Sri Lankan asylum seekers evicted

Sri Lankan asylum seekers at Macquarie University / Pic: Toby Zerna Source: The Daily Telegraph

SRI Lankan asylum seekers have been moved from a university housing block after an alleged sexual assault on a student.

An asylum seeker said all the Sri Lankans were being moved out of the village.

"Some have left already for another place," he said. "They don't tell us why. We will be moving tomorrow. The rest will be on the weekend."

An immigration department spokesman said the asylum seekers would be relocated from the Macquarie University female accommodation ahead of a move off campus.

"Campus Living Villages has told the Red Cross they will no longer accommodate any refugees in their apartments," the spokesman said. "We expect the campus to be fully vacated by the end of March."

Campus Living Villages confirmed the arrangement with Red Cross would be discontinued.

A Red Cross representative could not be contacted yesterday.

At the university yesterday a group of Sri Lankan men were preparing for their "room change" to Parramatta.

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Pardoo faces Rusty's full force as Port Hedland spared

EMERGENCY services expect significant flooding as Tropical Cyclone Rusty makes its way inland from Western Australia's Pilbara coast.

The eye of the massive storm hit land just before 3pm (WST), more than 30 hours after the northwest coastline was placed on red alert and residents told to take shelter and stay inside.

Pardoo station, about 120km east of Port Hedland, was the first to feel the force of Rusty.

Port Hedland, which was initially expected to bear the brunt of the storm, appeared to have come off relatively unscathed, after the cyclone took a last minute turn before making landfall.

On Wednesday evening, communities between Pardoo and Whim Creek, including Port Hedland and South Hedland, remained on red alert and were advised to remain in shelter.

People in adjacent inland areas, including Marble Bar, were warned to go to shelter immediately as the cyclone headed their way, threatening 125km/h wind gusts early on Thursday.

Rusty will gradually weaken as it moves inland, but wind gusts of more than 165km/h are expected near the eye of the cyclone on Wednesday night, when the threat of a dangerous storm tide remains for the coast between De Grey and Wallal.

Cyclone Rusty is crossing WA's Pilbara coast this afternoon and is still packing 200km/h winds despite weakening, after dumping 450mm of rain on Pardoo.

Flooding is expected in the De Grey catchment, and possibly in the Fortescue catchment and in Pilbara coastal streams, on Thursday.

EARLIER: The massive system has weakened to a Category 3 system as it tracks inland and east away from Port Hedland, but threatens to bring 200km/h winds, floods and a huge storm tide.

That put it on a path towards Pardoo, around 120km east of Port Hedland and 121km north of Marble Bar, and its rain gauge has already had 250mm of rain since 9am, after copping 200m yesterday.

Residents, who had already been under red alert lockdown for more than 24 hours, have been told they may have to stay sheltered until at least Friday, with floods and winds set to leave a trail of destruction across the Pilbara.

The Facebook page of Pardoo Station said there had been some slight damage, but they were braced for more.

"We are all holed up in the Homestead where the walls are so thick that if you closed the curtains you wouldn't even know it was going on!'' said a post.

"Have lost the roof to our car port and water damage to another building so far, hoping it doesn't reach a Cat 5!''

Figures from NASA satellites tracking the monster storm make for frightening reading, with their Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument showing thunderstorms with cloud-top temperatures colder than minus 52 degrees Celsius surrounding the eye of the storm.

The TRMM satellite, which flew directly over Rusty on Tuesday, recorded rainfall of over 138mm per hour near Rusty's western eye wall.

A 3D image of Rusty's rainfall and cloud heights created at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland showed the tops of some of the towering thunderstorms in Rusty's eye reaching heights of more than 12km.

Neil Bennett from the Bureau of Meteorology said the eye was just about to reach the coast, but the storm was still creeping over land at about 5km/h - meaning fierce gales and torrential rain were likely to last for hours.

Flood alerts were also still in place for inland areas including Marble Bar and Nullagine.

