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Two die on Vic roads in two hours

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 28 September 2013 | 21.29

TWO women have been killed within two hours in separate Victorian crashes.

The first died after a head-on collision at Brucknell in Victoria's southwest.

Police say the woman's car collided with a van about 45km from Warrnambool, at about 3pm (AEST) on Saturday.

She died at the scene.

Police say another woman died in the Geelong suburb of Leopold, when a utility lost control and struck her car at about 5pm.

The woman, who was the only occupant in the car, died at the scene.

The deaths take Victoria's road toll to 172, compared with 197 at the same time last year.


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Asylum seekers 'abandoned' at sea

The Abbott government has been criticised for its tight-lipped stance on an asylum-seeker tragedy.

SURVIVORS from an asylum-seeker boat that sank off Indonesia claim their desperate pleas to Australian authorities for help were ignored as their vessel foundered in heavy seas.

The death toll from the tragedy was on Saturday expected to surpass 50, with 30 or so people still missing.

Indonesian authorities say that at least 21 people, including seven children, drowned when the boat, which was believed to be carrying about 80 passengers, sank on Friday off the coast of Java.

A decision on whether to resume the search would be made on Sunday morning, Indonesian officials said late Saturday.

Authorities fear for up to 70 asylum seekers still missing after their boat sank off Java.

The Australian government issued a statement on Saturday evening expressing its sympathies and saying that it would provide assistance to Indonesian authorities.

Immigration and Border Protection minister Scott Morrison said Australian authorities received a call about the vessel on Friday morning that placed the stricken boat about 25 nautical miles of Indonesia.

Mr Morrison said Rescue Coordination Centre Australia maintained co-ordination of the search and notified the Indonesian rescue agency.

An all-ships broadcast was issued by Australian authorities, but a merchant ship and a border protection aircraft were both unable to find the vessel.

The dead, wrapped in yellow bodybags, some stacked on top of each other, could be seen on Saturday, exposed to the sun and heat in an open storage room of a clinic in the village of Agrabinta, near where they had washed ashore the previous day.

Many were children.

One of the survivors, Lebanese man Hussein Khodr, had reportedly lost his pregnant wife and eight children in the disaster.

But some of the survivors say that more lives could have been saved, claiming that as many as 10 calls to Australian authorities were either eventually ignored or treated as a low priority.

"We called them and we told them we're sinking, we need anybody to help us," 28-year-old Abdullah al Qisi said, according to The Australian newspaper.

"And they were telling us 'we're coming, we're coming' and they didn't come," he said.

Initial reports suggested the boat first got into trouble about 10 hours into its journey and efforts were made to return to Indonesia before it sank.

There were also claims on Saturday that the crew had abandoned ship shortly after setting off, and that the passengers had been left to fend for themselves for five days, drifting around with no engine, before calamity finally struck on Friday.

A spokesman for the Indonesian search and rescue agency, BASARNAS, said his office was not advised of an incident involving an asylum-seeker boat until 8am local time on Friday.

He said the Australian Maritime and Safety Authority had contacted BASARNAS about the boat.

However, a police official from the district of Cianjur near where the boat sank said authorities were only alerted to the incident after bodies were discovered floating in an estuary on Friday morning.

Strong waves had limited search and rescue efforts on Saturday, although three more people were found alive, taking the number of confirmed survivors to 28.

It's the first known fatal attempted asylum-seeker crossing under the coalition government, which promised that it would stop boats reaching Australia after it won this month's federal election.

The sinking comes after another group of 44 asylum seekers were rescued by an Australian navy vessel in the Sunda Strait on Thursday.

It also emerged on Saturday that a third group of 31 asylum seekers had been rescued by an Australian navy vessel, and were set to be returned to Indonesia - the second "hand-back" in as many days.

The latest tragedy in waters between Indonesia and Australia comes amid an increase in tensions between Canberra and Jakarta over the asylum-seeker issue, and days ahead of talks in Jakarta between Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Mr Abbott and President Yudhoyno will meet on Monday, with asylum-seeker policy expected to be at the top of the agenda.


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Greek Golden Dawn leader, MPs arrested

GREEK police have arrested the leader and other top officials of the anti-immigrant Golden Dawn party on charges of forming a criminal organisation.

The arrests are an escalation of a government crackdown after a fatal stabbing allegedly committed by a supporter.

It is the first time since 1974 that a party head and sitting members of parliament have been arrested.

