Penny Sharpe wins ALP preselection

NSW MP Penny Sharpe has won the Labor party's first community preselection process, under which local residents and branch members can both vote for their preferred candidate.

The trial of what Labor insiders call "US-style primaries" was run for two state seats, after being tested during the City of Sydney council elections last year.

Ms Sharpe, an upper house member and opposition transport spokeswoman, won the right to contest the new seat of Newtown after picking up 58 per cent of the community vote and 64 per cent of the branch vote on Saturday, with more than 1500 participating in the preselection.

Further west in Campbelltown former soldier and Camden councillor Greg Warren scored 61 per cent of the branch vote and 57 per cent of the community vote.

About 1000 people turned up to have their say.

"Labor will be in a stronger position at the March 2015 state election because we've invited local communities into the preselection process and worked hard to win their support," NSW ALP General Secretary Jamie Clements said in a statement.

Previously only Labor members could cast ballots for candidate preselection.

The reform is part of the measures decided upon at the party's state conference in 2011, following the 2010 review of its processes by Labor heavyweights former NSW premier and foreign minister Bob Carr, NSW Senator John Faulkner and former Victorian premier Steve Bracks.

The next community preselections will be in Balmain and Strathfield.

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Syringe threat in Vic carjacking

A woman has been threatened with a syringe during a carjacking in the Melbourne suburb of Dandenong. Source: AAP

A WOMAN has been threatened with a syringe during a carjacking in Melbourne, police say.

The woman was parked in a shopping centre in Dandenong on Saturday afternoon when a man approached her car and allegedly threatened her with a syringe.

He demanded the woman get out of the car and she did.

The man then got into her car and drove away.

Police said the stolen car is a red 2006 Ford sedan with registration number UQI 236.

The man is described as caucasian, with blonde hair and a thin build.

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Bloom wants to be in son's life

A-LIST Hollywood star Orlando Bloom may have split from Miranda Kerr but he's taking his job as a dad seriously - and he's looking to settle down in his home country.

The 37-year-old British star recently parted ways with his Australian supermodel wife, but he insists the couple have put their three-year-old son Flynn first.

And despite skipping between London, Los Angeles and wherever he is working, the Lord of the Rings star claimed he would like his son to have some experience "living at home, in England".

"I've lived a very nomadic life, which I enjoy. But now that I have my son it gets a lot more serious - I want to be in his life and have as much input and influence on his as I can," he told The Times Magazine.

Describing his break up from Kerr as "amicable", the actor said the couple had done their best to stay together and there was "no harm, no foul" on either side.

Differences between what the pair wanted "from our lives, our work" had become a challenge, he said, before adding his ex is "a very supportive and understanding woman".

"It's ever evolving, but I've said to her, 'We're going to be in each other's lives for the rest of our lives and we have a child, so it's important to me that we respect each other as we always have and that Flynn feels that and understands that.' There's a deep love between us."

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Gay couples marry in England

British Prime Minister David Cameron has hailed the first same-sex marriages in England and Wales. Source: AAP

GAY couples across England and Wales have said "I do" as a law authorising same-sex marriage came into effect, the final stage in a long fight for equality.

Following the first marriages on Saturday amid a supposed race to wed, Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: "Congratulations to all same-sex couples getting married today - I wish you every possible happiness for the future."

The Conservative party leader also described the change as an "important moment for our country", and a rainbow flag flew above government offices in London in celebration.

While 15 countries have legalised gay marriage and another three allow it in some areas, homosexuals remain persecuted in many parts of the world.

The Church of England, insisting weddings should take place only between a man and a woman, secured an exemption from the new law.

In London, John Coffey, 52, and Bernardo Marti, 48, exchanged vows as the clock struck midnight, before being pronounced "husband and husband".

They were among several couples bidding to be first to take advantage of last year's Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act.

In Brighton on England's south coast, Neil Allard and Andrew Wale exchanged vows and rings in the opulent splendour of the Royal Pavilion in front of about 100 guests.

Wearing velvet-collared three-piece suits with white flowers in their buttonholes, the smiling couple of seven years hugged and kissed after sealing their marriage.

"We are very happy this day has come finally. It's very exciting," said Wale, a 49-year-old theatre director.

Campaigners have insisted that only the right to marry gives them full equality with heterosexual couples.

