Metadata laws pass Parliament

Bill passed ... Attorney-General George Brandis in Parliament. Source: News Corp Australia

AUSTRALIANS will have two years of their metadata stored by phone and internet providers after the Abbott government's controversial data retention laws passed parliament.

But it's still unclear how much will be added to internet users' monthly bills.

The latest suite of national security legislation passed the upper house on Thursday evening with bipartisan support.

The government believes the laws, which allow about 85 security and policing agencies to access two years of an individual's metadata, are crucial to thwart terrorism attacks and prevent serious crime.

The scheme is expected to cost up to $400 million a year, but the government won't reveal its share until the May budget.

A government-commissioned review found the scheme would cost about $3.98 per customer each year if no taxpayer assistance was provided.

Counter-terrorism ... Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull says the laws are crucial. Source: News Corp Australia

Metadata includes the identity of a subscriber and the source, destination, date, time, duration and type of communication. It excludes the content of a message, phone call or email and web-browsing history.

Attorney-General George Brandis said telcos had been collecting this type of data for 20 years, however billing changes and the cost of storage mean it's more likely to be discarded.

That degrades police and security agency investigations, he said.

Labor backed the laws after the government agreed to dozens of changes and a specific warrant safeguard for journalists.

Essential ... Attorney-General George Brandis says the discarding of data degrades police and security agency investigations, he said. Source: News Corp Australia

Palmer United Party Senator Zhenya Wang also sided with the coalition and opposition.

The government did not win support from the Australian Greens or several crossbenchers, who fear the laws are an invasion of privacy.

Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm condemned the laws as an ineffective anti-terrorism tool, arguing that adding more hay to a haystack would not make it easier to find the needle.

The Liberal Democrat accused Senator Brandis of being "more obedient to the Australian Federal Police than some of their sniffer dogs".

Independent senator Jacqui Lambie said imposing the death penalty on convicted terrorists would be a more successful national security plan.

The Greens unsuccessfully tried to amend the bill to require warrants for most metadata access and reduce the time frame for data storage from two years to three months.

"If two dozen agencies want to know where you are at any time of the day ... and who you're talking to at any given time, get a warrant," Greens senator Scott Ludlam said.

Senator Brandis said it would be impractical to get a warrant for every access request, given last year there were 340,000 such instances.

Originally published as Metadata laws pass Parliament

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Quiet epidemic destroying our veterans

The hidden costs of service ... expert warn the prevalence of suicide among veterans is higher than has been officially noted. Picture: Alan Place Source: News Limited

LAST Wednesday night a veteran sent a desperate email to the Department of Veterans Affairs that read; "Thanks DVA. Am done. Talk to you in the next life. You say I have 0% depression. I'll show you."

The alarm bells rang and thanks to a private support organisation called RAR [Royal Australian Regiment] Overwatch the man was tracked to his home on the NSW south coast and a veteran was dispatched to talk him down.

His family and the police were also notified and he was prevented from joining the growing list of veteran suicides.

Earlier in the week ex-navy sailor Aaron McKinnon was not so lucky in receiving support when he decided to end his own life.

Another loss ... a picture from Aaron McKinnon's Facebook profile. Picture: Facebook Source: Supplied

The former leading seaman boatswain's mate and golf fanatic was discharged in 2010 with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after 12 years of service.

He also participated in the St Andrews golf tournament in Scotland sponsored by the veterans' charity Soldier On.

News Corp last Sunday revealed that Defence and Veterans Affairs had no accurate statistics about how many former members had committed suicide.

Following that article the Australian Veterans Suicide Register, run by army veteran and permanently incapacitated pensioner Aaron Gray, was bombarded with another 40 names to add to its list of 128 victims of this insidious epidemic.

That is 168 documented cases since 1986 including an alarming 92 since 2006 plus Aaron McKinnon. The true figure could be well over 200.

Compiling the statistics ... former soldier Aaron Gray from Bomaderry pictured during a deployment in Iraq. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Despite the tragic evidence the head of defence health Rear Admiral Robyn Walker — a Navy GP with no psychiatric qualifications — continues to deny that military service is a key contributor to the tragic total.

An online petition on change.org that had 1600 signatures calling for her removal on Saturday March 14 had increased to more than 3600 names by March 20.

