Irish voters consider scrapping senate

An Irish referendum on a proposal to abolish the country's senate has had a low turnout. Source: AAP

VOTER turnout has been low in an Irish referendum on whether to abolish the country's upper house of parliament.

As polling stations closed at 10pm on Friday - with counting due to start on Saturday morning - the percentage of those casting their ballots was estimated to be less than 40 per cent.

An electorate of 3.1 million were eligible to have their say.

Latest opinion polls suggested a majority of voters would back Prime Minister Enda Kenny's call to get rid of the Seanad, or senate, in a historic move that would hand power exclusively to the lower house.

A poll in the Irish Times on Monday put the Yes vote - in favour of abolition - at 62 per cent, with 38 per cent backing the retention of the upper house, after excluding those who were undecided.

But more than a fifth of the electorate were undecided at the start of the week, while another 8 per cent said they did not intend to go to the ballot box.

Results in the referendum are expected by around mid-afternoon on Saturday.

The Taoiseach says abolition would create a leaner, more effective and more accountable system.

Opponents, led by the largest opposition party Fianna Fail, say the Seanad is necessary to serve as a government watchdog and to hold the ruling cabinet ministers to account.

The Irish parliament, the Oireachtas, is currently made up of the lower house, the Dail, from which government operates, and the upper house, the Seanad.

The senate has 60 members, with most elected from vocational panels by local councillors and by university graduates.

Eleven are appointed by the prime minister, generally ensuring a government majority.

It is not the first time the Irish have toyed with abolishing their upper house.

Eamon de Valera gave it the chop in 1936 when he was prime minister, before bringing it back a year later.

Historically, many senators tend to be politicians who failed to gain election in a general election or those hoping to win a seat in the lower house at a future election.

The upper house is the less powerful house of parliament, often reduced to rubber-stamping legislation from the lower house.

Its ability to delay bills passed by the lower house for 90 days is its most powerful function, but that has only occurred twice in 75 years.

Comparable upper houses have been abolished in New Zealand, Denmark and Sweden.

Irish voters are also being asked whether the state should set up a Court of Appeal.

Fine Gael, Labour, Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein have all backed the court proposal, which could result in more basic appeals from the High Court going to the Court of Appeal instead of the Supreme Court.

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Gunmen kill 15 Libyan soldiers

GUNMEN have attacked a Libyan military post southeast of the capital Tripoli, killing 15 soldiers, an official and Libya's state news agency report.

The attackers rode vehicles topped with machine guns, the military official said.

The highway between the towns of Tarhuna and Bani Walid, on which the post was located, was closed immediately after the attack in an attempt to track down the attackers.

The official said the attack took place at Wishtata area, 60 kilometres from the entrance to Bani Walid, early on Saturday.

The town was one of the last strongholds for supporters of Muammar Gaddafi in the country's 2011 civil war, and was besieged again by pro-government militias last year.

More recently, Libya has been hit by a months-long wave of attacks targeting military officers, activists, judges and security agents. Much of the violence is blamed on armed groups with their origins in the anti-Gaddafi rebel movement.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity according to the regulations.

The Libya News Agency said another five soldiers were wounded.

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Gunman kills NATO service member

A GUNMAN, possibly a private security guard, has shot dead a member of the US-led international coalition in southern Afghanistan before himself being killed, according to NATO.

A coalition statement blamed Saturday's shooting on an "alleged contracted security guard." It did not say if he was an Afghan or foreign national and provided no other details.

It also did not provide the service member's nationality.

"The scene of the incident is secure and the suspected gunman has been killed," the statement said. It added that coalition and "Afghan officials are assessing the incident and more information will be released as appropriate".

The perimeters of many coalition facilities, embassies and international organisations are guarded by Afghan guards contracted from a government agency that provides such services.

Internal security at many facilities is provided by foreign guards contracted from multi-national security corporations.

Last year also saw a spike in "insider attacks" by uniformed Afghans against foreign soldiers and civilians. In some cases, militants have donned Afghan army or police uniforms to attack foreign troops, but a number have been carried out by members of Afghan security forces against their own comrades.

The coalition also said that one of its service members died of a non-battle related injury in the south. It provided no other details.

The two deaths bring the total among foreign forces to 128 so far this year, of which 98 are from the United States.

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Drugs seized at Melbourne music festival

THIRTEEN people have been arrested for drug possession at a music festival in Melbourne's CBD.

A significant amount of MDMA, with a street value of $10,000, was confiscated by police at the Listen Out festival on Saturday.

Police also seized ecstasy, amphetamines, cocaine and prescription drugs during a sniffer dog operation at the Royal Botanic Gardens.

A 28-year-old Brighton man was charged with trafficking a drug of dependence and has been bailed to appear in court at a later date.

Twelve other people received drug diversions.

Senior Sergeant Mark Pilkington said the operation aimed to stop people before they brought drugs into the event.

"It continues to concern us that, despite the dangers, young people risk their health by using illegal substances," he said.

"These drugs are extremely dangerous. They are manufactured by criminals and users have no way of knowing what they're actually ingesting or the real risks involved."

The festival, formerly known as Parklife, saw 46 people arrested last year for possessing drugs.

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Navy fireworks light up Sydney sky

Prince Harry has arrived at Sydney's Garden Island Naval Base for the International Fleet Review. Source: AAP

A DAZZLING fireworks display has closed a huge day of navy celebrations on Sydney Harbour, including a whirlwind visit by Prince Harry on his first official visit to Australia.

The harbour exploded in a kaleidoscope of colour at 7.40pm (AEST) on Saturday as fireworks launched from seven illuminated warships mesmerised thousands of onlookers on the foreshore.

The show marked the end of the biggest day of the eight-day International Fleet Review, which marks 100 years since the Royal Australian Navy fleet sailed into Sydney Harbour.

In a 30-minute extravaganza, red, gold, blue, and green crackers lit the night sky, cascaded from the Harbour bridge, and even floated on the water around a navy submarine.

The display, which used more than seven tonnes of fireworks, even featured plane-shaped fireworks specially designed for the event.

Accompanying the glittering display were huge projections on the Opera House that told the story of the RAN's 100 year history.

A soundtrack of classical, rock and high-energy electro pumped throughout the show, which also featured huge searchlights, and renditions of the Australian national anthem and the Last Post.

Keith Bowman, who camped out at Mrs Macquarie's Chair from 5am to nab a prime spot, said the show was "better than any New Year's Eve".

"The narrative that went with it was really good, really fitting, I liked the whole lot of it," the Gosford local told AAP.

Earlier, thousands jostled to catch a glimpse of Prince Harry, with the fourth-in-line to the British throne also visiting for the Fleet Review.

