Bali victims remembered 11 years on

The 88 Australians who died in the first Bali bombings 11 years ago have been remembered in Sydney. Source: AAP

LITTLE children clambered around the Bali bombing memorial in Sydney on Saturday, knocking the flowers laid by the friends and family of those killed.

One boy asked his new playmate, "Which one is yours?"

And she, a girl no older than seven, pointed to one of the names of the dead and said "He was my uncle".

They were not yet born when the bombs exploded at Paddy's Bar and the Sari Club on October 12, 2002, but they have grown up in the shadow of the attacks.

Eighty-eight Australians were among the 202 people killed in the attacks on Bali's tourist hub Kuta, and 43 of the dead were from NSW alone.

"The Bali bombing was our September 11," Prime Minister Tony Abbott said in a message read out to the hundreds who gathered at Coogee to mark the 11th anniversary of the blasts.

Randwick mayor Scott Nash said 20 of the dead came from Sydney's eastern suburbs, from Bondi to Malabar, and few locals had not been touched in some way by the attacks.

"The beautiful people that we lost were sons, mothers, fathers, daughters and friends," he said.

"Tough times often bring out the very best in humanity and we can see that today, as we see it each year."

Waves crashed and tourists frolicked on the beach below as mourners gathered at the Dolphins Point headland observed a moment's silence.

Among them was Kristie McKeon, who was just 12 when her mother, big sister and several family friends were killed in the bombings.

She and her father were injured but escaped with their lives.

"It was our last night in Bali," the 23-year-old recalled.

"I remember the bomb going off, being on the floor and trapped under the roof, escaping in panic through a hole and then reaching the back wall and being hoisted over as the fire grew."

The graphic designer said she had been forced to grow up without the two most important women in her life to guide her.

They will not be here to watch her marry next year.

"Family is something I lost, but something I look forward to finding again," she said.

"My only wish is that my mum and sister were here to be a part of it.

"I will never forget.

"I will always remember."

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ALP leadership contest drawing to a close

Mark Latham believes Anthony Albanese (pic) will emerge the victor of the Labor leadership contest. Source: AAP

LABOR has called it historic, democratic and energising, but in less than a day the month-long leadership contest between Anthony Albanese and Bill Shorten will be just one thing - over.

Both the party caucus and rank-and-file members have cast their vote for the next parliamentary leader, with ballots now closed and counting underway before Sunday's announcement.

ALP members and supporters will be the first to know the result when party headquarters sends out an email at about 2pm.

Under reforms introduced by former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, caucus and members are given a 50-50 say in determining who will lead the fight against the Abbott government from opposition.

Mr Shorten is believed to have won the caucus vote and is "quietly confident" grassroots members will back him, while Mr Albanese will be hoping his popularity among the rank-and-file gets him over the line.

After a month of friendly debates and largely similar campaigns, both potential leaders laid low on Saturday ahead of learning their fate.

But former Labor leader Mark Latham had no qualms offering his tips, saying he believed Mr Albanese would prevail.

"I voted for Bill Shorten in the ballot and I'm hopeful he might win tomorrow, but on the balance, probably Anthony Albanese will get the job," he told the Seven Network on Saturday.

"The important thing is for Labor to get behind one leader who will be there at the next election."

Sunday's victor will be the party's seventh leader in four years, but it's hoped the new leadership process will stabilise Labor and end the revolving door of leadership.

Mr Latham said the process was designed to put the "sub-factional warlords" who control Labor's caucus out of business.

Shadow parliamentary secretary Matt Thistlethwaite, who backed Mr Shorten, said the caucus vote had been genuinely open and free of factional interference.

He didn't know who would emerge the victor, but said that was the "great beauty" of the new-look process.

"What we now can say is the Labor Party has a much more democratic, transparent and accountable system for electing our leader," he told Sky News on Saturday.

"I think overall it's been a win for the Labor Party."

About 30,000 of the party's 43,000 members are believed to have voted under the new rules, which senior Labor figures credit with renewed interest in the party in the wake of their election defeat.

ALP president Jenny McAllister said the leadership contest had been "incredibly energising".

"In the process we've also had about 4500 people make inquiries about how to join," she told the Seven network.

"People like to see us talking in positive ways about what we could contribute to the Australian public rather than tearing ourselves apart."

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Sydney city bank robbed on closing

A SYDNEY city bank has been robbed in broad daylight.

NSW Police say two men held up the Bendigo Bank branch on Harris St at Pyrmont around 5pm (AEDT).

One was armed with a sledgehammer and they made off with a small amount of cash, police say.

A man whose daughter was a witness told Fairfax Radio a car was driving erratically down Harris St before the men got out and went into the bank.

