Bail denied in NT prison drugs case

BAIL has been denied for a man who allegedly traded drugs with a Darwin prison guard and used her to pass messages to other prisoners, including a suspected Rebels bikie gang leader.

Phillip Noel Kaye, 35, is allegedly part of a six-person drug and corruption ring that operated out of Darwin Correctional Centre and included three prison guards, a police officer and a firefighter.

It's alleged he used prison guard Sarah Rudd to pass messages to other inmates, including organising drug deals, and gave her methamphetamines and MDMA.

At Darwin Magistrates Court on Friday, Magistrate Greg Cavanagh denied him bail, saying there was a real likelihood that he would reoffend if released.

"Given the multitude of offending and his previous record, bail must be refused," Mr Cavanagh said.

Kaye is facing more than a dozen charges, including possession of a trafficable quantity of drugs, unlawfully obtaining confidential information, attempting to pervert the course of justice and official corruption.

"Cheer up," he told an unidentified tearful female supporter as he was led from the courtroom.

His defence argued that bail should be granted because his girlfriend has recently given birth to a seven-week premature baby.

They also said a key witness had made allegations against him last year to police before saying she had lied due to mental illness.

Kaye will reappear in court at a later date.

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Cooking fire claims Qld toddler's life

A TODDLER has died in a house fire west of Brisbane after his 15-year-old aunt accidentally started the blaze during a cooking mishap while babysitting.

The single-storey house in Toowoomba was well alight when emergency services arrived on Thursday about 6pm (AEST).

Firefighters searched the burning house and found a two-year-old boy's body.

Two other boys and two girls aged between seven and 15 were taken to Toowoomba Hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

It's been widely reported a 15-year-old girl was babysitting her siblings and nephew and had left cooking oil unattended on the stove, which caught alight.

She attempted to put it out with water, which only exacerbated the problem.

Detective acting Senior Sergeant Scott Stahlhut did not dispute the cause when it was put to him by reporters, but was reluctant to confirm or elaborate.

"Police are preparing a report now which will be provided to the coroner," Sen-Sgt Stahlhut told reporters on the scene.

"Full details of how this terrible event unfolded will be made known in that report, so I can't comment at this stage (about) what's transpired."

Neighbours tried to rescue the toddler, but the blaze, which had entirely engulfed the house within minutes, was too strong.

"A girl came out saying her nephew was still inside and as I went to break through the window to see if I could try to rescue him, I just thought 'nah', because the smoke was too big," neighbour Terrance Mann told reporters.

"At that moment we realised there was just nothing we could have done."

Police also wouldn't confirm the children were left at home unsupervised.

Fire investigators remain at the scene on Friday.

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NT government wants GST to remain at 10%

The Northern Territory treasurer says he's happy for the GST to stay at 10 per cent. Source: AAP

A HIKE in the GST would be detrimental to Australia's competitiveness in the long run, the Northern Territory treasurer says.

Dave Tollner, of the Country Liberals, says the NT is happy for the GST to remain at 10 per cent, and does not support Western Australian Liberal Premier Colin Barnett in his calls to increase it to 12.5 per cent.

"(It) certainly might help some short term problems but I think in the long run would harm our international competitiveness and be detrimental," Mr Tollner told the ABC on Friday.

"We're taking a position that we want to tighten our belts, we want to reduce spending, at the same time try and maintain services but to get to a position where we live within our means."

But he did call for the federal government to review a Commonwealth Grants Commission decision last year to take $100 million in funding from the NT, saying it was the equivalent to stripping $6 billion from NSW or Victoria.

The decision was based on census data that showed more people in the eastern states identifying as Aboriginal and therefore receiving more federal funding, but a spokesman for the treasurer's office said it didn't consider the unique issue of the NT's vast geography.

"The way it was formulated didn't factor in the huge issue of remoteness, and how socially disadvantaged Aboriginal people are by living in remote areas," the spokesman told AAP.

Otherwise, Mr Tollner said, he was happy with how the GST was being allocated.

Around 80 per cent of the NT's budget comes from the GST.

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Raise a glass, Newton-John clinic opens

Olivia Newton-John has opened the final stage of her Cancer and Wellness Centre in Melbourne. Source: AAP

OLIVIA Newton-John says her completed cancer centre in Melbourne should be a place where everybody knows your name, and has a drink waiting for you too - if that's what you want.

Newton-John recently lost her sister to cancer and says the experience taught her how important "loving care and support" is for someone who is dying.

On Friday, after a decade in the making, budget shortfalls and many fundraising campaigns, the star finally opened the final stage of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre in the city's north.

The opening brings online more palliative care beds, more treatment beds and additional research laboratories.

But the cancer survivor says the centre needs to also be about enabling patients to be surrounded by people who know them and care about them.

