ALP wants overseas booths for NSW poll

Labor says the decision to close all overseas polling stations for the NSW election is undemocratic. Source: AAP

THE decision to close all overseas polling stations for the upcoming NSW election has been labelled "undemocratic" by Labor's international branch.

BUT London-based Australian Liberals Abroad says the ALP is simply playing politics with the issue and confusing voters.

For the first time in 100 years NSW voters won't be able to cast a ballot in person at Australia House in London - or any other high commission or embassy around the world - ahead of the March 28 poll.Instead they'll need to vote by post or online.ALP Abroad president Paul Smith believes Mike Baird's Liberal government was involved in the decision by the NSW Electoral Commission."It's un-Australian and undemocratic, and not how a proud democracy like Australia that invented the secret ballot conducts elections," he said.London-based Mr Smith told AAP the more options people had the more likely they were to vote."The option of internet voting is of course a good idea but you shouldn't take away the option of people to vote in person," he said ahead of a planned protest outside Australia House on Sunday."If this was such a great idea they would be doing it in Mike Baird's electorate of Manly."Mr Smith fears older travellers will be most affected because they might not be tech-savvy enough to get online.Some 4000 NSW voters cast a ballot in person at Australia House at the last federal election.The electoral commission has explained that in the past only 15,000 people from overseas and interstate voted in NSW elections.But when internet voting was introduced for the first time at the 2011 poll that figure jumped to 40,000, the commission's Ian Brightwell told the ABC last week.Australian Liberals Abroad president Jason Groves says internet voting gives more people the chance to vote - especially those in the UK living out of London."Mr Smith is trying to play politics with this and all he'll do is confuse people," Mr Groves told AAP."A lot more people have been enfranchised by this (internet voting)."Mr Groves also criticised ALP Abroad for suggesting the NSW Electoral Commission could have been swayed by the coalition state government."This is an apolitical decision by an independent body," he said."For Paul Smith to try and politicise that is wrong."Labor campaigns especially hard for expats to vote in elections because it believes they favour the ALP over the coalition 2-1.ALP Abroad will rally outside Australia's high commission in London on Sunday demanding the polling place be opened ahead of the March 28 poll.Mr Smith remains hopeful it will be."If the premier directly intervened in this matter I'm sure it would happen."People can enrol to vote by post or online at www.votensw.info

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Man dead after park brawl near Sydney

A MAN has died in a park north-west of Sydney after an apparent brawl.

POLICE were called to Macquarie Park in Freemans Reach, near Windsor, shortly before 7pm following reports of a confrontation between two groups.

A 26-year-old was found with several injuries and died at the scene, despite the efforts of paramedics.Two men were arrested nearby and are assisting police with enquiries.Others are believed to have fled before police arrived.

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SA sellers ambushed after online deals

Two people have been attacked in apparent ambushes in SA after they arranged purchases online. Source: AAP

TWO people have been attacked in apparent ambushes in an Adelaide suburb after they arranged purchases online.

ONE man went to Plympton about 8am on Saturday morning after organising online to buy tickets to an event.

He was assaulted by man who tried to steal his wallet.The victim suffered minor injuries.In a separate incident in the same suburb, three hours later, a man was robbed in the car park of a hotel where he had gone to buy a mobile phone advertised online.When he was arrived he was confronted by a man who warned he had a weapon under his shirt.The suspect stole cash from the victim before driving off.Police say the suspect drives a white Holden sedan and is about 180cm tall, aged in his late 30s, Caucasian appearance, of medium build with short brown hair and tattoos on his neck and hands.Police say people should be particularly wary when buying concert tickets from anywhere other than licensed retailers.

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Shaolin Temple's big plans for NSW

CHINA'S Shaolin Temple, historically known for its martial arts traditions but which recently has gained a reputation for aggressive commercialisation, is planning to build a $US297 million ($A381.11 million) complex in Australia including a temple, a hotel, a kung fu academy and a golf course.

THE Shoalhaven City Council in NSW said earlier this month that Shaolin Temple Foundation Australia, the developer, had finalised a land purchase at Comberton Grange for what will be known as Shaolin Village.

