Former fiery killed in Vic plane crash

A FORMER senior Victorian firefighter who died in a light plane crash in the state's north has been remembered as a much-loved community member.

Peter Brereton from Euroa in north-east Victoria has been identified as the pilot who died after his light plane crashed in Victoria's alpine region.

The wreckage of the single-engine Cessna was found by a search helicopter about 20km west of Mt Hotham on Thursday morning.

Mr Brereton had been in the Country Fire Authority (CFA) for 39 years and was a former officer in charge of the Shepparton fire brigade.

He was on long-service leave pending retirement at the time of the crash, where he was understood to be doing private work to help out with the NSW bushfire effort.

CFA regional director for the Hume region, Peter O'Keefe, said Mr Brereton was highly regarded among his colleagues.

"He was one of our much respected senior officers in the CFA," Mr O'Keefe said.

"Peter was a very capable, thorough and much respected crew member, greatly experienced and a very thorough and thoughtful person.

"By virtue of his job, he was well known, well respected, much loved and he'll be sadly missed."

Mr O'Keefe said one of Mr Brereton's passions was flying and he was an experienced pilot.

"He did have that passion. He'd flown planes all around Australia," he said.

Mr Brereton's plane went missing after it took off from Moruya on the far south coast of NSW at 8.15am (AEDT) on Wednesday and never made it to its destination at Mangalore Airport, about two hours north of Melbourne.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating.

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Don't play politics with RBA, Wong says

The opposition has accused Treasurer Joe Hockey of playing politics with the Reserve Bank. Source: AAP

THE opposition has accused Treasurer Joe Hockey of playing politics with the Reserve Bank of Australia, while a former RBA board member says the treasurer's predecessor, Wayne Swan, is guilty of economic vandalism.

Mr Hockey this week announced a one-off $8.8 billion grant to the RBA to buffer it against what he said was an volatile economic environment.

The treasurer described it as a necessary measure that should have been taken by the former Labor government, which instead withdrew "extraordinary" dividends from the RBA and weakened its position.

That sparked an angry response from former finance minister Penny Wong on Thursday, who accused Mr Hockey of playing politics with the RBA.

The central bank should be above politics, she said.

"It really demonstrates that Joe hasn't quite made the transition from opposition to being the treasurer of the Commonwealth of Australia," Senator Wong told Sky News.

"The suggestion that he made that this was because, that Labor somehow had been asked for this, or that Labor had somehow done something wrong in relation to the RBA isn't correct.

Warwick McKibbin, whose 10 year tenure on the RBA board was not extended by Mr Swan in July 2011, later told ABC's 730 on Thursday that the year his term expired the RBA had made a large loss due to the high Australian dollar.

The following year there was a small profit of over a billion dollars, he said.

"The treasurer was requested not to extract that from the balance sheet of the bank," he said.

"He ignored that request and took half a billion dollars so that he could reach the budget surplus in 2012/13.

"That to me is economic vandalism."

Mr Swan, who was judged by Euromoney magazine in 2011 as the world's greatest Treasurer, told 730 he was not surprised by Mr McKibbin's criticism after not reappointing him to the RBA board.

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NSW bushfire crisis refuses to let up

The RFS Commissioner became emotional as he spoke of the firefighter pilot who was killed in NSW. Source: AAP

A FIREFIGHTING pilot has become the second fatality of the NSW bushfire crisis as the biggest blaze in the state edged closer to homes.

The 43-year-old pilot was killed when his fixed wing waterbomber crashed in rugged country on the south coast on Thursday morning as he fought a blaze near Ulladulla.

Fires prevented rescue crews retrieving his body from the difficult terrain.

A day after lauding the great work of firefighters who averted the greatest threat of the week-long crisis on Wednesday, Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons became emotional as he spoke of tragedy.

"We've suffered a huge tragedy on one of our firegrounds today," said Mr Fitzsimmons, who lost his own father fighting a fire 13 years ago.

"It's a tragedy for the fire fighting community but first and foremost it's a tragedy for this man's family.

"He's a husband with young children and we're all acutely aware that there's a family suffering today because their dad didn't come home."

Mr Fitzsimmons said the father of three, who was a contractor for the RFS, was doing extraordinary work and "making a real difference to his community."

