Emergency alert for Lockyer Valley

AN emergency alert has gone out to residents in the Lockyer Valley as floodwaters rise in the area.

Premier Campbell Newman told reporters in Brisbane on Sunday the Laidley, Lockyer and Bremer creeks were rising and would cause flooding in the Lockyer Valley and Ipswich areas.

The towns were the main disaster zones in the floods that devastated southeast Queensland in 2011.

"People who were impacted in 2011 will be contacted by police and SES," he told reporters.

Residents in some Lockyer valley communities had already began evacuating their homes, fearful of a repeat of the deadly flooding that occurred two years earlier.

Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said some people had decided to leave their homes in the towns of Grantham and Laidley, which were so badly hit by the floods two years ago.

He said no evacuations had been ordered, but creeks that ran through the heart of both towns were rising.

An evacuation centre has been set up at the local high school in Laidley to accommodate those too scared to stay in their homes.

"Police are on their way to help manage that centre," Mr Stewart said.

"I think we can all understand the nervousness in that area that people would be feeling."

Earlier, Lockyer Valley Regional Council has activated its disaster coordination centre as torrential rain from ex-cyclone Oswald falls across the area west of Brisbane.

Lockyer Valley Mayor Steve Jones says while the flooding isn't as bad as in 2011, it was still an "emotional" ordeal for residents, particularly in Grantham, where 12 people were killed.

In fact, Mr Jones said in a way the 2011 floods had helped residents prepare for the latest incident, given most people had since moved to higher ground.

"It's the type of flooding that Grantham would normally have received over the years," he told Seven News.

"There's water build up around the town itself, but certainly nothing like we saw in 2011."

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Severe weather warnings issued for NSW

A severe weather warning has been issued in northern NSW as ex-tropical cyclone Oswald moves south. Source: AAP

AROUND 500 people have been isolated by flood waters in northern NSW, as people in the south of the state are told to prepare for 100km/h winds and flash flooding on Monday.

More than 200 calls for assistance were made to the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) on Sunday, as ex-tropical cyclone Oswald moved across the Queensland border, packing damaging winds and heavy rain.

Winds of up to 140km/h hit parts of the northern rivers, while in the northern NSW town of Darkwood on the Bellinger River around 500 people are believed to be isolated by floodwaters.

But while residents have been told to stock up, SES spokeswoman Jessica Chan said there were no fears for their safety.

"The community is quite used to it," she told AAP.

While 53 swift water rescue technicians were moved to the north of the state on Sunday to bolster local resources, Ms Chan said the SES would also be focussing their efforts south on Monday as Oswald moves south.

"We expect conditions in the north to ease after lunchtime on Monday, with that weather front increases to Sydney.

"We are expecting heavy rainfall and flash flooding." A severe weather warning was issued for much of the state on Sunday, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning that gusts of 100 km/h are forecast for the mid North Coast, the Northern Tablelands, the metropolitan and Hunter during Monday.

"Beach conditions in these areas will be dangerous and people should stay well away from the surf and surf exposed areas," the BoM said.

Heavy rain which may lead to flash flooding is also forecast to extend to the Hunter overnight and to the metropolitan, Central Tablelands and Illawarra districts by Monday afternoon.

But BoM regional director Barry Hanstrum said the low-pressure system will move rapidly and should pass out to sea in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

"The rain and wind will ease from most of NSW on Tuesday as the low moves further offshore and into the Tasman Sea, but dangerous surf will continue into Wednesday," he said in a statement.

The NSW SES urged people returning to NSW's southern cities to be careful.

"With damaging winds and heavy rain expected in Sydney, Newcastle and the Central Coast on Monday, holiday makers should exercise patience, drive to the conditions and never enter flood water," NSW SES Commissioner Murray Kear said.

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Delhi gun owners told to prevent rapes

GUN owners should roam the streets at night and use their weapons to prevent crimes against women, Delhi's lieutenant governor has said, in the wake of the brutal gang rape and murder of a student in the capital.

