Urban, Lorde receive Grammy nominations

Keith Urban has been nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Country Duo/Group. Source: AAP

VETERAN rapper Jay-Z topped nominees for the 2014 US Grammys with nine nods, while Taylor Swift and Daft Punk were among those in the running in major categories.

Australia's Keith Urban has been nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance category for his collaboration with Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift, called Highway Don't Care, while New Zealand teenager Lorde was nominated for four awards, mostly for her debut single Royals.

The 17-year-old schoolgirl, who performed live during the Los Angeles ceremony, is in the running for song of the year, record of the year, best pop solo performance and best pop vocal album for Pure Heroine.

In second place with seven nods apiece were California hip-hop star Kendrick Lamar and rapper Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, as well as Justin Timberlake and Pharrell Williams, while rapper Drake scored five.

The nominees in key categories were announced during an hour-long concert at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, including video-link performances by Swift from Australia and Katy Perry live from Canada.

In the coveted Album of the Year category, songstress Swift's Red will compete with French electro duo Daft Punk's Random Access Memories, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis's The Heist, Lamar's Good Kid, M.A.A.D City and Sara Bareilles' The Blessed Unrest.

Record of the Year candidates are Daft Punk and Williams' ubiquitous Get Lucky, Lorde's Royals, Radioactive by Imagine Dragons, Hawaiian crooner Bruno Mars' Locked Out Of Heaven and Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines, made infamous by Miley Cyrus' twerking at the MTV Video Music Awards show.

Shortlisted for Song of the Year - for songwriters, as opposed to performers - were Just Give Me A Reason sung by Pink Featuring Nate Ruess; Locked Out Of Heaven sung by Bruno Mars; Roar sung by Katy Perry; Royals sung by Lorde, and Same Love sung by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis was also nominated for Best New Artist, up against James Blake, Kendrick Lamar, Kacey Musgraves and Ed Sheeran.

While big-hitters Jay-Z and Timberlake scored lots of nods, they were mostly in rap and pop/R&B categories respectively. Neither the rapper's heavily marketed Magna Carta ... Holy Grail, nor Timberlake's The 20/20 Experience made it onto the Best Album shortlist.

The 56th annual Grammys show - music's version of the Oscars - will be held on January 26 at the Staples Center.

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First day of gay marriage in ACT

A WA Labor MP has married his male partner as ACT marriage laws came into effect at midnight. Source: AAP

THE bride wore white and so did her wife.

Corinna Peck and Stacey Cowen were among some 15 couples to tie the knot in Canberra on Saturday as Australia's first same-sex marriage law came into play.

But while the outfits were bright and newlywed smiles beamed across the nation's capital, a dark cloud was hanging over the future validity of the same-sex unions.

On Thursday the High Court will rule if the ACT's Marriage Equality Act, passed in October, is at odds with Commonwealth law and therefore invalid.

The threat didn't dampen the enthusiasm of groom Ivan Hinton who vowed to make partner Chris Teoh his "lawful wedded husband".

"There should never be any rule in this country that disrespects the commitment that two people like us wish to express to one another," Mr Hinton told reporters after his wedding.

Ceremonies kicked off at 12.01am (AEDT) with two couples rushing to become Australia's first legally-recognised "husbands".

Australian Marriage Equality director Rodney Croome attended Mr Hinton's marriage and afterwards highlighted the historic nature of Saturday's events.

"In years to come people will look back and think 'what an historic moment that was,' but also, 'why did it take us so long to recognise the wonderful ordinariness of the love, (the) commitment of same-sex relationships?'," Mr Croome said.

The Australian Christian Lobby has criticised the ACT law, claiming it damages the institution of marriage.

"We hear about equal love all the time but we don't hear about what it means for children," Lobby spokesman Lyle Shelton told Sky News.

"Same-sex marriage means same-sex parenting, that means necessarily taking a child from its biological mother or father and giving it to someone else."

ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher defended the law and sent a message to critics: "the world will go on".

"This doesn't effect those people who don't agree with it. It doesn't change their life, it doesn't change their relationships. This is all about making sure everyone is treated equally before the law," she said.

Ms Gallagher insisted that the community response, including from religious groups, had been overwhelmingly supportive.

Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young congratulated the newlywed couples and thanked them for being part of an important first step to change.

"This is how laws change, it is how communities evolve, it is how social change happens, when individuals put themselves forward," she said.

"I think it's time that politics put aside the views of others and allowed couples right across this country to have their love celebrated and accepted and recognised."

The ACT government said 47 couple have registered an intent to marry under the new law.

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Abbott, Shorten to attend Mandela service

PM Tony Abbott and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will attend a memorial service for Nelson Mandela. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will present a united Australian front to honour and farewell Nelson Mandela.

The pair will this week fly to Johannesburg to join world leaders past and present, mourning the former South African president who died at his home on Thursday (local time) aged 95.

A huge memorial service is planned for the nation's first black leader on Tuesday, with US President Barack Obama already confirming his attendance.

On Saturday Mr Shorten's office said the Labor leader had accepted an invitation from Mr Abbott to accompany the prime minister to South Africa. Both men will miss most of the final 2013 parliamentary sitting week.

It is unknown how long the men will be out of Australia.

"There is a long bipartisan history of Australian support for South Africa and the campaign to abolish apartheid," Mr Abbott said, announcing his intention to attend the service.

After facing criticism for not lowering flags at the news of Mr Mandela's death, Mr Abbott said Australian flags will be set at half mast on the day of the official memorial.

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Crews monitor Sunshine Coast blaze

At Sippy Downs. The buildings are University of Sunshine Coast. Picture: Kaye Keioskie Source: Supplied

FIRE crews are asking Sunshine Coast residents to avoid an out-of-control grass fire near Mountain Creek.

7.45pm: CREWS are still monitoring the fire at Kawana Waters which is burning in containment lines.

There are still two urban crews and nine rural crews at the scene.

They are likely to stay on scene for several more hours.
 

Sinead Duncan took photographs of the fires from Buderim and closer to Kawana Way. "We're just trying to get out of Brightwater at the moment .... it's getting bad." Reader picture: Sinead Duncan

3.50pm: Sinead Duncan took photographs of the fires from Buderim and closer to Kawana Way.

"We're just trying to get out of Brightwater at the moment because we've been visiting friends," she said.

"The smoke is still thick and billowing, but thankfully the wind is keeping most of the smoke away from the houses."

The grass fire near Mountain Creek. Picture: QPS/Sara Matulich

GALLERY: Reader pictures of Sunshine Coast blaze

Jackie Clark said aerial support was trying to control the situation.

"It's getting bad," she said.

Resident Nadine Brooks took these pictures from her vantage point at nearby Grand Pde, Parrearra. Reader picture: Nadine Brooks

"Police, fire and ambulance have set up on Kawana Way."
 

GALLERY: Reader pictures of Sunshine Coast blaze

Resident Nadine Brooks took these pictures from her vantage point at nearby Grand Pde, Parrearra. Reader picture: Nadine Brooks

3.30pm:  Resident Nadine Brooks said there seemed to be two or three different blazes from her vantage point at nearby Grand Pde, Parrearra.