Police announced the arrests of 16 Golden Dawn members, including party head Nikos Michaloliakos, spokesman Ilias Kasidiaris and two other MPs.

The arrests included a local Golden Dawn leader in an Athens suburb while the rest were ordinary members.

Two police officials said an operation by the counterterrorism unit was still ongoing on Saturday morning, with a total of about 35 arrest warrants for Golden Dawn members issued.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not permitted to speak publicly.

Despite the arrests, the party's MPs retain their parliamentary seats unless they are convicted of a crime.

Golden Dawn holds 18 of parliament's 300 seats, after winning nearly 7 per cent of the vote in general elections last year.

Michaloliakos had earlier threatened to pull the group's deputies out of parliament, a move that would prompt by-elections in 15 regions around the country.

"We will exhaust any means within our legal constitutional rights to defend our political honour," Michaloliakos said on Thursday.

"If the country enters a cycle of instability, it is those who demonise Golden Dawn who will be responsible, not (us)," he said.

The arrests come 11 days after the killing of anti-fascist activist rapper Pavlos Fyssas by an alleged Golden Dawn member.

Though the party has vehemently denied any role in the killing, the case has appeared to dent its appeal among Greeks and the government has worked to crack down on the party.

Golden Dawn expressed outrage at the arrests in a text message to journalists.

"We call upon everyone to support our moral and just struggle against the corrupt system! Everyone come to our offices!," it said.

A later text message called for supporters to head to police headquarters "with calm and order".

A small group of about 30 people initially gathered, standing on the footpath across the street from the building.

Golden Dawn entered the Greek parliament for the first time in May 2012, capitalising on Greece's deep financial crisis, rising crime and anti-immigrant sentiment.

The party's members and supporters have frequently been suspected of carrying out violent attacks, mainly against immigrants.

Despite its reputation for violence, the party had enjoyed growing popularity.

A government spokesman refused to comment on the details of the operation.

"Democracy can protect itself. Justice will do its job," Simos Kedikoglou told reporters.

In addition to Michaloliakos and Kasidiaris, Golden Dawn deputy, Ilias Panayiotaros, gave himself up at police headquarters, telling police they were looking for him at a wrong address.

Another MP, Yannis Lagos, has also been arrested.


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Ex-UK PM Thatcher's ashes laid to rest

The ashes of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher have been laid to rest in London. Source: AAP

BARONESS Thatcher's ashes have been laid interred in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

Members of her family attended a short church service in the chapel of the central London site on Saturday before a solid oak casket containing her ashes was placed in the ground.

A headstone bearing the simple inscription "Margaret Thatcher 1925 - 2013" was being erected on top of her final resting place in the leafy hospital grounds.

Britain's first female prime minister died aged 87 on April 8.

Twelve Chelsea Pensioners dressed in their distinctive scarlet coats formed a guard of honour as her ashes were placed alongside those of her husband Sir Denis, who died in 2003.

Prayers were said by hospital chaplain the Reverend Richard Whittington as her family members comforted one another.

Among the small group of mourners was Lady Thatcher's former private secretary Lord Powell and Lord Bell, her former political adviser.

Her children each placed a single red rose alongside the casket.


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Mandela responding to treatment: Zuma

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 26 September 2013 | 21.29

The South African president says former leader Nelson Mandela is responding to treatment at home. Source: AAP

THE South African president says former leader Nelson Mandela is responding to treatment at his home, where a team of doctors is caring for him.

Authorities have previously described Mandela's condition as critical.

The 95-year-old former president and leader of the anti-apartheid movement was discharged from a hospital on September 1, nearly three months after he was admitted for a recurring lung infection.

The South African Press Association quotes President Jacob Zuma as saying in a speech released on Wednesday that Mandela continues to respond to treatment.

The speech was prepared for delivery at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Mandela's grandson Mbuso Mandela told The New Age newspaper his grandfather was "sitting up and looking around" and had spent the Tuesday public holiday surrounded by family.

"I saw him again yesterday (Wednesday) at lunch. He is doing well," he said, adding that "we are keeping him company".

He stressed that Mandela was "much better" and not completely bed-ridden.

Mandela spent 27 years in prison during white minority rule.

He led South Africa through a delicate transition to all-race elections that propelled him to the presidency in 1994.


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Milne loses six senior staff

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 25 September 2013 | 21.29

AUSTRALIAN Greens leader Christine Milne is playing down the resignations of six of her senior staff members and has dismissed claims her leadership is on shaky ground.