"Next thing they drive up onto the footpath, they back up so the car was ready to get away," he said.

"I think it was three people raced into the bank ... they were only in there for about 30 seconds and they came out and screamed off into the car and nearly knocked over a couple of pedestrians and a cyclist."

Police say a dark blue Subaru WRX was last seen heading south on Harris Street.

No one was injured during the robbery.

The hold-up comes weeks after a Porsche Cayenne ram-raided a CBD bank in the middle of the day.

Three masked men crashed the luxury 4WD into an ATM outside a Westpac bank on Kent Street just before midday on September 13, causing the outer wall to collapse.

Armed with sledgehammers, the bandits then entered the bank through the opening and took money from the tellers.

They escaped in a blue Subaru sedan that was waiting outside with a getaway driver.

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US woman sues Fed over Goldman Sachs

A FORMER employee has sued the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, saying she was wrongfully terminated because she refused to change the results of her investigation into the banking firm Goldman Sachs.

Carmen Segarra filed her federal lawsuit against the New York Fed on Thursday in Manhattan.

Segarra's lawsuit says the New York Fed interfered with her examination of Goldman Sachs' legal and compliance divisions and directed her to change her findings. She says she refused and was fired three days later, in May 2012.

The firing caused her career in banking to be "irreparably damaged," says her lawsuit, which seeks her reinstatement to her position as senior bank examiner, back pay, compensation for lost benefits, compensatory damages, lawyer's fees and other expenses.

Segarra's finding led to the New York Fed's Legal and Compliance risk team to approve downgrading Goldman's annual rating pertaining to policies and procedures, the lawsuit said.

It's not clear if the approval led to an actual rate change, but the lawsuit said two Fed officials, named as defendants in the lawsuit, were concerned that a downgrade would hurt the Wall Street bank financially.

A spokesman for the New York Fed declined to comment on the specifics of the lawsuit but said its personnel decisions "are based exclusively on individual job performance and are subject to thorough review."

"We categorically reject any suggestions to the contrary," spokesman Jack Gutt said.

Goldman Sachs said it had no knowledge of internal Fed discussions "nor the matters raised by Ms Segarra."

"Goldman Sachs has a comprehensive approach to addressing conflicts through firmwide and divisional policies and infrastructure," Goldman Sachs spokesman Michael DuVally said.

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Abbott warns of South China Sea risks

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says there's still a risk of conflict between China and its neighbours. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has warned there's still a risk of conflict between China and its neighbours in the South China Sea, one of Australia's major trading routes.

China's festering territorial disputes with Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei were once again a key focus of the East Asia Summit, which brings together 18 regional nations.

Mr Abbott joined with other leaders in calling for a clear code of conduct to help ensure no conflict erupts over the oil and gas-rich waters.

He says that would be a disaster not only for the countries directly involved but also the wider region, including Australia.

"Almost 60 per cent of our trade goes through the South China Sea, so strategic stability is very important," Mr Abbott said on Thursday at his second international summit since becoming prime minister.

He warns the risk of conflict has not entirely receded.

"There's some risk, no doubt about that. But I think it's a risk that's reducing because of the kind of work that is happening at a conference such as this."

Mr Abbott's comments came after a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in which he expressed support for Abe's plan to amend Japan's pacifist constitution so it can build a bigger military - something China opposes, and has the potential to increase tensions in the region.

"As time goes by, and as Japan puts the wounds and the scars of World War II increasingly behind it, and other countries put the wounds and the scars of World War II behind them, Japan is going to play a more important part and, dare I say it, a more normal part in the life of the world," he said.

"And that's encouraging. Japan's a democracy, it's been a stable democracy for 60-odd years now."

Mr Abbott left Brunei on Thursday after five days of international talks. He earlier attended the APEC trade talks in Bali.

Mr Abbott confirmed he also wants free trade deals with Japan and South Korea sealed in the same ambitious 12-month timeframe he's attached to the Australia-China Free Trade Agreement.

"If you don't set some kind of a target you don't have the incentive to get things done," he said, adding the other leaders were "receptive" to his timetable.

He admitted he did not raise human rights concerns in his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, nor the issue of Japanese whaling during his meeting with Mr Abe.

But China knows how Australia feels about the rule of law, Mr Abbott said.

"We will say our piece when there are major human rights abuses taking place but, generally speaking, it's not the job of the Australian prime minister to stand up and give lectures to the wider world."

Mr Abbott's due back in Canberra on Friday.

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Vic bikie raids don't find military rifles

Police have raided every Hells Angels property in Victoria, including clubhouses and private homes. Source: AAP

POLICE are yet to recover two high-powered assault weapons used in recent drive-by shootings despite raiding Hells Angels clubhouses and homes across Victoria.

