$1.5bn not enough for independent MPs

Federal independent MP for Lyne Rob Oakeshott, in his home town of Port Macquarie on the NSW mid north coast. Picture: Nathan Edwards Source: The Australian

BALANCE-of-power politicians are crowing they have won $1.5 billion extra for their electorates by propping up the Gillard Government - and now they want more.

Andrew Wilkie, the independent MP for Denison, claims to have secured $900m in bonus funding for Tasmania since the last election.

And Tony Windsor is claiming credit for $300m worth of extra spending - including $120m to redevelop Tamworth Hospital and $32m for a cancer clinic - in his northern NSW electorate of New England.

In the neighboring seat of Lyne, Rob Oakeshott's constituents have enjoyed $360m in federal grants for projects ranging from $137m in hospital expansions to $102m in local highway upgrades.

Mr Oakeshott has revealed he is lobbying for more grants from the minority Gillard Government in its final budget, to be handed down next month.

"At a local level I've got a list of items 100 feet long in with government for any opportunity for funding, as any local member should," he said.

Mr Oakeshott said his Port Macquarie electorate had secured more federal government funding during his five years as MP, than in 60 years with a National Party member.

"Sure, we've done well," he said.

Independent MPs Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor in federal parliament. Picture: Kym Smith

"Obviously in this parliament we've been able to step it up another level, not just for the electorate of Lyne but for regional Australia.

"Rather than being apologetic about it, it exposes the question as to why does it take a parliament like this to deliver equity and fairness to the entire country and not just favoured locations?"

Mr Wilkie said the Federal Government had met all its local funding promises, including $340m to redevelop the Royal Hobart Hospital.

"In fact I've won almost as much additional federal funding again for the electorate since I tore up my agreement to support the Government in January 2012," he said.

"(In total this is) almost $900m on top of what Tasmania/Denison would have received in normal circumstances."

A News Ltd analysis reveals the three independents who sided with Labor to create Julia Gillard's minority government are claiming kudos for more than $1.5 billion in additional funding for their constituents.

The figure excludes $10 billion in spending on highways and railways that also pass through Labor and Coalition seats - including a $600m highway bypass at Kempsey, on the border of Mr Oakeshott's electorate.

The Commonwealth Auditor-General has revealed that cross-bench MPs received nearly double their proportional share of federal health funding last year.

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie says he has won $900m for his electorate and the rest of Tasmania. Picture: Matthew Newton

The cross-benchers at the time of the 2010/11 health funding announcements - Bob Katter, Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott, Andrew Wilkie, Greens MP Adam Brandt and WA-based Tony Crook - held 2.1 per cent of all federal electorates.

Yet they were given 3.9 per cent of funding under the Health and Hospitals Fund - excluding the major hospital upgrades announced soon after the 2010 election.

A spokesman for Mr Albanese said Mr Oakeshott's lobbying had delivered infrastructure to adjoining National Party and Labor-held electorates as well.

"Rob Oakeshott has lobbied for money to complete the duplication of the Pacific Highway and the benefits of that are spread across four or five electorates," he said.

Mr Windsor did not return phone calls.

Independent MP Bob Katter and Greens MP Adam Bandt talking in federal Parliament. Picture: Kym Smith

Independents: Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor talk to Greens MP Adam Bandt in Question Time. Picture: Kym Smith

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PM refuses to be drawn on super plans

Julia Gillard has again failed to quell concern over speculation her government will raid superannuation in next month's budget. Source: News Limited

JULIA Gillard has again failed to quell concern over speculation her government will raid superannuation in next month's budget, saying any decisions that affect the sector will be revealed "at the proper time".

As experts slam Labor's plan to hit higher earners with increased taxes on superannuation, the Prime Minister said she would not be drawn on the speculation sweeping the sector.

And another Labor figure, Ed Husic, who resigned following last month's leadership showdown, has added his voice to the debate.

Asked if any changes to superannuation could be made before the May 14 budget Ms Gillard said this morning: "We'll make budget decisions and make them available publicly at the proper time."