"(People who) give you all the food you want, that give you a vodka if you want one," she said.

Newton-John said the marriage of the words "cancer" and "wellness" are important too.

"When you see that you think, 'I can go from cancer to wellness,'" she said.

Her big dream is that, one day, she can erase "cancer" from the centre's logo.

"It will be a wellness centre only because we'll find a cure for cancer."

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Fmr Qld race boss worked for gambling firm

BOB Bentley doesn't think holding senior positions at Queensland Racing and a betting firm at the same time ever led to a conflict of interest.

Mr Bentley was the first witness called before the Queensland Racing Commission of Inquiry into horse, greyhound and harness racing industries under the former Labor government.

He was grilled on Thursday about his time as chairman of the racing body between 2002 and 2012, specifically because he was a Tatts Group director at the same time.

Counsel assisting James Bell QC said that, under a deal, Tatts paid to use Queensland Racing information for it's betting businesses until 2008.

Tatts then began to withhold fees which eventually amounted to $91 million.

Tatts' actions were raised with Queensland Racing chairman Mr Bentley, who sought advice on whether they were allowed.

He asked a Tatts director whether the firm's actions were legal and the director told Mr Bentley they were under the deal.

"I see nothing wrong with that," Mr Bentley told the inquiry.

"Where else was I going to ask."

Mr Bell responded: "You could ask a lawyer, who's representing the company (Queensland Racing) you're the chairman of."

Mr Bell also tabled a deed the former chairman had signed in 2011, which gave four Queensland Racing board members a substantial raise in entitlements, including waiving the notice period for their resignations.

All four received substantial payouts upon quitting the board days after the Liberal National Party came to power in 2012.

The deed gave Mr Bentley legal indemnity and stipulated that Queensland Racing would pay his legal fees.

Mr Bell questioned whether he had done that because he knew he'd gone too far with the board entitlements.

"We suspected that if ... the government had changed (after the election) then this very thing (an inquiry) may very well happen," Mr Bentley said.

"Our detractors (political opponents) are very skilled at this sort of thing."

At one point Mr Bentley explained how he'd sought legal advice to end speculation about a conflict of interest arising from him holding senior positions at Queensland Racing and Tatts simultaneously.

"I asked, 'let's put this issue to bed, let's get proper advice and do it'," Mr Bentley said.

Mr Bell replied: "Did that get it put it to bed?".

"Nothing in racing ever gets put to bed if someone's got a problem," Mr Bentley replied.

The inquiry is set to continue on Friday.

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WA premier braces for more school strikes

More than 20,000 people have come together to support an unprecedented teacher's strike across WA. Source: AAP

MORE than 20,000 people have come together to support an unprecedented teacher's strike across Western Australia.

And beleaguered Premier Colin Barnett has been warned it could be just the beginning of a potentially lengthy fight with unions over school funding.

Teachers, principals, education assistants, school support staff, parents and children flocked to a mass rally to protest job losses and funding reforms that unions claim will deprive schools of millions of dollars.

More than 60 schools across the state closed for the morning, with 23 rallies across WA adding their voices to the mass protest in Perth, despite teachers being threatened with having their pay docked for attending.

A defiant government continued to insist the strike was disruptive, unnecessary and unjustified - but still agreed to meet union leaders next week to listen to grievances.

"This campaign will keep running. It will keep growing. This government has to learn that it can't build stadiums at the expense of our children's education," Carolyn Smith from United Voice said.

"Colin Barnett and (education minister) Peter Collier continue to hide from the truth, but the community is determined - we're not going away."

Opposition leader Mark McGowan told the rally it was obvious the premier had a major fight on his hands to convince the public his plans to reform school funding was correct.

"I am looking at the thousands and thousands of people here today and I am thinking 'Mr Barnett, you picked the wrong people,'" Mr McGowan said.

"These are not reforms, these are cuts."

The day after WA lost its AAA credit rating from agency Standard and Poor's, Mr Barnett said there was no connection between the state's dwindling economic power and the decision to reshape education funding.

He lambasted Mr McGowan for talking down the state's schools.

"How can the Leader of the Opposition go out and talk about children suffering. What do you think this is, Bangladesh?," Premier Barnett said in parliament.

More than 5000 people attended similar stop work meetings in regional areas, including 2000 in Bunbury, 500 in Albany, 520 in Pinjarra and 200 in Port Hedland.

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Vic crews face long factory fire fight

FIREFIGHTERS will work into the night to bring a large blaze at a Melbourne factory under control.

Fire broke out in the flooring factory at Dandenong South at about 6pm (AEST) on Thursday, sending thick smoke into nearby suburbs.

More than 100 CFA and MFB firefighters were working to bring the blaze under control and aerial appliances were attacking the flames from above, a CFA spokeswoman said.

