Wild cyclonic weather to hit Lord Howe

A tropical cyclone is expected to cause extreme winds and surf on Lord Howe Island. Source: AAP

A TROPICAL cyclone is expected to pass close by Lord Howe Island on Friday morning, lashing the island with damaging winds and surf, the weather bureau says.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said on Thursday night that the category two cyclone was tracking south in the northern Tasman sea, and would pass to the east of the Pacific island on Friday morning.

On its website, BoM said the island off the NSW coast could expect "damaging surf, heavy swells and abnormally high tides" through the rest of Thursday and Friday.

This included wind gusts up to 150km/h until the early hours of Friday, it said.

BoM advised that the cyclone would weaken as it passed by the island.

It also said heavy rain caused by the cyclonic conditions would probably cause flash flooding overnight.

Residents and holidaymakers on Lord Howe Island were being warned to bunker down as the cyclone approaches.

Luke Hanson, the manager of the largest guest lodge on the island, said the conditions were "scary" as the cyclonic winds headed for the island.

"This cyclone's a direct hit, this will be the first time we've been whacked by a category two," Mr Hanson told AAP by phone.

"Everyone's a bit nervous, we've been getting all the guests settled, they've all had an early dinner and gone to bed, and they're just going to ride out the night.

"They don't come to Lord Howe Island in March thinking they're going to get hit by a cyclone."

He said residents had been strapping down outside furniture and sandbagging in preparation for the weather to worsen overnight.

Meanwhile, a high seas weather warning has been issued for Tropical Cyclone Tim, which is currently about 500km east northeast of Cairns.

09.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Body of disabled boy found in WA

THE body of a 15-year-old intellectually disabled teenager has been found in rough terrain in Western Australia's Kimberley region.

The Aboriginal boy was reported missing on Wednesday morning in the vicinity of La Djadarr Bay, north of Broome, in difficult terrain and high temperatures.

Police said the teenager's body was found on Thursday afternoon.

They were not immediately able to provide further details, but said there were no suspicious circumstances in the boy's death.

A report was being prepared for the coroner.

09.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

RBA plays down surge in jobs growth.

A RESERVE Bank of Australia official says the large surge in employment growth in February will not, by itself, have an impact on the interest rate outlook.

Total employment surged by 71,500 in February - the largest monthly increase since July 2000 and was much higher than the 8,000 increase the market was expecting.

The unemployment rate remained at 5.4 per cent for the third month in row, figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed on Thursday.

RBA assistant governor (economic) Dr Christopher Kent said the employment data was surprising.

"Our forecast has been for a gradual edging higher in the unemployment rate," he said in a speech to the Australian Institute of Building at the University of Technology, Sydney.

Dr Kent was asked how many months of good jobs figures would mean an end to the interest rate reduction cycle.

"I don't have an exact number, it's going to be very hard to predict," he said.

"I would personally think we don't turn things around on the basis of one month's number, this figure could be a little overstated.

"You don't put too much on one month's number, the labour market is very important, it's not the full story."

The RBA has kept the cash rate steady at three per cent at its two board meetings in 2013 after cutting it four times in 2012.

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Honda recalls vehicles for braking issue

Honda is recalling vehicles for brakes that can suddenly kick in when the driver isn't braking. Source: AAP

HONDA is recalling nearly 250,000 vehicles, including 1000 in Australia, for brakes that can suddenly kick in when the driver isn't braking.

No crashes have been reported related to the defect.

The affected vehicles were produced from March 2004 to June 2006.

The affected models include the Acura RL, Acura MDX, Pilot, Odyssey, Legend, StepWgn and Elysion.

The problem is caused by electronics and wiring in the vehicle-stability-assist system.

09.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Man's body found near Broken Hill

THE body of an elderly man has been found near Broken Hill in outback NSW.

Police said two elderly men, aged 81 and 78, went missing on Wednesday near Broken Hill after leaving the isolated mining town in a four-wheel drive.

Police told AAP on Thursday night that a search for the men was launched on Thursday, and the vehicle was located on Thursday.

One of the elderly men was found deceased near the vehicle while the other man was found alive, they said.