Figures from NASA satellites tracking the monster storm are frightening - their Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument shows thunderstorms with cloud top temperatures colder than minus 52C surrounding the eye of the storm.

2PM UPDATE

At 2pm, Severe Tropical Cyclone Rusty, Category 3 was estimated to be 110km east northeast of Port Hedland and 155km north of Marble Bar, moving south southeast at 6km/h towards the coast.

The BOM states: "Severe Tropical Cyclone Rusty is crossing the coast to the east of De Grey. The centre is expected to move over land late this afternoon.

"Port Hedland will escape Rusty's worst winds, which are occuring on the coast between De Grey and Pardoo. Wind gusts in excess of 165 kilometres per hour are occuring in that area.

"Gales are continuing in Port Hedland and extend east along the coast to Wallal. Gales will extend inland towards Marble Bar during this evening, and may reach Nullagine overnight."

Share your photos and information on Cyclone Rusty on email or tweet us here

RED ALERT: Tropical Cyclone Rusty has intensified to a category four storm with 230km/h winds at its centre and is bearing down on the Pilbara coast.

The TRMM satellite, which flew directly over Rusty on Tuesday, recorded rainfall of over 138mm per hour near Rusty's western eye wall.

And a 3-D image of Rusty's rainfall and cloud heights created at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland showed the tops of some of the towering thunderstorms in Rusty's eye reaching heights of over 12km.

"Destructive winds with gusts in excess of 125km/h are occurring along the coast in the vicinity of De Grey and Pardoo, and could reach Marble Bar overnight,'' the Bureau said.

"Very destructive winds with gusts in excess of 165km/h are likely in the vicinity of De Grey and Pardoo during the afternoon and evening as Severe Tropical Cyclone Rusty approaches the coast.''

Port Hedland deputy mayor George Daccache says the winds and rain are relentless.

"It is pretty windy, and it has been relentless for the past two or three days. I don't see us having any sunshine for a while,'' Mr Daccache said.

"We are riding out the storm the best we can but we have been on alert since last Friday and looks like we will be on Red for another day or so.

"The storm surge is our biggest worry. We are going to cop our fair share. We are doing the best to make sure the town is secure.''

Rusty sat almost stationary overnight, 130km north-northeast of Port Hedland, with the exact crossing location and time still a mystery. Forecasters are confident it will cross the Pilbara coast this evening.

"It is important that residents understand that dangerous conditions will commence well before the system centre reaches the coast and extend some distance from the centre,'' Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Neil Bennett said.

The last severe cyclone to cross the Pilbara coast was Lua in March 2012, which travelled between Pardoo and Wallal as a category four, with maximum gusts of 230km/h.

Ian Badger, the manager of Pardoo Roadhouse, has told ABC radio his staff have been sent to Broome and he is braving the storm on his own.

"Everything is pretty wet, the whole yard is covered with water, it is like a lake everywhere,'' Mr Badger said.

Rainfall totals to 9am (WST) today include 189mm at Yarrie, with the De Grey River catchment expected to experience totals in excess of 200mm.

Port Hedland personality Wayne Ness lost his house to a cyclone in 2007, when category-five George ripped through the area, killing two people at a rail construction camp.

"Yesterday morning I heard a familiar sound of rippling tin,'' Mr Ness said.

"My heart was palpitating like you wouldn't believe and I had the shakes really bad.''

Residents between Pardoo and Whim Creek on WA's North West coast, including Port Hedland, are bracing for the worst as the destructive tropical cyclone bears down on their remote communities.

Overnight Rusty intensified to a Category four but remained virtually stationary off the coast, about 130km north-east of Port Hedland.

RED ALERT: Tropical Cyclone Rusty has intensified to a category four storm with 230km/h winds at its centre and is bearing down on the Pilbara coast.

Dozens of people who live in low-lying areas of Port Hedland have relocated to the town's cyclone shelter as the large, slow-moving storm closes in on the town.

NASA's Terra satellite has taken images from space of Rusty as it approaches the coast, with satellite data reporting the storm developing an eye 20 nautical miles wide.