Tejendra Khanna, who heads the national capital's police department, on Friday urged gun-owning residents to put their weapons to "social service" and scare away potential molesters, The Indian Express reported on Saturday.

"Gun owners with licences must roam lonely spots like bus stands each night and if they spot someone harassing a woman, they should use their weapon to stop the crime," the federal administrator said in a speech.

"They can at least spend an hour or so every day with their friends in public after nightfall," Khanna said, according to the Indian Express.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party condemned Khanna's remarks, saying "citizens should not be advised to take their law into their own hands in any situation".

The Geneva-based Small Arms Survey estimates India is home to 40 million civilian-owned firearms of an estimated 650 million worldwide.

Just 6.3 million Indian arms are registered.

Khanna's remarks came as Indian President Pranab Mukherjee said in a Friday speech that the December 16 attack on the student who died of massive internal injuries "has left our hearts empty and our minds in turmoil".

Police say rape cases in New Delhi jumped 23.4 per cent to 706 in 2012 from a year earlier, highlighting rampant crime against women in the sprawling metropolis of 16 million people.

The murder of the 23-year-old student ignited street protests and calls for harsher punishments for rapists.

Five men are on trial for the rape and killing while a sixth has said he is under 18 and that his case should be heard in juvenile court.

New Delhi is known as the most unsafe major Indian city for women with more than twice as many rape cases registered in 2011 than in commercial hub Mumbai.

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Light plane wreckage found in Antarctica

WRECKAGE of a light plane which crashed with three Canadians aboard in Antarctic mountains has been found.

The plane had made a direct impact close to the summit of Mount Elizabeth which did not appear to be survivable, the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) said on Saturday.

The Twin Otter aircraft was on a flight from the South Pole to the Italian base in Terra Nova Bay when it was reported missing on Wednesday night.

The plane's emergency locator beacon was activated 3.9km up the mountain, at the northern end of the Queen Alexandra Range, about 670km from Scott Base.

Weather conditions had hampered the search, with planes flying over the area unable to see the aircraft because of low cloud.

However, these improved on Saturday and two helicopters reached the site at around 7.15pm (NZT), RCCNZ said.

RCCNZ search and rescue mission coordinator Tracy Brickles said it was very sad end to the operation.

"It has been difficult operation in challenging conditions but we remained hopeful of a positive result. Our thoughts are now with the families of the crewmen."

Experienced pilot Bob Heath, of Calgary-based Kenn Borek Air, has been identified as one of three Canadians missing.

Kenn Borek Air said in a statement there was no sign of activity at the crash site.

Searchers were not able to land due to the terrain and weather conditions, but mountain rescue personnel and helicopter crews would attempt to access the site on Saturday morning Calgary time (late Saturday or Sunday NZ time), the company said.

RCCNZ coordinated the search, working with United States and Canadian authorities.

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Physician is Senior Australian of the year

INTERNATIONALLY recognised South Australian palliative care specialist Emeritus Professor Ian Maddocks has been named the 2013 Senior Australian of the Year.

Prof Maddocks, 82, was honoured on Friday for his work as a specialist and academic and his passionate advocacy for peace at the Australian of the Year awards ceremony in Canberra.

"There are still many in our community who die in discomfort - we can surely do better," he said in a video presentation.

An Emeritus Professor at Flinders University, the octogenarian from the Adelaide beachside suburb of Seacliff still provides care for the terminally ill and continues to supervise postgraduate students.

Prof Maddocks has been a key leader in the Medical Association for the Prevention of War and the Nobel Peace Prize winning group, the International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War.

The married father of three, and grandfather to five, was appointed Professor of Palliative Care at Flinders University in 1988.

Prof Maddocks was the first President of the Australian Association for Hospice and Palliative Care, and the first President of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Palliative Medicine.

