her hand broken after a student threw a chair, a table and a rubbish bin at her.

Another teacher was left bleeding after being bitten and one staff member was stabbed in the leg with sharpened pencils.

The NT News reported on a male teacher who was choked by a student and a female teacher who had to be flown off the island after a student threatened to rape her in March.

Education Union NT president Matthew Cranitch said the school had a long history of violence against teachers, which resulted in staff asking for the school to be closed yesterday.

"Sadly these types of attacks are continuing and it just highlights that this is a dangerous job, particularly in some remote communities," he said.

Read the full report on the baseball attack in The NT News
 

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Missing fisherman sparks croc fears

POLICE are investigating a possible crocodile attack in far north Queensland after concerns about a missing fisherman.

Police have released images of a cast net and thongs found on a beach near Weipa and are asking people who can help identify the owner of the property to come forward.

Volunteers from the State Emergency Service are currently searching the area, which is a known crocodile habitat.

The gear was found by a member of the public about 7am today on the bank of the creek near the carpark of a hotel. 

Weipa Town Authority posted a warning of a large "aggressive" crocodile stalking people and dogs on the beach just ten days ago.

WTA chief executive Ian Pressley said police had found a cast net and pair of thongs and were treating the matter as "suspicious"

"There are no signs of a body or an attack," said Mr Pressley.

"We are not aware if anyone has even been reported missing yet.

"But at this stage it is being treated as a possible croc attack, there has been a big one hanging around."

One local Weipa fisherman said tourists had been seen fishing off the beach at in knee deep water in recent days.

The WTA warning on April 24 said: "Recent sighting of a large size crocodile has been reported along the Rocky Point Beach area over the last few days.

"Reports indicate that the crocodile has been stalking people and dogs moving along the beach.

"Numerous sightings of Large Aggressive Crocodile have been reported in Trunding Creek near the Albatross Hotel Resort and Weipa Camping Grounds.

"Please be extra vigilant and cautious while in these areas, but also remember that crocodiles inhabit most waterways on Cape York so caution applies to all these areas."

In the last near-fatal attack, Todd Bairstow, was lucky to survive after he was trapped in the jaws of a crocodile in March 2011.

The Rio Tinto bauxite mine worker was fishing on the banks of Trunding Creek near the Albatross Hotel in Weipa when a 4m crocodile lunged out of the water.

He told how the croc kept rolling "around and around" in the death roll trying to drag him into deeper water.

He revealed how he battled the monster croc which lunged "out of nowhere" and latched onto his leg for 40 minutes by punching it, poking it in the eyes and trying to pull its jaws apart.

Both his legs were broken in the death rolls and he was up to his neck in water when a hero rescuer heard his screams.

Anyone with information which could assist with this matter should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au.

 

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Clive Palmer in TV ad blitz

Aspiring prime minister Clive Palmer has released a series of clips promoting his United Australia Party which he says will run on commercial television networks from Monday.

Clive Palmer has expanded on his plans for the United Australia Party. Picture: Mark Calleja Source: The Courier-Mail

BILLIONAIRE aspiring prime minister Clive Palmer will launch a television advertising blitz next week, insisting he wants to keep his campaign positive and steer clear from negative personal attack ads.

Professor Palmer has released a series of clips promoting his United Australia Party which he says will run on commercial television networks from Monday.

The mining magnate declined to detail the budget for the campaign or how long the ads would continue for but insisted he would campaign until September 14 and do "whatever it takes for people to have an alternative".

While he criticises the major parties' involvement with lobbyists, the short ads mainly feature Professor Palmer looking relaxed, calling for support, talking about how he will unite Australians, promoting his website and talking about his desire to cut taxes.

Although they are light on policy detail, Mr Palmer said he wanted to get the basic themes of his party out there after its recent launch.

Professor Palmer said he did not know how much of his own money had been given to the party but that there were other contributes as well.

"There is a party executive and a committee," he said.

"I do contribute but it's not all my money."

But he said he would not participate in the vicious attacks ads that the major parties relied on during campaigns.

"I can't see us doing that," he said.

"Our basic philosophy is that politics should be about ideas, not attacking people."

 

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Defence to get new jets, patrol boats

Julia Gillard launching the 2013 Defence White Paper in Canberra today. Picture: Ramage Gary Source: News Limited

AUSTRALIA will purchase 12 new electronic warfare fighter planes to cover the delays in the Joint Strike Fighter project, Julia Gillard has announced.

The Prime Minister this morning unveiled the 2013 Defence White Paper and said $1.5 billion would be allocated over four years to make the aircraft purchases.

Ms Gillard said the JSF program had experienced cost overruns and delays and in order to cover the gap in capability 12 Growler aircraft would be added to Australia's fleet.

The Prime Minister made the announcement along with Defence Minister Stephen Smith who said Australia would be ''the only country outside of the US'' to have access to the Growler planes - an electronic version of the super hornet.

Last year it was announced in the budget that 12 of the first 14 F-35A Joint Strike Fighters would be delayed by two years, creating a potential gap in Australia's air force capability.

The first three of the JSF fleet are now not expected to arrive in Australia until 2020.

''Defence remains committed to the JSF program and anticipate its delivery,'' Ms Gillard said.

In addition to the aircraft announcement Ms Gillard also outlined a $25.5m plan to improve mental health services for serving and ex-serving troops.

She said work on ''off-the-shelf'' submarine options would be suspended and the focus would turn onto looking at creating an ''evolved Collins class or entirely new design''.

''Decisions about Defence, however cannot be made in isolation of our fiscal position,'' Ms Gillard said.

She said the government would seek to increase spending to 2 per cent of GDP ''when fiscal circumstances allow''.

Both Ms Gillard and Mr Smith said there would not be any cut to the overall Defence budget, in light of last year's $5.5 billion purge.

''Defence spending will rise in absolute terms,'' Ms Gillard said.

''Once again we have allocated more than $100 billion to defence over the forward estimates period.''

Ms Gillard said the white paper ''reaffirms the central and enduring importance of our alliance relationship with the United States''.

It also underscores the deeper Defence partnerships in the region, including with China, she said.

''We welcome China's rise,'' Ms Gillard said.

''We seek to have a constructive and co-operative relationship with China. We also recognise that China's rise and military organisation is pivotal to our region.

''Our posture here is one of continuity.''

Ms Gillard said the government remained committed to manufacturing 12 advanced new submarines in South Australia.

However, due to the need for detailed design analysis, any further work on buying an existing or modified overseas model was off the table because it was unlikely to meet Australian requirements.

The government would work on the remaining two options - an all-new design or an evolution of the existing Collins-class submarines.

KEY POINTS OF THE 2013 DEFENCE WHITE PAPER

Main technology decisions:

Australia remains committed to buying the advanced Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter;

Australia to buy an additional 12 Boeing Super Hornets, configured in the electronic warfare Growler version, giving the RAAF a total of 36;

Government committed to buying 12 new submarines, based on an evolved version of the Collins class. Rules out buying an existing model from a European manufacturer;

Navy supply ships HMAS Sirius and HMAS Success will be replaced;

Government to ramp up plans to replace the navy's Armidale-class patrol boats;

No plans for a fourth air warfare destroyer.

Overall thrust of the White paper:

More conciliatory to China than the 2009 White Paper;

Welcomes China's rise and the modernisation of its military as a legitimate outcome of its growth;

Unlike the 2009 White Paper, new document makes no commitment to a particular level of defence funding;

Government committed to fiscal discipline and wants a defence budget that meets operational requirements

Source: Federal Government

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Asylum seeker boat arrival biggest

Asylum seekers arrive on Christmas Island. Source: Supplied

AUSTRALIAN authorities have intercepted a vessel carrying 184 asylum seekers and two crew - the largest boatload to arrive this year.

The overloaded fishing boat was found north west of Christmas Island on Wednesday.

Asylum seekers were taken to Christmas Island for initial healthy, security and identity checks.

The mega boat follows a record month of arrivals in April with 3316 people reaching Australia by boat.

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Kiesha's step-father jailed over death

Robert Smith stood by and did nothing as Kiesha was killed, before he burnt her body.

Kiesha Weippeart's step-father Robert Smith has been sentenced over her death. Source: The Daily Telegraph

THE man who left Kiesha Weippeart to die then hid her body in a shallow grave will spend at least 12 years behind bars.