Guns, ammunition, drugs and cash were seized and 13 people arrested when more than 700 police, including federal and customs officers swooped on Thursday morning.

All of those arrested have significant roles within the Hells Angels and include office bearers, police say.

They include Hells Angels sergeant at arms Peter Hewat, 58, who faces 13 charges after $47,000 in cash and weapons were allegedly seized from his Craigieburn business and Mickleham home.

So much ammunition was uncovered at one clubhouse a trailer was needed to remove it.

The raids were the largest operation targeting a single bikie gang in Victorian history.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay is concerned they haven't found the military weapons - a high-powered AK-47 and a M1 carbine assault rifle - which were used in a number of recent drive-by shootings by Hells Angels members at rival clubhouses in Hallam, Dandenong and Clayton South.

He has vowed to track them down and put pressure on the gang.

"We haven't recovered those firearms so we will continue our operation, we will continue our work until we get those guns," he said.

"It is totally unacceptable that criminals have access to these firearms and we'll continue to push and push very hard until we have those firearms in our possession."

Police say the operation is ongoing and they will continue to target bikie gangs.

Mr Lay is also said he was ready to use new anti-fortification laws that came into effect last Sunday.

"We're preparing some affidavits now for a number of premises, we'll progress that matter to court definitely in the next little while and that will see another lot of action by Victoria Police to enforce those laws," he said.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Steve Fontana said they had not met any resistance from club members in the "high-risk operation".

"We've been working on this for a while, we're extremely concerned about these weapons, we're extremely concerned about the intel we've got about the tensions and the intentions of these clubs and so we thought it necessary to make a pretty strong stance here," he said.

Mr Fontana said Victoria Police was starting to work more closely with interstate and national counterparts.

"Victoria's not the only jurisdiction (affected by bikie gangs) and we're getting fed up with it and we're going to take them on," he said.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Tess Walsh rejected suggestions that such a large operation was unnecessary given what police found.

She said the indiscriminate use of firearms over the last fortnight was unacceptable and a swift and serious response was required.

Hewat was denied bail in an out-of-sessions court hearing on Thursday night after a police search of his home and towing business.

Hewat, who described the charges as "junk" when they were read to him during the hearing, will appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday.

A 27-year-old Campbellfield man was charged with possessing a drug of dependence and has appeared in court.

Police said further people were expected to be charged.

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Man dies in NSW diving accident

A MAN has died following a diving accident at Tathra on the NSW far south coast.

Surf Life Saving Far South Coast duty officer Andrew Edmunds says emergency services were called to the Bega River Mouth at 4.30pm (AEDT) on Wednesday on reports of a diving accident.

He said a group of five divers got into trouble, but three of them managed to get to shore safely.

Police, marine rescue and lifesavers launched a search for the other two.

One man made it out of the water safely, sustaining minor cuts on the rocks.

A second man was found by police and surf lifesavers, Mr Edmunds said.

He was winched into the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter, which landed at a nearby oval.

Officers performed CPR on the man for more than an hour but he couldn't be revived.

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Morrison warns detainees of tough policy

IMMIGRATION Minister Scott Morrison has informed asylum seekers on Nauru they were told a bunch of lies by people smugglers and should tell their family and friends not to believe the same things.

In his first official trip to the island nation as minister, Mr Morrison visited all three immigration detention centres.

He spoke to asylum seekers in the camps with the help of an interpreter.

"People smugglers told you lies and you should tell your friends and families not to believe those lies because you will not get what you came for," he said, according to a statement from the Nauruan government.

Mr Morrison also explained the government's tough policy not to resettle any refugees arriving by boat in Australia, and to prosecute anyone found helping to arrange these voyages.

Nauru's Minister for Justice and Border Control David Adeang, Australian High Commissioner Bruce Cowled and Australia immigration officials accompanied Mr Morrison.

The delegation also inspected construction work, met with local government officials and members of the Nauruan opposition.

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Qld Premier unapologetic over bikie laws

The Queensland government says a proposed ban on bikies riding in groups is aimed at criminal gangs. Source: AAP

QUEENSLAND premier Campbell Newman says some inconvenience to citizens is necessary in the state's battle against motorcycle gangs.

Mr Newman's government is drafting several pieces of legislation aimed at eliminating criminal gangs from Queensland.

Among laws being proposed is a ban on criminal bikie gang members from riding in groups of three or more.

The proposed law has drawn criticism from recreational motorcyclists, who claim they will have their hobby disrupted by police.

Mr Newman was unapologetic on Tuesday, saying the community would understand some disruption to their lives if it meant ridding the state of criminal gangs.

"There may be people who are apprehended by police initially to check whether they are members of a criminal gang," he told reporters.