Dozens of damaged veterans such as Annette Lambert from Goolwa North in South Australia have signed up and left strong comments on the petition.

"I am personally affected and disgusted by her statements now and in previous interviews over the years. I find it offensive and extremely detrimental to my health as do many other service and ex-service people whom I am in close contact with," Ms Lambert said.

Mr Gray, who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and who runs the register on a voluntary basis, has been overwhelmed by the response.

"We have 168 names but the true figure is well over 200 and this response makes me wonder if the real number is not much larger," he said.

Mr Gray said the growth of the petition also indicated that there were a lot of very unhappy people out there.

"Hopefully defence and DVA will start to take notice."

Criticised on social media ... Rear Admiral Robyn Walker. Source: News Limited

He said that like many veterans he was mystified about where Defence spent the $140 million it devoted to mental health each year.

Defence told News Corp that it took the issue of suicide very seriously and it rejected claims that it had no statistics on the subject.

It said that since 2000 some 106 full-time serving members had died by suicide and that 61 of those had never deployed on operations.

Of the 45 who had deployed 17 had one or ore deployments to the Middle East.

Defence said the "vilification" of Rear Admiral Robyn Walker on social media was unwarranted and unacceptable.

"Rear Admiral Walker is a strong and vocal advocate for improving and delivering effective mental health services within the ADF and she works tirelessly to remove the stigma many feel still exists around the issue of mental health within the defence community and among our service men and women more generally," it said.

Australian Veterans Suicide Register. T Shirt for sale. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

"It is important that this debate focuses on the issues and not on individuals doing their best for the wellbeing of the serving and former members of the ADF."

Mr Gray runs the register with two other volunteers and he is seeking funds to establish a professional website to deal with the increasing workload.

He is selling fundraising T-shirts on the register's Facebook page and would welcome any assistance.

Meanwhile the government has released a new mobile phone app to help serving and ex-serving defnece personnel.

Minister for Veterans' Affairs Michael Ronaldson and Assistant Minister for Defence Stuart Robert launched the High Res app saying it was part of the government's innovative approach to improving mental health outcomes.

Any veteran or serving member who feels they need help should contact the RSL, Soldier On, Mates 4 Mates, the Australian Defence Force Assistance Trust or Lifeline.

Lifeline can be reached on 13 11 14 or by clicking here.

Originally published as Quiet epidemic destroying our veterans

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Mystery employees we’re paying for

Health bungle ... the Pharmacy Guild was paid $30 million in administration but can't say how many people it employed with the money. Picture Thinkstock Source: Supplied

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia was paid $29.3 million in administrative fees by taxpayers and refuses to say how many staff it employed with the money.

The money was to administer just $67 million worth of professional programs relating to rural pharmacy, Aboriginal pharmacy services and research under a $15 billion government agreement.

The staggering administrative costs mean taxpayers paid 43 cents for the Pharmacy Guild to administer every dollar spent.

The Guild's administrative costs amounted to 29 per cent of the total $96 million cost of the programs.

Questions unanswered ... the Pharmacy Guild could not tell the audit office how many people it employed with government administration money. Picture Getty Images Source: Getty Images

This compares to the 8 cents in every premium dollar it costs health funds to administer health insurance policies on average.

It also compares to the Human Services Department which received $16.4 million to administer $583 million worth of pharmacy program payments over five years

The department employed 123 staff with that money over a five-year period.

Consumer's Health Forum chief Adam Stanevicius says community groups in receipt of government funding are told their administrative fees can't go above 15 per cent of program costs.

"For us this highlights the lack of application by the department of broad financial guidelines," he said.

News Corp Australia revealed last week the current pharmacy agreement has turned chemists into millionaire businesses because it protects them from competition with supermarkets and even prevents new chemists opening within 1.5 kilometres of an existing chemist.

The shocking new administrative costs are revealed in an Australian National Audit Office report into a five year $15.4 billion government pharmacy agreement and come as the government is negotiating a new pharmacy agreement.

"Health entered into 62 contracts with the Pharmacy Guild, which provided the Guild with Commonwealth funding of $29 million to provide advisory services and administer program payments of $67 million over five years," the audit report says.

The Audit Office asked the Pharmacy Guild how many staff it employed with the money it received to administer the funds.