He was also a specialist physician in the Australian Administration of Papua New Guinea for 14 years, and in 1971 became Foundation Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Papua New Guinea.

Prof Maddocks was born in Hamilton, Victoria, in 1931.

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Refugee is Young Australian of the Year

HE fled Afghanistan with his mother and brother at the height of a bloody civil war, arriving in Australia a child refugee.

Now, 25-year-old Akram Azimi is the 2013 Young Australian of the Year.

"This country has been incredibly good to me," he said in a video presentation before the award was announced.

The West Australian local was on Friday awarded the honour in Canberra for his mentoring work with indigenous communities and people with disability.

He said Australia was "home to one of the world's oldest cultures" and he was lucky to be able to interact with that.

Mr Azimi was born in Kabul in 1987 and during his earlier years the Taliban viciously consolidated its power in the country through a vicious civil conflict involving warring tribal factions.

In 1999 he fled with his family, arriving in Perth and enrolling in Warwick Senior High School.

At first "an ostracised refugee kid with no prospects", Mr Azimi excelled academically and rose to become head boy of the school.

He also graduated school dux, topping his tertiary entrance exam scores among his classmates, and went on to study a triple major in law, science and arts at the University of Western Australia.

But it was his philanthropic work with the disadvantaged in the community that piqued the interest of those tasked with choosing an inspirational young Australian to receive the annual honour.

For three years, Mr Azimi mentored young indigenous Australians in the remote community of Looma in the Kimberley region, and primary school students in a small farming community in the WA wheat belt.

In 2011, he co-founded a student-run initiative to raise awareness about indigenous issues in universities, and has also worked with the True Blue Dreaming, a youth mentoring network.

Mr Azimi is also mentoring a Special Olympics athlete to raise public awareness about disability issues.

He lives with his family in the Perth suburb of Marangaroo.

More than 700 people turned out in the warm weather to watch the award presentations in front of Parliament House.

Others, some flag-adorned, some waving flags, watched on from the nearby lawns.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the winners had done much to serve and enrich the nation.

Among the official guests were Nova Peris with her children, Brendan Nelson and Adam Spencer.

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Shackleton Antarctic voyage launched

A team of six have set sail to replicate Sir Ernest Shackleton's historic Southern Ocean crossing. Source: AAP

AN Australian adventurer and his crew retracing Sir Ernest Shackleton's audacious 1916 crossing of the Southern Ocean have set sail.

The team of six took off in a small lifeboat from Elephant Island, in the South Shetland Islands, about 6am (AEDT) on Thursday, Sydney time.

They are bound for South Georgia in the Southern Atlantic, about 800 nautical miles across the fearsome Southern Ocean, following the course of the explorer's perilous voyage.

Sir Ernest's crossing took 17 days with a three-day trip across South Georgia.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard offered the expedition her best wishes on Thursday.

"On behalf of our nation and in the warm spirit of Anglo-Australian friendship - I wish you well in the challenging days ahead," she said in statement.

Leading the crew aboard an exact replica of the 6.9-metre whaler James Caird is 46-year-old Adelaide environmental scientist Tim Jarvis.

"Clearly there are inherent dangers involved in attempting an expedition of this magnitude," Mr Jarvis said shortly before taking off on Thursday.

"Shackleton's journey certainly defied the odds."

"I hope this expedition not only does his memory justice but also reminds us all of how incredibly beautiful, yet fragile, this part of the world is."

The crew's boat has been renamed the Alexandra Shackleton after the explorer's granddaughter.

"The expedition will be incredibly demanding both at sea and on land," Ms Shackleton warned on Thursday.

In the final leg of the journey the crew plan to use only the equipment and food available to Shackleton during a two-day climb to 900 metres over the mountainous, crevassed interior of South Georgia.

Shackleton set off from Elephant Island in April 1916, after his Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition's vessel, Endurance, became stuck in ice and was abandoned.