After being welcomed on the harbour by a 100-gun salute, Harry, dressed in a white tropical dress uniform of the British Army and a blue Army Air Corps beret, spent a few hours on board HMAS Leeuwin inspecting the warship fleet, alongside Governor-General Quentin Bryce.

The prince's appearance on the harbour coincided with a dazzling display by navy aircraft and helicopters, thrilling spectators lining the foreshore.

Back on land, Harry donned a crisp navy-coloured suit, blue tie and white shirt to make a surprise appearance at The Rocks, shaking hands and saying hello to hundreds who were hugging the barricades in an effort to see him.

From there, the prince took a boat to Kirribilli House, where he was greeted by Prime Minister Tony Abbott, his wife Margie and daughters Bridget and Frances.

They posed for official photographs and walked through the gardens before greeting a crowd that had gathered at the gates of the prime minister's Sydney residence.

"What do you think of your new neighbour?" Harry asked one of the locals, referring to the newly-elected Mr Abbott.

Inside, the prime minister reflected on the special day, joking that Prince Harry appealed to even those Australians who aren't royalists.

"Prince Harry, I regret to say not every Australian is a monarchist," he said.

"But today everyone feels like a monarchist."

The prince is due to leave Sydney for Perth on Sunday morning for the next leg of his Aussie tour.

The Fleet Review runs until October 11.

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GrainCorp decision due in December

The government will decide on the takeover of Australia's largest grain handler by December 17. Source: AAP

TREASURER Joe Hockey has given the new federal government more time to consider the implications of a takeover of Australia's largest grains handler, GrainCorp.

A decision on a $3.4 billion offer from US grain giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) will now be made by December 17, Mr Hockey said.

"Given the size of this transaction and the complex nature of the issues involved, I have decided to extend the statutory time period," he said.

"This will allow sufficient time for the new government to carefully consider all the relevant issues and advice from the Foreign Investment Review Board before making a decision."

The Nationals are opposed to the sale, as it would mean ADM, Cargill and Glencore would control almost 60 per cent of Australia's wheat shipments and put most of the nation's grain export infrastructure in foreign hands.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said in June it would not oppose the $3.4 billion takeover.

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Leighton faces market backlash

Investors continue to sell out of construction giant Leighton after allegations of corruption. Source: AAP

MORE than $957 million has been wiped off the market value of construction giant Leighton as investors worry about the impact of corruption allegations.

Analysts are warning the company faces a potential cashflow crisis if clients react to media reports of bribes being paid for overseas contracts, and cancel non-binding agreements with Leighton.

The company's shares lost another 80 cents, or 4.6 per cent, on Friday to $16.74.

That follows a 10.4 per cent fall on Thursday, when Fairfax Media reported senior executives at Leighton were aware of bribes paid in order to win contracts in Iraq, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Leighton says its directors have always carried out their duties with appropriate care and diligence, while former chief executive Wal King has denied he knew of alleged corruption in the company's operations in Iraq.

Deutsche Bank analyst Craig Wong-Pan said the major immediate implication for Leighton was damage to its reputation, which could start costing it new contracts.

"If clients say 'we don't want to associate with a company that has those instances of corruption', there could be less contracts awarded to Leighton," he told AAP.

The $400 million it was owed for the Iraqi oil pipeline contract in Basra, the subject of corruption claims, was also under threat.

"I just see that there's increased risk to them collecting the full amount," Mr Wong-Pan said.

Analysts from Morgan Stanley, Citigroup and Macquarie Equities also said they were concerned about threats to the $500 million of cashflow the company had targetted this year if it struggled with collecting cash from offshore clients.

Its $42 billion pipeline of work in hand was also at greater risk, IG market strategist Evan Lucas.

"Those contracts are under agreement but they are not necessarily binding agreements that can be cancelled - so they could actually lose some of that pipeline," he said.

Collecting unpaid debts was a problem for Leighton before Thursday's reports, with $500 million in net project underclaims sparking criticism from analysts earlier in the year.

The company's forecast $520 million to $600 million underlying full year profit was under threat, Mr Lucas said.

"If you don't have cashflow coming in, then you can't make profit," he said.

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Planned Qld coal ports in doubt

Plants to build two central Queensland coal ports are in doubt due to a downturn in the coal market. Source: AAP

PLANS to build two central Queensland coal ports are in doubt due to a downturn in the coal market.

However, proponents of the ports, at Dudgeon Point near Mackay and Port Alma at the mouth of the Fitzroy River near Rockhampton, say the plans will go ahead if the market recovers.

Both projects are still seeking government approvals.

North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation, which is developing Dudgeon Point along with Indian coal giant Adani, says progress is continuing "but at a slower pace".

"The Environmental Impact Statement for the project is currently paused," a statement from the firm said.

"The coal market is down as is the current appetite for investment in infrastructure of this type."

Bulk Ports said they will continue finalising environmental studies as the firm doesn't want to be caught out if the market improves.

The port will have the capacity to export up to 180 million tonnes of coal each year.

Peter MacTaggart of Mitchell Ports, which is developing Port Alma, told News Corp Australia the project won't go ahead until demand increased.

"At the moment our customers are telling us that their priority is cutting costs rather than expanding, and we won't be going ahead until there's the demand for it."

Once completed, up to 22 million tonnes of coal per year would be exported from the port.

Environmental groups are calling on Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt to stop all mega-ports along the Queensland coast.

Of particular concern is the Port Alma project as it would be built on the pristine Fitzroy River Delta, the largest estuarine ecosystem feeding into the reef.

"We're calling on the Australian and Queensland governments to work together and rule out this totally unnecessary development once and for all," WWF spokesperson Richard Leck said.

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Keysar Trad to launch love poetry book

Muslim community spokesman and polygamy supporter Keysar Trad is releasing a book of love poetry. Source: AAP

OUTSPOKEN Muslim community spokesman Keysar Trad is making a foray into the literary world, releasing a book of love poems.

Mr Trad, who has previously said polygamy should be recognised, will launch his book Forays of the Heart at Glebe, in Sydney's inner-west, on Sunday.

The poems are described as "paeans of unrequited love directed at women other than his wife".

The well-known Australian Muslim said the poetry was written in a "sense of fantastical lyrical compulsion".

"I felt the need to share them so that others can benefit from these journeys," Mr Trad said.

The book is due to be launched by Liberal MP Philip Ruddock.

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PR guru Clifford denies child sex charges

CELEBRITY British publicist Max Clifford says his "nightmare continues" after appearing in a London court to deny a string of historical indecent assaults.

The 70-year-old faces 11 counts relating to seven alleged female victims between 1966 and 1984.

Clifford denied all charges. Speaking outside Southwark Crown Court after the hearing, Clifford repeated that he was innocent.

"The nightmare continues, it has done since last December," he said.

"It is a nightmare for myself and everyone close to me. I am totally innocent.