Bad medicine ... the Phamracy Guild was unable to supply the Australian National Audit Office with employment figures. Source: ThinkStock

"The Pharmacy Guild was unable to provide ASL (staffing) figures," an audit office report into a government pharmacy agreement reports.

The Guild also refused to supply staffing numbers when asked by News Corp but it says its administrative costs were only three per cent.

"Much of the money referred to in the global five-year $31 million "administration" amount is in fact distributed by the Guild to third parties as intended under the Agreement," a spokesman said.

"As a rule of thumb, the component paid to the Guild to employ staff and give them a desk to sit at was around 3 per cent of the program value — at or below the public sector average," the spokesman said.

The audit report provides a scathing insight into slack administration in the Department of Health which failed to take any notes during negotiations on the pharmacy agreement, and lost contracts it made with the Guild.

The audit concluded administration of $15.4 billion of public money under the agreement was so poor "the department is not well positioned to assess whether the Commonwealth is receiving value for money".

Despite the Guild's high administrative costs in March 2014 the government handed over, without tender, administration of more pharmacy programs to the Guild in a single $259 million contract.

The new contract gave the guild a further $1.8 million in administrative funding — bringing their total payments to $31 million — and provision to make use of $7.2 million in unexpended funds.

Originally published as Mystery employees we're paying for

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Where Aussies could spot Prince Harry

Prince Harry will spend several weeks based in Aust before attending the Anzac dawn service in Gallipoli.

Coming back? ... Prince Harry visits Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) at its home base at Campbell Barracks in 2013 in Perth, Australia. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

PRINCE Harry will reportedly do a tour of duty in Australia after quitting the army, and these are the places he is tipped to be visiting.

It is understood the prince, known as Captain Harry Wales in the military, could be going to Western Australia, the Northern Territory or Queensland.

Prince Harry has previously expressed interest in training with Australia's SAS troops in Perth, admitting the elite unit would be his "dream job."

After a flying visit to the home of the SAS troops at the Campbell Barracks in Swanbourne two years ago, he vowed to return.

A keen surfer, the attraction of Perth's beaches are also believed to be a draw card as the royal prepares to spend time in Australia. He has previously grilled the WA Premier Colin Barnett on the best surfing spots in the state.

After visiting Australia in 2013, he flew to Perth onboard the Prime Minister's VIP aircraft to meet the SAS troops. At the time, he vowed to return.

"The next time I come back you will be struggling to get rid of me I am sure,'' he said at the time.

MORE: Prince Harry to quit the military after visiting Australia

REVEALED: What you need to know about the 'naughty' prince

Britain's Prince Harry is reportedly coming back to Australia. Picture: AFP Source: News Limited

The Prince has previously suggested that he would have "loved to have had a crack at SAS selection" but described it was an impossible dream because he was too well-known.

"Every member of the Army has had great admiration for the special forces – it is natural for most soldiers to consider SAS selection at some time in their career,'' Prince Harry said.

"I'm no different."

British media reports have previously suggested he was an admirer of the SAS ever since he visited the regiment as a child with his late mother Princess Diana.

He described the British SAS unit as "great soldiers – who always treated me as though I was just another officer".

As an Apache attack helicopter pilot, one of his most likely destinations could also be Darwin where the army's Eurocopter Aussie Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters are based.

He would need to undertake a conversion course to be able to fly the Tiger.

"That is probably where he would go," a defence source said.

Fond of Australia ... Prince Harry visits Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) at its home base at Campbell Barracks on October 6, 2013 in Perth, Australia. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Prince Harry could also be based at Townsville with the 5th Aviation Regiment flying Blackhawk helicopters or the new Eurocopter MRH90 multi-role machines.

The Prince could also be appointed Honorary Colonel of a Regiment during his tour Down Under.

Prince Harry's spokesman would also not comment on the fourth in line to the throne's reported personal request to join his father at Gallipoli in Turkey for 100-year anniversary commemorations on the peninsula this April for both Anzac Day ceremonies and one at Cape Helles for the British troop campaign.

COULD PRINCE CHARLES ALSO BE COMING?

News Corp Australia understands Prince Charles has also been planning another visit to Australia this year, after his last visit in 2012, and this could coincide with his son's stay there. Harry is also expected to stay in New Zealand where he will also undertake non-military charitable duties. Governor General and former chief of the defence force Peter Cosgrove has been personally coordinating Prince Harry's moves which have been approved by Prince Charles and the Queen.

