First day of gay marriage in ACT

A WA Labor MP has married his male partner as ACT marriage laws came into effect at midnight. Source: AAP

THE bride wore white and so did her wife.

Corinna Peck and Stacey Cowen were among some 15 couples to tie the knot in Canberra on Saturday as Australia's first same-sex marriage law came into play.

But while the outfits were bright and newlywed smiles beamed across the nation's capital, a dark cloud was hanging over the future validity of the same-sex unions.

On Thursday the High Court will rule if the ACT's Marriage Equality Act, passed in October, is at odds with Commonwealth law and therefore invalid.

The threat didn't dampen the enthusiasm of groom Ivan Hinton who vowed to make partner Chris Teoh his "lawful wedded husband".

"There should never be any rule in this country that disrespects the commitment that two people like us wish to express to one another," Mr Hinton told reporters after his wedding.

Ceremonies kicked off at 12.01am (AEDT) with two couples rushing to become Australia's first legally-recognised "husbands".

Australian Marriage Equality director Rodney Croome attended Mr Hinton's marriage and afterwards highlighted the historic nature of Saturday's events.

"In years to come people will look back and think 'what an historic moment that was,' but also, 'why did it take us so long to recognise the wonderful ordinariness of the love, (the) commitment of same-sex relationships?'," Mr Croome said.

The Australian Christian Lobby has criticised the ACT law, claiming it damages the institution of marriage.

"We hear about equal love all the time but we don't hear about what it means for children," Lobby spokesman Lyle Shelton told Sky News.

"Same-sex marriage means same-sex parenting, that means necessarily taking a child from its biological mother or father and giving it to someone else."

ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher defended the law and sent a message to critics: "the world will go on".

"This doesn't effect those people who don't agree with it. It doesn't change their life, it doesn't change their relationships. This is all about making sure everyone is treated equally before the law," she said.

Ms Gallagher insisted that the community response, including from religious groups, had been overwhelmingly supportive.

Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young congratulated the newlywed couples and thanked them for being part of an important first step to change.

"This is how laws change, it is how communities evolve, it is how social change happens, when individuals put themselves forward," she said.

"I think it's time that politics put aside the views of others and allowed couples right across this country to have their love celebrated and accepted and recognised."

The ACT government said 47 couple have registered an intent to marry under the new law.

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Abbott, Shorten to attend Mandela service

PM Tony Abbott and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will attend a memorial service for Nelson Mandela. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will present a united Australian front to honour and farewell Nelson Mandela.

The pair will this week fly to Johannesburg to join world leaders past and present, mourning the former South African president who died at his home on Thursday (local time) aged 95.

A huge memorial service is planned for the nation's first black leader on Tuesday, with US President Barack Obama already confirming his attendance.

On Saturday Mr Shorten's office said the Labor leader had accepted an invitation from Mr Abbott to accompany the prime minister to South Africa. Both men will miss most of the final 2013 parliamentary sitting week.

It is unknown how long the men will be out of Australia.

"There is a long bipartisan history of Australian support for South Africa and the campaign to abolish apartheid," Mr Abbott said, announcing his intention to attend the service.

After facing criticism for not lowering flags at the news of Mr Mandela's death, Mr Abbott said Australian flags will be set at half mast on the day of the official memorial.

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Urban, Lorde receive Grammy nominations

Keith Urban has been nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Country Duo/Group. Source: AAP

VETERAN rapper Jay-Z topped nominees for the 2014 US Grammys with nine nods, while Taylor Swift and Daft Punk were among those in the running in major categories.

Australia's Keith Urban has been nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance category for his collaboration with Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift, called Highway Don't Care, while New Zealand teenager Lorde was nominated for four awards, mostly for her debut single Royals.

The 17-year-old schoolgirl, who performed live during the Los Angeles ceremony, is in the running for song of the year, record of the year, best pop solo performance and best pop vocal album for Pure Heroine.

In second place with seven nods apiece were California hip-hop star Kendrick Lamar and rapper Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, as well as Justin Timberlake and Pharrell Williams, while rapper Drake scored five.

The nominees in key categories were announced during an hour-long concert at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, including video-link performances by Swift from Australia and Katy Perry live from Canada.

In the coveted Album of the Year category, songstress Swift's Red will compete with French electro duo Daft Punk's Random Access Memories, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis's The Heist, Lamar's Good Kid, M.A.A.D City and Sara Bareilles' The Blessed Unrest.

Record of the Year candidates are Daft Punk and Williams' ubiquitous Get Lucky, Lorde's Royals, Radioactive by Imagine Dragons, Hawaiian crooner Bruno Mars' Locked Out Of Heaven and Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines, made infamous by Miley Cyrus' twerking at the MTV Video Music Awards show.

Shortlisted for Song of the Year - for songwriters, as opposed to performers - were Just Give Me A Reason sung by Pink Featuring Nate Ruess; Locked Out Of Heaven sung by Bruno Mars; Roar sung by Katy Perry; Royals sung by Lorde, and Same Love sung by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis was also nominated for Best New Artist, up against James Blake, Kendrick Lamar, Kacey Musgraves and Ed Sheeran.

While big-hitters Jay-Z and Timberlake scored lots of nods, they were mostly in rap and pop/R&B categories respectively. Neither the rapper's heavily marketed Magna Carta ... Holy Grail, nor Timberlake's The 20/20 Experience made it onto the Best Album shortlist.

The 56th annual Grammys show - music's version of the Oscars - will be held on January 26 at the Staples Center.

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Crews monitor Sunshine Coast blaze

At Sippy Downs. The buildings are University of Sunshine Coast. Picture: Kaye Keioskie Source: Supplied

FIRE crews are asking Sunshine Coast residents to avoid an out-of-control grass fire near Mountain Creek.

7.45pm: CREWS are still monitoring the fire at Kawana Waters which is burning in containment lines.

