Smoke still troubles Vic town of Morwell

A CFA volunteer has been struck by a tanker while fighting a grassfire in central Victoria. Source: AAP

VULNERABLE residents who have been forced to leave a smoke-affected Victorian town will likely spend another weekend away from home.

The town of Morwell in the Latrobe Valley has been blanketed by thick smoke since a fire began at the nearby Hazelwood open-cut coalmine on February 9.

Victoria's chief health officer, Dr Rosemary Lester, said that weather permitting, the advice for at-risk people to stay away from the town - people over 65, pregnant women, preschool children and people with pre-existing heart and lung conditions - could be lifted within a few days.

"The air quality unfortunately has not been quite good enough for us over the past couple of days for us to lift our temporary relocating advice. I think we are almost there," Dr Lester said on Friday.

The fire at the brown coalmine was brought under control last weekend but is yet to be extinguished.

CFA regional controller Steve Warrington said crews were working on a number of hot spots beneath the mine's surface.

"We are focused on eliminating the remaining hot spots. This is one of the last steps in the mine fire fight," he said.

The Victorian government announced this week that former Supreme Court justice Bernard Teague would head an inquiry into the response to the fire.

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Iraq tries to legalise child marriage

A CONTENTIOUS draft law being considered in Iraq could open the door to girls as young as nine getting married and would require wives to submit to sex on their husband's whim.

The measure, aimed at creating different laws for Iraq's majority Shi'ite population, could further fray the country's divisions amid some of the worst bloodshed since the sectarian fighting that nearly ripped the country apart after the US-led invasion.

It also comes as more and more children under 18 get married in the country.

"That law represents a crime against humanity and childhood," prominent Iraqi human rights activist Hana Adwar said.

"Married underage girls are subjected to physical and psychological suffering.

Iraqi law now sets the legal age for marriage at 18 without parental approval. Girls as young as 15 can be married only with a guardian's approval.

The proposed new measure, known as the Jaafari Personal Status Law, is based on the principles of a Shi'ite school of religious law founded by Jaafar al-Sadiq, the sixth Shi'ite imam.

Iraq's Justice Ministry late last year introduced the draft measure to the cabinet, which approved it last month despite strong opposition by rights groups and activists.

The draft law does not set a minimum age for marriage. Instead, it mentions an age in a section on divorce, setting rules for divorces of girls who have reached the age of nine years in the lunar Islamic calendar.

It also says that's the age girls reach puberty.

Since the Islamic calendar year is 10 or 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, that would be the equivalent of eight years, eight months old.

The bill makes the father the only parent with the right to accept or refuse the marriage proposal.

Also under the proposed measure, a husband can have sex with his wife regardless of her consent.

The bill prevents women from leaving the house without their husband's permission, would restrict women's rights in matters of parental custody after divorce and make it easier for men to take multiple wives.

Parliament must still ratify the bill before it becomes law. That is unlikely to happen before parliamentary elections scheduled for April 30.

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Jury finds Serco murderer guilty

MATEJ Vanko has been found guilty by a Supreme Court jury of holding his Serco immigration detention centre supervisor hostage and executing her brother and his two dogs.

The jury deliberated for just over two hours before returning guilty verdicts on all five counts.

There was no love lost between Vanko, 37, and Ms Stevens. They had had numerous conflicts at work and he felt she was blocking his desire for a promotion, the court had heard.

He had already cased her property a few weeks before he took a sick day on Monday April 23, 2012, hired a car and drove to the Howard Springs home she shared with her brother Donald.

He executed Donald with a Japanese ceremonial knife by stabbing him to the back of the head, shot and stabbed his blue heeler and maltese terrier, then waited for Ms Stevens to return home.

He handcuffed her and tied her to the bed, demanded her bank account details and told her to get him a promotion.

He had her call in to work and say she would not be returning for two weeks.

But when he left the property Ms Stevens fled and called the police.

Her whole world had collapsed, she told the court in a victim impact statement read by Crown prosecutor David Morters.

"Where once I was confident, now I am a quivering wreck," it read.

She suffers from post-traumatic stress and left Darwin and the home she loved after her ordeal.

"I was certain Vanko would make every effort to finish what he started... I'm still fearful of his reach, even from behind bars."

She had twice attempted suicide in 2012 after her brother's murder, she said.

"(Vanko) wanted to kill me that day, and he succeeded - he killed the woman I was," her statement read.

