Salvos sorry for abuse 'greatest failure'

The Salvation Army will again give evidence at the child sex abuse royal commission in Sydney. Source: AAP

THE Salvation Army says it is profoundly sorry for the abuse suffered by children in its care, and events revealed by the royal commission into child sexual abuse represent the greatest failure in its history.

HOWEVER, the organisation maintains sexual abuse was not widespread after the commission heard evidence of more than 100 cases of children suffering horrendous abuse in homes run by the Salvation Army in Queensland and NSW in the 1960s and 1970s.

As the royal commission moved to finalise its investigation into the church on Monday, counsel for the Salvation Army, Kate Eastman, challenged a statement from counsel assisting the commission that sexual abuse was "widespread" at boys' homes it ran.In an apology to survivors, Ms Eastman read a statement from the Salvation Army saying the organisation was "profoundly sorry for failing to care for you as you deserved, for the neglect, hurt, abuse and deprivation of human rights that all children are entitled to".Ms Eastman said the church "acknowledges that this is the greatest failure in its history in Australia".She said that in the 113 years from 1883 to 1996, the Salvation Army had 17,831 children in its care across four homes in NSW and Queensland and there had been 157 claims of abuse from children in that time.She said 115 of those children were from boys' homes and of 23 perpetrators identified, 19 were Salvation Army officers."We don't for one moment seek to diminish or oversimplify or justify by historical circumstances but we do submit that the total number of claims against the total number of children reflects a relatively small number of children reporting sexual abuse during their time at the home," Ms Eastman said.Counsel assisting the commission Simeon Beckett said the number of children abused in Salvation Army homes would never be known because many had not come forward or had not been able to speak out.The commission heard evidence from survivors of extreme sexual and physical abuse meted out by Salvation Army workers at homes in Indooroopilly and Riverview in Queensland, and Bexley and Goulburn in NSW.Hearings held in January and February heard evidence that the Salvation Army failed to investigate complaints that its staff were abusing boys and did not refer matters to police.Boys who did report abuse to officials were punished and many did not report abuse for fear they would not be believed and would suffer further punishment.Ms Eastman also revealed the Salvation Army has dismissed an officer accused of abusing children in the 1970s.John McIver was suspended by the Salvation Army in February after allegations he sexually abused two boys in a NSW home in the 1960s and 1970s, and whipped a boy with a strap and dislocated his arm during a beating at a home in Queensland in 1975.On Monday the commission heard McIver had been dismissed from the organisation in June and matters had been referred to police.The commission will now prepare its report into the events that occurred at Salvation Army homes in the 1960s and 1970s, and into separate events of alleged abuse that have occurred since 1993.

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Labor, coalition in cost of living battle

Prime Minister Tony Abbott will personally reintroduce a bill to axe the carbon tax. Source: AAP

LABOR and the coalition have traded blows over cost-of-living pressures as the government reintroduced its carbon tax repeal bills.

THE government is adamant the repeal will improve the cost of living for average families by $550 a year and drive down electricity bills.

But Labor has seized on new economic modelling which shows budget changes to welfare and seniors payments will erode family budgets by thousands of dollars each year.Prime Minister Tony Abbott intends to have the carbon tax repeal bills passed through the lower house this week, in time for a special four-day sitting of the new Senate from July 7.The government is quietly confident of securing six out of eight crossbench votes, including three Palmer United Party senators, to pass its legislation.PUP leader Clive Palmer will outline at a media conference in Canberra on Wednesday night what it will take for his senators to back the bills."He will be fully transparent on Wednesday," his spokesman told AAP.Mr Palmer also has concerns about pension cuts and the Medicare co-payment which he says will cost pensioners $2500 a year.Environment Minister Greg Hunt on Monday seized on statements by energy retailers AGL, Origin and Energy Australia that prices would come down once the carbon tax was abolished."AGL today confirmed that price reductions will flow through to residential and small business customers if the carbon repeal legislation is passed by the federal parliament," the company said, adding the cuts would start from July 1 regardless of when the laws passed.Mr Hunt said all six new senators had gone to an election promising to get rid of the carbon tax."All of the signs are that they will fulfil their commitment," he said.Opposition Leader Bill Shorten in parliament referred to new modelling showing a couple on a single income of $65,000 with two children would be $1700 worse off in 2014/15 and short-changed by $6300 in 2017/18."Why should Australian families have to pay for the prime minister's dishonesty?" he asked Mr Abbott in parliament.Mr Abbott told parliament Labor's family payments were unaffordable, but the government was still providing a generous system while getting the budget back under control.Meanwhile, defeated Labor leadership contender Anthony Albanese rejected reports he has been privately critical of Mr Shorten's handling of strategy, policy, communications and internal party reform."Bill has done a good job of holding the government to account," Mr Albanese said.Mr Albanese later told parliament the media reports were "absurd, wrong, without any attribution, unprofessional and contradicted by cursory examination of the facts and recent history".

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SUV carrying rapper ScHoolboy Q fired on

A gunman has fired on an SUV carrying rapper ScHoolboy Q after a concert in Colorado. Source: AAP

A GUNMAN with a rifle fired on an SUV carrying rapper ScHoolboy Q after a concert at the popular Red Rocks outdoor amphitheatre near Denver but he wasn't hurt.

THREE other people suffered non-life threatening injuries during the attack late on Thursday in a parking lot at Red Rocks.

Investigators speaking Friday did not release a possible motive for the shooting and said they do not know if ScHoolboy Q was targeted. No arrests have been made."We have a lot to learn," said Jacki Kelley, a spokeswoman for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department.ScHoolboy Q, whose birth name is Quincy Matthew Hanley, is from Los Angeles. His most recent album, "Oxymoron," debuted at No. 1 earlier this year and reflects his life as a father and former gang member.He and Kendrick Lamar, who was nominated for seven Grammys this year, are members of Black Hippy.ScHoolboy Q said on Twitter Friday that he was OK."im str8...... dont trip," he wrote.Ray Alba, a representative for ScHoolboy Q, didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment.The rapper and at least four other people were in a white SUV that was fired on at the venue in the foothills west of Denver, authorities said.They drove themselves to a Denver intersection about 24 kilometres away, apparently in search of a hospital, before being stopped by Denver police and taken for medical attention, Kelley said.ScHoolboy Q and another uninjured person were briefly handcuffed while police assessed the situation, but no one in the vehicle was arrested. Kelley said ScHoolboy Q was not a suspect in the shooting.Nas and Flying Lotus also performed at the concert that benefited three groups, including the Gang Rescue and Support Project of Denver."We want to know what's going on so we can help out in any way," said Cisco Gallardo, director of the gang rescue group."There could have been (a) prior beef, prior problems."About 4500 people attended the concert at the amphitheatre, which seats as many as 9525 people.Promoters said the gang rescue group got five per cent of the profits. Two other groups also got five per cent each: Preserve the Rocks, which helps preserve the Red Rocks venue, and Helping Our People Excel, a Denver-area charity with a food pantry and other services.

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Ukrainian church desecrated in Sydney

A UKRAINIAN church in Sydney has been desecrated with racial slurs in an attack the NSW government has labelled vicious and abhorrent.

MEMBERS of the Ukrainian community woke on Saturday morning to find the St Andrew's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Lidcombe covered in spray paint.

Among the vandalism is a swastika symbol and the message "traitors fascists".Father Simon Ckuj said the church partly commemorated Ukrainians who fought against Nazism in World War Two."This act completely defiles the memory of those who died fighting fascism," the parish priest said on Saturday.Despite the offensive crime, the church says it will pray for the graffiti artists at a Sunday morning service.Peter Shmigel, of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations, says the act trashed the principals of a multicultural and democratic Australia."There is no room for people like those who attacked our church to import their foreign conflicts to Australia and Sydney, where our community has made a positive contribution for 65 years," he said in a statement.The church says the graffiti, once translated to English, also reads "burn in hell for the sins of Poroshenko", referring to the President of Ukraine.Communities and Citizenship Minister Victor Dominello said the act was completely unacceptable."To use an international racial dispute to vilify a community in Sydney is abhorrent," he said."The use of swastikas as a means of denigrating and attacking any community in NSW is utterly offensive."The church says the vandalism has been reported to police.

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Two Qld cops in trouble with the law

A CENTRAL Queensland police officer has been suspended from duty on misconduct charges.

THE 31-year-old constable will be required to appear in the Mackay Magistrates Court for a "misconduct in relation to public office" offence.

Police have not specified any more details about the charge.It comes after a Brisbane senior constable, 29, resigned on Friday after being accused of an unspecified drug-related charge.He will have to front Brisbane Magistrates Court."This does not mean that the allegations against the officer have been substantiated," a police statement read.

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NZ consumer confidence rebounds

New Zealand consumer confidence has rebounded from a six-month low, supported by a strong economy. Source: AAP

NEW Zealand consumer confidence has rebounded from a six-month low, supported by a strong economy.

THE ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence index rose to 131.9 in June, from 127.6 in May. A reading above 100 indicates optimists outnumber pessimists.