There are still two urban crews and nine rural crews at the scene.

They are likely to stay on scene for several more hours.
 

Sinead Duncan took photographs of the fires from Buderim and closer to Kawana Way. "We're just trying to get out of Brightwater at the moment .... it's getting bad." Reader picture: Sinead Duncan

3.50pm: Sinead Duncan took photographs of the fires from Buderim and closer to Kawana Way.

"We're just trying to get out of Brightwater at the moment because we've been visiting friends," she said.

"The smoke is still thick and billowing, but thankfully the wind is keeping most of the smoke away from the houses."

The grass fire near Mountain Creek. Picture: QPS/Sara Matulich

GALLERY: Reader pictures of Sunshine Coast blaze

Jackie Clark said aerial support was trying to control the situation.

"It's getting bad," she said.

Resident Nadine Brooks took these pictures from her vantage point at nearby Grand Pde, Parrearra. Reader picture: Nadine Brooks

"Police, fire and ambulance have set up on Kawana Way."
 

GALLERY: Reader pictures of Sunshine Coast blaze

Resident Nadine Brooks took these pictures from her vantage point at nearby Grand Pde, Parrearra. Reader picture: Nadine Brooks

3.30pm:  Resident Nadine Brooks said there seemed to be two or three different blazes from her vantage point at nearby Grand Pde, Parrearra.

"It looks like they are moving north," she said.

"We are lucky the smoke is not coming (our) way."

3pm: TRAFFIC is heavy along the Sunshine Coast Motorway thanks to a large grass fire.

Motorists are reporting congestion from the Dixon Rd turnoff to Mountain Creek.

Kawana Way has been closed as 16 fire crews battle the blaze.

GALLERY: Reader pictures of Sunshine Coast blaze

1pm: The fire at Kawana Way, near Brightwater Estate, was first reported at 11.20am.

Helicopters are currently water bombing the fire between Brightwater Estate and the Chancellor Park area, and 16 fire crews are battling the blaze.

No property is under threat, but a large smoke haze has settled over Mountain Creek and neighbouring suburbs.

Residents have been advised to close windows and doors, with reports of ash the size of fingernails falling on the area.

Motorists using Kawana Way have been urged to drive to conditions.

GALLERY: Reader pictures of Sunshine Coast blaze

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Apple guides shoppers with iBeacon

Apple has introduced an in-store GPS system called iBeacon which guides shoppers around its stores. Source: AAP

GPS will tell you how to get to the nearest Apple store. With iBeacon, Apple hopes to guide you around once you're inside.

On Friday, Apple will begin using the technology at its 254 US stores to send you messages tailored to where you are inside, provided you have downloaded the Apple Store app and have given Apple permission to track you.

The company demonstrated the technology in New York this week.

One day, commuters might get information on subway delays as they stand on the platform, while museum visitors might get details on the painting they are standing in front of.

In-store location technology does raise privacy concerns, though many shoppers have shown a willingness to be tracked for discounts.

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Foreign fishing boats stopped off Darwin

Scott Morrison says foreign fishing boats have been intercepted off Darwin for illegal fishing. Source: AAP

TWO foreign fishing boats have been stopped in northern waters in the past week for alleged illegal fishing, Border Protection Minister Scott Morrison says.

A Border Protection Command "asset" intercepted the first alleged illegal foreign fishing vessel last Friday and a second on Wednesday, Mr Morrison said in a statement.

"A significant volume of fresh and stowed catch was discovered on the first vessel including giant clams, live crayfish, hawksbill sea turtles, sea cucumbers, shark and frozen fish. The second vessel was found with an amount of reef fish on board," his statement said.

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority is conducting further investigations into the activities of the vessels found off Darwin and considering charges against the crew.

The maximum penalty for illegal foreign fishing can be up to $1.275 million depending on the size of the vessel.

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DFAT confirms Dili embassy protest

Federal authorities have confirmed a protest was held outside Australia's embassy in East Timor. Source: AAP

FEDERAL authorities have confirmed a protest was held outside Australia's embassy in East Timor amid a spying row between the two countries.

About 100 protesters in East Timor's capital Dili reportedly threw rocks at the Australian embassy on Thursday, with police responding by using tear gas.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) on Friday confirmed a protest had taken place outside the embassy.

"The Australian Embassy in Dili has advised that a small-scale protest was held outside the embassy on 5 December," DFAT told AAP in a statement.

More details on the protest are being sought from DFAT.

A spokeswoman for East Timor said the protest was small and non-violent. Further details are being sought.

The protesters, mostly students and young Timorese rights activists, carried banners reading "Australia is a thief" and "Australia has no morals", Agence France-Presse reported.

The protest comes after East Timor expressed outrage over reports that Australia secretly bugged ministerial deliberations in Dili in 2004 to gain leverage in negotiations on an oil and gas revenue-sharing deal.

On Tuesday, Australian intelligence agents raided the Canberra office of a lawyer representing East Timor in an arbitration case at The Hague over the deal.

East Timor says it won't be deterred from challenging the multi-billion dollar oil and gas treaty with Australia despite the raid.

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Serial sex offender Fardon released in Qld

SERIAL sex offender Robert Fardon has been released into secure accommodation after a lengthy court battle in Queensland.

Queensland Corrective Services says the 65-year-old was released into a facility on the grounds of Brisbane Correctional Centre, west of Brisbane, on Friday afternoon.

Fardon will be subject to the strict conditions of his court order including intensive supervision, GPS electronic monitoring, home visits, drug and alcohol testing and restrictions on where he goes and who he associates with.

However child safety advocates and past victims have condemned the court ruling and are concerned he will reoffend.

They include Sharon Tomlinson, who was 12 when raped and choked by Fardon, and who says the courts are "laughing" at the community.

"All I can say is just be very, very careful with children and keep an eye on those that you love because predators are allowed to walk within our community," she told reporters.

Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie blamed the previous Labor government's "weak" dangerous prisoner legislation for Friday's decision and said he's receiving advice on whether to appeal in the High Court.

"I am also consulting with the legal fraternity to find possible ways to strengthen Labor's failed legislation," he said in a statement.

Fardon has spent most of his adult life in prison for sex offences against women and girls dating back to 1967, when he was 18.

In 2003 he became the first prisoner detained indefinitely - subject to periodic review - under new laws designed to keep the state's worst prisoners locked up.

Since then he's been released twice but each time was locked up again for breaking court orders, including absconding to Townsville.

In October Supreme Court Judge Peter Lyons deemed Fardon fit for release, prompting an immediate appeal by Mr Bleijie.

The minister also rushed through contentious "Plan B" laws that gave him power to overrule court orders releasing dangerous prisoners if it was in the public's interest.

But on Friday the Court of Appeal dismissed Mr Bleijie's appeal and declared his legal amendments invalid.

Judges Catherine Holmes, John Muir and Hugh Fraser found Justice Lyons' decision was sound, and Mr Bleijie's amendments were incompatible with the institutional integrity of the state's highest court.

The ruling provided ammunition for the LNP government's opponents, with Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk calling it an embarrassing blow to Mr Bleijie.

Corruption fighter and former judge Tony Fitzgerald labelled the state government inexperienced and arrogant.

And the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties said Mr Bleijie's "grandstanding" had resulted in laws that were a flagrant breach of the separation of powers.

"No one is going to dispute that Robert Fardon is not a particularly nice man. But he has his human rights," the council's chairman Michael Cope said.

However Mr Bleijie said he made no apologies for doing everything possible to protect the community.

"We will continue to fight for the safety of Queensland families," he said.

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Indigenous shake up on council's agenda

Improving children's school attendance is a top priority of the indigenous advisory council. Source: AAP

THE man charged with leading Tony Abbott's indigenous affairs shake up hopes to help reverse the trend of prime ministers leaving office regretting they didn't do enough for Australia's first people.

Former ALP president Warren Mundine, who chairs the prime minister's newly formed indigenous advisory council, and the body's 11 other members met with Mr Abbott for the first time in Canberra on Thursday.

Improving indigenous children's school attendance and educational levels is their top priority, followed by boosting employment opportunities and reviewing land ownership and other drivers of economic development.

Mr Abbott told the council they had a mammoth task ahead.

There has been much goodwill in recent years and lots of money spent but not enough change at the grassroots, he said.

"Let it not be said in three years' time that this was just another talkfest," Mr Abbott said.

"Let people be able to say ... that practical change is happening."

Mr Mundine said efforts to close the gap on Aboriginal disadvantage, social stability and empowering communities were key issues.

"We're going to be looking at that through economic and commercial eyes," Mr Mundine told AAP.

Mr Mundine hopes the advisory council can help reverse an historic trend.

"Every prime minister in our lifetime has left office and they have always said that one of the saddest things is they didn't do enough in this area," he said.

Council members include Westpac Bank chief executive Gail Kelly and Rio Tinto Australia managing director David Peever.

The council will also be involved in mining magnate Andrew Forrest's review of indigenous employment and training programs as well as a separate review into Indigenous Land Corporation and Indigenous Business Australia.

The federal government is reviewing two embattled government-funded indigenous bodies to determine if they should be merged.

The Land Corporation has been under fire for going $200 million into debt to purchase Ayers Rock Resort for $317 million in 2010.

The resort has hit financial woes, reporting losses of more than $100 million.

Indigenous Business Australia was last year warned not to hold conferences that looked like "junkets" after senior staff travelled to Gold Coast theme parks.

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China bars banks from handling bitcoins

BITCOINS have suffered a new setback after China barred its banks from handling the virtual currency.

The Chinese central bank said on Thursday that bitcoins did not qualify as a currency. But it said private individuals still are allowed to trade them at their own risk.

Bitcoins are created and authenticated independently of any bank or government. Atlanta-based BitPay handles transactions for more than 4,500 companies, taking payments in bitcoins and forwarding the cash equivalent to the vendor.

A Chinese central bank statement says, "Bitcoins are virtual goods that have no legal status or monetary equivalent and should not be used as currency."

It says, "Ordinary people are free to participate in transactions at their own risk."

Thailand banned bitcoins for most uses in July.

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Fishing line causing havoc in Perth river

Purpose-built united are being installed around Perth to stop fishing waste entangling dolphins. Source: AAP

THERE are fears for one of the Swan River's beloved dolphins after he became entangled in thoughtlessly discarded fishing gear.

Fingers, who has been swimming up the waterway from Cockburn for the past 20 years, received life threatening injuries when his tail fluke became entangled in the gear and has not been seen since July.

The dolphin's fate was raised by Swan River Trust riverpark manager Chris Mather on Thursday as Perth's first ever fishing line disposal unit campaign was launched.

Three members of the river's small dolphin population had died as a result of injuries caused by fishing waste in the past five years, Mr Mather said.

"And many, many birds, swans and pelicans have also been tangled in fishing line, which has resulted in them being starved to death - that's unacceptable."

Fishing line left in the environment can take up to 600 years to decompose.

In response Recfishwest chief executive officer Andrew Rowland has urged the recreational fishing community to use 20 new purpose-built units being installed at Perth jetties, fishing platforms, traffic bridges and boat ramps.

These will allow the incineration of fishing line and hooks, and recycling of lead sinkers.

Apart from the disposal, all of the rubbish collected will be recorded, as part of a 12-month trial.

"Fishing line placed in bins can still find its way into the river through other means such as animals scavenging through bins and overflowing bins," Dr Rowland said.

"These specially designed fishing line units will eliminate this from happening."

The Swan River is one of the few waterways in the world where dolphins can be seen swimming right up to the edge of the city.

