Greens retain seat of Melbourne

AUSTRALIAN Greens deputy leader Adam Bandt has retained the lower house seat of Melbourne.

Mr Bandt claimed victory minutes after Labor's candidate Cath Bowtell conceded defeat.

"It looks like we have won the seat of Melbourne," Mr Bandt told the Ten Network.

Mr Bandt had earlier predicted the result would go down to a handful of votes but he leads the two-party preferred count 55.4 per cent to 44.6, with about half the primary vote counted.

He credited a strong people power campaign for giving him a second term in parliament and the Greens retaining their only lower house seat.

"This is a win for people power but more than that this is a win for refugees.

"This is a vote that says we are sick of the race to the bottom. Politics and elections should be about the best in us not pandering to the worst in us."

He said the clear message from the result was that elections should not be about who can beat up on refugees the most.

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Swan says he'll be returned in Lilley

FORMER treasurer Wayne Swan says he'll keep his seat, but has refused to say who should lead the Labor party in opposition.

Mr Swan says Labor's policies saved Labor from further losses, particularly in Queensland.

When asked about the Labor leadership going forward, he said he wasn't about to talk about internal matters when that's what had cost the party so dearly at this election.

"We've been punished for those divisions," he told the Seven Network.

He said Labor must conduct a mature election post-mortem.

"In this election campaign and in the last few years there has been too much concentration on divisions and not enough on the policy way forward," he said.

Mr Swan wouldn't be drawn on whether the party was right to dispose of Julia Gillard.

"I'm not going to get involved in that sort of debate. We've had too much of that over the last three years and we have to move on.

"We've got to be mature in our analysis of what went right and what went wrong."

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Beattie won't give up on Forde

Labor's Peter Beattie says he has no regrets about returning to politics despite a looming defeat. Source: AAP

FORMER Queensland premier Peter Beattie says he's still in with a chance in the seat of Forde.

Mr Beattie seemed to have given up early in the count, but says things have narrowed and the result in the seat south of Brisbane won't be known on Saturday night.

Mr Beattie was parachuted into the seat in a bid to wrest it from Liberal National Party incumbent Bert van Manen, who holds it with a 1.6 per cent margin.

With 43.7 per cent of the votes counted, Mr van Manen was leading Mr Beattie 53.3 per cent to 46.6 per cent, after preferences.

Mr Beattie says the result will come down to 8500 pre-polls.

"Only when we know the pre-poll results will we know whether we'll win or not," he told reporters.

"I'm disappointed Palmer has given his preferences to the Liberals. Had they not, I would have won.

"The odds are against us, but who knows? Whether we win or lose the Labor party has held its head up high in Forde."

Earlier in the day, a confident Mr van Manen told reporters Labor attacks on his business career would make a win on Saturday even more joyful.

"Considering some of the things they've done in the last few days, it'll be very sweet, put it that way," he said.

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Abbott to govern with 30-seat majority

THE federal Liberal-National coalition is likely to govern with a majority of at least 30 seats after a swing of just over three per cent against Labor.

The ALP has become the first two-term federal government to be thrown out of office since Gough Whitlam's regime in 1975.

Tony Abbott's coalition is on track to pick up 90 seats, with Labor holding 57, in the 150-seat parliament, but it won't have a majority in the Senate.

By 9.30pm (AEST), the coalition was ahead in 8 seats and Labor was ahead in 54, with 10 not yet determined.

The other MPs will be Australian Greens deputy leader Adam Bandt, independent Bob Katter who will hold his north Queensland seat of Kennedy, and Andrew Wilkie who's been returned in his Tasmania seat of Denison.

Labor's worst result was in Tasmania, where it suffered a 10 per cent swing and will hold only one of its four seats.

Concerted campaigning in western Sydney appears to have paid off for Labor, with the NSW statewide swing against it down to three per cent.

Despite concerns about a voter backlash in Mr Rudd's home state of Queensland, six Labor seats were likely holds and two were in doubt.

A swing of almost five per cent in Victoria reversed all the gains made in the 2010 election.