"Next March (the date of Clifford's trial), as long as the truth comes out, it will be fine and I can get back to a normal life."

Clifford, famed for representing celebrities including Simon Cowell and Jade Goody, spoke only to confirm his name and to enter not-guilty pleas to the charges during the 40-minute hearing.

He was released on bail until his trial next March, which is expected to last for up to five weeks.

Clifford, who was arrested last December and charged in April, was released on conditional bail and told he must live at his home address.

Judge Anthony Leonard told Clifford that he is not allowed to contact prosecution witnesses.

"I'm OK," Clifford told reporters before heading into court for the hearing.

"Obviously I am totally innocent of these charges from seven ladies."

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Cotton On buys Supre

FASHION retailer Cotton On has bought the Supre fashion brand.

Supre was established in 1984 in Sydney, and has grown to sell clothing for girls and young women in 157 stores across Australia and New Zealand.

Cotton On, which owns a range of fashion brands and the Typo stationery chain, was formed in Geelong, Victoria in 1991.

Its chief executive Peter Johnson said Supre would retain its own brand under the control of Cotton On.

"The support of the Cotton On Group will take Supre to the next level, strengthening its market position, store footprint and online presence," he said.

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Greens WA Senator requests recount

GREENS West Australian Senator Scott Ludlam has formally requested a partial recount of votes after preferences pushed his seat into the hands of the fledgling Palmer United Party (PUP).

The Australian Electoral Commission is expected to complete the request within 24 hours, a spokesman for Senator Ludlam said.

A 14-vote difference between two of the micro-parties - the Shooters and Fishers Party, and Australian Christians - meant preferences went against Senator Ludlam.

The spokesman said he had not requested a full recount, "just the relevant ones".

Greens leader Christine Milne said the state would lose an intelligent, passionate and respected environmental and social justice advocate if the recount provided the same result.

"The entire party room is devastated at the thought of Scott leaving the Senate next year," she said.

"It would be particularly hard given how close the result was."

Senator Ludlam said he was disappointed with the result.

He said it appeared PUP had been elected on roughly half the vote of the Greens, and the need for electoral reform was now urgent.

"That is the sort of result our voting system throws up from time to time," Senator Ludlam told ABC radio.

"It is an elegant system being expertly gamed and manipulated.

"The whole purpose of an electoral system is to accurately as possible reflect the voting will of the Australian people. It has let us down in this instance."

He said losing his seat was sinking in and added that anyone who thought politicians did "a crap job" should "just try it".

The Australian Sports Party's Wayne Dropulich, who was in the running for a Senate seat in WA, also lost out on preference votes and has also requested a recount.

When Senator Ludlam's term expires on June 30 next year, his seat will be filled by PUP's Zhenya Wang.

Also known at Dio Wang, he's the managing director of Australasian Resources, which is majority-owned by PUP leader Clive Palmer and hasn't produced any iron ore despite operating in the Pilbara for decades.

It's the third senate seat for the newly formed party, which installed former rugby league forward Glenn Lazarus in Queensland and former soldier Jacqui Lambie in Tasmania.

The Liberal Party again has three senators in WA, incumbents David Johnston and Michaelia Cash, and newcomer Linda Reynolds, once the chief of staff to former Senator Chris Ellison.

Representing Labor is incumbent Louise Pratt - who hangs on despite being shunted to the party's second place on the ballot ticket - and Joe Bullock, the former state secretary of the Shop Assistant's Union who was placed first after a factional split.

Mr Palmer, who is facing a recount after finishing only seven votes ahead of his Liberal National Party opponent in the federal seat of Fairfax on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, described PUP's Senate results as "a tremendous achievement in our election debut".

Mr Wang said he was humbled by his surprising win.

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Microsoft hands user data to Aust govt

MICROSOFT handed Australian government agents personal information about more than a thousand users in the first half of 2013, a transparency report reveals.

Between January and June, authorities made 1219 requests for access to data relating to 1462 accounts.

Microsoft granted 1050 (86 per cent) of those requests - handing over information such as email addresses, names, locations and internet protocol (IP) addresses.

However, the company did not disclose user-generated "content data" - which includes emails, documents and photographs.

Six requests did not meet legal requirements and were rejected, while the company was unable to find the requested data in 163 cases.

The report is the second Microsoft has released on government data requests.

The first revealed the company received 2238 requests from Australian authorities last year.

Globally, 64 governments made 37,000 requests concerning 67,000 accounts. More than 70 per cent came from the US, UK, France, Germany and Turkey.

Microsoft provided information 80 per cent of the time but only one in fifty requests led the company to release sensitive "content data".

The requests usually relate to criminal investigations but some involve "imminent emergencies" such as suicide threats.

The company sought to reassure users, stating on its website that fewer than one in every 10,000 users were affected by law enforcement requests during the reporting period.

Microsoft was unable to confirm the number of active Australian users.

"We place a premium on respecting and protecting the privacy of our users," the company said in the report.

"At the same time, Microsoft recognises that law enforcement plays a critically important role in keeping our users and our technology safe and free from abuse or exploitation."

Twitter, Facebook and Yahoo! have all released similar reports in recent months.

Transparency has emerged as a sensitive issue this year in the wake of leaks by former US government contractor Edward Snowden, which revealed that nine companies had turned over user data to the US National Security Agency.

Last month, Yahoo! released its first global transparency report, which revealed it had received 704 requests from Australian agents in the first six months of 2013, regarding 799 accounts or users.

The company granted full access to "content data" in response to 11 requests - handing over information such as the content of emails, uploaded files and Yahoo address, calendar and notepad entries.

It handed over "non-content data" in response to 305 of the requests, rejected 242 and found no data in 146.

Facebook's first transparency report, released in August, reported the social networking site received 546 requests regarding 601 Australian-held accounts in the first six months of 2013.

It granted information in response to 64 per cent of the requests.

In the same month, Twitter revealed it received 58 information requests from Australian authorities in the first half of the year, compared to fewer than ten in the second half of 2012. The microblogging site responded with information in a quarter of cases.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) recently confirmed to AAP that it made requests for data from Facebook but would not disclose the number or their nature.

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Fire burning near homes in small NSW town

A firefighter was allegedly attacked while trying to put out a fire in the NSW Southern Highlands. Source: AAP

AN out-of-control bushfire is threatening homes on the edge of a small fishing village on the NSW mid-north coast.

Firefighters were working near properties at the north at Harrington, near Taree, the Rural Fire Service said on its website.

A "watch and act" alert has been issued for the fire, with burning embers falling in the township.

Fire crews are working between the uncontained blaze and homes, the RFS says.

It says Crowdy Road is closed in both directions.

Locals are being advised to be ready to put out spot fires around their properties.