"It looks like they are moving north," she said.

"We are lucky the smoke is not coming (our) way."

3pm: TRAFFIC is heavy along the Sunshine Coast Motorway thanks to a large grass fire.

Motorists are reporting congestion from the Dixon Rd turnoff to Mountain Creek.

Kawana Way has been closed as 16 fire crews battle the blaze.

GALLERY: Reader pictures of Sunshine Coast blaze

1pm: The fire at Kawana Way, near Brightwater Estate, was first reported at 11.20am.

Helicopters are currently water bombing the fire between Brightwater Estate and the Chancellor Park area, and 16 fire crews are battling the blaze.

No property is under threat, but a large smoke haze has settled over Mountain Creek and neighbouring suburbs.

Residents have been advised to close windows and doors, with reports of ash the size of fingernails falling on the area.

Motorists using Kawana Way have been urged to drive to conditions.

GALLERY: Reader pictures of Sunshine Coast blaze

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Australia close to FTA with China: Bishop

AFTER eight years of negotiations, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says she is hopeful of clinching a free trade agreement with China within months.

Ms Bishop was in Beijing this week for high-level talks with Chinese officials including Vice-President Li Yuanchao.

She told a press conference China, Australia's biggest trading partner, had expressed enthusiasm for a free trade agreement (FTA) days after a similar deal was inked between South Korea and Australia.

"There are many opportunities for our economic relationship to be broader and deeper and more diversified and the potential for a Free Trade Agreement was discussed," Ms Bishop told reporters in Beijing on Saturday.

"Indeed, the Vice-President indicated that he thought we had the opportunity to conclude a Free Trade Agreement in the very near future."

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has previously pledged to secure three FTAs in his first 12 months as prime minister.

The third hoped-for agreement would be with Japan.

Ms Bishop said Australia was still hopeful of reaching a deal with China within a year.

"We didn't put a time-frame on it, that's Australia's aspiration. But most certainly the Vice-President was very positive about the conclusion of an agreement within a short period of time," she said.

"We have been negotiating a free trade agreement with China for eight years now and the high quality, comprehensive agreement that we were able to conclude with South Korea gives us hope that we will be able to do something similar with China."

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Serial sex offender Fardon released in Qld

SERIAL sex offender Robert Fardon has been released into secure accommodation after a lengthy court battle in Queensland.

Queensland Corrective Services says the 65-year-old was released into a facility on the grounds of Brisbane Correctional Centre, west of Brisbane, on Friday afternoon.

Fardon will be subject to the strict conditions of his court order including intensive supervision, GPS electronic monitoring, home visits, drug and alcohol testing and restrictions on where he goes and who he associates with.

However child safety advocates and past victims have condemned the court ruling and are concerned he will reoffend.

They include Sharon Tomlinson, who was 12 when raped and choked by Fardon, and who says the courts are "laughing" at the community.

"All I can say is just be very, very careful with children and keep an eye on those that you love because predators are allowed to walk within our community," she told reporters.

Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie blamed the previous Labor government's "weak" dangerous prisoner legislation for Friday's decision and said he's receiving advice on whether to appeal in the High Court.

"I am also consulting with the legal fraternity to find possible ways to strengthen Labor's failed legislation," he said in a statement.

Fardon has spent most of his adult life in prison for sex offences against women and girls dating back to 1967, when he was 18.

In 2003 he became the first prisoner detained indefinitely - subject to periodic review - under new laws designed to keep the state's worst prisoners locked up.

Since then he's been released twice but each time was locked up again for breaking court orders, including absconding to Townsville.

In October Supreme Court Judge Peter Lyons deemed Fardon fit for release, prompting an immediate appeal by Mr Bleijie.

The minister also rushed through contentious "Plan B" laws that gave him power to overrule court orders releasing dangerous prisoners if it was in the public's interest.

But on Friday the Court of Appeal dismissed Mr Bleijie's appeal and declared his legal amendments invalid.

Judges Catherine Holmes, John Muir and Hugh Fraser found Justice Lyons' decision was sound, and Mr Bleijie's amendments were incompatible with the institutional integrity of the state's highest court.

The ruling provided ammunition for the LNP government's opponents, with Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk calling it an embarrassing blow to Mr Bleijie.

Corruption fighter and former judge Tony Fitzgerald labelled the state government inexperienced and arrogant.

And the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties said Mr Bleijie's "grandstanding" had resulted in laws that were a flagrant breach of the separation of powers.

"No one is going to dispute that Robert Fardon is not a particularly nice man. But he has his human rights," the council's chairman Michael Cope said.

However Mr Bleijie said he made no apologies for doing everything possible to protect the community.

"We will continue to fight for the safety of Queensland families," he said.

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Foreign fishing boats stopped off Darwin

Scott Morrison says foreign fishing boats have been intercepted off Darwin for illegal fishing. Source: AAP

TWO foreign fishing boats have been stopped in northern waters in the past week for alleged illegal fishing, Border Protection Minister Scott Morrison says.

A Border Protection Command "asset" intercepted the first alleged illegal foreign fishing vessel last Friday and a second on Wednesday, Mr Morrison said in a statement.

"A significant volume of fresh and stowed catch was discovered on the first vessel including giant clams, live crayfish, hawksbill sea turtles, sea cucumbers, shark and frozen fish. The second vessel was found with an amount of reef fish on board," his statement said.

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority is conducting further investigations into the activities of the vessels found off Darwin and considering charges against the crew.

The maximum penalty for illegal foreign fishing can be up to $1.275 million depending on the size of the vessel.

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Apple guides shoppers with iBeacon

Apple has introduced an in-store GPS system called iBeacon which guides shoppers around its stores. Source: AAP

GPS will tell you how to get to the nearest Apple store. With iBeacon, Apple hopes to guide you around once you're inside.

On Friday, Apple will begin using the technology at its 254 US stores to send you messages tailored to where you are inside, provided you have downloaded the Apple Store app and have given Apple permission to track you.

The company demonstrated the technology in New York this week.

One day, commuters might get information on subway delays as they stand on the platform, while museum visitors might get details on the painting they are standing in front of.

In-store location technology does raise privacy concerns, though many shoppers have shown a willingness to be tracked for discounts.

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Smog at hazardous levels in Shanghai

Shanghai has kept children indoors as its air quality index hit extremely hazardous levels. Source: AAP

SHANGHAI authorities have ordered schoolchildren indoors and halted all construction as China's financial hub suffered one its worst bouts of air pollution, bringing visibility down to a few dozen metres and obscuring the city's spectacular skyline.

The financial district on Friday was shrouded in a yellow haze and noticeably fewer people walked the city's streets. Vehicle traffic also was thinner, as authorities pulled 30 per cent of government vehicles from the roads. They also banned fireworks and stopped all public sporting events.

Protective masks and air purifiers were selling briskly at local stores.

"I feel like I'm living in clouds of smog," said Zheng Qiaoyun, a local resident who kept her six-month-old son at home. "I have a headache, I'm coughing, and it's hard to breathe on my way to my office."

