Brisbane's Eagle Farm to get $22m upgrade

A LONG-AWAITED upgrade of Brisbane's Eagle Farm racecourse is off and racing with a $22 million refurbishment to be complete ahead of next year's winter carnival.

The makeover, the first since 1972, includes the reconstruction of the racing surface and will open up the area inside the track for stabling and training facilities.

The Queensland government announced the project on the city's biggest race day, Stradbroke Day.

"This long overdue refurbishment of the Eagle Farm track will stimulate wagering growth on the venue, which provides more funding for the industry as a whole, and will get more patrons to the track for race days," Treasurer Tim Nicholls said on Saturday.

The upgrade is part of the government's $110 million pledge to improve racing infrastructure across the state.

Construction is due to begin in early August.

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Hertz to review years of financial results

HERTZ Global Holdings Inc says it has to review and correct its financial reports from the past three years after an audit by the car rental company found accounting errors.

The announcement, made in a government filing on Friday, sent Hertz shares down nearly 10 per cent in morning trading.

The New Jersey company said it will restate financial statements from 2011 and will correct and possibly restate statements from 2012 and 2013.

"Financial statements for 2011 should no longer be relied upon," the company said in the filing.

"It will take time to complete this process, and previously reported information is likely to change."

The errors were related to the depreciation of some of its non-fleet assets and an allowance for doubtful accounts in Brazil, among other items, it said.

Hertz is also delaying the release of its first-quarter earnings report again.

In May, it pushed the release date to June 9.

Now, the company expects to release it when it amends its past full-year results.

Its first-quarter results will be hurt by costs associated with the accounting review, the company said.

It said it is implementing new procedures to strengthen its accounting and finance departments.

Shares of Hertz fell $2.60, or 8.5 per cent, to $27.89 in morning trading Friday.

Its shares had risen 6.5 per cent so far this year through to Thursday's close.

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Clavell's ex denies causing SA road death

THE ex-girlfriend of dead fugitive Rodney Clavell has been ordered to stand trial over the hit-and-run death of a cyclist who was a leading Adelaide midwife.

Samantha Magdaleine Farrer, 37, of Queensland, pleaded not guilty on Friday to three charges in the Adelaide Magistrates Court, just around the corner from where her former boyfriend shot himself dead in a brothel after a 13-hour siege on Thursday.

She denied causing the death of Kathleen Heraghty, 48, by dangerous driving in December at Inman Valley Road, near Victor Harbor.

Farrer also pleaded not guilty to an aggravated count of driving without due care and to failing to stop at the scene of a fatal accident.

Mr Heraghty's obstetrician husband was cycling several minutes behind her and was one of the first people on the scene.

Farrer was ordered to stand trial in the District Court and the matter was adjourned to July 7.

Clavell accompanied her to an earlier court appearance in March, months before he became South Australia's most wanted man.

Farrer left court wearing dark glasses and a cap pulled down over her face and did not respond to media questions about her ex-boyfriend.

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NZ's North Island rattled by 5.1 quake

NEW Zealand's central North Island has been rattled by a 5.1 magnitude quake.

The 76km deep earthquake was centred 20km west of Ohakune, in the Tongariro National Park, just before 4pm on Friday.

Thousands reported feeling the moderate quake on the GeoNet site, with people as far afield as Central Otago town Palmerston reporting a shake.

The GeoNet website is run by the Earthquake Commission and GNS Science.

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Qld govt to absorb fed pension cuts

The Queensland government will absorb all federal concession cuts to pensioners and seniors. Source: AAP

THE Queensland government will absorb all concession cuts to pensioners and seniors dished out by the federal government.

Two days after the state budget ruled out the move, Premier Campbell Newman backflipped after the grey army took the state government to task on talk-back radio.

Mr Newman says he's listened.

"We're not only listening to Queenslanders, but we're acting within the space of two days to reinstate the full level of pensioner and senior concessions," he told parliament.

"Queensland seniors and pensioners will not be worse off because of the Commonwealth cuts."

The federal budget, handed down in May, cut $223.2 million over four years meant to fund pensioner and senior concessions for electricity, rates and transport.

Mr Newman told parliament the state budget had raised pensioner and senior concessions by almost $26 million in the next financial year to help compensate.

