Tassie freight schemes need change: report

TASMANIA'S freight headache looks set to continue with a Productivity Commission report finding the island state requires ongoing and improved support to maintain viable links to mainland Australia and international ports.

The draft report released on Friday recommends updates to current arrangements, which see the federal government subsidise goods and passenger services to help offset the cost disadvantage of Bass Strait.

"The design and administration of the current subsidy schemes are out-dated, resulting in outcomes not well-aligned with the schemes' underlying objectives," Commissioner Karen Chester said.

"The embedded administrative complexity also gives rise to anomalies and some perverse incentives."

Without change, the federal government will pay $2 billion over the next 15 years to fund the schemes.

There is a risk that subsidy recipients will become reliant on the funds, which will subsequently reduce the productivity of the Tasmanian economy, the report said.

The commission recommends the schemes are regularly and independently reviewed.

After a period of public consultation the report - titled Tasmanian Shipping and Freight - will be submitted to the Australian government in March.

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Afghan boys playing volleyball shot dead

AT least five boys have been shot dead after a group of militants attacked them on a volleyball court in eastern Afghanistan.

"The young boys, who were school students, were playing volleyball in a village in Alingar district at 12.30pm ... a group of gunmen from the nearby village came and shot them," Sarhdai Zwak, a spokesman for the provincial governor of Laghman, said on Thursday.

"The shooters, who are surely members of the armed opposition, fled the area," Zwak said, implying the attack was carried out by Taliban militants.

"It is not clear yet why they shot dead the boys, but it is clear that the enemies of Afghans cannot tolerate our sports achievements. So, they restore cowardly attacks."

Last week, four young footballers were killed in the southern province of Kandahar when a rocket, allegedly fired by Taliban militants, struck the football field.

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Zara Phillips names baby Mia Grace

THE Queen's granddaughter, Zara Phillips, has named her baby Mia Grace.

The champion horse rider and her rugby-player husband Mike Tindall announced the name of their daughter on Thursday, with Tindall tweeting "For everyone who has asked what our daughters name, it's Mia Grace Tindall."

Zara gave birth last week to the 7lbs 12oz (3.5kg) girl, who is 16th in line to the throne and is the Queen's fourth great grandchild.

Tindall took to Twitter after the birth to describe his joy at becoming a father for the first time, saying it was "definitely the best day of my life".

Zara, a silver medal-winning Olympian, who is one of Britain's leading equestrian riders, gave birth to her first child at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in southwest England with her husband at her side.

Like her mother, the baby will not bear a royal title and will be known as plain "Miss Tindall".

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Southwest's 4Q profit rises on fuel costs

SOUTHWEST Airlines is making more money thanks to a lower fuel bill and higher average fares.

The company says fourth-quarter net income was $US212 million ($A240 million), up from $US78 million a year earlier.

The airline says that excluding special items it earned 33 cents per share.

Analysts were expecting 29 cents per share, according to a FactSet survey.

Revenue is up 6.1 per cent to $US4.43 billion, above analysts' forecast of $US4.39 billion.

The increase in net income can be credited to a 9.2 per cent drop in fuel spending, a savings of $US138 million.

However, labour costs are up 7.3 per cent.

The average fare on Southwest is $US156.05 each way, up $US8 or 5.4 per cent from a year earlier.

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