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Open the Firefox browser Click Tools>Options>PrivacyA father and his teenage son have been charged over a break in at a house in Sydney's west.
Police say forensic examination lead them to the pair who they allege broke into a house at Blackett on February 26.
The 32-year-old man and his 13-year-old son were arrested today and charged with break, enter and steal.
Topics: crime, law-crime-and-justice, sydney-2000, blackett-2770, nsw Wright By:kevin,Tags:ed hardyed hardy clothingChristian AudigierWeather: Sydney 19°C-26°C. Mostly sunny.
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Open the Firefox browser Click Tools>Options>PrivacyWeather: Sydney 19°C-26°C. Mostly sunny.
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Open the Firefox browser Click Tools>Options>PrivacyHuman remains believed to be those of a diver who died after being mauled by a shark last week have been found at a beach south of Perth.
Sergeant Gerry Cassidy said police were at Preston Beach, north of Bunbury, this morning after a ranger contacted them about the discovery of the remains.
Peter Kurmann, 33, was diving with his brother about 1.6 kilometres off Stratham Beach, just south of Bunbury, when a shark about four metres long attacked just before 9.30am on Saturday.
His mauled body was pulled from the water by his brother, assisted by the crew of a nearby boat, and taken south to Busselton, where he was declared dead.
Fisheries officials later said the shark was likely to have been a great white.
Sergeant Cassidy said it was suspected the remains were of Mr Kurmann and his family had been contacted.
They will be examined by a forensic team and officially identified next week, he said.
AAP
Wright By:kevin,Tags:ed hardyed hardy clothingChristian AudigierWeather: Sydney 17°C-24°C. A few showers.
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Open the Firefox browser Click Tools>Options>PrivacyWeather: Sydney 17°C-24°C. A few showers.
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Open the Firefox browser Click Tools>Options>PrivacyA doctor has spoken out about the shocking instances of suicide attempts, drug overdoses and self-harm at a Darwin immigration detention centre.
The doctor, who wishes to remain anonymous, has told ABC1's that at least one person a week is trying to take their own life and many more detainees are on prescription medication for insomnia and depression.
Darwin's Northern Immigration Detention Centre is the temporary home for up to 116 asylum seekers.
The doctor, who has worked at the centre, says there is a communal sense of helplessness among inmates.
"A lot of them say, 'I'm depressed. I can't sleep, I can't eat. I can't find motivation to exercise or learn English or do anything constructive.' But a lot of them in terms of the most severe people have asked me to end their life," he said.
"After six to 12 months, most people have attempted some sort of self-harm, either due to complete loss of hope or because they hold on to the small hope that that might lead to a faster end to their detention."
He says many detainees starve or cut themselves and many attempt hanging or to overdose on drugs.
The drugs most commonly prescribed are for depression, psychosis and insomnia.
"Normally they get one week's supply at a time. If you know other people and you're able to ask, 'Can I have your tablets? Can I have one of your tablets?' In time, you can collect quite a lot," he said.
And he has told of disturbing cases of self harm.
"A gentlemen was in a room with the health staff and he stood up and apparently took out a light bulb and chewed it in front of them as a measure of desperation to show them how upset he was at his continued detention. This the second time he's done this in a month and both times he expected to die as a result of it," he said.
Enormous strain
As many as five detainees a day from Darwin's three detention centres are sent to the Royal Darwin Hospital.
Paul Bauert, from the Australian Medical Association NT, says it is putting enormous strain on medical staff and resources.
"Many of the patients present with some mental health problems. They may be chronic anxiety, depression and many are on anti-depressant medications," he said.
"Some are presenting with psychiatric illness and require admission to our psychiatric ward. Some are presenting with injuries from accidents, some are presenting with injuries from self-harm."
Dr Bauert says it is a frustrating situation.
"We have a policy which is foisting unfortunate detainees onto us. The other frustration is the fact that once we recognise the mental health issues and once we're able to exclude organic pathology, we are immediately sending these people back to exactly the same lock-up facility," he said.
The doctor who has worked in Darwin's detention centre says it is a situation that is doing untold damage to thousands of people every year.
"Ninety per cent plus are found to be refugees and that's after sometimes two, three years in detention," he said.
"And they bear the scars of detention, all of them. Some of them are physical, but most of them are mental scars."
The Immigration Department has told the ABC: "We try to ensure people remain in detention for as little time as possible and ensure that they are treated humanely and have appropriate access to health and mental health care.
"We have introduced new mental health policies and expanded mental health staffing. We have a psychological support (PSP) which is in operation for all people in detention."
The latest information detailing the severe mental health issues among detainees comes on the eve of a parliamentary report into the nation's immigration detention network.
The inquiry has received more than 3,500 submissions.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is deputy chair of the inquiry.
"It is a system that is inherently broken. The Government needs to act and needs to act on the recommendations in this report," she said. Wright By:kevin,Tags:ed hardyed hardy clothingChristian AudigierLabor's calling the former treasurer's appointment the latest in a string of political appointments by the new LNP Government.
The former treasurer - and two other commissioners - will examine Queensland's $62 billion debt and the loss of its Triple A rating. He'll also consider Queensland's share of the GST, which he set up as treasurer.
Annie Guest reports from Brisbane.
ANNIE GUEST: Peter Costello wants to contribute to the recovery of what he calls a "great state". And his favourite thing about Queensland is??
PETER COSTELLO: The journalists.
(Laughter)
ANNIE GUEST: Mr Costello will help lead an audit of Queensland's books, along with Dr Doug McTaggart, who heads QIC, the Government's investment arm and Professor Sandra Harding who is the vice chancellor of James Cook University.