"I'm not going to get involved in the speculation and rumour that is there at the moment but I can be very clear with people about the set of principals that guide us," she told ABC radio.

"They are the principals about sustainability and decent retirement incomes."

The government is looking at targeting disproportionate tax concessions for the top 1 to 2 per cent of richest Australians in next month's budget.

Superannuation Minister Bill Shorten last night sought to hose down the concern being expressed by the sector, denying the need to save money in the budget was a key driver for superannuation reforms.

Pressed on the "fabulously wealthy" tag that her senior ministers have placed on those likely to be hit by superannuation changes, Ms Gillard this morning would not name an income figure.

"I am not going to get into income ranges," she said.

"What people know is that super is a Labor creation, it is only in this country because of the Labor party and consequently I think what people know is that when Labor looks at super we do it from a set of values and principals which are always about advantaging working people and keeping the system sustainable and secure."

Former government whip Ed Husic, who resigned his position after backing Kevin Rudd to challenge Julia Gillard for the Labor leadership, this morning said the government should be doing everything it could to help, not hinder, superannuation contributions.

"We should do everything we can to promote and not hinder people's ability to put money into superannuation," Mr Husic told Sky News.

He said the concerns expressed by Simon Crean and others about superannuation had been "important" to try and nut down what changes could be coming.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says the coalition can't commit to unwinding potential Gillard government changes that might raise the tax rate on superannuation earnings for wealthy Australians.

The government has been under fire over ongoing reports it wants to boost taxes on the super of wealthy Australians to find extra money for schools funding and the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

One option being considered is increasing the 15 per cent tax rate for high income earners, after last year's budget included a hike to 30 per cent for those on more than $300,000 a year, Fairfax Media has reported.

He said a coalition government could not pledge to roll back any changes made to super tax rates.

"I can't make pre-emptive commitments in advance of knowing exactly what the budgetary position is," Mr Abbott told Fairfax Radio Network.

"We will fight seriously against any of the changes the government seems to have in mind.

"But we can't promise to undo all of the damage that this government has done."

He said the government was "raiding the people's savings to fund its spending".

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Abbott will sack Flannery if elected

Tim Flannery .. could be facing the axe if the Coalition wins power at the next Federal Election. Source: Herald Sun

Tony Abbott has his own plans for climate change policy. Picture: Gary Ramage Source: News Limited

TONY Abbott has signalled he will sack Climate Commissioner Tim Flannery if he is elected as prime minister in September.

The Opposition Leader, who has vowed to dismantle the Climate Change department and merge it with the Environment Department in government, said he did not see the point of paying Professor Flannery around $180,000 a year for his views which were already public knowledge.

He said if elected as prime minister on September 14 and given the opportunity to revoke the carbon tax a whole range of climate change bureaucracies would also be axed.

"I suspect we might find the particular position you refer to might go with them," Mr Abbott told 2GB's Ray Hadley when asked about Professor Flannery.

"It does sound like an unnecessary position given the gentlemen in question gives us the benefit of his views without needing taxpayer funding."

Professor Flannery, who penned the popular climate change book The Weather Makers, was appointed as Climate Commissioner in February 2011.

The 2007 Australian of The Year gets a salary of $180,000 for the three-day-a-week role.

Establishing the independent climate commission was a 2010 election commitment by Labor. It was originally slated to cost $5.6 million over four years. 

Mr Abbott's comments come as Climate Change Minister Greg Combet says a new report warning Australia will soon face more extreme weather should serve as a warning to those who think action on cutting greenhouse gases can wait.

The report from the Climate Commission says climate change is already increasing the intensity and frequency of extreme weather like heatwaves, fires, cyclones, heavy rainfall and drought.

The report entitled Critical Decade: Extreme Weather, released on Wednesday, says the global climate system is warmer and moister than 50 years ago, with the extra heat making extreme weather events more frequent and severe.

In response to the report, the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council warned that while they had experience combating extreme weather events, people cannot expect emergency crews to protect their communities from increasingly intense fires and floods.

Mr Combet said climate change was no longer a problem for future generations to solve, as the impacts were already being felt.

