100 illegal guns seized in Qld raids 

 

POLICE hunting black-market gun traders in Queensland have seized more than 100 weapons and arrested five people.

The haul, which included silencers, was seized during raids in southeast and central Queensland as part of a state and federal police operation launched in September.
Police executed search warrants at Mount Archer near Rockhampton and Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, and Tweed Heads, on the Queensland-NSW border.

Qld's chief magistrate wants independence 

 

QUEENSLAND'S chief magistrate has warned judges not to undermine the Newman government's law and order agenda.

Tim Carmody has used an address to warn all three arms of government to respect the separation of powers, and "keep their hands to themselves, and off the others".
The chief magistrate used a welcome ceremony for two new magistrates to remind the judiciary it must implement laws set by the government, regardless of what they think of them.

Pair escape injury after SA plane crash 

 

TWO people have escaped injury after a light plane crashed into a paddock south of Adelaide.

The twin-engine Piper made an emergency landing in the paddock, about one kilometre from the Aldinga Airport, on Wednesday about 11.30am (CDT).
Police say the two people on board appear to have escaped injury, but may be suffering from shock.

source-www.news.com

 

'Wage explosion' claim astonishes unions 

 

UNIONS are "gobsmacked" by Employment Minister Eric Abetz's suggestion Australia is on the verge of an explosion in wages, while one of his ministerial colleagues says wage growth is likely to be subdued.

Business groups agree wage growth is likely to be moderate but say unions are still able to put too much pressure on businesses to cave into demands.
Senator Abetz warned in a speech on Tuesday of a "wages explosion" that would push thousands of people out of work if employers and unions didn't take a responsible line in wage agreements.
Australian Council of Trade Unions president Ged Kearney says Senator Abetz's claim is irresponsible and false.

Man, 82, critical after driveway accident 

 

AN 82-year-old man is in a critical condition after his car rolled backwards, in the third driveway accident in Adelaide this year.

Police say the man was knocked to the ground in the Davoren Park driveway on Tuesday night.
He was taken to hospital, where his condition deteriorated and he is now considered critical.
On Monday, an 82-year-old Adelaide woman died when her car rolled down a Wynn Vale driveway and hit her.

Vics waiting longer for ambulances: report 

THE wait for Victoria's most urgent ambulance patients is getting longer, with paramedics taking more than 20 minutes to arrive at some cases, a new report shows.

The annual Report on Government Services shows Victorians waited an average of 11.2 minutes for a code one ambulance in 2012-13, the longest wait of any state.
Ten per cent of Victorians waited nearly 23 minutes for a code one ambulance, longer than in 2011-12.

Police locate two bodies in northern NSW

POLICE searching for a missing father and daughter have located two bodies at Pottsville in northern NSW.

Police said the two bodies were located by an SES volunteer in dense bushland at the Pottsville sand dunes.
Greg Hutchings, 35, and his four-year-old daughter Eeva Dorendahl-Hutchings have been missing from Pottsville since January 11 after failing to meet up with family at a local park.

Govt cool on support for fruit processor 

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has talked down the prospects of government help for fruit processor SPC Ardmona ahead of a cabinet meeting this week.

The Victorian-based company wants $50 million from the federal and Victorian governments to upgrade its product development facilities, which would be topped up by a larger investment from parent company Coca-Cola Amatil.

Tai chi program reduces blood sugar: study 

 

AN Australian-developed tai chi-based exercise program has helped people reduce their blood sugar and blood pressure, according to a new study.

The gentle program is based on movements from the ancient Chinese form of exercise, but is specifically designed to help people with chronic diseases, says University of Queensland researcher Dr Xin Liu.
The 52 people who participated in the study experienced encouraging health improvements, regardless of their diet or other factors, said Dr Liu.

Human remains found near croc attack site 

 

HUMAN remains have been found near where a 12-year-old boy was taken by a crocodile in the Northern Territory.

Authorities have shot dead three crocs in the search for the reptile that snatched the boy while he was swimming with friends in a billabong west of Jabiru in the Kakadu National Park on Sunday.
Another boy, 15, was bitten but released by a croc during the attack.
Acting Police Commander Michael White says search teams have found human remains near where the boy was taken.