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Australia promises not to spy on Indonesia

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop gave Indonesia assurance Australia will not spy on Jakarta anymore. Source: AAP

AUSTRALIA has agreed to a six-point plan aimed at repairing relations with Indonesia, with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop also providing assurances during talks in Jakarta that the Abbott government will not deploy intelligence assets against its northern neighbour.

A so-called "hotline" will also be established in the hope of avoiding future diplomatic rows, it was announced on Thursday following high-level talks in Jakarta between Ms Bishop and Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa.

However, Dr Natalegawa also insisted that military and police co-operation, as well as sharing of intelligence, will not be restored until all six points in President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's roadmap are addressed.

He also refused to nominate a time-frame for discussions around the code of conduct which Dr Yudhoyono demanded in the wake of revelations his phone, and those of his wife and inner circle, were monitored by Australian spies in 2009.

Dr Natalegawa said he had already reported to the president following the talks, adding that Dr Yudhoyono had been pleased with the progress made at the meeting.

A more detailed report would later be given to Dr Yudhoyono, who was in East Java on Thursday, after which it would be decided if the discussions could move to step two in the president's roadmap - the drafting of the code of conduct.

"Essentially, the president expressed he was pleased that we were able to communicate today and he is pleased by the progress that has been made, and asked that further efforts be made (so) that we can address in full all the various bilateral issues that must be addressed," Dr Natalegawa said.

He refused to reveal if a more detailed explanation was given in relation to the spying activities that have seen relations between Jakarta and Canberra sink to their lowest point since the East Timor crisis in 2009.

"Certainly, our communication today helped elucidate some issues that were not specifically mentioned in the letter from the prime minister," Dr Natalegawa said.

Ms Bishop said after the talks, which came two weeks after the suspension in co-operation on November 26, both sides had expressed a commitment to restoring the relationship and building it to its fullest potential.

The foreign minister, for the first time, confirmed Australia had agreed to follow Dr Yudhoyono's roadmap to normalising relations, while also promising that the Abbott government would never undertake espionage activities in the future that might damage Indonesia.

"We note the steps set out by President Yudhoyono that must be taken in order to normalise the relationship and, of course, we agree to adhere to those steps," Ms Bishop said.

"Obviously we regret the events that lead to this situation. We regret the hurt caused to President Yudhoyono and to the Indonesian people.

"As Prime Minister (Tony) Abbott has said and I reiterate, the Abbott government will not undertake any act or use our assets and resources, including intelligence assets, in any way to harm Indonesia."

It was Ms Bishop's fourth trip to Indonesia since the Coalition won office three months ago but her first since details of the spying came to light.

Underlining the importance of the talks, Ms Bishop was accompanied by the former head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and now Defence Department secretary Dennis Richardson.

Peter Varghese, the secretary for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Andrew Shearer, who was the last foreign policy adviser in John Howard's office and currently a senior adviser for national security to Mr Abbott, have also made the trip to Jakarta.

Ms Bishop revealed that Australia had also agreed to Indonesia's suggestion that a hotline be established between herself and Dr Natalegawa, which would be aimed at avoiding or minimising diplomatic tensions in the future.

"We have agreed to establish a special communications channel, a hotline if you like, to ensure that we can resolve any issues in implementation, that we can avoid any unintended consequences," Ms Bishop said.

Dr Yudhoyono has demanded Australia sign up to the "code of ethics and protocols", insisting it is needed to map out the future bilateral relationship.

The president has insisted that the code of conduct must address the spying issue and contain protocols to ensure similar espionage activities do not occur again, and that it is signed by himself and Mr Abbott.

However, even if the code of conduct is implemented, there would be a period of evaluation, before Indonesia would agree to restoring co-operation in areas such as the military and police, including joint efforts aimed at combating people smuggling.

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Abbott defends ADM-GrainCorp decision

Labor has stepped up its attack on the government's rejection of a foreign takeover of GrainCorp. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has defended his treasurer's call on the attempted foreign takeover of GrainCorp, telling a high-level business audience that good government is about pragmatic idealism, not perfection.

The federal opposition on Wednesday stepped up its attack on the government's rejection of the foreign takeover bid, with shadow treasurer Chris Bowen claiming Treasurer Joe Hockey blocked the deal due to political pressure and his decision would cost jobs.

"I do not see the national interest test was properly invoked in this instance," Mr Bowen told the National Press Club.

He said he would have approved the deal based on the available information.

Mr Hockey last week blocked the $3.4 billion takeover of GrainCorp by American agribusiness Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) after deciding it was contrary to the national interest.

Farm groups and the government's junior partner the National Party had campaigned heavily against the deal, which would have given ADM control of 85 per cent of Australia's east coast grain ports.

Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board examines all major foreign investment proposals and must decide if they are contrary to a loosely defined "national interest" test.

However, the treasurer of the day must make the final decision.

On Wednesday evening, Mr Abbott was in Sydney to attend a gala dinner hosted by the Business Council of Australia.

"The coalition in opposition tried to stop a government from breaking its election commitments. The current opposition is trying to stop a government from keeping its election commitments," he told the audience.

"Yes, the coalition has knocked back one - just one - foreign investment application out of more than 130 received, but I do want to stress that foreign investment applications will always be considered on their merits and approved where it is in the national interest to do so."

Alison Watkins, the Graincorp CEO who announced her resignation after the takeover bid was knocked back and is set to take up a position with Coca-Cola Amatil, was among those in the audience.

"If I may say so, only from the outside does government mostly seem a matter of choosing right from wrong," Mr Abbott said.

"On the inside, it much more often involves choosing the greater good, or the lesser evil - getting the best possible outcome, not necessarily the perfect one."

Mr Bowen - who also attended the dinner - has claimed the takeover rejection did not pass "the common sense test".

"Clearly this was a decision frankly that was taken for political reasons," he said earlier on Wednesday.