"Officials are still working on the precise timings but he will leave the military this year after serving Down Under," a royal source told the Evening Standard. "Before that he will travel to both countries and be based there and is very much looking forward to that."

The 30-year-old has reportedly been thinking for sometime about a career change to concentrate on his charity work including working with wounded veterans integrating back into society and conservation and wildlife projects in Africa.

Returning to Australia? ... Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, could also be on his way. Picture: John Phillips/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

The prince had already decided to no longer fly Apache helicopters in combat, after completing two tours of Afghanistan, but was expected to return to his Blues and Royals regiment next year after a year off working with his charities.

But according to the London Evening Standard he will end his military career with "several weeks" seconded to units in Australia.

A spokesman for Kensington Palace would today neither confirm nor deny the reports about the Prince's future career path and secondment to the ADF that apparently could happen as early as next month.

The ADF would normally receive a document called a "HRH brief" warning of a royal visit, but it has not been issued.

It is understood that Prince Harry will be in New Zealand later this year for the Royal New Zealand Navy's Fleet Review.

Moving on ... Prince Harry is set to end his military career. here he poses with cadets at the United States Military Academy Camp Buckner in West Point, New York, in 2010. Source: AP

PRINCE HARRY'S INTEREST IN WOUNDED SOLDIERS

Royal insiders said Prince Harry's desire to focus on the rehabilitation and recovery of wounded soldiers was a natural progression in his recent duties. Last year he organised the Invictus Games, a Paralympics style competition for wounded ex-servicement and women, and in 2013 trek to the South Pole with former Aussie Diggers as part of his Walking With the Wounded charity.

"These issues fire him up as much as anything he has done in the military and that includes flying," a royal courtier told News.

"The Invictus Games particularly are such an important topic to him to make a difference.

"The military will always play a very important part in Prince Harry's life and especially supporting those who have served or are serving in the armed forces. It is a topic he is passionate about, both personally and professionally, and he will always want to use his position to help, regardless of his military role."

Aussie links ... Townsville's Paul Warren and wife Dee Acland meet Prince Harry at the Invictus Games. Source: Supplied

For the past several weeks it is understood Prince Harry has been shadowing case officers working with returned wounded veterans and visiting various recovery centres to gain knowledge about their treatment from the moment they are wounded.

His Africa-based charity Sentebale — which helps disadvantaged youngsters, mainly Aids orphans — is expected to open a major new centre in Lesotho later this year and Harry is expected to attend that and look at expanding the project.

Close ... Prince William and his brother Prince Harry hug during the Invictus Games. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images Source: Supplied

Loyal royal ... Prince Harry has a passion for helping injured war veterans. Picture: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

The Prince is to also continue to represent the Queen on official duties both at home and abroad but when he leaves the armed forces the Royal Family will have no senior member on full time active service for the first time in a generation.

It is likely to be many years before any other royal high up the line of succession signs up to serve, with Prince George being only 19 months old and his baby brother or sister yet to be born.

The royals however maintain close links and ranks, with Prince Charles Admiral of the Fleet in the Royal Navy, Field Marshal in the British Army and Marshal of the Royal Air Force. Prince William quit the military in 2013 after seven and a half years and is now to be an air ambulance pilot.

Originally published as Where Aussies could spot Prince Harry

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Beware Budget bravado, Mr X warns Hockey

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Levy could be approved within weeks

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says she will legislate to increase the Medicare levy. Picture: Hamish Blair Source: Herald Sun

THE federal government's tax hike to help pay for a new national disability care scheme could pass parliament in two weeks, after the coalition offered to support the measure.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has agreed to consider a 0.5 percentage point rise in the Medicare levy to two per cent, neutralising a key election issue for Labor Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Following talks with shadow ministers overnight and Thursday, Mr Abbott said the coalition recognised the need to secure funding for DisabilityCare, despite Labor's "mismanagement" of the federal budget.

This morning Mr Abbott said the Coalition was prepared to consider supporting a "modest increase" to the Medicare levy to help fund the scheme.

The Opposition Leader said he wanted the issue to be dealt with in this parliament, but called on Julia Gillard to release more details on how the scheme would be fully funded.