Kiesha's step-father Robert Smith was this afternoon sentenced in the Supreme Court over the six-year-old's 2010 death.

The young girl was reported missing from her family's Mt Druitt home in August, but her remains were not found until April the following year.

In a secretly-recorded conversation with undercover police, Smith said he heard a "loud bang" from the girl's bedroom more than two weeks before she was reported as having disappeared.

He found Kiesha lying on the floor unconscious and tried to wake her, but instead of calling an ambulance he went to bed then to work the following day.

When Smith returned home he found the girl dead.

Kiesha's body was hidden in a suitcase for several days before he took it in a taxi to nearby Shalvey, where it was doused in petrol and set alight before the remains were buried.

About two weeks later, emergency services received a triple-0 call reporting the girl missing from her bedroom after the from door of the unit was left open.

For the next eight months Smith maintained the young girl has disappeared, with the 33-year-old even telling police he had been like a father to Kiesha.

"She's not my daughter, you know, but I treat her like she was," he said.

In April 2011, Smith finally admitted to undercover officers that Kiesha was dead and he had hidden her body.

"She wasn't waking up or nothing. I was like 'how can this shit happen to me?'," he said.

Smith was eventually charged with the girl's murder, but he later pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of "gross criminal negligence".

He also admitted to being an accessory to her murder.

Justice Megan Latham today sentenced Smith to a maximum 16 years in jail with a 12-year, non-parole period.

She said his crimes were among the most serious imaginable of their type, with his decision to burn the young girl's body a "particularly heinous act".

Justice Latham said Smith made a "simple and cowardly choice" to protect his own interests – rather than those of a vulnerable and "gravely injured" child.

"These were not spontaneous, ill-conceived acts carried out in panic, such as are usually encountered by the courts when dealing with this offence," she said.

Justice Latham said finding an unconscious six-year-old would move anyone except the most "callous and unfeeling of adults" to seek medical help.

With time already served, Smith will be eligible for release in 2023.

A woman, who can't be identified for legal reasons, is expected to face trial for Kiesha's murder later this year.

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Dead suspect killed Auburn women

Gone to ground ... murder suspect Hong Rui Fu / Pic: Police Media Source: The Daily Telegraph

POLICE say a man found dead on train tracks south of Sydney was responsible for the murder of a mother and daughter in Sydney's west.

Officers were looking to question Hong Rui Fu after two women, aged 49 and 26, were found dead in their Auburn home on Wednesday.

Mr Fu's body was found on train tracks at Bundanoon, in the state's southern highlands, on Friday.

Police are not treating his death as suspicious.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Arthur Katsogiannis told reporters on Saturday that police believed Mr Fu killed the two women.

"We believe that that individual was the one responsible for the murders at Auburn," Mr Katsogiannis said.

Police have described the Auburn crime scene as extensive and confronting, but details about how the women died have not been released.

A car belonging to one of the deceased women was found near where Mr Fu's body was discovered.

Police have previously declined to say whether or not the 28-year-old was related to the women or if he lived with them in the Paul Street residence.

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Pet dog killed, eaten on golf course

A Townsville family has raised concerns about wild dogs and dingoes after their pet dog was killed and eaten. File picture Source: Quest Newspapers

A FAMILY living next to a golf course in north Queensland wants nearby residents to watch out for wild dogs or dingoes after their kelpie was killed and eaten.

Kevin Burns, who lives on Golf Links Drive at Kirwan, in suburban Townsville, awoke on Friday  to the news his dog had been killed on one of the Willows golf club fairways outside his back yard.

"A couple of guys from the pro shop just asked if one of our dogs was missing," he told The Townsville Bulletin.

"Then they asked me what breed it was and they told me to come with them.

"I found her remains, what was left of her, on the fairway and you could see the blood trail.

"They didn't just kill Amber, they ate her."

Mr Burns said he tried to report the matter to the authorities to try and prevent any children being injured but was bounced between State Government departments.

"I don't think they understand the term 'eaten'," he said. "My dog wasn't just mauled and killed, she was eaten, including her insides.

"I repeatedly said I wasn't worried about what happened to my dog, I was worried about what could happen to a kid.

Townsville City Council's Healthy City Safe City Committee chairman Cr Gary Eddiehausen said he was concerned about the behaviour of the killer animals.

"I'm worried about this because it is really unusual that (an animal's) organs get eaten like this," he said.

Read the full story at The Townsville Bulletin.

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Farmers to get $60m in federal loans

The Federal Government hopes to relieve the pressure for struggling farmers with concessional loans. Picture: Thinkstock Source: Supplied

FARMERS struggling with debt will be offered concessional loans under a Federal Government package Treasurer Wayne Swan says will help secure their long-term future.

The Farm Finance package, which will be officially announced in Townsville this afternoon, will provide $60 million in loans over two years to help farmers across the country restructure their debts.

Extra rural financial counsellors will be hired to work with agricultural businesses, while a tax relief deposit scheme will be overhauled, including raising the off-farm income threshold to $100,000.

The assistance package follows a rural finance roundtable held in October last year, convened by Mr Swan, who said he had been concerned to hear how farmers had been hit by the high Australian dollar and depreciating land values.

''These are big issues for our farmers and mean many of our farming businesses find themselves moving towards a negative equity situation,'' Mr Swan said in a statement today.

''The package we will announce today will provide relief to those viable farmers struggling with finance issues and will help secure their long-term future.''

Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig said the high dollar and falling land values had made it hard for viable farmers to manage their debts.

''Farm Finance will help lighten the load for farmers today and strengthen the foundation of Australian agriculture for the future,'' Senator Ludwig said in a statement.

''While there is no silver bullet solution, Farm Finance addresses the critical issues we have heard first hand from farmers in sensible and constructive way.''

The federal announcement comes just days after the Western Australian government detailed a $7.8 million emergency aid package for 400 farmers facing financial ruin in that state's eastern Wheatbelt region.

The WA Farmers Federation welcomed the measures, but complained the package did not address the potential long-term future of the industry.

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Ricky: Gay marriage will happen here

Ricky Martin with The Voice team. He says he finds axing singers the hardest thing. Source: Supplied

• Same sex marriage for Aussies 'inevitable'
• 'Love conquers all,' says Latino star
• The Voice showdown nears

HE'S been embraced as an adopted son by local fans of The Voice, now coach Ricky Martin has taken a step on to our political stage, claiming marriage equality legislation is "inevitable" in Australia.

The Latin superstar and human rights activist urged Federal politicians to follow the lead of the New Zealand and French parliaments which passed laws validating same sex marriage.

Martin said he was so touched by the joyous scenes which followed the changes in New Zealand, when the parliament's public gallery and politicians burst into a rousing chorus of a Maori love song, he shared the viral video with his 8.6 million Twitter followers.

"I had to tweet about that because love prevailed. Love conquers all," he said.

The 41-year-old father of twin sons, who went public in 2010 as "a fortunate homosexual man," said the momentum which had seen countries including Holland, Argentina, Spain, Denmark and most recently, France endorse marriage equality would see the same changes happen in Australia.

"In 10 years from now hopefully we'll be laughing about the fact we are talking about this. Justice for all is inevitable," Martin told News Limited.

"We are beings of love and unfortunately because of different codes the church has given us we started saying the way you feel is not right, it makes you evil. But look what's happening in countries like Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, France as of this week, New Zealand ...c'mon (Australia)."

He said the legal recognition was "not about faith, it's not about religion, it's about human rights. It's about me having the opportunity to look my sons in the eye and say 'this is my husband and this is our family.' It's about self esteem, it's about dignity, it's about respect',".

While pressure mounts on Tony Abbott's Coalition to allow a conscience vote on the issue, Martin said the will of the Australian people would eventually win out.

"Oh my god, it will happen in Australia and I don't care where I am, I'm going to hop on a plane, go with you guys and celebrate."

Martin is expected to return to Sydney, with his children and partner Carlos Gonzales Abella, this week, ahead of filming of the next "showdown" phase of The Voice.

Tonight, his team of singers features heavily in the latest battle rounds, with Channel 9 loading up the episode with powerhouse performances in a bid to keep its audience advantage over Seven's grand finale of My Kitchen Rules.

The pairing of Team Ricky favourites, Luke Kennedy, of Brisbane and NSW Police Band singer, Belinda Adams has been billed as a State of Origin of sorts, with their spine-tingling rendition of Les Miserables' I Dreamed A Dream set to open Sunday night's show.