Mayor Joanna Gash said on Saturday that the city council and the state government had both approved the concept plan for the project, which is to include a temple sanctuary with resident monks, a live-in kung fu academy, a 500-bed four-star hotel and a 27-hole golf course. Planning officials have rejected a residential component, but the developer hopes to restore it, according to media reports."We would like to see it happen as soon as possible," Gash said in a phone interview."Shaolin Temple is well regarded. It will be phenomenal for us. There's a lot of interest in it."It's more than a temple," she said."It's a spiritual thing. It's also tourism. And it's employment."The temple, built in the late fifth century and located in central China's Henan province, has rapidly commercialised itself under Abbot Shi Yongxin over the past decade. Shi has defended it as a means to preserve the temple and its Buddhist cultures.Shi made a personal trip to Shoalhaven earlier this month to present a cheque of more than $3 million to finalise the land acquisition, and the gesture was seen as a commitment to the project, according to a February 23 public notice by the city council.

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Abbott's forestry call shamed Aust: Greens

The Greens claim Tony Abbott's decision over a Tasmania forestry proposal humiliates Australia. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott made a "captain's call" over Tasmanian forestry policy which globally humiliated Australia, the Greens and a conservation group claim.

THE Wilderness Society (TWS) says Freedom of Information documents reveal Mr Abbott pushed forward with election commitments in the sector despite departmental caution.

One pledge included de-listing 74,000 hectares of Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, an application swiftly rejected by the United Nations' World Heritage Committee in June last year.The government argued the tranche of forest had already been impacted by logging and devalued bordering wilderness areas.TWS says FOI documents, released on Saturday, show Environment Minister Greg Hunt and Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce wrote to Mr Abbott immediately after the election and asked for time to review the government's forestry package."In light of the complexity of the issues surrounding Tasmanian forestry, we have come to the view that it would be appropriate to have a six-month review of the Tasmanian forestry package that would enable us to consult more broadly with a wide range of stakeholders on our election commitments," a section of the letter to Mr Abbott reads.TWS says the proposed review was clearly ignored because further documentation reveals Mr Abbott wrote to now-Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman a couple of months after the election to confirm the government's stance.Greens leader Christine Milne says the revelation is another example of a "captain's call" by Mr Abbott."It's clear to everybody that it was a stupid policy from the Liberals to try to remove important forest from the World Heritage Area, but the Liberals in Tasmania wanted them logged," she said."Tony Abbott went with them against the best advice of the departments, humiliating Australia on the global stage."Tasmania's resources minister Paul Harriss said it was "totally bizarre" that Mr Abbott was being criticised for sticking to key election commitments."Prior to the last federal election, Mr Abbott made it clear that in government he would seek to reverse the damage done by federal and state Labor to the Tasmanian forestry industry, damage that resulted in the loss of thousands of local jobs," he said.

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Harry to serve with Aus armed forces

PRINCE Harry will spend several weeks based in Australia in the next few months before attending the centenary Anzac dawn service in Gallipoli with his father Prince Charles, a British newspaper reports.

HARRY will be seconded to work with the Australian defence forces during his time in Australia before quitting the British military altogether later this year, London's Evening Standard reported on Friday.

It's suggested he'll also travel to New Zealand but not work with any units there."Officials are still working on the precise timings but he will leave the (UK) military this year after serving Down Under," a senior source told the newspaper."Before that he will travel to both countries and be based there and is very much looking forward to that."The exact timings have not been finalised yet but are expected to be announced officially very soon."The governor-generals' offices in both Australia and New Zealand are reportedly still working on Harry's program.Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is currently on a visit to New Zealand.The prince, who is the fourth in line to the British throne, has served two tours of duty in Afghanistan.The Evening Standard reports that after the 30-year-old quits the military he'll focus on charity work, spending a significant period abroad on field projects in Africa.

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'No plan B' to power sale: Baird

Premier Mike Baird (R) says there's "no plan B" if privatising NSW's electricity is stalled. Source: AAP

PREMIER Mike Baird admits there's "no plan B" if his centrepiece election promise to privatise the NSW electricity network is stalled in the upper house.

MR Baird made the comments on Friday during his first televised debate with his Labor rival, Luke Foley, marking the unofficial start of the state election campaign.