Port Hedland has been battered for nearly 24 hours with winds gusts up to 120km/h but there has been little major damage.

Rainfall totals of 187mm at Yarrie have been recorded in the 24 hours to 9am today, though.it is likely there have heavier falls near the coast between De Grey and Pardoo.

Port Hedland has had 52mm of rain in the past 24 hours.

Because of the size of the storm, gales are occurring across a wide area between the Sandfire Roadhouse and Whim Creek, while destructive winds extend from Port Hedland to Wallal.

RED ALERT: Tropical Cyclone Rusty has intensified to a category four storm with 230km/h winds at its centre and is bearing down on the Pilbara coast.

"This is a large tropical cyclone and its slow movement is likely to result in an extended period of destructive winds near the track, with rainfall that is heavier than that associated with a typical system,'' the Bureau warns.

"Widespread very heavy rainfall today and on Thursday is likely to lead to major flooding in the DeGrey catchment. Significant flooding is also likely in the Fortescue catchment and in Pilbara coastal streams.

"Rusty has been near stationary this morning but is expected to resume a southerly track towards the Pilbara coast during the day.

"The slow motion and large size of Rusty means that the destructive and very destructive winds will occur on the coast well before the centre crosses the coast, and will extend some distance from the centre. Wind gusts to 120km/h have already been experienced in Port Hedland over the last 24 hours, and conditions there may get slowly worse during the day.
 

"Severe Tropical Cyclone Rusty's intensity, size and slow movement is also likely to lead to a very dangerous storm tide. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the normal high tide mark with damaging waves and very dangerous coastal inundation.''

The last severe cyclone to cross the Pilbara coast was TC Lua in March last year. Lua crossed the coast on March 17th between Pardoo and Wallal as a Category four, with maximum gusts estimated to be 230 km/h.

PORT HEDLAND STREETS EMPTY

With residents heeding warnings to stay safe, the streets are empty, as are supermarket shelves after a rush to prepare for Rusty's arrival.

Catch up with Channel 9's Sally Ayhan for local weather and a sneak peek into what to expect over the next 24 hours.

"It's going to be a pain waiting for two to three days for this to come and go,'' Mr Daccache said.

"We've just to hang in there hour by hour, and batten down the hatches.''

Mr Daccache said he was most concerned about an expected storm tide, which threatens to inundate the lower-lying western part of the town.

Many homes had lost power, but most residents were staying at emergency shelters.

EMERGENCY MEASURES

The Andrew McLaughlin Community Centre in Keesing Street in Port Hedland has been opened for people who are forced from their homes.

STORM FRONT: Barrow Island is in lockdown as Cyclone Rusty threatens the Pilbara coast. This Twitter picture was taken on Sunday by Cristy-Lee Macqueen

In Port Hedland, shops were being sandbagged as water and tinned food flew off the shelves.

Bottleshops were reporting big queues as locals prepared for Rusty's arrival. Port Hedland's airport was shut at 9pm yesterday, with all commercial flights cancelled.

The port has also shut down for at least the rest of the week.

Mining giant Rio Tinto said it had prepared for the storm by closing the Port Walcott port at Cape Lambert and was finishing up ship-loading at its Dampier ports.

Virgin cancelled flights from Perth to Broome today, and local businesses reported people were dashing to buy water and tinned food as the storm approached.

WIDESPREAD DOWNPOURS

Dramatic video footage emerges from WA as tropical cyclone Rusty nears landfall on the Pilbara coast.

Pardoo Roadhouse, about 140km east of Port Hedland, has recorded a massive 200mm in 24 hours to 9am yesterday and has also been buffeted by strong winds.

Bidyadanga, north-east of Broome, had 137mm to 9am yesterday and stations throughout the Kimberley have recorded in excess of 200mm in recent days.

Pardoo Roadhouse manager Ian Badger told ABC radio it had been raining steadlily since Monday. He said there had already been minor flooding and about six trees had been blown down.