In Western Australia and South Australia, Labor suffered a swing of just over five per cent.

One of the biggest surprises of election night was the Palmer United Party.

It picked up 5.7 per cent of the primary vote nationally and appeared on track to put former rugby league star Glenn Lazarus into the Senate for Queensland.

Of the 40 Senate spots up for grabs, the coalition was on track to win 20, with Labor holding 14 and six going to crossbenchers.

Former treasurer Chris Bowen, who held his western Sydney seat of McMahon, said there were still "strong building blocks" in place for Labor to fight back.

"Compared to what we may have faced six or 12 months ago, it's a result which I think will stand us in good stead for the next three years," Mr Bowen said.

Mr Bowen declined to say whether he would run for the Labor leadership.

Liberal Joe Hockey, who will replace Mr Bowen as treasurer, said it had been the worst result for Labor since 1910.

"Our duty to the nation is to be a formidable government led by a formidable prime minister," Mr Hockey said.

"We will deliver a strong economy, and we will get rid of the carbon tax, the mining tax, we will stop the boats."

Labor frontbencher Tony Burke said bringing Mr Rudd back as prime minister and dumping Julia Gillard in June clearly had improved the party's vote, but the infighting had been fatal.

"My view on all of this is the instability that we've seen - and all of us including me have been part of it - must end," Mr Burke said.

He called on Labor to defend its legacy.

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Hawke sings praises of Medicare

Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke says the availability of healthcare under Medicare was under threat. Source: AAP

FORMER prime minister Bob Hawke has struck a chord with his supporters with an unexpected solo performance celebrating the 30th birthday of Medicare.

Mr Hawke broke into a stirring rendition of the union song Solidarity Forever at an event in Melbourne to mark 30 years since his Labor government established the universal healthcare system.

Speaking at the event, Mr Hawke said the availability of healthcare under Medicare was under threat.

"You can never have a decent equitable society if you don't have a health system that is universally available and an education system which is universally available," Mr Hawke said.

"Every Australian is entitled to be in a situation where the prospect of illness or hospitalisation does not result in a potential financial catastrophe."

Health Minister Tanya Plibersek said the future of Medicare Locals was in doubt if the coalition was elected on Saturday.

"It's federal Labor that will always strive to protect and strengthen a health care system where your Medicare card is more important than your credit card," Ms Plibersek said.

"We cannot hand over our precious health system to a Liberal party that refuses to say what they will do with what we have built."

Mr Hawke then dug into a giant cake in the shape of a Medicare card with his name on it.

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Fiat confirms investment in flagship Turin

Fiat is to produce Maserati SUVs from next year under investment plans for its key Mirafiori plant. Source: AAP

ITALIAN carmaker Fiat, which controls Chrysler, will go ahead with investments in its flagship Mirafiori plant in Turin, where it will produce Maserati SUVs.

Fiat confirmed the decision Wednesday, after signing a contract with unions and a day after it cast doubt on future investments because of a constitutional court ruling that essentially forced it to include a maverick union that had refused to approve flexible work rules.

UILM regional union leader Maurizio Peverati said the investment sum and plans will be discussed in coming days.

Mirafiori's 5,400 workers have been mostly on layoff schemes for the last two years. The investment will convert the plant to build a Maserati SUV and another model to be announced. Production of the Maserati is to begin next year for release in 2015.

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Morcombe accused's trial set for February

The trial of the man accused of murdering schoolboy Daniel Morcombe will begin next February. Source: AAP

THE trial of the man accused of murdering Queensland schoolboy Daniel Morcombe will begin next February.

Lawyers for Brett Peter Cowan, 43, appeared in court in Brisbane on Thursday where Supreme Court Justice Roslyn Atkinson confirmed his trial will begin on February 10.

The trial is expected to take six weeks.

Potential jurors could be questioned in an attempt to eliminate any who may be prejudiced by pre-trial publicity.

The strategy was used during jury selection in the trial of former Bundaberg surgeon Jayant Patel.

Justice Atkinson told Cowan's defence barrister Angus Edwards she'd like him to consider doing the same, to which he replied he was considering it.