The debate was at times heated but lacked any knock-out blows, and no clear winner appeared to emerge from the contest.Mr Foley sought to link Mr Baird to unpopular Prime Minister Tony Abbott, repeatedly referring to the two as "mates" and "friends".Mr Baird said the March 28 election presented a clear choice between his $20 billion infrastructure package to "transform" NSW and Labor's plan to condemn the state to more congestion and crowded trains.But when asked what he would do if his proposed 49 per cent electricity lease plan was stalled in the upper house of parliament, Mr Baird replied: "Well, there's no plan B."Mr Foley was quick to seize on that apparent slip-up."If he can't sell the electricity network and if he can't raise $20 billion, all of his promises mean nothing," Mr Foley said."In December he couldn't sell a power station. What makes you think he can guarantee his promises at this election?"The Labor leader, who was speaking before a largely unsympathetic pro-privatisation crowd at the NSW Business Chamber event, said selling the electricity network would cause power prices to rise while starving the state of $1 billion of revenue a year.Mr Baird said Mr Foley was taking his orders from union bosses who were opposed to privatisation."It is old Labor that is coming back and trying to get back into government," the premier said.While Mr Baird insisted his plan would leave the state with 51 per cent ownership, he would not go into what future coalition governments might do."There are future governments in future years - I'm not going to make promises in 10, 15 years time," he said.The Baird-led coalition is tipped to be returned in next month's election although Labor is expected to regain ground following their disastrous 2011 result.

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GrainCorp expects profit to halve

GrainCorp has warned its full year profit could drop more than 50 per cent due to smaller crops. Source: AAP

GRAINCORP has warned its full year profit could dive more than 50 per cent due to smaller crops and weaker exports.

THE company is now forecasting an underlying profit of between $45 million and $60 million, down from $95 million in 2014.

It expects earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation to be between $240 million and $270 million, down from $293 million.Chief executive Mark Palmquist blamed the weaker outlook on a smaller winter crop and reduced exports."We continue to make pleasing progress on our strategic initiatives, with some good cost savings embedded into the business," he said."However, the smaller winter crop on top of low levels of carry means the exportable surplus is almost two million tonnes below average, reducing anticipated port elevations."He said the agribusiness expects to export between 2.5 million and three million tonnes from eastern Australia this year, down from 4.4 million tonnes last year.GrainCorp shares dropped 20 cents, or 1.99 per cent, to $9.87.

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Abuser Glitter faces 16 years jail in UK

FORMER glam rock singer Gary Glitter faces dying behind bars after being jailed for 16 years for sexually abusing three schoolgirls.

THE 70-year-old, real name Paul Gadd, was sentenced after being found guilty of one count of attempted rape, one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 and four counts of indecent assault.

Glitter, dressed in a black velvet coat, showed no reaction as he was led from the dock after he was sentenced at London's Southwark Crown Court.There was standing room only in court as loyal fans of the singer gathered in the public gallery to see him learn his fate.Before the hearing they had huddled together, poring over a Glitter annual, sharing tales of their fandom.Sentencing the singer Judge Alistair McCreath said: "I have read the victim impact statements of all three victims. It is clear, in their different ways, they were all profoundly effected by your abuse of them."You did all of them real and lasting damage and you did so for no other reason than to obtain sexual gratification for yourself of a wholly improper kind."Glitter, from Marylebone, central London, denied the allegations against him.He was cleared at trial of one count of plying a girl under 13 with alcohol in order to facilitate sexual intercourse, and two further counts of indecent assault.

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Indian court acquits six of killings

A COURT in western India has acquitted six men accused of killing three British tourists during religious riots in 2002.

THE court in Gujarat state said that it found no evidence against the accused.