"Everything is pretty wet, the whole yard is covered with water, it is like a lake everywhere. There is a little bit of water coming in (the roadhouse) and half a dozen trees have already come down,'' he said.

"It is not going to be good, this one.'' 

CYCLONE WARNING DETAILS

RED ALERT: People in or near communities between Pardoo and Whim Creek, including Port Hedland and South Hedland should remain in shelter.
YELLOW ALERT: People in communities between Wallal and Pardoo, extending inland to Marble Bar and Nullagine need to take action and get ready to shelter from a cyclone.
BLUE ALERT: People in communities between Sandfire and Wallal and between Nullagine and Newman, need to prepare for cyclonic weather.
ALL CLEAR: People in Bidyadanga and in communities from Dampier to Whim Creek, including Karratha, Pt Samson, Wickham, Roebourne and Millstream are advised that the cyclone danger has passed.

Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Rusty at 2pm WST:
.Centre located near...... 19.8 degrees South 119.5 degrees East
.Location accuracy........ within 20 kilometres
.Recent movement.......... towards the south southeast at 6 kilometres per hour
.Wind gusts near centre... 205 kilometres per hour and weakening
.Severity category........ 3
.Central pressure......... 952 hectoPascals

SECOND STORM BREWS

Meanwhile, a second potential cyclone was developing to the southeast of the Cocos Islands. It will be named Sandra if it becomes a cyclone, however it is unlikely to affect the Cocos Islands.

Channel 9's Sally Ayhan on what Perth can expect from Cyclone Rusty

SCHOOL CLOSURES

Several schools will remain closed for the rest of the week, including:

• Hedland Senior High School
• Port Hedland Primary School
• Port Hedland School of the Air
• Cassia Primary School
• Cassia Education Support Centre
• Baler Primary School
• South Hedland Primary School
• Pilbara Behaviour Centre.
 
Three other schools have also been closed due to the risk of flooding:
• Yandeyarra Remote Community School (in the Shire of Port Hedland)
• Marble Bar Primary School (in the Shire of East Pilbara)
• Nullagine Primary School (in the Shire of East Pilbara

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Is freedom of speech a licence to hate?

Sheik Man Haron Monis. Picture: Stephen Cooper Source: The Daily Telegraph

THREE of Australia's top judges believe a radical Muslim cleric had a legal right to send offensive letters to the families of dead Australian soldiers.

In a major freedom-of-speech case that split the High Court, Chief Justice Robert French, Justice Kenneth Hayne and Justice Dyson Heydon yesterday upheld the appeal of Sheik Man Haron Monis because they agreed a section of the Criminal Code contradicted the constitution.

But Sheik Haron and an alleged helper lost their bid to have a raft of criminal charges thrown out because Justice Susan Crennan, Justice Susan Kiefel and Justice Virginia Bell ruled the opposite and dismissed their appeal.

The 3-3 tie meant the original NSW Court of Criminal Appeal decision was affirmed.

RSL Australia and relatives of the diggers yesterday welcomed the outcome, but suggested the Criminal Code be clarified given the differing legal opinions.

"I certainly welcome the result. They should not be allowed to bypass the justice system," said Felix Sher, who allegedly received letters before his son Private Gregory Sher's funeral in 2009.

Sheik Haron launched the appeal after being charged with 12 counts of using a postal or similar service in a menacing, harassing and offensive way between 2007 and 2009.

His co-accused, Amirah Droudis, also appealed after being charged with eight counts of aiding and abetting.

The appeal was based on their claim that the Criminal Code section was invalid because it was inconsistent with the implied constitutional freedom of political communication.

Letters and a recorded message were allegedly sent to the relatives of Australian soldiers killed in Afghanistan and to the mother of an Austrade official killed in Indonesia, condemning the Diggers.

In his judgement yesterday, Justice French said the question was whether the law exceeded the limit of legislative power and burdened freedom of communication about political matter.

"The answer to the question is in the affirmative," he said, noting that it was not about characterising the alleged conduct, but rather one of legal interpretation.

