Firies save homes from large bushfires

The Watch and Act bushfire south of Hervey Bay on Saturday afternoon. Picture courtesy Higgins Storm Chasing. Photographer: Janet Spann Source: Supplied

The Watch and Act bushfire south of Hervey Bay on Saturday afternoon. Picture courtesy Higgins Storm Chasing. Photographer: Janet Spann Source: Supplied

LATEST: FIREFIGHTERS have brought a huge bushfire under control after residents had been advised to leave homes for their own safety.

At 5.34pm, the Department of Community and Safety advised the Watch and Act alert for Sunshine Acres and Nikenbah near Hervey Bay had been cancelled.

There is no longer any threat to properties after the bushfire around Vanderwolf Road and Barranjoey Dr, Nikenbah and Pindari Crescent and Barranjoey Dr, Sunshine Acres was brought under control.

Authorities said fire crews will remain on scene to strengthen containment lines and will continue to patrol the blaze tomorrow.

Residents in the area are expected to be affected by a large smoke haze tonight, and are advised to close windows and doors and keep medication close by if suffering from a respiratory condition.

Motorists travelling in the area are advised to drive to conditions.

5.18PM: FIREFIGHTERS are still battling a blaze that has burned an area the size of almost 180 football fields near Hervey Bay.

The fire broke out at Nikenbah just before 3pm and was expected to affect parts of Sunshine Acres.

A Department of Community Safety spokeswoman said about 200ha of land had been burned and residents were urged to enact their bushfire plan.

Those who decide to stay and defend their property should take precautionary measures including:

• Put on protective clothing
• Drink lots of water
• Move car/s to a safe location
• Close windows and doors and shut blinds
• Bring pets inside and restrain them (leash, cage or secure room) and provide water
• Wet down fine fuels close to buildings
• Remove garden furniture, doormats and other items
• Seal all gaps under doors and screens
• Fill containers with water - eg bath, sinks, buckets and wheelie bins
• Have ladders ready for roof space access (inside) and against roof (outside)
• Have generator or petrol pump ready
• Check and patrol outside for embers and extinguish any spot fires and seek shelter as the fire front arrives.

Residents are advised to call Triple Zero (000) if their property comes under threat.

For regular updates, switch on your local radio station or visit the Rural Fire Service Queensland website at ruralfire.qld.gov.au or at fire.qld.gov.au.

EARLIER: A LARGE, fast moving bushfire is burning near Hervey Bay with residents advised to leave their homes for their own safety.

The Rural Fire Service has told residents near Old Rifle Range Rd at Nikenbah to enact their bushfire plan and to leave now if their plan is to do so or if they don't have a plan.

They have been told that leaving is the safest option.

A Department of Community safety warning said only people who had well prepared and defended homes should stay with fire fighters making no guarantees every home can be protected.

Currently, 15 fire crews are working to contain the blaze which is burning near Booral Road and Pindari Crescent at Sunshine Acres.

"Residents should not expect a firefighter at their door," the warning read.

They have warned that property may be consumed by the fire at Nickenbah with the chance power, water and mobile phone supply may be lost in the area over the coming hours while the fire rages.

The fire broke out about 2.45pm at Vanderwolf Rd at Nikenbah and is travelling quickly in a north west direction.

It is expected to effect the areas of Old Rifle Range Rd and Barranjoey Dr at Nikenbah.

Fire fighters are having difficulty controlling the fire and are warning that spot fires may occur ahead of the fire front and embers are being thrown from the fire.

The Department of Community Safety is warning residents it will be very hot and windy as the fire approaches and it could make breathing, hearing and seeing difficult.

Police are asking motorists to stay away from Booral Road at Sunshine Acres due to the fire.

Motorists are also being urged to not travel to the area.

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UK island swimmer going strong

AN endurance swimmer has made good progress through the night in her attempt to become the first person in nearly 30 years to swim solo, non-stop, around the Isle of Wight.

Anna Wardley is undertaking the challenge as part of her bid to complete circumnavigations of five islands.

The 37-year-old, from Gosport in Hampshire, set off yesterday at 10.31am from Ryde Sands and is expected to complete the 56.4-mile swim in about 30 hours.

Only three people have completed the feat, with the last successful attempt in 1984.

