Alarm saves Qld girl from deliberate fire

A smoke alarm has helped a teenage girl escape a house fire in Queensland. Source: AAP

A TEENAGE girl has escaped a house fire that may have been deliberately lit in central Queensland.

The fire started at a home in Bundaberg just before midnight on Friday.

A smoke alarm woke a 15-year-old girl, who managed to get out of the house just in time.

Police believe Chad Mclean Hunter, 32, may be able to assist them with their investigations and have called for him to come forward.

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Call for release of Liberal donation audit

AN audit of Liberal Party donations in the wake of damaging slush fund allegations needs to be released publicly, the NSW opposition says.

The call comes after another political head rolled this week as the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) probed party donations.

Police Minister Mike Gallacher resigned from his plum role on Friday after he was implicated in a Liberal Party slush fund scheme.

It was two weeks after Barry O'Farrell resigned from the state's top job over an undeclared, gifted bottle of wine.

NSW Liberal party director Tony Nutt is leading an audit into the party's political donations.

But Opposition Leader John Robertson says the results need not be only for Liberal eyes.

"Tony Nutt is a political operative from way back," he told reporters on Saturday.

"Tony Nutt is someone who has been involved in the activities of the Liberal Party for years and years and years.

"The only way someone can have confidence in that audit is if it is publicly released so everyone can see the process that was put in place to look at these donations."

Mr Robertson, whose own party was dragged through the mud after adverse ICAC findings over coal mine approvals, said he understood why people would question the motives of every politician in NSW.

He said he wanted to work with Mr Baird to put an end to what was playing out at the ICAC.

"I want to see Mike Baird not simply talk tough but the steps to end the scandal and put in place measures that are going to give the public confidence," he said.

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TV veteran Efrem Zimbalist Jr dies aged 95

EFREM Zimbalist Jr, the son of famous musical parents who established his own name in the long-running television series 77 Sunset Strip and even the even longer running TV hit The F.B.I., has died at age 95.

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Detective denies campaign against academic

A LEAD investigator in the indecent dealing case against Queensland criminologist Paul Wilson has denied accusations he had a campaign against the academic.

Wilson, the former head of criminology at the Gold Coast's Bond University, returned to court in Brisbane on Thursday for the third day of a committal hearing.

The 73-year-old faces six charges of indecently dealing with two girls under 17 in 1973 and 1976.

The former lead investigator on the case was cross examined by Wilson's lawyer Bill Potts on Thursday.

Detective Sergeant Charles Heron confirmed the first complaint against Wilson was made in April 2011.

A second woman later made a complaint after she was contacted by Det Sgt Heron.

Both women had modified their statements several times since first making them, the Brisbane Magistrates Court heard.

One changed a statement saying Wilson had touched her shoulder to say he'd touched her breast.

Defence counsel Bill Potts suggested the women made the changes after encouragement from the detective, whom Mr Potts accused of becoming personally involved.

The lawyer read from emails Det Sgt Heron sent to one woman calling both women "most excellent" witnesses who'd told their stories "very well".

In another email Det Sgt Heron said all police involved in the case had "not the slightest doubt" the women were abused by Wilson and there was a "good likelihood" he'd be found guilty.

"This had become some kind of campaign for you hadn't it?" Mr Potts asked the witness during heated cross examination.

Det Sgt Heron, who was removed from the investigation after 10 months, said he didn't see anything wrong with the emails and part of his job was to support witnesses.

Magistrate John Costello adjourned the court until May 16, when he's due to rule on whether there's enough evidence to commit Wilson to trial.

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Labor's party, but Wran had common touch

NSW Liberal Premier Mike Baird had plenty of time to take in the scene as he walked to his seat at the state funeral for his fabled Labor forerunner Neville Wran.

Labor party banners hung either side of the Sydney Town Hall stage, which was set up to resemble a party conference with a long, red-draped table, in front of which sat a lone, empty chair for the absent hero.

Politicians had come from both sides of the political divide for this farewell, but it was undoubtedly Labor's day.

Former prime ministers Bob Hawke and Paul Keating were there, as was a timeline of Labor leaders of the Premier State: Kristina Keneally, Nathan Rees, Morris Iemma, Bob Carr and Barrie Unsworth.