In his decision, Justice Heydon also upheld the appeal, but said it may demonstrate to some people "how flawed that law is".

But Justice Crennan, Kiefel and Bell ruled the appeals should be dismissed because communications prohibited under the section of law were limited to those only of a "seriously offensive nature".

"This does not suggest an effect upon the freedom which could be regarded as extensive," they said.

RSL Australia NSW president Don Rowe said the government needed to revisit the law because "there is obviously some confusion when the High Court is split like this".

"The law needs to be looked at and changed and to be strengthend so we can protect the good name and integrity of those who have made a supreme sacrifice while serving in our defence forces," he said.

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'Women don't have what it takes'

Labor Finance Minister Senator Penny Wong says she's proud to be a Senator.
Source: The Australian

SOME women just don't have the confidence to become boss, the Australian Bureau of Statistics says in its latest Australian Social Trends report.

And it controversially suggests that female politicians are drawn to the Senate because they are not as ambitious as the lower house MPs who pine to become Prime Minister.

In Federal Parliament, 38 per cent of Senators are women - compared to just 25 per cent of MPs.

''This may be due to people regarding Upper House seats in the Senate as less desirable than seats in the House of Representatives, particularly ambitious people who aim their careers towards working in the House of Representatives where government is formed,'' the ABS says.

The observation raised eyebrows yesterday, with Labor Senator Penny Wong - who is the Minister for Finance and Deregulation - declaring she was ''very proud'' to be a Senator.

''The focus should be on increasing the number of women in the Federal Parliament, not about making one chamber an indicator of a woman's ambition,'' she told News Limited.

''The Senate does important work in examining the detail of legislation and policy.''

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said she had always wanted to enter the Senate, to hold governments to account.

''I'm very proud to be a young woman in the Senate,'' she said.

''It comes with all the tough decisions about how to juggle work life and family, but I wouldn't give it up for anything.''

The ABS report says some women ''are seen to have a lack of confidence in their abilities and are less likely to put their hands up for promotion''.

''Whereas men are willing to put their hand up for a role where they may not tick some or all of the boxes, some women may only apply for the job if they feel confident they are a good fit for the job,'' it says.

The Federal Government's Workplace Gender Equality Agency director, Helen Conroy, yesterday said it was not true that men are more ambitious.

''Often it's said that women aren't as ambitious as men but that's just not right,'' she told News Limited.

''The overwhelming reason we don't have more women in leadership is the underlying cultural and structural barriers in organisations.

''Flexible work options and careers should be available to men and women so they can balance work and family life.

''This is a family issue, not a woman's problem.''

The ABS report shows that working mothers still spend twice the time as working dads in looking after the kids when they get home.

A woman in full-time work spends an average of six hours and 39 minutes each day taking care of kids - compared to three hours and 43 minutes a day for a man.

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick yesterday said women still do the ''vast majority'' of caring for children, the disabled and the elderly.

''The social norm still is that women care and men work,'' she said.

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Just like Titanic, but no iceberg

Source: The Daily Telegraph

BLUEPRINTS for a second Titanic, are unveiled. But just don't call Titanic II 'unsinkable'. Tara Cleary reports.

Source: The Daily Telegraph

Clive and Anna Palmer with daughter Mary in front of a poster for his planned Titanic II cruise liner. Source: The Courier-Mail

CLIVE Palmer's $195 million Titanic II will look like the original inside and out - complete with passengers dressed in 1912-style garb.

As these images show, the exterior of the ship will be an identical replica of the original, as will the interior sections including the grand staircase, gymnasium, Turkish bathhouse and restaurants. The ship will also cruise along the ill-fated original's route between England and the US.

But Palmer hopes that's where the imitation will end.

Launching his bold scheme in New York yesterday, the eccentric billionaire refused to label Titanic II "unsinkable". But he did detail the modern safety features hidden within his 269m replica ship and joked that any journey would now be made even safer by global warming.

"There aren't so many icebergs in the North Atlantic these days," he said.