He made it to South Georgia and raised the alarm at a whaling station, and rescuers were eventually able to save the stranded party without loss of life.

Shackleton died of a heart attack off South Georgia in 1922 during his fourth Antarctic expedition when he was trying to circumnavigate the continent.

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Freed Frenchwoman heads home from Mexico

A FRENCHWOMAN who spent seven years in a Mexican jail is flying home after her kidnapping conviction and 60-year sentence were overturned.

Florence Cassez's trial made her a cause celebre in France, where two consecutive presidents called for her release. Anti-crime activists in Mexico vigorously opposed the decision to free her.

Cassez's flight left Mexico City at 9.25pm on Wednesday (1425 AEDT Thursday) and was expected in Paris about 10 hours later.

Cassez, 38, was arrested in 2005 and convicted of helping her Mexican former boyfriend run a kidnapping gang.

Relatives of kidnap victims angrily shouted "killer!" as a police convoy with sirens and flashing lights escorted a 4WD away from a prison.

In France, Cassez's mother, Charlotte, said: "I'm crazy with happiness. I can't say anything else. I'm still struggling to believe it."

A Mexican Supreme Court panel voted 3-2 to release Cassez because of procedural and rights violations during her arrest, including police staging a recreation of her capture for the media.

The judges did not rule on her guilt or innocence, but said the violations of due process, the right to consular assistance and evidentiary rules were so grievous that they invalidated the guilty verdict.

"I want to recognise the Mexican justice system because it put the law first," French President Francois Hollande said on television. "That was the trust we put in it. And today we can say that between France and Mexico, we have the best relations that it is possible to have."

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said in a statement that he "absolutely" respected the court's decision.

Agustin Acosta, a lawyer for Cassez, called the ruling "a resounding message in favour of justice and respect for human rights".

The wife of one kidnap victim showed up on Wednesday as reporters gathered outside the prison where Cassez had been held. Michelle Valadez said her husband, Ignacio, was kidnapped and held for three months by Cassez's boyfriend's gang in 2005.

"We paid the ransom, but they killed him anyway," she sobbed. "It's not fair what they've done to us. It's not fair they're freeing her."

Mexico has one of the world's highest kidnapping rates, and there has been increasing public pressure to halt what is seen as widespread impunity for criminals.

At least one victim identified Cassez as one of the kidnappers, though only by hearing her voice, not by seeing her.

It was not immediately clear how the ruling might affect the case against Cassez's ex-boyfriend, Israel Vallarta, who is charged with leading the gang and is being tried separately.

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Aust bonds stronger on CPI data

AUSTRALIAN bond futures prices are higher following the release of weaker-than-expected domestic inflation figures.

Figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show the consumer price index (CPI) rose just 0.2 per cent in the December quarter, below economists' expectations of a 0.5 per cent rise.

Nomura head of fixed income Jon Linton said the figures made it easier for the Reserve Bank of Australia to cut the cash rate again over the coming months and, therefore increased demand for bonds.

But he said the rally in bond prices was relatively weak.

"We are about five basis points lower in yield, which is about the minimum you would expect in response to a weak CPI print," he said.

Mr Linton said the market was still not expecting the RBA to cut the cash rate from its current level of three per cent at its February 5 board meeting.

"People don't think the CPI print in itself is enough to change the RBA's mind," he said.

"The market is telling you this isn't a game changer."

Mr Linton said that, with no major pieces of local economic data due out this week, local bond futures prices would take their lead from movements in overseas markets over the next few days.

At 1630 AEDT on Wednesday, the March 10-year bond futures contract was trading at 96.730 (implying a yield of 3.270 per cent), up from Tuesday's close of 96.665 (3.335 per cent).

The March three-year bond futures contract was also higher, at 97.280 (2.720 per cent), from 97.230 (2.770 per cent).