The three British Muslims were killed in the riots that erupted in Gujarat state after a train filled with Hindu pilgrims was attacked by a Muslim mob in a small town.A fire broke out - it remains unclear whether it was arson - and 60 Hindus burned to death.In retaliation, more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in the state.The three British men and their driver were pulled from their car and set on fire by rioters.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the state's chief minister at that time and Muslim leaders and human rights groups said Modi and his Hindu nationalist government did little to stop the violence, which he has denied.India's Supreme Court has said it found no evidence to prosecute him for the violence.The most high profile convictions of riot-related cases came in 2012 when Maya Kodnani, a former government minister, and 31 others were convicted on charges ranging from rioting to murder, stemming from an attack in Naroda Patiya, a small industrial town on the outskirts of Ahmadabad, Gujarat's capital, that killed 95 people.Kodnani, who was sentenced to 28 years in prison, was freed on bail in July while her appeal is waiting to be heard.

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Afghan avalanches kill at least 108

AVALANCHES caused by a heavy winter snow have killed at least 108 people in northeastern Afghanistan.

THE avalanches buried homes across four northeast provinces, killing those beneath, said Mohammad Aslam Syas, the deputy director of the Afghanistan Natural Disaster Management Authority.

The province worst hit appeared to be Panjshir province, about 100km northeast of the capital, Kabul, where the avalanches destroyed or damaged around 100 homes.Rescue teams had been dispatched to the affected areas and casualties were expected to rise, Syas said.The heavy snowstorms, which began early Tuesday, hampered rescue efforts. Snow fall from the storm was nearly one-metre deep in places and fallen trees blocked roads in the Panjshir Valley.Avalanches in the valley's Dara district affected up to 600 families, according to people trying to reach the area to assist in rescue efforts."People there have told me that two of my relatives have been killed and eight others are still under the snow," said an Afghan who goes by the single name Sharafudin."My son and I are trying to get through to see if we can help find their bodies. But it will take us at least three or four hours to get there because of the snow and the road is very narrow, so we have to walk, the car can't get through."Large parts of Afghanistan have been covered in snow as a major storm interrupted an otherwise mild and dry winter.Afghanistan has suffered through some three decades of war since the Soviet invasion in 1979. But natural disasters such as landslides, floods and avalanches have taken a toll on a country with little infrastructure or development outside of its major cities.In May, a massive landslide killed anywhere from 250 to 2,700 people, authorities said at the time. Another landslide in 2012 killed 71 people.

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Bendigo Bank to operate in Nauru

BENDIGO and Adelaide Bank is making its first step overseas with an agency agreement in Nauru.

IT will conduct banking services through an existing outlet in the small Pacific nation, returning banking services to the population of 10,000 after a 15 year absence.

In the past 12 months the bank has conducted several banking days to allow locals to open accounts, and it has 1,500 customers at present.

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Lego profits lift on back of movie success

LEGO has continued to capture the imagination of children after new figures showed the world's best-selling toy firm boosted sales and profits.

HELPED by interest linked to The Lego Movie film, the Danish toymaker saw profits lift 15 per cent to seven billion Danish krone ($A1.35 billion) last year. Sales rose by 13 per cent to 28.6 billion Danish krone.

Lego, which overtook Barbie doll-maker Mattel to become the world's best-selling toy firm last year, added that sales were boosted by strong demand for its Lego City, Star Wars and Technic lines.It said it sold 62 billion Lego elements last year, amounting to 102 Lego bricks for every person in the world.Amid double digit sales growth in the UK, France, Russia, China as well as its largest market, the US, the company estimates that more than 85 million children across the world played with Lego during 2014.The group, which employs over 14,700 staff, added it had no product recalls for the fifth year running.

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Property boom pushes Aussies into flats

THE dream of the quarter acre block with a dog or two and a barbeque is fading fast.

AUSTRALIANS are favouring smaller, more affordable homes, with approvals for the construction of flats, townhouses and semi-detached houses nearing their highest level in 20 years.