Martin admitted the brutal process of eliminating artists had been the only hard part of an otherwise "awesome experience" on the show.

"It's very painful, excruciating. I didn't know it was going to feel like this ... you get so attached," he said. "It's not fair, but it's part of the game.

"I talk to the producers and they say 'hey Rick, what are you going to do? It's part of your contract. At a certain moment, you need to choose'."

But the singer, who is in talks about a national concert tour next year, joked he was plotting to "bring them all with me."

"You may be going home, but you're coming on the road with me next year."

Fans will get their chance to meet the Grammy winner at Westfield Parramatta (May 9, from 6pm) and Melbourne's Westfield Southland (May 11, at 12noon).

* Ricky Martin's Greatest Hits - Souvenir Edition album is in store and available for download now.

SUNDAY NIGHT'S VOICE BATTLE LINE-UP

TEAM RICKY: Luke Kennedy v Belinda Adams Les Miserables' I Dreamed A Dream

TEAM JOEL: Maya Weiss v Kiyomi Vella The Killers' Human

TEAM SEAL: Shawne Kirke v Sarah Martin Living Colour's Love Rears Its Ugly Head

TEAM RICKY: James Walker v Bec and Sebastian - Third Eye Blind's Semi Charmed Life

TEAM JOEL: Lyric McFarland v Emma Pask Louis Armstrong's What a Wonderful World

TEAM RICKY: Nick Kingswell v Kaity Dunstan Cyndi Lauper/Busby Marou's Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

TEAM DELTA: Jackie Sannia v Jenna Dearness- Dark Evanescence's My Immortal

TEAM JOEL: Danni Hodson v Hannah Darling Fun's Some Nights

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The budget cuts Swan must make

Treasurer Wayne Swan faces some tough choices if he wants to reduce the Budget deficit, say top economists. Picture: Kym Smith Source: News Limited

CUTS to airport security, axing the baby bonus, boosting petrol excise and lifting the age at which people qualify for the aged pension are just some of the of controversial savings measures economists say are needed to balance the federal budget.

Amid predictions the budget will be in deficit for a decade, News Limited asked some of the nation's top economists to nominate where the budget savings are hidden.

The economists expect a budget deficit of about $20 billion this financial year, and about $10 billion the next.

They want the government to focus on cutting spending and closing tax loop holes and are hesitant about increasing tax rates.

Scroll down to see the complete list of suggested savings

"I do not want to see any increases in rates of tax," the chief economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch Australia Saul Eslake said.

The chief economist at AMP Capital, Shane Oliver, agrees: "Given the need to boost the economy's productive potential, budget savings should be focussed on spending cuts, not tax increases."

Dr Oliver wants the government to cut middle class welfare, industry subsidies, broadband spending and encourage greater private sector involvement in infrastructure projects.

"It is clear that total Government spending does need to be cut," Dr Oliver said.

Mr Eslake wants the government to tighten tax concessions on negative gearing, capital gains, family trusts, superannuation payouts for over 60s and abolish the Senior Australians' Tax Offset.

Economist Saul  Eslake says  the cost of airport security measures must be weighed against the hassle caused to travellers. File picture: Jane Hansen

He also wants the GST applied on food and a Medicare-style levy to pay for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. "What sort of insurance scheme has no premiums?" he said.

Mr Eslake said the Boston bombings showed that huge spending on homeland security was no guarantee against terrorism. And the cost of airport security measures must be weighed against the hassle caused to travellers.

"We employ a small army of people to do such utterly pointless tasks as confiscating shaving cream and duty free booze, waving magic wands over laptops, making female passengers remove and replace their boots, and harassing old folks with hip replacements, none of which have ever been shown to have posed the slightest risk to the travelling public."

The chief economist at JP Morgan, Stephen Walters, expects the budget will return to surplus in 2015-16, but says Australia would not lose its AAA credit rating if it did not. However, "from a fiscal credibility perspective ... there needs to be a plan that shows the Budget path is a return to surplus," he said.

Mr Walters would cut middle class welfare, reduce concessions on super, cut the bureaucracy, increase the rate of the GST, reinstate indexation of the fuel excise and lift the Medicare surcharge to encourage people to take out private health insurance.

An economist at The Eureka Report, Adam Carr, said paying off debt would save the budget $12 billion a year in interest charges. Mr Carr would remove all industry assistance, cut social security and welfare and increase the GST, the mining tax and the petroleum resource rent tax.

The author of Debunking Economics, Professor Steve Keen, thinks the budget won't be back in surplus until 2025. But this, he says, is not a problem.

"We have a surplus fetish in this country, and obsess about a deficit that is substantially smaller than applies in most of the developed world," he said.

Professor Keen wants to abolish negative gearing, axe first home buyer grants and tax capital gains at a person's income tax rate.

The chief economist at HSBC, Paul Bloxham, also does not expect a surplus in the next four financial years and is calm about the prospect. In the longer term, Mr Bloxham would lift the rate of the GST and apply it on more things like food. He would also increase the mining tax and the age of qualification for the pension.

Labor has already announced the eligibility age for the age pension will rise from 65 would rise to 67, phased in between 2017 and 2023.

CUT THE FAT: Budget savings measures recommended by economists

Welfare:

BIN the baby bonus

AXE the Schoolkids bonus

TIGHTEN eligibility for social security and welfare payments

RAISE the eligibility age for the age pension

EXTEND the income test for the age pension to include super earnings

ABOLISH the Senior Australians Tax Offset which discriminates by age, not income

Health:

INTRODUCE a Medicare-style levy to fund the disability insurance scheme

END the private health insurance rebate

INCREASE the Medicare Levy Surcharge to encourage people to take up private insurance

Industry & Infrastructure:

SCRAP industry assistance

SAVE on infrastructure costs by encouraging greater private sector involvement

Property:

ABOLISH negative gearing of property

GET RID OF first home owners grants

DITCH the discount on capital gains

Public sector:

REDUCE bureaucracy

CUT spending on security, including airports and security agencies

TRIM interest payments by retiring debt

Tax:

RAISE the rate of the GST and apply it to a wider range of goods like food

BOOST the rate of the mining tax and apply to a wider range of commodities

UP the rate of the Petroleum Resources Rent Tax.

REINSTATE indexation of the fuel excise

CRACKDOWN on use of family trusts to avoid tax

TIGHTEN tax concessions on super.

Email: jessica.irvine@news.com.au Twitter: @Jess Irvine

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Couples having girls 'demand abortions'

Dr Mark Hobart has reported an abortion specialist to the Australian Medical Board for providing an abortion to a couple who wanted a boy instead of a girl. Picture: Jon Hargest Source: Herald Sun

• Parents request abortions on gender grounds
• Obstetricians want ban on parents knowing child's sex
• Senate inquiry to probe gender-based abortions

COUPLES expecting baby girls have demanded abortions because they wanted a boy instead, doctors have revealed.

Obstetricians have proposed parents be banned from knowing the sex of unborn babies until it is too late to terminate, to prevent gender-based abortions.

One of Australia's biggest abortion clinics has revealed that parents have requested abortions on gender grounds - although it is "extremely rare" and always refused.

But News Limited has discovered a couple in Melbourne aborted their baby after discovering at 19 weeks they were having a girl - when they wanted a boy.

The couple's GP, Dr Mark Hobart, refused to give them a referral to an abortion clinic and reported the specialist who later terminated the pregnancy to the Medical Board.

"The parents were upfront and told me that was the reason for the abortion," Dr Hobart said.

"I was dumbfounded.

"To get a request for an abortion for that reason, I just couldn't believe it.

"It was the husband who did all the talking - he was so insistent."

Despite being refused a referral by Dr Hobart, the mother had an abortion a few days later.

The Medical Board told Dr Hobart on Friday it would not pursue the matter because Victorian doctors are allowed to terminate pregnancies of up to 24 weeks.

A Senate committee is inquiring into draft legislation prepared by "pro-life" Democratic Labor Party senator John Madigan, which would ban Medicare rebates for gender-selective abortions.

The inquiry is also investigating "the prevalence of gender selection - with preference for a male child - amongst some ethnic groups".

Senator Madigan yesterday said that "we do know there are cultures where a boy is preferred over a girl", although he did not have statistics on the prevalence in Australia.