Mr Edwards sought an extension of time to prepare documents ahead of a pre-trial hearing set to begin on November 6.

Eighteen witnesses had been expected to appear during the week-long hearing, but Mr Edwards said the number of witnesses had since been cut by about a half.

The barrister said he intended to submit evidence of pre-trial publicity to the court in relation to an application to have the trial stopped.

He said if that application was not granted it was unlikely the defence would make another.

Justice Atkinson requested arrangements be made during next year's trial for a room in the building to be made available to Daniel Morcombe's family.

The trial should also be streamed into a separate court for members of the public to allow access, she said.

Daniel was 13 when he went missing while waiting for a bus on the Sunshine Coast in December 2003.

Cowan was committed in February to stand trial for his abduction and murder.

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Versace Macau hotel will fit local culture

ITALIAN fashion house Versace and Macau casino company SJM say the Versace-themed hotel they're planning for the Asian gambling city will be tweaked to appeal to the local Chinese market and open in 2017

Versace chief executive Gian Giacomo Ferraris said on Thursday that the five-star Palazzo Versace hotel would retain the company's "neoclassical style". But he added, "Clearly there'll be some finetuning with the local culture."

He declined to give more details, saying designer Donatella Versace would be responsible for the design

Versace and SJM Holdings signed a deal last month to build the hotel at SJM's Cotai resort in Macau. The city is a semiautonomous Chinese region that's the world's most lucrative gambling market.

SJM officials said the hotel would open in 2017 and is expected to cost about $HK2.5 billion ($A353.24 million).

The project gives Versace a new way to raise its profile with mainland Chinese, who account for two-thirds of Macau's visitors. It also gives SJM a big-name brand to help keep up with rivals who have a head start on expanding.

Macau raked in $US38 billion ($A41.69 billion) in gambling revenue last year, about six times the amount on the Las Vegas Strip.

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Mushrooms are Vit D factories: scientist

Button mushrooms are able to make enough vitamin D for the average person's estimated daily needs. Source: AAP

THREE or four button mushrooms are able to make enough vitamin D for the average person's estimated daily needs, says a respected Australian scientist.

But there's a catch. Like humans, button mushrooms need exposure to sunlight for the photochemical manufacturing to kick into action.

Button mushrooms need two hours unwrapped on a plate in the midday summer sun - a bit longer in winter - to get the vitamin D boost, says Professor Rebecca Mason, head of physiology at Sydney Medical School and past president of the ANZ Bone and Mineral Society.

Placing the mushrooms a couple of extra hours in the shade will allow time for the full chemical reaction, she says.

This step, she says, doesn't affect the mushroom or the taste either.

Prof Mason says she loves eating good-quality button mushrooms with a vinegar dressing, but cooking them maintains the goodness too.

Vitamin D plays an essential role in bone health, but many people have vitamin D deficiencies, especially during winter, according to Osteoporosis Australia.

Scientists do not fully understand why mushrooms can make so much vitamin D, but the idea is backed by good evidence, says Prof Mason.

Three or four button mushrooms provide about 10 micrograms of vitamin D - the estimated daily need for the average adult according to the National Health and Medical Research Council.

Prof Mason says this amount is enough for active people, while people who are housebound or unwell could up their dose of button mushrooms to increase their levels of vitamin D.

While there are other methods of getting boosting vitamin D levels such as moderate exposure to morning or afternoon sun or taking supplements, no other food in its natural state provides sufficient vitamin D as button mushrooms.

Dietitian Glenn Cardwell says sun-exposed mushroom are a great source of vitamin D and good news for people concerned about sun exposure.

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Family of Gary Tweddle can say goodbye

GARY Tweddle's family and friends can finally bid him goodbye, with his body formally identified, police say.

The 23-year-old went missing from a work conference at the Fairmont Resort at Leura, west of Sydney, in the early hours of July 16. He was never seen again.

After a long and highly publicised search operation, his body was recovered from a cliff face in the Blue Mountains this week.

Police abseiled down Sublime Point at Leura to retrieve him after he was spotted on Monday afternoon by an ambulance rescue helicopter involved in a training exercise.