"My brother and I were living in a dream... we had never been happier or closer before the nightmare (he) brought into our lives."

She asked the judge to hand down the maximum sentence and said Vanko had shown no remorse.

"His coldness is deeply disturbing," her statement read.

Vanko said he wasn't at the house that day, but out with a friend.

But prosecutors said he conspired with a fellow prison inmate to have his sister pose as Vanko's alibi.

She did not give evidence in the trial.

The defence alleged that Ms Stevens had fabricated her story, but Vanko's DNA was found on the curtains in her bedroom and on the teatowel strips used to bind her.

Outside court, Ms Stevens told reporters she was grateful the jury had been able to separate the truth from the lies.

Discrediting her was all the defence had to go on, she said.

"It was personally very distressing... but really, now, who cares? It's over, thank God."

The Crown said Mr Stevens had been unfortunate enough to get in Vanko's way.

"He had lived through some terrible experiences and made the decision on his own to change his life for the better, and found peace up here ... only to end up being disposed of so despicably by someone who wasn't even fit to tie his shoelaces," Ms Stevens said.

Vanko will reappear in court next week for sentencing submissions.

Under mandatory sentencing for murder in the Northern Territory, he faces a 25-year non-parole period.

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Palmer loses in Abbot point decision

CLIVE Palmer's attempt to have a stand alone coal terminal at Abbot Point declared a significant project has failed in the Supreme Court in Brisbane.

Queensland's Co-ordinator-General refused to give Waratah Coal's proposal the status in August 2012 and Mr Palmer, who is renowned for being highly litigious, launched legal action.

The project was found not to fit government policy to create multi-user terminals and incrementally build port capacity.

The status could have streamlined approval of the project, which included a new rail spur, coal stockyard, conveyers, jetty, and ship loaders.

Waratah originally planned to develop the China First Project with various Chinese state-owned enterprises, to export coal from the Galilee basin through Abbot Point, in north Queensland, court papers read.

It intended to use terminals 4 to 9 at the proposed port expansion and was granted a "significant project" by the Co-ordinator-General in 2008.

But when learning in 2011 that terminal 4 - 9 may not proceed, Waratah began planning its own stand alone jetty and applied for "significant project" status in January 2012.

In contesting the rejection in the Supreme Court, Waratah argued the Co-ordinator-General erred by relying on ministerial statements to enact government policy rather than using the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act.

But Justice Peter Applegarth on Thursday sided the Co-ordinator-General to dismiss the action taken by Waratah and ordered it to pay all costs.

"Waratah has failed to establish the grounds upon which it seeks a declaration that the decision ... was not a valid exercise of power," he wrote.

Mr Palmer, now federal MP for Fairfax, was contacted by AAP and asked whether he'd still proceed with the project without a "significant project" status.

He hadn't seen the judgment and declined to comment.

When offered a copy via email Mr Palmer replied: "I haven't got time, I'm too busy on the Tasmanian elections, I'm not in business anymore, okey doke".

The loss is Mr Palmer's second in the Supreme Court following an unsuccessful action taken against the Queensland Treasurer and the North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation in August last year, protesting the decision to downsize the Abbot Point expansion, acting Premier and state development minister Jeff Seeney said.

He said Thursday's loss again exposed Mr Palmer's total lack of credibility.

"For too long Mr Palmer has made unsubstantiated allegations suggesting he hasn't been given a fair go by the Queensland government, but the Supreme Court has found no evidence to support those claims," he said.

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Myer exec Greg Travers resigns

RETAILER Myer's executive general manager, business services and strategy, Greg Travers, has resigned to take up a role in the resources sector.

Myer chief executive Bernie Brookes paid tribute to Mr Travers' contribution to the company over the past eight years.

"While we will be very sorry to see Greg leave, he has been offered a great new opportunity to return to the resources sector with an international mining company," Mr Brookes said.

"Greg spent many years in senior roles in the resources sector prior to joining Myer."

Mr Travers has provided three months notice. His role will be covered by internal appointments while a review of further changes and other appointments is under way.

Myer recently announced Mr Brookes' reappointment as Myer chief executive.

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"Kill" machete not murder weapon

A HOMEMADE machete with "kill" written on it was found at a NSW murder scene but prosecutors don't believe it was used to fatally stab a small-time drug dealer.

The 30cm weapon was found by police at a Wagga Wagga home in May 2011 the day after John Gjedsted was killed during a brief and violent confrontation with four men in his front yard.