The National Association of Specialist Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has suggested that laboratories which perform publicly-funded chromosomal tests during pregnancy be banned from revealing the sex of the embryo until after 20 weeks, except in cases of gender-based diseases such as Haemophilia.

"You don't keep the test results secret, you just keep the sex secret," association president Andrew Foote said.

Dr Foote said while he had no first-hand knowledge of gender-based abortion "I think it does happen."

"The view among my colleagues is they're definitely against it," he said.

"But if (patients) were of a view they must have a baby of a particular sex, they could turn up at a termination clinic and say it is for social reasons."

Dr Foote said that keeping the baby's sex secret until 20 weeks would be a "reasonable safeguard".

But Australian Medical Association president Steve Hambleton said women had the right to know everything about their pregnancy.

The Fertility Control Clinic - Victoria's biggest abortion provider - told the Senate inquiry that 96 per cent of abortions are performed before 12 weeks' gestation, when it is too early to know the sex.

"It is extremely rare for us to receive requests for gender selection abortion and we do not acquiesce to such requests," the clinic's submission states.

The clinic's psychologist, Dr Susie Allanson, said patients only requested gender-based abortions "once in a blue moon".

"It's very rare, and we have to say (to the patient) we don't provide abortion on the basis of gender," she said.

"But there would be nothing to stop a woman from going elsewhere and giving a different reason."

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists president Michael Permezel said there was no evidence that babies were being aborted because they were the wrong sex.

"I don't think there is any doctor that would perform an abortion on those grounds," he said.

A spokesman for Health Minister Tanya Plibersek said surgical termination of a pregnancy was a "clinical matter".

"As with all other clinical matters, it is a matter for the professional clinical judgment of a doctor in consultation with a patient," he said.

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Contraband fired into prisons

Contraband found in shoes seized in Mobilong prison. Picture: Department of Correctional Services Source: adelaidenow

IT IS the ultimate in jailhouse smuggling - a spud-gun bazooka that fires contraband over prison walls.

Once in the air, the package of drugs, weapons or mobile phones deploys a parachute and flutters safely down to a waiting inmate.

The bizarre device is one of an arsenal of different improvised tools used to smuggle illegal items to prisoners, ranging from a bow and arrow to a loved one's kiss.

As criminals become more innovative, the Department for Correctional Services is using cutting-edge technology to win its never-ending war against contraband. Motion sensors and biometric scanners than can "remember" fingerprints have helped authorities carry out three times the number of prisoner and visitor searches they did just three years ago.

The department's chief executive, David Brown, said that level of vigilance would continue.

"We know that prisoners and their visitors can be very resourceful and will try anything to smuggle contraband into our prisons," he said.

Tennis balls hit over fence filled with drugs. Picture: Department of Correctional Services .

"Our staff know what to look for, they are vigilant and highly skilled in identifying suspicious behaviour.

"The message is clear - it's tougher than it's ever been to smuggle anything into our prisons, and those who try could find themselves on the other side  of the bars." The department this week granted the Sunday Mail  an insight into the battle with smugglers.

In 2011-12, staff seized more than 1000 phones, drugs, homemade weapons and other banned items during 57,000 searches.

Over that period, a biometric verification scanner was installed at the Adelaide Remand Centre.

It scans and records a visitor's iris and fingerprints, meaning they can be linked to smuggling attempts.

Contraband projectiles found in spud guns Mobilong prison. Picture: Department of Correctional Services .

Prisons also feature metal detectors and X-ray scanning of all items.

Gates are equipped with trace detectors for explosives and narcotics, while fences have motion sensors. In 2008-09, before new technology was introduced, staff carried out 21,000 searches of prisoners and visitors and seized more than 700 items. Some of the more ingenious smuggling methods include:

ARROWS and tennis balls filled with drugs and fired or hit over prison walls.

TWO spud-gun bazookas - one with a parachute-deploying cartridge.

A SHOE containing drugs and a miniature syringe under the inner sole.

Contraband package found in the grounds of Mobilong prison. Picture: Department of Correctional Services .

Mr Brown said methods varied depending on the jail. Mobilong has more "projectile smuggling" than others because of its large recreation oval.

Staff at Cadell Training Centre, meanwhile, find contraband hidden in bushes around its perimeter fence. The latest criminal innovation takes its cue from international drug syndicates.

Individuals have attempted to conceal the chemical buprenorphine - a treatment for morphine addiction - inside letters and under stamps.

Smuggling-minded visitors, meanwhile, have abandoned the tradition of swallowing a drug-filled condom.

Instead, they are concealing them in their mouths and passing them to prisoners by kissing.

In 2011-12, prison staff banned 96 visitors from returning to jails because of their behaviour.

No records are kept of how many were prosecuted but, under state law, would-be smugglers face a maximum five-year jail term.

sean.fewster@news.com.au

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Why do we pay more for cars?

The Pulsar SSS. The new Pulsar's price will start from $19,990, the same price it was in 1996. Source: News Limited

NEW car prices are at record lows and driving a sales boom but Australians are still paying more than buyers in the USA.

In some cases the prices are more than double.

A survey by News Limited found the  Nissan Pulsar and Toyota Corolla have both limboed to $19,990 locally in the past six months - the same price they were 10 years ago.

But the same models in North America start at between $16,140 and $17,850 respectively.

The Australian dollar has had parity with the greenback for more than a year.

Australia's top-selling car, the Mazda3, has a recommended retail price of $20,330 locally (before on-road costs are added) but the same car starts at $18,370 in North America.

The gap widens as prices rise. A Toyota Camry starts from $30,490 locally but the same model is $24,460 in the USA.

Mazda's mid-size sedan, the Mazda6, has an even greater price disparity-- more than $10,000. It's cheaper than the Camry in the USbut dearer than it in Australia ($33,460 versus $22,968).

The Mazda3 is $20,330 here and  $18,370 in the US. Picture: Supplied

Mazda Australia spokesman Steve Maciver said standard equipment varies from country to country: "We look at how we compare to our rivals and we are happy with our prices.We believe we offer good value for money."

More glaring examples begin in the $50,000 price bracket.

A BMW 320i sedan in Australia costs $58,600 (just below the Luxury Car Tax threshold) but in the USA can be had for the same money as a Holden Commodore: $35,805. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan has a greater disparity: $67,900 here versus $35,350 there.

The car industry argues new-car prices are higher in Australia because it costs more to recoup the development costs of right-hand-drive cars given that the markets are smaller.

"Volume is king and more cars are sold in left-hand-drive countries than in right-hand-drive countries, so the customer has to pay," said Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesman David McCarthy.

"We have worked hard to make our cars as affordable as possible, and put more equipment in them, and still make a profit."

Mr McCarthy said shipping costs are also higher because the distance is greater and the car carriers mostly leave Australia empty: "It's a one-way trip".

A BMW 320i wills et you back $58,000 in Australia. They're $23,000 less in America.

The cost of financing vehicle orders also ties up more money because of the longer delivery time from Europe.

"We as a wholesaler pay for each car as it leaves the factory gate, then it's in transit for up to three months before the customer pays for it."

German sportscar maker Porsche last week slashed prices across its range by as much as $36,000 in some cases but Australians still pay more than double than those in the US for one of its speed machines.

A Porsche Carrera 911 was $229,400 in Australia before the price cut, but will drop to $206,500 from June 1. That might be cause for celebration for some, but the champagne loses its fizz when you discover the same car starts at $92,730 in the USA.

Australia's Luxury Car Tax accounts for an extra 33 per cent of the Porsche's price above $59,133 (the threshold set by the Federal Government). But that still doesn't explain why the Australian price is more than double what it is in North America.

When asked why there was still such a large price anomaly, Porsche Australia spokesman Paul Ellis said: "You don't price your car against what it costs in other countries, you price it against its local competitors. It's market positioning."

Prestige brands have strongly opposed Luxury car Tax since its inception in 2000, even though Toyota now pays more LCT than any other brand due to the large number of SUVs it sells over the threshold.

Porsche says the LCT is a "discriminatory tax".

"There isn't a tax on other luxury goods. Cars are seen as a soft target," said Mr Ellis.

This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling

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Aussie sheik on suspect's playlist?