New Zealanders are feeling more buoyant on the back of a strong economy where the prospects of higher wages loom as employment increases and the cost of living is supported by low inflation, ANZ said.A report on Thursday showed the economy expanded at a 3.3 per cent annual rate in the first quarter, the fastest pace in eight years. Last week, the Reserve Bank raised interest rates for a third time and signalled more hikes ahead."Sentiment is very solid under the bonnet," ANZ Bank New Zealand chief economist Cameron Bagrie said in a note."That's an incredibly healthy sign; amidst rising interest rates there are wider influences that are supporting confidence."The current conditions index rose to 127.5 from 123 in May as households felt better off financially compared to a year ago and still considered it to be a great time to buy a major household item.The future conditions index increased to 134.9 from 130.7 as those expecting good economic conditions in New Zealand over the next 12 months rose to 37 from 30 in May."All measures - headline sentiment, current and future conditions - are well north of the 100 benchmark, something of a breakeven mark for wallets being opened," Mr Bagrie said."At these levels, wallets are not only open; the credit card is in hand."Household sentiment strengthened in four of the five regions and was topped by Wellington to reach its highest level since January 2007. Meanwhile, confidence eased marginally in Canterbury, drifting down to a five-month low.

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Picasso painting reveals hidden man

Experts have found a hidden painting beneath the surface of Pablo Picasso's, The Blue Room. Source: AAP

FOR Pablo Picasso, 1901 was a pivotal time to experiment and find his own unique style.

AT just 19 years old, he was living in Paris, painting furiously and dirt poor, so it wasn't unusual for him to take one canvas and reuse it to paint a fresh idea.

Now scientists and art experts are revealing they've found a hidden painting beneath the surface of one of Picasso's first masterpieces, The Blue Room.

Using advances in infrared imagery, they have uncovered a hidden portrait of a bow-tied man with his face resting on his hand.

Now the question that conservators at The Phillips Collection in Washington hope to answer is simply: Who is he?

It's a mystery that's fueling new research about the painting created early in Picasso's career while he was working in Paris at the start of his distinctive blue period of melancholy subjects.

Curators and conservators revealed the discovery of the portrait for the first time to The Associated Press last week.

"When he had an idea, you know, he just had to get it down and realise it," Phillips curator Susan Behrends Frank said, describing how Picasso had hurriedly painted The Blue Room over another complete picture.

"He could not afford to acquire new canvases every time he had an idea that he wanted to pursue. He worked sometimes on cardboard because canvas was so much more expensive."

Experts long suspected there might be something under the surface of The Blue Room, which has been part of The Phillips Collection since 1927.

Brushstrokes on the piece clearly don't match the composition that depicts a woman bathing in Picasso's studio.

A conservator noted the odd brushstrokes in a 1954 letter, but it wasn't until the 1990s that an X-ray of the painting first revealed a fuzzy image of something under the picture. It wasn't clear, though, that it was a portrait.

In 2008, improved infra-red imagery revealed for the first time a man's bearded face resting on his hand with three rings on his fingers.

He's dressed in a jacket and bow tie, painted in a vertical composition.

"It's really one of those moments that really makes what you do special," said Patricia Favero, the conservator at The Phillips Collection who pieced together the best infrared image yet of the man's face.

"The second reaction was, 'Well, who is it?' We're still working on answering that question."

Scholars have ruled out the possibility that it was a self-portrait.

One possible figure is the Paris art dealer Ambroise Vollard, who hosted Picasso's first show in 1901.

But there's no documentation and no clues left on the canvas, so the research continues.

Over the past five years, experts from The Phillips Collection, National Gallery of Art, Cornell University and Delaware's Winterthur Museum have developed a clearer image of the mystery picture under the surface.

A technical analysis confirmed the hidden portrait is a work the Spanish artist likely painted just before The Blue Room, curators said.

Since the portrait was discovered, conservators have been using other technology to scan the painting for further insights.

Favero has been collaborating with other experts to scan the painting with multi-spectral imaging technology and X-ray fluorescence intensity mapping to try to identify and map the colours of the hidden painting.

They would like to recreate a digital image approximating the colours Picasso used.

Curators are planning the first exhibit focused on The Blue Room as a seminal work in Picasso's career for 2017.

It will examine the revelation of the man's portrait beneath the painting, as well as other Picasso works and his engagement with other artists.

For now, The Blue Room is part of a tour to South Korea through early 2015 as the research continues.

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UK nurses to debate GP co-payment

British nurses are about to debate implementing a GP co-payment similar to the Abbott Government's. Source: AAP

PETER Dutton would give his right arm for such an endorsement.

AS the federal health minister struggles to sell his $7 GP co-payment, British nurses are about to debate going down the same path.

The annual conference of the Royal College of Nursing will consider a motion that recommends a co-payment more than twice that planned by the Abbott government.The motion is a major step for the college which like UK doctors has previously opposed co-payments.Chief executive Peter Carter says nurses are "not afraid to have difficult debates" about the future of the National Health Scheme.But the Cameron government has steered away from the issue, repeatedly saying it has no desire to introduce a co-payment.In Australia, the planned co-payment has been widely criticised by doctors and nurses.It faces defeat in the Senate where the government lacks the numbers to have its legislation clear the parliament.

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Iron ore price drop has miners uneasy

THE head of BC Iron concedes the industry is apprehensive after iron ore prices fell to 2012 levels of $US89 per tonne.

"THE mood in Perth is apprehensive but pragmatic," managing director Morgan Ball told reporters after a tour of the company's Nullagine operations in the Pilbara.

"We're all in a cyclical industry so we're used to downturns."He said BC Iron was set up to ride out such a downturn."I'm pretty comfortable," Mr Ball said.The company's all-in cash costs are set to fall between $60 to $70 per tonne, depending on currency fluctuations, he said.Further iron ore price falls could trigger discussions with contractors about reducing operational services as well as cuts to exploration and business development, he said.But Mr Ball is confident there will be no job losses at the company's joint venture operations.Shares in iron ore miners have fallen heavily, including BC Iron, which dropped 10 cents to $2.97.Mr Ball predicts the iron price will return to around US$100 to US$120 per tonne."We are looking at growth opportunities but it would have to be a pretty compelling one to consider in the iron ore space at the moment," he said.A potential takeover battle for Aquila Resources between Mineral Resources and the partnership of Baosteel and Aurizon was positive for the Pilbara, and could open up projects for other junior iron ore players, Mr Ball added.The $1.4 billion bid from Baosteel and Aurizon came as a kickstart to the stalled $10 billion West Pilbara Iron Ore Project.Baosteel's inclusion showed China as "not all doom and gloom," Mr Ball said.But he conceded the west Pilbara, where a potential rail line could be built, was mostly controlled by big iron players such as BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto.

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Sydney cyclist pinned under garbage truck

A SYDNEY cyclist was trapped under a garbage truck for more than half an hour as onlookers tried desperately to comfort him.

MAVERICK Asuncion was working in a cafe across the road on Foveaux Street, Surry Hills on Tuesday morning when he heard the man's screams.

"The police came in very quickly, they were trying to talk to him to reassure him that the ambulance was coming," he said.Mr Asuncion said witnesses were crying because it was so traumatic."(The cyclist) was just mumbling, we were trying to get his name but we couldn't understand what he was saying."He said the police assured the injured man that help was on the way, saying "don't try to move, an ambulance is coming".The man in his 30s was pulled from underneath the truck after half an hour with lower body fractures. He was taken to St Vincent's Hospital where he was in a serious but stable condition.Painter Daniel Banffi was working on a nearby building and heard a loud crack when the bicycle and the truck collided."And when I look up there he was already under the wheel," he said."He was just screaming loud for a while."There was a lady trying to help but she couldn't do anything."After a while everyone just stood back because he was just stuck."His mangled bike lay strewn on the footpath alongside tea towels employees from a nearby pub had brought out to aid the injured cyclist.It has been a horror few months on Sydney roads for cyclists.In April Anthony Platts-Baggs was trapped under a Australia Post truck in St Peters and suffered life-threatening injuries.Last month a cyclist was killed after being hit by a bus in Neutral Bay on Sydney's north shore.Six cyclists were also injured in March after they were hit by a car on a Sunday morning ride at Eastlakes.

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Drillsearch ups bid for Ambassador

DRILLSEARCH has taken a controlling stake in energy junior Ambassador Oil and Gas after topping up its share swap offer with cash.

DRILLSEARCH moved to combat a rival offer from Magnum Hunter Resources in the US by adding five cents per share to its bid of one Drillsearch share for every 5.4 Ambassador shares.

Ambassador said the bid was superior to Magnum Hunter's, due to various conditions placed on the US proposal, and recommended it in the absence of a superior deal.But Ambassador chief executive Guistino Guglielmo told AAP the process was not over, and Magnum may well increase its offer.Drillsearch's bid is valued at $48 million, a similar value to Magnum Hunter's bid, depending on share prices.Ambassador later revealed that nearly 33 per cent of its shareholders had accepted Drillsearch's new offer.That included Ambassador chairman David Shaw and chief executive Guistino Guglielmo, who together hold a 6.34 per cent stake.Drillsearch already owned 19.9 per cent of Ambassador.Ambassador's exploration assets are in South Australia's Cooper and Eramonga onshore oil and gas basins, alongside the larger Drillsearch's assets in the same region.Drillsearch chairman Jim McKerlie said the offer would allow shareholders to own shares in an Australian entity rather than New York-listed Magnum."Drillsearch, through its sole focus on the Cooper Basin, provides Ambassador's shareholders with a broader exposure to this major Australian region, whereas Magnum Hunter is focused primarily on US shale gas," he said.Market analysts predict a ramp-up in takeover activity in the energy space due to gas demand, with Origin Energy agreeing earlier in June to pay up to $US800 million ($A865.57 million) for Karoon Gas's interest in the Poseidon discovery in WA's Browse Basin.Ambassador shares gained half a cent to 33 cents, and Drillsearch shares fell 4.5 cents, or 2.9 per cent, to $1.51.