Approvals for those smaller dwelling are now closing in on approvals for free-standing houses.In the year to November, multi-unit dwellings accounted for 43 per cent of all home building approvals, well above the 20 year average rate of 33.7 per cent, according to the latest BankWest Housing Density report.But that type of living remains a capital city phenomenon, with approvals in those cities accounting for nine out 10 home building approvals.Bankwest executive general manager of retail Andrew Whitechurch said this is a marked increase from 2011, when the census revealed capital cities accounted for 76 per cent of medium density dwellings."It's likely first home buyers are boosting the popularity of medium density housing as they are finding it more and more difficult to afford a standalone house, especially in our capital cities," he said."Increasing competition for housing and higher prices will no doubt lead to further growth in medium density housing approvals in the future."Bankwest research also shows units are considerably more affordable in the capital cities.It takes an average 3.3 years for a first time buyer couple to save a 20 per cent deposit on a median priced unit, compared to 4.1 years to save for a freestanding house.PROPORTION OF APPROVALS MADE UP BY CAPITAL CITY UNIT BLOCKS* Sydney - 64.5pct* Darwin - 58pct* Canberra - 57.7pct* Brisbane - 54.4pct* Melbourne - 54pct* Adelaide - 31.9pct* Perth - 26.8pct* Hobart - 10.5pct(Source: Bankwest)

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No brain cancer boom despite more phones

IF mobile phones are supposed to increase the risk of brain tumours, there is no evidence of it in cancer statistics in New Zealand, research shows.

THAT'S despite the explosion in numbers of people using mobile phones.

Cancer expert Mark Elwood says there have been concerns using mobile phones could lead to an increase in the frequency of brain tumours."Several major international studies have suggested either no risk or a slightly increased risk in high users, while some others have suggested substantial risks."New Zealand's first commercial mobile phones were introduced in 1983 and in 1995, it was estimated 10 per cent of the population had mobile phones.Last year, it was estimated 71 per cent of those aged 18 to 54 and 37 per cent over 55s had mobile phones.Professor Elwood's research team went through the cancer statistics in New Zealand from 1995 to 2010 to see if there was a corresponding increase in brain cancers, but found no general increase."In fact, for the wide age range 10 to 69 years, there has been a decrease of about one per cent per year."The research added to the evidence there wasn't a substantial increased risk in mobile phone users - which was consistent with most similar studies in other countries, he said.However, he warned the type of study could not exclude a small risk, or one limited to a certain subtype of cancers. Cancers also might arise after more than about 15 years of phone use.They did not know why brain cancer figures were decreasing in New Zealand.The research was published in the Australia and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.

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Man flees Sydney police after 'siege'

A MAN is on the run from police yet again after escaping from the southwest Sydney townhouse into which he had been chased by officers.

THE man had been holed up in the Liverpool house for several hours after fleeing police when he failed to stop his car as requested after midday on Tuesday.

Heavy armed police were outside the house but the man got away.

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Qld premier must support live export: LNP

Queensland's opposition is pressuring Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to support live cattle exports. Source: AAP

QUEENSLAND'S opposition is applying pressure on new Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to throw her support behind live cattle exports.

AGRICULTURE Minister Bill Byrne has said exports out of Port Alma, in central Queensland, will threaten the viability of the local meat processing industry and jobs in his Rockhampton electorate.

But Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg is disappointed by Mr Byrne's "negative" comments and "significant opposition" to the sector.He says it's now up to Ms Palaszczuk to restore confidence in the industry, especially after the federal Labor government temporarily halted live exports in 2011 following incidents of animal cruelty in Indonesia."The premier needs to come out in support of the live cattle export industry," Mr Springborg told AAP."She has to support it because it's a vitally important industry and we saw the devastation that came from the previous shutdown."It's important and people would expect the agriculture minister should be supporting it not opposing it, and they would be very interested to know if the premier shares that view."The Liberal National Party leader said the multi-billion dollar industry bred huge numbers of cattle in Queensland specifically for live export.He said live cattle were also a valuable source of protein for many countries in southeast Asia where refrigeration wasn't widespread.Meat processor Teys Australia, one of the biggest employers in the city, understands live exports would give local beef producers more options.But Teys general manager Tom Maguire also said live exports would be "unequivocally bad" for the local job market in Rockhampton.

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Price falls contribute to BC Iron loss

Miner BC Iron has been hit by lower ore prices, but will operate at a profit after lowering costs. Source: AAP

FALLING iron ore prices and production issues have sent Pilbara ore miner BC Iron to a $97 million half year loss.

THE company slumped from a profit of $70 million in the same period a year earlier, as a fall in shipments and prices more than halved its revenue in the six months to December.