The original "unsinkable" Titanic famously hit an iceberg on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York on April 15, 1921 - with the loss of 1502 passengers. Mr Palmer said he wanted to complete the voyage it never finished when Titanic II starts sailing sometime in late 2016.

The outline of the ship is almost an exact match to the original, while its interior will imitate the lavish furnishings and intricate decoration.

But hidden away from view will be modern lifeboats and escape staircases, and the hull will be welded rather than made with rivets.

Would you travel on Titanic II? Tell us below

Construction of Titanic II is expected to be completed in China in the second half of 2016 and Mr Palmer said demand for tickets for the maiden voyage had exceeded supply, with some reports of enthusiasts offering $1 million for a ticket.

Just like the original, passengers can buy first, second and third class tickets for the six-day voyage. Mr Palmer said

it will be like stepping back in time.

"I'll be in third class," the mining magnate said. "I'll be looking forward to banging the drum and playing the fiddle and all of those sort of things and twirling around like Leonardo (DiCaprio) did in the movie."

While the ship will resemble the 1912 original, it will also feature the latest technology, with airconditioning, a theatre, casino, modern hospital and helicopter landing pad. The ship will also have stabilisers and diesel engines. And, as Mr Palmer was keen to point out, state-of-the-art lifeboats.

But a decision is yet to be made as to whether Titanic II will have email or televisions.

"I'm against having internet on the ship," Mr Palmer said.

The ship will have a crew of 900 looking after about 2435 passengers.

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Sparkies better off working at Macca's

Electrical apprentices get less than a starter at McDonald's, a report has found. Picture: Thinkstock Source: Supplied

UNSKILLED people flipping burgers at Macca's will earn considerably more cash than first-year apprentice electricians, putting many sparkies below the poverty line.

In a submission to the upcoming Fair Work Australia Modern Award Review, the Sydney University Business School has found a electrical apprentices are only getting $7.50 an hour while an up-start at McDonald's will get $14.20.

The chronically low wages are forcing many apprentices to go elsewhere for work because they simply can't afford to make ends meet - especially if they are unsupported and living out of home.

Apprentices are also getting older, with the proportion aged 25 years or over going up from 8 per cent to 26 per cent between 1996-2006.

Report author, Sydney University Professor John Buchanan, said electrical apprentices are massively underpaid and their wages haven't been adjusted for a long time.

''If they are dependent on awards they are better off at Macca's,'' he says.

''When we got down to the gory detail I was surprised how low the pay was. I knew they were low but not that low.''

A first year apprentice under the Electrical Power Industry Modern Award gets $288.37 per week, while at Macca's they get $540.14.

''The prospects of living independently away from the parental home, even at the meagre low cost standard is beyond the reach of even second year apprentices,'' the report said.

It has called for a lift in the minimum wages and recognition of prior learning and employment for older first year apprentices who are coming from other industries.

Third-year electrician Tom Gorrie changed employers in his first year after he realising he would have had no chance of supporting his wife and child.

''When I first started I was on the award which was $7 an hour or $270 a week and there was no way I could survive on that,'' he said.

''It was pretty hard to make ends meet and I had to stay at home. I was pretty lucky I could be at home.

''If they were to pay first-years more then it would probably encourage more people to get into it. Once you get over the first years it is OK.''

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On-the-spot AVOs to protect women

POLICE will be able to issue apprehended domestic violence orders on the spot without court approval in what the government says is the "single most practical meaningful reform in combating domestic violence in memory".

The state government will announce today that police ranked sergeant or above will be able to issue provisional ADVOs, allowing officers to detain an alleged attacker for up to two hours for the purpose of making and serving such an order.

The government will argue the laws are similar to police bail, whereby police can make a judgment to hold a defendant in custody before they face court, and will stop police having to chase defendants around to serve ADVO papers.

At present, police have to request a defendant to wait at the scene of a domestic violence incident while they obtain an ADVO in a move which, perversely, often forces the victim to leave.

The detention powers will also avoid the common situation where police obtain an ADVO but cannot serve it as, when they return to the scene, the defendant has left.