"I'm not entirely sure it was a decision that Joe Hockey didn't have foisted upon him. It's a decision which he claims to be his own. If it is his own, it is a particularly weak one."

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ICAC probe forces minister to quit cabinet

Senior NSW Liberal Chris Hartcher has quit cabinet after corruption investigators raided his office. Source: AAP

SENIOR NSW minister Chris Hartcher has quit cabinet after his offices were raided by investigators in a corruption probe that has been brewing on the central coast for months.

Mr Hartcher, the Liberal member for Terrigal, stood down as energy minister on Wednesday after his Erina office was raided by Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) investigators.

Mr Hartcher says he's confident he will clear his name.

"This is the first contact I have had with the ICAC and given that their investigations have thus far had an unknown timeframe, it is appropriate that I resign," he said in a statement.

The ICAC search follows raids on the offices of two other central coast Liberal MPs, Chris Spence and Darren Webber.

In September, computers and documents were reportedly seized after claims of irregular donations to central coast Liberals.

It's been reported that a trust fund was used to solicit and collect money from developers.

Last year Tim Koelma, a senior member of Mr Hartcher's staff resigned over the allegations.

His electorate officer Ray Carter was suspended.

Both men have denied any wrongdoing.

The NSW opposition says Mr Hartcher should be suspended from the Liberal party until the ICAC investigation is finished.

Opposition Leader John Robertson says the O'Farrell cabinet is in crisis, having now lost three ministers in the past four months.

Finance Minister Greg Pearce was sacked in an unrelated incident in August and Sports Minister Graham Annesley resigned the same month and took a job with NRL club Gold Coast.

"(Premier) Barry O'Farrell's front bench is unravelling," he said.

"This government is now more focused on its internal workings and what is going on on the frontbench than it is in dealing with the issues that are important to the people of NSW."

Mr O'Farrell, who is in India, supported Mr Hartcher's decision.

In a statement he thanked Mr Hartcher for his service, "in particular for his success in bringing electricity prices under control".

The NSW Greens welcomed Mr Hartcher's departure, saying it was an opportunity to install someone other than a "one-eyed supporter of coal and coal seam gas over renewable energy".

"Minister Hartcher was a poor minister who held many people ... in contempt," Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham told AAP.

"We're pleased to see the back of him."

Mr Hartcher's move triggered a front bench reshuffle.

Fair Trading Minister Anthony Roberts will be appointed Acting Minister for Resources and Energy, Special Minister of State and Minister for the Central Coast.

Stuart Ayres, the member for Penrith, will fill the vacant ministry position and will be sworn in on Monday.

ICAC would not confirm details of its investigation.

However, officials were seen at Mr Hartcher's Erina electorate office and the ABC sighted a note on the front door apologising that the office was "temporarily closed".

Donations from developers were banned in 2009 by then Labor premier Nathan Rees in response to the Wollongong Council sex for developments scandal.

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Indonesia still wants spying explained

Australia has signalled it's willing to agree to heal a rift with Indonesia over spying allegations. Source: AAP

INDONESIAN Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa has warned ahead of crucial talks with Australia's top diplomat that Jakarta still expects an explanation of the spying activities that have seen relations with Canberra sink to their lowest point in more than a decade.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will lead a high-level delegation to Jakarta on Thursday for talks aimed at mending relations that have soured in the wake of revelations Australian spies had targeted President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his inner circle.

It's understood Ms Bishop will be accompanied by the former chief of Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), Dennis Richardson, now secretary for the Department of Defence.

The visit comes more than two weeks since Indonesia suspended military, intelligence gathering and people-smuggling co-operation after it emerged last month that Australian spies attempted to tap the Indonesian president's mobile phone, as well as that of his wife and other close political allies, in 2009.

Speaking on Wednesday, Dr Natalegawa said he hoped discussions would be "constructive", but warned the onus was very much on Australia in terms of responding to a six-point plan Indonesia insists must be followed if relations are to be repaired.

Asked if there were indications that Australia were willing to sign up to the plan, Dr Natalegawa said he had received positive signals.

"I haven't heard anything to the contrary, which is always a good sign. We wish very much to move forward and to discuss this issue in a positive and constructive way," he said, adding that he was in "constant contact" with Ms Bishop.

But Dr Natalegawa again indicated that Indonesia would still demand a detailed explanation about the spying before negotiations could move forward to the point where the proposed code of conduct would be officially discussed.

"Up to now, it has always been the case that Indonesia and Australia are very close and very pragmatic when dealing with one another," Dr Natalegawa said.

"We need to draw a line and move forward, but before we move forward, we have to be informed about what happened in the past, and assured that there's no more surprises, no more shocks to the system."

The talks would address "sensitive issues as a pre-condition or stepping stone before the discussion of a code of conduct", he said.

Dr Yudhoyono has demanded Australia sign up to the "code of ethics and protocols", insisting it is needed to map out the future bilateral relationship.

The president has insisted that the code of conduct must address the spying issue and contain protocols to ensure similar espionage activities do not occur again, and that it is signed by himself and Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

However, drafting a code of conduct is merely the first step on a long road back to normal diplomatic relations.

The code of conduct must then be implemented, after which there would be a period of evaluation, before Indonesia would agree to restoring co-operation in areas such as the military and police, including joint efforts aimed at combating people smuggling.

Dr Natalegawa has warned that there must also be "a revival of a sense of trust" - the sixth point in Dr Yudhoyono's plan - before Indonesia would look at restoring bilateral co-operation with Australia.

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Greens secure deal on debt ceiling

The Greens have secured a deal with the federal government to scrap the national debt ceiling. Source: AAP

THE Australian Greens have secured a deal with the federal government to scrap the national debt ceiling.

Leader Christine Milne has released details of the agreement, which also includes requirements for further debt reporting in the budget and other documents relating to the budget position.

As well, the government will deliver a debt statement when its borrowings increase by $50 billion.

"It's a good outcome," Senator Milne said.