Ethan McKellar, Bevan McKellar, Douglas Dennis and Luke Elwood all admit they went to Mr Gjedsted's home on the evening of May 1 2011.

They drove over in Dennis's car after a few drinks to buy some cannabis from the dealer, a NSW Supreme Court heard on Wednesday.

But during opening submissions, the men's lawyers all denied their clients had fatally attacked Gjedsted, had seen a weapon before the brawl broke out or devised a plan to rob or swindle "sticks" - slang for small amounts of cannabis.

All men have pleaded not guilty.

Blood stained clothes, shoes, thongs, cigarette butts and a baseball cap were taken from the scene, Detective Senior Constable Kristan Cox told the court.

He described red stains, which later proved to be blood, across much of the front of Mr Gjedsted's home and front yard.

Detective Cox seized a homemade machete during the course of his investigation and told the court it was about 30cm long with "kill" written on the blade and the initials FJ stamped near a makeshift handle.

But it's not believed this was the weapon used to stab Gjedsted.

The court heard he was stabbed four times, in the chin, back and twice in the left side of the chest.

One blow to the chest punctured his lung, causing his death.

A teenage boy who was in a bedroom of the house at the time of the fight told police during investigations Mr Gjedsted was chatting with men at the front door before hearing sounds of a struggle.

The men asked "Can we just get a few sticks off you?", crown prosecutor Trevor Bailey told the court in his opening address.

A fight broke out in the front yard and the teenager ran in but was stabbed by one of the men.

He then saw two other men stab Mr Gjedsted and other witnesses earlier told police they saw a group of men kicking him.

The trial continues.

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Stolen passport user was asylum seeker

MALAYSIAN police say one of the passengers using a stolen passport on a missing jetliner was an Iranian asylum seeker.

Police chief Tan Sri Khalid Tan Sri said on Tuesday that the man was not believed to be a member of a terrorist group.

He says the man was a 19-year-old who was believed to be planning to reach Germany. He said the second passenger using a stolen passport has not been identified.

Authorities have not found the missing Malaysia Airlines jetliner three days after it disappeared from radar screens, and the discovery that two passengers used stolen passports to buy tickets raised questions about their motives for being on the flight.

Rescuers in several countries are searching for the plane that had 239 people on board.

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Perth groans under weight of politicians

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has taken a swipe at the Australian Electoral Commission's "ineptitude". Source: AAP

PERTH has begun to groan under the weight of politicians on the Senate campaign trail, as Prime Minister Tony Abbott said West Australians had a right to moan about having to go to the polls again.

Mr Abbott, opposition leader Bill Shorten and Greens leader Christine Milne were all on the hustings around the WA capital on Tuesday, drawing battle lines over the carbon tax, mining tax, jobs, education and health.

With deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek in tow and Palmer United Party leader Clive Palmer throwing in his two cents via YouTube, Mr Abbott candidly admitted WA had a right to be angry at electoral bosses.

"We are having (this election) because of the ineptitude of the Electoral Commission. And I can understand the frustration of Western Australians of having to go to the polls yet again," Mr Abbott said.

"(It was) an extraordinary oversight on the part of the Electoral Commission and I think that it is very appropriate that the Commissioner has offered his resignation and that it has been accepted."

The election is being re-run after 1370 Senate ballots disappeared during the original election in September, which went to a recount.

The poll on April 5 will be the fourth time WA voters head to the polls since the state election in March last year.

Mr Abbott concentrated his message on what he said were "anti-WA" mining and carbon taxes, while insisting the public could differentiate between the Liberal-led state government's problems and the party's Senate candidates.

The WA government was left in disarray on Monday when Treasurer Troy Buswell resigned from cabinet following revelations he was hospitalised after a mental breakdown in the wake of a drunken car crash on February 23.

Mr Abbott said Mr Buswell was a charismatic man who had made a strong contribution to the state and deserved respect and privacy.

He didn't think the scandal would dent the Liberal candidates' chances.

But Mr Shorten attempted to connect the state and federal governments, saying WA's was a "mini-me" version of Tony Abbott's administration. "What West Australians want is a strong Senate that is not focused on agreeing with Tony Abbott," Mr Shorten said.

Ms Plibersek likened the Barnett government to an episode of 'Yes Minister', pointing to how 200 Serco staff are working at Perth's new Fiona Stanley Hospital despite it holding no patients until it opens in October.

