Aussie kids online about two hours a day

HOW long do your children spend in front of a computer every day?

According to research from Telstra, Aussie kids aged between 10 and 17 are online for an average two hours a day - among the highest internet usage rates in the world.

Telstra's general manager of digital inclusion, Jill Riseley, says with so many children now online it is important for parents to teach them how to be good "digital citizens".

Ms Riseley says the latest research shows the major concerns for parents of children using the internet are protecting personal information, exposure to inappropriate content and cyber-bullying.

"We found that three quarters of parents have rules for their children's internet use with access to certain websites, use of certain apps or games and limits on the amount of online time spent each day all being regulated in some way," Ms Riseley said.

"While these rules will help protect children from inappropriate content and create a balance between participating online and being active during the day, these days online safety is more than just using security software and passwords, it involves the actual ethics of being online and respect for others."

Ms Riseley says the best way for parents to teach their children respect for others and protect them against cyber-bullying is to find out what they do on social media sites and be involved in their online world.

It is also important to remind children that saying things online is the same as saying things in real life.

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Two Qld councils to vote on reform

RESIDENTS of two former council areas in far north Queensland will vote to secede from their current councils next month.

The Queensland Electoral Commission announced on Sunday that residents of the former Douglas and Mareeba council areas will vote on March 6 to reform those councils.

If successful, residents of the former Douglas Council will leave the Cairns Regional Council and residents of the former Mareeba Council will leave the Tablelands Regional Council.

The Labor government forced 157 councils to amalgamate into 73 in 2008 to save money.

Queensland Local Government Minister David Crisafulli said in December last year the boundaries commissioner recommended that four councils wishing to scrap the mergers should each go to a referendum.

He said locals of the former Noosa, Livingstone, Mareeba and Douglas would need to weigh up whether it would be worth the costs.

Costs would include the wages of new mayors, councillors, and staff, IT equipment and conducting the referendum.

Mr Crisafulli rated the likelihood of Mareeba Council reforming and achieving a sustainable future as unlikely and Douglas Council as highly unlikely.

Residents of the former Noosa and Livingstone councils will vote at a later date.

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Man dies in NSW house fire

A MAN'S body has been discovered in a burned out house in northwest NSW after firefighters battled a blaze at the property for more than two hours.

Emergency services were called to the home in Euroka Street, Walgett at about 5.30am (AEDT) on Saturday following reports of a fire.

Human remains were found in the property after the blaze was finally extinguished at about 8am.

Police believe the body is that of a 69-year-old man.

Investigators have established a crime scene but are yet to determine the cause of the fire.

They have urged anyone with information about unusual or suspicious activity in the area to come forward.

The body will undergo a post mortem examination and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

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Asian tourist drowns off Mordialloc pier

AN Asian tourist has drowned in Melbourne's southeast.

The man in his 30s was swimming with friends near the Mordialloc pier in Mordialloc when someone noticed him face down in the water about 4.20pm (AEDT) on Saturday.

Police said the man, believed to be visiting from Asia, was pronounced dead about 5pm.

Emergency services are at the scene and police will prepare a report for the coroner.

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Chevron makes 20th gas discovery off WA

ENERGY giant Chevron has made its twentieth gas discovery off the West Australian coast in the past two and a half years.

Chevron Australia said it had experienced drilling success for liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the Exmouth Plateau area in the Carnarvon Basin.

The well, which is about 280 kilometres north of Exmouth, was drilled in 1,168 metres of water to a total depth of 3,065 metres.

The discovery comes less than two months after Chevron made two offshore discoveries in the same area.

"The Asia Pacific region is key to Chevron's growth strategy and our strong Australia natural gas portfolio continues to be bolstered by our strategic approach to finding and developing resources that will help meet the growing energy needs in the region," vice president of Chevron George Kirkland said in a statement.

Chevron said the discovery supported its long-term plans to expand its Australian LNG position.

The company operates WA-365-P well with a 50 per cent interest while Shell also holds 50 per cent.

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Sale settled on fake prince's luxury digs

Matthew Cilia, the floor manager at Antique and Fineart Auctions at Woolloongabba, holds a crown and a Louis Vuitton golf bag, just two of the items once owned by 'fake prince' Joel Morehu-Barlow. PIC: Steve Pohlner Source: The Courier-Mail

THE sale of accused Queensland Health fraudster Joel Morehu-Barlow's luxury riverside New Farm apartment was settled by the Public Trustee today.

The Moray St apartment was sold for $5.65 million - the same price Morehu-Barlow paid for it in 2011 - in a private sale, after an offer was made in September last year.

The two-storey, three bedroom, five bathroom apartment with wine cellar in River House, part of the Pietra development, was sold ``as is'', without any repairs having to be made, a Public Trustee spokesman said.

Hohepa Hikairo "Joel'' Morehu-Barlow, 36, who falsely claimed to be a Tahitian prince, is set to plead guilty and be sentenced in Brisbane District Court on March 19 for defrauding more than $16 million while working as a Queensland Health middle manager.