The recovery site was about 2km from where the British-born computer salesman was last seen.

The body was taken to Glebe morgue where it went through a formal identification process, thought to have included a dental examination and DNA testing.

And on Wednesday night, police confirmed that it had been formally identified as Mr Tweddle's.

His friends and family are yet to comment on the news.

But since the discovery of his body they have taken to his Facebook tribute page 'Have you seen Gary Tweddle' to remember the young man.

His mother Carol Streatfield's post recalled the day her son was born, a "perfect looking baby" with black hair and dark skin.

"I was so proud of you," she wrote.

"Gazy u never had bad school report. perfect child through all your years I never met one person who could fault you.

"Such a beautiful soul. Love you with every breath I take."

His partner Anika Haigh, who has been heavily involved in the search, wrote on her Facebook profile on Tuesday:

"No day is the same without you, there is a hole where you used to be but please know my heart is full of amazing memories of you.

"Your time of hide & seek needs to end now though please. Time to come home where you belong. I love you."

The search included officers door-knocking every house within a 1400 square kilometre area around Leura, where he was last seen.

Pictures of him were plastered all around the area.

Mr Tweddle had called colleagues about midnight on the day he went missing to tell them he was lost in bushland but could see a light up a hill.

In late June, efforts to find him moved from a search and rescue to a recovery operation.

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Aust Lexus among worldwide car recall

MORE than 2000 Lexus vehicles will be recalled in Australia as part of a major global recall of Toyotas due to a fault that could cause them to stop mid-journey.

The Japanese auto giant recalled 370,000 vehicles worldwide on Thursday, around 170,000 of them because bolts pinning a valve control system inside the engine could become lose.

In Australia the recall is for two models, with about 2500 vehicles affected.

They are Lexus IS350s built between April 2010 and July 2011 and Lexus RX400Hs built between June 2006 and December 2008.

About 1750 RX400Hs are affected with the possibility of its hybrid system overheating while driving, resulting in damage that may cause the vehicle to stop, a Toyota spokeswoman said.

She said the fault typically occurred when towing or driving with a heavy load.

The spokeswoman also urged owners to avoid rapid acceleration.

About 750 Lexus IS350's are involved in the recall due to bolts that may loosen resulting in an engine rattle.

The spokeswoman said in a worst case scenario the vehicles may stall while driving.

No accidents or injuries have been reported as a result of either issue.

Affected owners will be contacted in coming weeks and repairs will be completed free of charge.

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Dominic Bird acquitted of drugs charges

A Malaysian court has acquitted Australian man Dominic Bird of drug-trafficking charges. Source: AAP

PERTH man Dominic Bird has walked free after a court in Malaysia acquitted him of drug-trafficking charges that carry a mandatory death penalty.

The 34-year-old, originally from the southern Perth suburb of Success, was over the moon following the Wednesday verdict.

"I couldn't be more ecstatic that I'm out of the handcuffs and back to my normal life," he said.

"I can't wait to get back home to Australia and see my family, and see my friends and spend some time with them."

He said he had spoken to his sister in Australia by phone: "All she could say was 'oh my God, oh my God, oh my God'. I think she was crying."

He said he had not spoken to his father yet because his phone was switched off.

Asked what he would do on Wednesday night, Mr Bird replied, "I'll probably eat some junk food and have a drink.

"I've still got to get my arse out of the country."

However, Mr Bird's freedom was short-lived. He was taken into custody by the immigration department because his visa had expired.

Officials said it was merely a technicality and the issue of his visa and passport would be sorted out within the next few days. He would then be free to return to Australia.

In delivering the ruling, Kuala Lumpur High Court's Justice Kamardin Hashim found the prosecution failed to prove its case and the defence raised reasonable doubt.

Mr Bird's lawyer, Muhammed Shafee Abdullah, earlier told the court his client should be acquitted because he was the victim of a "deep-seeded vendetta" on the part of the undercover police officer who had arrested him.

Mr Bird was taken into custody in Kuala Lumpur on March 1 last year, accused of supplying an undercover policeman with 167 grams of methamphetamine.

