Girls kept alleged Sica abuse secret

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"She was a truthful girl."

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

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

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

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

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

AAP

23.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

PM Gillard sells Canberra unit

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

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

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

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

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

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

23.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Protesters storm Kevin Rudd's office

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

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

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

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

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

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

All will face court in coming weeks.

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

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

23.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

8.0 quake hits Solomons, generates tsunami

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The alert extends into the early hours of Thursday.

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

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

23.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Doubts a coalition would return a surplus

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thirty four per cent disapproved of her decision.

23.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

PNG extends ban on no-confidence vote

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

One member of the opposition voted with the government.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

23.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bushfire approaches east of Boddington

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Motorists should avoid the area.

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

23.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Further back-burning at Vic bushfire site

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

23.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Support for deleting gay sex convictions

POLITICIANS of all stripes have supported a call by Victorian Labor to delete historic convictions against gay men for consensual sex.

It came as thousands gathered at St Kilda to march at Melbourne's annual gay pride event on Sunday, including AFL footballers Brock McLean and Daniel Jackson.

Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said it was time to right a wrong and remove the black mark of a conviction for a crime that was taken off the statute books more than 30 years ago.

Mr Andrews promised he would pursue the change if Labor wins the state election.

"We'll waste no time on this," Mr Andrews told reporters at the march.

Mr Andrews said the convictions were a stigma thousands of gay men still had to live with.

"There's an element of shame, there's hurt and of course there's a whole lot of practical impacts as well in terms of visas and job applications."

Health Minister David Davis said the government was working through proposals to achieve expungement of former convictions.

"The principle is a correct one and I think the government is very aware of that," he said.

Greens deputy leader Adam Bandt said the change would make a difference in people's lives and pushed for federal leaders to support marriage equality.

"The time has come to completely clear people's records ... that are really a relic of an era where discrimination was entrenched," he said.

Carlton player Brock McLean, whose sister came out recently, said he wanted to show his support for the gay community.

"There is homophobia in sport," he said.

"If we can start to get more people to talk about it ... and stand up for what's right and that's treating everyone equally, that's a win-win for everybody."

Gay Aussie rules player Jason Ball said he was honoured to lead the march.

The local Yarra-Glen footy club player made headlines when he petitioned last year for the AFL to take a stand against homophobia.

"It will be pretty hard to wipe the smile off my face today," Mr Ball said.

"The real heroes of my story are my straight teammates who will be marching with me.

"I think that really breaks down that stereotype that footy boys are a bunch of homophobic knuckleheads."

The Hamer Liberal government decriminalised homosexuality in Victoria in 1981.

23.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Funding cuts will affect patients: Davis

THE Victorian government denies a "blame game" between the state and federal governments over hospital funding but admits patients will be affected by cuts to the sector.

Victorian Health Minister David Davis said the state government was determined to see federal funding cuts restored.

"It will have a significant impact on patients. We're seeking to mitigate the impact as much as we can," he told journalists on Sunday.

"But inevitably there will be an impact on patients and we're concerned about that."

Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek previously blamed the state government for starving hospitals of funds.

Hundreds of beds have closed and thousands of elective surgery procedures have been cancelled as each side blames the other for cutting funds.

But Mr Davis said the federal government's claim that Victoria's population is dwindling - which it uses as a basis for $107 million of health funding cuts - was "dodgy".

"I reject the concept that this is a blame game," Mr Davis told journalists on Sunday.

"I call on them to reverse that cut which is based on dodgy population estimates."

Health professionals joined community groups, patient advocates and unions to protest the cuts at Melbourne's Treasury Gardens on Sunday.

A meeting between Ms Plibersek and Mr Davis in Melbourne on Friday failed to resolve the disagreement.

Mr Davis said he was willing to meet Ms Plibersek in Canberra despite describing Friday's talks as disappointing.

23.51 | 0 komentar | Read More