The Greens' negotiations had secured a higher lever of federal government debt reporting and it could no longer use the issue "as a figleaf for budget" spending cuts.

"The Greens have always been at the heart of responsible economic management," she said.

The new arrangements are likely to be in place from the 2014/15 budget due in May.

The agreement means the government will be able to get its legislation through the Senate with Greens support.

It also signals the end of a long-running argument over initial plans by Treasurer Joe Hockey to increase the debt ceiling from $300 billion to $500 billion.

The current ceiling was due to be reached by December 12.

Labor had opposed a $200 billion rise, offering the government a $100 billion increase instead.

Mr Hockey rejected Labor's proposal, saying Australia needed a buffer in case of an emergency.

Senator Milne said the Abbott government gave the Greens most of what they asked for to secure the deal.

"Yes, pretty much," she said.

It's a victory for the coalition, which is facing hurdles on other unrelated legislation in the Senate where the Greens and Labor have the numbers if they combine.

Senator Milne did not think the revised debt legislation would go through until next week.

The debt ceiling was introduced in 2008 by the former Labor government.

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Another Queenslander gets measles

Heath authorities are warning residents of Redcliffe and Chermside to be alert for measles symptoms. Source: AAP

ANOTHER person has contracted the measles virus in Queensland.

There have been more than 30 cases of the potentially deadly virus this year, despite the disease having been eradicated from Australia.

Metro North Public Health Unit director Dr Susan Vlack says the patient was diagnosed on November 30, but authorities haven't identified the source of the infection.

She says the patient visited Chermside, Deception Bay and Redcliffe while infectious and people living in those areas should be alert to symptoms.

"Because the patient has no link to an identified case, there are likely to be other cases in the community," Dr Vlack said in a statement.

"If you are unwell with symptoms of measles, you should contact your GP to make an appointment.

"You should inform the practice that you may have measles, so that other patients can be protected from exposure."

Measles symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, then a red spotty rash and sore eyes a few days later.

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Qld top cop, minister to join bikers

Queensland police have denied they are conducting roadside strip searches of motorcyclists. Source: AAP

QUEENSLAND'S top cop and police minister have announced they're joining the bikies.

But it's not what you think.

Police Commissioner Ian Stewart and Minister Jack Dempsey say they'll be taking part in charity rides over the next two weekends.

Mr Stewart will jump on a police Yamaha this Sunday. He's believed to be the first commissioner in Australia to ever take part in a charity ride.

Mr Dempsey, who will ride pillion the following weekend, says he's never been on a motorbike before.

"No, I hope he's (the rider) gentle," he told AAP.

"It's a bit of an upgrade from the tricycle to the real thing.

"I've been busy looking for a bandana for the day.

"But I don't think I'll be compared to John Travolta any time soon."

The minister said he told recreational riders about his decision in a meeting on Tuesday and that taking part would promote the positive side of riding.

Amid the government's ongoing crackdown on criminal bikie gangs, he said, recreational riders had seen a lot of unfair and bad publicity recently.

"These are the good guys, they're upstanding members or the community, they do the charity events and they help out," Mr Dempsey said.

Earlier, riders complained that they were being forced to show their tattoos to police and one rider said they had been falsely accused of being a bikie.

Police Superintendent Jim Keogh, who is leading the crackdown, said police were asking riders to show their tattoos.

But he said riders didn't have to comply unless police were taking formal action against them.

Mr Dempsey promised that recreational riders were not being targeted and said Mr Stewart planned to apologise to any rider who had been accused of being a bikie.

"But remember that police have to follow through with any complaint, not just bikie related stuff," he said.

"If they don't follow through then that can lead to even bigger problems."

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Alleged ADF 'Jedi Council' member charged

AN alleged third member of the Australian Defence Force's "knights of the Jedi Council" has been charged with sharing offensive emails.

Police say that early on Tuesday they served charge papers on a 42-year-old man for two offences of using a carriage service to cause offence.

He is due to appear in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on December 17.

Last month, two other alleged members of the ring were arrested and charged with the same offence.

The ADF recently discharged six officers and non-commissioned officers alleged to be at the centre of the "Jedi Council" - a group that shared degrading emails involving up to 10 female victims.

The members are alleged to have produced and distributed offensive material and imagery including filmed sex acts, dating back to 2010.

Dozens of other mostly serving army members are being investigated but police say their investigation focuses on three former ADF personnel.

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Drowning off NSW south coast beach

A MALE has drowned off the NSW south coast.

Surf Life Saving NSW (SLS) said a team from the Batemans Bay Surf Lifesaving Club, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and SLS duty officers responded to reports that someone had been spotted in the water off Racecourse Beach, near Ulladulla, late on Tuesday afternoon.

The male was found floating face down in water about 7.30pm (AEDT) and volunteer lifesavers performed CPR until he was brought to shore and delivered to paramedics.

SLS said it was believed the patient was declared dead at the scene but no other details about him or the circumstances of the drowning were known.

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Chopper wreckage lifted from UK pub

A memorial service has been held for the eight people killed in a helicopter crash in Glasgow. Source: AAP

THE wreckage of a police helicopter which crashed into a pub, killing at least nine people, has been lifted from the building.

Three people on board the aircraft died when it landed on the Clutha Vaults bar as it returned from a police operation in Glasgow on Friday night.

Six people inside the pub were killed and police have not ruled out the possibility that more bodies could be recovered from the building.

The remains of the three-tonne Eurocopter has been lifted from the scene as the recovery operation and accident investigation continues.

The rotor blades and part of the tail were removed on Monday and the fuselage was secured and winched slowly through the roof of the building on Tuesday morning. Specialist officers stood on either side of the aircraft as it was raised inch by inch by a crane.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service assistant chief officer David Goodhew said: "Crews have been tunnelling underneath the helicopter to try to find further casualties and remove those where necessary.