Almost 1000 items from his apartment, which have been restrained and held by the Public Trustee since Morehu-Barlow's arrest in December, 2011, are set to be auctioned in Brisbane on March 10.

GALLERY: See the spectacular collection of luxury items

A fake crown, hundreds of Louis Vuitton pieces, including clothing, luggage, a surfboard, and golf club bag will be sold, as well as a grand piano, a life-size horse statue with lamp, a Hermes saddle, paintings and a $95,000 Bang and Olufsen television.

There are replica robots, a gaming table, a Tiffany silver necklace, size 41 high-heeled designer shoes and clothing by Chanel, Georgio Armani, Gucci, Alexander McQueen, Hugo Boss and Yves St Laurent in the auction.

A $25,000 bottle of French cognac, a $15,000 Breitling watch, Ping golf clubs, leather furniture and a 19th century naval hat also will go under the hammer.

The public can view the collection at Antique and Fine Art Auctions in Logan Rd, Woollongabba, on March 7, 8 and 9.

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Girls kept alleged Sica abuse secret

A GROUP of schoolgirls kept secret the fact that convicted triple murderer Max Sica was doing "something bad" to one of their friends, a court has heard.

The judge-only trial in the District Court in Brisbane on Thursday heard Sica allegedly had sexual intercourse with one of the group about 100 times when she was aged nine to 13.

Judge Michael Shanahan has seen a week of videotaped interviews with friends of the girl who attended the same high school.

In the final tape, shown on Thursday, a schoolgirl told how she had been part of group of five or six who were friends of the alleged victim.

The schoolgirl recalled the alleged victim told her Sica was doing "something bad" to her.

She said the group talked about the allegation at school during lunch period.

"Us girls kept it a secret," the schoolgirl said.

Under cross-examination, the girl said it wasn't until later that the alleged victim had told her Sica was raping her.

Sica's barrister Sam Di Carlo, who has repeatedly accused the alleged victim of fabricating the offences, asked the schoolgirl if the alleged victim had ever made up stories or made up allegations against other people to break up friendships.

"She never did anything to me," the girl replied.

"She was a truthful girl."

The trial was adjourned until Monday when the crown will call its final witnesses in person.

Prosecutor Todd Fuller told the court he expected to close the crown case next Wednesday.

Sica, 42, has pleaded not guilty to 21 charges including maintaining a sexual relationship with a child, rape, carnal knowledge and indecent dealing between November 2004 and September 2008.

He was convicted last year of the murders of his ex-girlfriend Neelma Singh, 24, and her siblings Kunal Singh, 18, and Sidhi Singh, 12, in 2003.

Sica was sentenced to 35 years in jail for the murders but has lodged an appeal which will be heard after the child sex charges are resolved.

AAP

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PM Gillard sells Canberra unit

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard has sold her Canberra apartment for $615,000.

The sale was declared this week in an update to the prime minister's parliamentary pecuniary interest register.

She bought the two-bedroom apartment in Wentworth Avenue, Kingston, in December 2007 for $530,000 and used it before moving into The Lodge in 2010.

"Attention to detail is evident in every room of this apartment," the sales brochure reads.

While the sale occurred in October last year, it was not formally reported on the register because of a lengthy settlement period.

The prime minister also owns a home in her Melbourne electorate.

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Protesters storm Kevin Rudd's office

FOUR people have been charged by police over an ugly protest at the Morningside electorate office of former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

About 11am, about six people forced their way into a private area of the Wynnum Road office when a staff member opened the security door to let a guest out.

She fell to the ground as the group charged in, resulting in injuries to her leg.

Three other staff members were unhurt but shaken by the incident.

Police from nearby Morningside Station were on the scene very quickly and took the group into custody.

A 50-year-old Morningside man has been charged with entering a premises and committing an indictable offence, and three others including two 62-year-old men and a 35-year-old woman were charged with trespass.

All will face court in coming weeks.

Mr Rudd is in Canberra for Federal Parliament, and issued a brief statement thanking Queensland and Federal police for their "fast and professional conduct".

A spokesman said his "high profile" made him a target for the protestors, believed to be seeking Indigenous recognition in the constitution.

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8.0 quake hits Solomons, generates tsunami

A TSUNAMI marine alert remains in New Zealand following a magnitude 8.0 earthquake in the Solomon Islands, though it is now confined to the west coasts from Taranaki to Milford Sound.

Civil Defence issued an upgraded tsunami threat at 5.20pm on Wednesday, warning people to stay off the beach and off coastal waters due to the possible marine threat of a tsunami of between 0.2m and 0.9m.

The warning initially applied to the entire west coast of both the North and South islands, as well as the eastern coast stretching from Northland to Gisborne and the southern coast of the South Island and around to Dunedin.

But after further scientific analysis, Civil Defence says the tsunami heights are likely to be at their highest from Taranaki to Milford Sound.

People in these areas are advised to stay out of the water, stay off beaches and shore areas, not to go sightseeing, to share information with family and friends, listen to radio and television for updates and follow Civil Defence instructions.

"If there's boating activities, people who are swimming, and particularly people in estuaries and restricted harbours, they could experience stronger currents and tidal activity which could be a danger to them," Civil Defence director John Hamilton said.