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Aquila Resources receives fresh interest

MINING contractor Mineral Resources looks set to make another move on iron ore explorer Aquila Resources.

AQUILA is the target of $1.4 billion takeover bid from Chinese steelmaker Baosteel and rail operator Aurizon, as they look to kickstart the stalled $10 billion West Pilbara Iron Ore Project in Western Australia.

But last week Mineral Resources bought a near $200 million, 13 per cent stake in Aquila Resources, in a bid to deal itself into the large-scale iron ore project.Another purchase of shares looks likely, with shares in Mineral Resources and Aquila halted from trade on Monday ahead of an announcement from each company regarding "a potential corporate transaction".Baosteel and Aurizon said late last week they would not be increasing their offer for Aquila as a result of Mineral Resources' acquisition.

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Nicole Kidman for top Shanghai honour

NICOLE Kidman is to be honoured with an outstanding contribution award at the Shanghai International Film Festival in China.

HUGH Grant and John Woo will present the Australian actress with her latest accolade at the opening ceremony on Saturday, while artist Qin Yi will honour actor and director Jiang Wen with the Outstanding Contribution to Chinese Film Award.

Kidman will be hoping the festival will be a better experience than her visit to Cannes last month, when her new film Grace of Monaco was savaged by critics.Kirsten Dunst, John Cusack, Hayden Christensen, Jackie Chan, Tony Leung, Li Bingbing and Korean superstar Rain are expected to attend the opening gala, according to The Hollywood Reporter.The film festival will open with a restored version of 1964 movie Two Stage Sisters and close with Transformers: Age of Extinction.A jury led by actress Gong Li will decide the winner of the Golden Goblet from the 15 films in competition.

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Get out of Iraq now, warns Bishop

Australia ready to help with humanitarian crisis in Iraq, but no troops envisaged says Julie Bishop. Source: AAP

AUSTRALIANS have been told to leave Iraq immediately by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who has described the escalating crisis as deeply disturbing.

INSURGENTS from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) have taken a swathe of mostly Sunni Arab territory in northern Iraq in an offensive that has brought fighting to within 80km of Baghdad.

The worsening crisis prompted Ms Bishop to urge Australians to leave "immediately".

"The airport in Baghdad is still open. Commercial flights are still operating out of Baghdad," she told the Ten Network. 

"But if Australians must stay in Iraq, they must ensure that their personal circumstances and their security is absolutely safe." 

The Australian embassy in Baghdad would be "very constrained" in the support it could provide, she said. 

On Saturday US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered an aircraft carrier into the Persian Gulf as President Barack Obama considers possible military options, after he ruled out sending troops into Iraq. 

Speaking to reporters in Houston, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he would wait to see how the US responds to the situation before developing an Australian response. 

Ms Bishop said the US would take the lead when it came to any military action. 

"I didn't envisage a circumstance where we would be sending in troops," she said. 

"But we certainly stand ready to support the humanitarian crisis should a request be made." 

She defended the 2003 military intervention in the country, which she supported as a member of the Howard Government. 

"I thought Saddam Hussein was one of the worst dictators on the planet at that time. His removal was a good thing," she said. 

Greens leader Christine Milne said following the US into Iraq was not going to "fix" the violence in the country. 

"We do not want to follow the United States blindly as John Howard did (in 2003)," Senator Milne told ABC Television. 

"Clearly it didn't work last time in Iraq and it won't work this time." 

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Rally calls for Tas forest protection

5000 protesters have rallied in Hobart to oppose the delisting of Tasmania's World Heritage forests. Source: AAP

OPPONENTS of the Abbott government's bid to wind back Tasmania's World Heritage wilderness have rallied outside state parliament.

THE protest aims to pressure the government ahead of a World Heritage Committee meeting in Doha, Qatar, from Sunday.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott promised to wind the World Heritage Area (WHA) back during last year's election campaign and Environment Minister Greg Hunt applied to UNESCO in February.But green groups say 90 per cent of the area is intact and its listing ensures the integrity of the 1.6 million hectare World Heritage Area's border.The rally called on the World Heritage Committee to follow the recommendations of its expert advisors and reject the government's application when it meets in Doha next week."(The federal government's) primary argument is that it is so degraded by logging that it detracts from the rest of the property," Wilderness Society Tasmania campaign director, Vica Bayley, told AAP."But they have been hideously exposed over the last few months by expert advice, and some of their own internal advice, that says around 90 per cent of the area of the land they are proposing to excise is intact forest or other natural vegetation."Two advisory bodies to the committee say excising this forest from the WHA, as sought by the government, should not proceed, he said.A decision on the Tasmania application is expected on Friday or Saturday next week.Mr Bayley, part of a delegation of conservationists heading to Doha, said it was not too late for the government to withdraw its submission.The area slated for delisting is part of 172,000 hectares added last year as a result of a historic peace deal.The deal swapped forest reserves for green groups' support for the ailing logging industry.Federal government forestry spokesman and Tasmanian senator Richard Colbeck accused green groups of trying to dupe the community about the wilderness values of the forest by claiming it is "pristine, untouched old growth forest, when clearly it is not".

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Israel combs West Bank for missing teens

Israeli security forces are combing the West Bank in search of three missing teenagers. Source: AAP

ISRAELI security forces are searching for three teenagers who went missing near a West Bank settlement, the army says, amid media speculation they may have been kidnapped by Palestinians.

THE three, all students at a Jewish seminary, went missing late Thursday as they were hitchhiking between Bethlehem and Hebron.

"Search activity, both operational and in terms of intelligence, is continuing," a spokeswoman said on Saturday, refusing to confirm speculation about a possible kidnapping."For us, these three youths are missing," was all she would say.An AFP journalist said the army had set up roadblocks in the southern West Bank and was searching vehicles.Troops also closed the main crossings into the Gaza Strip to prevent the three, one of whom also holds US citizenship, from being smuggled out of Israel.A rocket was fired from the territory into Israel early Saturday without causing any casualties or damage, the army said.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with US Secretary of State John Kerry Friday, and said he holds Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas responsible for the teenagers' safety.Kerry also telephoned Abbas, a Palestinian source said.A spokesman for the Palestinian Authority's security services, General Adnan al-Damiri, called Netanyahu's suggestions "mad."Damiri said that the PA had no authority over the sprawling Gush Etzion settlement bloc, which is under full Israeli control."Even if there was an earthquake, Netanyahu would blame the Palestinian Authority," he told AFP.Another Palestinian official said the authority's security services were "cooperating" with Israeli agencies to gather information on the teenagers' disappearance.

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Jail term cut for WA teen's murder attempt

A WEST Australian teenager who changed his mind about killing an acquaintance after repeatedly stabbing him and attacking him with a brick has had his sentence reduced.

THE young man was aged 17 and drunk when he and two acquaintances went to a shed at the rear of an abandoned house in the southern Perth suburb of Hilton in the early hours of October 20, 2012 after a party.

While the victim slept on a couch, the offender told the other acquaintance of his murderous plans.He was adamant and resisted attempts to talk him out of it.The offender, who cannot be named, plunged a 8cm fold-out knife into the victim's chest at least four times.He then threw a brick at the victim's head but missed."There's been a change of plans. (The victim) is still alive and I'm going to let him live," the teen told the other acquaintance, who was standing outside the shed.He then got the victim to call an ambulance, instructing him to tell police that a homeless man had caused the injuries.Before leaving, the offender stole the victim's pants, backpack and laptop computer.He then ditched the knife at a quarry in nearby Beaconsfield.The third youth told police what had happened two days later.On Friday in the West Australian Court of Appeal, it was argued the teenager's sentence of seven years and six months in jail was excessive.Justice Robert Anthony Mazza said the sentence was "erroneously long"."The length of the sentence imposed upon the appellant was of a severity one would have expected to have been imposed upon an adult," he said."The sentence was more than was required to provide protection of the public, proper punishment and denunciation and did not sufficiently reflect the appellant's youth and his prospects of rehabilitation."The offender was re-sentenced to six years' imprisonment, backdated to October 23, 2012.He will be eligible for parole.

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Millions for homeless but refuges in doubt

WOMEN'S refuges fear they are days away from closing their doors, despite the NSW government's new promise to pump money into homeless support and restore funding for inner-city shelters.

THE government had foreshadowed cuts to inner-city areas through its Going Home, Staying Home reforms, which aimed to end homelessness where it starts with a focus on early intervention.

The plan sparked outcry from advocates who were concerned women who'd survived physical or sexual abuse or had complex needs would be forced into one-size-fits-all shelters.Community Services Minister Gabrielle Upton argued that the previous approach of pouring money into crisis services in the city was not working - but after reconsidering, she has agreed to wind back mooted cuts.Two months after taking on the portfolio, Ms Upton said on Friday she would restore $8.6 million in annual funding that had been on the chopping block, including $2 million a year for inner-city women's services."Let me be clear: the government was never planning to do away with women's specialist services, nor were there plans to have men and women sharing crisis accommodation," she said."However, I have listened to the legitimate concerns of many inner-city providers and the right decision was to restore funding."Kate Timmins from SOS Women's Services said the new minister was "trying to listen", however, some organisations were scrambling to avoid turning women away from June 30.The government has also promised a new fund so that NGOs who missed out during the tender process can apply for 18 months of extra funding. But Ms Timmins says defunded services are already losing vital accommodation facilities."We've been involved in the tender process since November last year. So to hear today that the government is still not making a commitment to maintain the network of specialist services, and that they'll be eligible to reapply without any guarantee of success, throws the sector into a state of chaos," she said."It's not about services losing tenders, it's about vulnerable women losing services."Ms Upton said next week's budget would include a record $148 million for NGOs delivering specialist homelessness services, up from $135 million.Communities in the Hunter-New England district and on the mid-north coast, Illawarra and Sydney's northern beaches will receive some of the biggest boosts."These reforms are about providing early-intervention services so that there won't be the crisis that we currently have, represented by people coming to the city in search of a safe and secure home," Ms Upton said.Deputy Labor leader Linda Burney says the funding reprieve for inner Sydney comes too late for some organisations."Many of them have already lost their buildings, lost their computers and lost their infrastructure," she said.