Civil partnerships have been legal since 2005 and marriage brings no new rights - the ability to adopt, for example, was introduced in 2002.

"We didn't want to get married until it was a marriage that my mum and dad could have," said Teresa Millward, 37, who was marrying her long-term girlfriend on Saturday.

The gay marriage law is the final victory in a long battle stretching back to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in England in 1967.

Cameron backed the change despite strong opposition from members of his party and the Church of England, which has rejected the idea that clergy be allowed to bless couples in same-sex marriages.

But Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the leader of the world's 80 million Anglicans, said the Church had accepted the new law and would continue to demonstrate "the love of Christ for every human being".

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Pell promises compo for Vic abuse victims

CARDINAL George Pell has promised to review compensation payments for Melbourne church abuse victims and has conceded it may cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

Cardinal Pell met with Anthony and Chrissie Foster, whose two daughters were abused by a priest in Melbourne and told them a cap on payments would be eliminated.

He also told them during the meeting, which took place on Thursday after Cardinal Pell completed his evidence to the royal commission into child sexual abuse, the church would review all existing payments.

"I stated that we needed to see the Melbourne cap eliminated, revisiting all the existing claims and in line with civil limits," Mr Foster told ABC TV.

"I also said to him that this will cost the Catholic Church in Melbourne several hundred million dollars.

"His response was he nodded and said 'yes'."

Francis Sullivan from Catholic Church Truth, Justice and Healing Council, who was at the meeting said Cardinal Pell gave a commitment that he would speak with the Archbishop of Melbourne.

Nicky Davis from the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) said the commitment was a good first step and hopes it is not an empty promise.

"George Pell is making an honest man of himself at last," she said in a statement.

"What has been agreed to so far is a first step, but what makes this different is it is not a vague promise or deceitful claim. We are talking about concrete action that will help hundreds of our most vulnerable."

"It is vital George Pell not offer survivors another devastating blow by betraying our hopes and going back on promises made to the Fosters."

Ms Davis said the commitment did not remove the need for an independent body to ensure survivors receive access to justice and fair compensation.

The Fosters' two daughters were raped by a priest at primary school.

One of them took her own life and the other was hit by a car while binge drinking and now requires 24-hour care for permanent disabilities.

* Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.

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Vic underworld man The Texan Longley dies

Billy "The Texan" Longley, who survived the Painters and Dockers wars, has died in Melbourne. Source: AAP

ONE of the Melbourne underworld's great survivors, former Painters and Dockers union hardman Billy "The Texan" Longley, has died.

Longley, who was convicted of ordering a rival's murder during the Painters and Dockers wars in the 1970s, died in Melbourne on Friday aged 88, multiple media outlets report.

He survived the Painters and Dockers underworld while many he came into contact with didn't.

"I never thought I'd see 80, for various reasons," Longley said in 2005.

Longley gained the nickname "The Texan" because he wore a Stetson hat and carried a Colt .45.

He served 13 years in Pentridge prison after he was found guilty of organising the murder of union rival Pat Shannon.

Longley was linked to more than a dozen others, in which he denied involvement.

The murders took place in the early 1970s when open warfare was waged on Melbourne's docks as factions fought for control of the union and the rorts it allegedly presided over.

In a book released in 2005 Longley told of a lifelong tendency to get into a stoush.

He put his survival down to "sheer good luck".

"Maybe it's because I was a depression child - you learn to be quick on your feet in the depression," Longley said.

"I've got a few regrets .... but it's been a great life."

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Customs nabs smuggled tobacco in Vic

Customs have seized tonnes of smuggled cigarettes from a shipping container in Melbourne. Source: AAP

CUSTOMS officers have smoked out more than 300,000 smuggled cigarettes and almost two tonnes of illicit molasses tobacco in Melbourne.

Australian Customs and Border Protection Service officials used X-ray equipment to find the massive haul at its Melbourne container examination centre which they say should have attracted about $1 million in duty.

About 100 cardboard boxes filled with the illicit cigarettes and 1866kg of molasses tobacco were found among household goods including blankets, plastic ware and ornaments.

Customs national cargo operations manager Jagtej Singh on Friday said the tobacco is illegal because import duties had not been paid.

The agency seized 183 tonnes of smuggled tobacco and 200 million cigarettes in 76 separate seizures last financial year, which represented a potential $151 million in unpaid duties.