Federal opposition leader Bill Shorten led the Canberra contingent, along with Tanya Plibersek, Anthony Albanese and John Faulkner.

A host of former Labor ministers, state and federal, were also in the crowd.

Among the Liberals, chief government whip Philip Ruddock represented Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Mr Wran would have appreciated the scene.

He was, as Mr Keating told mourners, dedicated to the political battle.

"Someone who wanted to change things while simultaneously visiting pain and suffering on his opponents" is how Mr Keating described him.

But Mr Wran maintained the common touch - understanding the concerns of garbos in pubs, as Mr Carr put it, at the same time as he was expanding art galleries.

That instinct helps explain the four election victories Mr Wran achieved during his 10 years in office and the regard on display for him on Thursday.

As the hearse carrying his Australian flag-draped coffin pulled away, people standing outside the Town Hall applauded - some of them the Labor stalwarts from inside, and others simply those come to pay their respects.

Unsworth tells a story from Wran's pre-political days as a barrister that is both an extraordinary coincidence and a pointer to the scale of his legacy.

"My connection with him goes back to 1958 when, as a young electrician, I fell off my motorbike and Neville appeared for me in the District Court," Mr Unsworth said outside the Town Hall.

"He got me 200 pounds for pain and suffering. He was always one who brought benefit to the ordinary people and that's what I was in those days."

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Lindy Chamberlain says abuse declining

Last updated: May 01, 2014

LINDY Chamberlain-Creighton says cowardly abuse towards her has gradually subsided since a coronial inquest almost two years ago found that a dingo killed her baby daughter Azaria in 1980.

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Super Rugby expansion plans unveiled

PLANS for an expanded Super Rugby competition have been rolled out while Australian rugby chiefs were still locked in a meeting discussing its merits.

Space rocket found floating in river

THE one that didn't get away. A 73-year-old fisherman has bagged the catch of his life after hooking part of a space rocket.

Why 54 is the magic number in travel

IT'S the airlines little secret and now it's all yours. We reveal why the number 54 will get you the most bang for your buck.

Why is this mistress wearing a visor?

SHOULD we call this look Darth-Vader-chic? The woman who outed disgraced LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling for his racist remarks this week has been acting very strangely indeed.

Don't get dudded on refunds

YOUR chances of getting a refund are greatly improved if you keep good records. But some companies won't budge — even when presented with irrefutable proof.

LNP dobs in Ben and Jerry's

Sarah Vogler UPDATE: THE consumer watchdog confirms it is considering a request to investigate ice cream giant Ben and Jerry's over its Great Barrier Reef campaign.

'We can't have a do-nothing Budget'

TREASURER Joe Hockey has fired up over claims of broken promises as the Commission of Audit released its much-anticipated final report.

Twitter storm: what Paul Kent said

THERE has been an extreme reaction on Twitter to comments Paul Kent made about the Samoa-Fiji Test match. Here's what Paul Kent said.

'Euthanised' dog found at vets

A DOG owner told by a veterinarian that her beloved pet had to be put down found the animal in the vet's clinic in a cage six months later.

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Ex-adidas workers march in first May Day

AMONG the workers readying to march for Indonesia's first Labour Day national holiday are women who used to earn less than $1 an hour making adidas shoes, until they were sacked.

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Vic rail chaos may continue for third day

Major delays and train cancellations on four Melbourne rail lines could drag into the afternoon. Source: AAP

THE disruption to Melbourne train services could continue for a third day as rail operator Metro works to install new cabling.

A blaze near Richmond Station on Tuesday evening threw services into chaos for commuters, leaving thousands stranded in the CBD.

Four lines were still experiencing major delays during Wednesday evening's peak hour with city loop passengers on the Frankston, Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sandringham lines being asked to travel to Flinders Street station by foot or tram.

The fire damaged telecommunications equipment which controls signalling.

Metro said it was working to ensure trains would be running normally by Thursday morning's first service, but it wouldn't know if there would be disruptions until it conducted testing.

"We've been installing new cabling throughout the day and into the evening, and once this is completed we need to carry out extensive testing," Metro spokeswoman Leah Waymark said.