"The helicopter is sheeted up. It's extensively damaged.

"We will move it out, it will be in the air for a short while then be placed on the ground.

"As soon as it is on the ground, crews will be immediately put back into the building to complete their search and hopefully we will have completed the search within the next 90 minutes to two hours."

Pilot David Traill, 51, died, along with officers Kirsty Nelis, 36, and Tony Collins, 43.

Two victims who were inside the pub have been named as 48-year-old Gary Arthur from Paisley and Samuel McGhee, 56, from Glasgow.

The popular bar was hosting live music on Friday night and was packed with more than 100 people when the accident happened at 10.25pm.

Twelve of the 32 people taken to hospital continue to receive treatment, with three in intensive care

Mr Goodhew said: "The building has been totally devastated. It's totally unrecognisable in most parts.

"There's a large amount of debris that's underneath the helicopter and therefore you have to dig in slowly and methodically.

"Crews have been working tirelessly. We've been rotating crews, we've used specialist crews, urban search and rescue, every rescue crew.

"They have been committed to the building the whole time, trying to search.

"Crews have not stopped working to get everybody out."

He described the operation as "incredibly difficult".

He said: "It's one of the most difficult operations, I think, of this type in the country.

"The helicopter has landed in a building that's fully packed.

"It has been damaged in such a way that it couldn't just be lifted."

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Investors troubled by debt debate: Hockey

THE federal government has begun preliminary talks with the Australian Greens in a bid to end the debt ceiling stand-off as Treasurer Joe Hockey again warned it was impacting international investor confidence.

The government wants to increase the ceiling by $200 billion to $500 billion but Labor and the Australian Greens joined forces in the Senate against the bill that is listed for debate on Tuesday.

The legislation was returned to the upper house after Mr Hockey rejected a Labor and Greens amendment proposed two weeks ago to limit the increase to $100 billion, for a cap of $400 billion.

The Greens later said they were prepared to discuss scrapping the ceiling altogether, as long as there was greater government transparency on what additional debt was used for.

A spokesperson for the Treasurer confirmed on Monday that talks have begun but said they were preliminary and involved officials.

Earlier Prime Minister Tony Abbott was challenged on how his conservative coalition could negotiate with a party he describes as "economic fringe dwellers".

"Our challenge as a government is to clean up Labor's mess," he told reporters on Monday.

"Part of cleaning up Labor's mess is to avoid the sort of problem which the United States had recently because they were running up against legislated debt ceilings."

Mr Hockey told parliament he had taken phone calls from international investors and global rating agencies concerned about Australia reaching its current $300 billion debt limit by December 12.

Government debt subject to the ceiling stood at $296.09 billion on Friday.

Mr Hockey said the former Labor government had budgeted for a debt peak of $370 billion but it didn't take into account the need for a $60 billion buffer in case of an emergency.

"This is unprecedented territory," he said.

"If the Labor party is going to prevent us from trying to fix the problem they created they will wear this."

Greens leader Christine Milne rejects the government's depiction of the stalemate as threatening the economy and confidence.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten warned that the government was asking the Greens to give it a "blank cheque" to increase debt.

"These guys are desperate to do whatever they want, regardless of the consequences," he said.

Treasury Secretary Martin Parkinson recently told a senate committee one option was to scrap the debt ceiling, introduced by Labor in 2008.

Nationals senator John Williams backs scrapping the ceiling.

"We don't want to go down the road of America where we're having a deadlock of actually keeping our public sector going," he said.

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Balkan animal cruelty increases

A LITTER of puppies wrapped in a blanket and set on fire. A dog roaming the streets with its jaw hacked off. Cats found at the bottom of an apartment block, spines snapped.

It's part of a catalog of cruelty in recent months that has gone barely noticed in Romania.

The struggling EU country has seen a spate of brutal attacks against animals following the deadly mauling of a four-year-old boy in August by one of Bucharest's tens of thousands of street dogs. Police and animal welfare officials say the attacks were fueled by relentless and "hysterical" media coverage of the case.

The Four Paws animal welfare group registered 15 cases of people savagely attacking animals in the six weeks after the boy's death, compared to six cases of similar cruelty in the previous nine months.

But animal cruelty has long been a problem in Romania - where animal protection laws are weak, people still grapple with the trauma of a brutal communist regime, and anger builds over economic misery and government incompetence.

"As social tensions grow this leads to aggression against animals, particularly as people are not afraid of the laws," said psychologist Florin Tudose.

"When a dog kills a child, people think that animals should be punished."

Vladimir Manastireanu, chief of the state authority in charge of animal safety, supports a new law that requires stray dogs to be captured and - if not adopted within two weeks - euthanized.

"We need to take these dogs off the streets and stop these emotional reactions," he told The Associated Press.

Across Eastern Europe, where rural traditions are strong, there is little awareness of animal rights.

Even after Romania and Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007 - committed to pledges to kill livestock humanely in line with EU norms - farmers still slit pigs' throats without anesthetic according to pre-Christmas traditions, welfare groups say.

"They think, 'you can't just put a pig to sleep," Tudose said, "it has to know that it is having its throat slit."

Despite entrenched attitudes, animal cruelty is not universal - especially in Balkan capitals.

In Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia, people publicly pamper their pooches and cosset their cats. Many people in these cities offer shelter and care for stray dogs.

Animal lovers vociferously protested in Bucharest after Parliament voted in favour of the stray dog euthanasia law.

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Senate quashes temporary visas

The Greens have urged Labor to back their attempts to scrap temporary protection visas. Source: AAP

THE Senate has scuttled the coalition government's reintroduction of temporary protection visas.

Labor and the Greens teamed up on Monday night to pass a disallowance motion in the Senate, 36 votes to 26, to quash the controversial visas.

The coalition government reintroduced temporary protection visas via regulation in October as a key plank of its hardline Operation Sovereign Borders policy aimed at discouraging asylum seeker boat journeys.