US authorities are investigating what they believe to be the YouTube playlist of the killed Boston bombing suspect, which included video by Australian Muslim cleric Sheik Feiz Mohamed, above. Pic: Brianne Makin Source: Supplied

US authorities are investigating if the Boston Marathon bombing suspect killed in a shootout was responsible for a YouTube playlist that included a video of controversial Australian Muslim cleric Sheik Feiz Mohammed.

A YouTube page with the user name TamerlanTsarnaev features religious videos, including one of the Sydney-born sheik titled, And They Say, It's Only Sunnah.

Sheik Feiz founded the Global Islamic Centre in Liverpool in 2000 and gained notoriety worldwide for his teachings, including blaming women for being rape victims.

Boston residents Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, and his brother Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev, 19, were identified by the FBI in security footage walking through the crowd of spectators at Monday's Boston Marathon carrying backpacks. Just hours later, a wild shootout and police chase left the older brother dead.

A manhunt continues for the younger brother and much of Boston is in lockdown.

A user with the name Tamerlan Tsarnaev posted a video playlist on YouTube which included a video of the teachings of Sheik Feiz.

The same user added two videos five months ago to the playlist titled Terrorists, but each video was deleted and has the message: "This video is no longer available."

Fugitive Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, left, and his late brother and suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev in an image released by the FBI. Picture: AP/FBI

Another video, titled The Emergence of Prophecy: The Black Flags from Khorasan, begins with: "The prophet said when you see the black flags coming from the direction of Khorasan, you will join their army. That army has already started its march."

Authorities have not confirmed if the TamerlanTsarnaev who posted the videos is the Boston Marathon bombing suspect, but are scouring through any piece of information to determine why the brothers would want to bomb the marathon.

In the anti-Harry Potter clip, which Tamerlan Tsarnaev registered a "like", Sheik Feiz tells a story about visiting a house where Muslim children are watching a Harry Potter movie and the father describes it as "harmless fiction".

"Harmless?" Sheik Feiz shouts in the video.

"This film, whatever you think about it, glorifies, magnifies, promotes paganism.

"... What does Harry Potter do in his films with his devilish school mates?

"They cast spells, learn magic, brew potions, learn how to tell the future."

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Diggers join US- Korea war drill

A South Korean army K1A1 fires during the South Korea-US joint military live-fire drills at Seungjin Fire Training Field near the border with North Korea last year. Picture: AP

AUSTRALIAN combat troops have for the first time taken part in annual South Korea-US joint military drills.

The 18-member army unit joined a landing drill held near the southeastern city of Pohang as part of the Foal Eagle US-South Korea joint military exercise, a South Korean defence ministry spokesman said.

Australia is a member of the 16-nation United Nations Command, and fought alongside South Korea during the Korean War against North Korea and China.

Australian casualties in the 1950-53 war numbered more than 1500, of whom 340 were killed, according to the Australian War Memorial's official website.

It was the first time combat troops from a United Nations Command member state had joined a US-South Korea joint exercise since the Korean War, the South Korean spokesman said.

Australian soldiers on patrol in Afghanistan ... now troops have joined war drills in South Korea for the first time. File picture: Craig Greenhill

The inclusion of Australian troops followed a request from Canberra "to gain experience in joint military exercises'', he added.

The month-long exercises started on April 5 involving 3000 South Korean and US Marines.

The Korean peninsula has been in a state of heightened military tension since North Korea carried out its third nuclear test in February.

In response to fresh UN sanctions and joint South Korea-US military exercises, Pyongyang has spent weeks issuing blistering threats of missile strikes and nuclear war.

U.S. soldiers gather during annual military drills in Yeoncheon, South Korea, near the border with North Korea. AP

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Are we prepared for a Boston attack?

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus will be a guest on Meet The Press. File picture: Ray Strange Source: News Limited

Kathryn Robinson, new host of Meet the Press TV program. Picture: Craig Greenhill Source: Supplied

• Meet The Press screens at 1030am Sunday on Network Ten

AS more details emerge about the men that carried out this week's bombings in Boston, Network Ten's Meet the Press will talk to Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus about Australia's preparedness for a similar attack.

In the wake of the blasts which killed three people and injured nearly 200 on Tuesday, Mr Dreyfus insisted there was a constant threat of "violent activities'' on home soil but that Australian counter-terrorism organisations remained vigilant.

The Attorney-General will also face questions on the government's stance on same-sex marriage after New Zealand legalised the practice this week.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott on Friday indicated he could be prepared to allow his MPs a conscience vote on the issue in the next parliament if that's what the party wants.

Meet The Press, which airs at 10:30am Sunday on Network Ten, will also look at the issue of immunisation with the Australian Medical Association President, Dr Steve Hambleton appearing as a guest.

Dr Hambleton this week warned the that the H3N2 influenza virus that killed 20 children in the US was heading to Australia and those who weren't vaccinated could die.

"It's absolutely true (that it is a killer flu), and some of the people reading this might be the victims, I'm sorry to say. It will kill people,'' he said.

As Australian's prepare to mark Anzac Day, Meet the Press will also examine whether troops returning from conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq are being forgotten.

Dr Andrew Khoo from Brisbane's Toowong Private Hospital and David Catteral from the Federation of Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Ex Servicemen and Women will join the program to look at the issues faced by returning service personnel.
 

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Ford's great wall of silence

Ford Australian-designed Escort for the Chinese market. Source: Supplied

• Ford Australia designs new small car for China
   
• But foreign execs won't give Australia credit where it's due
   
• Escort name makes a comeback after 11 years, but not in Australia

FORD Australia has played a leading role in designing what could become the best-selling car in China, but Ford's global bosses won't give Australians the credit for doing the work.

A skilled team of Australian stylists based at Broadmeadows in Victoria designed the sleek new version of the Ford Escort, which is intended to be built in China and sold alongside the Ford Focus - the best-selling car in the world's biggest car market.

But Ford Australia has inexplicably been robbed of sharing the good news - against the backdrop of an uncertain future for its manufacturing operations - about its close ties with the world's automotive superpower.

While the future of Ford Australia's manufacturing operations remains in doubt beyond 2016 - following record-low sales and no application for government funding beyond that deadline - the company has gradually restructured its business to supply designers and engineers to the rest of the Ford world.

But when Ford executives were asked about Australia's involvement in the car unveiled at the Shanghai motor show overnight, senior management of the company claimed it was a "global effort" with "some Australian input".

Jim Farley, Ford's global head of sales and marketing declined to nominate where the car was designed, as did the former boss of Ford Australia (and Geelong resident) Marin Burela, who is now based in China.

The Asia-Pacific boss of Ford, David Schoch, and the new design chief for Ford in the Asia Pacific region, Joel Piaskowski, also downplayed or refused to confirm Australia's involvement.

Ford does not have a design studio in China; Australia is the nearest - and one of only five fully fledged design centres in the Ford world.

Australia's design and engineering workforce has grown from a staff of 350 in the early 2000s to more than 1100 today, as the company takes on more work for the rest of the region.

Ford Australia has also sent up to 50 designers and engineers to China on assignment to help establish a new development centre there.

Kumar Kalhotra, Ford's Asia Pacific product development chief, told News Limited: "Ford Australia isn't designing products just for Australia, they're designing products for the globe." But he stopped short of revealing Australia's involvement in the new Ford Escort.

When asked if Ford Australia wasn't given more credit for the work on such an important car because other international divisions might take offence, Kalhotra said: "I don't think it's about offending anybody, it really is a total team effort."

This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling
 

Ford Australian-designed Escort for the Chinese market.

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Shop carpeted over 12.5pc credit, fee

Matt Levey, head of Campaigns for Choice outside at Leichhardt Carpet Court where they are believed to be the biggest card surcharge in Australia, a whopping 12.5 per cent if you use Visa, Mastercard - or even more incredibly, eftpos . Picture: Nic Gibson Source: News Limited

Businesses will come clean about credit card surcharges. Source: Supplied

IS this the biggest credit card surcharge in Australia?

A carpet store in Sydney has been charging customers 12.5 per cent if they use Visa, Mastercard - and even eftpos.

But in a win for consumers, the impact of new limits on credit-card surcharges has finally begun to be felt with businesses forced to bring down fees.

On March 18, changes imposed by the Reserve Bank of Australia, which runs the payment system, took effect.

The new rules limit surcharges to the "reasonable cost of acceptance". The central bank made the changes because it was concerned about excessive surcharging.

Since then Visa has received more than 50 consumer complaints, which it is in the process of investigating.