Meanwhile, the RFS has downgraded a bushfire burning in Sydney's northern suburbs from "watch and act" to "advice".

The blaze in Warringah is burning in bushland behind homes in Maitland Street, Cambage Court and McBrien Place at Davidson.

The RFS says no properties are under immediate threat, with firefighters conducting backburning in the area.

About 60 fires are burning across NSW, with 25 of them uncontained.

Earlier on Wednesday, a 21-year-old RFS volunteer was suspended after being charged with lighting a series of fires.

Fire caused considerable damage to bushland in the Lake Macquarie area during August and September.

Police allege the volunteer from Rutherford lit 10 small fires during that time.

He was charged with 10 counts of knowingly causing a fire and being reckless about its spread.

The alleged arsonist was refused bail and will appear at Toronto Local Court on Wednesday.

The charge comes after two men, aged 24 and 26, were on Tuesday charged following the bashing of an RFS officer in the state's Southern Highlands.

The officer was on his way to put out a shed fire when the men allegedly attacked him at Yanderra, police said on Wednesday.

The men have both been charged, with one to appear in court on Wednesday and the other on October 29.

The RFS officer was treated for minor injuries.

RFS Inspector Ben Shepherd says it's not yet known if the blazes at Harrington and in Sydney's north were deliberately lit.

"No, once again we'll be investigating it in due course," Mr Shepherd told Fairfax Radio Network.

"We want to concentrate at this stage actually just getting the fires under control, then we'll be looking at all avenues."

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Vic bikies appear in court after raids

Members of rival bikie gangs have appeared in court after a series of Melbourne drive-by shootings. Source: AAP

MEMBERS of the rival Comanchero and Hells Angels bikie gangs will face separate court hearings following a number of drive-by shootings in Melbourne.

Police charged eight men after raids across Melbourne on Tuesday night, during which guns, explosives and cash were seized.

The raids came a day after the Hells Angels Seaford clubhouse in the city's south was sprayed with bullets.

Hells Angels member Dennis Basic, 33, of Frankston, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with 13 offences, including making explosives and illegally possessing seven guns.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Jelena Popovic was told the members of the two gangs would require separate dates for their committal mention hearings.

Comanchero members Gemino Aloia, 26, of Glenroy, Bemir Saracevic, 26, of Cranbourne North, Emir Jaha, 27, of Mt Martha, and Mark Balsillie, 29, of Gladstone Park also faced the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Additional police and security officers were present in the court room and outside the building.

Basic's charges were adjourned until December 20, while the other four men were remanded to appear on the previous day.

None of the five applied for bail.

Police say the Seaford attack was in retaliation for a suspected Hells Angels shoot-up of two businesses owned by a rival Comanchero member.

High-powered military weapons such as AK-47s or M1 carbines were used in both shootings, police say.

Also charged after the raids are Bashkim Gashi, 30, of Dandenong North and Mohammed Khodr, 26, of Balwyn North.

All three are expected to appear in court on Wednesday.

A ninth man, aged 22, was charged late on Wednesday with drugs, weapons and explosives offences.

Police said the man, with alleged links to the Hells Angels, was arrested in Carrum Downs by Special Operations Group officers.

The man, from Carrum Downs, has been bailed to appear at the Frankston Magistrates Court on November 27.

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Kathy Lette opens up about her son, Julius

Author Kathy Lette will give the keynote address at the Festival of Ideas in Melbourne. Source: AAP

AUTHOR Kathy Lette has no shortage of funny stories about her son, Julius.

There's the occasion when he asked about her apparent facial hair when she was in the middle of a dinner with Hugh Jackman.

Then there's the time 12-year-old Julius met Tony Blair at Downing Street.

"I said, 'Oh Jules, this is the Prime Minister, Tony Blair' and my son said, 'You're the one my mother calls Tony Blah Blah'.

"You just think, let me die now.

"You have to strap a shock absorber to your brain so you're not continuously mortified."

Lette is best known as the co-author of the novel, Puberty Blues, which was adapted into a television series, airing in 2012. A second series is now in production.

Julius inspired Lette's latest book, The Boy Who Fell To Earth, which is being made into a film by Emily Mortimer.

She says raising a child on the autism spectrum like Julius can be heartbreaking, but also hysterically and accidentally funny.

"They're so candid, they say whatever they are thinking at any time.

"It's almost like they have taken a truth serum.

"Truth is quite a rare commodity these days."

Lette will be in Melbourne this week to discuss not only the obstacles special needs children and their families face, but also how people with autism can contribute to society in the most positive and fascinating ways.

Diagnostic hindsight suggests Vincent Van Gogh, Albert Einstein and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart were probably on the autism spectrum, Lette says.

Julius is now 22 and living in his own flat while studying acting at university, but Lette says raising him taught her what really matters in life.

"He has made me a better person in many ways because it does teach you not to be judgmental and it does teach you to be compassionate," she says.

"And also to take joy from little things, little achievements, not always be thinking about all the things you haven't got and you haven't done.

"When he got a girlfriend a few months ago, to me, that was better than winning the Nobel Prize for Literature to see him so happy."

Another of Lette's books, To Love, Honour and Betray, is being made into a BBC series set in Cronulla, NSW, she says.

Now, much to the horror of her human rights barrister husband Geoffrey Robertson, Lette is casting her satirical eyes over the legal profession.

"I think he wants to lock me away in maximum security prison so I don't send up his world but it's ripe for satire," she says.

* Kathy Lette will give the keynote address at the Festival of Ideas on October 4 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

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Former Democrats leader dies aged 71

THE children of former Democrats leader Janet Powell have paid tribute to the legacy their mother left behind for woman aspiring towards a career in politics.

Ms Powell, 71, died on Monday night after fighting cancer for a year.

She represented Victoria from 1986 to 1992 as a Democrat before becoming an independent senator until she lost office in 1993.

She initially filled a casual vacancy after party founder Don Chipp left the Senate, then won a seat the following year.

Daughter Emma Powell, who also spoke on behalf of her siblings Nick and Alex, said despite the heavy demands of public life, Ms Powell was an exceptional mother.

"We are all so proud of her, her contribution to the community and the example she set for girls and other women in public life," she said.

"The knowledge that our beloved mother left such a wonderful legacy to us and the community gives us some comfort at this incredibly sad time."

Ms Powell led the Democrats from 1990-1991.

She stood down following internal party ructions stemming from moves to potentially merge the party with the Greens, and her relationship with fellow Democrat senator Sid Spindler.

She was born in Nhill in western Victoria in 1942 and was a school teacher before entering parliament.

In 2012, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for her service to politics and community work with the YWCA.

She joined the Australian Greens in 2004.

Greens leader Christine Milne paid tribute to her friend as a pioneer and role model for women in politics.

