Latham's 'cruel and dangerous' attack

Former Labor leader Mark Latham's remarks "cruel and dangerous". Picture: Gary Ramage Source: The Daily Telegraph

MARK Latham's cruel jibes over the Liberal frontbencher Andrew Robb's battle with depression were "deeply dangerous" and could stop sufferers from seeking help, the opposition finance spokesman has warned.

After remaining silent in the wake of Mr Latham's suggestion he was not fit to formulate policy because he was a "troubled" individual, Mr Robb said it was deeply sad that the remarks could make people hide their problems.

"It's very dangerous. He's used my mental health history as a way of dismissing anything I am doing," Mr Robb told the Sunday Herald Sun.

"It just perpetuates the stigma. Big time"

Mr Latham attacked Mr Robb again on Sky Television on Saturday, refusing to apologise for the remark and waving around a copy of Mr Robb's memoir Black Dog Haze.

"Does he need to apologise to himself ? He wrote a book. He wrote a book outing himself as having a lifetime of trouble with mental illness," Mr Latham said.

On Thursday, Mr Latham used his column in the Australian Financial Review to attack Mr Robb's policy credentials writing that "the chances of a troubled character like Robb successfully planning the transformation of northern Australia are zero"

A key member of Liberal Leader Tony Abbott's economic team, Mr Robb is expected to play a frontline policy role if the Coalition is elected. In 2009 he took time out from the frontbench to tackle the depression that had dogged him in the mornings for years.

Mr Robb said he had never felt better after seeking help after privately battling feeling depressed in the mornings for nearly 43 years.

"I achieved a few things in those 43 years. But I don't regret going public. I had no choice really but I've got nothing to prove. I had to deal with it and I did and I've got a new life really"

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Japan's whale hunt 'could be over'

Anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd Australia releases a new video showing collisions between one of their vessels and two Japanese ships. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

THE Japanese whaling fleet is heading north, prompting hopes of an early end to the whaling season.

Sea Shepherd Australia director Bob Brown said the whalers were now well out of Australia's whale sanctuary and he was hopeful, although not certain, it signalled the end of the whaling season.

"It's been steering north for two days now and has moved out of the whale sanctuary,'' Dr Brown said today from Tasmania.

"Both groups are being followed by our ships.

"The whales themselves are beginning to migrate and the plankton is rapidly diminishing. It's very, very good news, but not absolute yet.''

"Is whaling over for the season? We are not positive but we are 80 per cent sure that it may be over," Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson said in a statement posted on the group's website.

A Minke whale loaded on to the slipway of the Japanese whaling fleet's factory vessel, the Nishin Maru (left), as the Yushin Maru No. 2 (right) looks on in the Southern Ocean. AFP PHOTO / "Sea Shepherd Australia / Glenn Lockitch

Sea Shepherd has been chasing the Japanese fleet since it arrived in the Southern Ocean on January 28.

The season would usually end this month.

Dr Brown said he believed the number of whales killed by Japanese whalers this season was well short of 100, which could make it the lowest in nearly 200 years with the exception of the world wars.

Mr Watson believes the fleet managed to kill no more than 75 whales, dramatically below both its target and last year's catch.

"Although Operation Zero Tolerance did not realise zero kills, this campaign will see the lowest take by the Japanese whaling fleet in the entire history of their Antarctic whale hunts," he said.

A photo taken by whalers shows Sea Shepherd's Bob Barker, right, colliding with the Japanese fleet fuel tanker the San Laurel off Antarctica. Picture: AFP

Barring an early decision by the International Court of Justice, the whalers are expected to be back at work in December.

Even if that court case by Australia begins in a few months as tipped, a decision is not likely until next year.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society then Sea Shepherd Australia have been trying to hinder the Japanese Antarctic season, provoking criticism by both sides of dangerous manoeuvring.

Japan insists its whaling is for scientific purposes, which would make it allowable under international convention.

Japan hunts whales every year under a loophole in a 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling that allows lethal scientific research.

A photo taken by conservation group Sea Shepherd shows its vessel Bob Barker sandwiched between the Japanese whaling ship Nisshin Maru, left, and the whaling fleet's fuel tanker, the San Laurel. Picture: AFP

Japan defends its hunts as part of its culture but anti-whaling countries such as Australia and New Zealand have sought an end to the practice.