He said the scientific advice was that this was the critical decade to act, and effective policies now would determine the severity of climate change experience for years to come.

"Increasing greenhouse gas emissions is like loading the dice for more extreme weather events in the future," he said in a statement.

The past summer was Australia's hottest, capped by the longest and most extreme heatwave on record.

The southern part of the country - including key food-growing regions - is becoming more drought-prone while the northwest is getting wetter.

Chief climate commissioner Tim Flannery has warned that while one-off events do occur, record-breaking weather was becoming more common as the climate shifts.

The independent commission's report draws on the latest research and observations from bodies including the CSIRO, the Bureau of Meteorology and Australian and international universities.

Mr Combet said it was time for Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to "pull his head out of the sand" and listen to the advice of the experts.

It was time he was held accountable for his "reckless views" on climate change, and called on to explain how he'd propose tackling global warming.

"Australia needs responsible leadership and sound policies on climate change, not opportunistic scare campaigns and negative politicking," Mr Combet said, adding the coalition's Direct Action policy had been criticised by scientists, economists and business experts.

A survey released on Wednesday by the World Wildlife Foundation of nearly 1300 people nationwide showed 72 per cent believed humans were contributing to climate change.

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MP wants an MRI not Angelina

Federal MP Ed Husic admits he questioned how the Gillard government can spend $21.6 million a film but cannot find money for his local hospital.

FEDERAL Labor MP Ed Husic admits to "raising an eyebrow'' on hearing the Gillard government would spend $21.6 million on a Disney film, after he'd lobbied in vain for new equipment for his local hospital.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard yesterday announced the one-off payment to Walt Disney studios, which is remaking the science fiction classic 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea in Australia.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt to head to Australia for Disney film

The project would create 2000 jobs in the local film industry, the prime minister said.

But a bemused Mr Husic, whose western Sydney MP seat is under threat in an election year, said he had been trying to get an MRI for his local hospital at Mount Druitt "for ages''.

"I have to say I raised my eyebrows yesterday when I saw that we were giving $20 million to the production,'' he told Sky News today.

"I don't need 20,000 leagues of sea; I need an MRI at Mount Druitt Hospital.''

Mr Husic is a supporter of former prime minister Kevin Rudd and resigned his position as deputy whip during last month's leadership spill triggered by the sacked frontbencher Simon Crean.

After the resignation of two ministers, Julia Gillard has reshuffled her cabinet.

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Warp speed, one-handed and taunting cops

DANGEROUS GAME: The motorcyclist obscures his plate as he travels at 129km/h. Source: Supplied

A MOTORCYCLIST has found himself on the police radar after taunting traffic cameras by speeding past with his hand covering the bike's number plate.

The man was caught over the Easter weekend travelling at 129km/h on the Pacific Motorway at Gaven, his hand stretched behind to hide his registration.

Police believe he has done the same thing on other occasions.

COVER-UP: Police want to talk to this motorcyclist, who went past a speed camera at 129km/h while he obscured his number plate with one hand. Source: Supplied

Another motorbike rider was snapped on the same stretch of road over the Easter weekend, travelling at 125km/h without a helmet.

HIGH-RISK: This motorcyclist was snapped doing 125km/h without a helmet. Source: Supplied

The motorcyclists were among 10,214 people caught by speed cameras over the long weekend.

State Traffic Support Branch Acting Superintendent Allan Hales said it was terrible people were willing to take so many risks on the roads.

"It's terrible. I shudder to think what would happen if you crashed at that speed without any protection whatsoever," he said.

"Even in something hardy, he is dead at those speeds."

He said it was frustrating for police, particularly those who routinely attend fatal crashes, to see people putting themselves and others in danger.

"What message do you try and get out there?" he said.

"We seem to say a lot of the same things at times and we are often disappointed by the results.

"But all we can do is show a bit of tenacity and a bit of perseverance and keep going out there and trying our best.

"I know people can be negative about cameras, but as soon as you put one in, you see the speeds drop down dramatically."