But he's since realised seniors and pensioners can't fill the gap and would stump up the remaining 15 per cent.

"We will be continuing to send a clear message to the Commonwealth that Queenslanders won't stand for these kinds of cuts," he said.

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk supported the move but said the government needed to show where it was getting the extra funding from.

Ms Palaszczuk said the premier's attack on Queensland pensioners' household budgets would not be quickly forgotten.

"The ink isn't even dry on this budget and the premier has scrambled to save his own political skin following a crisis of his own making," she said.

"He made a choice in his budget where he could help Queensland pensioners or hurt them.

"He chose to hurt them."

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Newman to defend Palmer court action

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman (pic) will defend a defamation suit taken by Clive Palmer. Source: AAP

QUEENSLAND Premier Campbell Newman has stood by claims Clive Palmer tried to buy his government, saying the public deserved to know how the businessman-turned-politician operates.

Mr Newman's lawyers on Wednesday lodged a defence against a statement of claim for defamation the Palmer United Party leader made against him last month, seeking $1.1 million in damages.

Mr Palmer alleges the premier has damaged his reputation by describing him in a press conference in April as "a guy who tried to buy ... my government".

But in the defence claim, Mr Newman's lawyers say the comment was in the public interest.

"The public had an interest in receiving information that might lead them to ask (how Mr Palmer) ... in his capacity as a businessman sought to influence government decision making in relation to his business interests," the defence documents read.

It goes on to detail a meeting with Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney in 2012 where Mr Palmer wanted him to allow the development of "Port Palmer" at Abbot Point and give him exclusive access to a rail corridor to the Galilee Basin.

"(He said) he had paid substantial sums to the LNP to have the LNP elected and that he had a lot more money to support the LNP in the future," it read, adding Mr Seeney refused the offer.

Mr Newman's lawyers also claimed former Liberal National Party MPs Carl Judge and Alex Douglas received "substantial gifts" from Mr Palmer and his companies to switch allegiances.

The premier said Mr Palmer didn't complain to the police or Crime and Misconduct Commission about his comments or even seek an apology.

Mr Palmer has denied claims he offered donations to the LNP for favourable treatment.

"Campbell Newman is simply telling untruths or he has been told lies by Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney and is using them to try and defend the defamation action," Mr Palmer said in a statement on Thursday.

"This is nothing more than a desperate attempt by desperate people to discredit me."

Mr Newman said his last donation to the LNP was in 2010 - two years before the Newman government was elected.

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Shipyards warned projects may go overseas

THE federal government has warned Australian shipbuilders it could look overseas for new frigates if they don't lift their game in building three new air warfare destroyers (AWD).

The $8.5 million AWD project is running almost two years late and costs $360 million more than planned, with shipbuilders performing well below international standards.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann says the project is in serious trouble and getting worse.

A remediation plan - the third for AWD - aims to get it back on track, starting with "the urgent insertion" of an experienced shipbuilding management team into the main contractor, the government-owned ASC.

Construction of ship modules will then be reallocated among three firms doing this work.

"This is a final opportunity to get this right - there's no two ways about it," Senator Cormann told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.

Defence Minister David Johnston warned there might not be local capacity for future projects if Australian firms' productivity was not acceptable.

"I don't believe the government will support an enterprise that cannot deliver productively," he said.

That includes eight new vessels to replace the navy's Australian-made Anzac frigates.

Under the AWD project, launched in 2007, the navy will field three high-tech warships able to defend vast areas of ocean against aircraft and missile attack.

But costs are over target and the first ship, HMAS Hobart, will be delivered in March 2016, rather than December 2014.

A review by former US Navy secretary Don Winter found a range of problems, including inadequate management and contractor performance - in line with an audit office report and regular reviews by UK consultant First Marine International (FMI).

World benchmark for warship production is 60 man hours a tonne. Hobart comes in at 150 man hours a tonne.

In its review of ASC and subcontractors BAE Systems in Melbourne and Forgacs in Newcastle, FMI found in all but a few measures they were outside performance benchmarks.

Under contract arrangements, cost overruns are met half from Defence and half from final success fees to contractors.

Senator Cormann confirmed the Commonwealth and taxpayers would face some costs.