Former Democrats leader Natasha Stott Despoja said Ms Powell had been a "trailblazer."

"A woman not to be forgotten," she said.

Former Victorian premier Joan Kirner said Ms Powell broke new ground for women in politics.

Former Greens leader Bob Brown said Australia has lost a champion of progressive politics.

"Janet led the Democrats in the greening of Australian politics," he said.

"We have lost a friend, but her spirit and ideals move onwards in Australian affairs."

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Greenpeace crew in 'shock' in Russian jail

GREENPEACE crew members detained in Russian jails for two months over their protest against Arctic oil drilling are "close to shock" over their conditions, a rights activist says.

The 30 detained are being held in pre-trial detention centres in the cities of Murmansk and Apatity, which are nearly 2000 kilometres north of Moscow and above the Arctic Circle.

All but four of the activists are non-Russians from countries including Australia, Britain, the US, Finland and Argentina.

Russia has jailed the activists from Greenpeace's Arctic Sunrise protest ship without charge pending an investigation into alleged piracy, after several scaled a state-owned oil rig on September 18.

The activists have complained of cold cells and a lack of suitable clothing and food, said Irina Paikacheva, the head of a state-connected regional prisoners' rights watchdog.

"Many of them are in a state close to shock," she told AFP on Tuesday after visiting the prisoners.

"They had never expected that they would face such consequences for their peaceful protest in a democratic state."

Several of the foreign nationals have been placed in cells with Russians even though this breaches Russian law, Paikacheva added.

Several non-smoking activists also complain of being placed in cells with chain-smokers.

A young Finnish female activist is a vegan and unable to eat prison food, Paikacheva said, adding that prison officials had denied her request for vitamins to be delivered to her.

Under Russian law, prisoners have to hand in their watches and wear shoes without laces. The Finnish activist lacks a thyroid gland and needs to take medicine regularly - hard to do without a watch.

Russia's main investigative agency accuses Greenpeace activists of posing a "real threat" to the security of personnel on an offshore drilling platform in the Arctic.

All 30 people who were on a Greenpeace ship, including two journalists, have been jailed for two months pending an investigation into their September 18 protest at the platform owned by state-controlled energy giant Gazprom.

The Investigative Committee on Monday said charges would be filed soon, but did not specify whether it was still considering charging the activists with piracy, a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

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Two dead, six in hospital after NSW crash

Two people are dead and six are in hospital after a fiery truck crash on Sydney's northern beaches. Source: AAP

TWO people are dead and six more are in hospital after a fiery truck crash on Sydney's northern beaches.

Witnesses have described the chaos that unfolded after the fuel tanker and cars collided on Mona Vale Rd at Mona Vale on Tuesday afternoon.

The tanker exploded, sending towering flames and billowing black smoke into the air.

Two people were killed and six people were taken to Royal North Shore Hospital, suffering injuries including head trauma and burns.

Three patients were in serious conditions while three others were stable, a NSW Ambulance spokeswoman said.

Mona Vale Road was closed as 10 ambulances and two emergency service helicopters rushed to the scene.

"It was like a bomb went off," said a local man who lives about 200 metres from the crash scene and only gave his name as Lee.

The 36-year-old told AAP that in the moments after the explosion there was "probably a fire trail 50 to 70 metres long".

He said that just after the truck crashed he saw the driver kick his way out of the windscreen.

"We told him to keep running," he said.

"He looked pretty bashed around.

"If it's only two people deceased its a miracle."

NSW Ambulance Deputy Commissioner Mick Willis said the first paramedics to arrive were confronted with a horrific scene.

Police are still investigating what caused the crash.

"We really are in the early stages of investigation and it is a challenging scene as you can see," Manly Police Superintendent Dave Darcy told reporters at the crash site.

According to NSW Roads and Maritime, in the past 17 years there have been five fatal crashes on the stretch of road.

Mona Vale Road remained closed on Tuesday night between Pittwater Rd and Powder Works Rd.

Motorists were being advised to use Pittwater Road, Wakehurst Parkway and Forest Way instead.

Bus routes 182, 185 and 197 are also being diverted away from Mona Vale Road.

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US health insurance program rolls out

The US government has shut down in a row over the health care law which comes into effect. Source: AAP

MILLIONS of Americans will be able to shop for the first time on the insurance marketplaces that are at the heart of President Barack Obama's health care reforms.

They are entering a world that is supposed to simplify the mysteries of health coverage but could end up making it even more confusing, at least initially.

Whether consumers will be pleased with the experience, the premiums and the out-of-pocket costs of the plans offered to them will finally start to become clear.

Tuesday's rollout comes after months of build-up in which the marketplaces, also known as exchanges, have been both praised and vilified.

Illustrating the heated political disagreements over the law, the opening of the exchanges comes the same day as the shutdown of the federal government, led by congressional Republicans who want to block the health insurance reforms from taking effect.

The shutdown will have no immediate effect on the insurance marketplaces that are the backbone of the law, because they operate with money that isn't subject to the annual budget wrangling in Washington.

The marketplaces opening in all 50 states represent a turning point in the US approach to health care, the biggest expansion in coverage in nearly 50 years.

The Obama administration hopes to sign up seven million people during the first year and has a goal of eventually signing up at least half of the nearly 50 million uninsured Americans.

But if people become frustrated with predicted glitches in the computer-based enrolment process and turn away from the program, the prospects for Obama's signature domestic policy achievement could dim.

"The promise of the law is that no one will go bankrupt because of medical bills," said Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress, which helped work for passage of the law. "It won't happen in the first day or the first year. But when the law is fully operational, it will provide an economic benefit to roughly 30 million Americans."

Tanden cautioned against rushing to judge the marketplace's success on its first-day performance.

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Australia did all it could: Commander

The acting border protection commander praised the response to the sinking of an asylum-seeker boat. Source: AAP

THE acting head of Australia's border protection operation has praised the nation's professional and timely response to the fatal sinking of an asylum-seeker boat off Indonesia that's claimed up to 36 lives.

As Prime Minister Tony Abbott was in Indonesia for talks with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, his government was facing questions about its handling of the sinking off Java on Friday.

But Operation Sovereign Borders Acting Commander, Air Marshal Mark Binskin, says Australian authorities took "every step available to them" in responding to the tragedy.

Air Marshal Binskin denied reports of a 26-hour delay in responding to the unfolding crisis, after some survivors said they contacted Australian authorities on Thursday.

He said Australian authorities first learned the vessel was in distress at 7.57am (AEST) on Friday, and conducted extensive work to try to find the vessel with highly capable search aircraft and diverting four merchant ships.

"Our response was professional and timely," he said.

"Despite these efforts no searching ships or aircraft ever sighted the vessel."