Among those caught speeding on Monday was a driver travelling at 126km/h in a 60km/h zone on Anzac Ave, Kallangur and another doing 141km/h in an 80km/h zone in Wynnum.

On Sunday, police caught a motorist doing 142km/h in a 90km/h zone on the Warrego Highway near Dalby and another travelling at 150km/h on the Warrego Highway in Chinchilla.

A motorist was clocked travelling at 161km/h in a 100km/h zone on the Logan Motorway in Meadowbrook on Saturday and another driver was caught doing 118km/h in a 60km/h zone on Jubilee Tce, Bardon.

Supt Hales said drivers took incredible risks travelling at such speeds on roads not designed for it.

"Some of these speeds are horrendous," he said.

"All roads are designed for different speed ratings and when people exceed those limits grossly you are not only exceeding the speed limit you are also exceeding the road's ability to give you any safety at all," he said.

"Travelling at high speeds reduces the driver's capacity to respond to something happening in front of them."

Supt Hales asked anyone who recognised the motorbike rider pictured hiding his numberplate to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Swan: Top tax concessions 'generous'

Treasurer and Deputy PM Wayne Swan. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen Source: News Limited

WAYNE Swan has added more fuel to speculation the government will raid superannuation contributions of the wealthy in the May budget saying tax concessions at the top end needed to be reined in.

Mr Swan today said the government had a "substantial savings task" but that any superannuation reform would not provide significant windfall in the budget.

He said Labor was approaching superannuation in the "spirit of reform that we saw during the period of the Hawke and Keating governments".

"The same principals that applied then, apply now," Mr Swan said.

"We will build the system up.

"We want to see all Australians having access to a decent retirement with a decent level of support from their superannuation. That's the spirit that we bring to this discussion."

The treasurer said tax concessions for the wealthy were excessive and needed to be made more sustainable.

"Everyone understands that the system has to be sustainable for the long term," Mr Swan said.

"The tax concessions at the very top are excessively generous and to make it sustainable over time the concessions need to be sustainable over time."

Mr Swan however would not be drawn on the specifics of the superannuation budget reform, including any retrospectivity.

"I am not going to engage in all of the speculation at the moment, most of it which is inaccurate," he said.

"We are going through a policy making process, we will continue to go through that in a methodical way and when we have completed that we will make our announcements."

With the government desperate to find savings to fund its Gonski education and disability insurance reforms, it is understood the super changes - to be unveiled in the May 14 budget - will hurt fewer than 100,000 people.

These are expected to see the tax paid on superannuation earnings increase, from 15 to 30 per cent for people earning over $300,000 - just 1 per cent of taxpayers, or 91,000 people.

In last year's Budget, the Government increased the tax to 30 per cent on super contributions paid to people earning $300,000-plus.

It is expected the proposed crackdown will reap around $2 billion in additional revenue over four years - enough to make a decent down payment on the big ticket education and disability reforms.

In 2009-10, the tax concessions for superannuation contributions and earnings were worth $21.7 billion. The top 1 per cent of income earners received 9 per cent of this value or $2 billion.

The latest tax expenditure statement, released in January showed that superannuation tax concessions became the biggest tax expenditure in 2012-13 - exceeding the cost of tax concessions for owner-occupied housing for the first time.

The tax concession on super earnings has increased in cost from $9.5 billion in 2009 10 to $17.1 billion in 2012-13, and it's expected to increase to $25.1 billion by 2015 16.
 

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'Mice in popcorn room 10 years ago'

Moviegoers were horrified at a mouse infestation at a Hoyts cinema in Perth

FILTHY: A mouse feasts on a patron's chips at Hoyts, Carousel over the Easter weekend. Now a former staffer says the problem goes back a decade.  Source: PerthNow

A RODENT infestation at a Hoyts cinema in Perth could date back to more than a decade ago when mice were invading the popcorn room, a former employee says.

Hundreds of outraged film fans have taken to the Hoyts Facebook page to complain about mouse and rat sightings at the cinema complex.