The 4WD may have become bogged, police said.

The ABC reports that the men were on a prospecting trip in a remote part of the region.

It also reports that the man who was found alive has been taken to hospital and is in a stable condition.

In a statement, police said the 4WD was found in remote country known as Euriowie, about 70km north of Broken Hill, about 1.45pm (AEDT) on Thursday.

Police say a report will be prepared for the coroner.

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UK, France prepared to arm Syrian rebels

FRANCE and Britain are ready to arm rebels in Syria, even without full support from the European Union, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius says.

UK government sources said on Thursday that no decision had been taken to seek the lifting of the EU arms embargo on Syria, but "all options" remain on the table.

Prime Minister David Cameron hinted earlier this week that Britain could decide to ignore the arms ban and supply weapons to rebels fighting Bashar Assad's regime, telling MPs that he hoped the EU would act together if it became necessary, but "it's not out of the question we might have to do things in our own way".

Cameron is visiting Brussels for a summit with other EU leaders, but Downing Street said Syria was not expected to feature on the agenda.

It is understood that Britain wants to see what impact is achieved by the recent move to supply "non-lethal" assistance - including armoured cars, body armour and secure communications equipment - before further decisions are taken.

Fabius on Thursday suggested London and Paris could ask for an EU meeting planned for May to be brought forward, possibly to the end of March.

Speaking to France Info radio, Fabius said Britain and France were asking the Europeans to lift the arms embargo "so that the resistance fighters have the possibility of defending themselves".

If unanimous EU support for lifting the measure is lacking, the French and British governments would decide to deliver weapons, Fabius said, adding that France "is a sovereign nation".

"We must move quickly," he said.

Responding to Fabius's remarks, a UK foreign office spokesman said: "Our objective is clear - an end to the violence and a political transition to a more democratic Syria through a political solution.

"As it stands, the political track has little chance of gathering momentum unless the regime feels compelled to come to the negotiating table. They need to feel that the balance on the ground has shifted against them.

"The foreign secretary has been clear he hasn't ruled out any options for the future."

09.17 | 0 komentar | Read More

Govt lets down defence victims: taskforce

THE head of a taskforce investigating alleged abuses in the defence force says he's disillusioned with the federal government's failure to act on claims - and thinks victims may be too.

DLA Piper taskforce leader Gary Rumble told a Senate Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade hearing on Thursday that he was disappointed none of the matters raised in a 2012 report had been acted on.

Law firm DLA Piper was commissioned to examine abuse allegations following the Skype scandal at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) in 2011 and uncovered 775 plausible abuse allegations across every decade since the 1950s. The earliest related to events in 1951.

"I am deeply concerned that the government's lack of action and decision last year may have distressed individuals who were hoping for some response to their specific issue (and) worn down the willingness of those who told their stories ... to continue to be involved," Dr Rumble said.

He said he was worried the lack of action would encourage perpetrators and potential witnesses to think they could escape punishment.

Dr Rumble said the taskforce had been directed to write a second report for the Chief of the Defence Force and Service Chiefs but only the defence minister, Stephen Smith, had seen it.

Mr Smith wrote to him saying it would not have been appropriate for anyone other than him to see the report.

Earlier on Thursday, Mr Smith told parliament new complaints to the taskforce's hotline had been building steadily since it opened last November.

At March 4, there had been 1041 complaints.

Just over 780 were made by personal phone call and in voicemail messages, while 260 were sent by email.

Taskforce chairman, retired judge Len Roberts-Smith, told Mr Smith there was no realistic prospect of its work being completed within the initial 12-month term, so the government has agreed to a six-month extension, with the taskforce now due to conclude its investigations by the end of May 2014.

As well, there will be an end-of-May 2013 deadline for new allegations to be made.

The taskforce is examining individual allegations, which if sufficiently substantiated could allow victims to claim up to $50,000 in compensation.

It is also considering whether a full royal commission is needed to address outstanding allegations at ADFA in the 1990s and allegations of sexual and other abuse of naval cadets at the former navy training centre, HMAS Leeuwin, which operated from 1960-84.