And evoking more feelings of deja-vu, Mr Palmer appealed to WA's long-standing gripe about the state's GST share in selling his party's potential.

"Most of Australia's real wealth is generated in Western Australia," Mr Palmer said.

"Why should all the GST collected in Western Australia be sent to eastern states?"

The September election delivered Dio Wang as the only PUP senator for WA before a recount saw him lose the spot.

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Abbott wants flight speculation to end

AUSTRALIANS shouldn't fear flying despite speculated terrorism links to the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines flight, Prime Minister Tony Abbott says.

Travel warnings haven't been upgraded and Mr Abbott has been careful not to encourage a climate of fear.

The two day multi-national search, including two Australian planes, has found large oil slicks but provided few clues to what led to one of the most baffling aviation disasters in recent memory.

Six Australians and two New Zealanders are among 239 people feared dead aboard the Kuala Lumpur to Beijing flight.

A terrorism investigation is underway amid revelations two passengers travelled on false passports but Mr Abbott called for calm.

"Very occasionally we have disasters that have a more sinister cause but I am just not going to feed any speculation about this," he said.

"Australians are not a timid people, never have been, never will be, and the last thing I would want to do is to discourage travel.

"Tourism is important, trade is even more important and I would encourage Australians who have business in our region, whether its for pleasure or for work, I would encourage people to just go about their ordinary business at this time."

Relatives of the Australian and New Zealand passengers are clinging to hope, while also acknowledging their worst fears are likely to eventuate.

Brisbane couples Cathy and Bob Lawnton and Rodney and Mary Burrows are feared lost after the long-time friends set off on a the trip of a lifetime.

In a statement, the Lawnton family said they were preparing for the worst.

"All the family members are trying to remain positive for any hope of survivors (but) we are bracing ourselves for the worst possible outcome."

Ms Burrows served as a civilian employee at Queensland police for 16 years and colleagues held a prayer vigil on Monday.

"We are hoping against all hope that they might be found alive," Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said.

"But as the time goes on, obviously the potential tragedy of what has occurred is not lost on the organisation."

The Sydney couple aboard the flight, Yuan Li and Naijun Gu, were believed to be on their way to spend time with their baby and toddler, who were being looked after by grandparents in China.

The couple sold their Sylvania home in November and last week their petrol station business was placed into liquidation.

New Zealander Paul Weeks, a 39-year-old mechanical engineer based in Perth, was travelling to Mongolia for his first shift of a fly-in-fly-out job.

His distraught wife Danica is desperate for information from Malaysian authorities but has to care for their two young sons and can't travel.

"They're just not telling us anything," she said.

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Vic long weekend road toll hits eight

VICTORIA'S long weekend holiday road toll has reached eight after a female driver died in Harcourt.

In the latest collision during a horror Labour Day break, the woman died when her car collided with another vehicle on the Calder Highway about 3pm on Sunday.

Her female passenger was airlifted to hospital in a serious condition, while four males in the other car were uninjured.

Assistant Commissioner Bob Hill said on Monday it was concerning that 14 more people had died on Victorian roads than at the same time last year, with speed a major factor.

"It's a disturbing trend and we need to turn it around," he told Fairfax Radio.

"What I do see time and time again is that the large majority of these collisions relate to speed."

In the most serious of the crashes, four people were killed in a head-on in the state's north on Saturday night.

It's alleged the teenage driver was drinking for much of the day of the crash at Burramboot.

Witnesses have also told police he was hooning and driving at excessive speed before the tragedy.

Late on Sunday, a male motorcyclist aged in his 30s died after colliding with a car in Melbourne's north.

It came after a woman was killed when her car left the road and hit a tree near Maryborough on Sunday afternoon.

In the first of the weekend fatals a man died after crashing into a tree at Glen Park near Ballarat on Saturday morning.

The weekend deaths came with a veteran sergeant speaking out about a police policy of booking low level speeders.

Sergeant Phil Wild, a 42-year veteran, told News Corp the push to book low level speeders would turn people against the police.

"The consequences of this flawed and unfair policy will be felt by the mostly law-abiding members of the motoring public, the mums and dads who are struggling to make ends meet whilst feeding and educating their children and wondering whether they will still have a job when their employment contract expires in the next few months," he said in a letter to Chief Commissioner Ken Lay.

However, Mr Hill said there was clear evidence to support the policy, including that 20 per cent of road trauma in NSW was a result of low level speeding.

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