Abbott vouched for priest struck off

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott making a statement to the House of Representatives on Closing the Gap at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Kym Smith Source: News Limited

OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott vouched in court for the good character of a Catholic priest later struck off the clergy list by the Vatican following a child abuse case.

Fr John Gerard Nestor, who attended Sydney's St Patrick's Seminary with Mr Abbott in the 1980s, was a priest in the Wollongong diocese in NSW when he was charged with the indecent assault of a 15-year-old altar boy in 1991.

Fr Nestor, then aged 44, was convicted in Wollongong Local Court on February 18, 1997, and sentenced to 16 months in jail, with the magistrate describing the case as a ''gross breach of trust''.

In court, the priest admitted he had - while dressed in boxer shorts and a singlet - slept on mattresses on a floor in the presbytery with the boy and his younger brother some time between June and September 1991.

He denied assaulting the boy.

Mr Abbott, then a federal parliament backbencher, told the court Fr Nestor was an upright and virtuous man who he had known since 1984.

''He was ... a beacon of humanity at seminary,'' Mr Abbott said.

Four other witnesses also testified to Fr Nestor's good character.
Fr Nestor was bailed pending an appeal and never served time behind bars.

In October 1997, Fr Nestor won his appeal in the Wollongong District Court.

District Court Judge Joe Phelan said Fr Nestor was of good character but should have been ''more prudent''.

''Inappropriate conduct does not prove that a criminal offence took place,'' the judge said.

However, the church never allowed the priest to return to ministry and about four years ago he was struck off the clergy list, or ''laicised'', by the Vatican.

It is understood Mr Abbott communicated with Fr Nestor twice after the court cases, but has had no contact with him for almost 15 years.

''In 1997, Mr Abbott provided a reference for Mr Nestor in an open court. He was subsequently acquitted by a District Court judge,'' a spokesman for Mr Abbott told AAP.

After the court case, a church professional standards inquiry found Fr Nestor should not be reappointed to the ministry.

The then-Wollongong Bishop, Philip Wilson, now Catholic Archbishop of Adelaide, advised Fr Nestor in writing ''significant additional material that I have received ... has been a cause of worry concerning your suitability for a further pastoral appointment in this diocese or any other''.

Fr Nestor appealed to the Vatican's Congregation for the Clergy, which decreed he be reinstated.

But in February 2001, the Wollongong diocese appealed and the decree was overturned.

The reasons for such decisions aren't made public and priests in the Wollongong diocese were informed of the result but not the detail.

However, West Wollongong parish priest Fr David O'Brien told AAP Fr Nestor had been ''forcefully laicised by the Vatican''.

Last year, Fr Nestor posted a message on the webpage of an internet group devoted to inactive or former Catholic priests.

''I was layicized (sic) on spurious grounds several years ago ... the life of a priest is not meant to be easy.''

AAP has been so far unable to contact the former priest, who is understood to have later worked in the NSW railways and lived in North America.

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Defiant MP fronts packed courtroom

Craig Thomson has been granted bail and will re-appear in court on May 22.

A DEFIANT Craig Thomson is facing damaging criminal charges that he misused $42,800, allegedly using union credit cards to pay for prostitutes, R-rated movies and ATM cash withdrawals.

As the Gillard Government continues to reel from the scandal, Victoria Police outlined 154 fraud offences against Mr Thomson including allegations he spent more than $5000 on escort services while he was Health Services Union boss between 2002 and 2007.

During a packed court appearance in Melbourne, the MP was warned against contacting sex workers at a number of brothels including Boardroom Escorts, Tiffany's Girls and Young Blondes.

Fraud squad detectives, who have spent 18 months pursuing the embattled MP, outlined a number of damaging allegations including that he "dishonestly" used HSU funds to pay for cigarettes, air travel, food and even "firewood".

The charge sheets allege the now cross-bench MP lived the high life as a union boss, staying at the Hilton, Hyatt and other upmarket hotels, and purchasing in-house "pornographic" movies on 21 separate occasions.

Alongside his wife, Zoe, and with his lawyer close by, the embattled MP slammed the police investigation as he left the Melbourne Magistrates' Court to a waiting media scrum he likened to an AFL Grand Final.