Shanghai's concentration of tiny, harmful PM 2.5 particles was 602.5 micrograms per cubic metre on Friday afternoon, an extremely hazardous level that was the highest since the city began recording such data last December. That compares with the World Health Organisation's safety guideline of 25 micrograms.

The dirty air that has gripped Shanghai and its neighbouring provinces for days is attributed to coal burning, car exhaust, factory pollution and weather patterns, and is a stark reminder that pollution is a serious challenge in China.

Beijing, the capital, has seen extremely high smog several times over the past year. In the far northeastern city of Harbin, some monitoring sites reported PM 2.5 rates up to 1000 micrograms per cubic metre in October, when the winter heating season kicked off.

As a coastal city, Shanghai usually has mild to modest air pollution, but recent weather patterns have left the city's air stagnant.

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DFAT confirms Dili embassy protest

Federal authorities have confirmed a protest was held outside Australia's embassy in East Timor. Source: AAP

FEDERAL authorities have confirmed a protest was held outside Australia's embassy in East Timor amid a spying row between the two countries.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) on Friday confirmed a protest had taken place outside the embassy.

"The Australian Embassy in Dili has advised that a small-scale protest was held outside the embassy on 5 December," DFAT told AAP in a statement.

A spokeswoman for East Timor said the protest was small and non-violent.

The protesters, mostly students and young Timorese rights activists numbering about 20, carried banners reading "Australia is a thief" and "Australia has no morals", Agence France-Presse reported.

The protest comes after East Timor expressed outrage over reports that Australia secretly bugged ministerial deliberations in Dili in 2004 to gain leverage in negotiations on an oil and gas revenue-sharing deal.

On Tuesday, Australian intelligence agents raided the Canberra office of a lawyer representing East Timor in an arbitration case at The Hague over the deal.

East Timor says it won't be deterred from challenging the multi-billion dollar oil and gas treaty with Australia despite the raid.

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I'm not proud of drug use: Nigella

British celebrity chef Nigella Lawson says the idea that she is a habitual drug user is ridiculous. Source: AAP

NIGELLA Lawson has told a court she would rather be "honest and ashamed" than "bullied with lies" after revealing details of her past drug use.

The television chef said she was not proud after admitting she has taken cocaine and cannabis but denied her admission was damage limitation.

"I'm not proud of the fact I have taken drugs but that does not make me a drug addict or a habitual drug user," she said on Thursday.

Lawson said she objected to stories "peddled" by her ex-husband Charles Saatchi, including that he was checking her nose for cocaine when he was photographed gripping her throat outside Scott's restaurant in central London.

"The fact is, I would rather be honest and ashamed.... I wasn't going to be bullied with lies," she said.

"Mr Saatchi was not examining me for cocaine. That's a story he made up afterwards to clear his name."

Lawson was continuing her evidence in the fraud trial of two of her former personal assistants.

Wearing an all-black outfit, she was greeted by a huge pack of photographers, reporters and cameramen as she arrived for a second day at Isleworth Crown Court in west London.

Jurors were previously read an email sent to Lawson from Saatchi in which he said the defendants would get off on the basis that she was "so off her head" on drugs she allowed them to spend whatever they liked.

On Wednesday Lawson denied being a drug addict and spoke of the "intimate terrorism" she suffered at the hands of Mr Saatchi.

She said she first took the class A drug (cocaine) with her late husband John Diamond when he found out he had terminal cancer and on another occasion later during her troubled marriage to Mr Saatchi.

But the 53-year-old, who also admitted to smoking cannabis, said the idea that she is a "drug addict or habitual user of cocaine is absolutely ridiculous".

"I did not have a drug problem, I had a life problem," she said.

Francesca Grillo, 35, and her sister Elisabetta, sometimes referred to as Lisa, 41, are accused of committing fraud by abusing their positions by using a company credit card for personal gain.

Prosecutors claim the Italian sisters lived the "high life", spending the money on designer clothes and handbags from Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Vivienne Westwood.

The pair are accused of using credit cards loaned to them by the TV cook and her ex-husband to spend more than STG685,000 ($A1.25 million) on themselves between 2008 and 2012.

The Grillo sisters, of Kensington Gardens Square, Bayswater, west London, deny the charge against them.

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Fishing line causing havoc in Perth river

Purpose-built united are being installed around Perth to stop fishing waste entangling dolphins. Source: AAP

THERE are fears for one of the Swan River's beloved dolphins after he became entangled in thoughtlessly discarded fishing gear.

Fingers, who has been swimming up the waterway from Cockburn for the past 20 years, received life threatening injuries when his tail fluke became entangled in the gear and has not been seen since July.

The dolphin's fate was raised by Swan River Trust riverpark manager Chris Mather on Thursday as Perth's first ever fishing line disposal unit campaign was launched.

Three members of the river's small dolphin population had died as a result of injuries caused by fishing waste in the past five years, Mr Mather said.

"And many, many birds, swans and pelicans have also been tangled in fishing line, which has resulted in them being starved to death - that's unacceptable."

Fishing line left in the environment can take up to 600 years to decompose.

In response Recfishwest chief executive officer Andrew Rowland has urged the recreational fishing community to use 20 new purpose-built units being installed at Perth jetties, fishing platforms, traffic bridges and boat ramps.

These will allow the incineration of fishing line and hooks, and recycling of lead sinkers.

Apart from the disposal, all of the rubbish collected will be recorded, as part of a 12-month trial.

"Fishing line placed in bins can still find its way into the river through other means such as animals scavenging through bins and overflowing bins," Dr Rowland said.

"These specially designed fishing line units will eliminate this from happening."

The Swan River is one of the few waterways in the world where dolphins can be seen swimming right up to the edge of the city.

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Indigenous shake up on council's agenda

Improving children's school attendance is a top priority of the indigenous advisory council. Source: AAP

THE man charged with leading Tony Abbott's indigenous affairs shake up hopes to help reverse the trend of prime ministers leaving office regretting they didn't do enough for Australia's first people.

Former ALP president Warren Mundine, who chairs the prime minister's newly formed indigenous advisory council, and the body's 11 other members met with Mr Abbott for the first time in Canberra on Thursday.

Improving indigenous children's school attendance and educational levels is their top priority, followed by boosting employment opportunities and reviewing land ownership and other drivers of economic development.

Mr Abbott told the council they had a mammoth task ahead.

There has been much goodwill in recent years and lots of money spent but not enough change at the grassroots, he said.

"Let it not be said in three years' time that this was just another talkfest," Mr Abbott said.

"Let people be able to say ... that practical change is happening."

Mr Mundine said efforts to close the gap on Aboriginal disadvantage, social stability and empowering communities were key issues.

"We're going to be looking at that through economic and commercial eyes," Mr Mundine told AAP.

Mr Mundine hopes the advisory council can help reverse an historic trend.

"Every prime minister in our lifetime has left office and they have always said that one of the saddest things is they didn't do enough in this area," he said.

Council members include Westpac Bank chief executive Gail Kelly and Rio Tinto Australia managing director David Peever.

The council will also be involved in mining magnate Andrew Forrest's review of indigenous employment and training programs as well as a separate review into Indigenous Land Corporation and Indigenous Business Australia.