Federal opposition leader Tony Abbott says the coalition will consider supporting an increase to the Medicare levy to fund the NDIS. Picture: Mark Brake

"We want this scheme to come into being as soon as possible because we want millions of vulnerable Australians to have the security and assurance they deserve," Mr Abbott said.

"But at the same time … it is important the Prime Minister come clean with all of the details on this scheme. How will it be fully funded?"

"We do want to see this come into the parliament in this term."

Ms Gillard now plans to introduce a bill during the budget session of parliament beginning May 14.

All eyes will be on Tony Abbott today as he responds to the PM's challenge to back an NDIS funding proposal.

"I am very pleased that today the leader of the opposition has said ... he is prepared to support an increase," she told reporters in Launceston.

"The leader of the opposition has changed his mind on this matter.

"On the basis of that change of mind by the leader of the opposition, I will bring to the parliament the legislation to increase the Medicare levy by half a per cent."

This means the bill to enact the increase will be introduced to parliament before the September federal election.

Mr Abbott's consideration rests on a number of conditions and he's promised to scrap the impost if the coalition wins the September election and the budget returns to strong surplus.

Ms Gillard said most of the detail had already been legislated, while work on the remainder was under way. Other funding details will be available in the budget due on May 14.

Labor could have had the support of the Greens and enough cross-benchers to pass the bill, although it risked a battle with the Greens in the Senate if the minor party tried to link the bill with a widening of the mining tax.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced a 0.5 percent increase to the Medicare Levy to support the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Courtesy ABC News

The prime minister said to get lasting reform she needed the coalition's support.

Ms Gillard yesterday announced Labor would seek to increase the Medicare levy from 1.5 per cent to 2 per cent to pay for disability support.

The Medicare levy increase will raise about $3.3 billion a year - less than half the $8 billion or more annual cost to run the disability care scheme when it begins full operation from 2018/19.

To fill the funding gap, Labor needs to make further budget savings and the states and territories will also need to contribute.

There are just five sitting weeks left of parliament in the Lower House before the September election. The Senate will sit for just three weeks before September 14.

Mr Abbott said he had always been supportive of a National Disability Insurance Scheme and a bipartisan approach to seeing it made reality.

"I would not be riding more than 1000 kilometres to support Carers Australia if I wasn't fair dinkum about a NDIS," Mr Abbott said.

"I am profoundly committed to a National Disability Insurance Scheme. I have been calling from the beginning for a bipartisan approach to this."

Mr Abbott said it was important that the issue be dealt with in this parliament so that it had a "substantial monument".

Disability campaigner and former NSW Labor minister John Della Bosca said Thursday's outcome was "fantastic".

"We've seen the best of Australian politics in Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott showing great leadership," he said.

Meanwhile, department store Myer has apolgosied after its chief executive Bernie Brookes sparked outrage and boycott threats by saying the levy rise wasn't "good for our customers", who would have less money to spend at his department stores.

Disability discrimination commissioner Graeme Innes was furious about Mr Brookes' comments and demanded Myer employ 10 per cent more disabled people by 2015.

Earlier this morning Mr Abbott called on Ms Gillard to release the full eligibility criteria for the scheme.

He said when that came out a lot of Australians would be "disappointed" when they realised they would not be included.

But Disability Reform Minister Jenny Macklin brushed off his concerns.

"The Leader of The Opposition should read the legislation that he voted for at the end of March," Ms Macklin said.

"The eligibility of criteria is very clear in the legislation. It is not responsible to raise these issues when you have voted for this legislation just over a month ago."

The indication of support from Mr Abbott came as Tasmania became the fourth state to sign up to the multi-billion-dollar NDIS.

Ms Gillard and Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings signed a deal this morning to secure funding for the scheme.

In a statement following his press conference Mr Abbott said the NDIS was "too important to become a partisan football".

"Australians with a disability and their carers want the confidence that the NDIS means a permanent change in the way that our country supports people with a disability," he said.

"People with a disability should not have to wait any longer than is necessary for the support they need."

Mr Abbott said if elected the Coalition would ensure the Medicare levy increase was only temporary.

"If elected to government the Coalition would resolve to ensure that the increase to the Medicare levy is a temporary increase and will be removed when the budget returns to strong surplus and the NDIS can be funded without it," he said.