Comment is being sought from Japan's Institute for Cetacean Research.

Sea Sheperd activists took vdieo of this minke whale which ahd been harpooned by one of the japanese whaling vessels on february 15. Picture: Sea Shepherd

Japanese whaling vessel Nisshin Maru, right, collides with the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin in waters near Antarctica. (AP Photo/Sea Shepherd Australia, Tim Watters)

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Firearm fear in Mad Dog siege

Police prepare for a possible confrontation in Justin Ave. Picture: Blair Hamish Source: Herald Sun

A FUGITIVE under siege in a Melbourne suburb for more than 24 hours was seen with something strapped to his body, police have confirmed.

Antonio "Mad Dog" Loguancio, 40, was seen with the object when he approached the door about 3pm in his bungalow in a quiet street in Melbourne's north.

Loguancio was cornered by police at 7pm on Friday in Justin Ave, Glenroy.

Police said he had not been given any food. It was unclear if he had slept since the standoff began.

Police were blowing a loud siren about 6 o'clock last night to keep Loguancio awake.

Serial rapist Antonio Loguancio remains holed up in a house in Melbourne's north as a stand off with police enters a second day.

A robot was seen entering the property to assess the situation.

Victoria Police Superintendent Dean Stevenson said Loguancio was having mood swings.

"He did come out at some stage with something strapped to him, but we haven't been able to establish if that was a firearm or not," Supt Stevenson said.

"It was either on his arm or on his chest."

Interested bystanders watch on the scene of the siege in Justin Ave, Glenroy. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

He did not confirm if police knew whether Loguancio had taken drugs.

Police wanted him to surrender peacefully and to take him to a police station, Supt Stevenson said.

"He will get an opportunity to see his family, opportunity to see a solicitor, to talk to a solicitor, an opportunity to talk to whoever he would like to talk to back at that police station," he said.

Antonio Loguancio. Picture: Victoria Police

"We want to negotiate a peaceful resolution, we don't want anyone hurt out of this." Police have been pursuing Loguancio after an alleged assault on a woman a week ago.

Loguancio's best friend, Mick Collett, who was in regular phone contact with the fugitive, said Loguancio feared police would shoot him and did not want to go to jail.

Officers in Justin Ave with police dogs. Picture: Hamish Blair

Mr Collett said Loguancio was a night owl and had no intention of ending the siege.

"He just doesn't want to go to jail for something he didn't do - that's all it is," Mr Collett told the Sunday Herald Sun.

Loguancio's mother and sister were at the scene, but it was believed he had refused to speak to either of them.

Mr Collett said Loguancio should be enjoying a day at the Avalon Air Show with him instead of being under police siege.

Police set up at the scene in Glenroy where Antonio Loguancio is holed up inside a house. Picture: Ian Currie

John Lawrie, who described himself as Loguancio's 'surrogate brother', said he knows him as a lovable man and a big kid but has urged Loguancio to come out immediately.

''Just do yourself a favour...Just come out peacefully,''Mr Lawrie said.

Joe Greco, 54, whose Maude St property is directly behind the scene of the siege, said two armed Special Operations Group officers had jumped his fence on Friday night and continued to man the area.

"They explained they were police officers and said, 'Oh, this shouldn't be long' but then at about 10pm one of them told me it was confirmed he's got a shotgun," Mr Greco said.

Armed police walk down Justin Ave, Glenroy. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

"The whole neighbourhood has to be inconvenienced because of some actions.

"Out of all the places in Victoria this guy had to come and get held-up, it's at the back of mine."

Glenroy resident Craig Jackson, 49, said he wanted police to end the siege.

"They are playing to his every need and these poor people are trapped and can't leave their homes," he said.

On Thursday, police appealed for help finding Loguancio after he allegedly assaulted his partner and breached a court-imposed supervision order.

The assault happened five days earlier but police defended the decision not to go public sooner.

They believed Loguancio could be caught because he was a "creature of habit".

A man at the scene yesterday who claimed to know Loguancio said he wouldn't give up without a fight.

Police set up at the scene in Glenroy. Picture: Ian Currie

"I'm staying here to see what happens," he said. "It won't be pretty.

"He's not going back to jail, he told me that."

It is understood the man, who would not be named, had already been interviewed by police.

A friend said he hoped he could talk Loguancio out of doing something reckless.

