One dead and six injured in NSW crash

A MAN is dead and six people, including two children, have been injured in a head-on collision at Coffs Harbour on NSW's north coast.

The 58-year-old was killed when a Nissan Pulsar and Ford Falcon collided on Hogbin Drive just before 1pm on Saturday, police say.

The man, a rear passenger in the Falcon, was taken to Coffs Harbour Health Campus but died a short time later.

The driver of the Pulsar - a 31-year-old woman - was taken to hospital with leg and wrist injuries.

Among her passengers, a nine-year-old girl and five-year-old boy were also hospitalised with serious injuries.

The 59-year-old female driver of the Falcon suffered multiple fractures to her arms and legs.

And a 19-year-old man, a passenger in the Falcon, was taken to hospital with internal injuries.

An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is underway with police urging witnesses to come forward.

16.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sydney teen critical as party gatecrashed

A teen is in a critical condition in hospital after being stabbed at a party in Sydney's inner west. Source: AAP

IT was meant to be a small gathering of friends for a 14-year-old girl's birthday.

But the get-together at a house in Five Dock, in Sydney's inner west, turned into a violent brawl after gatecrashers showed up.

Now a teenage boy is fighting for his life in hospital after being stabbed several times at the out-of-control party on Friday night.

Another is facing criminal charges.

Police were called to the home on Charles Street and found two injured teenagers in the backyard.

A 17-year-old boy was stabbed in the chest and in his side and is in hospital in a critical but stable condition.

On Saturday a 16-year-old, who also sustained minor head injuries during the brawl, was charged with assault and affray. He was released on bail and is expected to appear at a children's court on June 20.

Another teenager, 17, was allegedly hit in the head with a bottle and was also taken to hospital. He was discharged on Saturday.

It is understood a 14-year-old girl, who was staying at the dual-level brick home with her grandparents, was having friends over for her birthday.

Her grandmother told AAP she allowed the girl to have half a dozen people over but the gathering was gatecrashed.

She said she was coming home from the Blue Mountains when she received a call from her daughter telling her the party had escalated.

"I went straight to Burwood police station," she said on Saturday morning.

It is understood most of the party-goers were from Concord High School.

The granddaughter is now with her father and on her way to Canberra, the woman, who did not want to be named, said.

Burwood police Inspector Michael Penfold said officers faced chaotic scenes when they arrived on Friday night.

He said there was at least one adult home.

Surrounding residents of the usually quiet suburban street heard bottles smashing and people screaming.

Jay Nam looked out her window to see young people on the street yelling at each other.

"Some of the residents came out and tried to get them away from the street," she said.

Next-door neighbour Ed White said the party-goers were about 15 or 16 years old.

"They were really young," he said.

"There was just lights flashing, sirens and cops up and down the street."

Insp Penfold had a warning for parents planning a party for their children.

"One of the main issues is make sure only invited guests attend and adequate security provisions beforehand," he said.

16.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ash grounds flights to Darwin, Bali

Last updated: May 31, 2014

DARWIN remains cut off to all air services until Sunday, and flights from Australia to Bali are now affected, as three separate ash plumes billow from an Indonesian volcano.

Russian adventurer reaches Australia

RUSSIAN adventurer Fedor Konyukhov has landed on the Sunshine Coast today after 160 days at sea, rowing solo more than 16,000km across Pacific Ocean.

Driver rams police car head-on

POLICE are hunting a driver who smashed head-on with a police car before driving at it again, forcing the officer to jump out of the way.

Outback search for missing man

A LAND and air search involving police and SES is underway on an outback cattle station after a worker disappeared yesterday.

Woman bashed, robbed by girl gang

POLICE are hunting a gang of teenage girls who bashed and robbed a woman in Townsville yesterday afternoon.

Mum sues State for son's brain injury

THE mother of a boy with severe cerebral palsy is suing the State for $10m, alleging he was brain injured at birth because of a delayed delivery.

Hell flight downed by dog poo

PILOT makes emergency landing after passenger's pooch starts pooping in the aisle. First flyers get sick — then the towels run out.

Buying property by the busload

BUSLOADS of investors are touring southeast Queensland and snapping up millions in property. Where are they coming from?

Sam isn't so sunny off of Sunrise

THE only thing worse than a popular but deposed TV personality whose body is still warm is a popular TV personality whose body is absolutely smokin'.

Angry dad pelts Lambo with rocks

TWO wrongs don't make a right — but this outraged man didn't care when a lead-footed Lamborghini driver tried racing in his street.