"We will seek to minimise whatever exposure there is for the government and for the taxpayers," he said.

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Jet hitch for Abbott before trade trip

An aircraft breakdown has delayed the start of Prime Minister Tony Abbott's trade and security trip. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has had an inauspicious start to his four-nation trade and security mission, with his plane suffering technical issues on the tarmac.

Mr Abbott is due to meet Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Batam Island later on Wednesday to improve relations damaged by spying revelations and asylum seeker policies.

But his departure from Canberra was delayed several hours due to technical problems with his RAAF jet.

A replacement jet had to be brought in.

After Indonesia, the prime minister will travel to France with other world leaders for the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings. He will also meet with president Francois Hollande in Paris.

He will then head to Ottawa for meetings with business leaders and Prime Minister Stephen Harper, followed by talks with US President Barack Obama in Washington DC.

"It will be another opportunity for me to demonstrate that Australia is open for business," Mr Abbott said before leaving.

"It will be a further opportunity for me to bolster Australia's economic and national security."

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said Mr Abbott should use his time overseas to think about how to make the federal budget fairer.

"This rotten budget is still here festering and it will still be here when you come back," Mr Shorten said of the trip.

Mr Abbott dismissed suggestions he should remain in Australia to get his first budget through a hostile parliament.

"It's always good to be improving Australia's international relations," he said.

Asked about the jet breakdown, Defence Minister David Johnston said it was probably not a good look for the Royal Australian Air Force.

"But we do have a back-up plane for exactly that reason," he said.

"I'm determined to fix it very quickly.

"These aircraft are very old, they're well maintained, they're very serviceable but there are some issues with age and we've got to deal with them and we need to trade out of them."

A 20-member business delegation will accompany Mr Abbott to New York and Houston.

The US is Australia's largest source of foreign investment and is the top destination for Australian investment abroad.

Canadian pension funds are being wooed to invest in Australian roads, energy utilities, airports and ports.

Defence Minister David Johnston said the Rudd government had given the coalition a "hospital handball" by renewing the contract on the current fleet just before the 2013 election.

The fleet includes two leased Boeing Business Jets and three Bombardier Challengers operated by the RAAF's 34 Squadron and based at Canberra International Airport.

"I was very unhappy about that," Senator Johnston said of the contract renewal, adding the aircraft were old and required increased maintenance.

The coalition had been willing to give bipartisan support for a new VIP aircraft fleet, but now was left with "significant costs" if it wanted to cut short the lease.

"There is a program we are working on now," Senator Johnston said.

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Phones, drugs hurled over NSW jail fences

War-zone technology is being installed at NSW jails to combat drugs being thrown over prison fences. Source: AAP

WAR-ZONE technology is being installed at NSW jails to combat the long-running problem of mobile phones and illicit drugs being hurled over supposedly secure prison fences.

Thermal-imaging and motion-detection cameras - commonly used by the military in war zones such as Iraq - are being installed at five jails across the state to stop contraband from reaching convicted criminals.

Some relatives and friends of inmates use increasingly inventive ways to deliver drugs, such as stuffing them inside tennis balls or potatoes, senior Corrective Services sources told AAP.

At a Melbourne jail recently, a helicopter drone was used in an attempt to fly drugs in.

Mobile phones, drugs and shoes have been lobbed over the fence into the minimum security area of the John Morony Correctional Complex near Windsor, northwest of Sydney.

Inmates' pals have used dense bushland surrounding the jail to dodge detection when fielding the contraband, some of which is then sold inside the jail.

"Anybody that wants to move around through this particular area will now be caught using the sort of technology that has come from areas like Iraq," NSW Justice Minister Brad Hazzard told reporters at John Morony prison on Tuesday.

"Thermal technology can pick up movements, as has happened in war zones, but we're using it to make sure prisoners stay inside, and those we don't want in stay out."

Double perimeter fencing, new razor wire and more CCTV cameras are also being installed at parts of John Morony prison, upgrading previously minimum security areas to medium security.

The thermal imaging and motion detection cameras can tell the difference between a would-be drug thrower and a kangaroo, experts say.