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Jobless rate steady for third month

Unemployment is tipped to have risen in May, amid job losses linked to the wind down in mining. Source: AAP

AUSTRALIA'S jobless rate is steady, but only because people are dropping out of the race for a job.

UNEMPLOYMENT remained unchanged at 5.8 per cent in May, beating economists' expectations of a rise to 5.9 per cent.

The static result came despite the economy having shed almost 5,000 jobs last month, the first fall in five months.AMP Capital chief economist Shane Oliver says while the jobless rate has held for three months, it "significantly understates" the current weakness in the job market.That's because the participation rate - which includes those in work, looking for work and ready to start work - continues to fall.It dropped to 64.6 per cent in May."If the participation rate had remained at its 2011 average level the unemployment rate would now be seven per cent," Dr Oliver said.Australia's participation rate has been trending lower since the global financial crisis."We've got the ageing population, people are retiring, leaving the labour force," JP Morgan economist Tom Kennedy said."There could also be disgruntled workers leaving the labour force, and we are also seeing young people staying in education for longer, going to university and TAFE instead of actively seeking work."Today's data fits with the theme that the labour market is still a little bit soft, still losing jobs, and unemployment is likely to move higher as we progress through 2014."Dr Oliver said a dip in jobs growth was to be expected following a strong start to the year, with more than 100,000 positions created in the first four months of 2014.While some economists believe the jobless rate has peaked, Dr Oliver believes unemployment could return to six per cent before the labour market picks up later in the year."While the hit to confidence from the federal budget has increased the level of uncertainty, forward looking indicators for the labour market, including the ANZ job ads survey and employment intentions in the monthly NAB business survey point to stronger jobs growth ahead," he said.Thursday's figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed full-time employment rose 22,200 in May while part-time employment fell 27,000.That shows the jobs market is playing out nicely and running pretty much to plan, CommSec chief economist Craig James said."We seem to have gone through the first stage of recovery with more part time jobs coming on and now we are starting to see more full time workers coming through and part time workers being converted to full time staff," Mr James said."The solid lift in full-time job creation in 2014 should provide a boost to consumer sentiment... more full-time jobs lead to higher consumer spending.The figures should allow the Reserve Bank to keep interest rates on hold, unless the federal budget and warm autumn weather robs momentum from the economy, Mr James said.

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Govt providing certainty for jobs: Hockey

A FURTHER rise in full-time employment comes at an opportune time for Joe Hockey as he continues to peddle his poorly received budget.

THE jobless rate also remained at 5.8 per cent for a third straight month in May when economists had expected it to tick up to 5.9 per cent.

The treasurer dismissed suggestions that more than 100,000 full-time jobs were created since the turn of the year due to Labor leaving the economy in good nick, noting the former government left office with a forecast of a 6.25 per cent unemployment rate."It quite clearly appears that we have turned around the trajectory," Mr Hockey told reporters in Darwin on Thursday.New data showed the number of people in full-time employment grew 22,200 in May.However, overall employment eased 4800 because of a 27,000 drop in part-time workers.Mr Hockey took aim at Bill Shorten, saying the opposition leader had been proved "dead wrong" by claiming high-profile job cuts at Ford, Holden, Toyota, SPC Ardmona and Qantas would be the "end of all time"."Our decisions to provide stability, certainty and predictability have been proven right," he said.Labor's employment spokesman Brendan O'Connor said the steady jobless rate was more to do with people giving up on finding a job.At 64.6 per cent the participation rate of those in work or actively seeking employment was lower than during the 2008-2009 global financial crisis."People have given up looking for work because of the ... lack of confidence in the economy and in this government to provide opportunities for work," Mr O'Connor told reporters in Melbourne.Earlier Mr Hockey told ABC radio the drop in consumer sentiment in response to the budget was entirely predictable."You will see over time that we will deliver on a stronger economy ... things are going to get better".In a speech on Wednesday, he lashed out at claims his budget is unfair saying the government must reward the lifters and discourage the leaners.Too many Australians rely on government payments, he told the Sydney Institute."It should not be taboo to question whether everyone is entitled to these payments," he said.Mr Shorten accused the treasurer of cynically dividing Australians with a budget that puts big business ahead of individuals.He also told the ACOSS annual conference in Brisbane the government's lax approach to tax evasion was especially galling at a time when it is making cruel and unfair cuts to pensions, schools and hospitals.Union "Bust the Budget" protest marches were held in Sydney on Melbourne on Thursday.

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BHP cuts Downer contract, jobs at risk

Downer EDI has had a Queensland coal mining contract worth $360 million cancelled by BHP Billiton. Source: AAP

MORE than 400 people are expected to lose their jobs after BHP Billiton tore up a $360 million mining services contract with Downer EDI.

BHP cancelled the contract two years early at the Goonyella Riverside coal mine in central Queensland, amid persistent weak global coal prices.

Downer employs 427 people at the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) site for pre-stripping - the removal of unwanted material before mining.

Both Australia's coal and mining services industries are under siege with thousands of jobs axed in the past two years and miners cutting investment and operating costs that soared during the boom.

The big miners were squeezing the services industries dependent on them to such an extent that mining services senior executives were contacting the union for help, Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union vice-president Chris Brodsky said.

"The contracting companies are ringing out of the blue, saying: what can you do, how do we try and combat what these giant multinational companies are doing to us, forcing us out of business?" he told AAP.

"That's how bad it is, ordinarily they would steer clear of us."

Downer EDI would not rule the job losses in or out, with a spokesman saying it was too early to say as the contract was only terminated on Tuesday night.

Mr Brodsky said he doubted many workers would keep their jobs.

"I can't see Downer having any other work for them ... I could be wrong but work is pretty scarce out there at the moment," he said.

Downer estimated the termination would reduce its work-in-hand by $160 million in the 2014/15 financial year and by $200 million in 2015/16.

Its shares plunged to their lowest level for 2014, down 59 cents, or 11.15 per cent, to $4.70.

Downer will be entitled to compensation for the contract ending in September this year, instead of June 2016.

BHP coal president Dean Dalla Valle said the action was necessary and flagged more cost cutting to ensure the viability of its coal business.

"The coal industry is undergoing a difficult transition and to be globally competitive we have to reset the cost base of the business," he said.

Mr Brodsky rejected the suggestion workers were over-paid and blamed large miners such as BHP for the weak coal prices because they had flooded the market to squeeze out competition.

"We worked with Downer over the last month to reduce costs and keep people employed but it still wasn't enough for BMA," he said.

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Privacy concerns over Kings Cross scanners

EARLY lock-outs, 3am last drinks, year-long bans from party spots and now ID scanners.

While the NSW government and police are praising the early success of measures to curb alcohol-related violence, civil libertarians fear it may have gone too far with the roll-out of data-storing identification scanners.

The scanners, which will weed out banned patrons at the club or pub door, will be operational from 9pm on Friday in 35 high-risk venues in Kings Cross.

High-risk venues are those trading past midnight with more than a 120-person capacity.

The database will store the names of people subject to Kings Cross bans, either 12 months or 48 hours.

The technology will also store the birth date, name, photograph and address of every ID scanned for 30 days.

Police say it will aid in investigating crime but the NSW Council for Civil Liberties sees it as an invasion of privacy.

President Stephen Blanks believes the measures to tackle alcohol and drug-fuelled violence don't need bolstering.

"Keeping people's ID details is not going to reduce the amount of violence," he told AAP.

"But it's going to compromise people's ID security and expose people to significant risk of ID fraud."

The NSW government says the database will be encrypted and venues can't access the data and are only alerted if a banned person tries to enter.

Police must have a good reason to search it, Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch said.

"They need to have sufficient reason to interrogate the database, the database is auditable and the information only stays there for 30 days," he said.

But Mr Blanks says even eBay, which had its users' accounts hacked recently, found that despite all the security measures data bases were vulnerable.

"There is no reason to think this database is not going to be vulnerable to improper access or inappropriate access," Mr Blanks said.

Either by police or criminal networks, he added.

But licensee of Kings Cross venue The Bourbon, Adam Gainsford, says the scanners will help keep "idiots" out.

It has been four months since 1.30am lock-outs and 3am last drinks came into play and police are pleased with the drop in assault rates.

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Calls for floor price on cigarettes

AN independent senator is pushing for a minimum floor price on cigarettes to counter a tobacco giant's "cynical" move to sell discounted packets.

British American Tobacco Australia has launched what it claims is the cheapest legal packet of cigarettes on the market at $13 for a 25-pack.

It is blaming federal government policy for the move, saying it's simply seeking to remain competitive as sales of cut-price cigarettes soar.

Senator Nick Xenophon has accused the tobacco giant of circumventing laws to discourage people from smoking.