She has passed the famous Needles landmark and is making her way round to the east side of the island this morning.

Heather Ewing, spokeswoman for the challenge, said: "She's looking good this morning, although her arms are looking a bit tired and it has got to be hurting by now. That said, she's very cheerful and demanding a bacon sandwich if any are made for the support team."

Wardley said before setting off: "It's been nearly 30 years since this challenge was last successfully completed, so I'm under no illusions how tough it will be.

"There will be a time when I'll be swimming against the tide through the night, almost on the spot for hours. I'll also see the sun set and rise, and we'll be racing against the clock to reach critical points to beat the tide.

"However just knowing people are thinking of me and willing me on will definitely help when the going gets really tough, and it's a huge boost knowing that I'm raising money for such fantastic charities."

Wardley is attempting the swim under the rules of the British Long Distance Swimming Association wearing just a standard swimming costume, goggles and a swimming cap.

It is the culmination of her two-year Five Island Swim Challenge raising funds for the Samaritans, the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust and Sail Africa, with her target set at STG50,000 ($A85,470).

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UK island swimmer going strong

A UK endurance swimmer has made good progress in her attempt to swim around the Isle of Wight. Source: AAP

AN endurance swimmer has made good progress through the night in her attempt to become the first person in nearly 30 years to swim solo, non-stop, around the Isle of Wight.

Anna Wardley is undertaking the challenge as part of her bid to complete circumnavigations of five islands.

The 37-year-old, from Gosport in Hampshire, set off yesterday at 10.31am from Ryde Sands and is expected to complete the 56.4-mile swim in about 30 hours.

Only three people have completed the feat, with the last successful attempt in 1984.

She has passed the famous Needles landmark and is making her way round to the east side of the island this morning.

Heather Ewing, spokeswoman for the challenge, said: "She's looking good this morning, although her arms are looking a bit tired and it has got to be hurting by now. That said, she's very cheerful and demanding a bacon sandwich if any are made for the support team."

Wardley said before setting off: "It's been nearly 30 years since this challenge was last successfully completed, so I'm under no illusions how tough it will be.

"There will be a time when I'll be swimming against the tide through the night, almost on the spot for hours. I'll also see the sun set and rise, and we'll be racing against the clock to reach critical points to beat the tide.

"However just knowing people are thinking of me and willing me on will definitely help when the going gets really tough, and it's a huge boost knowing that I'm raising money for such fantastic charities."

Wardley is attempting the swim under the rules of the British Long Distance Swimming Association wearing just a standard swimming costume, goggles and a swimming cap.

It is the culmination of her two-year Five Island Swim Challenge raising funds for the Samaritans, the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust and Sail Africa, with her target set at STG50,000 ($A85,470).

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Pakistan releases senior Taliban figure

PAKISTAN has released its most senior Afghan Taliban detainee Abdul Ghani Baradar, a senior official told AFP, in a move welcomed by Kabul who hope it will encourage peace talks with the insurgents.

Baradar, a one-time military chief often described as the militants' former second-in-command, was the most high-profile detained Taliban commander in Pakistan.

"Yes Baradar has been released," Omar Hamid, a spokesman for Pakistan's interior ministry told AFP, without elaborating on the circumstances of the release.

Afghanistan's High Peace Council (HPC) welcomed the release and thanked Pakistan's government.

"We welcome his release. And we thank the government of Pakistan that showed goodwill and answered positively to the request of Afghanistan government," Mohammad Esmail Qasimyar, senior member of HPC, told AFP.

"Baradar is someone who has always been eager to join peace negotiations, and we hope he joins peace talks soon. We are optimistic about it, he is still an influential figure, and the Taliban still respect him," Qasimyar said.

Pakistan's foreign ministry on Friday said that Baradar's release would facilitate Afghanistan's reconciliation process with the Taliban as a NATO combat mission there winds down.

However, the Taliban's spokesman in Afghanistan, Zabihullah Mujahid said they could not yet confirm the move.

"We only heard through the media that Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar will be released. We have not received any official confirmation about his release," Mujahid told AFP in Kabul.

The Afghan government has long demanded that Islamabad free Baradar, whose arrest in January 2010 saw Pakistan accused of sabotaging initiatives to bring peace in war-torn Afghanistan.

