No flooding inside Brisbane homes: mayor

HOMES in Brisbane have been spared serious damage so far, with no reports of water above the floorboards as the Brisbane River flood peak hits, Mayor Graham Quirk says.

"Obviously, underneath the homes there's been several cases of (flooding)," he said.

But there was no indication waters had gone inside living areas.

"At this stage anyway, it's good news," Mr Quirk said.

He said there might be homes flooded in trouble-prone areas such as Rocklea, but there were no reports at this stage.

"Once this peak concludes, we'll get a situation report over the whole city."

Brisbane River flood gauges at 11am (AEST) were sitting around the two-metre mark and were not expected to rise higher than 2.3m, slightly lower than the projected 2.6m peak.

But Mr Quirk said high tides in coming days could see the river rise again.

"I don't want anyone to take their foot off the pedal at this stage. Don't become complacent," he said.

Areas of concern in western suburbs like Moggill and Jindalee were peaking a metre below expectations, he said.

But Mr Quirk said levels would stay high as water continued to flow in from the west.

"Again, just be diligent," he said.

"It could have been a lot worse. Still, we have to help people who have been affected in whatever way they have."

Residents in Brisbane and surrounding areas are being urged to conserve water after the Mt Crosby Water Treatment Plant was shut down.

Seqwater says turbidity in the Brisbane River, which prompted the plant to go offline, is expected to take up to 48 hours to dissipate.

CEO Terri Benson says current demand is being met and will continue to be met if water is conserved.

University student Angus Bushnell, 22, and his mates are making the most of their "waterfront views" outside their high-set rental home at Milton in inner Brisbane.

"We didn't sleep here last night because we did not want to risk it," Mr Bushnell told AAP while dangling his feet in water from the comfort of a chair set out in the front yard overlooking the mini lake that's formed in the middle of the street.

"We still have electricity and the water is not as high as yesterday. It's been pretty tame.

"We've always wanted waterfront views. We're calling it our beach house."

11.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Nova Peris wins NT Senate pre-selection

Olympian Nova Peris is set be endorsed for the top spot on Labor's NT Senate ticket. Source: AAP

NOVA Peris has officially won pre-selection to run as a Labor Senate candidate in the Northern Territory.

The ALP national executive confirmed the Olympic athlete had been pre-selected on Tuesday, prevailing over four other candidates.

"It's a vote of confidence I am determined to live up to," Ms Peris told reporters in Darwin.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard personally drafted Ms Peris, causing tension in the party because she effectively dumped sitting NT Labor senator Trish Crossin.

Ms Peris said it had been a tough period for her, after accusations of misusing government funds for a girl's academy she champions and revelations she was picked up for drink-driving in the ACT.

"The personal attacks have been hurtful," she said. "But over the years as an athlete I've got thick skin."

She said it was the process by which she was chosen that had caused anger, but she didn't believe many people would refuse an offer from the prime minister to represent their people.

"Just being asked in the first place was a huge honour," she said.

ALP national secretary George Wright said Ms Peris would be a strong representative for the Northern Territory and for indigenous Australians if elected to the Senate later this year, as expected.

"Nova's record of achievement in sport is well known to many Australians," Mr Wright said in a statement.

"Importantly, what she also brings to this role is a strong record of work, commitment and achievement in improving, health and education outcomes for indigenous kids."

Mr Wright said it was inconsistent with Labor's values and its proud record of commitment to indigenous Australians that the party had never been represented in the federal parliament by an indigenous Australian.

Ms Peris said she was a proud Territorian.

"This is my home, always was, always will be," she said.

"I'm a Cyclone Tracy survivor, a genuine product of territory success and toughness."

The Olympic gold medallist said as a young girl she had dreamt big and succeeded when everyone else said she could not.

"There is no stronger message for young kids in disadvantaged communities than to see one of their own succeed," she said.

"That, if nothing else, is one of the great values of my preselection."

Ms Peris said to tackle indigenous problems, the NT needed the right programs, put together and run by the right people with full engagement of the those they were designed to help.

Before the election she will meet as many people as possible to help her develop a plan to break the cycle of disparity for Aboriginal communities in the Territory.