"The price of dealing with this is a bit of inconvenience ... the alternative is completely unthinkable.

"We cannot have scenes like we saw four years ago at Sydney airport where a bloke was bashed to death."

Mr Newman said he'd spoken about the issue with the prime minister as well as the NSW and Victorian state premiers. He also said Attorney-General Jarrod Bleije would present Queensland's solution to his state counterparts at a meeting next week.

"We'll be putting on the table the measures that we're taking," he said.

Mr Newman was speaking alongside Treasurer Tim Nicholls and Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey at the launch of a $15 million advertising campaign featuring the Gold Coast's theme parks.

He said the new campaign hadn't been constructed in response to last month's brawl involving bikies at Broadbeach and was about promoting the Gold Coast as a family holiday destination to potential tourists in the southern states and New Zealand.

Police Commissioner Ian Stewart says police now have the resources to deal with bikie gangs once and for all.

"I think for the first time ever we have the opportunity to actually make a huge difference and get these people out of Queensland," he told ABC Radio after the meeting.

Motorcycle Riders Association of Queensland president Chris Mearns had earlier branded the draft laws ridiculous.

He said Queensland's 500 social rider groups, and 160,000 law abiding riders, shouldn't have to suffer under the crackdown.

"A considerable number of these regularly go for rides with their group and friends and should not be subjected to such unwarranted interference," he said.

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Two more Qld bikies arrested over brawl

Queensland police have arrested three more Bandidos in an ongoing crackdown on criminal bikie gangs. Source: AAP

ANOTHER two bikies have been arrested over a brawl which sparked a police crackdown on Queensland motorcycle gangs.

One of them is a 25-year-old Beaudesert man, back behind bars after a return to prison warrant was issued when he was charged over his involvement in the brawl outside a Broadbeach restaurant.

Police also arrested a 25-year-old man from Bethania, near Logan, for rioting. He will appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on October 23.

Earlier on Tuesday, three Brisbane men were charged with rioting over the September 27 brawl.

Another three men, all allegedly linked to the Bandidos, were also arrested.

One more man, 20-year-old Andrew Smith, appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday to face drugs charges, but his case was adjourned until Wednesday.

Another 20-year-old man who was arrested alongside Smith is due to face drugs charges on October 22.

About 30 people have now been charged in relation to the brawl, most of them Bandidos.

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Paramedics praise Sydney crowds

NSW Ambulance has urged event-goers to keep up the stellar behaviour during navy fleet review. Source: AAP

ONE person was hospitalised for intoxication, another fell overboard and more than 30 were treated by paramedics.

But with a million people descending on Sydney Harbour on Saturday, NSW Ambulance have called it a crowd success.

Now they are just asking event-goers to keep up the stellar behaviour.

Paramedics treated 38 people and transported 17 to hospital during Saturday's Fleet Review festivities, Chief Superintendent Joel Bardsley said on Sunday.

Among those hospitalised was a man, aged about 50, who fell from a moored vessel at Rose Bay and was later rescued by NSW Water Police.

Chief Supt Bardsley said most of the treatments involved slips, trips and falls, particularly during the evening fireworks.

"With one million people moving from one spot to another, people are going to have mishaps," he said in a statement.

"When you have as many people in the city as we did, and 38 people being the only number of event-related incidents, you can certainly say the crowds were there for all the right reasons and behaved themselves," he said.

Chief Supt Bardsley asked people to continue with the same safe approach on Sunday, as thousands land at Sydney Olympic Park for the NRL Grand Final, two One Direction concerts and the EB Games Expo.

With temperatures heading into the 30s, he urged everyone to bring plenty of water.

"Bring your sunscreen and your floppy hat, look after each other and behave so that everyone can have a good day," he said.

An extra 250 paramedic shifts, 36 senior supervisors and 30 extra triple zero (000) call takers have been rostered on in preparation for the long-weekend's festivities.

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Tiger attacks worker at US animal park

A US animal park worker has suffered severe damage to her arm after a tiger clawed her. Source: AAP

A WORKER has suffered severe damage to her left arm after she stuck it in a tiger enclosure at a US animal park and couldn't withdraw it before the animal clawed her.

Owner of the central Oklahoma park Joe Schreibvogel said the attack occurred about 10am on Saturday and the woman was in surgery several hours later.

He said doctors are trying to save her arm.

Schreibvogel, owner of the Garold Wayne Interactive Zoological Park in Wynnewood, said the arm was still attached and the young woman was conscious and able to talk and move her fingers when she was airlifted to an Oklahoma City hospital.

He didn't release the woman's name because her family hadn't been notified of the incident.

Schreibvogel said the worker violated protocol by sticking her arm into the cage.

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