The new Treasurer, Tim Nicholls, says they'll also make policy recommendations.
TIM NICHOLLS: The reason we need to do that is at the end of this year, this financial year, Queensland will be $62 billion in debt. The deficit is projected to continue to increase.
Spending has continued to grow and services are suffering as a result.
ANNIE GUEST: Since being elected last Saturday, the LNP Government has appointed former Liberal MP and factional player, Michael Caltabiano, along with the son of a former deputy premier to head departments, and a former Brisbane City Council colleague is the coordinator general.
In Opposition, the LNP accused Labor of making political appointments. Now the Labor Opposition leader, Annastacia Palaszczuk, is making similar accusations.
ANNASTACIA PALASZCZUK: Essentially what we have seen is another day, another appointment of an LNP mate.
This commission of inquiry must be independent. It must be transparent. But this is simply not happening.
ANNIE GUEST: Queensland has lost its Triple-A credit rating and has one of the country's highest unemployment rates. But earlier this week, one of Australia's big four banks told AM things are already picking up.
Senior ANZ economist, Cherelle Murphy said the LNP's plan to balance the books is sensible, however...
CHERELLE MURPHY: I think the new Government's actually inherited an economy in pretty good shape and that's largely of course due to the resources boom. That said the economic performance as I say is going to be very patchy.
ANNIE GUEST: Is there then an element of fortunate timing here for the Liberal National Party? Could the state's economic recovery happen regardless of who's in power?
CHERELLE MURPHY: I think to some extent that's right. The momentum in the economy is certainly there. We've seen very strong growth in the fourth quarter and we saw growth, state product rise by almost 10 per cent.
ANNIE GUEST: But Mr Nicholls points to debt rising to $85 billion by 2015.
TIM NICHOLLS: I would put to you that that doesn't sound to me like a government with finances on a trajectory to be repaired.
ANNIE GUEST: One of the auditors' tasks will be to advise the Government on its GST carve up. Mr Costello was asked whether the GST formula is fair to the resource states.
PETER COSTELLO: That formula is currently under review and I'd want to see the formula being fair to all of the states. I may be one of the few people that even understands the formula. I'm not sure I do but if I don't I don't think there's anybody else. It's so complicated.
JOURNALIST: So what responsibility do you take for that formula that is the subject of much complaint?
PETER COSTELLO: Well I put the agreement in place on the GST. I set the formula up. I take a great responsibility for setting the formula up. But that doesn't mean that the formula can't be reviewed.
ANNIE GUEST: Mr Costello will work on the audit two days a week. And then will he offer Tony Abbott similar services if he wins government?
PETER COSTELLO: Look I don't go around offering myself. You know as Mr Nicholls will tell you, I didn't offer myself.
TIM NICHOLLS: I had to go ask him.
PETER COSTELLO: I responded to a strong arm.
ANNIE GUEST: The auditors will submit an interim report in June, before a final report next February.
MARK COLVIN: Annie Guest.
Wright By:kevin,Tags:ed hardyed hardy clothingChristian AudigierA 19-year-old man has died in a hit-run collision in Melbourne's southeast.
The pedestrian was struck by a white van travelling east on Forrest Drive in Frankston North about 8.40pm (AEDT) on Thursday, police said.
The man, of nearby Seaford, died at the scene.
The 34-year-old van driver failed to stop, but was later located by police, Victoria Police said.
The Frankston North man was being questioned.
Detectives urged witnesses to the collision to contact Crime Stoppers.
The road toll now stands at 78, 10 more than at the same time in 2011.
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Would you like to become a Mother Flocker?Melbourne youth worker Les Twentyman says the newly established Protection Services Officers (PSOs) should be manning Melbourne's train stations day and night instead of starting at 6pm.
His call comes after a woman in her 60s was stabbed at Sunshine station just after 4pm (AEDT) Tuesday when she tried to break up a fight.
She was taken to hospital in a serious condition after being stabbed in the torso while a 15-year-old girl was also stabbed and is in a stable condition.
Police are questioning two teenagers about the stabbings.
"With the Victorian government pouring millions of dollars into more police and PSOs it should be their role to be manning the stations the whole time the system is in operation," Mr Twentyman said.
He said recent violence on Melbourne trains had all occurred before 6pm.
Last month, the first 18 of the 940 PSOs promised by the Baillieu government began their first shifts at Flinders Street and Southern Cross stations.
Thanks #nickname#, this article has been Flocked #flock_count# times. Would you like to become a Mother Flocker?Australian Federal Police have arrested four men believed to be organisers of an international people smuggling syndicate.
Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare said the group was charged with serious people smuggling offences in Sydney and Melbourne.
Those arrested included a 42-year-old man and a 19-year-old man.
Mr Clare said the arrests were the result of an an eight-month investigation which involved working with law enforcement agencies from Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.
He said it was an ongoing investigation and further arrests could not be ruled out.
Topics: law-crime-and-justice, international-law, sydney-2000, australia, melbourne-3000 Wright By:kevin,Tags:ed hardyed hardy clothingChristian AudigierA UNHCR report has found asylum seeker claims in industrialised countries rose by 20 per cent last year.
The report into asylum seeker trends shows that almost half of the asylum claims came from people in Asia, with Afghanistan topping the list of source countries.
Although the number of asylum seeker claims rose worldwide, Australia bucked the trend with its numbers falling by 9 per cent.
Presenter: Emma Younger
Speakers: Richard Towle, UNHCR regional representative; Heather Barr, Afghanistan researcher for Human Rights Watch; John Menadue, director of Australia's Centre for Policy Development
Wright By:kevin,Tags:ed hardyed hardy clothingChristian Audigier