NRL Live: Cowboys v Storm

THE Roosters proved too strong for the Raiders with a 26-12 victory. The Cowboys now face an injury-ravaged Storm. Follow it live!

', gcseBox = '

'; if (drawLightForm) { gcseBox = '

'; } if (isResultPage) { $(resultsContainer).append(gcseResults); } if (pre) { $(container).prepend(gcseBox).length; } else { $(container).append(gcseBox).length; } // Always load on results page of or light form option it toggled off if (cx && ! drawLightForm || isResultPage) { gcse = document.createElement('script'); gcse.type = 'text/javascript'; gcse.async = true; gcse.src = (document.location.protocol == 'https:' ? 'https:' : 'http:') + '//www.google.com/cse/cse.js?cx=' + cx; s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(gcse, s); } }); })(ndm.jQuery || window.jQuery, ndm.gcse || false); //]]>

16.42 | 0 komentar | Read More

ASIO HQ a step closer: spy boss

TEN months have passed since its official opening, and in about another seven months Australia's spy agency should finally move into its new Canberra headquarters.

The $680 million building on the northern side of Lake Burley Griffin has been plagued by delays and budget blowouts, but Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) director-general David Irvine can see a conclusion.

"The first cohorts should be going in towards the end of the year (or) early next year," he told a Senate estimates hearing on Thursday.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd officially opened the imposing, multistorey building in July 2013, more than a year after it was due to be ready.

Since then, windows have fallen off the building, and problems remain to be fixed.

"Further remediation work will still be required on the air-conditioning system," Mr Irvine said.

Those problems stem from difficulties with the building's automatic fire doors. The access system also has problems.

After the repairs, Mr Irvine expects to get the keys in mid-June, and after some top-secret tweaking, such as with the wiring and internal fitout, the workers can move in.

However, Mr Irvine will not get the chance to work in the new building. He retires in September.

16.41 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cyber attacks on the rise

CYBER security attacks on business are on the rise, and the culprits appear to be competitors seeking commercial information.

And while many companies reported cyber security incidents, others didn't, raising concerns they don't know what's really happening on their networks.

Australia's national Computer Emergency Response Team says 56 per cent of companies it has surveyed reported one or more cyber security attacks in the past year.

Forty-four per cent reported no incidents. But CERT, part of the Attorney-General's Department, says in a new report that anecdotal evidence indicates some businesses were unaware of the full scope of unauthorised activity on their networks.

"Most of the incidents were in the form of targeted emails, followed by virus or worm infection and trojan or rootkit malware," CERT said.

"This is consistent with the finding that respondents viewed cyber security incidents to be targeted at their organisation, rather than random or indiscriminate."

Attorney-General George Brandis said the most commonly reported was what's called "spear phishing", sending emails to specific individuals, often using personal information to create credibility. Clicking on links will download spyware, he said in a statements.

The main motivation is considered to be competitors seeking commercial advantage.

CERT's survey was directed at big business with a quarter of the 135 respondents in the defence industry sector.

All businesses used varying levels of network security but CERT found potential problems.

More than 60 per cent think their IT staff, chief executive and directors need to improve security skills and practices.

Forty-seven per cent use the now superseded Windows XP operating system and almost all were aware that Microsoft no longer provided technical support after April 8.

But 13 per cent had no plans to move to another operating system and eight per cent didn't know.

16.41 | 0 komentar | Read More

Melbourne Zoo seal Gordo dies

Last updated: May 29, 2014

GORDO the seal has died at Melbourne Zoo, more than a decade after being rescued when found emaciated and dehydrated on a Victorian beach.

Gibbs adamant she has the tactics

TACTIX coach Leigh Gibbs is excited at the challenge confronting her side against the Thunderbirds in the final round at Netball SA Stadium on Sunday.

Eric Stonestreet in bizarre biffo with KISS

DON'T snub Modern Family star Eric Stonestreet's mum. Veteran rockers KISS did just that on an aeroplane, and now the funnyman's very, very angry.

NRL Late Mail: Origin wreaks havoc

WELCOME to the biggest edition of Late Mail so far this year, with Origin injuries creating havoc and a host of players set for unexpected returns.

Would you eat a World Cup burger?

MELTED cream cheese on a burger, oh how French. McDonald's has gone international ahead of the World Cup but have they got it all wrong?