Indonesian authorities say the death toll has risen to 36 and concede the ongoing search operation is now about recovering the dead rather than finding anyone else alive.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison called the disaster a "chilling reminder of what can occur when you put your life in the hands of criminals".

He dismissed claims by some survivors that passengers were taken to the boat in trucks driven by Indonesian soldiers.

"I won't give substance to a claim that's speculative," the minister said.

Air Marshal Binskin said three boatloads of asylum seekers had been intercepted in the past week.

The first was found on Tuesday carrying 18 people from India. They are in Darwin and expected to be sent home.

Seven West Papuans who were dropped off on at an Australian island in the Torres Strait on Wednesday were returned to PNG the next day.

On Thursday, 70 people from the third boat were transferred to detention on Christmas Island.

Another vessel carrying 78 people was intercepted overnight Sunday, but doesn't count as a fourth boat because it was detected outside the weekly reporting period.

Under the government's policy, asylum seekers are moved from Christmas Island to offshore detention facilities within 48 hours of their arrival.

In the past week 128 have been sent for offshore processing - 68 to Manus Island and another 60 to Nauru.

Mr Morrison said the 48 hour target was "working well" and health checks were being undertaken.

But opposition immigration spokesman Tony Burke said when he was minister he was advised it would take up to 12 days for the health checks.

"Some people didn't require the full level of scans ... but the 48 hour figure I just find extraordinary," Mr Burke told reporters in Sydney.

"If they're taking a risk with people's health, and that's a judgment call they've made, then he should be honest with the Australian people that that is what they are doing."

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Online ad spend to overtake papers: report

SPENDING on internet advertising is on course to exceed the amount generated by newspapers and magazines within two years, an industry report says.

Smartphones, tablet devices and technologies that make it easier for advertisers to calculate a return on their investment will result in spending on advertising via mobile devices rising by 77 per cent worldwide in 2013, media buying agency ZenithOptimedia said on Monday.

Mobile advertising - display, classified or search - is growing seven times faster than desktop internet, which is increasing at an average 10 per cent a year.

The UK's mobile advertising market will more than double in size this year to STG1 billion ($A1.75 billion) on the back of the growth of smartphones and tablets, Zenith said.

Jonathan Barnard, Zenith's head of forecasting, said: "Consumers are now using their phones as a day to day part of their lives to keep in touch with their friends, and the trend is evidenced by social media giants like Facebook and Twitter using mobile advertising as a main source of their revenues."

Zenith predicts that internet advertising will increase its share of the global ad market from 18.3 per cent in 2012 to 24.5 per cent in 2015, while newspapers and magazines will continue to shrink at an average of 3 per cent a year.

The report said: "We forecast internet advertising to overtake newspapers for the first time in 2013, and then exceed the combined total of newspaper and magazine advertising in 2015."

The figures include only advertising in printed editions of publications, not on their websites, tablet editions or mobile apps, all of which are picked up in the internet category.

Overall, the global advertising market is set to grow in 2013 at the same 3.5 per cent rate as in 2012, despite that year being boosted by the London Olympics and the US elections.

With signs emerging that the European economy is becoming healthier, Zenith said the global ad market should enjoy stronger growth rates of 5.1 per cent and 5.9 per cent in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

It said Europe had been acting as a "brake on global ad growth", with spending on adverts in the eurozone shrinking 5.2 per cent last year.

The US will remain the biggest contributor to new advertising spending, and it is expected to provide 28 per cent of the $US74 billion ($A79.94 billion) that is set to be added to global ad spend between 2012 and 2015.

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Qld govt wants to appeal rapist's release

QUEENSLAND'S attorney-general is seeking legal advice about appealing a court decision to release a violent serial rapist from jail.

A Supreme Court judge ruled on Friday that 64-year-old Robert Fardon be released, but under strict supervision.

Justice Peter Lyons, who presided over a periodic review of Fardon's indefinite jail term, said a formal order would be issued at a later date.

But Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie says he wants to intervene to stop the release, though he is seeking legal advice before making a final decision.

"I've read the judgment. I've read the evidence and I form a view that this person still poses significant risk to the community," Mr Bleijie told reporters.

The attorney-general said that when he received advice from the solicitor-general he would request a stay of the release order and launch an appeal.

"This government will do whatever is necessary to keep Robert John Fardon behind bars."

In 2003, Fardon became the first person detained indefinitely under Queensland's Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act.

He has been convicted of sex offences against women and girls dating back to 1967, when he was 18.

The state has successfully appealed orders from three different judges to release Fardon since 2011.

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Labor leadership contenders visit Perth

About 500 party members and supporters gathered in Perth to hear ALP leadership contenders speak. Source: AAP

BILL Shorten came to a Labor party members' forum sausage sizzle in Perth dressed in a smart-casual shirt and trousers, while Anthony Albanese wore a Rip Curl shirt and jeans.

Perhaps that says something about their different approaches to tackling the federal Labor leadership contest.

Despite their differences, the pair have kept their rivalry friendly and as each addressed the 500 people gathered at Hyde Park on Monday - a public holiday in Western Australia - both agreed to work with whoever won the leadership battle.

For the first time, rank and file party members will have their say in choosing Labor's leader and both contenders were given 10 minutes to convince members why they should be leader.

Mr Albanese said he believed he could unite the party, reminding members that he was leader of the house when it was a "fairly difficult" parliament that still managed to pass 596 pieces of legislation.

"I think I'm in a very strong position to advance Labor's cause, to defend our legacy, hold the Abbott government to account, but also help develop Labor's new agenda," he said to cheers from the crowd.

Mr Albanese also used part of his speech as an opportunity to remind Western Australians that the new coalition government had slashed the amount of federal infrastructure funding going to the state.

He said Prime Minister Tony Abbott had left a $500 million hole in the WA government's plans to build a light rail network through Perth's northern suburbs and a new rail line to the city's airport.

Mr Abbott had also withdrawn funding for other projects including $140.6 million for three new interchanges along the Tonkin Highway, $307.8 million for upgrades to the Great Northern Highway between Muchea and Wubin, and $174 million for improvements to the North West Coastal Highway, Mr Albanese said.

Mr Shorten was more impassioned during his address, telling members he wanted to make Mr Abbott history and present a brave Labor party.

"We need to be a party who people want to vote for because they like us, not because they just don't like the other mob," he said.

"We need to make it clear that we're not anti-mining.

"I just don't confuse people who own mining companies with miners. The miners do the work."

Mr Shorten said he also wanted to tackle domestic violence and promised that factions would not run Labor.

The former union boss also drew applause when he said Australia should be pro-immigration.

"We should not shy away from saying the refugees are a legitimate part of the Australian population," he said.

Among the attendees was WA Labor leader Mark McGowan and opposition treasury spokesman Ben Wyatt.