The outcry came after patron Sue Donnelly posted a photograph on Facebook on Monday of a mouse eating her food as she watched a film at the Hoyts Carousel cinema at the weekend.

Ms Donnelly wrote: ``My granddaughter flicked away two mice.

"Upon complaining at the front desk about the infestation I was told the problem was already known about and nothing could be done by an exterminator for two weeks.

``To add to my disgust, when I returned to my seat one of the vermin was eating her chips.''

A former employee at the cinema told AAP there was a rodent problem as far back as 2000.

``We used to chase them in the cinema when cleaning,'' the former employee, who asked to remain anonymous, said.

``The popcorn room was full of them, with the bags of popcorn made days before it was served and stored in rooms, which the mice chewed through and ate daily.''

The former employee, who worked at the complex for four years, said the manager at the time knew about the problem but did not address it.

A WA Health Department spokeswoman told AAP the department had not received any official complaints about mice in any cinemas and said it was a local government issue.

City of Canning commissioner Linton Reynolds confirmed on Tuesday that the council had received a complaint six months ago, but said the latest incident was the first report of a mouse eating someone's food.
Inspectors went to the site on Tuesday afternoon.

Hoyts is facing a backlash from cinemagoers who say they would rather see the complex closed down and fumigated before they would consider returning to the facility.

Many are concerned about the health risks of rodents getting into food at the cinema.

But some see the funny side, and the ``Hoyts Mouse'' now has a Twitter account.

``Might enjoy a screening of The Croods this morning. Anything with Emma Stone is great. Plus kids always drop good food,'' the Hoyts Mouse tweeted on Wednesday.

Hoyts issued a statement on Tuesday confirming there were mice in the Hoyts Carousel La Premiere cinema.

``We would like to ensure patrons that Hoyts has been undertaking preventative measures at this site,'' it said.

``Hoyts will immediately conduct incremental reactive measures to assist in eradicating the problem.''

The company said every effort was made to ensure all its cinemas met stringent standards set by local council health regulators.

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5000 to reveal tales of heartache

The board for the Royal Commission: Bob Atkinson, Prof Helen Milroy, Justice Peter McClellan AM, Justice Jennifer Coate, Robert Fitzgerald and Andrew Murray. Source: The Daily Telegraph

AT least 5000 people could tell their traumatic stories to the royal commission into child sex abuse.

And the commission says the reputations of individuals or institutions will not be spared if naming and shaming was justified.

Justice Peter McClellan, the chair of the six commissioners, said they would not hesitate to air allegations if they felt they were justified - but they would allow those people or institutions to be represented by lawyers.

It was also revealed yesterday that the commission would look at the sentences handed down in the courts for child predators.

The commission has already begun exercising its wide powers to uncover child sexual abuse and the response of institutions to it.

Justice McClellan said orders to produce documents have been served on the Catholic Church and the Salvation Army and the DPP in New South Wales.

Counsel assisting the commission, Gail Furness, SC, reiterated that the commission was neither a court nor a prosecutor.

"It will not make findings that a named individual was sexually abused by a named person within an institution," she said.

"It will, however, in appropriate cases, and after according procedural fairness, make findings about the conduct of institutions and individuals within those institutions in responding to allegations of child sexual abuse."

Motel function rooms in regional towns will be used for child sex abuse victims to reveal their darkest and most painful secrets.

The commission will spread its net wide to cover more than the Catholic Church and other religious institutions.

Offences may have happened when victims were Scouts, Girl Guides, orphans, at kindy or at swimming, netball or little athletics.

The six commissioners and staff are bracing themselves for the job of listening to harrowing accounts, many of which will be spoken about for the first time because there has been no one to listen.

"The commissioners accept that on behalf of the nation they have been asked to bear witness to the past experiences of those who have suffered child sexual abuse in institutions," Justice McClellan said.

"We have been told that many of the accounts we receive will contain serious and often shocking allegations."

The commission, established late last year by the Federal Government, yesterday declared itself officially open for business with a brief hearing in Melbourne.

Bravehearts founder Hetty Johnson said the commission was starting to understand the depth of its task.

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