"This is where I feel I can play a key role," she said.

As a single mother and a former housing commission tenant, Ms Peris says she understands what the average Australian is up against.

"I'm not blind to our problems and I aim to be part of our solutions," she said.

"I know there is a lot to learn and I may make mistakes but ultimately I want people to judge me on what I can deliver for my fellow Territorians."

Ms Peris said she had worked hard to provide educational support for Aboriginal girls through her academies, raised awareness of depression and sought to tackle alcohol and drug issues.

"I am Nova Peris," she said.

"Being the best Nova Peris is all I've ever aspired to be.

"I'm not perfect. I've made mistakes but I'll try to pursue excellence at all times."

People within Labor had approached her and asked for help, Ms Peris said.

"I've never gone out of my way and said 'pick me'," she said.

Asked if she thought being hand-picked by the prime minister would make it difficult to oppose Ms Gillard in the future, she said: "Not at all".

The hostility within NT Labor around her preselection signalled there is much to do bringing the party together, Ms Peris said.

"There's a lot of groundwork to be done and I've said yes, I'm ready for the challenges.

"Once the dust settles, I'm looking forward to the future."

Her introduction to politics had been tougher than expected but Ms Peris said she was determined to help Labor to an election win later this year.

"I didn't win two gold medals in two different sports by pretending that nothing was easy in life," she said.

"I'm up for the challenges. I'll be working with the right people.

"I've worked in government in Canberra, and I've seen how policies have come about. I've seen failed policies. I've seen billions of dollars just get wasted down the drain."

11.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Govt to unveil new digital economy project

THE federal government is launching a new $40 million-a-year research project to try and make the digital economy the key driver of the nation's wealth in post-mining boom Australia.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy and the national science agency, the CSIRO, will formally launch the project on Tuesday at an event in Sydney attended by the inventor of the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee.

Head of the new Digital Productivity and Services Flagship, CSIRO's Dr Ian Oppermann will tell the launch that stalling productivity growth and the end of the mining boom are major threats to the national economy that must be addressed.

By helping business and governments deliver better, faster services and creating new commercial opportunities via the internet the CSIRO hopes to increase productivity and provide a $4 billion-a-year boost to the nation's balance sheet by 2025.

"Australia's economic prospects beyond the current resources boom will deteriorate significantly if the decline in our productivity growth performance is not reversed," Dr Oppermann told AAP ahead of the launch.

"A successful digital economy is essential for Australia's economic growth and to maintain our international standing."

The CSIRO flagship, which is Australia's largest ever publicly-funded digital economy research project, may last for up to 10 years and will primarily focus on ways to improve public and private services.

The services sector currently provides about 80 per cent of Australia's gross domestic product but is among those to have experienced a decline in productivity growth.

"While some of our work will be in labs, most of it will happen out in businesses and departments across Australia; finding ways to apply technology to improve the way they deliver their services," Dr Oppermann said.

The CSIRO is working on the basis that most Australians will have access to high-speed broadband internet.

As part of the project, the agency is already looking at ways to reduce waiting times and identify bottlenecks in Queensland hospitals by developing software predicting how many patients will arrive at emergency departments.

It's also looking at smarter ways of responding to emergencies - such as the floods currently affecting Queensland - by monitoring what's being said on publicly available social media sites.

11.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Indigenous ALP members protest nomination

INDIGENOUS Labor Party members in the Northern Territory are planning to flood the party's national executive with nominations for the top Senate spot, in protest at the prime minister's intervention in the preselection process.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who last week endorsed Olympian Nova Peris as the ALP's top pick on the NT Senate ticket, effectively shut out rank-and-file members from the decision-making process.

ALP member and Senate pre-selection candidate Marion Scrymgour told AAP that Aboriginal members in the NT intended to protest against the prime minister's decision.

"Applications are going to be sent to the national executive before the deadline today by Aboriginal members of the ALP," Ms Scrymgour said.

"The move is a protest and a signal to the national executive and prime minister that we don't accept what she has done.

"There will be a flood (of applications).

"Word has got out. I couldn't give you an exact number."

Ms Scrymgour, an Aboriginal woman who has a long history in NT politics, said she knew her application was futile but she would be sending it anyway.