MP Craig Thomson and his wife Zoe Arnold leave the Magistrates Court in Melbourne. Picture: Alex Coppel

"What was disappointing about today was it became clear that not only was last Thursday wrongly done by the police, but after 18 months in relation to investigating this matter they still don't even have witnesses that they are able to produce for us in terms of some of these issues that are here," he told reporters.

Police have alleged that Mr Thomson made seven separate payments for escort services between 2003 and 2007, including $2475.00 to Keywed, which trades as Sydney Outcalls, $660 to A Touch of Class and $770 to Boardroom Escorts.

He is also alleged to have stolen $3750 through a series of ATM withdrawals using his union credit cards.

Prosecutors said Mr Thomson was now facing 154 charges, five more than the 149 he faced after his NSW arrest last week.

MP Craig Thomson, with his wife Zoe, was charged with 154 counts of fraud. Picture: Alex Coppel

A brief of evidence, expected to comprise 20 volumes, was expected to be served on Mr Thomson's legal team by April 17, the court heard.

Mr Thomson's lawyer applied to have a bail condition, that ordered Mr Thomson not to contact certain witnesses, be removed. He said because prosecutors were unable to provide Mr Thomson with a list of witnesses it was an unfair condition that was a "recipe for trouble".

But Magistrate Donna Bakos refused the application because the condition placed no undue onus on Mr Thomson.

Instead, she varied the condition, ordering he not knowingly contact witnesses.

Mr Thomson did not say anything throughout the 15-minute hearing until asked whether he understood the revised conditions.

Craig Thomson arrives at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court with his wife, Zoe. Picture: Alex Coppel

He simply answered "Yes, your honour".

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The PM said, 'I'm offering you nothing'

Prime Minister Julia Gillard at ease in Question Time / Pic: Kym Smith Source: The Daily Telegraph

Dumped ... Labor Senator Trish Crossin / Pic: Daniel Hartley-Allen Source: The Daily Telegraph

DUMPED Labor Senator Trish Crossin has revealed the brutal details of the night her political career was terminated at the Lodge in an "unfair dismissal", including the moment the Prime Minister told her: "I am offering you nothing."

Ms Crossin, who will be awarded a taxpayer-funded pension for life when she leaves politics at the next election, has confirmed she asked Julia Gillard for an appointment to a board or an ambassadorship on learning she would be dumped, a suggestion angrily rebuffed by the Prime Minister.

Accusing the Prime Minister's office of asking her to sign off on a press release that falsely claimed she backed the installation of Olympian Nova Peris as her replacement, Ms Crossin also said Ms Gillard had conceded she would win a rank-and-file ballot.

However, she said Ms Gillard insisted her "legacy" as Labor leader must include installing an Aboriginal woman in the Senate.

Supporters of Kevin Rudd's return to the leadership are using the story of Ms Crossin's political execution to try to push Gillard supporters to switch camps this week amid claims Mr Rudd is closing the 71:31 gap at the last leadership ballot to just a handful of votes.

Admitting she had nothing left to lose, Ms Crossin said her treatment should prompt MPs to think long and hard about Ms Gillard's judgment. "I do think people are now seriously questioning how she might behave in the future," she said.

"She can't do anything else to me now. People have said to me, 'I could be next. What if I am next?' Of course, it was unfair dismissal."

Many MPs had assumed Ms Crossin was sacked by phone but it has emerged she was ordered to fly to Canberra to attend a meeting at the Lodge, suspicious of what it meant but oblivious to the fact Ms Peris was already travelling to Canberra to be announced as her replacement.

Ms Crossin had spent the morning in Melbourne organising the sale of her elderly mother's home to raise a nursing home bond before flying to Canberra for her political execution.

She told the Prime Minister: "I don't think I am here for a sleepover", prompting Ms Gillard to admit she was not endorsing her for the Senate seat and would be backing Ms Peris to replace her. Ms Crossin also confronted Ms Gillard over whether her dumping was a result of her support for Mr Rudd - a suggestion the PM rejected.

Instead, Ms Crossin said Ms Gillard again insisted it was about her "legacy" as Labor leader. "I said, 'Is there something for me - a board position, an agency, an ambassadorship'," Ms Crossin said.