Excluding $100 million in writedowns on the value of its assets, which was a result of lower iron ore prices, BC Iron still made an underlying loss of $18 million.An issue with high clay levels at its Nullagine joint venture (NJV) with Fortescue Metals during the September quarter has now been overcome, but it hampered half year production.BC Iron's average realised price for iron ore also fell 39 per cent from a year ago.The company has already been cutting costs, including dozens of job losses in December, and expects its total costs per tonne of iron ore to be between $A54 and $A61 in the second half of the financial year.That means the company remains profitable, as its average realised price in the half year was $US82 per tonne, although iron ore prices have declined slightly since the end of December."BC Iron remains focused on operating the NJV in an efficient and productive manner, while continuing to build on the sustainable ... cash cost savings of $2 to $3 per wet metric tonne that we have delivered to date," managing director Morgan Ball said.BC Iron shares closed 3.5 cents lower, down 6.6 per cent, at 49.5 cents.BC IRON PLUNGES INTO THE RED* Net loss of $97.3 million, down from profit of $69.9m* Revenue of $133m, down 56 pct from $301m* No interim dividend, down from 17 cents per share

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Alaska third US state to legalise pot

ALASKA has become the third state in the United States to legalise the recreational use of marijuana.

A BALLOT measure approved by Alaskan voters in November kicks in on Tuesday, allowing adults 21 and older to possess up to an ounce (28 grams) of pot and up to six plants.

Regulations for the sale of the drug still must be hammered out.Smoking marijuana in public remains off-limits, and police officers in Alaska's largest city plan to strictly enforce the public ban.Fear of people getting $US100 ($A128) fines for toking in public led an organiser to call off plans for a celebration party in downtown Anchorage.Marijuana legalisation supporters in Anchorage want the event to be low-key.They also plan to launch an advertising campaign recommending safe consumption, including ads on city buses.

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Anwar seeks Malaysian royal pardon

THE family of jailed Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has sought a royal pardon for him, a spokesman for his party says.

THE initiative to seek a royal pardon was made by his family and not by his party, People's Justice Party communications director Fahmi Fadzil said.

Wan Azizah Ismail, Anwar's wife and the president of the party, was accompanied by some of her children when she submitted the plea for a royal pardon at the palace.On February 10, Anwar began serving a five-year jail sentence at Sungai Buloh Prison, near the capital Kuala Lumpur, after the Federal Court upheld his conviction for sodomising his former aide in 2008.A royal pardon is the only recourse for Anwar to regain his freedom after the Federal Court upheld his conviction and sentence.

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Murder investigation in WA's Pilbara

A 25-YEAR-OLD woman is in custody and assisting detectives with a murder investigation in Western Australia's Pilbara region.

POLICE were called to a Roeburne home at 8.10pm on Saturday where a 25-year-old man was found dead.

Forensic officers were continuing their investigations at the scene.

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Funding activated for Qld cyclone victims

Hundreds of soldiers will help the clean-up under way after Cyclone Marcia, says Queensland Premier. Source: AAP

AUTHORITIES are racing to put a roof over the heads of 100 families left homeless in the wake of Cyclone Marcia as another 50,000 Queensland properties remain without power.

MORE than 1500 houses in Yeppoon and Rockhampton have suffered structural damage, while access to electricity is emerging as a major obstacle in the recovery effort.