He plans to introduce a resolution in the upper house next week to seek a minimum floor price for all cigarettes sold in Australia.

"We need to outsmart big tobacco in terms of what they've done with this price-discounting and loss-leading campaign," he told ABC TV on Monday.

Senator Xenophon will consult with public health experts on the most effective disincentive price but wants to see a minimum of $20 for a 25-pack.

It was the best option to combat a "deeply cynical" campaign aimed at boosting the ranks of younger smokers, he said.

Senator Xenophon also dismissed "exaggerated" industry claims that plain packaging laws and large excises were driving up black market sales.

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Public comment sought on WA shark cull

ALMOST 1000 sharks could be caught in the next three years if the West Australian government's controversial shark kill policy continues, but less than 25 are predicted to be great whites.

The state government opened its public environmental review (PER) on Monday as part of the Environmental Protection Authority's (EPA) assessment process, and is seeking public feedback.

A proposed extension of the program would see baited drumlines set one kilometre off some beaches between November and April for three years, targeting great white, tiger and bull sharks longer than three metres.

The PER predicts about 900 tiger sharks, 25 great white sharks and only a few bull sharks will be caught over the next three years.

It said capturing that many tiger sharks could possibly "generate a minor consequence" to that species' population, but described it as a "low risk".

With less than 10 great whites expected to be caught each year, there was only a "remote likelihood" the cull would affect the size or migratory patterns of the south-western Australian population, the review said.

With only a few bull sharks expected to be caught each year, the review says there is a "high likelihood" the proposal will have no impact on its population.

A negligible risk is also expected for dusky sharks and protected or listed animals such as grey nurse sharks, shortfin mako sharks, dolphins, sea birds, seals, sea lions, manta rays and turtles.

Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren urged the community to comment on whether the shark cull was viable.

"Drum lines are an overpriced, anti-conservation policy that conflicts with the values and beliefs of modern-day Australians," she said.

State government officials recently attended a shark conference in Durban and reported the views of culling supporters, who were in the minority, Ms MacLaren said.

"Perhaps if these officials attended the conference with a more open mind, they would have noted overwhelming advice from scientists the world over who practise modern sustainable alternatives that don't cull an apex predator," she said.

Last summer, more than 170 sharks were caught on baited drumlines and 50 were killed, none of which was a great white.

The public consultation period runs until July 7.

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Woman critical after Sydney bus hit

A WOMAN is in critical condition in hospital after being hit by a bus in central Sydney.

The woman, aged in her 30s, was crossing George Street when she was hit and has been taken to the nearby St Vincents Hospital in a with severe injuries.

"She's currently undergoing surgery," police said.

Police weren't able to say what her injuries were or whether she had crossed against the lights.

No one else was injured but one northbound lane of George Street has been closed as forensic specialists investigate.

"A city bus had a smashed windscreen and light at the front and the pavement has been cordoned off," an AAP reporter at the scene said.

Earlier on Sunday police expressed fears safety warnings aren't sinking in, after a second death on the state's roads this holiday weekend.

A 21-year-old driving through Binnaway, veered onto the wrong side of the road on Sunday before crashing and being thrown from the car.

It's believed the young man, who died at the scene wasn't wearing a seatbelt.

A teenage girl died and her four friends were injured when their four-wheel-drive car left the trail through Lowes Mount State Forest near Oberon, in NSW's central west, and rolled just after midnight on Saturday.

"Two people have now lost their lives on the state's roads this long weekend, which is two too many," Acting Assistant Commissioner Smith said on Sunday.

"Today's fatality was a tragedy.

He said it was disappointing so many people were still speeding, with more than 2100 speed infringement notices handed out so far this holiday period.

He urged drivers to remaining vigilant, drive to the conditions, take rest breaks, stay away from alcohol or drugs and the distractions by mobile devices.

"These steps could easily save a life," he said.

Major roads in the CBD will be closed on Sunday night as part of Sydney's Vivid festival.

"Anyone attending (Sunday)'s event should leave the car at home and catch one of the extra 3500 trains and buses operating," the Transport Management Centre said.

"All roads are expected to be reopened by midnight."

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GM makes more recalls: air bags, chimes

GENERAL Motors Friday issued another four recalls, this time for air bag and warning chime problems in about 89,000 models from 2012 to 2015.

It was the latest of dozens of recalls this year that covered at least 15.9 million cars worldwide, mostly for ignition switch problems linked to numerous fatal accidents. The problem cars reached back to 2001 models.

This time, GM said there were no known fatalities, and only one crash with an injury related to the problems.

The recall affects 57,512 Silverados, Sierras, Tahoes, Suburbans and Yukons from 2014-2015; 31,520 Buick Veranos and Chevrolet Camaros, Cruzes and Sonics from 2012; and a handful of Chevrolet Sparks, Buick Encores and Corvettes from 2013-2014.

In the largest of Friday's recalls, the problem was with the warning chime which failed to alert the driver to an open door or unbuckled seat belt. The other recalled cars have defects that prevent airbags deploying properly or totally disabling them.

On Thursday, GM felt the consequences after months of debacle.

Fifteen employees were sacked or left the company over their actions regarding a safety flaw in ignition switches.

The problem has been linked to at least 13 deaths, including many cases in which the ignition switch failure kept airbags from deploying in collisions.

The dismissals followed an internal investigation of the deadly flaw, but new chief executive Mary Barra was cleared of wrongdoing.

The switch was present in about 2.6 million smaller cars produced during the last decade, most prominently the Chevrolet Cobalts.

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PM wants Monash to be household name

VILLERS-BRETONNEUX, France, June 7 AAP - The efforts of Australian General John Monash on the Western Front in World War I should be as widely recognised as the story of Simpson and his donkey at Gallipoli, Prime Minister Tony Abbott says.

Mr Abbott revealed on Saturday a new memorial centre to be built in France would be named in honour of the Australian military leader, who is regarded as one of the great tacticians of World War I.

After joining world leaders at D-Day commemorations in Normandy on Friday, Mr Abbott turned his attention to the the First World War as he visited the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux for the first time.

While not as famous as the Gallipoli campaign, the efforts of Australian diggers to stop German forces on the Western Front were critical to the outcome of the war.

Of the 295,000 Australians who fought there between 1916 and 1918, 46,000 never made it home and the prime minister is leading a push he believes will help improve a sense of national identity.

"No place on earth has been more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than these fields in France," Mr Abbott said.

"Australians should be as familiar with the story of the Western Front as we are with Gallipoli.

"Australians should be at least as familiar with the achievements of Monash as we are with the heroism of John Simpson Kirkpatrick (in Gallipoli)."

Sir John Monash was involved in the failed Gallipoli campaign but used his experiences to lead several significant battlefield victories, including the decisive Battle of Amiens.

Mr Abbott said he brought organisation and technology to the battlefield to "break the stalemate of trench warfare".

Attendances at the annual Anzac Day dawn service at Villers-Bretonneux have grown steadily in recent years, with the crowd this year surpassing that at Gallipoli.

Some predict it will become the nation's clear focal point of Anzac Day commemorations beyond next year's centenary in Gallipoli.

"Australians should congregate here, every April 25th, no less than at Anzac Cove," Mr Abbott said.

"And on Anzac Day four years hence, the centenary of the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux, I'm sure they will."

Mr Abbott said it was expected the new "interpretive centre", to be built behind the Australian memorial, would open in 2018 to coincide with 100th anniversary commemorations.

The "Sir John Monash" centre will help to better explain Australia's role in the final victories of World War I and the government will put up $6.9 million for the initial planning.

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One dead, one hurt in SA speed boat crash

ONE person is dead and another has been rushed to hospital after a speedboat crashed on the Murray River in South Australia.

SA Police say Saturday afternoon's accident occurred during a competitive event.

"There were two victims, one is sadly deceased," an SA police spokesman said.

"The other has got some serious burns and has been flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital."

The Adelaide Advertiser reported the victims were both male, but SA Police were unable to provide further details.

"It was a sad tragic way of ending the day's competition there," the police spokesman said.

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No foul play in Qld creek death: police

DETECTIVES have ruled out foul play in the death of a man whose body was found in a Sunshine Coast creek.

Michael Gent's body was found by Queensland State Emergency Service volunteers at the bottom of a four-metre bank at Nambour last Sunday.

The 36-year-old was last seen at a nearby park on May 28, the same day he was reported missing.

Investigators have said there were no obvious signs of injury.

Police said in a statement on Friday that Mr Gent's death is not being treated as suspicious and has been reported to the coroner.

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Govt looks abroad for navy upgrades

THE federal government will turn to Spain or South Korea to build navy refuelling ships after a poor performance by Australian shipbuilders constructing new air warfare destroyers.

Defence Minister David Johnston has announced the tender process for the urgently needed replacements for HMAS Success and HMAS Sirius - but local shipbuilders won't be able to bid.

Instead, the battle will be between Spain's Navantia and South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering.

Senator Johnston says the low productivity of domestic shipbuilders in the troubled air warfare destroyers (AWD) program means the government has to look elsewhere to get value for money.

"No responsible government could consider providing further work to an industry that is performing so poorly," Senator Johnston said on Friday.

"This is not a blank cheque."

The opposition concedes the AWD program has faced problems but claims paying foreign companies to build the replenishment vessels jeopardises the Australian industry.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten accused the government of selling out the future of Australian jobs.

"There are thousands of shipbuilding jobs which have now got a question mark over their future," Mr Shorten told reporters in Melbourne.