- with Christopher Gillett 

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Diggers kill kids tending cattle

Australian soldiers on patrol in Afghanistan. File picture: Craig Greenhill Source: News Limited

AUSTRALIAN soldiers in southern Afghanistan have shot dead two children tending cattle, officials say, in an incident likely to escalate tensions over the conduct of international troops.

Civilian casualties caused by NATO-led forces have been one of the most contentious issues in the campaign against Taliban insurgents, often triggering widespread public anger and harsh criticism from President Hamid Karzai.

The two children, aged seven and eight, were killed on Thursday morning as Australian soldiers fought back after a Taliban attack in Oruzgan province, provincial governor Amir Mohammad Akhundzada told AFP overnight.

''The children were killed by Australian troops, it was a mistaken incident, not a deliberate one," Mr Akhundzada said, adding that insurgents had first shot at a helicopter carrying Australian soldiers.

NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) expressed its "deep regret" over the children's deaths and said it remained committed to minimising civilian casualties.

"I offer my personal apology and condolences to the family of the boys who were killed," General Joseph Dunford, commander of ISAF, said in a statement.

"I am committed to ensuring we do the right thing for the families of those we harmed, as well as for the community in which they lived. We take full responsibility for this tragedy."

ISAF said the troops had opened fire at what they believed were insurgent forces. It added that a joint Afghan-ISAF team visited the district of Shahidi Hassas in Oruzgan to investigate and meet with local leaders.

Last month, 10 Afghan civilians, including five children, were killed by a NATO airstrike in Kunar province.

Following the attack, Mr Karzai barred Afghan forces from seeking air support from foreign troops in a bid to curb civilian casualties.

Mr Karzai has regularly lashed out at senior ISAF leaders, demanding that civilian deaths must be avoided and saying the killings have worsened relations between his government and the international coalition.

Previous civilian deaths caused by ISAF forces, especially those involving children, have brought protesters onto the streets of Kabul chanting slogans against the presence of international troops in Afghanistan.

Security responsibility for Oruzgan, a restive province where Taliban insurgents have been holding sway, is being handed over to Afghan forces.

The bulk of Australia's 1550 troops are based in the province, and are focused on training and mentoring Afghan soldiers ahead of the withdrawal of NATO combat troops by the end of next year.

Comment was being sought from Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

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Unmasked: Australia's worst troll

New Zealand born Tristan Barker is wanted by authorities in Australia over comments made on the internet. Picture: Kerry Grant/ Herald on Sunday NZ Source: Supplied

• Tristan Barker encourages online harassment
• He is a blight on society, say police
• I would consider myself an entertainer, he boasts

EXCLUSIVE: THE son of a top musician has been unmasked as this country's most prolific internet troll and is being investigated by detectives for online "stalking''.

Tristan Barker, 18, who has a track record of terrorising vulnerable members of the community, said his aim was to see how far he can push his 300,000-plus teenage internet-subscribed fans. 

But frustrated Melbourne police are unable to interview him because he is in New Zealand living with his star dad, Michael Barker, a former drummer of Split Enz and John Butler Trio fame. 

A News Ltd investigation has revealed recent Melbourne school leaver Tristan Barker has used internet portals Facebook and Twitter to encourage harassment and ridicule of everyone from Muslims, businesses, local and overseas celebrities, murder victims and people who have committed suicide as a result of online bullying. 

As well as using his own personal Facebook, which has more than 300,000 "friends'', to push nasty crusades, Mr Barker is also a ringleader of Facebeef, a Facebook group page with 43,000 "likes''. 

In an exclusive interview Mr Barker admitted to causing havoc online whilst high on "Red Bull and Ritalin''. 

"I would consider myself an entertainer,'' he boasted. 

The type of comments Mr Barker litters the internet with are in stark contrast to the lyrics about love and peace originating from the Aussie roots band, John Butler Trio. 

Cyber safety specialist and former police officer Susan McLean said: "He would have to be Australia's most prolific troll. He has no concept of common decency and is a blight on society.'' 

Melbourne's Detective Senior Constable Rodney Andrew confirmed a "current investigation" focused on an online campaign Mr Barker spearheaded last year targeting Royal Hair Extensions had been launched.

It is alleged Mr Barker had his online fans harass the company's owner Melissa Meitz during a period she was running an online contest. Ms Meitz was bombarded with threatening messages. 