Civil Defence says historical experience and modelling experience suggest that the largest waves will be about two to eight hours after the first waves arrive.

The alert extends into the early hours of Thursday.

New Zealand's alert remains despite the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii cancelling Tsunami warnings and alerts for much of the Pacific Islands before 6pm.

Media reports suggest five people have died in the Santa Cruz islands, part of the Solomon Islands, and major damage has been caused to three villages on Santa Cruz island.

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Doubts a coalition would return a surplus

MOST people doubt a coalition government will deliver a budget surplus in its first year of power, a new survey has found.

The weekly Essential Research online poll also found that while most people believe it is important for the federal government to deliver a budget surplus, many approved of Labor's decision not to return to the black this financial year.

The survey found 60 per cent respondents doubt a Tony Abbott-led Coalition government would deliver a budget surplus in its first year, and only 19 per cent said it probably would.

The survey of 1053 respondents found 69 per cent believed a budget surplus is important for the country, but only 54 per cent also said it was important for them personally.

However, 42 per cent approved of the government's decision to ditch its promise to return a surplus this financial year, while 37 per cent disapproved.

Just under half (48 per cent) approved of Prime Minister Julia Gillard's decision to announce a September 14 election, eight months in advance.

Thirty four per cent disapproved of her decision.

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PNG extends ban on no-confidence vote

PAPUA New Guinea's parliament has voted to extend a ban on votes of no confidence to 30 months into a government's five-year term.

PNG's opposition backed away from supporting the law, saying it will take the matter to the Supreme Court to undo it.

The bill passed into law in PNG's single House of Parliament on Tuesday with a vote of 90 to 14, well above the 74 votes needed to make the constitutional change.

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said the law - which extends the ban from the previous 18 months - will give government more time to do its job instead of shoring up numbers to defend itself politically.

"This is not about increasing my power," Mr O'Neill said.

"It is about locking in to place the long-term political stability our nation, especially our people, have been denied for so long.

"It is a reform our people have been calling for - and most certainly our business sector, and our investors, have been calling for."

Debate on the law was gagged following a statement by Mr O'Neill and an opposition member.

Opposition leader Belden Namah and most of his 15-strong team voted against the bill, just four months after announcing their support for the measure, and he said he will follow through with court action.

One member of the opposition voted with the government.

"By this afternoon or tomorrow morning, we will file a Supreme Court reference because we have cited that in that particular amendment, it wasn't done properly," he said, telling reporters the law was not documented properly.

The man who just eight months ago was Mr O'Neill's deputy said the law was not about stability, but about concentrating power in the PM.

"What has happened now - those who voted for the bill - have become insignificant," he told journalists following the vote.

"They have weakened their own bargaining and negotiating power for projects in their districts. It's as simple as that.

"They have put themselves into voluntary exile ... from now on, Peter O'Neill is the most powerful man in the country."

PNG has lost two prime ministers to votes of no confidence since independence in 1975 - Sir Michael Somare and Paias Wingti.

However, the threat of a vote has been a significant part of the Pacific nation's political makeup, causing its prime ministers to become entrenched in money politics to keep colleagues on side.

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Bushfire approaches east of Boddington

A BUSHFIRE is approaching the town of Ranford and the Golden Hills Estate near Boddington in Western Australia's Peel region.

A "watch and act" warning for the area was issued by the state's Department of Fire and Emergency Services at 3.10pm (WST).

The warning includes Mitchell Crescent, Sherry Close and Littleton Rise.

There is a possible threat to lives and homes as the fire is out of control and unpredictable.

The blaze is moving fast in a north easterly direction and spot fires are starting ahead of the main fire.

Residents have been warned that it isn't safe to stay and defend their homes, so they should leave now if the way is clear.

People who aren't at home are warned against trying to return as conditions in the area could be very dangerous.

Motorists should avoid the area.

Fire crews are on the scene and are being assisted by aerial support.

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Further back-burning at Vic bushfire site

A 300-hectare backburn near a Victorian alpine region bushfire has been a success, authorities say. Source: AAP

A BACKBURNING operation in Victoria's Harrietville region has been a success and will provide greater protection for the township before hotter weather returns, fire authorities say.

A 300-hectare backburn near the alpine region blaze occurred on Sunday in good conditions.

"It's been a success," a state control spokesman told AAP on Monday.

"Conditions were good overnight. It wasn't too humid or moist. We're pretty happy with the results."

The 6100-hectare Harrietville blaze had once threatened Hotham Heights, Mount Hotham and Dinner Plain, about 400km northeast of Melbourne.

While the fire is no longer threatening communities, the backburn was aimed at providing protection ahead of hot weather that could see the fire flare up again.

"(It's) just to give that township a little bit of protection ahead of a spike in weather on Wednesday," the spokesman said.

Communities around Bright, Harrietville and Mt Hotham are advised that increased smoke is likely to be visible over the next few days while the burning is completed and patrolled.

The Country Fire Authority says the Harrietville-Feathertop fire was started by lightning on January 21.

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