Senator Johnston said decisions about replacing navy ships should have been made by Labor years ago, in order to avoid the domestic industry "valley of death" - the gap between current and future projects when workers are laid off.

When asked if Labor should have replaced the supply ships, Mr Shorten accused the Abbott government of playing the blame game.

"If Labor was in power now we would be building these ships in Australia," Mr Shorten said.

Opposition assistant defence spokesman Andrew Feeney denied the government has to look elsewhere for value.

"There has been challenges with that (AWD) program from the beginning," he said.

"The point is those destroyers are being delivered, as far as we know, within the overall fiscal envelope.

"Those destroyers cannot be used as a justification for killing the industry."

The government has warned the refuelling ships may not be the only projects to go overseas if local shipbuilders don't lift their game.

They have a chance to improve performance when they build eight ships to replace the navy's existing Australian-made Anzac frigates next decade for which the government has pledged $78.2 million for preliminary work.

Unions were quick to condemn the refuelling vessel decision, accusing the government of showing a lack of vision.

"Offshoring is an insidious move that undercuts the works of Australian shipbuilders," AMWU national assistant secretary Glenn Thompson said in statement.

However, Mr Thompson was pleased that 20 new patrol boats would be built on home soil, which would lift the confidence in shipyards.

"If the government is aiming to create a shipbuilding industry that's up to international benchmark standard, ensuring there is work is a good first step," he said.

The $8.5 billion AWD project is now running almost two years late and costing $360 million more than planned, with shipbuilders performing well below international standards.

Prime contractor, the government-owned ASC, says it's committed to demonstrating the Future Frigate program can be executed to the quality and cost customers expect.

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iSentia makes strong ASX debut

MEDIA monitor iSentia has made an impressive stock market debut, with its shares rising nearly 20 per cent above their issue price.

Shares in the company, which was previously known as Media Monitors, opened trading at $2.45, 41 cents above the issue price of $2.04.

The stock surged 39 cents, or 19.12 per cent, to close at $2.43.

iSentia was among the most traded stocks, with its market cap hitting $486 million.

iSentia dominates Australia's media monitoring market, providing information from various media sources to alert business and government clients to what is being said about their organisations, competitors and industry.

The company uses software and other systems to capture and interpret data from more than 5,500 mainstream media outlets, 55,000 online news sources and 3.4 million user-generated content sources on Facebook, Twitter and Weibol.

Clients include Microsoft, Nike, Coca-Cola and Samsung and most of the top 100 companies listed on the ASX.

It also operates in the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam and has an emerging presence China.

In its prospectus, iSentia said demand for media intelligence services in the Asia-Pacific region was expected to grow strongly over 2013-2016, especially in the online and social media segment.

It has forecast a net profit of $11.9 million in 2014, up from $7 million last year, and expects to start paying dividends next year.

Isentia issued 139 million shares to raise $283.5 million under an initial public offer.

The company has 200 million shares in total. It was floated by private equity outfit Quadrant Funds, which retains a 25 per cent stake.

Chief executive John Croll also holds a four per cent stake, which lifted in paper value by more than $3 million to $19.4 million based on iSentia's first day of trading.

iSentia shares are trading on a deferred settlement basis until Wednesday.

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Mega ports to be allowed near Barrier Reef

FIVE mega ports will be allowed along the Queensland coast, mainly in areas near the Great Barrier Reef.

Abbot Point, one of the world's biggest coal terminals, has been declared a port development priority area.

The declaration comes only six months after green groups lost a court battle to stop three million cubic metres of dredge spoil from being dumped, in the reef marine park boundaries.

As well as at Abbot Point, expansions will be allowed at other ports adjacent to the reef, including Gladstone, Hay Point, Mackay, and Townsville.

Brisbane has also been earmarked for major growth.

Queensland's Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said dredging outside these priority port areas would be banned under the new strategy.

"Within and adjoining the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, the Queensland government will prohibit dredging for the development of new, or the expansion of existing port facilities outside these port precincts, for the next decade," he said, adding the approach was consistent with UNESCO World Heritage Committee recommendations.

But Queensland Greens senator Larissa Waters said the new "faux restriction" on dredging was useless.

"It won't apply to any of the damaging dredging already applied for which is the very dredging that UNESCO was concerned about," she said, adding dredging would continue at 20 ports.

"This is atrocious news for the Great Barrier Reef."

The Australian Marine Conservation Society said coastline along the reef would be industrialised.

"The new policy won't stop a single port development or dredging proposal planned along the Queensland coast," campaigner Felicity Wishart said.

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Palmer writes Credlin an apology

Tony Abbott has accused Clive Palmer (pic) of not understanding his paid parental leave policy. Source: AAP

CLIVE Palmer has apologised to Prime Minister Tony Abbott's chief-of-staff for personally attacking her over the government's paid parental leave scheme.

The Palmer United Party leader used parliamentary debate on Monday to suggest Peta Credlin would receive a "massive benefit when she gets pregnant" on the scheme, and suggested she was somehow responsible for it.

Mr Palmer said he was unaware Ms Credlin had unsuccessful attempts to conceive through IVF and wrote a letter of apology on Tuesday morning.

"I did that well before this was a big controversy," he said.

"I told her it was a matter of great regret if there was any way I offended her personally."

Mr Palmer however didn't back down entirely and again criticised the policy for favouring successful women, who are capable of looking after themselves, over battling stay-at-home mums.

Earlier, Mr Abbott said Mr Palmer did not understand that his parental leave policy would give all women entitlements enjoyed by commonwealth public servants, including his chief-of-staff.

"So before he goes out and attacks people he really ought to understand the policy, and he doesn't," Mr Abbott told reporters in Canberra.

"I think that blokes around this place have learnt to underestimate women at their peril. I just make that general observation."

Amid the furore sparked by his comments, Mr Palmer skipped federal parliament on Wednesday and instead visited Queensland parliament.

He said his time was better spent meeting his Queensland parliamentary leader Alex Douglas and Fairfax constituents.

"I'm not allowed to talk in federal parliament, I can only ask a question once every two weeks."

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Farmers to finally get drought loans

DROUGHT-STRICKEN farmers are finally getting access to a $200 million loans package promised by the federal government three months ago.

But only farmers in parts of Queensland and NSW will be able to take advantage of the cheap finance.

Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce says applications for the drought concessional loan scheme are "ready to roll".

But he acknowledged it had taken longer than expected.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced the $320 million drought package after visiting drought-hit parts of the two states in February.

Mr Joyce said the scheme had been delayed by negotiations on who could access the loans and how the states would administer them.

Arrangements have been settled, including a new definition of drought that replaces exceptional circumstances.

Doubt remains about when drought-affected farmers in other states will be able access the loans pool.

Their share of the pool is $80 million. The NSW and Queensland pools each have $100 million.

The remaining $40 million of the package will go towards programs including water management, pest control and mental health services.

Opposition agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon accused Mr Joyce of disappointing farmers by suggesting help was on its way, and soon.

The real test for the government was when farmers get the promised help.

"The minister said soon ... whatever that means," Mr Fitzgibbon told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.

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Budget-hit confidence stabilises

AFTER all the doom and gloom, there is finally a chink of economic light.

Consumer confidence has risen moderately in the past week, the first time since federal budget leaks started to emerge in April.

Retail spending has posted its longest run of positive monthly results in seven years; a strong economic growth result is expected from Wednesday's quarterly national accounts; and the Reserve Bank is showing no signs of raising the cash rate any time soon.

But that's where the good news ends.

Even though the weekly ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence index rose 2.9 per cent, it was still down 12 per cent over a six-week period, which is a worry for retailers in coming months.

The index coincided with a Dun & Bradstreet survey showing 59 per cent of businesses are concerned about the impact of the budget on their operations.

At the same time, the latest Newspoll showed barely any improvement in support for the coalition after two weeks of trying to sell its first budget and that Labor would be swept to power if an election was held tomorrow.

But Treasurer Joe Hockey remains adamant the budget will make the economy stronger and more resilient.

"It is going to lead to the creation of more jobs," he told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday.

Consumer spending rose 0.2 per cent to $23.2 billion in April, the month before the budget.

Australian National Retailers Association chief executive Margy Osmond said the 12th consecutive rise in spending would have given retailers a nice surprise.

"[But] we would expect May and June to be the deal-breakers in retail sales momentum," she said in a statement.

The RBA left the cash rate at its all-time low of 2.5 per cent at its monthly board meeting.

"On present indications, the most prudent course is likely to be a period of stability in interest rates," governor Glenn Stevens said in his post-meeting statement.

Economic growth has been firmer since the start of the year, partly as a result of very strong increases in resource exports, he said.

Balance of payments data for the the March quarter has shown net exports - exports minus imports - will contribute a much stronger than expected 1.4 percentage points to growth in the quarter.

Some economists upgraded their March quarter gross domestic product forecasts ahead of Wednesday's national accounts, which could see annual growth above 3 per cent for the first time in about two years.

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Metgasco launches CSG court action

A MINING company which had its controversial coal seam gas drilling licence suspended by the NSW government is seeking to overturn the decision in court.

Energy Minister Anthony Roberts suspended Metgasco's licence at Bentley, in northern NSW, in May after an audit found the company had failed to properly consult the community about the operation to drill the Rosella well.

Mr Roberts also referred information about shareholdings and interests in Sydney-based Metgasco to the state's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

The company has now filed for a judicial review in the Supreme Court, and plans to argue the minister's decision was "unlawful" because it wasn't authorised by legislation and denied it procedural fairness.