Senator Milne was returned to the party's leadership unopposed on Monday, despite a slip in the Greens vote at the September 7 poll.

She confirmed on Wednesday night that six staff members had tendered their resignations including chief of staff Ben Oquist, director of communications Georgie Klug and policy adviser Oliver Woldring, her climate change adviser, her economics adviser and campaign coordinator.

"It's certainly true that people have opted to take redundancies but that's for a range of reasons," she told ABC TV.

"It's quite common in politics after an election for people to consider whether they want to stay on or not."

Some staff had indicated last year they would stay with her until the election, and some had given personal reasons for leaving, Senator Milne said.

She denied the resignations were a vote of no confidence in her leadership.

"There's no panic or nothing to be concerned about," she said.

"This is pretty normal for political offices."

Mr Oquist issued a statement saying he was leaving with good will but cited "fundamental differences of opinion about strategy".

Asked about his reason, Senator Milne said: "interesting that Ben would say that."

She said there had been differences of opinion on how the office would run, she favoured a flat administrative structure while he wanted a more hierarchical structure.

"I wish Ben very well with his endeavours in the future," she said.

Senator Milne said Prime Minister Tony Abbott was likely to offer her office fewer staff than they have had previously.

She said some of the staff had been working in the political arena for six or seven years and wanted a fresh start.

"I wish people who have left my office all the best in the careers they go on with," Senator Milne said.

Greens MP Adam Bandt was re-elected the party's deputy leader on Monday, unopposed.

He extended his margin in the lower house seat of Melbourne.

A spokesman for Senator Milne said after the election there is an automatic spill of the leader's position.

As a result the leader's electorate and personal staff positions are automatically terminated by the Department of Finance and staff are subsequently eligible for a generous redundancy package.

"Following an exhausting election is a natural time for political staff to leave and a natural period for renewal for a political office," the spokesman told AAP.


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Fewer businesses looking to hire

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 24 September 2013 | 21.29

JUST one in five businesses are planning to hire new staff, the lowest level for hiring intentions since the global financial crisis.

However, information technology is booming area as more firms digitise their businesses.

Recruitment firm Hudson's survey of more than 2500 employers in July and August found 20.9 per cent are planning to take on new staff during the December quarter.

Low staff turnover levels mean businesses have less opportunity to recruit, Hudson executive general manager for regional Australia Dean Davidson said.

"That can become a challenge for some organisations," he told AAP.

The proportion of employers planning to hire was the lowest level since the September quarter of 2009.

But 36 per cent of IT employers were planning to hire, compared with just 13.6 per cent for the utilities industry.

"A lot of organisations are transitioning down the digital path so that's creating project work," Mr Davidson said.

"I definitely do not see that changing in the foreseeable future."

South Australian employers had the strongest hiring intentions, with 24.2 per cent planning to recruit.

Hiring intentions in the ACT were down to 22.2 per cent, as the territory government tightens recruitment.

But Victoria had the weakest jobs market, with just 16.2 per cent of bosses planning to take on new staff.

In Queensland, 18.2 per cent of employers were planning to hire, the same proportion as those looking to downsize, following the end of the mining boom and public sector job cuts.

Hudson chief executive Mark Steyn said businesses had been cautious in the lead up to the federal election, but recruitment activity was likely to improve in the coming year amid low interest rates and a falling Australian dollar.


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Motorists spending thousands each year

Written By Unknown on Senin, 23 September 2013 | 21.29

AUSTRALIANS are forking out more than $3800 a year to keep their cars on the road.

Fuel is a major expense, but it also costs more $100 a year to park the car, and almost the same to clean it.

Queenslanders pay the most to keep their wheels on the road, while drivers in NSW are slugged the most at the toll booth.

Vehicle maintenance costs are highest in the Northern Territory, where vast distances separate the major centres.

Nationally, motorists spend an average of $3854 on running costs, before loan repayments and depreciation are taken into account, Commonwealth Bank credit and debit card transaction data shows.

Queenslanders pay on average $254 more than that, due to higher fuel and registration expenses.

Parking is most expensive in Western Australia, where $125 is spent each year, above the national average of $108.

Car washes are priciest in NSW, where the average annual spend totals $112.

Petrol makes up 40 per cent of Australia's annual average car bill, with a total of $7.2 billion being spent at the bowser.

A weakening Australian dollar could push that bill even higher, Commonwealth Bank economist Diana Mousina said.