Mr McGowan told reporters the event gave people a feeling of empowerment and made sure leadership aspirants were in touch with members.

The leadership contest will be decided by a nationwide ballot of party members before the caucus meets for a vote on October 10.

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Clive Palmer's margin slims to three

Clive Palmer's lead has shrunk to just three votes in the Queensland federal seat of Fairfax. Source: AAP

CLIVE Palmer's lead has shrunk to just three votes in the Queensland federal seat of Fairfax.

A recount of preferences is under way in the Sunshine Coast seat after Mr Palmer finished 36 votes ahead of Liberal National Party candidate Ted O'Brien when the Australian Electoral Commission completed initial counting after the September 7 poll.

Margins less than 100 trigger a recount.

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Italy grapples with new Berlusconi crisis

Five cabinet ministers from former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi's party have quit the government. Source: AAP

ITALY is mired in a fresh political quagmire after Silvio Berlusconi pushed his party's ministers to quit the fragile coalition government, a move Prime Minister Enrico Letta has called a "crazy act".

All five ministers from the People of Freedom (PDL) party on Saturday took the decision to step down at Berlusconi's urging, said deputy prime minister Angelino Alfano, the number two in government who was among the resignations.

Italy newspapers put the blame for the new government crisis squarely at the ex-prime minister's feet.

"The convict has made Italy fail," read the headline in the leftist daily Il Fatto Quotidiano, alluding to Berlusconi's conviction for tax fraud.

The centre-right La Stampa and business newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore decried "the madness" of the actions taken by the media mogul who has dominated Italian politics for most of the last two decades.

The flamboyant billionaire, who turns 77 on Sunday, dismissed as "unacceptable" a demand by Letta on Friday for parliament to express support for the government next week, in a bid to end a crisis that has plagued the bickering ruling coalition.

Now President Giorgio Napolitano will have to mediate to find a way out of the latest political impasse. He is expected to meet Letta on Sunday.

Letta's government was cobbled together following a two-month stand-off after an inconclusive general election in February.

The premier of the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) had won the confidence of financial markets by managing to keep together the improbable right-left coalition.

Italian media on Sunday speculated that if the crisis deepens there could be a reversal in market confidence, making it harder for Italy to deal with its economic difficulties and enact needed reforms.

The revolt among Berlusconi's backers boiled over on Thursday when they first threatened to resign over the former leader's legal problems.

A Senate committee was preparing to vote on whether to eject Berlusconi from the chamber after he was sentenced to a year in prison for tax fraud, a ruling that was upheld by Italy's top court in August.

Letta on Friday told a cabinet meeting tasked with approving key measures to rein in the recession-hit country's budget deficit that no further legislation would be enacted until the political crisis was resolved.

The cabinet had convened to determine how to delay a controversial planned rise in value-added tax, but the meeting ended in disarray amid the escalating tension over Berlusconi's conviction.

As a result, the VAT hike from 21 per cent to 22 per cent will go ahead, with effect from Tuesday, as economists worry that it will dampen consumption.

In encouraging the PDL ministers to resign, Berlusconi said they should not be "complicit in the latest vexation imposed on Italians by the left".

Letta retorted: "To try to justify his crazy and irresponsible act, aimed fully at protecting his personal interests, Berlusconi is... using the VAT as an alibi."

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Morrison rejects claims of boat delay

The Greens want an inquiry into the government's delayed response to the latest asylum seeker boat. Source: AAP

IMMIGRATION Minister Scott Morrison has defended Australia's response to an asylum seeker boat that sank off Indonesia as survivors claim the tragedy could have been prevented.

With Prime Minister Tony Abbott flying to Indonesia on Monday for his first overseas visit, his government is under fire for its handling of the disaster, which left up to 50 people dead or missing.

Indonesian authorities say there is little hope of finding more survivors from the boat that sank off Java on Friday, with searchers being hampered by rough seas on Sunday.

Twenty-eight people, including seven children, have so far been confirmed dead while more than 20 remain missing.

One survivor told ABC TV that a GPS location was sent to Australian authorities when multiple distress calls were made on Thursday.

"We called the Australian government for 24 hours. They were telling us 'we're coming, we're coming, we're coming', and they didn't come," he said.

"This is because of the Australian government. I want them to know that," he said of the tragedy.

The survivor has also implicated Indonesian authorities as playing a role in getting passengers to the boat.

"The army took us," he told the ABC. "The army was driving the cars."

A spokesman for Mr Morrison said suggestions Australian authorities were slow to act were "absolutely and totally wrong".

"The government completely rejects allegations of a 26-hour delay in response to this tragic incident by Australian agencies," Mr Morrison's office said in a statement issued on Sunday.

"Australian agencies acted on the information provided on this tragic incident."

Mr Morrison said initial searches failed to find the boat, which was reported to be about 25 nautical miles off the Indonesian coast.

"The Australians who work for our rescue and border protection agencies respond to all such events with great professionalism and a keenly felt sense of duty, as they did on this occasion," the statement said.

"This is a tragic event. The Australian government's thoughts and sympathies are with those affected by this tragedy. The government will continue to provide any assistance required by the Indonesian government."

Australian Greens leader Christine Milne called for an immediate inquiry into the government's involvement in the "heartbreaking" tragedy.

"I would expect that to happen before the next parliament sits," Senator Milne told Sky Agenda on Sunday.

Labor leadership candidate Bill Shorten criticised the Abbott government's approach to asylum seekers, saying "sooner or later they're going to work out that three-word slogans don't solve issues, and don't solve refugees or immigration".

People smuggling is expected to be high on the agenda when Mr Abbott meets with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Jakarta.

Indonesia's foreign minister Marty Natalegawa last week warned any violation of his country's borders could damage neighbourly relations, in a pointed criticism of the coalition's policy to turn back the boats.

Mr Shorten accused the coalition of "bagging" Indonesia in the stand-off over asylum seeker policy.

"One of the key platforms or planks to making sure we've got a safe and sustainable policy is to have a good relationship with Indonesia," he told ABC television.

"I'm not sure that getting out and bagging the Indonesians is really helpful.

"If they can't work out that Indonesia and working co-operatively with Indonesia's important to handling the challenging issues of asylum seekers and refugees, then that's a worry."

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NSW firefighters contain most fires

FIREFIGHTERS have managed to contain a majority of the 60 bushfires burning across NSW after a day of favourable conditions.

The Rural Fire Service expects the milder temperatures and slight winds to flow into Monday but Tuesday could see more winds.

"There has been an indication from the Bureau (of Meteorology) that Tuesday may be warm and windy," RFS spokesman Brendan Doyle said.

"But we are keeping a close eye on these conditions tomorrow..."

On Sunday, firefighters remained at the Barrenjoey Headland on Sydney's Northern Beaches where a blaze broke out a day prior and threatened an iconic lighthouse.