The federal government is reviewing two embattled government-funded indigenous bodies to determine if they should be merged.

The Land Corporation has been under fire for going $200 million into debt to purchase Ayers Rock Resort for $317 million in 2010.

The resort has hit financial woes, reporting losses of more than $100 million.

Indigenous Business Australia was last year warned not to hold conferences that looked like "junkets" after senior staff travelled to Gold Coast theme parks.

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Australia promises not to spy on Indonesia

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop gave Indonesia assurance Australia will not spy on Jakarta anymore. Source: AAP

AUSTRALIA has agreed to a six-point plan aimed at repairing relations with Indonesia, with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop also providing assurances during talks in Jakarta that the Abbott government will not deploy intelligence assets against its northern neighbour.

A so-called "hotline" will also be established in the hope of avoiding future diplomatic rows, it was announced on Thursday following high-level talks in Jakarta between Ms Bishop and Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa.

However, Dr Natalegawa also insisted that military and police co-operation, as well as sharing of intelligence, will not be restored until all six points in President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's roadmap are addressed.

He also refused to nominate a time-frame for discussions around the code of conduct which Dr Yudhoyono demanded in the wake of revelations his phone, and those of his wife and inner circle, were monitored by Australian spies in 2009.

Dr Natalegawa said he had already reported to the president following the talks, adding that Dr Yudhoyono had been pleased with the progress made at the meeting.

A more detailed report would later be given to Dr Yudhoyono, who was in East Java on Thursday, after which it would be decided if the discussions could move to step two in the president's roadmap - the drafting of the code of conduct.

"Essentially, the president expressed he was pleased that we were able to communicate today and he is pleased by the progress that has been made, and asked that further efforts be made (so) that we can address in full all the various bilateral issues that must be addressed," Dr Natalegawa said.

He refused to reveal if a more detailed explanation was given in relation to the spying activities that have seen relations between Jakarta and Canberra sink to their lowest point since the East Timor crisis in 2009.

"Certainly, our communication today helped elucidate some issues that were not specifically mentioned in the letter from the prime minister," Dr Natalegawa said.

Ms Bishop said after the talks, which came two weeks after the suspension in co-operation on November 26, both sides had expressed a commitment to restoring the relationship and building it to its fullest potential.

The foreign minister, for the first time, confirmed Australia had agreed to follow Dr Yudhoyono's roadmap to normalising relations, while also promising that the Abbott government would never undertake espionage activities in the future that might damage Indonesia.

"We note the steps set out by President Yudhoyono that must be taken in order to normalise the relationship and, of course, we agree to adhere to those steps," Ms Bishop said.

"Obviously we regret the events that lead to this situation. We regret the hurt caused to President Yudhoyono and to the Indonesian people.

"As Prime Minister (Tony) Abbott has said and I reiterate, the Abbott government will not undertake any act or use our assets and resources, including intelligence assets, in any way to harm Indonesia."

It was Ms Bishop's fourth trip to Indonesia since the Coalition won office three months ago but her first since details of the spying came to light.

Underlining the importance of the talks, Ms Bishop was accompanied by the former head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and now Defence Department secretary Dennis Richardson.

Peter Varghese, the secretary for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Andrew Shearer, who was the last foreign policy adviser in John Howard's office and currently a senior adviser for national security to Mr Abbott, have also made the trip to Jakarta.

Ms Bishop revealed that Australia had also agreed to Indonesia's suggestion that a hotline be established between herself and Dr Natalegawa, which would be aimed at avoiding or minimising diplomatic tensions in the future.

"We have agreed to establish a special communications channel, a hotline if you like, to ensure that we can resolve any issues in implementation, that we can avoid any unintended consequences," Ms Bishop said.

Dr Yudhoyono has demanded Australia sign up to the "code of ethics and protocols", insisting it is needed to map out the future bilateral relationship.

The president has insisted that the code of conduct must address the spying issue and contain protocols to ensure similar espionage activities do not occur again, and that it is signed by himself and Mr Abbott.

However, even if the code of conduct is implemented, there would be a period of evaluation, before Indonesia would agree to restoring co-operation in areas such as the military and police, including joint efforts aimed at combating people smuggling.

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Storm hits Europe, kills one in Scotland

GALE-FORCE winds have hit Scotland, causing a fatal truck accident, halting all trains and leaving tens of thousands of homes without electricity as much of northwestern Europe braced for a storm that was expected to bring flooding to coastal areas.

Winds gusting up to 229 kilometres per hour were measured overnight in the Scottish Highlands, and many roads and bridges were closed. All train services in Scotland were suspended; Network Rail spokesman Nick King said that "there's too much debris and too much damage to equipment to continue".

A truck driver was killed and four people were injured in an accident west of Edinburgh when high winds toppled his vehicle on to several cars, police said.

A number of flights serving Scotland were also cancelled, and power companies said up to 100,000 homes were without electricity.

Glasgow's central rail station was evacuated after debris smashed glass in the roof, though no one was hurt.

Weather forecasters predicted winds gusting up to 140km/h on Germany's North Sea coast. Britain's Environment Agency said tidal surges could bring "significant" coastal flooding, and the Thames Barrier was closed to protect London.

Ferry operators cancelled services to some of Germany's North Sea islands and the country's national railway, Deutsche Bahn, warned of likely disruption across a swathe of northern Germany.

The Netherlands braced for the storm by closing water barriers that protect the low-lying country from high tides. The Oosterscheldekering in the southwestern delta region of the country was being closed to protect the land behind it for the first time since 2007.

National carrier KLM cancelled dozens of flights to European airports as a precaution.

The German Weather Service said the storm front, which was gathering strength as it headed eastward from the Atlantic Ocean off Greenland, would also bring polar air to Europe - meaning that it could bring snow to low-lying areas.

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ICAC probe forces minister to quit cabinet

Senior NSW Liberal Chris Hartcher has quit cabinet after corruption investigators raided his office. Source: AAP

SENIOR NSW minister Chris Hartcher has quit cabinet after his offices were raided by investigators in a corruption probe that has been brewing on the central coast for months.

Mr Hartcher, the Liberal member for Terrigal, stood down as energy minister on Wednesday after his Erina office was raided by Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) investigators.

Mr Hartcher says he's confident he will clear his name.

"This is the first contact I have had with the ICAC and given that their investigations have thus far had an unknown timeframe, it is appropriate that I resign," he said in a statement.

The ICAC search follows raids on the offices of two other central coast Liberal MPs, Chris Spence and Darren Webber.

In September, computers and documents were reportedly seized after claims of irregular donations to central coast Liberals.

It's been reported that a trust fund was used to solicit and collect money from developers.

Last year Tim Koelma, a senior member of Mr Hartcher's staff resigned over the allegations.

His electorate officer Ray Carter was suspended.

Both men have denied any wrongdoing.

The NSW opposition says Mr Hartcher should be suspended from the Liberal party until the ICAC investigation is finished.

Opposition Leader John Robertson says the O'Farrell cabinet is in crisis, having now lost three ministers in the past four months.

Finance Minister Greg Pearce was sacked in an unrelated incident in August and Sports Minister Graham Annesley resigned the same month and took a job with NRL club Gold Coast.