Metro said passengers should check the website or twitter for the most up to date information.

The train operator could not confirm reports rats had chewed through cabling, saying the cause of the blaze was still under investigation.

Passengers took to Twitter to vent their frustrations using the hashtag Trainageddon.

Commuter Meg Rayner tweeted about 4.30pm (AEDT) on Wednesday that there were already large crowds swarming into Flinders Street.

"Looks like I wasn't the only one to leave early to escape #Trainageddon," she wrote.

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Regal touch boosts Blue Mountains tourism

The royal visit to the Blue Mountains has boosted the fire-ravaged region's visitor numbers. Source: AAP

PRINCE William and his wife Catherine's trip to the Blue Mountains has not only lifted spirits in the fire-ravaged region but boosted its bottom line.

Some 2500 people crammed into Echo Point when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the tourist site earlier this month.

And now, just under a fortnight later, the operators are thanking them.

Tourist site Scenic World recorded a 20 per cent increase on the same time last year, with more than 20,000 visitors through the gates throughout Easter and Anzac Day period.

Coupled with the holidays and an exhibition launch, the royals have helped revive the attraction's numbers, head of marketing Amanda Bryne said.

Meanwhile, Wotif.com experienced a 14 per cent surge in accommodation bookings for the period after the royal visit leading up to Anzac Day.

With majestic shots of the Three Sisters beamed across the world, Blue Mountains Tourism CEO Randall Walker said the media coverage of the high-profile guests was "absolutely priceless".

He said visitors to the area typically averaged 11,000 tourists a day - a figure that "evaporated" after the October bushfires.

While numbers have been steadily climbing back to their peak, the arrival of the regal couple helped deliver record rates over the long weekends.

As well as injecting some much needed revenue into the community's businesses, Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill said the visit had lifted morale.

He said the young couple's visit was the perfect antidote for the region, which had lost 500 jobs as a direct consequence of the fires.

"It says the world hasn't forgotten," he said.

"That people have gone through hell and are recovering from that."

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Whitehaven pushes ahead with new mine

WHITEHAVEN Coal sold less coal in the March quarter while battling low prices, but its flagship Maules Creek project is more than one-third complete.

The controversial NSW mine is the target of a long running campaign that has included legal action and human barricades to delay construction, in protest against the alleged destruction of the Leard State Forest.

More than 90 protesters faced court in Narrabri on Tuesday and a mother and son were arrested on Monday after chaining themselves to a gate at a Whitehaven site.

Whitehaven said construction progress at Maules Creek was 36 per cent complete and on schedule and budget.

First coal should be railed in March 2015 and the company was confident it would get Commonwealth approval for its biodiversity offsets package, which involves a package to balance the effects on flora and fauna.

The highly regarded $767 million project would more than double Whitehaven's production to 25 million tonnes a year.

Whitehaven produced 1.81 million tonnes in the three months to the end of March, down 29 per cent on a year ago.

It recently flagged a cut in full year production by up to eight per cent, to between 9.8 million and 10 million tonnes of saleable coal, due to operational problems.

Whitehaven sold 2.29 million tonnes for the March quarter, down five per cent.

It achieved a weaker average price for export thermal coal sales of $US75.19 a tonne, compared to the benchmark Newcastle index, which was down seven per cent to $US78.05 for the quarter.

The reasons included a well-supplied market with little disruption from weather related events, a lack of buying by China based coal customers from the seaborne market, and the end of the high demand northern hemisphere winter.

However, thermal coal demand was growing in South Korea, which is increasing coal in its energy mix, and analysts including Bell Potter have a positive long term view on the company, and coal generally.

Whitehaven shares had dropped 2.5 cents to $1.48.

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Plane catches fire at Perth Airport

A plane has made an emergency landing in Perth after flames were spotted coming from its engine. Source: AAP

A PLANE has made an emergency landing at Perth Airport after a suspected engine fire erupted shortly after take-off.

The Cobham Aviation flight landed safely after the mid-air incident on Tuesday, a Perth Airport spokeswoman confirmed.

Witnesses have reported seeing the flames coming from the right engine.