It must now wait for six months to reintroduce regulation of the same substance.

Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young told the chamber the government's cruelty should not harm the hearts of people who have suffered so much already.

"No longer will these refugees have to live in limbo," she said.

"These visas never worked as a deterrent, they only punished the most vulnerable."

Assistant Minister for Immigration Michaelia Cash said if Labor supported the motion it proved they stood for nothing more than "promulgating the people smugglers' business model".

"The choice for the opposition is very clear," she said, before going on to attack the previous Labor government's "disastrous legacy" on asylum seeker boat arrivals.

Labor frontbencher Kim Carr told the chamber Labor supported the motion because the visas could result in further tragedies.

"TPVs act as a magnate for women and children... such is the desperation of people seeking to be reunited with their loved ones," Senator Carr said, explaining that the visas remove scope for family reunions.

The temporary visas were used during the Howard government era.

They gave refugees protection for up to three years and banned them from applying for permanent protection.

Labor abolished the visas in August 2008.

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WorkCover move to Geelong doomed: union

VICTORIAN Premier Denis Napthine says if re-elected in 2014, the state government will move the Workcover Authority head office to Geelong.

But unions say the proposed relocation does nothing to create jobs, and will only shift them around.

Dr Napthine made the announcement on Sunday, saying the move would relocate around 550 back-of-house jobs to the regional hub, which is shifting from its traditional manufacturing base to other industries.

Dr Napthine said the move was based on the success of other government offices moving to regional centres.

"This will be a huge boost for Geelong and the Barwon region," Dr Napthine told reporters on Sunday.

He said the relocation would generate more than $50 million per year in additional economic benefit for Geelong.

Dr Napthine said it would only be 550 employees who would be asked to relocate, with the rest of Workcover's staff to remain in their current locations in Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Dr Napthine said there will be no net job losses, with workers to be given a choice whether they want to move.

"We will work with the workers to help them and encourage them to think about the opportunities they have relocating to Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula," he said.

"If workers don't want to be relocated to the Geelong area they will be given choices and options within the broader public sector."

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is also going to be based in Geelong.

The Community and Public Sector Union is angered by the announcement, saying it was "a footnote to a speech" when in fact it affects around 700 families.

Secretary Karen Batt says it forces employees to choose between their career and their family.

"No analysis will have been done on where the workforce resides and experience says 80 per cent will not move and will be forced to take redundancy," she said in a statement.

"Tens of millions will be wasted on redundancy payouts instead of being invested in regions.

"All it will do is create hundreds of more vehicle trips a week on the Geelong Road."

The premier's statement said consultation would be undertaken with WorkCover staff and their families but it gave no date for the move.

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VC winner joins fight against bushfires

Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith is urging Australians to be prepared to fight bushfires. Source: AAP

VICTORIA Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith knows something about preparing for a fight.

Now the West Australian war hero has urged residents across his home state to get ready to battle bushfires this summer, with warnings of an horrendous fire season to come.

An unusually wet winter has increased growth of fuel in bushfire-prone areas in WA, with only 45,000 hectares of the state's prescribed burn target of 200,000 hectares carried out.

On the first day of the summer, the campaign headed by Roberts-Smith - taglined 'Are You Ready?' - was launched in Perth.

"He is a very dignified, significant achiever in the Australian community and people know when he talks he is something worth listening to," said emergency services minister Joe Francis.

"We are basically in the hands of the lottery that is handed out by mother nature. So there is going to be a number of significant challenges this season.

"So we are urging people to make sure their property is as fire-ready as possible."

That preparedness includes clearing around properties, ensuring insurance is up to date, making a proper survival plan, and investing in a generator and an independent water supply to defend homes.

The state government spruiked its own readiness with the state's aerial water bombing fleet consisting of 22 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.

Electricity provider Western Power is spending $250 million on bushfire mitigation to prepare for the fire season, including $180 million on pole replacements and vegetation management.

But the state's Fire Commissioner Wayne Gregson has already said councils were failing to properly train and resource volunteer fire brigades.

The opposition have claimed the government's call for "shared responsibility" is really about shifting responsibility from a government which hasn't done enough preparation themselves.

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Total fire ban issue for Vic's Mallee

A TOTAL fire ban has been issued for Victoria's Mallee region on Monday.

The CFA says no fires can be lit in the open air between midnight on Sunday until after midnight on Monday.

CFA chief officer Euan Ferguson says people living in areas at risk of fire should activate their bush fire plan.

The weather bureau forecasts temperatures to reach a high of 38C in the Mallee district, with northerly winds of up to 35km/h an hour.

A wind change is not expected until 9pm or 10pm at night.

Senior forecaster Scott Williams says the wind strength and low humidity will see a severe fire danger category across the whole Mallee region.

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Death toll up to 26 in Syrian strike

THE death toll from a Syrian helicopter strike on a rebel-held town near the northern city of Aleppo has risen to 26, activists said.

President Bashar Assad's forces have been hitting rebel-held areas in the north hard in recent days, according to activists. They say such strikes often precede government offensives.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the aircraft targeted a compound of the rebel group known as the Tawhid Brigade in the town of al-Bab. The bombs missed their target and hit the Nafasin market instead, killing 26 people, most of them civilians and including four children. Three of those who died in the attack were rebel fighters, said Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Observatory.

A government offensive in the north would be the latest push by Assad's forces to recapture territory ahead of peace talks planned for January in Geneva. The opposition currently holds large swathes of territory in the north, including along the border with Turkey, as well as whole districts of Aleppo, Syria's largest city and its commercial centre.

The Observatory group initially reported six dead from the Saturday's attack. It raised the death toll to 26 on Sunday when it received more information on the attack from activists on the ground.

The Tawhid Brigade is one of Syria's best known and powerful rebel groups, with an estimated 10,000 fighters. It's particularly strong in Aleppo province.

AP wf

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