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A test of honesty for foreign workers

A ''Genuineness' test is being considered to  preventing 457 visas being used to fill unskilled positions. Source: Supplied

A ''GENUINENESS'' test for foreign workers on 457 visas is being considered by the government as it contemplates expanding a crackdown.

The test, if adopted, would be applied through a criteria aimed at preventing 457s being used to fill unskilled positions or as a back door way to move family and friends to Australia.

A government discussion paper was released today as former Labor MP Maxine McKew slammed the government's rhetoric about foreign workers, saying it could offend Australia's neighbours.

''Loud declarations about 'foreigners getting to the back of the queue' and 'Aussie jobs first' are a very unpleasant throwback to a time when unions demanded a protected labor market,'' she told the Australia India Institute today.

''Historically, that meant it was white labour that had to be protected - and if some in the region saw echoes of that historic artifact, I wouldn't be surprised.''

The discussion paper outlines 12 measures that were previously considered by former Immigration Minister Chris Bowen.

Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor, who was yesterday in Sri Lanka where he is meeting officials about people smuggling, has implemented five of the recommended changes with the remainder under consideration.

If the ''genuineness'' criteria was adopted a visa applicant could be scrutinised about ''whether the nomination is genuine in circumstances where the nominee is a relation or personal associate of an owner or relevant person of the sponsoring business.''

Businesses could also be required to account for the number of 457 visa holders after previously businesses who had intended to sponsor a small number of workers then employed hundreds.

Meanwhile, a 35-year-old Sri Lankan asylum seeker died of a suspected heart attack after arriving on an asylum boat at Christmas Island this week.

The man's distraught nine-year-old son travelled to Australia with him and has been comforted since the death of his father on Wednesday by an adult cousin who was also on the vessel.

Australian authorities rushed the man to Christmas Island Hospital, where he died.

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Boy bashes teacher with baseball bat

A SCHOOL has been closed after a teacher was hit on the back of the neck by a primary school student with a baseball bat.

The attack, which happened on Monday, was the latest in a string of violent assaults on staff at Angurugu School on Groote Eylandt, in the Gulf of Carpentaria, The Northern Territory News reports.

Ther Year 7 student has been suspended for a month. The male teacher is recovering.

Other attacks include a student smashing a window in the principal's office with an axe and a teacher having her hand broken after a student threw a chair, a table and a rubbish bin at her.

Another teacher was left bleeding after being bitten and one staff member was stabbed in the leg with sharpened pencils.

The NT News reported on a male teacher who was choked by a student and a female teacher who had to be flown off the island after a student threatened to rape her in March.

Education Union NT president Matthew Cranitch said the school had a long history of violence against teachers, which resulted in staff asking for the school to be closed yesterday.

"Sadly these types of attacks are continuing and it just highlights that this is a dangerous job, particularly in some remote communities," he said.

Read the full report on the baseball attack in The NT News
 

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Missing fisherman sparks croc fears

POLICE are investigating a possible crocodile attack in far north Queensland after concerns about a missing fisherman.

Police have released images of a cast net and thongs found on a beach near Weipa and are asking people who can help identify the owner of the property to come forward.

Volunteers from the State Emergency Service are currently searching the area, which is a known crocodile habitat.

The gear was found by a member of the public about 7am today on the bank of the creek near the carpark of a hotel. 

Weipa Town Authority posted a warning of a large "aggressive" crocodile stalking people and dogs on the beach just ten days ago.

WTA chief executive Ian Pressley said police had found a cast net and pair of thongs and were treating the matter as "suspicious"

"There are no signs of a body or an attack," said Mr Pressley.

"We are not aware if anyone has even been reported missing yet.

"But at this stage it is being treated as a possible croc attack, there has been a big one hanging around."

One local Weipa fisherman said tourists had been seen fishing off the beach at in knee deep water in recent days.

The WTA warning on April 24 said: "Recent sighting of a large size crocodile has been reported along the Rocky Point Beach area over the last few days.

"Reports indicate that the crocodile has been stalking people and dogs moving along the beach.

"Numerous sightings of Large Aggressive Crocodile have been reported in Trunding Creek near the Albatross Hotel Resort and Weipa Camping Grounds.