"(Premier) Barry O'Farrell's front bench is unravelling," he said.

"This government is now more focused on its internal workings and what is going on on the frontbench than it is in dealing with the issues that are important to the people of NSW."

Mr O'Farrell, who is in India, supported Mr Hartcher's decision.

In a statement he thanked Mr Hartcher for his service, "in particular for his success in bringing electricity prices under control".

The NSW Greens welcomed Mr Hartcher's departure, saying it was an opportunity to install someone other than a "one-eyed supporter of coal and coal seam gas over renewable energy".

"Minister Hartcher was a poor minister who held many people ... in contempt," Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham told AAP.

"We're pleased to see the back of him."

Mr Hartcher's move triggered a front bench reshuffle.

Fair Trading Minister Anthony Roberts will be appointed Acting Minister for Resources and Energy, Special Minister of State and Minister for the Central Coast.

Stuart Ayres, the member for Penrith, will fill the vacant ministry position and will be sworn in on Monday.

ICAC would not confirm details of its investigation.

However, officials were seen at Mr Hartcher's Erina electorate office and the ABC sighted a note on the front door apologising that the office was "temporarily closed".

Donations from developers were banned in 2009 by then Labor premier Nathan Rees in response to the Wollongong Council sex for developments scandal.

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Greens secure deal on debt ceiling

The Greens have secured a deal with the federal government to scrap the national debt ceiling. Source: AAP

THE Australian Greens have secured a deal with the federal government to scrap the national debt ceiling.

Leader Christine Milne has released details of the agreement, which also includes requirements for further debt reporting in the budget and other documents relating to the budget position.

As well, the government will deliver a debt statement when its borrowings increase by $50 billion.

"It's a good outcome," Senator Milne said.

The Greens' negotiations had secured a higher lever of federal government debt reporting and it could no longer use the issue "as a figleaf for budget" spending cuts.

"The Greens have always been at the heart of responsible economic management," she said.

The new arrangements are likely to be in place from the 2014/15 budget due in May.

The agreement means the government will be able to get its legislation through the Senate with Greens support.

It also signals the end of a long-running argument over initial plans by Treasurer Joe Hockey to increase the debt ceiling from $300 billion to $500 billion.

The current ceiling was due to be reached by December 12.

Labor had opposed a $200 billion rise, offering the government a $100 billion increase instead.

Mr Hockey rejected Labor's proposal, saying Australia needed a buffer in case of an emergency.

Senator Milne said the Abbott government gave the Greens most of what they asked for to secure the deal.

"Yes, pretty much," she said.

It's a victory for the coalition, which is facing hurdles on other unrelated legislation in the Senate where the Greens and Labor have the numbers if they combine.

Senator Milne did not think the revised debt legislation would go through until next week.

The debt ceiling was introduced in 2008 by the former Labor government.

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Facebook says users connect with brands

Facebook has defended the presence of commercial brands on the popular social networking site. Source: AAP

FACEBOOK has defended the presence of commercial brands on the popular social networking site, saying users aren't "revolting" against it.

Facebook on Wednesday released a detailed breakdown of Australian user figures for 2013, showing nine million Aussies visited the site every day.

The data, from the site's 2013 Aussies on Facebook research, showed 12 million Aussies logged on to the site at least once a month.

At a media briefing in Sydney, Facebook Australia's head of measurements and insight, Helen Crossley, said 63 per cent of local users regularly "connected with brands" on the site.

She said Facebook had no problem with that.

"We want to help people connect to the brands that matter to them," Ms Crossley told reporters.

"It's actually OK for brands to be in the news feed ... We don't really see that people are revolting against that at this stage.

"We see that people are increasingly connecting with brands."

She said 69 per cent of users logged on to Facebook to stay in touch with family and friends, with 80 per cent of users accessing it via mobile phone.

The data, compiled by research firm TNS, also showed Facebook users spent 12 per cent of their total media consumption time on the site.

Thirty-three per cent of users engaged with politics on the site, while 40 per cent posted news articles and 32 per cent used it to keep up with current affairs.

Ms Crossley said users were most likely to log into the site between 2pm and 5pm, or after 8pm.

Aussies accessed the site at work, on holidays, at school and even in bed, the data showed.

In a blog post earlier this week, Facebook reportedly said it was revising the way it delivered information to its billion-plus users.

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Abbott defends ADM-GrainCorp decision

Labor has stepped up its attack on the government's rejection of a foreign takeover of GrainCorp. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has defended his treasurer's call on the attempted foreign takeover of GrainCorp, telling a high-level business audience that good government is about pragmatic idealism, not perfection.

The federal opposition on Wednesday stepped up its attack on the government's rejection of the foreign takeover bid, with shadow treasurer Chris Bowen claiming Treasurer Joe Hockey blocked the deal due to political pressure and his decision would cost jobs.

"I do not see the national interest test was properly invoked in this instance," Mr Bowen told the National Press Club.

He said he would have approved the deal based on the available information.

Mr Hockey last week blocked the $3.4 billion takeover of GrainCorp by American agribusiness Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) after deciding it was contrary to the national interest.

Farm groups and the government's junior partner the National Party had campaigned heavily against the deal, which would have given ADM control of 85 per cent of Australia's east coast grain ports.

Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board examines all major foreign investment proposals and must decide if they are contrary to a loosely defined "national interest" test.

However, the treasurer of the day must make the final decision.

On Wednesday evening, Mr Abbott was in Sydney to attend a gala dinner hosted by the Business Council of Australia.

"The coalition in opposition tried to stop a government from breaking its election commitments. The current opposition is trying to stop a government from keeping its election commitments," he told the audience.

"Yes, the coalition has knocked back one - just one - foreign investment application out of more than 130 received, but I do want to stress that foreign investment applications will always be considered on their merits and approved where it is in the national interest to do so."

Alison Watkins, the Graincorp CEO who announced her resignation after the takeover bid was knocked back and is set to take up a position with Coca-Cola Amatil, was among those in the audience.

"If I may say so, only from the outside does government mostly seem a matter of choosing right from wrong," Mr Abbott said.

"On the inside, it much more often involves choosing the greater good, or the lesser evil - getting the best possible outcome, not necessarily the perfect one."

Mr Bowen - who also attended the dinner - has claimed the takeover rejection did not pass "the common sense test".

"Clearly this was a decision frankly that was taken for political reasons," he said earlier on Wednesday.

"I'm not entirely sure it was a decision that Joe Hockey didn't have foisted upon him. It's a decision which he claims to be his own. If it is his own, it is a particularly weak one."

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Bieber gives injured Vic fan private show

Pop megastar Justin Bieber has performed a secret, intimate concert for an injured Melbourne fan. Source: AAP

POP megastar Justin Bieber has performed a secret, intimate concert for a Melbourne fan whose dreams of seeing him perform were shattered, along with her spine, in a horrific car accident last month.

Friends of Melbourne teen Kate O'Neill launched a social media campaign to encourage the Canadian teen idol to visit Ms O'Neill who had saved thousands of dollars to be able to attend all of his Australian concerts.