"It's a sober reminder just how dangerous fire fighting can be."

Some 60 bushfires continued to burn across NSW and tiny bush communities on the fringes of the Blue Mountains spent much of the day on emergency notice as the massive State Mine Fire flared up.

The State Mine Fire has burned through nearly 50,000 hectares since it was sparked during an army explosives training operation near Lithgow last week.

Waterbombing operations in the area have helped crews gain the upper hand and the fire was downgraded back to watch and act early on Thursday evening.

Mr Fitzsimmons said the tiny communities of Mount Irvine and Mount Wilson had been forced to shelter in place because fire had blocked major access roads, while residents from Berambing and Mount Tomah were able to flee east towards Bilpin.

The Department of Defence apologised on Thursday for starting the State Mine Fire, which has already destroyed three homes.

Acting Chief of Defence, Air Marshall Mark Binskin, said a small fire that started during a routine training exercise at Marrangaroo on October 16 was responsible for the blaze.

"I do apologise, because it has been identified that this fire was the start of this mine fire," he told reporters at RFS headquarters in Sydney on Thursday.

Defence has launched its own investigation into the incident.

Defence personnel acted quickly after an explosion sparked a small blaze but were hampered by the live ordnance around them.

"This was not deliberately starting a fire, this was an accident as part of a training activity on a day there wasn't a fire ban," Air Marshall Binskin told reporters.

He said Defence was "not shying from our responsibilities" but stopped short of offering compensation to those affected by the bushfire.

An RFS spokesman has warned there will be little respite for communities who have been on edge for over a week and for the 1400 firefighters still on the job.

He told reporters late on Thursday that high fire danger weather was likely to linger for at least the next three or four days.

He conceded any residents who are asked to leave their homes yet again may become "frustrated" but he's urged people in bushfire areas to continue to heed official warnings, saying the danger remains real.

Governor General Quentin Bryce will tour bushfire hit parts of the mountains on Friday.

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Mackenzie backs BHP's green credentials

Andrew Mackenzie has defended BHP's environmental credentials in the face of criticism. Source: AAP

BHP Billiton boss Andrew Mackenzie has defended the resource giant's environmental credentials in the face of criticism from a former chairman of the Australian Coal Association.

Ian Dunlop, now an environmental campaigner, is standing for election to the company's board claiming BHP doesn't understand the threat posed by dangerous climate change.

"Climate change is relevant to us all," Mr Mackenzie said on Thursday at the company's AGM in London.

"As a significant user of energy, we are working to drive down our greenhouse gas intensity and we are seeing results.

"Our current emissions are below our 2006 baseline despite the substantial growth of our business since then."

Mr Mackenzie, addressing his first AGM as chief executive after replacing Marius Kloppers earlier this year, insisted "we are environmentally responsible".

BHP is Melbourne-based, but is listed in both Australia and London. The Australian AGM will be held in November in Perth.

The company is urging shareholder's to vote against Mr Dunlop's bid.

Chairman Jac Nasser on Thursday told the AGM that BHP looked out at least five years when planning for board succession.

"We are confident that our board renewal process ensures that we have the right blend of skills, experience and perspectives critical to the effective oversight of BHP Billiton on behalf of shareholders," Mr Nasser said.

BHP's net profit plunged by 30 per cent in the 2012/13 financial year to $US10.9 billion ($A12.03 billion).

Weaker commodity prices were the main cause and the company is slashing costs and capital expenditure in response.

However, Mr Nasser said in London that BHP continues to expected the Chinese economy to grow at more than seven per cent next year.

"China, and other emerging economies, will be the major drivers of economic growth in the long term which could deliver up to a 75 per cent increase in demand for some commodities over the next 15 years."

The chairman said the company was "confident" of continued recovery in the United States while conditions in Europe "remain challenging".

Mr Mackenzie said while the 2012/13 financial year was challenging "we are already seeing signs of recovery in the global economy".

"Our focus on productivity is extracting more value from existing operations," the chief executive said.

Mr Mackenzie said that in terms of write-downs there had been a prolonged period of low levels of profitability and price in both nickel and aluminium "and that has had to be recognised in the value of the assets".

The BHP boss said he'd need a crystal ball to say if there'd by any future write-downs in those sectors.