"It has made me cranky and insulted that she (Ms Gillard) could think that all Aboriginal people need is a sport star," she said.

If all Ms Gillard wanted was a "black face" in parliament to represent the ALP, there were plenty of choices in the party, she said.

Ms Scrymgour said she wasn't preselected because she had spoken out against the federal intervention in Aboriginal communities that has been supported by the ALP since it was introduced by a coalition government.

Aboriginal ALP member from Alice Springs, Des Rogers, told ABC Radio he would also protest by nominating for the pre-selection ballot.

"Just to let people know in Canberra that for one, there is one indigenous person in the Territory that's been a long-term Labor member, has campaign experience, and I've nominated," he said.

Another prominent indigenous ALP politician in the NT, Karl Hampton, has also signalled he will lodge an application.

The party's national executive, made up of federal MPs including the prime minister, the party's national president Jenny McAllister and others, will decide representation on the NT ticket.

The national executive is expected to announce on Tuesday that Ms Peris has been officially installed as the party's top Senate pick.

Given the voting patterns of the NT, she would be a virtual certainty to be elected to office.

Current NT senator for the ALP Trish Crossin has also spoken out against the prime minister's backing of Ms Peris.

On Monday, a spokeswoman for Senator Crossin said the senator would be in Darwin for Tuesday's decision and would be making a statement afterwards.

A spokesman for Ms Peris said he was aware of reports a number of people were planning to apply for the Senate nomination, but he did not know who had done so.

He said Ms Peris was very excited ahead of Tuesday's decision.

"She is hopeful she will get the preselection and is looking forward to the challenge," he said.

Ms Peris will make a statement in Darwin after the preselection announcement.

11.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Worse to come for Sunshine Coast: mayor

THE Sunshine Coast's mayor has urged residents in flood prone areas to evacuate before it's too late.

Mark Jamieson says the region, north of Brisbane, had already experienced flooding and is being battered with torrential rain as ex-tropical cyclone Oswald continues its way south along Queensland's east coast.

But Mr Jamieson has warned the worst is yet to come for the Sunshine Coast, with the low pressure system not expected to hit the region until later on Sunday.

He said residents could expect more heavy rain, damaging wind gusts of up to 125km/h and storm surges.

It was almost inevitable that homes would be inundated, he said.

"With that amount of rainfall - and there may be more intense spells within the system - I anticipate that may be the case," he told AAP.

"That's why I urge those people who may be afraid of that (flooding) or have experienced that in the past, that the time to get to higher ground is now.

"Don't leave it any longer. It's only going to get worse."

Three evacuation centres - at Nambour, Noosa and Caloundra - have been set up.

Mr Jamieson said roads were likely to be cut later on Sunday, making evacuations impossible.

He said heavy downpours and a high tide earlier on Sunday had already caused localised flooding in some areas.

More than 17,000 homes in the Sunshine Coast area were without power on Sunday afternoon, he said.

The mayor warned residents who were not evacuating to remain inside their homes and resist the urge to sightsee.

"It's absolutely a big issue and if people are safe where they are, they should stay where they are," he said.

"There's no point going out and getting injured."

The Sunshine Coast's Local Disaster Management Group will meet later on Sunday.

11.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Carles wants Fremantle seat re-election

CONTROVERSIAL Fremantle MP Adele Carles has confirmed she will recontest the Fremantle seat at Western Australia's March 9 election.

The independent MP is currently embroiled in a $3 million defamation case brought by her former lover, Treasurer Troy Buswell, after she made several comments about him to the media.

Ms Carles said she was hopeful of serving another term as the member for Fremantle.

"I am the first to admit that the odds are stacked against me, but a win is possible if I poll ahead of the Greens candidate and pick up Greens and Liberal preferences to get across the line," she said.

"The polling indicates that the Liberals will win the election, so now is not a good time for Fremantle to revert to being a safe Labor seat."

The defamation matter is due back in the WA Supreme Court three days before the poll.

The court action began after Ms Carles claimed in a newspaper article that Mr Buswell had been drunk and behaved inappropriately towards seafood empire boss Nick Kailis at a 2011 Christmas party.