Under a $20 million, state-wide, three-year government program, similar measures are being taken at Sydney's Silverwater and Parklea prisons, at the South Coast Correctional Centre at Nowra and the Mid North Coast Correctional Centre at Kempsey.

Some of the jails will in future be used to house higher risk remand prisoners.

NSW Corrective Services Commissioner Peter Severin said the state's prison system was being brough into the 21st century.

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Govt spending down 0.8% in Mar qtr

A fall in government spending of 0.8% in the March quarter will be a drag on economic growth. Source: AAP

GOVERNMENT spending fell in the March quarter, but the drag on economic growth will be more than offset by positive trends in foreign trade.

Total government spending, including consumption and investment, fell 0.8 per cent in the quarter, after adjusting for price changes and seasonal fluctuations, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics data released on Tuesday.

Public sector spending makes up about a quarter of gross domestic product.

So, this fall will cut about one fifth of a percentage point from GDP growth in the March quarter, to be reported in the national accounts on Wednesday.

But other ABS data released on Tuesday showed exports grew strongly in real terms, by 4.8 per cent, while imports fell by 1.4 per cent.

With production of exports adding to economic activity and less spending going to foreign-produced imports, these figures show foreign trade added 1.4 percentage points to GDP growth in the quarter.

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Medicare fee hits human rights: advocate

Indigenous health advocates say a proposed Medicare co-payment is breaching human rights. Source: AAP

A PROMINENT indigenous health advocate says the Abbott government is breaching human rights with its proposed Medicare co-payment.

Julie Tongs hosted a visit by Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal health service in Canberra on Monday.

Ms Tongs, an Order of Australia recipient, told the Labor leader the government's proposed $7 co-payment for GP visits would have a major impact on the centre.

"Health is a human right," she said.

"And by doing what they are doing they are taking away that human right."

The clinic has about 4000 clients, many of whom are on age pensions or welfare payments.

She said a large proportion have multiple chronic diseases, which required several visits a week.

"Some people find it hard to afford milk and bread let alone a GP payment and multiple prescriptions," Ms Tongs said.

Paul Ryan, from the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia, told Mr Shorten the co-payment would put pressure on hospitals which were also in the firing line of the federal budget.

Mr Shorten said Labor would not allow the government to get its co-payment legislation through parliament.

"Many indigenous Australians have unacceptably high rates of mortality and illness," he said.

"We have to make sure that for our first Australians we close the gap not widen the gap."

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Scipione welcomes abuse report

The NSW police commissioner has welcomed the Special Commission of Inquiry report into child abuse. Source: AAP

NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione says the senior officers caught up in allegations of cover-up of child sexual abuse in the Catholic diocese of Maitland-Newcastle can now hold their heads up high.

A four-volume Special Commission of Inquiry report, released on Friday, uncovered no evidence to show senior police officers tried to block the child abuse investigations.

The inquiry found Detective Inspector Peter Fox - who alleged there had been a cover up - was not a credible witness and also said it was appropriate for police to instruct him to stop his own investigations.

The inquiry looked at how the church handled complaints about former priests Denis McAlinden and Jim Fletcher, both now dead.

Three volumes have been released, while the fourth is confidential.

Mr Scipione on Monday acknowledged the efforts of Commissioner Margaret Cunneen and her team in conducting the inquiry.

"The commission found there was 'no credible evidence' of any wrongdoing by those officers undertaking their investigations or their commanders. The commission probed forensically into the role police played," he said in a statement.

"She also observed it was a complex investigation and there's no question it presented challenges for those who undertook that work.

"Those officers can hold their heads up high. We are proud of them. Their motivation was to seek justice for victims - they had no other motivation.

"They can now get back on with their lives and do what they do best - protecting the community," he said.

Meanwhile, the Australian Greens and survivor advocates have challenged the findings.

Abuse survivor's advocate Carol Clarke said their were flaws in the way Mr Fox's evidence was treated and the royal commission needed to examine that. Fellow advocate and rally participant Nicky Davis echoed the call for the royal commission to get to the bottom of what went on in the diocese.

"We believe Mr Fox's reputation will be restored when the full truth is known," she said at a rally on Saturday outside NSW Parliament House.