The maximum penalty for tobacco smuggling is 10 years' jail or a fine of up to five times the amount of duty evaded.

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PNG set to deport Aussie lawyer

AN Australian barrister representing 75 asylum seekers has been forced to leave Manus Island ahead of his expected deportation by Papua New Guinean authorities.

Contrary to a court order granted by Justice David Cannings allowing Sydney lawyer Jay Williams access to the detention facilities on Manus Island he was on Thursday ejected, the ABC reports.

He will be sent back to Australia on the next flight, PNG's attorney general Kerenga Kua said, adding that Mr Williams hadn't followed the appropriate procedures to practice law in the country.

"What it means is if you're an admitted lawyer but don't have a current practising certificate for 2014, you cannot practise law in this country. Now in the case of Mr Williams, it meets neither requirements," he said.

Justice Canning initiated a human rights inquiry earlier this month into the conditions under which asylum seekers were living but it was temporarily halted, following a week of hearings, after the Supreme Court granted a stay order.

The country's government wants to appeal Justice Canning's decision not to remove himself from the inquest, on allegations he's biased.

In response, Justice Canning started a second inquiry.

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Tough budget decisions coming: Abbott

PM Tony Abbott has warned that "tough decisions" are coming to restore the federal budget. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has warned that "tough decisions" are coming to restore the federal budget.

In the last parliamentary sitting day before Treasurer Joe Hockey brings down his first budget on May 13, Mr Abbott said of all the government's commitments, the most fundamental was to restore the budget.

"Tough decisions are coming," he told parliament.

"They are necessary for the prosperity of our country."

Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen asked Mr Hockey why, if he is concerned about the budget, did he double the deficit and add $68 billion of new spending, and change economic assumptions to his mid-year review in December.

Mr Hockey described this as "great fiction" which came from a party with a record of $190 billion of deficits in five years.

"The legacy of Labor is that over the next 10 years there is no surplus, there is no repayment of debt," he said.

"The Labor party legacy of debt and deficit wasn't just for the period they were in government, it is for as far as you can see in the years ahead."

He said the government plans were very clear, and entirely consistent in dealing with what were changing economic circumstances over the last few decades.

"We said government cannot afford to waste taxpayers' money," he said.

He said the pink batts program was a terrible waste of money and cost lives; GP super clinics were medical facilities that did not treat any patients; and the NBN was a litany of waste and incompetence.

"We are going to fix the mess," he said.

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Canning of safaris a croc: NT govt

THE federal government's decision not to allow crocodile hunting safaris in the Northern Territory has been derided as "a croc" by the NT government.

Two NT ministers have accused federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt of being shortsighted and ill-informed.

"Canberra needs to take its foot off the Territory's throat," Minister for Land Resource Management, Willem Westra van Holthe said in a statement on Thursday.

"Crocodile safari hunting has the potential to create real employment for indigenous people in remote parts of the Territory."

Mr Westra van Holthe said the NT government had extensively consulted with traditional owners and lodged an application for a one-year crocodile safari trial, under a scientifically researched plan that demonstrated the economic benefits to the Territory.

Under the existing crocodile management plan, the NT government is able to harvest up to 500 crocodiles from the wild each year, while the safari proposal sought to harvest 50 crocodiles from within the existing quota on a one-year trial basis.

It was suggested that crocodile safari packages could cost between $20,000 to $50,000, appealing to high-end hunters from around the world seeking to bag themselves a croc.

Mr Westra van Holthe said the proposal was humane, with animal welfare standards maintained by having a conservation officer and traditional owner attend every safari.

"We are severely disappointed with Greg Hunt's short sighted and ill-informed decision," he said.

It was taking away work opportunities for indigenous people who needed it the most, said Bess Price, Minister for Parks and Wildlife.

"Greg Hunt has made a decision which will do nothing to improve the lives of indigenous Territorians living in remote communities," she said.

The decision was at odds with the Commonwealth government's priorities of developing the north and ending welfare dependency, she said, as well as boosting tourism.

The NT government is now exploring alternative pathways to make crocodile safari hunting a reality.

It may be able to legislate to permit the safaris but could face an obstacle with foreign hunters being unable to take crocodile carcasses out of Australia without a federal permit.

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