He was arrested in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi, reportedly in a secret raid by CIA and Pakistani agents, in an operation that was described as a huge blow to the Taliban, who ruled Afghanistan until a US-led invasion in 2001.

At the time of his detention, Baradar was reported to have been the Taliban's second-in-command, the right-hand man of the supreme commander Mullah Omar.

He was the most senior member of the Taliban held after US-led troops invaded Afghanistan in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, bringing down the Islamist regime.

His release brings to 34 the number of Taliban detainees that Pakistan has freed since last year, in what Afghan officials hope will encourage peace talks with Taliban insurgents.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai had asked Pakistan to help open direct dialogue between his government and the Taliban, who consider Karzai an "American puppet" and have refused to hold discussions with his government.

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Gunmen open fire in Nairobi mall

GUNMEN have opened fire inside Nairobi's most upscale mall.

Bursts of gunfire were heard from outside the mall Saturday, where cars were left abandoned. Witnesses say a half dozen grenades also went off along with lobbies of AK-47 gunfire that started at midday.

Nairobi police chief Benson Kibue says that gunmen besieged the building. He said officers are on the ground and are engaging the attackers. He says the men were trying to rob a shop within the mall when the shootout began.

Five dozen people rushed out from the mall as the gunfire and grenade attacks continued.

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Howes would be good senator: Shorten

Labor's Bill Shorten says AWU boss Paul Howes (L) could make a very good contribution to parliament. Source: AAP

PAUL Howes may have disqualified himself from any NSW Senate race before the starter's pistol fired, but Labor leadership hopeful Bill Shorten says the union boss would have been an asset to parliament.

There is much speculation former foreign minister Bob Carr will step down from the Senate, creating a vacancy in NSW.

Mr Howes, the Australian Workers Union national secretary, was being talked up as a candidate to fill that seat.

But he said on Thursday he wouldn't stand because he didn't want to divide the Labor party.

Mr Shorten, Mr Howes' immediate predecessor in the AWU job, pointed out that Senator Carr hadn't yet confirmed he was leaving parliament.

But he said Mr Howes and the AWU did good work.

"I think Paul is a very good union leader and if he chose to come into parliament he'd make a very good contribution," he told Sky News on Friday.

"What he's done is demonstrated that he's interested in the interests of the many, not just the few.

"He's put the interests of the party ahead of perhaps his own particular interests at the moment."

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Bodies of drowned devotees found in India

RESCUERS say they have found 17 bodies of Hindu devotees who were swept away in the Yamuna River during a religious festival in the Indian capital.

Fire official SL Sharma says the devotees drowned during a ceremony immersing clay statues of the elephant-headed Hindu deity Ganesha into the river at the end of a 10-day festival.

Sharma says the bodies were recovered on Thursday, a day after thousands of devotees thronged the river banks celebrating the birth of Ganesha, who is widely worshipped as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.

Millions of Hindus install Ganesha statues in colourfully decorated homes and specially erected temporary structures across India and worship them before immersing them in lakes, rivers and the sea.

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Australian soldiers injured

Three Australian troops have been wounded during an insurgent attack in Afghanistan. Source: AAP

THREE Australian special forces soldiers have been injured in Afghanistan during an operation resulting in the deaths of a number of insurgents, including a senior commander.

Defence on Friday released details of the operation in Uruzgan province last week, when Australian soldiers joined Afghan National Security Forces to fend off a heavy, prolonged insurgent attack.

The trio sustained "minor fragmentation wounds" and were treated at the scene before returning to Tarin Kot base for further care.

One soldier was taken to a Kandahar medical facility for follow-up treatment, but all three are expected to make a full recovery and return to duties, a Defence statement said.

"At the time the entire force element was receiving heavy small arms fire, it was a situation that could have easily escalated," the Australian unit's commanding officer said in the statement.

Despite the injuries, the mission continued and resulted in the killing of numerous insurgent fighters along with the mid-level commander, believed responsible for the supply of weapons and ammunition to dissidents.

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Russia tows back Aussie activists and ship

A GREENPEACE protest ship stormed by the Russian military is being towed to the country's extreme northwest with two Australians among a group of activists held on board.