Ms Carles also sent a series of controversial tweets that were later deleted.

At a press conference she revealed further personal details of their relationship, even producing a card he sent pleading for a reconciliation.

Mr Buswell's lawyers filed a defamation writ against Ms Carles soon after, seeking aggravated damages from the former Greens MP as well as a "permanent injunction" against her.

The writ alleges Ms Carles defamed Mr Buswell nine times in interviews and on Twitter.

The matter is the latest in a series of embarrassments during Mr Buswell's political career.

He was forced to resign as treasurer in 2010 amid allegations he misused entitlements during his affair with Ms Carles, but was cleared of any wrongdoing.

In 2008, Mr Buswell stood down as WA Liberal leader following allegations of lewd conduct in which he admitted to sniffing the chair of a female Liberal staffer and snapping a Labor staffer's bra.

11.27 | 0 komentar | Read More

Homes spared from flooding for now

Emergency flood alerts have been issued for several Queensland towns, officials say. Source: AAP

HUNDREDS of homes in low-lying areas just south of Gladstone have been spared from flooding for now, but the emergency is far from over.

An emergency flood alert for evacuations had been issued before Saturday morning's high tide, with residents in Tannum Sands and Boyne Island, at the mouth of the Boyne River, asked to leave.

Almost five metres of water is gushing over the spillway of the Awoonga Dam upstream and that is expected to increase to six metres later in the day and to 7.5 metres on Sunday.

Gladstone Mayor Gail Sellers says it's not over for locals who have so far escaped flooding despite the once-in-a-century river levels.

"We are quite pleased none of our 400 houses had to evacuate," she told AAP.

"So we're now getting ready for the next time when we think we'll have the biggest problem and that's at the high tide on Sunday morning."

The downpour has not let up and the ex-cyclone remains west of the city, where massive rainfalls have been recorded.

Over 370mm of rain fell at Boolaroo Tops, 347mm at Kroombit Tops and 307mm at Captain Creek.

Flood warnings have been issued for the Calliope, Boyne, Baffle and Kolan Rivers.

The Callide and Kroombit Dams are experiencing unprecedented outflows.

The State Emergency Service (SES) has warned Goovigen residents, west of Gladstone, that properties are likely to experience flooding and they should take to higher ground.

The SES has received more than 650 requests for assistance since Friday morning, including more than 130 for Rockhampton, and more than 35 jobs each for Gladstone and Yeppoon.

Community Safety Minister Jack Dempsey said there were six swift water rescues overnight.

"Thankfully they were all very successful outcomes," he told ABC radio.

One of two fisherman reported missing off Rockhampton earlier in the week has been found.

The skipper of the 38-foot fishing vessel made a distress call on Thursday, saying the boat was taking on water in the Casuarina Passage off Port Alma.

A 60-year-old man was found on Balaclava Island about 11am Saturday, and a water and air search is under way for the second man.

The Bruce Highway is closed in several places between Rockhampton and Gladstone and the train line is cut near Rockhampton, stopping all services between Brisbane and Cairns.

Ergon Energy says thousands in central Queensland remain without power and staff will be flown to inaccessible areas to reconnect it.

The low pressure system is almost stationary and hasn't tracked to the southeast as predicted on Friday.

It expected to slowly move south to the southeast and bring heavier rain, dangerous surf, abnormally high tides and strong winds on Sunday and Monday.

"With all that heavy rain, flash flooding is definitely expected," Ken Kato from (Bureau of Meteorology) BoM told AAP.

SeqWater has increased its releases from Wivenhoe Dam as a precautionary measure.

The Bureau of Meteorology has also issued flood warnings for the Fitzroy, Dawson, Don, Mackenzie, Connor and Isaac rivers.

Meanwhile, the state government announced that residents affected by flooding in Rockhampton and surrounding areas can now seek financial help.

Individuals may be eligible for amounts of $180 up to a maximum of $900.

The federal government also announced the Burdekin, Lockhart River, Hinchinbrook, Banana, Gladstone and Rockhampton councils will receive financial help under the natural disaster relief and recovery arrangements.

11.27 | 0 komentar | Read More