"Please be extra vigilant and cautious while in these areas, but also remember that crocodiles inhabit most waterways on Cape York so caution applies to all these areas."

In the last near-fatal attack, Todd Bairstow, was lucky to survive after he was trapped in the jaws of a crocodile in March 2011.

The Rio Tinto bauxite mine worker was fishing on the banks of Trunding Creek near the Albatross Hotel in Weipa when a 4m crocodile lunged out of the water.

He told how the croc kept rolling "around and around" in the death roll trying to drag him into deeper water.

He revealed how he battled the monster croc which lunged "out of nowhere" and latched onto his leg for 40 minutes by punching it, poking it in the eyes and trying to pull its jaws apart.

Both his legs were broken in the death rolls and he was up to his neck in water when a hero rescuer heard his screams.

Anyone with information which could assist with this matter should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au.

 

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Clive Palmer in TV ad blitz

Aspiring prime minister Clive Palmer has released a series of clips promoting his United Australia Party which he says will run on commercial television networks from Monday.

Clive Palmer has expanded on his plans for the United Australia Party. Picture: Mark Calleja Source: The Courier-Mail

BILLIONAIRE aspiring prime minister Clive Palmer will launch a television advertising blitz next week, insisting he wants to keep his campaign positive and steer clear from negative personal attack ads.

Professor Palmer has released a series of clips promoting his United Australia Party which he says will run on commercial television networks from Monday.

The mining magnate declined to detail the budget for the campaign or how long the ads would continue for but insisted he would campaign until September 14 and do "whatever it takes for people to have an alternative".

While he criticises the major parties' involvement with lobbyists, the short ads mainly feature Professor Palmer looking relaxed, calling for support, talking about how he will unite Australians, promoting his website and talking about his desire to cut taxes.

Although they are light on policy detail, Mr Palmer said he wanted to get the basic themes of his party out there after its recent launch.

Professor Palmer said he did not know how much of his own money had been given to the party but that there were other contributes as well.

"There is a party executive and a committee," he said.

"I do contribute but it's not all my money."

But he said he would not participate in the vicious attacks ads that the major parties relied on during campaigns.

"I can't see us doing that," he said.

"Our basic philosophy is that politics should be about ideas, not attacking people."

 

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Defence to get new jets, patrol boats

Julia Gillard launching the 2013 Defence White Paper in Canberra today. Picture: Ramage Gary Source: News Limited

AUSTRALIA will purchase 12 new electronic warfare fighter planes to cover the delays in the Joint Strike Fighter project, Julia Gillard has announced.

The Prime Minister this morning unveiled the 2013 Defence White Paper and said $1.5 billion would be allocated over four years to make the aircraft purchases.

Ms Gillard said the JSF program had experienced cost overruns and delays and in order to cover the gap in capability 12 Growler aircraft would be added to Australia's fleet.

The Prime Minister made the announcement along with Defence Minister Stephen Smith who said Australia would be ''the only country outside of the US'' to have access to the Growler planes - an electronic version of the super hornet.

Last year it was announced in the budget that 12 of the first 14 F-35A Joint Strike Fighters would be delayed by two years, creating a potential gap in Australia's air force capability.

The first three of the JSF fleet are now not expected to arrive in Australia until 2020.

''Defence remains committed to the JSF program and anticipate its delivery,'' Ms Gillard said.

In addition to the aircraft announcement Ms Gillard also outlined a $25.5m plan to improve mental health services for serving and ex-serving troops.

She said work on ''off-the-shelf'' submarine options would be suspended and the focus would turn onto looking at creating an ''evolved Collins class or entirely new design''.

''Decisions about Defence, however cannot be made in isolation of our fiscal position,'' Ms Gillard said.

She said the government would seek to increase spending to 2 per cent of GDP ''when fiscal circumstances allow''.

Both Ms Gillard and Mr Smith said there would not be any cut to the overall Defence budget, in light of last year's $5.5 billion purge.

''Defence spending will rise in absolute terms,'' Ms Gillard said.

''Once again we have allocated more than $100 billion to defence over the forward estimates period.''

Ms Gillard said the white paper ''reaffirms the central and enduring importance of our alliance relationship with the United States''.

It also underscores the deeper Defence partnerships in the region, including with China, she said.

''We welcome China's rise,'' Ms Gillard said.