"It is expected to be a protracted incident into the night, because once the fire is under control we have still got the blacking out and cleaning up to do," she said.

The cause of the fire is yet to be established.

Residents in the nearby suburbs of Hallam and Hampton Park are being urged to stay indoors and keep doors and windows closed.

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Man charged over murder of Sydney father

A MAN has been charged with murder over the fatal stabbing of a Sydney father.

Doonside man Cheyne Duncan, 33, died in Westmead Hospital on Wednesday afternoon after he was attacked with a machete while walking his children home from school.

A 21-year-old man was on Thursday morning arrested over the attack and later charged with his murder.

Bail was refused and he's due before Blacktown Local Court on Friday.

Teddy bears, flowers and cards have been left near the site of the murder.

"I love you dad," says a note written by one of Mr Duncan's children.

Another man injured in the attack has been released from hospital.

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New US ambassador posts video welcome

Incoming US ambassador John Berry hopes to boost trade and investment between the two countries. Source: AAP

INCOMING United States ambassador John Berry has sent a video message to Australians, introducing himself as a nature lover who hopes to boost channels of trade and investment between the two countries.

Shown strolling through the National Zoological Park in Washington DC where he was once director, Mr Berry, 54, arrives in Canberra as a first-time diplomat having most recently been charged with heading up personnel management for the administration of President Barack Obama.

Openly gay, Mr Berry hails from Maryland and studied at the University of Maryland and Syracuse University.

"I love the outdoors," Mr Berry says in his transmission posted on the US Embassy's website.

"My spouse Curtis Yee is a triathlete from Hawaii who loves anything involving salt water and waves. We both can't wait to explore your beautiful country."

Mr Berry says he is the second generation of his family to serve America in the Pacific, after his father fought as a marine in the Solomon Islands and Cape Gloucester.

"As ambassador I hope to deepen our cooperation in science and conservation in addition to strengthening our strategic alliance and increasing our trade and investment," the diplomat said.

"The United States and Australia share a proud past and we hope for an even brighter future.

"I look forward to strengthening the friendship ... and learning more about your culture and history."

Mr Berry replaces Jeffrey Bleich, who returned to the US in early September after a four-year term in Canberra.

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Not enough case workers to save Zoran

NEIGHBOURS and daycare staff repeatedly reported the suspected abuse of Zoran Ivanovski but case workers weren't able to intervene and potentially save the two-year-old's life because they didn't have the resources.

Zoran Ivanovski, who lived in Wollongong, died in August 2012 from multiple blunt force injuries to his head and body.

His mother Tamie Leanne Apps has been charged with his murder and was denied bail in July.

On Wednesday night, several current and former child care workers broke their silence on a tragic death that has become a focus for the NSW parliament.

They said Zoran's case had been discussed numerous times during several weeks but staff numbers were too low for a home visit.

"The managers ... could see that it was a case that needed to be allocated, they wanted to allocate it, but there wasn't any staff or capacity to do so," a case worker who wished to remain anonymous told the ABC.

"There were a lot of horrific circumstances to a lot of the reports," said Rob Bosevski who left the Family and Community Services department in 2012 after eight years.

"You would sit there shaking your head thinking 'we should be getting to all of these,' but you can't.

"That is a tragedy."

Neighbour Kira Akrivos told the ABC "everyone in the neighbourhood was worried about Zoran."

"He just didn't look right."

She and several other reported their concerns to police, who visited Zoran's home and reported their findings to welfare services.

Staff at a daycare centre also reported bruises on the boy's body on three separate occasions.

The department of Family and Community Services was notified as many as nine times about Zoran's injuries, the ABC reports.

But case workers weren't able to save Zoran.

"All children that fit criteria should be allocated should be responded to. Unfortunately you can't," Mr Bosevski said.

Case workers should be dealing with between six and eight complex matters simultaneously, he said.

"I know case workers were carrying loads of 12, 16, in out-of-home care, 25 or more."

"There is no physical way that you can get to everyone of those matters."

Family and Community Services Minister Pru Goward was accused by the opposition on Wednesday of misleading parliament and spinning "a web of deceit" about caseworker numbers in Wollongong.

Following Zoran's death, Ms Goward told parliament not a single Wollongong worker had been cut.

But a series of internal emails show a drop in staff numbers at an office in Wollongong.

In June 2011 the Wollongong office had 43.9 fulltime equivalent but this had decreased to 32.7 by December last year.

The emails indicate staff were to be cut to 29 fulltime equivalent from January of this year.

The opposition has called on Ms Goward to resign and opposition leader John Robertson accused her of playing with the numbers.

"This minister can try and dress it up, she can mince her words," he told reporters.

"The fact is there has been a reduction from 44 to 33 staff in an 18-month period."

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