It also disputes the government's claim it did not property consult the local community.

As well, Metgasco is considering whether to claim for damages to compensate it for losses - estimated at about $3 million - arising from the suspension, the company said on Tuesday in a statement.

The filing comes a day after ICAC told Metgasco wouldn't be inquiring into its shareholder arrangements or interests.

The government's decision to suspend the licence came just days before thousands of protesters were expected to form a blockade outside the Bentley drill site and up to 800 police officers were called into to monitor their activity.

Mr Robert said the conditions of Metgasco's exploration licence required it to undertake "genuine and effective" community consultation.

"The government will continue to vigorously pursue titleholders to ensure they maintain high standards of community consultation," he said in a statement.

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Stranger grabs Sydney girl in 'bear hug'

A man tried to snatch a teenage girl by grabbing her in a bear hug in Sydney's west, police say. Source: AAP

A MAN tried to snatch a teenage girl by grabbing her in a bear hug in broad daylight in Sydney's southwest.

The 16-year-old girl was walking near Holsworthy railway station along Heathcote Road when the man approached her from behind about 10.30am (AEST) on Friday.

Police say the man put his arms around the girl in a bear hug before the teenager freed herself and ran.

The girl contacted a family member, who picked her up from the train station. She was not injured.

Police from Liverpool Local Area Command are investigating.

Detectives would like to speak to a man who they believe might be able to assist with inquiries.

He is described as being of Asian appearance, about 25 to 30 years old, with a medium build.

He was last seen wearing a tan-coloured camouflage hooded jumper with long, black sleeves, black shorts, and tan-coloured thongs.

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AHA says figures show lockouts not needed

Assaults at licensed premises in Kings Cross have fallen by 30.5 per cent, figures show. Source: AAP

A DRAMATIC fall in assaults in pubs and clubs in Kings Cross and the Sydney CBD in the past two years shows that early closings and lockouts were unnecessary, the hotels' association said.

Figures from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research released on Monday show assaults at licensed premises in Kings Cross have fallen by 30.5 per cent in the two years to March.

Assaults at venues in the Sydney CBD have fallen by 15.1 per cent over the same period, while across the NSW there was a 5.6 per cent fall in assaults committed in licensed premises.

Australian Hotels' Association director John Green said the figures pre-date the 1.30am lockouts and 3am last drinks introduced in the Sydney CBD and Kings Cross in late February.

The moves followed a backlash to a spate of one-punch assaults.

"These figures back up what we have been saying for some time, that assault rates in licensed premises are actually dropping despite the anecdotal claims of various interest groups," he said.

"Hoteliers in the Sydney area, indeed right across NSW, have been working hard with police and their local communities to improve safety at venues for years and we are seeing the results in this latest round of independent figures."

Police said the drop in assault figures in the Sydney CBD and Kings Cross were the result of good policing across NSW.

"Unfortunately, the work of the venues never seems to be acknowledged, with more and more blanket measures imposed on all venues instead of targeting the rogue operators," Mr Green said.

The figures also show that indecent assaults have increased by 12.1 per cent and domestic violence offences were up by 2.5 per cent which police have attributed to greater reporting of these crimes.

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Qld still on track for surplus

Queensland premier Campbell Newman isn't phased by a massive increase to the fiscal deficit. Source: AAP

QUEENSLAND is still on track for a surplus despite the budget deficit quadrupling to a projected $2.27 billion next financial year.

The mid-year budget update in December estimated the fiscal deficit would be $664 million for 2014/15, but a $600 million write down in coal royalties has worsened the bottom lime.

So too has a lag in natural disaster relief repayments from the Commonwealth.

Premier Campbell Newman doesn't see the loss as a budget deterioration, rather he insists it's an accounting problem.

"It's a timing issue," he said.

Two years of job and service cuts have given enough of a buffer to sustain the hit, with the state still on track for a surplus in 2015/16, as promised.

"It will be the first time in over a decade that Queensland taxpayers won't have to borrow money," Mr Newman said.

On Tuesday, the Newman government will hand down its third and final budget before next year's election.

It has all but confirmed it will sell assets, instead of increasing taxes and reducing services, to help pay down $80 billion debt and build new infrastructure.

Two ports could be leased and two electricity generators and the commercial parts of Sunwater sold.

"The only way we can build the new infrastructure is through cutting front line services, putting up taxes and charges, or asset sales," Mr Newman said.

On Sunday, it was announced that $6.5 million had been set aside in the budget to hire 70 child safety officers.

Another $25 million will be spent on child safety initiatives, such as more referral services, support for families to care for children at home instead of out-of-home care, and improved support for indigenous families.

Child Safety Minister Tracy Davis says $406 million will be spent over five years, to allow an overhaul of the child protection system.

The funding boost is in response to the Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry and the final report by Commissioner Tim Carmody QC.

He recommended keeping families together, with more prevention and early intervention services.

"Parents should be able to care for their own children at home safely, with early intervention services and support easily accessible for those families who need it," Ms Davis said.

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Aust pledges $100m for polio fight

Australia has pledged 100 million dollars to go towards eradicating polio in northern Africa. Source: AAP

AUSTRALIA has pledged $100 million to help eradicate polio for good.

The funds will be spread over five years and will go towards making countries in northern Africa and the Middle East - where outbreaks have been reported - polio-free.

It will also help Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria, where the disease is endemic.

About $20 million will be provided over the next year to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative for immunisations to fight the disease's re-emergence.

Announcing the pledge on Sunday, Foreign minister Julie Bishop said Australia is committed to helping finish the job of eradicating polio.

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Ash grounds flights to Darwin, Bali

A massive ash cloud from an Indonesian volcano may disrupt aviation in parts of Australia. Source: AAP

DARWIN remains cut off to all air services until Sunday, and flights from Australia to Bali are now affected, as three separate ash plumes billow from an Indonesian volcano.

A meteorologist with the Bureau of Meteorology's Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in Darwin, Tim Birch, said the Sangeang Api volcano off the Indonesian island of Sumbawa is now erupting continuously after an initial blast on Friday afternoon.

Darwin International Airport was closed to all inbound and outbound flights on Saturday, and Mr Birch said Bali's airspace is now also affected.

The major plume affecting Australian aviation is sweeping southeast over the west side of the Northern Territory as far south as Alice Springs, Mr Birch said.

The plume that is affecting Darwin will be around for the next 18 hours. We will see the plume here start to move east will start to move out of the Northern Territory and move steadily east in the location of Mount Isa (in Queensland) and it will start to dissipate," he told AAP.

This would affect Darwin flights on Sunday and is likely to dissipate, Mr Birch said.

A second, hovering north of Darwin between 9.5km and 16km in the air, may cause problems for flights between Australia and Malaysia and Singapore, he said.

A third, lower-level plume is drifting west from the volcano and is within 100km of Bali.

"The volcano is still erupting as it has done for most of the day, but not as violently as initially erupted but there is a steady plume," Mr Birch said.

Virgin Australia spokeswoman Jacqui Abbott confirmed two Saturday afternoon flights to Denpasar - one from Adelaide and on from Melbourne - have now been cancelled.

Qantas Group spokeswoman Kira Reed said Jetstar has cancelled an Adelaide-Denpasar flight that went via Darwin, and all its services to and from Darwin remain grounded.

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss said it may be days before flights through northern Australia return to normal.

"Depending on wind and other weather conditions, the ash has the potential to affect flights to and from other airports, including Brisbane, during coming days. This is currently being fully assessed," he said.

"Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for further information."

Airservices Australia has begun diverting international flights around the ash cloud.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority says volcanic ash can affect all aircraft with piston or jet engines at all flight levels.

Fine particles of pulverised rock consisting mainly of silica contained in volcanic ash clouds can be highly abrasive and damage aircraft engines, structures and windows.

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One dead and six injured in NSW crash

A MAN is dead and six people, including two children, have been injured in a head-on collision at Coffs Harbour on NSW's north coast.

The 58-year-old was killed when a Nissan Pulsar and Ford Falcon collided on Hogbin Drive just before 1pm on Saturday, police say.

The man, a rear passenger in the Falcon, was taken to Coffs Harbour Health Campus but died a short time later.

The driver of the Pulsar - a 31-year-old woman - was taken to hospital with leg and wrist injuries.

Among her passengers, a nine-year-old girl and five-year-old boy were also hospitalised with serious injuries.

The 59-year-old female driver of the Falcon suffered multiple fractures to her arms and legs.

And a 19-year-old man, a passenger in the Falcon, was taken to hospital with internal injuries.

An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is underway with police urging witnesses to come forward.

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Seven years' jail for Halloween killer

NEARLY four years ago, Ardavaz Delir lost his son in a way no parent would want to imagine.

Eden Delir was 17 when he was surrounded by a group of gatecrashers at a Sydney Halloween party, savagely bashed and struck on the head with a wine bottle with such ferocity it smashed.

Eden was found lying unconscious and covered in blood beside a nearby house, where he ran to try to save himself before collapsing.

He never regained consciousness and died in hospital a week later from head injuries.

On Friday, the teenager who delivered the fatal blow was sentenced to at least seven years jail for manslaughter.

The 18-year-old, who cannot be named because he was 15 at the time, was handed a maximum jail term of 10 years.

Last November, he had been found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.

Ardavaz Delir said he knew the sentence would not bring back his son, but he was glad Eden's life had been given a value by the court system.