The 19-year-old, whose Twitter account @BieberMelbourne has more than 29,000 followers, tweeted on Wednesday morning that it was the best day of her life, after she received a tweet from the official Justin Bieber account.

At the time, she had no idea of the surprise that lay ahead.

"Not even the amount of pain I am in right now can ruin this for me," Ms O'Neill wrote on Wednesday morning.

Ms O'Neill is still in hospital recovering from her injuries, which include broken ribs, a fractured spine, internal bleeding and lacerations to her kidney and liver.

"If I meet Justin I will hug him so tight IDGAF (I don't give a f**k) about my broken spike (spine) and broken ribs," she tweeted on Wednesday morning.

"I thought this was going to be the worst week of my life but Justin has made it the best! I can't believe this I am so happy!"

On Wednesday afternoon, a car transferred Ms O'Neill from hospital to a private studio where Bieber performed an impromptu acoustic set for her and 50 other fans.

After his performance, Bieber said he loved his "Beliebers" who do so much for him.

"It was so special to be able to give something back, especially to an amazing fan like Kate," Bieber said.

Then he asked Ms O'Neill to kiss him on the cheek.

Ms O'Neill was quoted in a release from Bieber's management as saying the concert had been amazing.

But it was on Twitter that she revealed her true excitement:

"AHWSJJDJEIDIEJHSJWSIYWUWOWODHJWIDIWBB BEST DAY OF MY LIFE I CANT BREATHE OMFG JUSTIN AND THE CREW ARE SO PERFECT SVSJJSDJJSJDJSDISIWJDJWJS," she wrote.

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Court ruling won't stop first gay marriage

The High Court has reserved its ruling on the validity of the ACT's same sex marriage laws. Source: AAP

SAME-SEX couples have a small window of opportunity to marry under ACT law, with the High Court due to rule on the validity of the legislation five days after it comes into effect.

The Commonwealth has challenged the ACT's Marriage Equality Bill, which passed in October, arguing that marriage is governed solely by federal law and that "uniform and exhaustive" national regulation should remain.

"If you ask a question 'who can a person marry?' the sole answer is in the federal law," Australian Solicitor-General Justin Gleeson, SC, told the court on Tuesday.

"A man and a woman can marry ... you cannot marry a person under age or if a person is in a previous state of marriage."

He said the Marriage Act is based on important elements of Australian Federation and couples bound by it have access to "matrimonial clauses", including divorce.

"(The ACT law) is not to be construed to be so extensive to allow the Territory to impose laws which alter, impair or detract from federal law," Mr Gleeson said.

Such a law would be "repugnant to the grandeur of power", he added.

But ACT Solicitor-General Peter Garrisson, SC, defended the Territory bill and said it can sit "alongside" federal law without detriment.

"It doesn't touch with the Marriage Act as it currently stands because that covers a particular form of relationship (between a man and a woman)," he said.

While the Marriage Act excludes the union of people on the grounds of age and bigamy, it does not rule out same-sex couples, said human rights lawyer Kate Eastman, SC, acting for the ACT.

"For certainty, one would expect to see in the category of relationships that would give rise to a void relationship, a union between a man and a man or a woman and woman," Ms Eastman said.

The lack of such prohibition means the Commonwealth has not legislated to prevent states and territories introducing laws parallel to the Marriage Act, she added.

After hearing a day of submissions, the court's full bench reserved its judgment until December 12.

The announcement was welcome news for Australian Marriage Equality member Ivan Hinton who anxiously watched the hearing ahead of a Saturday ceremony when he will marry his partner of 11 years, Chris Teoh.

The new laws require a "notice of intent" to be lodged by couples at least a month before a ceremony overseen by an accredited celebrant.

The earliest possible date for ceremonies is Saturday, when Mr Hinton said he knows of at least 12 same-sex couples planning to marry in Canberra.

"I didn't want to let Saturday pass without celebrating our relationship," he said.

If the court overturns the ACT law, it is unclear what status will be afforded to couples who have already married.

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Milne says debt talks with govt continuing

Greens Leader Christine Milne says talks are continuing to resolve the debt ceiling row. Source: AAP

AUSTRALIAN Greens leader Christine Milne has spoken to Treasurer Joe Hockey about a proposal to scrap the national debt ceiling.

The government's original plan to lift the ceiling by $200 billion to $500 billion has been opposed by Labor and the Greens which want it limited to $400 billion.

However, the Greens are prepared to let the government scrap the ceiling in exchange for greater transparency in what debt is actually being raised for.

Senator Milne confirmed on Tuesday talks with the government on this option are continuing.

"It is mainly at the officer level but I had a conversation with the treasurer last night and we will be having ongoing conversations," she told Sky News.

The current $300 billion limit will be hit on December 12.

Senator Milne rejected government claims there could be a looming crisis, saying the coalition could accept the Greens' offer to raise the ceiling to $400 billion.

"They're the ones who have created this whole silly theatre on debt," she said.

The government's legislation remains in the Senate awaiting further debate.

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NSW minister defends bushfire recovery

The NSW government struck a Blue Mountains bushfire clean-up agreement with insurance giant Allianz. Source: AAP

THE NSW government has struck a Blue Mountains bushfire clean-up agreement with insurance giant Allianz, but the mayor says recovery efforts are dragging.

NSW Services Minister Andrew Constance on Tuesday toured the devastated communities west of Sydney.

An operation to clean up those homes destroyed in the October fires has been underway since last week.

"Pleasingly, the NSW government has today reached an agreement with Allianz for them to also get on with the clean up of properties," Mr Constance said in a statement.

He said the NRMA and Suncorp were already working on a combined 15 sites.

"It will be months as opposed to weeks by the time this work is complete," he told Fairfax Radio.

"That's the experience in places such as Tasmania, where it took five months to clean up after their fire emergency last year."

Mayor Mark Greenhill welcomed the extension, and news that Allianz had reached an agreement with the government.

But he says the clean up approach taken in the mountains is "fundamentally wrong", and Blue Mountains residents have waited longer to see work start than those affected in major bushfires elsewhere.

"Nearly seven weeks after the fires, we've had no blocks completely cleared," he told AAP.

"We know it's going to take a long time to do - the point is it's taken them a long time to start."

Mr Greenhill has called for a single contractor to handle the recovery, and will take it up with Mr Constance when the minister attends a community meeting in Winmalee on Thursday.

Blue Mountains recovery co-ordinator Phil Koperberg's role has been extended until the end of January.

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PM puts refugee convention in spotlight

Tony Abbott has raised the prospect of Australia leaving the United Nations refugee convention. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has raised the prospect of Australia leaving the United Nations refugee convention after a key plank of the government's border protection plan was scuttled in the Senate.

The Labor opposition and Australian Greens voted in the Senate late on Monday night to overturn temporary protection visas (TPVs).

Mr Abbott, who has been under significant pressure on federal schools funding, described Labor MPs as "wreckers and vandals" who were giving the Australian people a "two-fingered salute" by blocking government bills.

He threatened to make the House of Representatives sit until Christmas to pass new yet-to-be-revealed laws to make up for the axing of TPVs, as well as to repeal the carbon and mining taxes and raise the debt ceiling to $500 billion.