', gcseBox = '

'; if (drawLightForm) { gcseBox = '

'; } if (isResultPage) { $(resultsContainer).append(gcseResults); } if (pre) { $(container).prepend(gcseBox).length; } else { $(container).append(gcseBox).length; } // Always load on results page of or light form option it toggled off if (cx && ! drawLightForm || isResultPage) { gcse = document.createElement('script'); gcse.type = 'text/javascript'; gcse.async = true; gcse.src = (document.location.protocol == 'https:' ? 'https:' : 'http:') + '//www.google.com/cse/cse.js?cx=' + cx; s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(gcse, s); } }); })(ndm.jQuery || window.jQuery, ndm.gcse || false); //]]>

16.41 | 0 komentar | Read More

Elder's 'stolen wages' claim dismissed

AN Aboriginal elder's claim for wages he says were stolen by the state has been thrown out of court due to a lack of evidence.

Conrad Yeatman, 74, was seeking $35,000 for wages he said were never paid to him when he worked as a carpenter and labourer in north Queensland in the 1950s.

Under the Aboriginals Preservation and Protection Act 1939 part of his wages were placed in the trust of the superintendent of the Yarrabah mission where he lived.

Mr Yeatman's District Court claim said that while some of his earnings were paid out when he became exempt from the law in 1958, 70 pounds that he earned working on a station was never recovered.

However, Justice David Andrews granted a state bid to put the case on hold permanently after exhaustive searches found almost no financial documentation, and that potential witnesses were dead.

"The defendants have effectively no evidence whatsoever to test these claims," the judge said.

Justice Andrews said it wasn't disputed that Mr Yeatman's savings had been managed by the superintendent but the money could have been withdrawn on his behalf for food or other reasons.

There was some evidence money had been spent on the indigenous teen for clothes, medical expenses and trips.

"I don't accept Mr Yeatman is capable of giving a useful account of the number and amounts of payments made for and on his behalf," the judge said.

Mr Yeatman, whose claim was seen as a test case and was backed by the Queensland Council of Unions (QCU), must also pay the state's legal costs.

His lawyer Charles Massy said it was an immensely disappointing outcome and the team was considering an appeal.

In 2002, former premier Peter Beattie acknowledged that as much as $500 million may have been stolen from Aborigines' wages.

Mr Beattie offered $55 million in compensation, and a reparation scheme subsequently paid out about $35 million to 7000 applicants.

Mr Yeatman was offered the maximum $7,000 reparation but knocked it back as inadequate.

16.41 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ice addict thief spared extra jail time

Last updated: May 28, 2014

A HOMELESS ice addict who went on a $20,000 spending spree across Sydney using credit cards stolen from mailboxes has been spared extra time in prison.

Clarko still calling the shots

HAWTHORN'S stand-in coach Brendon Bolton expects Alastair Clarkson to have some input into the team's operations while he recovers from Guillain-Barre syndrome.

'HEARTBROKEN': Fans react to One Direction shock

'CRYING'. 'Heartbroken'. 'Betrayed'. One Direction fans are having some very extreme (and sometimes very funny) reactions to their idols' drug allegations.

', gcseBox = '

'; if (drawLightForm) { gcseBox = '

'; } if (isResultPage) { $(resultsContainer).append(gcseResults); } if (pre) { $(container).prepend(gcseBox).length; } else { $(container).append(gcseBox).length; } // Always load on results page of or light form option it toggled off if (cx && ! drawLightForm || isResultPage) { gcse = document.createElement('script'); gcse.type = 'text/javascript'; gcse.async = true; gcse.src = (document.location.protocol == 'https:' ? 'https:' : 'http:') + '//www.google.com/cse/cse.js?cx=' + cx; s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(gcse, s); } }); })(ndm.jQuery || window.jQuery, ndm.gcse || false); //]]>

16.41 | 0 komentar | Read More

Row over green reforms derails debate

A STRAIGHTFORWARD proposal to change the way fees are managed under national environment law has been sidetracked by a lengthy debate about the Abbott government's green credentials.

The non-controversial bill allows for cost recovery for environmental impact assessments, and on Wednesday cleared the first hurdle of parliament with bipartisan support.

But Labor's environment spokesman Mark Butler used the occasion to move an amendment condemning the government's plan to create a "one-stop-shop" for environmental approvals.

"In eight short months... this government has shown itself to have scant regard indeed for its responsibilities to protect and nurture Australia's environment," Mr Butler told the chamber.

Critics claim the proposal will erode environmental protections by handing federal powers to the states but the government argues it will deliver faster approvals and reduce regulatory duplication.

The amendment failed, and Environment Minister Greg Hunt pushed the bill through in a vote.

He said almost all state governments - Liberal and Labor - strongly supported the reforms on the table.

"The only people opposed to this reform are the current members of the federal opposition," he said.

16.41 | 0 komentar | Read More