"Two or three years, that would have been a slap in the face," he said outside the NSW Supreme Court.

"When you see in the media what's happening with some unrealistic sentences, we are pleased by it."

In handing down the sentence, Justice Peter Hall told the court the attack was unprovoked and brutal.

The offender sat impassive in the dock as Justice Hall acknowledged the "exceptionally painful and tragic" ordeal Eden's parents continued to endure.

Eden's mother, Dorothy, who sat next to her husband, held her hand to her mouth for the entire proceedings.

The court heard that soon after the gatecrashers arrived at the party, they recognised Eden as someone they had once robbed, with one of the six young men pointing at him and saying, "That's the guy that snitched."

The boys, one of whom a witness said wielded a tubular metal pole, surrounded the 17-year-old, punched him to the ground and kicked him in the head and body.

The offender then smashed the glass bottle over his head.

Justice Hall said the fact the young men outnumbered Eden without any warning and continued to inflict blows even after he fell to the ground outlined the "complete callousness" of the crime.

The teenager will serve the beginning of his sentence in a juvenile facility, and will be transferred to an adult jail when he turns 21.

He will be eligible for parole in October 2020.

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Zuckerberg donates $A130m to schools

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is reportedly donating $A130 million to US public schools. Source: AAP

FACEBOOK CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, are donating $US120 million ($A130 million) to the San Francisco Bay Area's public school system.

The couple's gift will be spread over the next five years and is the biggest allocation to date of the $US1.1 billion in Facebook stock the couple pledged last year to the nonprofit Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

"Education is incredibly expensive and this is a drop in the bucket. What we are trying to do is catalyse change by exploring and promoting the development of new interventions and new models," Chan, said in an interview at Facebook's Menlo Park, California headquarters.

The first $US5 million will go to school districts in San Francisco, Ravenswood and Redwood City and will focus on principal training, classroom technology and helping students transition from the 8th to the 9th grade. The couple and their foundation, called Startup: Education, determined the issues of most urgent need based on discussions with school administrators and local leaders.

Zuckerberg and Chan, a pediatrician, discussed the donation in an exclusive interview with the Associated Press.

It was Chan's first significant step into the public spotlight and the couple's premier interview together.

The two met while studying at Harvard and married in their Palo Alto backyard on May 19, 2012 - the day after Facebook's stock began publicly trading in a rocky initial public offering that now seems a distant memory. In 2010, they joined Giving Pledge, an effort led by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett to get the country's richest people to donate most of their wealth.

"I'm really focused on connecting the world. That's my main thing, and you're primarily focused on children," said Zuckerberg.

Chan, 29, and Zuckerberg, 30, have made philanthropy a central theme of their life together. The two made the largest charitable gift on record for 2013. That $US1.1 billion donation was on top of another $US500 million the couple gave a year earlier to the Silicon Valley foundation, which helps donors allocate their gifts.

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Aquila takeover wins FIRB approval

CHINESE steelmaker Baosteel and Australian rail operator Aurizon have moved a step closer to sealing their $1.42 billion takeover of Aqulia Resources.

The Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) approved the deal on Thursday.

The offer still needs approval from Aquila's shareholders before it can go ahead.

Aurizon boss Lance Hockridge and Baosteel's chairman Zhihao Dai welcomed the FIRB's decision.

Aquila said shareholders should take no action until the company's independent board sub-committee comes up with a formal recommendation on the offer.

The Chinese steelmaker Baosteel and Aurizon plan to kickstart the stalled $10 billion West Pilbara Iron Ore Project if they succeed in their joint takeover bid.

Aquila Resources holds a 50 per cent stake in the project.

Analysts have said the deal is attractive for Aquila shareholders, but major hurdles remain for the completion of such a large-scale mine, rail and port project.

Aquila shares closed one cent higher at $3.52 while Aurizon was flat at $4.94.

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Search for man missing in Melbourne

POLICE are appealing for public help to find a Melbourne man missing since Friday.

Toni Rabottini, from Sandhurst, was last seen in Dandenong about 9am on May 24.

The 49-year-old suffers from a medical condition and police and family members are concerned for his welfare.

Investigators believe Mr Rabottini may be frequenting the Carrum Downs area.

He is described as Caucasian and about 165cm tall, with a solid build and short dark hair.

Anyone who sees Mr Rabottini is urged to contact triple zero immediately.

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Work-for-the-dole scheme returns

Young people in areas of high unemployment will have to work 15 hours a week to get the dole. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has urged young Australians not to waste their lives as the government unveiled details of its revamped work-for-the-dole scheme.

From July, unemployed people aged 18 to 30 in 18 areas who have been receiving Youth Allowance or Newstart for 12 months or more will have to work 15 hours a week to get the dole.

"What we have said to the young people of Australia is don't waste your life - leave school and either improve your education or get a job," Mr Abbott told parliament.

But welfare groups say restarting work for the dole will be less effective than wage subsidies.

The areas targeted in the first phase have high youth unemployment, which has averaged 13 per cent nationally since the September 2013 election.

The government will not need to change legislation to restart the program initiated under the Howard government.

The National Welfare Rights Network said work for the dole had proven ineffective in the past as a way of getting people into long-term jobs.

Programs should focus on new skills, providing work activities that offer a better chance of getting into long-term jobs and increasing and indexing payments.

Network spokesman Gerard Thomas said previous studies of work for the dole found many people had less time to look for work and wage subsidy programs had a better success rate.

A government study showed 47 per cent of extremely disadvantaged job seekers in wage subsidy programs were still in work after six months - more than double that under the previous work-for-the-dole program.

Labor employment services spokeswoman Julie Collins said that while the government was rolling out work for the dole it was cutting other programs which had been proven to work.

"They need meaningful work and meaningful training to connect them with the work," she said.

Australian Council of Social Service chief Cassandra Goldie said the focus should be on joint ventures with business leaders, investors, communities and social services.

"A first step would be to increase the availability of places in cost-effective wage subsidy programs, mentoring, career counselling and vocational programs," she said.

Ms Goldie said the government had accepted the value of work subsidies in announcing in the budget a $10,000 payment to employers who hired workers over the age of 50.

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Katter party MP moves for son

Katter Party state leader Ray Hopper has switched seats for his son Ben to run in his old one. Source: AAP

KATTER'S Australian Party's Queensland leader Ray Hopper has moved to a new electorate ahead of the state election to make way for his son.

Ben Hopper will now contest the seat of Condamine, while his father will stand in the neighbouring electorate of Nanango against the Liberal National Party's Deb Frecklington.

Premier Campbell Newman has described the move as "musical chairs", while his deputy Jeff Seeney said Mr Hopper Sr was a joke.

"He's jumped around from party to party, from issue to issue and he's made himself completely irrelevant to Queensland politics," Mr Seeney said.

Mr Hopper Sr said he and his son would be two of 10 KAP candidates who would fight for outback Queensland electorates that used to be Nationals territory, but had been abandoned.

He said it would be stupid for his party to go against the Palmer United Party in other seats, so it was pooling all its resources into the 10 regional seats, which would also include Dalrymple, Mount Isa and Gympie.

Mr Hopper said his son, a labourer, used to "hold his breath until his face turned blue" and would be just as determined in parliament.

"God help them if they had two Hoppers sitting up there," he said.

Mr Hopper Jr said his dad, a former LNP MP, did the right thing by defecting from the party, particularly after it reneged on a promise not to push ahead with expansion of the Acland coal mine near Toowoomba.

"He had to do it," he said.

"It comes down to a man's integrity I suppose."

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Three-year-old girl dies in Mount Isa

AN investigation is under way to determine how a three-year-old girl died in an outback Queensland home.

Police say the toddler was driven from a home in Mount Isa to the mining town's hospital, where she was declared dead about 7.30pm on Monday.

No other information has been released.

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Frail, dazed Rogerson put behind bars

Former NSW cop Roger Rogerson (C) has been taken away for questioning over the murder of Jamie Gao. Source: AAP

HE was once considered one of the toughest cops in a tough town.

But former Sydney detective Roger Rogerson cut a frail, dazed figure as the 73-year-old was frogmarched from his modest suburban home to police custody on Tuesday.

A media pack surrounded Rogerson's Padstow Heights home waiting for a glimpse of the man for whom police had searched interstate.

Rogerson had been in Queensland on Monday for a speaking event, work in which he has dabbled since his departure from the police force in the late 1980s.

Sydney's detectives had flown to Brisbane on Monday to talk to Rogerson about the murder of Jamie Gao, 20, a week before.

But it seemed the former detective had found his own way home to Sydney's southwest.

Around 11am Tuesday, an hour before Rogerson had agreed to attend the Sydney Police Centre, several detectives arrived at his home.

Two targeted the side gate, with one effortlessly leaping over into Rogerson's side yard.

Up to four others banged on the front door, before walking in and intervening on a meeting between Rogerson and his lawyer Paul Kenny in the home's office.

Rogerson's wife was also home and the pet dog barked incessantly as the drama unfolded.

Less than 10 minutes later, an incensed Mr Kenny came out blazing and deploring the behaviour of the arresting officers.

A rattled Rogerson, who clutched a jacket in his cuffed hands, faced a wall of cameras outside his home minutes after.

As microphones were thrust in his direction and reporters tripped over each other to get a question in, Rogerson got a final word before he was led into a waiting undercover car: "We're back to the Gestapo days now."

Mr Kenny was left in his client's front yard, pacing back and forth and labelling the surprise detective visit an "absolute disgrace".

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