But as the state's central coast continues to pick up the pieces, regions to the south are still contending with a flood emergency."Our fundamental priority now is on those families who have been the most severely impacted," premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Sunday.Ergon energy has bolstered its field crew contingent from 500 to 800 in Yeppoon and Rockhampton but says outlying properties could be left in the dark for weeks."There are over 1800 power lines down. This is absolutely significant," Ms Palaszczuk said.Almost 100 per cent of Yeppoon and 92 per cent of Rockhampton had no power, she said.The federal government has signed off on Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery funding for the Rockhampton, Livingstone and Banana Shire council areas.Cyclone and flood victims can immediately access hardship payments of $180 per person or up to $900 for a family of five or more.The destruction was extraordinary, deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss said as he toured central Queensland."The power of this cyclone is evident everywhere."Seven defence technicians have been deployed to help with damage assessments in addition to the hundreds of army personnel who have been clearing streets.Further south, poor access to phone and internet communications has stifled the response.In the Banana Shire, which takes in the town of Biloela, up to 400 properties may have been inundated by floodwaters, mayor Ron Carige said."How many more times can these people pick themselves up?" he asked.Mr Carige is furious after the region's disaster co-ordination centre ran into a repeat of the communication issues that plagued the 2013 flood event.Telstra had promised it wouldn't happen again, he said.Ms Palaszczuk has vowed a review."They've got mobile communications there. We have a couple of police officers there as well, and they are conveying information to the centre (in Brisbane)," she said.Telstra arranged for a helicopter to deliver a generator to the key network site and was expecting progressive restoration of services on Sunday afternoon.Closer to Brisbane, Ms Palasczuk said the situation appeared to be slowing down in Gympie, where the Mary River had reached 16.6 metres, impacting on 19 businesses but no homes.The small town of Jambin, south of Rockhampton, has seen evacuations due to flooding of the Callide River.The SES has responded to more than 6000 requests for help and many are still outstanding.Queensland's Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young has urged people to stay out of flood waters, which could be contaminated, unless absolutely necessary."You only need a tiny breach of the skin and you can get an infection," she said.

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Family violence royal commission enacted

SIGNED papers to formally enact Victoria's Royal Commission into Family Violence have been handed by the premier to the governor.

PREMIER Daniel Andrews said on Sunday it was another important step in addressing a long overlooked problem.

"The biggest law and order issue in our state is unfolding in our homes," Mr Andrews said."The Royal Commission will give us the answers we need and nothing will be off limits."The commission, to take about a year, will report on the most effective ways to protect the vulnerable and support victims, to prevent and intervene, and to hold family violence perpetrators to account.It will cost $36 million to run and a further $4 million has been allocated as an initial funding boost for support services in anticipation of increased demand.Family violence accounted for a third of all police work in Victoria in 2013, with 65,000 incidents reported and 44 related deaths.

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Crash leaves NSW mum fighting for life

A YOUNG mother is fighting for life after a car mounted a footpath, injuring her child and two other women in Sydney's southwest.

THE 23-year-old is in a critical condition in St George Hospital after the car mounted the footpath in Belmore, in Sydney's southwest, just before 3pm on Sunday.

The child, who is between two and three years old, suffered head injuries and is in a serious condition in Sydney Children's hospital.The other two women, aged 21 and 49, are also in St George Hospital in a stable condition.The 50-year-old driver of the car will spend the night in hospital and is expected to talk to police on Monday.

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Death toll rises from Bangladesh ferry

AN overcrowded ferry has sunk in a Bangladesh river leaving at least 41 people including 11 children dead as rescuers searched for missing passengers, officials say.

THE ferry collided with a cargo vessel on Sunday and sank within minutes on the Padma river, the second deadly boat accident in a fortnight in the country, which has a history of ferry tragedies.

"Divers have recovered 41 bodies. The dead included 11 children and seven women," local police chief Rakibuz Zaman said, updating an earlier toll.Officials said they did not know the exact number of people missing, but said search and rescue efforts would continue through the night, with the aid of floodlights from other ferries on the river.Rescuers were unloading bodies from small boats some 70 kilometres from the capital Dhaka at the Paturia ferry terminal in the country's northwest, where grieving relatives have gathered to identify them."We found one body but five are still missing. We were returning home after the opening of a temple," Hindu holy man Kumud Ranjan Goswami said of his colleagues.Survivors said the MV Mostofa was overcrowded with about 70-150 passengers crammed into the upper and lower decks, leaving them scrambling to find their loved ones when the tragedy struck."I was holding my mother's hand when the cargo boat hit our ferry from behind," an 18-year-old who gave his name as Al Amin said at the terminal."Within two minutes the ferry was sunk. Before I realised I was washed away to the middle of the river."I swam and a ferry rescued me. But I don't know what happened to my mom."Police chief Zaman said some 50 people "swam ashore or were rescued by other vessels".Bangladeshi ferries do not normally keep passenger lists, making it difficult to establish how many are missing after an accident.An official said a salvage vessel was on its way to raise the sunken ferry, adding that the master of the cargo ship and two other crew had been arrested.

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