"I don't think the Labor party should get a free pass at Christmas time if it's not prepared to accept that the people voted a certain way," Mr Abbott said.

The refugee convention could also be in the firing line, despite Mr Abbott saying the government respected it.

"We think it's important that it be dealt with properly and we'll have more to say on this in the days and weeks ahead," Mr Abbott said.

The prime minister has previously expressed concerns with the way the convention, which Australia ratified in 1954, had been "imported into Australian law".

Withdrawing from the convention could damage Australia's regional and international reputation, especially as it is currently a member of the UN Security Council and is hosting the G20 summit in 2014.

Convention signatories are obliged to give refugees certain rights, such as the right not to be returned to persecution against their will.

The convention also lays down basic minimum standards for the treatment of refugees, including access to courts, primary education and work.

In July, then prime minister Kevin Rudd suggested the convention's scope needed broadening to bring it into line with modern-day refugee movement.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten kept Labor's focus in parliament on schools funding, quizzing Mr Abbott on the details of what the prime minister described as a national agreement with the states and territories.

Asked whether the government would keep Labor's $1-for-$2 rate of co-contribution with the states, Mr Abbott said: "I am responsible for what the commonwealth does."

Education Minister Christopher Pyne said the coalition's deal would make schools more than $1 billion better off over four years, without Labor's "red tape".

Greens deputy leader Adam Bandt, whose party is in talks with the coalition to find a way of passing the debt ceiling laws, said Mr Abbott needed to take a more constructive approach to all of its bills.

"Tony Abbott needs to understand that it wasn't just the last parliament that was a minority parliament - this one is, too," Mr Bandt said.

The Greens may allow the debt ceiling bill to pass the Senate if it is amended to abolish the ceiling altogether and the government agrees to be transparent about what any new debt is for.

Labor's manager of opposition business Tony Burke said the opposition was unfazed by Mr Abbott's threat to extend parliament until the end of the year. "We're all for it," he said.

Labor and Greens have vowed to block the carbon and mining tax repeal bills, which are aimed at abolishing both taxes from July 1, 2014.

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Mandela portrait breaks SA record

JOHANNESBURG Dec 3 AP - A photographic portrait of Nelson Mandela has been bought by a private art collector in New York for $US200,000 ($A220,276), the highest price ever paid for a local portrait, organisers say.

The money will be donated to the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital, currently under construction in Johannesburg, and to the World Wildlife Fund. The portrait is part of a series of 21 portraits of South African icons.

The portrait, by 21 Icons creator and photographer Adrian Steirn, depicts Nelson Mandela's face reflected in a mirror.

"I wanted Madiba to hold a mirror so that we could see a man reflecting on his life. As he reflects on his life, we reflect on his legacy and our future," Steirn said, using Mandela's clan name.

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New Jersey honours Soprano actor

CAST members of The Sopranos were on hand as a New Jersey town remembered native son James Gandolfini.

Park Ridge dedicated a section of Park Avenue to the actor best known for his role as mobster Tony Soprano in the TV series.

Gandolfini died in Italy in June.

Cast members Steve Schirripa, Vincent Curatola, Tony Sirico, Dominic Chianese, Vincent Pastore and John Ventimiglia were among the hundreds of people who turned out on Sunday in the northern New Jersey town where Gandolfini grew up and returned often.

The Record newspaper reports that Gandolfini's 14-year-old son, Michael, said he would never forget eating with his father at a nearby diner. He said his father told him about every place in the town.

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New government body to tackle diabetes

THE federal government is working on a new strategy to tackle the diabetes epidemic, says Health Minister Peter Dutton.

At the opening of a major World Diabetes Conference in Melbourne on Monday, he said an expert advisory group would be set up to meet the challenges of one of the nation's most serious health issues.

"Too many Australians have diabetes", Mr Dutton said.

"More than four per cent of the population have a diagnosed diabetes condition and a further one per cent have diabetes and don't know it."

Mr Dutton also announced support for children with type 1 diabetes as well as an additional $35 million to support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

An additional $1.4 million would be invested in the diabetes insulin pump program, which would help more than 200 children and their families with subsidised access to insulin pumps over the next year.

The International Diabetes Federation said Australia was one of the first governments to make "such a public commitment to attacking the pandemic of diabetes".

"Coming at the start of our conference with over 10,000 delegates from more than 200 countries it sets an example that many countries should follow," it said in a statement.

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ALP buys time to defend clean energy bank

The government expects the carbon tax repeal bills to be passed by the Senate before Christmas. Source: AAP

LABOR has disrupted the coalition government's push to fast-track the carbon tax repeal laws through the Senate, buying more time to debate the merit of abolishing two climate change agencies.

The government's package of repeal laws faced an early hurdle on Monday, with Labor being granted extra time to defend the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) and Climate Change Authority (CCA).

The opposition had demanded the opportunity to speak in support of these two agencies, which also face the chop along with the carbon tax under the government's package of 11 bills.

But manager of government business Mitch Fifield moved a motion calling for the bills to be considered together, angering opposition senators who claimed the process was being rushed.

With the support of the Australian Greens and DLP senator John Madigan, Labor defeated the motion and successfully moved an amendment so the CEFC and CCA repeal bills will be debated separately.

Labor senate leader Penny Wong it was vital the upper house debated the merit of scrapping the CEFC, given it had delivered carbon abatement at a negative cost.

"What that means ... is that taxpayers actually make money out of this," she said, adding it would cost the public purse to scrap the corporation.

Greens leader Christine Milne said it was important the coalition was forced to explain its reasons for scrapping the CEFC and CCA, the latter which provides climate change advice to the government.

Government Senate Leader Eric Abetz said the CEFC used $10 billion in borrowed money to fund risky ventures, and accused Labor of using every trick possible to delay the inevitable.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott wants the bills put to a Senate vote before Christmas, but Labor and the Greens look set to frustrate that wish.

Debate on the repeal bills has adjourned.

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Senate quashes temporary visas

The Greens have urged Labor to back their attempts to scrap temporary protection visas. Source: AAP

THE Senate has scuttled the coalition government's reintroduction of temporary protection visas.

Labor and the Greens teamed up on Monday night to pass a disallowance motion in the Senate, 36 votes to 26, to quash the controversial visas.

The coalition government reintroduced temporary protection visas via regulation in October as a key plank of its hardline Operation Sovereign Borders policy aimed at discouraging asylum seeker boat journeys.

It must now wait for six months to reintroduce regulation of the same substance.

Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young told the chamber the government's cruelty should not harm the hearts of people who have suffered so much already.

"No longer will these refugees have to live in limbo," she said.

"These visas never worked as a deterrent, they only punished the most vulnerable."

Assistant Minister for Immigration Michaelia Cash said if Labor supported the motion it proved they stood for nothing more than "promulgating the people smugglers' business model".

"The choice for the opposition is very clear," she said, before going on to attack the previous Labor government's "disastrous legacy" on asylum seeker boat arrivals.

Labor frontbencher Kim Carr told the chamber Labor supported the motion because the visas could result in further tragedies.