Fire crews managed to save the structure but a nearby cottage sustained some damage.

Visitors to the headland were warned to shelter near its historic lighthouse after an access trail was cut off but no one was injured.

The fire burned through 17 hectares of bushland around Summer Bay, made famous in the long-running television soapie Home and Away.

There are still 60 fires burning across the state, but Mr Doyle said only 25 were uncontained and not threatening properties.

One major fire is still burning in the Great Lakes area.

The blaze burning through forested country near Bulahdelah has burnt more than 458 hectares.

Residents in the Markwell Valley area are urged to know what to do if the fire impacts property.

Meanwhile, a RFS truck returning from battling a blaze on the Northern Tablelands crashed on Sunday.

The truck, driving through thick smoke and haze, left the road and crashed into a tree, police said.

The driver was taken to Walcha Hospital with minor injuries.

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Kings Of Leon's new album debuts at No.1

Kings of Leon have landed their third consecutive No.1 album on the ARIA chart. Source: AAP

KINGS of Leon have landed their third straight No.1 on the ARIA albums chart after their new album Mechanical Bull debuted at the top.

The Nashville rockers' sixth studio release bumps off Keith Urban's album Fuse, which drops down two spots to No.3.

Another new entry is Drake's Nothing Was the Same at No.2, which becomes his first Top 10 entry and highest charting album all in the same week.

Jason Derulo's third album Tattoos has debuted at No.5, becoming his third Top 10 album.

Jack Johnson is down three places to No.6 with From Here to Now to You, while the fourth Top 10 debut is Jessie J with Alive at No.7.

Pink's The Truth About Love has dropped two spots to No.8 and Rudimental's Home moves up five places to No.9.

Avicii's album True plummets eight places round out the Top 10.

Meanwhile Katy Perry's Roar has spent another week at No.1 on the singles chart.

The top three all hold steady this week, with Miley Cyrus at No.2 with Wrecking Ball and Redfoo at No.3 with Let's Get Ridiculous.

The big mover is John Newman with Love Me Again, which charges up four places, pushing Derulo's Talk Dirty down to No.5.

OneRepublic spends a third straight week at No.6 with Something I Need, Lana Del Rey is down a couple of places to No.7 with her Summertime Sadness and Drake climbs a place to a new peak of No.8 with Hold On, We're Going Home.

Avicii has slipped to No.9 with Wake Me Up, while Lorde is back up two places to No.10 with her EP The Love Club feat Royals.

AUSTRALIAN SINGLES CHART

1(1) Roar - Katy Perry (CAP/EMI)

2(2) Wrecking Ball - Miley Cyrus (RCA/SME)

3(3) Let's Get Ridiculous - Redfoo (INR/UMA)

4(8) Love Me Again - John Newman (ISL/UMA)

5(4) Talk Dirty - Jason Derulo Feat. 2 Chainz (WAR)

6(6) Something I Need - OneRepublic (INR/UMA)

7(5) Summertime Sadness - Lana Del Rey vs Cedric Gervais (INR/UMA)

8(9) Hold on, We're Going Home - Drake Feat. Majid Jordan (UNI/UMA)

9(8) Wake Me Up - Avicii (UNI/UMA)

10(12) The Love Club Feat. Royals - Lorde (UNI/UMA)

AUSTRALIAN ALBUMS CHART

1(-) Mechanical Bull - Kings Of Leon (RCA/SME)

2(-) Nothing Was The Same - Drake (UNI/UMA)

3(1) Fuse - Keith Urban (CAP/EMI)

4(3) AM - Arctic Monkeys (DOM/EMI)

5(-) Tattoos - Jason Derulo (WAR)

6(3) From Here to Now to You - Jack Johnson (UNI/UMA)

7(-) Alive - Jessie J (UNI/UMA)

8(6) The Truth About Love - Pink (RCA/SME)

9(14) Home - Rudimental (WAR)

10(2) True - Avicii (UNI/UMA)

AUSTRALIAN STREAMING CHART

1(1) Roar - Katy Perry (EMI)

2(2) Wrecking Ball - Miley Cyrus (SME)

3(3) Wake Me Up - Avicii (UMA)

4(4) The Love Club EP - Lorde (UMA)

5(6) Counting Stars - OneRepublic (UMA)

6(5) Talk Dirty - Jason Derulo Feat. 2 Chainz (WAR)

7(9) You Make Me - Avicii (UMA)

8(7) Burn - Ellie Goulding (UMA)

9(8) La La La - Naughty Boy Feat. Sam Smith (EMI)

10(10) Blurred Lines - Robin Thicke Feat. T.I. & Pharrell (UMA)

AUSTRALIAN COUNTRY CHART

1(1) Fuse - Keith Urban (CAP/EMI)

2(2) The Very Best Of Slim Dusty - Slim Dusty (EMI)

3(-) The Buegrass Album - Alan Jackson (SME)

4(3) The Great Country Songbook - Troy Cassar-Daley & Adam Harvey (SME)

5(-) A.M - Chris Young (RCA/SME)

6(6) Red - Taylor Swift (BIG/UMA)

7(3) 40 Years Of Pride - Charley Pride (RCA/SME)6 (WAR)

8(6) A Hell Of A Career! - John Williamson (WAR)

9(7) Crash My Party - Luke Bryan (CAP/EMI)

10(8) The Story So Far - Keith Urban (CAP/EMI)

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UK PM backs veil bans at institutions

THE state should back institutions such as schools and courthouses that require individuals to remove face-coverings worn by some Muslim women, British Prime Minister David Cameron says.

Cameron said he did not believe there should be a ban on wearing the niqab - which conceals the whole face except for the eyes - in the streets.

But he made clear he was "happy" to look at the issue of whether the state needed to do more to back up institutions which choose to implement a ban.

"We are a free country and people should be free to wear whatever clothes they like in public or in private," Cameron told BBC1's Andrew Marr Show.

"But we should support those institutions that need to put in place rules so that those institutions can work properly.

"So for instance in a school, if they want that particular dress code, I believe the government should back them. The same for courts, the same for immigration.

"I think we should back those institutions that want to have sensible policies that actually have a particular purpose."

Asked if he would respond to a judge's suggestion that there should be guidelines for the country on the wearing of the niqab in court, Cameron said: "I'm very happy to look at that.

"Obviously, in court the jury needs to be able to look at someone's face. I've sat on a jury, that's part of what you do.

"When someone is coming into the country, an immigration officer needs to see someone's face.

"In a school, it's very difficult to teach unless you can look at your pupils in the eye.

"It's a free country and I think a free country should have free and independent institutions. No plans for anything on the street, but if the government needs to do more to back up institutions, then I would be happy to look at that."

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