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$A lower on inflation figures

Australias CPI rose 0.2 in Dec qtr

THE Australian dollar is lower, but has largely held its ground in response to weaker-than-expected domestic inflation figures.

At 1700 AEDT on Wednesday, the Australian dollar was trading at 105.39 US cents, up from 105.55 cents on Tuesday afternoon.

Commonwealth bank currency strategist Peter Dragicevich said the currency lost ground following the release of consumer price index (CPI) data at 1130 AEDT.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showed the country recorded CPI inflation of 2.2 per cent in the 12 months to December, below economists' expectations of a 2.5 per cent rise.

Mr Dragicevich said while the figures meant the Reserve Bank of Australia had more room to move on interest rates, they did not significantly increase expectations of a rate cut in February.

"The Aussie dollar had the initial dip after the CPI numbers but I think people were just looking through the detail and it showed that," he said.

"If the RBA's outlook has changed then they may look to ease policy, but at this stage market pricing hasn't really moved for a February rate cut."

The RBA, which has a target range for inflation of two to three per cent, will hold its first board meeting of 2013 on February 5.

Mr Dragicevich said the main driver for the Australian dollar on Thursday would be the release of HSBC's flash PMI manufacturing data for China.

"We're expecting that to lift once again in the month, which will just reiterate that the Chinese economic cycle is gathering further momentum," he said.

"So that should be supportive for the Aussie (dollar)."

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Three rescued from sea by Vic boaters

THREE people have been rescued by recreational boaters in Victoria after the seaplane they were in flipped over off the coast of Geelong.

The pilot of the chartered flight and his two passengers climbed onto the upturned craft as it floated upside-down about 400 metres off the coast of the bayside city, according to a Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman.

They were spotted by about three separate boaters who came to their aid about 3.25pm (AEDT) on Tuesday near Cunningham Pier.

"There were three boats in the area that responded and rescued the people," a spokeswoman for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said.

"They were small recreational boats, like tinnies."

The three people on board the plane have been taken to Geelong Hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft flip upon landing in the waters, although police could not yet provide confirmation.

Television prankster Bam Margera also witnessed the incident.

"Just about to drive a motorbike off a pier & get on a seaplane but the plane just crashed," he wrote on Twitter.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said they were waiting on more information before they decided whether to investigate.

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WA ports close for cyclone threat

RIO Tinto is closing its Cape Lambert and Dampier ports in Western Australia's Pilbara region to prepare for a low-pressure weather system that could become a tropical cyclone on Wednesday.

The miner said harbour masters were expected to close the Cape Lambert facility at Port Walcott and Dampier port later on Tuesday afternoon to allow ships to move outside the affected area.

"Operations are continuing at this stage, but preparations are commencing to secure port and associated coastal infrastructure ahead of expected deteriorating conditions this evening," the company said in a statement.

The Port Hedland harbour, Australia's highest-tonnage port, is also being evacuated for closure.

The last vessel will set sail from its inner harbour at 3.30pm on Tuesday.

The low-pressure system brought heavy rain overnight and on Tuesday across the region and is expected to continue into Wednesday.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) estimated at 2pm (WST) on Tuesday that the tropical low was 130km northeast of Port Hedland and 305km east-northeast of Karratha, and moving west-southwest at 11km/h.

The low may develop into a tropical cyclone on Wednesday as it moves to the west just off the Pilbara coastline.

If the system reaches cyclone intensity, gales with wind gusts to 100km/h could develop between De Grey and Dampier during Wednesday and possibly extend west to Onslow on Thursday, the bureau said.

Squally thunderstorms are also expected with locally heavy rainfall.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has issued a blue alert - warning people to take precautions - for communities between De Grey and Mardie including Port Hedland, South Hedland, Whim Creek, Roebourne, Wickham, Point Samson, Karratha and Dampier.

A cyclone watch is also current for people in or near coastal communities from Mardie to Onslow, while the all-clear has been given to the communities of Pardoo and De Grey.