The officer said "the offence (being investigated) is stalking, under new legislation that came in a couple of years ago ... it is a continuing investigation". 

Mr Barker attained notoriety in early 2012 after trolling pop star Nicki Minaj's Facebook page with an abusive rant that attracted more than 100,000 "likes". 

In another rant Mr Barker called on his followers to harass Muslim families by making prank telephone calls. He said he used White Pages to "randomly" search for a family with the Ibrahim surname and phoned them to joke a packet of bacon lay on their doorstep.

"I picked one at random," he said. "It was hilarious." Followers of Mr Barker made similar calls at his request. 

Mr Barker said most of his 300,000-plus Facebook followers were youngsters and he was a celebrity in their eyes. 

"I see kids follow me and I think 'how far can I rope this kid in and make them be a mockery'," he said. 

Mr Barker said his celebrity father should not be held responsible to his online antics. 

"My father has raised me quite well," he said. 

His dad Michael paid tribute to his son's massive online fan base. 

"The people that apparently read his crap on (the internet) is more than most regional newspapers," he said.

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Boat smash backpacker warns of perils

SHE was so badly injured in a boat crash on the way to a full moon party in Thailand her family didn't think she would survive, but Natalie Hensby's passion for travel has soared.

Since the horrifying accident three years ago Hensby, 22, has been to Borneo, Fiji, Indonesia, New Zealand, Europe, back to Thailand and is planning a trip to South and Central America in May.

But knowing how lucky she was Hensby, from Manly in NSW, said she feels "an overwhelming sense of obligation'' to warn other young Australians about the importance of travelling safely.

A three-minute video she produced about her experience recently won a competition held by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Smartraveller advisory website.

As well as working in a full-time job as a paralegal, Hensby also travels the country speaking to Flight Centre travel agents at conferences about the importance of travel insurance.

Natalie Hensby was injured in a boat crash on the way to a full moon party in Thailand with her friends in 2010. She is fronting a campaign by Smart traveller to raise awareness of the DFAT travel advisory website.

"I'm incredibly lucky - I don't know how I'm here,'' she said.

"I'm paying it forward.''

One agent she spoke to encouraged another young Australian Erin Langworthy to buy travel insurance.

Langsworthy was injured during her trip when she fell headfirst into a crocodile-infested river after her bungee cord snapped in Zambia.

Natalie Hensby is evecuated from the scene by Thai emergency workers.

Hensby was knocked unconscious and thrown into the water when the boat she was on collided at full speed with another vessel in the dark on the way to Koh Phangan Island.

She suffered a brain haemorrhage, swelling and bleeding on her brain, a punctured and collapsed lung, shattered her pelvis and wrist, broke five ribs, fractured her collarbones and cracked her foot.

She was taken to Bangkok for surgery and hospitalised for three weeks.

"I was touch-and-go twice in hospital,'' she said.

Natalie Hensbyin hospital recovering after the horrific full moon party boat smash in 2010.

"My travel insurance claim was over $100,000. The policy saved my life.''

Fortunately, her friend had registered the group's details and travel plans with Smartraveller and her travel insurance company was on the phone to them about another case when they were alerted to the accident and stepped in to contact the victim's families.

But Hensby is furious at the punishment given to those involved in her accident.

One boat operator was charged with negligence, given the equivalent of a $200 fine and suspended from operating for a year.

Natalie Hensby back home in Sydney after the accident that almost claimed her life.

"I think it's honestly outrageous,'' she said.

"I learnt the hard way that most countries don't have the same regulations and safety standards that we have in Australia and unfortunately there are a lot of tourism operators in developing countries who are only interested in chasing the next dollar.

"The boat we collided with has been patched up and is back out on the water.

"I wouldn't say don't go to the full moon party because it is a rite of passage for young Australians, but make sure you go in daylight and make sure you have accommodation on Koh Phangan.

Natalie Hensby before the life-changing boat smash in Thailand in 2010.

"It's just too dangerous at night and that's where you get dodgy boat operators.

"If we had read the advice on Smarttraveller we would have known not to go at night.''

For information about Smartraveller and DFAT's consular role, please visit www.smartraveller.gov.au

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Mardi Gras shines as rain clears

Sydney is wrapped in a rainbow of colour ahead of one of the world's biggest street parades

HEAVY rain has cleared just in time as thousands of people gather to celebrate Sydney's Mardi Gras, the Australian gay and lesbian community's night of nights.