Russia's FSB security service, which controls the border guards who seized the vessel, has accused its captain of carrying out "unlawful activities".

But Greenpeace says the Arctic Sunrise was sailing peacefully when security forces dropped by rope from helicopters illegally boarded the ship and arrested its crew at gunpoint early on Friday morning.

Russian border authorities said they were towing the boat to the port of Murmansk, 1485 kilometres north of Moscow.

The journey is expected to take three days, they said.

"The decision was taken that the Arctic Sunrise will be taken to the port of Murmansk for further legal procedures," a spokeswoman for the region's border guards controlled by FSB told the RIA Novosti news agency.

She said the ship's captain had already been questioned but a full investigation would happen when the ship reached port.

Greenpeace Australia chief executive David Ritter says Australian Colin Russell and British-born Alex Harris, a permanent Australian resident, are among the 28 activists detained on the Sunrise.

Ms Harris managed to radio back an SOS just after the ship was overrun.

The workers' detention has come as a shock, Mr Ritter said.

"It's a well-established principle that you can sail peacefully through international waters without having a nation state send its security forces to board your ship and arrest your crew at gunpoint," he told AAP.

The ship was three nautical miles inside international waters when boarded, Mr Ritter said.

One of the detained activists, Roman Dolgov, says he and his colleagues have been accused of "terrorism".

"We are facing quite serious accusations: of terrorism and carrying out illegal scientific research," he said from the ship.

Russia has accused Greenpeace of "aggressive and provocative" behaviour, saying the activists attempted to "infiltrate" the Prirazlomnaya oil platform owned by Russian energy giant Gazprom, in the Barents sea.

Greenpeace acknowledged two activists did try to get aboard the rig on Wednesday but denies their behaviour was aggressive.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is seeking information from Moscow about the incident, which occurred while Greenpeace was protesting oil exploration by Gazprom, the world's largest gas company, in the Arctic.

DFAT wants "further information from Russian authorities to ensure the welfare of the Australian citizen and the permanent resident", a spokesman told AAP.

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UK accused of spying on Belgian telco

BRITISH intelligence services were behind a hacker attack on the computer systems of Belgian telecommunications giant Belgacom, a leading German news magazine reports, countering earlier reports that the US was to blame.

Der Spiegel said on Friday it had seen a "top secret" presentation leaked by US whistleblower Edward Snowden that points to Britain's Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) as being responsible for the cyber attack on the largely state-owned Belgacom.

The revelations are the latest in the spying scandal unleashed by Snowden. The scandal has strained relations between the US and a number of countries and has also landed Britain in the spotlight.

GCHQ declined to talk about the Spiegel report, saying that it doesn't comment on intelligence issues.

According to the magazine, the Belgacom operation was codenamed Operation Socialist. Belgium has had a Socialist prime minister, Elio Di Rupo, at its helm since 2011, following elections the year before.

Access was obtained as early as 2010, the magazine wrote. The aim of the operation was "to enable better exploitation of Belgacom" and get a better understanding of its infrastructure, it said.

Belgacom discovered the malware after carrying out checks on its systems following Snowden's initial revelations about US spying.

Belgian prosecutors are currently investigating the matter.

Local media had initially attributed the operation to the US National Security Agency (NSA), saying that it had been intercepting international phone calls on the Belgacom network, mainly to countries such as Yemen and Syria.

Belgium is home to the Islamist internet group Sharia4Belgium, which is suspected of enlisting fighters for Syria.

"If this ... is about cybernetic espionage, the government firmly condemns this intrusion and the violation of the public company's integrity," Di Rupo had said in a statement on Monday.

Belgian media have since reported that Di Rupo's office and the country's foreign ministry have also been the victims of cyber attacks in the past - although China is a suspect in those cases.

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Abbott gets to work on stopping the boats

Tony Abbott has defended his plan to turn back asylum seeker boats, amid criticism from Indonesia. Source: AAP

THE Abbott government insists it will honour its election promise to stop asylum seekers arriving by boat despite Indonesian opposition to its controversial plan to turn back vessels.

Mr Abbott says the coalition "absolutely, totally" respects Indonesia's sovereignty despite comments by Indonesian MP Tantowi Yahya that the turn-back policy is "offensive", "illegal" and could jeopardise good relations between the countries.