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Inquiries begin into youth prison riot

THREE separate inquiries will examine a riot at Western Australia's only juvenile detention centre that caused millions of dollars in damage and led to dozens of teenage offenders being moved to an adult prison.

Three inmates climbed onto the roof of the Banksia Hill detention centre at Canning Vale in Perth just before lockdown on Sunday evening, sparking a mass riot in which 60 youths armed themselves with rocks and other improvised weapons and smashed up nearly 100 cells.

The damage left more than half the prison's cells uninhabitable, so 73 young offenders had to be moved in darkness to nearby Hakea prison.

WA's Corrective Services Commissioner Ian Johnson admitted having massive concerns about child offenders being housed alongside adult remand prisoners.

Corrective Services Minister Murray Cowper said the violent outbreak had not been a security risk.

That was despite some young prisoners apparently having broken others out of their cells by smashing their way in, before the mob went on the rampage.

"There was no security issues yesterday. The detainees were detained within the precincts," Mr Cowper said.

"When you are dealing with highly volatile situations, it does not mean you lose control. It was brought under control after three hours.

"Detainees participated in riotous behaviour, but it is unknown at this stage what sparked the disturbance.

"But we will ensure the perpetrators of this incident face the full extent of the law."

Mr Cowper ordered an independent inquiry to be carried out by WA's prisons inspector Neil Morgan, which will report back to parliament.

An internal Corrective Services inquiry and a criminal police investigation are also under way as the damage to Banksia Hill is fully assessed.

Police, police dogs, emergency services, the police helicopter and two fire trucks were called in to help staff quell the riot, which began about 6.30pm.

The mob armed themselves with rocks and 'adapted weapons', including smashed glass wrapped in material, Mr Johnson said. No staff were injured, but one detainee needed treatment for a gash to his leg.

The government only recently spent $27 million upgrading the young offenders' facility, and Mr Johnson said he feared the purpose-built improvements had been damaged in the outbreak.

"We are not dealing with choirboys; we are not dealing with angels," Mr Johnson said.

"The three instigators at some stage assisted others. I sincerely hope they have been identified."

WA Prison Officers' Union secretary John Welch said Hakea Prison was already understaffed and under pressure, with seven assaults of prison officers occurring in December alone.

"We have major concerns that we ended up in a situation where the only possible response was to shift children as young as 14 into an adult prison full of serious offenders," Mr Welch said.

"Putting children into an adult prison should never been an option. The fact that the children have had to be placed at a maximum-security prison is proof that our correctional system is in dire crisis."

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Hammer may be clue to island murder

THE hammer found off Macleay Island ... police are appealing for assistance from anyone who may have owned it or have information. Source: The Courier-Mail

Murder victim Liselotte Watson. Source: The Courier-Mail

POLICE have revealed they found a hammer dumped in the ocean off Thompson's Point on Macleay Island - the same location where items belonging to murder victim Liselotte Watson were discovered.

Detectives would not comment on whether they believe the hammer was used to kill the 85-year-old grandmother but they are seeking assistance from the public to find its owner.

Mrs Watson was found dead inside her home on November 13.

A shaving bag with bank documents was found washed up at Thompson's Point the weekend before her body was discovered.

Police divers were later sent out to conduct a search of the area, where they discovered more items.

It is believed the hammer was one of those items.

Acting Detective Superintendent Geoff Sheldon said in November that other items could have been thrown into the water after Mrs Watson's death.

"It would appear whoever is responsible for this may have visited a number of times and deposited these items from the murder scene on a couple of occasions," he said.

Local junk mail deliverer Steven Fennell raised the alarm with police after Mrs Watson failed to answer the door.

His house remained a crime scene for a week following the discovery of her body.

Police say they have no suspects.

"Police are seeking assistance from anyone who may either own the hammer or have information regarding how it came to be located in this area," a police spokesperson said today.

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