"She said, 'I am the Prime Minister, I don't get involved in organising those sort of arrangements'. I said to her, 'Well, that can't be possible you are just about to organise a Senate preselection unilaterally. And surely if you wanted people to go willingly you would arrange for life after politics for them'.

"That's when she said to me, 'I've got nothing to offer you. I am offering you nothing'. People have said to me, what are you getting from this? Where are you going? And when I have said to them 'well, nothing, absolutely nothing', they are quite surprised.

"They are shocked at the brutality of it.

"They are shocked at me personally because I am a hard worker."

The next day, Ms Crossin was sent a draft press release by the Prime Minister's chief of staff Ben Hubbard which included a line from Senator Crossin endorsing Ms Peris as her replacement, despite her telling the Prime Minister she would not do so. Senator Crossin instructed the Prime Minister's office to remove the line from the official press release because it was a lie.

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Northern exposure as Tony goes troppo

Source: The Daily Telegraph

TONY Abbott will take to the election a radical plan to reshape Australia by splitting it into different personal tax zones and forcibly shifting tens of thousands of jobs to the Top End.

The secret draft economic policy document, entitled Vision 2030, also proposes to carve $800 million from the foreign aid budget to be diverted to a mega-project in northern Australia.

In an embarrassing high-level leak to The Daily Telegraph, the 30-page document outlines plans for the mass migration of public service workers to north of the Tropic of Capricorn to Karratha, about 1500km north of Perth, Darwin and Cairns.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE DRAFT PLAN

While not specifying which southern state capital cities would be targeted for relocation of government departments, western Sydney would be expected to be a major source of the new northern workforce, with 22,000 public sector jobs in the region alone.

Personal income tax incentives are also proposed to lure private sector workers north of the border, while major defence facilities would also be relocated.

The draft policy has been circulated among senior levels of the Coalition and was sent to state and territory premiers three weeks ago.

It qualifies the document by claiming it is not "definitive or comprehensive" but seeks input from the states.

The detailed but un-costed economic plan reveals the Opposition Leader's plans to split the country in half, and create a new food bowl and energy industry economy above the 20 degree south parallel.

But the document admits the Coalition would have to redraft its current immigration policies, foreign investment rules and personal tax laws, and relocate a range of government departments, to realise the dream.

It also includes an audit for a 15-year infrastructure plan for new highways and rail projects through the desert, dams in the tropics and new education facilities to cope with the expected population boom.

To power the new economy, the Coalition proposes to invest in clean energy projects in Papua New Guinea, "leveraged" through the Coalition's direct action climate change policy, to deliver "energy needs across northern Australia and into the national electricity market".

Despite promises to not cut the foreign aid budget, the document reveals $800 million in foreign aid would be redirected to build a tropical health medical centre in far-north Queensland. The document says: "The Coalition would, in its first term, propose to look to develop key urban zones - Darwin, Cairns/Townsville and Karratha - with the aim of substantially increasing the population in these areas.

"In conjunction, the current immigration policy, relocation incentives and personal tax incentives should be reviewed, along with the planning of economic zones centred around these urban areas.

"Relocate substantial and relevant components of federal departments and commonwealth agencies, such as the CSIRO, to key urban zones in northern Australia."

A letter also obtained by The Daily Telegraph - signed by Opposition finance spokesman Andrew Robb, dated January 15, 2013, and sent to state and territory premiers - confirmed that the Coalition planned to reveal the policy Developing Northern Australia - a 2030 Vision in the early part of this year.

Parts of the plan, however, may be unconstitutional, with federal governments prohibited under section 51 of the Constitution from discriminating against states on the basis of income tax.

The plan calls for an increase in overseas migration to the region and an increase to overseas work visas.s, and a redirection of government grants and aid funds to help develop the plan.

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Aussie travellers seeking new directions

Nepal had the second biggest increase of Australian travellers with nearly 27 per cent. Source: National Features

AUSTRALIANS are increasingly taking roads less travelled, as their confidence as globetrotters grows.

Buoyed by the high dollar, Australians took a record 8.2 million international trips last year - up five per cent on the year before.

New Zealand, Indonesia and the United States continued to be the most popular destinations, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics figures.