The Perth Airport website shows that a Cobham Aviation flight was scheduled to depart at 10.45am for Barrow Island.

Pictures have emerged on social media of a plane with an engine appearing to be on fire, but it has not been confirmed as the plane involved in the emergency.

The aircraft is currently being assessed at the airport.

Cobham operates aircraft on behalf of Qantas regional subsidiary QantasLink.

A spokesman for the regional carrier said a statement would be issued later on Tuesday.

Cobham Aviation Services said the engine fire occurred soon after take-off and that the four-engine BAE 146 jet was bound for Barrow Island.

A spokesman said the pilot and crew safely returned the jet to Perth Airport at 10.53am (WST).

"The aircraft was climbing after take-off when the fire occurred in engine No.2, which is on the inner port side of the aircraft," he said.

"When the fire was detected, the engine was shut down and the fire extinguished.

"There were no injuries among the 92 passengers or two pilots and three cabin crew."

The incident is being investigated and regulatory authorities have been informed, the spokesman says.

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Two MPs allege Palmer approach

Last updated: April 29, 2014

TWO Queensland government MPs have accused Clive Palmer's team of trying to lure them away from the Liberal National Party.

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Leapai wants another title shot

ALEX Leapai returned home without Wladimir Klitschko's world heavyweight title belts but with a resolve that he will still wear them ... one day.

The new trick to save on taxis

EVERYONE is sharing everything these days. From homes to meals. Now you can take a ride from a stranger — and save cash. So why are people mad about it?

The best in-flight beverage revealed

THIS is the drink you should be ordering on your next flight. It's secret ingredient is called "the fifth taste" and without giving anything away, it's bloody good.

Famous faces get North Korean make overs

EVER wondered what the world would look like if we all sported the Kim Jong-un haircut? We've seen a glimpse — and you'll be surprised who can pull off the look.

Don't get dudded on refunds

YOUR chances of getting a refund are greatly improved if you keep good records. But some companies won't budge — even when presented with irrefutable proof.

SHANE Watson's Rajasthan Royals will seek to keep pace with tournament pacesetters Punjab and Chennai when they clash with Kolkata.

Brosnan Pierces off Melbourne fans

ACTOR Pierce Brosnan certainly hasn't got the James Bond charm, upsetting Melbourne fans at The Rock Horror Show Melbourne opening.

Lyon, Stewart join Foran on sideline

MANLY have been hit with a massive double blow on the eve of Origin with Glenn Stewart and Jamie Lyon to miss several weeks with injury.

The proof parking inspectors are heartless

A NOTE on a car has begged council workers to have compassion for a heart attack victim, who left his car on the street while in hospital . You won't believe what they did.

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Money-washing claims engulf NSW Libs

A fresh corruption inquiry will expose how NSW Liberal figures flouted electoral funding rules. Source: AAP

ALLEGATIONS of systematic political donation rorting have engulfed the NSW Liberals and sent yet another party MP to the crossbench.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on Monday aired claims Liberal figures had used a sham company to secretly funnel more than $400,000 in political donations in exchange for favours from sidelined cabinet minister Chris Hartcher.

Counsel assisting the inquiry, Geoffrey Watson, said the watchdog's investigators had uncovered evidence of "sophisticated, well-organised and systematic subversion of the electoral funding laws" of NSW.

New Premier Mike Baird - who took the job two weeks ago, when Barry O'Farrell was forced to resign over a related ICAC probe - said he was appalled by allegations raised so far.

"If any wrongdoing is found, the book should, and will, be thrown at the perpetrators," he said.

Central to ICAC's Operation Spicer is alleged slush fund EightByFive, which was set up by Mr Hartcher's former staffer Tim Koelma.

The company purported to offer marketing and strategic advice, Mr Watson said.

But its true role was to conceal political donations from property developers. These have been banned in NSW since 2009.

The inquiry has heard EightByFive received $66,000 from coal entrepreneur Nathan Tinkler's Buildev, $137,000 from the Gazal family's Gazcorp and $183,000 from the notorious Obeid-linked Australian Water Holdings (AWH).