"I have no argument with anyone in the Indonesian establishment or parliament," Mr Abbott said in Sydney on Thursday.

"My argument is with people smugglers and my point to the people smugglers is 'the game is up'."

Mr Abbott said he is confident his coalition government will be able to work effectively with Indonesia, as former coalition governments had done.

Not everyone in Indonesia feels the same.

"The policy which is going to be implemented by Mr Abbott clearly ... annoys our sovereignty as independent country," Mr Yahya told ABC television.

And Indonesia's Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said last week that Jakarta was opposed to Mr Abbott's plan to turn boats around - as well as his proposal to buy Indonesian fishing boats to stop them falling into the hands of people smugglers.

Labor MP Matt Thistlethwaite says Mr Yahya's comments accurately reflect the Indonesian government's position on Mr Abbott's policy.

"This is quickly turning into a diplomatic disaster for the new government," Mr Thislethwaite said.

But Australian National University foreign policy specialist Andrew Carr says the Indonesian MP's remarks may really be aimed at a domestic audience.

"This is an issue that does have some resonance with the Indonesian population," Dr Carr told AAP.

"Traditionally, that has not been as much a factor in (Australia's) international relations with Indonesia and I don't think it will be a major factor here."

Mr Abbott will use his first international trip as prime minister to visit Jakarta to hold bilateral talks with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on September 30. Trade and people smuggling are expected to be at the top of the agenda.

Mr Abbott repeatedly said during the recent federal election campaign he wanted his first international visit as prime minister to be to Indonesia and that his government would be focused on Asia.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief of Army Angus Campbell was formally tasked on Thursday with leading operations against asylum-seeker boats under Mr Abbott's Operation Sovereign Borders policy.

The former SAS commander will report directly to immigration minister Scott Morrison and coordinate the 16 departments and agencies that deal with refugee boats.

Mr Morrison met with Lieutenant General Campbell shortly after his appointment.

"The Australian people want that stopped and they have tasked this government to get that job done," Mr Morrison said in Canberra.

"We won't let them down."

Lieutenant General Campbell replied: "There's some work to do."

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WA govt lashed for credit rating downgrade

THE West Australian opposition is accusing Premier Colin Barnett of reneging on a pre-election promise to not privatise a power utility.

It's also calling for the sacking of Treasurer Troy Buswell.

In the wake of WA losing its AAA credit rating with Standard & Poor's, WA Labor leader Mark McGowan on Thursday called Mr Buswell a "clown" and a "joker" who should be made to pay a price for trashing the state's finances.

Mr McGowan also accused the premier of going back on a February 21 pledge not to privatise Western Power, given Mr Buswell told Fairfax Radio on Thursday that power, port and water utilities were potentially on the block as the Liberal-led government sought to reduce debt.

Mr Barnett said he was only responding to a specific question at a media conference about privatising Western Power, and maintained it would not be sold.

"There will be extensive asset sales, not only because of the downgrade by Standard & Poor's but at this stage we're spending $7-8 billion a year on assets and projects and the like," Mr Barnett told parliament.

"And as we continues as a state to accumulate more and more, there's nothing particularly wrong with disposing some of the established and income-earning assets."

Mr Barnett said Australian superannuation funds would buy the assets and he didn't think there was anything wrong with that.

"The state has billions of dollars worth of assets. It's continually buying and selling assets.

"Is that privatisation? I don't know - you can choose your definition."

When Mr McGowan called it a fire sale, asking if the government would be in a weak negotiating position, Mr Barnett shot back: "It could be weaker - you could be in charge of negotiations".

Mr Buswell said ports would not be sold "in totality".

"But there are plenty of assets that sit within WA ports that we could look to sell."

He said asset sales would only solve part of the problem - namely too much spending and not enough income.

Mr Buswell said the key was major reform of the public sector, but acknowledged job culls would be met with fierce resistance exemplified by Thursday's teacher rallies.

"If the public response to what I think is some minor changes to the education system is anything to go by, we're going to have a heck of a time getting those public sector reforms through but they're critically important."

Talkback callers lashed the treasurer for saying on Wednesday the downgrade was a wake up call for the public and its expectations of government.