Inspector Luther Nurjib, the prosecution's star witness, was last week found guilty of contempt of court, for which he was fined RM2000 ($A665), after it emerged he had threatened and attempted to bribe a witness in the case.

Mr Shafee told the court Mr Bird had been "set up" by Insp Nurjib, repeating allegations made earlier in the trial that the detective had a history of shaking down drug dealers to finance a lavish lifestyle.

It has also been alleged Insp Nurjib supplied a smaller five gram sample of methamphetamine, which the police officer claims he obtained from Mr Bird, to another dealer.

It's alleged the police officer had also borrowed so-called "flash money" to purchase the sample of drugs.

"He is a drug trafficker through and through," Mr Shafee said of Insp Nurjib.

"He is a common criminal dressed in a police uniform," he said, adding that Insp Nurjib's entire testimony should be disregarded as his credibility had been destroyed.

Insp Nurjib has since been moved from the narcotics division of the Dang Wangi district police headquarters, and could face further charges.

The prosecution has not decided whether it will appeal the verdict.

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NSW Essential Energy employee electrocuted

AN Essential Energy employee has died after being electrocuted by power lines on NSW's mid north coast.

The 47-year-old man died after receiving an electric shock at about 10.30am (AEST) on Monday while he was working on the Pacific Palms network near Forster.

Ambulance crews rushed to the scene and administered first aid but he was unable to be revived.

"Our deepest condolences are with the family, loved ones and work mates of our employee," an Essential Energy spokesperson said in a statement on Monday.

Minister for Resources and Energy Chris Hartcher said he was "deeply saddened" to hear of the death.

"My thoughts go out to the employee's family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time," he said in a statement.

Essential Energy is working with NSW Police and WorkCover to determine the circumstances surrounding the man's death.

The incident has interrupted the electricity supply to approximately 300 customers in the Pacific Palms area.

Power would be restored once WorkCover investigators gives clearance, Essential Energy said.

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Customs officer accused of importing drugs

A FEMALE Australian customs official will front court after being charged with importing and trafficking drugs.

The 27-year-old former border protection officer at Sydney airport was arrested on Monday by Australian Federal Police (AFP).

She has since been charged with two counts of importing a marketable quantity of border controlled drugs and one count of trafficking.

Her arrest marks the 22nd person and fifth customs officer to be caught up in an AFP investigation into drug importation by organised crime syndicates and alleged corrupt officials at Sydney airport.

The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) said she resigned from her post just weeks ago, after also becoming the subject of a conduct inquiry.

"The vast majority of our officers are diligent, hardworking and honest," ACBPS chief Michael Pezzullo said in a statement on Monday.

"They take their work of protecting the border and the Australian community seriously and do not condone or tolerate the behaviour alleged in this case."

The woman is set to appear at Central Local Court on Tuesday.

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Philippine leader cancels China trip

CHINA has demanded the Philippines drop its arbitration case with the United Nations on territorial disputes as a condition for allowing President Benigno Aquino to visit a Chinese trade fair, diplomatic sources say.

The demand prompted Aquino to cancel the trip to Nanning for the opening of the annual China-ASEAN Exposition on Tuesday.

"There were subsequent concerns and conditions to the president's attendance and such conditions were absolutely inimical to our national interest," Foreign Ministry spokesman Raul Hernandez said on Monday.

He declined to give details of the conditions, but diplomatic sources said Beijing demanded that Manila withdraw the arbitration case that challenges China's claim to nearly the entire South China Sea.

The sources said China also demanded that the Philippines pull out a rusty navy ship from the Second Thomas Shoal, which Beijing claims as its territory even though it is located within Manila's 200 nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.

The Chinese embassy in Manila did not confirm or deny the allegations, and insisted that Beijing values its friendship with the Philippines.

"Under the current circumstances, China hopes the Philippine side could work together with the Chinese side to overcome difficulties and disturbances and make real efforts to get the China-Philippines relationship back to the track of sound and stable development," embassy spokesman Zhang Hua said.