One MP, upper house MP Marie Ficarra, who is said to have known about EightByFive, stepped down from the parliamentary Liberal Party on Monday at the premier's request.

She follows MPs Darren Webber, Chris Spence and Mr Hartcher.

Mr Spence and Mr Webber ran as Liberal candidates on the central coast in 2011 and are said to have pocketed $105,000 and $50,000 apiece from EightByFive.

Another Liberal-linked outfit, the Free Enterprise Foundation, was allegedly used by some members of the Liberal Party to "wash" money from prohibited donors.

"The actions of these persons were a serious breach of the law and a serious breach of trust with the voters of NSW," Mr Watson said.

In the lead-up to the 2011 election the Foundation donated $700,000 to the Liberal Party, he said.

Fundraiser Paul Nicolaou admitted in a private ICAC interrogation that he was aware of multiple examples of prohibited donors giving money to the Liberal Party via the Foundation.

On Monday Mr Nicolaou resigned as chair of a key fundraising entity, the Millennium Foundation, and the premier has signalled some donations may now be repaid.

"I have told the party's new state director, as a matter of urgency, to investigate the allegations made at ICAC and respond to them promptly," Mr Baird said.

Meanwhile, two sitting ministers are now under scrutiny.

Energy Minister Anthony Roberts was forced to issue a statement on Monday afternoon after it emerged he had accompanied Mr Hartcher on a 2007 trip to Queensland's Whitsundays aboard Nabil Gazal's luxury yacht, Octavia.

"I paid my own airfares and costs associated with my attendance," Mr Roberts said.

"For these reasons, I understood at the time that I did not need to make a disclosure on my pecuniary interests register ... I held no shadow portfolio responsibilities at the time."

The inquiry continues on Tuesday.

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Newman will pay for 'brain snap': Palmer

Federal MP Clive Palmer (pic) says Queensland Premier Campbell Newman will pay for his "brain snap". Source: AAP

CLIVE Palmer is suing Queensland Premier Campbell Newman for defamation after he suggested the mining magnate tried to buy political influence.

If he succeeds, the millionaire-turned-federal MP has promised to give the proceeds to public servants retrenched by the Newman government.

An all-out war between the two bitter rivals escalated after Mr Newman claimed on Sunday that Mr Palmer tried to buy his state government and offered inducements to snare three rebel Northern Territory MPs.

"At no time have I ever offered the Newman government or any member of parliament any money or inducements," Mr Palmer told reporters on Monday.

He said that in a "brain snap", the premier had resorted to innuendo and personal attacks because he couldn't win a political argument and lacked moral courage.

"I would recommend he seeks medical treatment," he said.

Renegade NT crossbench members Alison Anderson, Larisa Lee and Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu met with Mr Palmer at his Coolum resort on Queensland's Sunshine Coast at the weekend before confirming they would join his Palmer United Party.

The three indigenous MPs quit the NT's ruling Country Liberal Party in early April, following a rift between Ms Anderson, a former territory Labor minister, and Chief Minister Adam Giles.

Mr Palmer said they had been racially vilified by some in their old party.

"It's very disappointing that you find people not giving people credit for their own independent judgment," he said.

With a Queensland election due next year, Mr Palmer said many backbench MPs in Queensland's ruling Liberal National Party had approached him, citing disillusionment with Mr Newman's leadership.

Mr Newman didn't surface to defend himself on Monday but his frontbenchers came to his aid.

Local Government Minister David Crisafulli said Mr Palmer was bitter and twisted because he thought he had bought a government.

"Mr Palmer's got to learn a lesson that there's two things that money don't buy," he said.

"One is love. The other is the Newman government."

Treasurer Tim Nicholls said Mr Palmer's preferred weapon is his wallet.

"He's tried to buy his way into elections in Tasmania and in Western Australia."

Despite being one of the LNP's biggest donors, Mr Palmer spectacularly quit the party in 2012.

His membership was suspended after he accused ministers of exaggerating the state's debt and being crooks that cooked the books.

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WA Brothers could abuse with impunity

CHILD abusers at Christian Brothers schools in Western Australia knew they could sexually torture children with impunity, safe in the knowledge the state would do nothing, a royal commission has heard.

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