This leaves the victim unprotected until police can locate and serve the alleged attacker. This also often means court dates are missed and have to be re-listed.

The change comes with police already successful in about 94 per cent of all applications for ADVOs and mirrors other states like Victoria and South Australia where interim orders can be issued by police.

"Four out of five ADVO applications are made outside of court hours, causing potential delays in getting an order to protect the victim from the alleged perpetrator," Attorney-General Greg Smith said. "After a provisional ADVO is issued by authorised police, the case will be listed before a court within 28 days - much quicker in most metropolitan courts. Interim and final ADVOs will still only be issued by a court.

"In an additional safeguard, the defendant can apply to the court to challenge the police-issued ADVO before the first listing date."

This proposal to amend existing domestic violence laws acts on a recommendation of the upper house inquiry into domestic violence trends and issues, and follows inquiries by the NSW and Australian law reform commissions.

Police Minister Michael Gallacher said this proposal would save police time travelling between the scene of the incident and the police station to seek the order, while the victim and defendant had to remain in their home.

"The legislation empowers police to order the defendant to accompany them to the station or another designated place to keep the victim safe in their home," he said.

"Police will also have powers to detain any defendant who refuses reasonable directions for up to two hours."

About 30,000 personal or domestic violence orders are issued per year by court registrars and magistrates.

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Flying servo for pilots under the pump

Corporal Kelli Schneider and Flying Officer Simone Batchelor with their KC-30A Multirole Tanker Aircraft. Picture: Alex Coppel

THE two F/A-18 Hornet fighters approach the 27m-long hoses trailing from the wings of the Airbus airliner like hungry calves seeking out a mother's teat.

High above Lakes Entrance in East Gippsland yesterday afternoon, the latest inclusion to the RAAF's inventory, the KC-30A multirole tanker transport, demonstrated how Australia was now able to project air power around the globe.

As the hose and drogue swayed in the turbulence, the fighter jets, from 77 Squadron at Williamtown in NSW, nosed in for what 24-year-old Hornet pilot Flying officer Brent Jones from Lake Macquarie in NSW described as a "tricky" job.

"Most things about flying a fighter are fast and reactive and based on adrenaline, but tanking is slow and deliberate," Flying Officer Jones said.

A fighter pilot delicately positions an F/A-18 Hornet for refuelling.

As the fighter edges forward towards the moving basket with the pilot "walking" the throttles to keep movement to a minimum, the jet's probe gently plugs in to the basket. There are red, amber and green lights fitted to the hose canister to let the pilot know when all is well. In five minutes they can transfer 2500 kg of fuel.

Meanwhile, in the cockpit of the modified Airbus A330 passenger jet, the two pilots fly a smooth pattern and watch proceedings live on a video screen.

Flying Officer Simone Batchelor was born and raised in Germany and came to Australia as a 19-year-old backpacker and she never left.

One fighter locks on for refuelling as another holds position in formation with the tanker. Picture: Alex Coppel

Now an Australian citizen and married to an RAAF fast jet pilot, she joined the air force in 2008 with the aim of being a fighter pilot herself.

Like many graduates, she didn't make the grade for fast jets and was assigned to 33 Squadron for the introduction of the $2 billion KC-30A fleet.

"This is a fantastic capability," Flying Officer Batchelor said.

"There is no other aircraft that can carry 270 passengers and 109 tonnes of fuel to refuel other jets."

Air Commander Australia Air-Vice Marshal Mel Hupfeld was on board the tanker yesterday and he was ecstatic about the new capability.

The former fighter pilot and Iraq war combat veteran said the most challenging tanking job was at night in bad weather.

"Turbulence causes the basket to oscillate and at night there is no horizon line so you must stay in formation with the tanker," he said.

Air force chief Air Marshal Geoff Brown describes the KC-30A as a "flexible use asset" that will give the RAAF global reach.

Due to problems with the refuelling boom mounted to the tail of the aircraft it remains on the government's list of projects of concern. It should be fixed this year.

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