"TPVs act as a magnate for women and children... such is the desperation of people seeking to be reunited with their loved ones," Senator Carr said, explaining that the visas remove scope for family reunions.

The temporary visas were used during the Howard government era.

They gave refugees protection for up to three years and banned them from applying for permanent protection.

Labor abolished the visas in August 2008.

Monday's outcome was slammed by Immigration Minister Scott Morrison who vows to press on with the coalition's commitments to fight people smuggling.

"The vote to abolish TPVs (temporary protection visas) is a vote to deliver on the promise of people smugglers to more than 33,000 people who turned up illegally on boats," Mr Morrison said in a statement issued late on Monday.

He added that the backlog of asylum seekers waiting to be issued with visas under Labor's system will not be settled by the coalition.

"We will be keeping our promise to deny permanent residence to those who arrived illegally by boat, whether they turned up three months ago or three years ago."

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Alleged bikie charged after Qld fight

AN alleged Hells Angels bikie has been arrested over a fight in a Gold Coast car park.

Police were called to a fight involving four men in a car park at Burleigh Heads at 4pm (AEST) on November 20.

One man was allegedly armed with an iron bar.

Officers arrived and stopped two men trying to get away in a car.

An alleged Hells Angels gang member became the fourth person to be charged over the fight.

Police said on Monday night a 37-year-old man was arrested at Mermaid Waters.

The man, from Clear Island Waters, has been charged with affray and drug possession.

He will appear in Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Three other alleged bikie members have been charged over the incident.

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Death toll up to 26 in Syrian strike

THE death toll from a Syrian helicopter strike on a rebel-held town near the northern city of Aleppo has risen to 26, activists said.

President Bashar Assad's forces have been hitting rebel-held areas in the north hard in recent days, according to activists. They say such strikes often precede government offensives.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the aircraft targeted a compound of the rebel group known as the Tawhid Brigade in the town of al-Bab. The bombs missed their target and hit the Nafasin market instead, killing 26 people, most of them civilians and including four children. Three of those who died in the attack were rebel fighters, said Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Observatory.

A government offensive in the north would be the latest push by Assad's forces to recapture territory ahead of peace talks planned for January in Geneva. The opposition currently holds large swathes of territory in the north, including along the border with Turkey, as well as whole districts of Aleppo, Syria's largest city and its commercial centre.

The Observatory group initially reported six dead from the Saturday's attack. It raised the death toll to 26 on Sunday when it received more information on the attack from activists on the ground.

The Tawhid Brigade is one of Syria's best known and powerful rebel groups, with an estimated 10,000 fighters. It's particularly strong in Aleppo province.

AP wf

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New inquiry into Qld law and order

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has launched a new inquiry into tough-on-crime laws. Source: AAP

QUEENSLANDERS will have a say on what they think should be the Newman government's next tough-on-crime laws.

The government has introduced a raft of contentious legislation this year, including mandatory sentences for outlaw bikies and new powers for the attorney-general to jail dangerous sex offenders indefinitely.

Premier Campbell Newman says the state's parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee will hold an inquiry to identify what law-enforcement agencies should do next.

They will hold hearings across the state for several months from February.

"It will give all Queenslanders the opportunity to talk about what we do next to protect our community," Mr Newman said.

"The way the courts are working, the Crime and Misconduct Commission and police are operating and the laws that the parliament have put in place."

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Flume sweeps ARIAS with four awards

Singer Guy Sebastian is an early winner at the ARIA awards in Sydney taking out best pop release. Source: AAP

ELECTRONIC wunderkind Flume has swept the 2013 ARIAs with awards in four categories including Best Male Artist, hailing it a victory for people with bad voices.

But it was also a big night for Perth psychedelic rockers Tame Impala who were named Best Group and took out Album of the Year and Best Rock Album for Lonerism.

The 22-year-old producer/remixer Flume, whose real name is Harley Streten, also won Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Best Dance Release on Sunday night.

He already took home Producer of the Year in October.

Flume acknowledged he was breaking the ARIA mould but said electronic music was "killing it right now".

"Do you know the really coolest thing about winning this is? I'm a producer, I don't even sing," he said.

"I actually did a bit of research and found out that never in the history of the ARIAs has someone who doesn't sing won this award.

"I'm not a frontman. I prefer to spend my time sitting in a dark room, in front of a laptop.

"So hopefully it opens the floodgates for producers around Oz and people with bad voices in general."

Jessica Mauboy topped off a big year by winning Best Female Artist.

It's the second ARIA award for the singer and actor, who has been nominated for 10 to date.

She won an ARIA for highest selling single with Running Back in 2009 but missed Best Female in 2012 when Kimbra won.

Mauboy accepted the award from US superstar Alicia Keys on Sunday.

"Shut the gate, I'm just going to say it - this is so deadly," the indigenous performer said.

"We are so deadly in this country, man, and we forget that."

Guy Sebastian also took home two awards, winning best pop release for his album Armageddon and Best Australian Live Act.

The awards had vindicated him, he said.

"This year best live act is unbelievable to win - it means I kind of sing in tune and put on a bit of a show."

Veterans Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds' album Push The Sky Away took out the award for Best Adult Contemporary Album, just moments after it was named Best Independent Release.

Cave, who wasn't in Australia to receive the award, accepted the gongs via video.

Five-piece Perth band Karnivool won Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal album with Asymmetry.

"First up thanks ARIA for the 'bogan' award," guitarist and founding member Andrew Goddard said.

Country crooners Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson won Best Country Album.

The duo, whose marriage has broken down, took out the award with Wreck and Ruin, a warts-and-all look at married life.

Best Blues and Roots Album was won by Russell Morris for Sharkmouth.

Seventies soft rockers Air Supply were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame and received a Lifetime Achievement award.

Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock thanked everyone who had knocked their "drippy love songs" over the years.

"Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart," Lead guitarist Graham Russell said.

"Without you we never would have learned how to get up and fight back."

Award for the shortest speech of the night should have gone to Sydney singer/songwriter Matt Corby, who won Song of the Year with Resolution.

"It's an honour ,I don't really have much to say. have a good night."

Boy band One Direction won Best International Artist, edging out Taylor Swift and Pink.

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Shots fired at home in Sydney's west

POLICE are appealing for information after shots were fired at a home in Sydney's west.

About 8.45pm on Sunday, police were called to a house on Reserve Street at Smithfield.

A number of bullets were fired into a home but no one was injured.

Police believe the attack may have been targeted.

A crime scene has been established and police are searching the area.

Anyone who witnessed suspicious activity at the time of the shooting is urged to contact police.

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Elderly dementia sufferer missing in Vic

AN elderly woman with dementia is missing after she left a hospital in Melbourne on Sunday.

Dorothy Tullier, 84, left the Alfred Hospital at 2.30pm (AEDT) but has not been seen since.

Police have concerns for her welfare as she suffers from dementia and can become quite confused.

She is caucasian, medium build, 160cm tall and has medium length grey hair.

She was last seen wearing brown pants, a beige winter jacket, slip on shoes and was carrying a beige handbag.

Anyone who sees Dorothy is urged to call 000.

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