"Mr Buswell has got a nerve," one said.

The caller said it wasn't the public who wasted money on the botched Muja power station refurbishment, or gave hefty pay rises to government media advisers and the Water Corporation chief.

Another caller described Mr Barnett as "stark raving mad" for pushing unaffordable major infrastructure projects.

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Fmr Qld race boss worked for gambling firm

BOB Bentley doesn't think holding senior positions at Queensland Racing and a betting firm at the same time ever led to a conflict of interest.

Mr Bentley was the first witness called before the Queensland Racing Commission of Inquiry into horse, greyhound and harness racing industries under the former Labor government.

He was grilled on Thursday about his time as chairman of the racing body between 2002 and 2012, specifically because he was a Tatts Group director at the same time.

Counsel assisting James Bell QC said that, under a deal, Tatts paid to use Queensland Racing information for it's betting businesses until 2008.

Tatts then began to withhold fees which eventually amounted to $91 million.

Tatts' actions were raised with Queensland Racing chairman Mr Bentley, who sought advice on whether they were allowed.

He asked a Tatts director whether the firm's actions were legal and the director told Mr Bentley they were under the deal.

"I see nothing wrong with that," Mr Bentley told the inquiry.

"Where else was I going to ask."

Mr Bell responded: "You could ask a lawyer, who's representing the company (Queensland Racing) you're the chairman of."

Mr Bell also tabled a deed the former chairman had signed in 2011, which gave four Queensland Racing board members a substantial raise in entitlements, including waiving the notice period for their resignations.

All four received substantial payouts upon quitting the board days after the Liberal National Party came to power in 2012.

The deed gave Mr Bentley legal indemnity and stipulated that Queensland Racing would pay his legal fees.

Mr Bell questioned whether he had done that because he knew he'd gone too far with the board entitlements.

"We suspected that if ... the government had changed (after the election) then this very thing (an inquiry) may very well happen," Mr Bentley said.

"Our detractors (political opponents) are very skilled at this sort of thing."

At one point Mr Bentley explained how he'd sought legal advice to end speculation about a conflict of interest arising from him holding senior positions at Queensland Racing and Tatts simultaneously.

"I asked, 'let's put this issue to bed, let's get proper advice and do it'," Mr Bentley said.

Mr Bell replied: "Did that get it put it to bed?".

"Nothing in racing ever gets put to bed if someone's got a problem," Mr Bentley replied.

The inquiry is set to continue on Friday.

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WA premier braces for more school strikes

More than 20,000 people have come together to support an unprecedented teacher's strike across WA. Source: AAP

MORE than 20,000 people have come together to support an unprecedented teacher's strike across Western Australia.

And beleaguered Premier Colin Barnett has been warned it could be just the beginning of a potentially lengthy fight with unions over school funding.

Teachers, principals, education assistants, school support staff, parents and children flocked to a mass rally to protest job losses and funding reforms that unions claim will deprive schools of millions of dollars.

More than 60 schools across the state closed for the morning, with 23 rallies across WA adding their voices to the mass protest in Perth, despite teachers being threatened with having their pay docked for attending.

A defiant government continued to insist the strike was disruptive, unnecessary and unjustified - but still agreed to meet union leaders next week to listen to grievances.

"This campaign will keep running. It will keep growing. This government has to learn that it can't build stadiums at the expense of our children's education," Carolyn Smith from United Voice said.

"Colin Barnett and (education minister) Peter Collier continue to hide from the truth, but the community is determined - we're not going away."

Opposition leader Mark McGowan told the rally it was obvious the premier had a major fight on his hands to convince the public his plans to reform school funding was correct.

"I am looking at the thousands and thousands of people here today and I am thinking 'Mr Barnett, you picked the wrong people,'" Mr McGowan said.

"These are not reforms, these are cuts."

The day after WA lost its AAA credit rating from agency Standard and Poor's, Mr Barnett said there was no connection between the state's dwindling economic power and the decision to reshape education funding.

He lambasted Mr McGowan for talking down the state's schools.

"How can the Leader of the Opposition go out and talk about children suffering. What do you think this is, Bangladesh?," Premier Barnett said in parliament.