Victories include putting an end to the biggest surcharge in the country - a 12.5 per cent fee for paying for carpet offcuts with plastic. And a consumer's complaint about a $63 fee on a tour booking led to the Sydney travel agent's 2.5 per cent surcharge being halved.

But some major merchants are still ripping off their customers.

Visa Australia head Vipin Kalra said fees of more than 1.2 per cent for paying with its card could no longer be justified.

"Anything over ... would be considered very excessive," Mr Kalra said.

The average Visa and Mastercard fee paid by merchants is 0.79 per cent; American Express is 1.81 per cent.

Under the RBA's "guidance note", the reasonable cost of acceptance can include some other expenses, such as fraud losses and IT expenses - but not staff time, which is what News Limited found a Sydney flooring shop was doing.

Both Visa and Mastercard forced Carpet Court Leichhardt to remove a 12.5 per cent "administration charge" on their cards after the fee was brought to their attention.

Owner Sandro Landini said the surcharge served mainly as "deterrent", was almost always waived and applied only to "remnant pieces". There was no charge on the "full service" side of his business.

While defending the charge, Mr Landini admitted he only paid a fee of 1 to 2 per cent to Visa and Mastercard before pointing to the time cost of accepting cards and cheques.

It required him to set up a customer account, write an invoice and do additional bookwork. He argued the cost of his time to do these things was part of his reasonable cost of acceptance. .

"Under the RBA's guidance note, that's just not going to cut it," said Choice Magazine's head of campaigns, Matt Levey, who has led the fight against excessive surcharges.

Mr Levey said that while the carpet store's fee was the biggest he knew of, airlines were still worse.

Lachlan Colquhoun, head of markets analysis at East & Partners - which does surcharge research for the RBA - said airline and ticket company surcharges were "almost outrageous".

No airline has taken any action to reduce their fees.

Jetstar was recently presented with a petition of 35,000 people fed up with its $8.50 "booking fee". It denies even having a credit card surcharge.

Mr Colquhoun said surcharges were now 1 per cent higher than the fee paid to Visa and Mastercard.

"Many retailer are now looking at those surcharges as part of their margin," Mr Colquhoun said. Jetstar and its parent, Qantas, have repeatedly denied making money from booking fees.

Got a news tip? Email John Rolfe

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Banned flu vaccine given to tots

Fluvax caused minor to severe side-effects in nearly 80 per cent of the children according to one study.

A FLU vaccine dangerous to children was rolled out across Australia despite serious side effects detected in a clinical trial.

And some doctors are still mistakenly injecting kids with the CSL-produced Fluvax - three years after it was banned for young children due to the risk of high fevers and fits.

News Limited can reveal that a baby suffered a febrile convulsion and 20 other children recorded such high fevers they could not be given their second dose during a clinical trial that began a year before Fluvax triggered febrile convulsions in 100 children.

GPs and clinics began mass immunisations at the start of the flu season in March 2010.

Within weeks, Fluvax was banned for the under-fives after triggering febrile convulsions in one in every 100 children - 10 times the expected rate.

The 1992 healthy children involved in the CSL-funded clinical trial were injected between March and August 2009, and data was collated by February 2010.

But the Therapeutic Goods Administration said yesterday CSL did not provide preliminary data until April 26, 2010 - three days after the Chief Medical Officer ordered a halt to the entire immunisation program.

And a synopsis of the findings - which revealed that a seven-month old baby suffered a febrile convulsion, high fever and severe vomiting within four hours of the flu shot - was not given to the TGA until June 2010.

The findings were published this month in the international medical journal, Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses.

The study recorded 588 episodes of fever, and 26 "serious adverse events", including 19 among children younger than three.

Fluvax caused minor to severe side-effects in nearly 80 per cent of the children, the study team reported, with at least one in four of the youngest children developing a fever after their first dose.

The study team recommended "further research" to understand why the vaccine triggered fevers.

CSL spokeswoman Sharon McHale yesterday said all CSL's flu vaccine trials had met international requirements, "including the timely reporting of adverse events and disclosure of clinical trial data to regulatory agencies."

"Febrile events are known side-effects of vaccination in children," she said.

"Based on the clinical data available to CSL at the time, the significant increase in febrile convulsions that occurred in children in 2010 were unexpected and could not have been predicted."

Australian National University microbiologist Professor Peter Collignon - an adviser to the World Health Organisation - said the febrile convulsion and high fevers detected in the clinical trial "should have been a red flag".

The Health Department spokeswoman said drug companies were not required to complete clinical trials before supplying new vaccines because there was not enough time between selecting new flu strains and manufacturing the vaccine. Subs: do not remove

An investigation by News Limited reveals that some doctors have mistakenly given the CSL-produced Fluvax to 11 children in recent weeks,

Two children in Western Australia, three in Queensland, three in NSW, one in the Northern Territory were given Fluvax shots, and Victorian Health is investigating two cases.

The federal Health Department said it was "concerned" doctors had given Fluvax to the under-5s "contrary to very clear instructions".

Australian Medical Association president Steve Hambleton said four alternative vaccines were still available for children ahead of a potentially deadly flu season.

Got a story tip? Email Natasha Bita

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Anzac Day terror warning for Turkey

Australians are being warned of the possibility of terror attacks in Turkey as Anzac Day approaches. File image. Source: AFP

AUSTRALIANS attending Gallipoli's Anzac Day dawn service are being warned of the possibility of a terrorist attack in the country.

Visitors making the April 25 pilgrimage are being told to "exercise a high degree of caution in Turkey because of the high threat of terrorist attack".

The warnings, contained in the Department of Foreign Affairs' Smartraveller bulletin for Turkey and Anzac travellers, ask people to be aware terrorists are constantly active in the country.

The latest attack was in February when a suicide bomber targeted the US Embassy in Ankara, killing himself and a security guard and injuring others.

The Turkish Government has warned the group claiming responsibility is planning further attacks.

There have been nine notable events since 2010, and Australian Amanda Rigg, 22, was killed when a suicide bomber hit an Istanbul police station in 2001.

A gate of the US embassy just after a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device at the embassy in the Turkish capital, Ankara earlier this year.

"Terrorist attacks can occur anywhere at any time in Turkey," the travel advice says.

"In recent years, terrorist attacks have occurred in tourist areas and locations frequented by foreigners.

"Foreigners have been killed and injured."

Terrorism expert Professor Clive Williams, from the Australian National University, said Australian tourists were not usually targets but the advice was sensible.

Travellers risked being caught in "the wrong place", as Ms Rigg had been, he said.

"She was not targeted, she just happened to be where a bomb went off," Professor Williams said.

"In Turkey, the main target is the government and then second is the United States and then third is the UK.

"You just need to be careful where you go and what you do in Turkey."

Travellers should avoid government offices, embassies and consulates, be wary in busy areas like transport hubs and exercise particular care around significant local dates, like May Day on May 1.

Those considering travelling to areas bordering with Syria, Iraq and Iran are told to reconsider their need to travel.

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Fears over Labor 'jobs for the boys'

Prime Minister Julia Gillard  with Governor General Quentin Bryce and some of her ministers. There are concerns about Labor appointing a new Governor-General before the September 14 election. File picture: Gary Ramage Source: News Limited

• Fears Gillard wants to lock-in jobs before election
• Ex-Labor Premiers touted for plum overseas postings
• Abbott says Coalition could overturn appointments

TONY Abbott has warned Julia Gillard against racing to appoint Australia's next Governor-General before the election and is threatening to overturn key Labor appointments if the Coalition wins power.

In a dramatic escalation of pre-poll tensions, the Opposition leader plans to directly raise his concerns over Australia's head of state with Ms Gillard, amid fears Labor wants to lock-in a raft of "jobs for the boys"- style appointments.

An investigation by News Limited can reveal an unprecedented number of one-time Labor MPs and union officials have been appointed to key Commonwealth agencies and statutory bodies, often on lucrative salaries.

At the same time, former Labor Victorian premiers John Brumby and Steve Bracks have been touted as candidates for one of Australia's high-profile overseas posts, Consul-General in New York. The plum role comes with an annual base salary of around $250,000 and luxurious living conditions in a $25 million apartment on the East River.