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Mickelson says he's co-operating with FBI

US golfer Phil Mickelson confirms that FBI agents investigating insider trading approached him. Source: AAP

US golfer Phil Mickelson has confirmed that FBI agents investigating insider trading approached him at a tournament this week.

The winner of five major championships says he has done "absolutely nothing wrong".

A federal official briefed on the investigation has said the FBI and Securities and Exchange Commission are analysing trades Mickelson and Las Vegas gambler Billy Walters made involving Clorox at the same time activist investor Carl Icahn was attempting to take over the company.

The official was unauthorised to speak about the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Reports of the investigation appeared in several newspapers, including the Wall Street Journal.

Smiling as he stood before a room packed with reporters and cameras, Mickelson said the investigation had not been a distraction until FBI agents approached him after Thursday's opening round of the Memorial Tournament.

He did not offer any other details, including his relationship with Walters or any stock advice he might have received.

He said it would not affect his preparations for the US Open in two weeks, the only major he lacks for the career Grand Slam.

"It's not going to change the way I carry myself," Mickelson said after an even-par 72 at Muirfield Village left him far behind the leaders.

"Honestly, I've done nothing wrong. I'm not going to walk around any other way."

The federal official told the AP that Mickelson and Walters placed their trades at about the same time in 2011.

Federal investigators are looking into whether Icahn shared information of his takeover attempt of Clorox with Walters, and whether Walters passed that information to Mickelson.

The New York offices of the US Attorney and the FBI declined to comment.

The newspaper reports said federal officials also were examining trades by Mickelson and Walters involving Dean Foods Co in 2012.

After a brief interview, Mickelson stepped outside and signed autographs for about 20 minutes, like it was any other day at a tournament.

Fans were supportive as ever on the golf course, and Mickelson gave away so many golf balls to children that his caddie had to ask a tour official to retrieve more balls from his locker when they reached the turn.

He released a statement early on Saturday.

"I can't really go into much right now, but as I said in my statement, I have done absolutely nothing wrong," Mickelson said.

"And that's why I've been fully co-operating with the FBI agents, and I'm happy to do in the future, too, until this gets resolved."

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People want vision, not complainers: PM

Tony Abbott says he is the man with the plan and the Australian public will back him. Source: AAP

AUSTRALIANS want a man with a plan, not a bunch of complainers.

And that's why Tony Abbott remains confident the $7 Medicare co-payment and other budget measures will get through parliament, insisting opponents have only criticism, not alternatives.

"Whether it's (opposition leader) Bill Shorten, whether it's the Greens, whether it's others - it's one long chorus of complaint," the prime minister said on Sunday.

"The man with the plan has an extraordinary advantage over the person who has just got the complaint."

The prime minister said he did not expect people to like the Medicare co-payment but he expected them to support it.

Just as the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS) co-payment did not affect Australia's health system, nor will the Medicare contribution, he told Network Ten.

He questioned why the Labor Party was taking the moral high-ground on the co-payment when its former leader Bob Hawke sought to do just that in the 1990s.

Mr Hawke proposed a $2.50 Medicare co-payment in 1991 but it was abandoned by Paul Keating when he became prime minister.

The PBS co-payment was introduced by Labor in the late 80s.

Mr Abbott said it was bizarre for Labor to be "waxing morally indignant" about one co-payment when it introduced another type, the PBS co-payment.

He said the PBS co-payment had not damaged the universality of the health system and neither would the Medicare one.

But Opposition frontbencher Jason Clare said Mr Hawke was wrong to try to introduce the co-payment, and Labor made it known to him back then.

"So if we're prepared to stand up to Bob Hawke on it, you can bet that we're prepared to stand up to Tony Abbott on this as well," he told Sky News.

Mr Abbott, who admits refinement of some measures may be necessary, continues to make "courtesy calls" to various minor party and independent senators to stress the importance of delivering the budget and scrapping the carbon and mining taxes.

He defused questions about whether he had a difficult relationship with Clive Palmer, whose party with key independents would hold the balance of power in the Senate from July 1.

It was "perfectly normal" for senior members of the coalition, like frontbencher Malcolm Turnbull, to hold talks with Mr Palmer in his place.

"Over time I'm confident that (Mr Palmer) will have a constructive relationship with the government," Mr Abbott said.

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