But Japan saw the biggest growth in Australian travellers as it continued to bounce back from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

While coming off a low base, Nepal had the second biggest increase of nearly 27 per cent, followed by French Polynesia (Tahiti) at 26 per cent.

Austria, Chile, Pakistan, the Cook Islands, Sri Lanka and Poland also saw big rises while Fiji saw a slight drop in Australian tourists, thanks to natural disasters such as floods and cyclones.

Flight Centre's Colin Bowman said Australians were becoming more experienced travellers and starting to explore lesser-known destinations.

''They have done Bali so they might think: 'What about Tahiti?','' he said.

''They are looking for adventure and a different experience so that's why you're seeing places like the Cook Islands, Nepal and Mexico becoming more popular.''

But Mr Bowman said more traditional destinations were seeing bigger rises in terms of actual numbers.

''There's lots more choice for people going to the US in terms of carriers,'' he said.

''A lot of Australians are travelling to Hawaii because there's great deals there, New York is back on the radar and Qantas is flying to Dallas.

''Thailand benefited because Fiji had its troubles the year before with adverse weather.''

Mr Bowman said Australia's love affair with Bali continued thanks to cheap airfares and tourism businesses there catered well to holidaymakers looking for short breaks.

He said Australians were resilient travellers and couldn't stay away from Japan for long.

''People are going back to Japan for skiing and also supporting the country,'' he said.

Top 20 destinations in 2012
1. New Zealand +0.25%
2. Indonesia (Bali) +4%
3. United States +8%
4. Thailand +13%
5. UK +1%
6. China +3%
7. Fiji -1%
8. Singapore +6%
9. Malaysia +0.5%
10. Hong Kong +2%
11. Vietnam +3%
12. India +12%
13. Philippines +10%
14. Japan +29%
15. Italy +2%
16. France +7%
17. Canada +6%
18. Papua New Guinea +8%
19. Germany +15%
20. South Africa +5%

Fastest-growing destinations
1. Japan +29%
2. Nepal +27%
3. French Polynesia (includes Tahiti) + 26%
4. Austria +26%
5. Chile + 26%
6. Pakistan +24%
7. Cook Islands +23%
8. Sri Lanka +22%
9. Poland + 19%
10. Ireland +19%
11. Sweden +17%
12. Germany +15%
13. Brazil +15%
14. Thailand +13%
15. Israel +12%
16. Mexico +12%
17. India +12%
18. Tonga +12%
19. Turkey +12 %
20. Cambodia +11%
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics Overseas Arrivals and Departures 2012

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Child poison fear on laundry pods

ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard says children appear to be highly attracted to the laundry products. Picture: Kym Smith Source: News Limited

CHILDREN mistaking laundry detergent pods for toys and lollies are suffering skin irritations, vomiting and temporary blindness from chemical exposure.

The nation's consumer watchdog is warning parents to store the liquid capsules properly after dozens of reports to poison call centres.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is working with industry body Accord Australasia to improve the safety of the pods through redesigned packaging and prominent warning labels.

"Children who have either ingested these laundry capsules or have been exposed to them have experienced symptoms such as severe skin irritations, coughing, drowsiness, vomiting and even temporary blindness," ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard said.

The concentrated detergent capsules rapidly dissolve when moist. Exposure to chemical content can occur within 10 seconds.

"Laundry capsules often come in transparent plastic packaging shaped similar to lunchboxes, and children appear to be highly attracted to these products as they can be mistaken for toys or confectionery," Ms Rickard said.

"The capsules are small enough to fit in a child's hand or be taken into their mouth, and can easily burst."

Poison call centres have dealt with 85 cases in the past 18 months, most involving children under five.

Accord Australasia policy director Craig Brock said new safety guidelines were due to be published.

"Whilst they are safe when used as instructed, liquid laundry capsules should be handled in accordance with label directions and, as with any other household cleaning products, kept well away from children," he said.

The Poisons Information Centre can be contacted on 13 11 26.

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Mack a hero of Australian highways

Luke Refalo with a 1964 Mack truck he restored / Pic: Adam Ward Source: The Daily Telegraph

POWER and the open road are all synonymous with the mighty Mack truck, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in Australia.