Manila and Beijing have been locked in a diplomatic rift since last year over maritime disputes.

Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have overlapping claims in the South China Sea.

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Syrian war between unsavoury sides: Abbott

Kevin Rudd says Tony Abbott's "baddies versus baddies" comment raises questions about his judgement. Source: AAP

OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott says Syria's civil war involves "two pretty much equally unsavoury sides" and Australia should be cautious of making a bad situation worse.

Mr Abbott says elements of the Syrian rebel forces are "highly influenced by al-Qaeda" but the Bashar al-Assad regime's use of chemical weapons against its own people is an "unspeakable abomination".

"That's why I say frankly it's a civil war between two pretty much equally unsavoury sides," he told ABC Television's 730 on Monday.

"We've got to be very careful dealing in a powder keg like the Middle East that we don't take action, well-intentioned action, which could end up making a bad situation worse."

Mr Abbott said it was unlikely Australia would be called on to provide military advice or technology to the Syrian rebel forces because Australia doesn't have the capacity needed for the type of intervention the United States is considering.

Earlier on Monday Mr Abbott came under fire from Labor for his weekend description of the Syrian conflict as "baddies versus baddies".

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd told reporters in Gladstone on Monday the situation involving the Syrian regime's use of chemical weapons against civilians was not a trivial matter.

"Mr Abbott ... trivialises what is a major foreign policy, international relations and national security question," he said.

"The last time I used the term 'goodies and baddies' was when I was playing cowboys and indians in the backyard.

"I think I stopped doing that about the age of 10."

Mr Abbott said British Prime Minister David Cameron and former US president Bill Clinton had used similar language on Syria.

He said using occasional colloquialisms was appropriate in explaining complex situations to the public.

Mr Abbott also said it was unlikely Australia would take in Syrian asylum seekers.

He said people fleeing the conflict could go to Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey or Iraq first.

"Almost certainly if people were fleeing the Syrian conflict, they would not be coming to Australia as a country of first asylum," Mr Abbott said.

"Any person fleeing Syria landing up in Australia would be in much the same position as the Hazaras and others who are coming by boat."

The coalition policy is that asylum seekers arriving by boat will be processed offshore.

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Bomb kills 8 Afghan mining firm workers

A PROVINCIAL governor says a vehicle carrying employees of a private mining company has struck a roadside bomb in northern Afghanistan, killing eight.

Parwan province leader Abdul Basir Salangi says five people also were wounded on Saturday in Bagram district.

He said all of the victims were either labourers or security guards of the company working in a chromite mine.

No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing, but, in confirming the incident on Sunday, Salangi blamed the Taliban.

The Taliban have previously targeted people working for mines as well as other development and infrastructure projects in Afghanistan.

The militants have recently escalated their activities in the country as US-led foreign troops have begun drawing down their presence.

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Abbott coming round election mountain

Tony Abbott says if the coalition wins the election, he will conscious of his responsibilities. Source: AAP

TONY Abbott was upstaged on Sunday. But it wasn't Kevin Rudd stealing the limelight.

Nine-year-old Ben Betteridge captured the travelling media's attention during a stop at Bear Cottage in Manly, proudly showing off his drawing of the opposition leader and frontbenchers Joe Hockey, Malcolm Turnbull and Julie Bishop.

Ben declared Mr Abbott his favourite Liberal leader and confidently predicted a coalition win next Saturday.

He had even rewritten an old children's favourite for the occasion.

"Tony Abbott will be coming round the mountain when he comes," he belted out for the cameras.

A second verse had the health conscious Mr Abbott eating "chips and ice cream when he comes".

"I like Tony so much," the boy said, when questioned by reporters.

Then the excited realisation: "I'll be on the news".

There to announce $2 million in funding for Bear Cottage if elected, Mr Abbott was clearly taken with Ben, whose older brother Tom is being cared for by the children's hospice.

"You gave the best political speech of the day, I heard," the opposition leader said, relegating Kevin Rudd's campaign launch to second place at best in the process.

"I am so impressed that a youngster is so knowledgeable about the leading figures of the federal coalition."