A large number of former State MPs wiped out in the most recent NSW and Queensland elections have received generous appointments to Commonwealth boards, including former NSW Minister Verity Firth, ex-Queensland Premier Anna Bligh, ex-West Australian Premier Geoff Gallop and one-time Deputy Victorian Premier John Thwaites.

News Limited does not suggest that any of the appointments were made without merit.

John Howard was attacked for appointing a number of like-minded conservative warriors to Commonwealth boards during his 13 years in office but seasoned Canberra observers say the Gillard Government is "without peer".

Former Victorian Premier Steve Bracks, pictured right with Bob Hawke at his book launch, is being touted for a plum overseas position. File image

The Opposition believes this process will accelerate but is warning that an incoming Coalition government could overturn key reappointments, including the heads of the Australian Electoral Commission and Screen Australia.

There are high-level concerns that Ms Gillard would like to anoint the next Australian head of state before voters go to the polls on September 14.

Senior Coalition sources believe the Government is sifting through a raft of names for the vice-regal position, even though Quentin Bryce's current term finishes in March 2014.

Mr Abbott yesterday issued a blunt warning to Ms Gillard as the Prime Minister was revving up Labor Pary faithful at the Victorian ALP Conference.

"The Coalition is concerned at the Gillard Government's increasing practice of making government appointments now that will not even commence until after the September 14 election," a spokesman for Mr Abbott said.

"Quite properly, appointments to government positions that will commence after the next election should be the responsibility of either a re-elected Gillard Government, or a new Coalition Government.

Former Queensland Premier Anna Bligh is one Labor figure appointed to a government board. File image:  Rob Maccoll

"We want to make it very clear that while notnecessarily reflecting on the merits of putative appointees, should it be elected, the Coalition expressly reserves its rights to reconsider any appointments that will commence after the September 14 election."

The latest stoush between the Coalition and the Government comes amid speculation the Government will shortly announce a number of important diplomatic posts, including the role of Consul General to New York.

That position has been filled in the past by Liberal figures, including former South Australian Premier John Olsen and long-time Senator and John Howard ally, Michael Baume.

Mr Brumby, who once employed Ms Gillard as his chief of staff, said the position was "not on my agenda" although he has discussed the possibility of taking the role with business colleagues.

Mr Bracks, who currently holds a number of senior board positions, has also been touted as a potential replacement to Phil Scanlan, whose term expires in September. He was unavailable for comment yesterday.

The Coalition and business have been highly critical of recent appointments to the Fair Work Commission, including former ACTU President Jeff Lawrence, who will earn up to $425,000 in remuneration as a vice president.

But other appointments have been made with little fanfare.

Just weeks ago, former NSW Minister Verity Firth was quietly appointed to the board of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care while former ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope was given a lucrative job as Administrator of Christmas and Cocos Islands a role that brings an annual salary of $226,340.

John Thwaites, Victoria's deputy premier between 1999 to 2007, has been well looked after, being appointed Chair of the National Sustainability Council last October, adding to his role as Chair of the Australian Building Codes Board.

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Pollies benefit as workers take a hit

POLITICIANS on generous taxpayer-funded defined benefits would be thousands of dollars better off than ordinary workers whose superannuation earnings will be slugged, the Opposition said last night.

Treasury modelling shows a retired politician on a pension of $250,000 a year would only be hit $13,125 a year in an equivalent impost set by actuaries.

Their notional earnings would be set at $187,500 for the purpose of calculating their hit, leaving them to pay 15 per cent tax on $87,500.

Super earnings above $100,000 will be hit with a 15 per cent tax, the government announced yesterday.

"They are being totally hypocritical, they are going after people who have been working and saving a lifetime to get themselves in a position where they can enjoy a comfortable retirement when they are in the top 0.2 per cent," Opposition superannuation spokesman Mathias Cormann said.

Treasurer Wayne Swan and Superannuation Minister Bill Shorten say the hit will affect just 16,000 people. Picture: Kym Smith

"They will not pay anywhere near the tax they will ask other people who have worked hard to fund their retirement to.

"Prime Minister Julia Gillard's taxpayer-funded pension is estimated to be around $177,000 a year with the total value of her pension estimated at more than $7 million.

The government will release draft legislation within weeks to apply equivalent superannuation changes introduced last year to Federal MPs' pensions and Federal judges.

It is understood it will also apply an equivalent of yesterday's hit.

A constitutional lawyer said the government could face a High Court challenge if it attempted to apply the impost to judges.

News Limited can reveal judges and state Members of Parliament will escape a hit on their pensions because the Federal Government found it would be unconstitutional.

The Federal Government has left state judges and state MPs out of the draft legislation, preserving their generous tax-payer funded defined benefit pensions.

Ordinary workers on $300,000 or more were slugged with a $3750 impost in last year's budget when the government doubled the tax rate on concessional contributions.

State judges were successful in a High Court challenge of the Howard government's super surcharge which found a limit to the Federal Government's power.

Constitutional lawyer George Williams said the government could also face a challenge if it attempts to take money from federal judges.

"When it comes to existing federal judges they (the government) are very much limited in what they can do, judges aren't allowed to have their pay decreased, the reason for that is you don't want money taken from judges if government don't like their decisions,'' Mr Williams said.

A leading organisation made up of judges and magistrates said it would wait to see the detail of the proposed legislation but did not rule out a High Court challenge.

Chair of the Judicial Conference's Governing Council Justice Philip McMurdo said there was a question whether judge's pensions could be hit "in a way that stands up to the constitution''.

He said judges in the Federal Court, Family Court and Federal Magistrate's Court are governed "by a provision in the constitution that says the remuneration of a judge cannot reduced.

"It just all depends on the detail.''

The Gillard government says only about 16,000 retirees will be impacted by changes to tax on super earnings.

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Killer mum to be deported to Australia

Australians Curtis and Allyson McConnell with their children Conner and Jayden, whowere found dead in their home in Canad. Allyson Mcconnell is to be deported on Monday after serving 10 months of a 15-month jail sentence for manslaughter. Picture: Facebook Source: Supplied

ALLYSON McConnell, the Australian mother convicted of drowning her two young sons in Canada, will be deported to her homeland next week, a report says.

Allyson McConnell's jail term ended yesterday after she served 10 months of her 15-month sentence in an Alberta hospital.

Allyson McConnell drowned in two young sons in bath. court told

Albertan authorities had been expected to ask the Canadian government to stop the deportation so that appeals could be heard.

But Canada's federal Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews said Alberta's justice minister was too late in asking for the stay of deportation when McConnell's case was reviewed by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada on Friday (Saturday AEDT), local CBC news reported.

The review follows protests by McConnell's former husband, Curtis McConnell, and Alberta authorities who lodged appeals against what they deemed was the Australian's lenient sentence and conviction for manslaughter, rather than murder.

They wanted the appeals to be heard before she leaves Canada. The deportation review scheduled McConnell to leave on Monday (local time) for Australia, CBC reported.

Until then, 34-year-old McConnell would remain in the Edmonton psychiatric hospital.

Meanwhile, Alberta Justice Minister Jonathan Denis said the prosecution service would press ahead with its appeals, CBC reported.

"Whether or not Ms McConnell remains in Canada, Albertans can be assured that the prosecution service is pressing ahead with these appeals and will continue to seek justice in this case,'' Denis said in a statement.

McConnell, who suffered depression, drowned 10-month-old Jayden and two-and-a-half-year-old Connor in the bathtub of their family home in Millet, Alberta, in 2010.

The judge who convicted McConnell of the lesser charge of manslaughter found she did not have the requisite intent for murder.

McConnell moved to Canada in 2005 from her home on the NSW Central Coast, met Curtis McConnell and they married.

However, the marriage soured and the McConnells were engaged in a bitter divorce before the deaths, with McConnell desperate to take her boys back to her home town of Gosford.

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Outrage over sex art near school

The sex shop at 96 Goodwood Road, Goodwood, displaying the graphic artwork in the front window. Picture: Dean Martin Source: adelaidenow

• Tell us: Is the image too graphic for a suburban high street? Post comments below

THIS is the graphic artwork in a sex store window which confronts families and children on busy Goodwood Road, less than 500m from the Goodwood Primary School.

The bondage scene - on display at the Adult Products At No 96 store, at Goodwood - shows a woman with her legs apart, her private parts covered with a playing card, a menacing-looking man leering at her in the background.