The highway Hercules first rolled off the assembly line in a factory in Brisbane in 1963. But it first arrived in Australia in 1919 when Vacuum Oil, now Mobil Oil, ordered two AC models from the US.

The soldiers referred to them as "bulldogs" and the name stuck - from 1932 a bulldog has adorned the bonnet of every Mack truck.

Luke Refalo's passion for Macks began in childhood when he and his brothers grew up dreaming of owning and driving the big rigs.

He knows the number plates of each of the 21 Mack trucks he and his brothers have owned since their father started the family business in Sydney's west in 1988.

At one point they had eight Macks with dog-inspired names including "Two Dogs", "Under Dog" and "Good Dog".

A rusting 1964 B model he, a mate and one of his brothers rebuilt from scratch in 2007 named Misty Blue holds a special place in his heart.

To mark the anniversary, Mack Trucks has released a coffee table book documenting the history of Mack in Australia.

"The DMR [Department of Main Roads] at the time made the owner paint over it because it was too shiny, too much reflection."

Arguably one of the most famous Mack trucks was Autobot leader Optimus Prime, which was typically portrayed as a cab-over Mack until the 2007 Hollywood film adaptation of Transformers changed it to a Peterbilt.

To mark the anniversary Mack Trucks has released a limited edition 314-page coffee table book documenting the history of the trucks in Australia.

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Grab a bargain from 'Prince's' collection

Matthew Cilia, the floor manager at Antique and Fineart Auctions at Woolloongabba, holds a crown and a Louis Vuitton golf bag, just two of the items once owned by 'fake prince' Joel Morehu-Barlow. PIC: Steve Pohlner Source: The Courier-Mail

A FAKE crown, a grand piano, and a life-size statue of a horse that doubles as a lamp are among almost 1000 items once owned by Queensland Health fraudster Joel Morehu-Barlow set to go under the hammer next month.

The disgraced former high-flying socialite's personal treasure trove also includes designer clothing, jewellery, furniture, alcohol, art and collectables.

Hohepa Hikairo "Joel" Morehu-Barlow, 36, is set to plead guilty and be sentenced in Brisbane District Court on March 19 for defrauding the State Government of more than $16 million while working as a middle manager for Queensland Health. He had explained his lavish lifestyle by claiming to be a Tahitian prince.

The auction for the Public Trustee of Queensland on March 10 is expected to raise more than $300,000, with most items unreserved and many expected to sell for bargain prices.

AMAZING COLLECTION: CHECK OUT A GALLERY OF AUCTION ITEMS HERE

The most valuable item up for grabs is a new $95,000 Bang and Olufsen television, which the auctioneers expect to sell for $15,000 to $20,000.

A Hermes saddle valued at up to $10,000 could go for around $2000.

There is also a bottle of French cognac valued at $25,000, a six-litre bottle of Dom Perignon, a $15,000 Breitling watch and Ping golf clubs. There also are paintings by Brett Whiteley, John Olsen and Arthur Boyd.

John D'Agata, head of jewellery at Leonard Joel, which is conducting the auction with Brisbane's Antique and Fine Art Auctions at Woolloongabba, described the collection as "eclectic and quite extravagant".

A central theme is hundreds of Louis Vuitton items, including a surfboard, golf club bag, blow-up travel pillow and eye mask, luggage, scarves, ties and suits.

"It's sort of like someone got really carried away and liked one Louis Vuitton item and bought the whole range," Mr D'Agata said.

"I also think he went through a guilt phase because there are about 50 strands of rosary beads."

Morehu-Barlow also had a 19th century naval hat and a silver statue of Chairman Mao.

The public can view the Morehu-Barlow collection at Antique and Fine Art Auctions in Logan Rd, Woolloongabba on March 7, 8 and 9.

Phone bids will be accepted for items over $1000.

The Public Trustee has been busily disposing of Morehu-Barlow's assets in recent months.

Several luxury cars have been sold, along with the two-storey riverfront New Farm apartment that Morehu-Barlow paid $5.65 million for in 2010.

A separate auction of his two most valuable paintings - Jeffrey Smart's Study for the Terrace, Variations on a Theme and Tim Storrier's Starlight over the plain (night coals) - will be held at Melbourne's Deutscher and Hackett on April 24.

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