The taskforce said it appeared the abuse at Leeuwin occurred in the 1960s and 1970s.

"Much of the alleged bullying and violence appears to have been unreported," Mr Smith said.

Shadow Defence Minister David Johnston slammed the federal government's "snail pace" response and the way in which Mr Smith has handled the issue as if it were an "afterthought".

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Insurer Aviva posts huge 2012 loss

BRITISH insurer Aviva says it tumbled into a net loss of STG3.0 billion ($A4.4 billion) last year and slashed its shareholder dividend, sparking a slump in the group's share price.

The loss after tax, owing mainly to a massive writedown following the sale of its US business, contrasted with a net profit of STG60 million in 2011, Aviva said in a results statement on Thursday.

The company meanwhile reported underlying operating profit - an indicator of its day-to-day business - of STG1.78 billion.

However, shares plunged in value after Aviva cut its full-year shareholder dividend by 27 per cent to 19 pence a share, as it sought to cut debt and improve performance.

Chief executive Mark Wilson insisted in the earnings release that the group had achieved major progress in its turnaround program.

"2012 was a year of transition at Aviva. There has been solid progress against the turnaround plan set out last year. Our capital strength has improved materially and we have completed the vast proportion of the disposal program. We have made progress reducing costs and we also have a strong new management team in place," he said.

Wilson added: "The STG3 billion loss after tax is driven principally by writedowns we have previously announced due to the agreed sale of our US business.

"Operating profit levels were healthy across our major businesses, especially in the UK, France and Canada."

Aviva - Britain's second-biggest insurer after Prudential - said last July it would withdraw from 16 non-core business areas following a major strategic review of the group.

The review was launched after the shock resignation of chief executive Andrew Moss in May 2012 amid shareholder revolts over pay for top managers viewed as underperforming.

08.16 | 0 komentar | Read More

US trade gap widens in January

THE US trade deficit grew sharply in January after a plunge in December, government figures show.

The Commerce Department reported the trade gap rose to $US44.4 billion ($A43.5 billion), up from a revised $US38.1 billion in December.

Exports fell by $US2.2 billion to $US184.5 billion, led by declines in exports of industrial supplies and materials as the United States beefed up its imports of those goods.

Total imports rose about $US4.1 billion to $US228.9 billion.

The increase in the trade shortfall came in larger than the average analyst estimate of $US43.0 billion.

08.16 | 0 komentar | Read More

Employers must modernise workplace: ACTU

EMPLOYERS must modernise workplaces and make conditions more flexible to help single mothers and carers stay in their jobs, the ACTU says.

Friday is International Women's Day and Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) President Ged Kearney has used the event to ask employers to "open their minds to different working hours and conditions".

"This International Women's Day we call on employers to modernise their view of work and women's caring responsibilities," Ms Kearney said in a statement.

"Employers are missing out on a lot of talented workers when they don't attempt to accommodate those employees who have to carry, sometimes alone, the responsibilities of caring."

A group of equality organisations say female homelessness is rising faster than that of men and a "tsunami" of housing stress is confronting Australia.

This is brought about by the pressures of balancing work with family responsibilities and gender inequalities in the workplace, the Equality Rights Alliance (ERA) and the Australian Woman Against Violence Alliance (AWAVA) said in a joint statement.

"Housing stress is fundamentally an issue of poverty and Australian women face significant financial disadvantage when compared with men," ERA manager Helen Dalley-Fisher said in a statement.

"The high number of women in low paid jobs, heading single parent families, and the high rates of poverty among ageing women means women are disproportionately affected when it comes to housing."

The gender inequality, including a pay gap of 17.5 per cent between men and women, must be resolved to prevent other women from joining the 45,813 homeless females across the country, the groups said.

Investment and education is needed to bring about change, they added, like dropping the number of women who experience violence.

Violence happens to one in three women, a statistic which has remained static over decades, AWAVA chief Julie Oberin said.

"We know greater investment is needed in early intervention and prevention as these are proven to be the most effective tool to bring about real social change," Ms Oberin said.

08.16 | 0 komentar | Read More