''We seek to have a constructive and co-operative relationship with China. We also recognise that China's rise and military organisation is pivotal to our region.

''Our posture here is one of continuity.''

Ms Gillard said the government remained committed to manufacturing 12 advanced new submarines in South Australia.

However, due to the need for detailed design analysis, any further work on buying an existing or modified overseas model was off the table because it was unlikely to meet Australian requirements.

The government would work on the remaining two options - an all-new design or an evolution of the existing Collins-class submarines.

KEY POINTS OF THE 2013 DEFENCE WHITE PAPER

Main technology decisions:

Australia remains committed to buying the advanced Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter;

Australia to buy an additional 12 Boeing Super Hornets, configured in the electronic warfare Growler version, giving the RAAF a total of 36;

Government committed to buying 12 new submarines, based on an evolved version of the Collins class. Rules out buying an existing model from a European manufacturer;

Navy supply ships HMAS Sirius and HMAS Success will be replaced;

Government to ramp up plans to replace the navy's Armidale-class patrol boats;

No plans for a fourth air warfare destroyer.

Overall thrust of the White paper:

More conciliatory to China than the 2009 White Paper;

Welcomes China's rise and the modernisation of its military as a legitimate outcome of its growth;

Unlike the 2009 White Paper, new document makes no commitment to a particular level of defence funding;

Government committed to fiscal discipline and wants a defence budget that meets operational requirements

Source: Federal Government

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Asylum seeker boat arrival biggest

Asylum seekers arrive on Christmas Island. Source: Supplied

AUSTRALIAN authorities have intercepted a vessel carrying 184 asylum seekers and two crew - the largest boatload to arrive this year.

The overloaded fishing boat was found north west of Christmas Island on Wednesday.

Asylum seekers were taken to Christmas Island for initial healthy, security and identity checks.

The mega boat follows a record month of arrivals in April with 3316 people reaching Australia by boat.

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Kiesha's step-father jailed over death

Robert Smith stood by and did nothing as Kiesha was killed, before he burnt her body.

Kiesha Weippeart's step-father Robert Smith has been sentenced over her death. Source: The Daily Telegraph

THE man who left Kiesha Weippeart to die then hid her body in a shallow grave will spend at least 12 years behind bars.

Kiesha's step-father Robert Smith was this afternoon sentenced in the Supreme Court over the six-year-old's 2010 death.

The young girl was reported missing from her family's Mt Druitt home in August, but her remains were not found until April the following year.

In a secretly-recorded conversation with undercover police, Smith said he heard a "loud bang" from the girl's bedroom more than two weeks before she was reported as having disappeared.

He found Kiesha lying on the floor unconscious and tried to wake her, but instead of calling an ambulance he went to bed then to work the following day.

When Smith returned home he found the girl dead.

Kiesha's body was hidden in a suitcase for several days before he took it in a taxi to nearby Shalvey, where it was doused in petrol and set alight before the remains were buried.

About two weeks later, emergency services received a triple-0 call reporting the girl missing from her bedroom after the from door of the unit was left open.

For the next eight months Smith maintained the young girl has disappeared, with the 33-year-old even telling police he had been like a father to Kiesha.

"She's not my daughter, you know, but I treat her like she was," he said.

In April 2011, Smith finally admitted to undercover officers that Kiesha was dead and he had hidden her body.

"She wasn't waking up or nothing. I was like 'how can this shit happen to me?'," he said.

Smith was eventually charged with the girl's murder, but he later pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of "gross criminal negligence".

He also admitted to being an accessory to her murder.

Justice Megan Latham today sentenced Smith to a maximum 16 years in jail with a 12-year, non-parole period.

She said his crimes were among the most serious imaginable of their type, with his decision to burn the young girl's body a "particularly heinous act".

Justice Latham said Smith made a "simple and cowardly choice" to protect his own interests – rather than those of a vulnerable and "gravely injured" child.

"These were not spontaneous, ill-conceived acts carried out in panic, such as are usually encountered by the courts when dealing with this offence," she said.

Justice Latham said finding an unconscious six-year-old would move anyone except the most "callous and unfeeling of adults" to seek medical help.

With time already served, Smith will be eligible for release in 2023.

A woman, who can't be identified for legal reasons, is expected to face trial for Kiesha's murder later this year.

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