"Fuel costs will always be a significant expense for car owners so I'd encourage consumers to think about putting more of their weekly budget aside to cover the increasing cost of fuel, especially those in regional Australia," she said.

Insurance costs average $407 each year.


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Climate Commission experts to push on

EXPERTS once at the helm of the now defunct Climate Commission have vowed to continue their work and will launch an independent body after being dumped by the federal government.

The Australian Climate Council will be officially unveiled in Sydney on Tuesday, with the same six specialists volunteering their time to interpret breaking climate science from around the globe.

Professor Will Steffen said one of the first orders of business for the not-for-profit Council will be assessing the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) fifth assessment report, due for release on Friday.

"We will do the very best we can to pull out the main points to this report and make it understandable to the Australian public," Prof Steffen told AAP, adding that he and colleagues hoped to produce a summary document within days of the release.

The Climate Commission, set up in 2011 by the former Labor government to increase public awareness of climate change science, was disbanded by the new coalition government on Thursday.

"Since the axe fell I've gotten lots of emails from colleagues and the general public ... people airing their displeasure (at the Commission being scrapped) and we were just really encouraged by the groundswell of support to keep going," Prof Steffen said.

The Australian National University researcher said the Commission had filled "an important niche" as an a-political organisation, keeping Australians informed about "complex climate science".

Former Australian of the Year, Tim Flannery, who headed up the Commission, said it was important the work continued.

"It is crucial for tackling big societal challenges and for democracy that Australians have access to accurate scientific information," Professor Flannery said.

The two men will be joined by colleagues Roger Beale, Gerry Hueston, Professor Lesley Hughes and Professor Veena Sahajwalla.


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Red Cross pleads for Syria donations

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 22 September 2013 | 21.29

Red Cross Australia has made a plea to Australians to help Syrians displaced by the civil war. Source: AAP

THE CEO of Red Cross Australia has made a personal plea to Australians to "act on their compassion" and help Syrian civilians displaced by the country's humanitarian crisis.

Robert Tickner says the not-for-profit organisation's Syria Crisis 2012 Appeal has raised just over $200,000 in a year.

"It's a pretty small response so far," Mr Tickner told AAP.

"It's tiny compared to many comparable humanitarian crisis events in the past."

He described the ongoing civil conflict in Syria as a "forgotten tragedy" that rarely makes it home to the breakfast tables of the public.

"Even though we see so much on our TV screens, I think the challenge is to bring home the reality to Australians of just how much people are suffering," he said.

"Imagine if you lived in a street where most houses had been bombed, where your neighbours fled."

More than two million civilians have fled the war-torn country, with over half of them children, according the United Nations refugee agency.

Almost nine million Syrians need humanitarian assistance with more than four million desperately in need of food, Mr Tickner said.

"Australians are very compassionate people, but the challenge is to get people to act on that compassion," Mr Tickner said.

"Australia can really help a lot here."

The Australian Red Cross is raising money to support the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, which provides millions of Syrian civilians with medical supplies, food, water and shelter.

To make a donation visit www.redcross.org.au


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Swiss voters opt to keep military service

Switzerland is voting on a proposal to abolish mandatory service in its army. Source: AAP

SWISS voters have opted against abolishing the country's mandatory military service in a referendum.

The initiative by the Group for a Switzerland without an Army was rejected by more than two thirds of the voters on Sunday.

The pacifist group had advocated the introduction of a voluntary service, rather than adopting the example of other European countries that have switched to professional armies.

The government had spoken out against abolishing the current system, arguing that there would be a lack of volunteers and that this would endanger Switzerland's ability to defend itself.


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Big 4 banks' satisfaction rating improves

AUSTRALIAN businesses are more satisfied with the big four banks than at any point in the last four years.

But satisfaction levels for National Australia Bank and ANZ continue to lag behind Commonwealth and Westpac.

The big four had an average rating of 7.3 out of 10 in August, according to the DBM Consultants Business Financial Services Monitor (BFSM).

It was the highest average satisfaction rating in the four year history of the BFSM.

"The figures for most of the major banks, not just the Commonwealth Bank, have risen since our research started four years ago," DBM Consultants Director Maria Claridad said.

The Commonwealth had the highest rating in August, with an average score of 7.6 out of 10, followed by Westpac on 7.4 out of 10.

Meanwhile, ANZ and NAB continued to lag behind on 7.0.

The BFSM surveys more than 20,000 businesses annually.


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