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Permira snaps up UK's Dr Martens

BRITISH boot brand Dr Martens has been snapped up by private equity firm Permira in a STG300 million ($A507.14 million) deal, ending more than 50 years of family ownership.

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Roma family removals probe in Ireland

IRELAND'S police watchdog will review the cases of two Roma families having children removed from their homes amid claims they could not prove their identity.

Two reports have been ordered on the controversial action by gardai and health officials after a seven-year-old girl was taken from her south Dublin home for 48 hours and a two year-old boy from his home in Athlone in the Midlands overnight.

Both children were subsequently proven to be members of the families with the girl returned home after DNA tests.

The police watchdog, the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission, said it has not received any complaints but has demanded copies of a report by the Commissioner Martin Callinan.

"We have requested this in order to inform ourselves fully of the circumstances of events so that we can take an appropriate position," a spokesman for the Ombudsman said.

Separately, the Ombudsman for Children Emily Logan will investigate why the children were removed from their families.

She will be furnished with two reports - from Mr Callinan and the Health Service Executive (HSE) - in two weeks time.

Both youngsters have blonde hair and blue eyes while their parents have darker complexions and hair, which is not out of the ordinary in the Roma community.

Amnesty International threw its weight behind calls from one of the families for an independent inquiry.

Colm O'Gorman, spokesman for the organisation in Ireland, said responses to reported child protection concerns needed to be proportionate and non-discriminatory.

"If it is found that the authorities' actions were discriminatory, steps must taken to ensure this is not repeated. There must be a public apology to the Roma families for the wrongdoing.

"The eyes of the world are now on Ireland, and the Government must show institutional discrimination will not be tolerated."

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Spain's unemployment rate falls

Airport rebellion against Robbo

ONE of the state's most senior Labor MPs has argued for Badgerys Creek, saying Westen Sydney will never fulfill its potential without an airport.

Miss Universe heats up Moscow

MISS Universe 2013 contestants are arriving in Moscow as preparations for the international event get into full swing.

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Bad bushfire conditions set to linger

Airport rebellion against Robbo

ONE of the state's most senior Labor MPs has argued for Badgerys Creek, saying Westen Sydney will never fulfill its potential without an airport.

Miss Universe heats up Moscow

MISS Universe 2013 contestants are arriving in Moscow as preparations for the international event get into full swing.

23.09 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bushfire conditions ease in NSW

NSW firefighters are on the front foot against bushfires on the state's mid-north coast, with local residents granted a reprieve by the easing winds.

Forty properties in the Taree and Great Lakes areas had been threatened when soaring temperatures and fierce gusts helped stoke fires, but Rural Fire Service spokesman Ben Shepherd told ABC Radio that conditions were improving on Thursday night.

"The main thing is the winds have dropped," he said.

"Initially this afternoon, we saw wind gusts in excess of 60-70km/h, even as high as 90km/h, across some of these firegrounds and that's what caused a number of these fires to flare up and run and run quite hard."

Further south near Newcastle, four teenagers have been arrested over a bushfire that forced the evacuation of a Scout camp northwest of Newcastle.

About 60 children had to leave Glenrock Scout Camp on Thursday due to a blaze that prompted a police investigation into suspicious fires in the Glenrock State Conservation area.

"Officers from NSW Fire and Rescue have been fighting a number of fires in the conservation area between Dudley and Merewether Heights," a police spokesman told AAP.

"Four teenage males ... have been taken to Belmont Police Station, where they are assisting police with their inquiries."

Scouts NSW communications and development manager Rosalie Batistoni told AAP the scouts were all safe after being moved to a local bowls club.

A blaze south of Taree, near Old Bar Rd, has burnt over 100 hectares and firefighters are still working to protect homes.

The fire forced the Pacific Highway to close but it has since been reopened.

Meanwhile, fire has destroyed some sheds in Shallow Bay and burned through 70 hectares of bushland.

The RFS has now down-graded fire alerts for both blazes to "watch and act", urging residents to keep monitoring the situation and be prepared to react quickly.

Reception centres for residents unable to return home have been set up at Club Taree and Club Old Bar.

Club Old Bar manager Tony Jones said 300 locals had holed up at the establishment, some bringing their cats and dogs.

"A lot of kids are upset," he told AAP.