As far as the community can tell, no one can do anything about it.

adelaidenow was contacted on Friday by parents who believe that the image is both demeaning to women and too graphic for public display.

Goodwood mum Julie Halbert, a mother of four girls under the age of 15, was passing the sex shop near the tramline with her children on Friday afternoon when she saw the image.

"Until they put this display up I couldn't have cared less but this latest effort is really not OK," Julie said.

"On so many levels it is such a horrible depiction of a woman with her legs apart and this man leering over her.

"It is the fact that it is so derogatory to women and so graphic and prominent that is the problem.

"I rang the Unley Council and they couldn't have been more pathetic, they said there was nothing they could do and that I should ring the police. But I am sure the police have got better things to do."

Another local parent said it was "bizarre" that there were three sex shops in the space of a kilometre along Goodwood Road in an area which has a primary school, family-run cafes and a cinema that regularly screens children's movies.

"I'm not a wowser but it is pretty annoying that you can take your kids to see Happy Feet at the Capri Cinema and when you walk out the front you have to explain to them that the shop directly opposite called The Pink Pussy is not actually a pet shop," the father said.

The owner of Adult Products at No. 96, who did not want to be named, said she commissioned the artwork to appear at Barrio - the hugely popular over-18s nightclub that ran during the Festival of Arts.

She said she has received only positive comments about the image, produced by Brisbane graffiti artist Sofles, who has done work for Red Bull and Adidas.

"It was so hugely accepted at the Festival and I made a decision to have it up as a window display for a short period of time," she said.

"We have our windows (displays) changed on a very regular basis ... it will be coming down shortly, before Mother's Day (on May 12)

"I never want to offend anyone. Had I received a negative response I would have taken it down immediately."

She said playing cards were added to "strategic areas" on the original artwork before it was displayed in her store. 

adelaidenow is attempting to reach Unley Mayor Lachlan Clyne for comment.

The Sunday Mail and your local Messenger newspaper would also like to hear from you about any similar issues in your area.

Email mailedit@news.com.au

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Finks bikie arrested over club bashing

A fourth bikie has been arrested for the savage bashing of a senior colleague in February.
  Source: adelaidenow

A FINKS bikie was arrested this morning for the savage bashing of a senior colleague at the outlaw motorcycle gang's clubrooms at Middle Row, Salisbury, in February.

The 41-year-old is the fourth man arrested by outlaw Crime Gangs Task Force detectives.

The bikie from Mile End has been charged with aggravated cause serious harm and aggravated robbery and will appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday.

Police are still trying to identify a fifth suspect involved in the assault, which took place about 3.10pm on February 13.

The bashing victim suffered serious injuries including collapsed lungs, broken jaw, broken leg and other facial fractures.

He was also robbed of jewellery during the attack, which police strongly suspected was as a result of a falling out amongst Finks members.

Since the assault police have raided a number of locations and seized items for forensic testing.

Today's arrest follows a swoop by police on Friday resulting in the capture of three men over the bashing: cruiserweight boxer Mostyn Niemann, 26, from Hendon, Bozidar Cecic, 22, of no fixed address and a 20-year-old from Albert Park.

All were charged with aggravated cause serious harm and aggravated robbery and appeared in court yesterday.

Two are Finks members and one is a Finks associate.

Detective Superintendent John DeCandia, Officer in Charge Crime Gangs Task Force, yesterday appealed for public help to help identify the outstanding suspect.

"We are seeking information from the community, which can be provided anonymously, to identify and locate him," he said.

"The investigation is on-going and further arrests have not been ruled out.

"Gang violence will not be tolerated and we will take action to ensure that those responsible are arrested and made to account for their actions."

Police encourage anyone with information that may assist to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at www.sa.crimestoppers.com.au

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Woman found dead 'had child'

HOMICIDE squad detectives were called out to Ballarat where a woman has been found dead.

Paramedics were called to the house with reports of an assault just before 11am, but the woman was found dead on their arrival.

It remains unclear whether police have anyone in custody.

One neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Herald Sun the victim had a small child.

''It's a big shock and a terrible shame,'' she said.

''The woman has a small child, but I've not seen them for about two weeks.''

Anyone with information on the incident should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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WikiLeaks to run Senate candidates

Julian Assange is still holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. Source: AFP

THE WikiLeaks Party will run Senate candidates in Victoria, NSW and Western Australia, including a yet to be named running mate for Julian Assange, who would fill the Victorian seat if Assange was elected but unable to return to the country.

The candidates will be announced over the next few weeks.

Campaign director Greg Barns said the party had not ruled out running candidates in other states - or the House of Representatives - and there had so far been discussions with "potential high quality candidates" in the nominated states.

"We certainly think we're in the mix to win a senate seat in each of the three states," Mr Barns said in Melbourne today.

If Assange is elected but cannot return to the country, his running mate will take up his seat.

Assange is living in the Ecuadorean embassy in London where he has been granted asylum to avoid being extradited to Sweden.

Mr Barnes said if Assange was elected, whether he was able to take up his seat would be a matter for the Australian government.

"The situation would be that you would have a person whom the voters of Victoria have elected.

"It would be up to the government to secure the opportunity for Mr Assange to come back to Australia," Mr Barns said.

"It would be internationally embarrassing for the voters of Victoria not to be able to have in the senate the person for whom they voted on September 14."

He added the election was not a legal strategy on the part of Assange to get back to Australia.

"If that were the case he would simply put his name down for the Senate, run in the ungrouped category and hope to get elected," Mr Barns said.

Newly-appointed party spokesperson Sam Castro said the WikiLeaks party had already exceeded the 500 members required to register as a party.

"We're in the process of checking that they're already legitimately enrolled," Ms Castro said.

"It seems that we are going to well and truly exceed the numbers required by the Australian Electoral Commission to register ourselves as a political party."

She said the party hoped to have that achieved by mid-May.

The party was drawing members from both of the major sides of politics as well as people who had not previously been politically active, Ms Castro said.

Assange cannot even look out of the windows of the Ecuadorean embassy in London, but his confinement has not dampened his work ethic, his father says.

''The conditions are physically harsh,'' Assange's biological father John Shipton says.

''He's not allowed to look out the windows for fear of admirers throwing food, you don't know if it's contaminated or not.''

But a constant stream of visitors is keeping his intellect alive and the demands of the WikiLeaks organisation -and now its political party - are keeping him busy, according to Mr Shipton.

Speaking at the launch of the WikiLeaks Party in Melbourne today, Mr Shipton described his son as ''well''.

''Emotionally he's steady and has tremendous support.''

The Ecuadoreans are looking after him, he said.

Mr Shipton, who is the chairman of the WikiLeaks Party, said the decision to enter politics is a result of the ''transparency movement'' maturing.

''This is the political manifestation of an event that's been unfolding for 10 years,'' Mr Shipton said.

''In this way, transparency can have the arm of accountability with some political authority and power behind it.''

He said Assange had first broached the possibility of running for government late in 2011 and was was ''very firm'' in his commitment to politics.

''If the people of Victoria elect him to represent them that's his job; to represent the people of Victoria in the senate,'' Mr Shipton said.

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Skateboard road rage attack arrest

An amateur cameraman caught an ugly road rage incident in Australia's Gold Coast while waiting at the traffic lights. Sarah Toms reports.

A SKATEBOARDER has been arrested over a violent road rage bashing at a busy Gold Coast intersection.

Horrified witnesses caught on camera and posted to YouTube footage of a man with a skateboard attacking the driver of a car stopped at a traffic light in Bundall on March 30.

The fight spilled on to the road, with both men throwing punches, leaving them both badly bleeding.

A 24-year-old Bundall man was arrested and charged with affray over a violent road rage bashing at a busy Gold Coast intersection. Picture: Nine News

The driver returned to his car before the other man walked up and smashed the car's taillight.

Witnesses could be heard on the video calling 000.

CHARGED: A skateboarder has been arrested over a violent road rage bashing at a Gold Coast intersection. Image: Channel 9

Police say they have charged a 24-year-old Bundall man with affray following the incident.

They say it will be alleged that the man assaulted a 50-year-old man at the intersection of Bundall Road and Thomas Drive Southport, near the Chevron Island Bridge.

A 24-year-old Bundall man was arrested and charged with affray over a violent road rage bashing at a busy Gold Coast intersection. Picture: Nine News

The accused man has been given a notice to appear in Southport Magistrates Court on April 15.

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