"Is there anything you'd like to say?," he asked Ben, who has autism.

"Joe Hockey is the shadow treasurer and I think he should give Tony Abbott a wonderful clap for making him welcome him to Bear Cottage," came the reply.

Cue the trademark Abbott laugh.

The opposition leader was emotional when announcing funding for Bear Cottage, flanked by wife Margie and daughters Frances and Bridget.

"I think that as a father myself it's nice to be able to do something like this on Father's Day," he told the onlooking parents, at one point on the verge of tears.

Father's Day presented Mr Abbott with a rare moment of downtime in the hectic election campaign, with the eldest of his three daughters, Louise, flying home after a long stint overseas.

He headed back to Sydney's north shore for a quiet Father's Day dinner.

Taking the night off just a week from election day says a lot about how well the Abbott campaign is travelling.

Any doubters should just speak to Ben.

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Abbott view on Syria 'sophisticated': Pyne

Tony Abbott has backed US military strikes against Syria but says they must be carefully targeted. Source: AAP

THE coalition has defended its leader Tony Abbott's baddies versus baddies description of the Syrian crisis as a sophisticated analysis.

The opposition leader has backed any US military action against Syria but says it has to be carefully targeted and proportionate so it doesn't make a bad situation worse.

A political solution to avoid the need for military action would be terrific but wasn't likely, Mr Abbott said.

He called the Syrian regime's use of poison gas against its own people an utter abomination.

"That said, any punitive strike has got to be targeted, it's got to be proportionate and it's got to be carefully considered to try to ensure that as far as is humanly possible we aren't making a bad situation worse," he told ABC television on Sunday.

Mr Abbott said the Syrian conflict was a civil war between two pretty unsavoury sides.

"It's not goodies versus baddies, it's baddies versus baddies and that's why it's very important that we don't make a very difficult situation worse," he said.

Labor seized on this phrasing as a reason why Mr Abbott is not fit to represent Australia in any international forum and should not be voted in as prime minister in the election on Saturday.

Labor campaign spokeswoman Penny Wong said Mr Abbott sounded like he was talking about a game of cops and robbers when discussing foreign policy.

"When asked about the difficult situation in Syria and what his view about this was, his view on foreign policy appears to be not always goodies versus baddies but it can be baddies versus baddies," she told Sky News.

But coalition campaign spokesman Christopher Pyne defended his leader's comments about the situation in Syria as an "extremely sophisticated" analysis as neither side was covered in glory.

"In the Syrian civil war, both sides are very unattractive ... it's actually more sophisticated to recognise that, than to try and pretend as Penny Wong does that there's somehow cowboys and indians and one side is good and one side is bad."

"In the Syrian conflict it's important to understand that both sides are deeply unpleasant and that trying to choose a side is a very foolish thing to do," Mr Pyne told reporters in Adelaide.

In the US, President Barack Obama will ask Congress to authorise military action against Syria, raising the possibility of immediate strikes on President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Mr Abbott said all Australian governments instinctively wanted to support our closest ally, the US, and also to uphold universal human decencies.

Just three nations possess the ability to take military action against Syria. These are the US, Britain which has ruled itself out and France, which has very limited capacity, he said.

President Obama has said the UN Security Council is completely paralysed.

Mr Abbott said that was a difficulty between the US, Britain and France on one side and Russia and China on the other.

"Where the security council is for whatever reason ineffective, there is precedent for right-thinking powers to take action and that was in the former Yugoslavia when Britain, the US and other countries took action in Kosovo," he said.

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Attempted murder in Brisbane carjacking

A man has been accused of trying to kill another man during a botched car robbery in South Brisbane. Source: AAP

A MAN has been accused of trying to kill another man during a botched car robbery in South Brisbane.

A 44-year-old man was standing next to his parked vehicle in an underground car when he was grabbed from behind and threatened with a knife about 6pm (AEST) Saturday, police say.

The man demanded he hand over the key, before they started struggling.

The 44-year-old was wounded in his neck and torso and taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

A 26-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder, attempted robbery, depravation of liberty, and is due to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday.

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