"The uncertainty is the worst at the moment."

The RFS is battling 50 fires across the state, 20 which are uncontained. NSW Fire and Rescue said they were dealing with more than 100 smaller bush and grass fires, mostly in western Sydney.

Damaging winds were also felt at the Sydney Airport, where a 80km/h crosswind forced a Jetstar flight from the Gold Coast to pull out of its landing just 30 metres from the runway.

"It was probably the worst flight we have been on," passenger Steve Ovani told Network Ten.

Falling trees cut off electricity to about 4000 homes in Sydney, with areas including Lane Cove, Rozelle and Chatswood affected shortly after 2pm (AEST).

The State Emergency Service received 500 jobs, mainly for fallen trees and roof damage, spokeswoman Sue Pritchard said.

In the CBD, the gusty winds blew out shop fronts and high-rise windows, Ten reported.

Elsewhere, Thredbo recorded winds of up to 111km/h, while Goulburn, the Southern Tablelands and the Hunter all experienced winds of more than 95km/h.

The Bureau of Meteorology's Francois Geffroy said conditions were expected to ease further overnight.

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Syria committed to weapons deal: Assad

Syrian President Bashar al Assad says he doesn't discount the possibility of a US military attack. Source: AAP

SYRIA is committed to a deal to hand over its chemical weapons, President Bashar al-Assad said in an interview, as major powers inched closer to a UN resolution enshrining the agreement.

The Syrian president, in an interview with Venezuelan television station Telesur broadcast on Wednesday, said he saw "no obstacles" to a plan under which Damascus will relinquish its chemical arms.

His comments came as UN experts arrived in Damascus to resume investigating around 14 incidents in which chemical weapons are alleged to have been used.

On the ground, an Iraqi woman was killed when a mortar round hit the Iraqi consulate in Damascus, a diplomat said.

Assad told Telesur his government was committed to the Chemical Weapons Convention, which it signed as part of the US-Russian agreement on the destruction of its chemical arsenal.

"Syria is generally committed to all the agreements that it signs," he said in the interview, published in full by the state news agency SANA on Thursday.

He said Damascus had begun to send the required details of its chemical arsenal to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons which is overseeing the deal, and that OPCW inspectors were expected in Syria.

"Experts (from the OPCW) will come to Syria in the coming period to look into the status of these weapons," he said.

"As the Syrian government, there are no serious obstacles.

"But there is always the possibility that the terrorists will obstruct the work of the experts by preventing them from accessing certain places."

Assad's Syrian regime labels those fighting against it "terrorists".

Syria agreed to turn over its chemical arsenal under a deal thrashed out following an August 21 sarin attack in the suburbs of Damascus, which killed hundreds of people.

The attack, which occurred as UN chemical weapons experts were in Syria investigating previous alleged chemical attacks, was blamed on the Syrian regime by Washington and other international backers of the Syrian opposition.

Assad's government denies involvement, but agreed to turn over its chemical arsenal in the face of threatened US military action.

The deal halted talk of a US assault, but Assad said "the possibility of aggression is always there".

"This time the pretext is chemical weapons, next time it will be something else," he said.

The permanent members of the UN Security Council meanwhile made progress on a resolution enshrining the chemical weapons deal, agreeing on the "main points" of a text.

A diplomat said it could result in a resolution that allows for a later vote on sanctions under Chapter VII of the UN Charter if Damascus fails to honour the Russia-US plan.

A senior State Department official cautioned to AFP: "We're making progress but we're not done yet."

US President Barack Obama told the UN General Assembly on Tuesday there had to be a "strong" resolution and French President Francois Hollande said it must include the threat of eventual "coercive" measures.

But Russia opposes a resolution with any such language.

A team of UN experts led by Swedish chief Ake Sellstrom is in Damascus for further investigations into chemical weapons use.

After determining that sarin gas was used in the August 21 attack, the team must now try to reach up to 14 sites where allegations of chemical weapons use have been made.

On the rebel side, a group of 13 rebel factions, including some previously under a Western-backed command, announced they were joining the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra front and rejected the key National Coalition opposition grouping based in Turkey.

At the UN, where the General Assembly is being held, nations pledged new aid to deal with the fallout from the 30-month conflict which has killed more than 110,000 people and displaced millions.

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