Feathers, wigs and ponchos were the most common accessories on Oxford Street.

Spanish tourists Mark and Agnela began lining up early on Saturday afternoon to grab a spot and say they're shocked by the turnout.

"We have similar parades in Barcelona but they're quite new and not this big," Mark said.

He said it was nice to see gay people celebrated and accepted in the event.

Revellers whoop it up at the 35th Sydney Mardi Gras. Picture: Adam Taylor

"Being gay is not something that is unusual any more. Things have changed for the good."

Around 10,000 performers took  part in the event which celebrates the parade's 35th anniversary.

A key feature of this year's "Generations of Love" theme was the participation of people who took part in Sydney's first Mardi Gras in 1978.

Creative director Ignatius Jones said the lead float would be "dedicated to the 78ers, the first generation".

Revellers whoop it up at the 35th Sydney Mardi Gras. Picture: Adam Taylor

The float was surrounded by young protesters carrying parade "season posters" from 1978 up to 2013.

The two key "1978ers" participating in the parade were media personality Julie McCrossin and the "godfather of Mardi Gras", Ron Austin.

Every major political party entered a float this year and for the first time, the armed forces marched in uniform in the parade.

A number of "Bob Katters" took part in the parade, with performers dressing up like the maverick Queensland MP.

Time for a snack at the 35th anniversary of the Sydney Mardi Gras. Picture: Adam Taylor

Revellers dance through the streets during the 35th anniversary of the Sydney Mardi Gras. Picture: Adam Taylor

Revellers dance through the streets during the 35th anniversary of the Sydney Mardi Gras. Picture: Adam Taylor

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Private patients' $600m public bill

Christopher Zinn shows you how to make One Big Switch on your health insurance.

AMID concerns Australians with health cover are being forced to choose less protection, one of the nation's brightest doctors says privately insured patients in public hospitals could be running up a taxpayer-funded treatment bill of nearly $600 million a year.

This new analysis by Dr Matthew Anstey of the Harvard Medical School follows a five-fold increase in cheaper "exclusionary'' products that leave policy holders relying on the public system.

Dr Anstey said private patients comprise about 10 per cent of public hospital admissions - the latest figure is actually 11.6 per cent and rising - at $4700 per stay.

Drawing on data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, that shows about 125,000 privately insured people are admitted to public hospitals each year but don't use their cover, Dr Anstey estimated a cost to the public system of $588 million a year.

Dr Anstey told News Limited that it was possible "people concerned about out-of-pocket expenses would preferentially use the public hospitals and choose Medicare''.

He pointed to recent research by the ANU's Dr Peter Thomas which highlights the emergence of policies with exclusions _ up from 5 per cent five years ago to 24 per cent now.

The Medicare Levy Surcharge was no longer reducing demand on the public hospital system, according to Dr Thomas.

It was possible to avoid the surcharge _ a minimum 1 per cent of taxable income for singles on at least $84,000 or families bringing in $168,000 _ with a policy that excludes treatment in private hospitals, he said.

"If the person requires hospital treatment, they will have to use the public system,'' Dr Thomas said.

Christopher Zinn explains why you would register with One Big Switch and look at your health insurance options.

The Private Health Insurance Administration Council, in a recent discussion paper on industry competition, said: "the increased use of exclusions may also lead to privately insured consumers choosing public hospital treatment, a result that may work against the policy objective of private health insurance in easing the burden on public hospitals''.

Part of the problem is that many people can no longer afford "full cover".

Last month, PHIAC's commissioner Lynn Ralph warned Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek that the "recent rapid rise'' of exclusionary policies could indicate "full cover products offered by insurers have reached their price/value limit with more and more policy holders choosing less cover in exchange for lower prices."

"Importantly too, policy holders that do choose restricted or limited cover are likely to turn to the public system for those excluded services," Ms Ralph said.

News Limited asked Ms Plibersek's office whether the rising cost of private health insurance was putting additional pressure on the public system.

A spokesman for Ms Plibersek said: "More people than ever have taken out private health insurance. The Commonwealth government has made record investments in public hospitals across the country. Average increases in private health insurance have been lower under this government than when Tony Abbott was minister."

The Big Health Insurance Switch – which aims to deliver the same level of cover for less – has this week attracted more than 50,000 registrations of interest.

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