More than 5000 people attended similar stop work meetings in regional areas, including 2000 in Bunbury, 500 in Albany, 520 in Pinjarra and 200 in Port Hedland.

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New US ambassador posts video welcome

INCOMING United States ambassador John Berry has sent a video message to Australians, introducing himself as a nature lover who hopes to boost channels of trade and investment between the two countries.

Shown strolling through the National Zoological Park in Washington DC where he was once director, Mr Berry, 54, arrives in Canberra as a first-time diplomat having most recently been charged with heading up personnel management for the administration of President Barack Obama.

Openly gay, Mr Berry hails from Maryland and studied at the University of Maryland and Syracuse University.

"I love the outdoors," Mr Berry says in his transmission posted on the US Embassy's website.

"My spouse Curtis Yee is a triathlete from Hawaii who loves anything involving salt water and waves. We both can't wait to explore your beautiful country."

Mr Berry says he is the second generation of his family to serve America in the Pacific, after his father fought as a marine in the Solomon Islands and Cape Gloucester.

"As ambassador I hope to deepen our cooperation in science and conservation in addition to strengthening our strategic alliance and increasing our trade and investment," the diplomat said.

"The United States and Australia share a proud past and we hope for an even brighter future.

"I look forward to strengthening the friendship ... and learning more about your culture and history."

Mr Berry replaces Jeffrey Bleich, who returned to the US in early September after a four-year term in Canberra.

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NT Labor party denies spill motion

NT Opposition Leader Delia Lawrie has denied rumours of a spill motion moved against her. Source: AAP

DESPITE swirling speculation that there would be a leadership spill for Northern Territory Labor, its leader Delia Lawrie denies she has been challenged.

On Wednesday afternoon, her chief of staff David Money sent out an email saying he was moving to the office of Michael Gunner, sparking reports that Mr Gunner was eyeing the top job.

Labor MPs were called to parliament for a strategy meeting later on Wednesday, but Ms Lawrie denied there was a spill.

"I confirm that there has been no leadership spill and I have the full support of my Labor team," she said in a statement.

The meeting was a planning day "to discuss the achievement of a pro-Labor swing in Solomon and winning Lingiari in the recent federal election", she said.

She was recruiting a new chief of staff as Labor focuses "on the failures of the CLP Territory government and Labor's positive plan for the future of the Northern Territory".

"False rumours such as those reported would be music to the ears of the CLP who want a distraction from power price hikes, teacher cuts from our schools and a failure to deliver for the bush," Ms Lawrie said.

Mr Money did not return calls for comment.

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Warne says split reports are 'rubbish'

SHANE Warne says he and fiancee Liz Hurley are "are sorting through some issues" but rubbished reports the couple have split.

A press conference featuring the Australian cricket great was cancelled at the last moment on Wednesday, fuelling rumours he had split with Hurley.

But Warne took to Twitter to say he and Hurley are still together.

"Some of the reports re EH & me r absolute rubbish," he said.

"Yes we're sorting through some (private) issues. But we're not throwing the towel in yet." Hurley had been on Twitter about half an hour earlier, apologising to loyal followers for not tweeting recently.

"Too raw & personal to share right now," she said.

Cricket Victoria issued a media release cancelling Wednesday's event in Melbourne just 90 minutes before it was due to start, citing a "scheduling conflict".

The event to launch the Shane Warne Foundation Ambassador Program has been postponed until November 13.

After the cancellation, Warne tweeted: "Hey guys apologies about today & the late notice everyone! See you November 13 at the 'G' we are all pumped & excited."

There has been media speculation in recent days that Warne and Hurley have split.

The model did not send Warne a 44th birthday tweet on September 13, although she was in England and he was in Australia.

Warne's last tweet to his 47-year-old fiancee was on August 30, when he seemed to be making plans to spend a day at the races with her.

Warne has been engaged to the Austin Powers actress since September 2011.

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No indigenous health priority: Snowdon

AUSTRALIA'S former indigenous health minister is concerned Prime Minister Tony Abbott has not retained the position in his ministry and warned it may affect progress on closing the gap.

Northern Territory Labor MP Warren Snowdon, who was the first indigenous health minister from 2009 until Labor lost power, is concerned about whether Aboriginal health is actually a priority for the incoming government.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has flagged he will move indigenous affairs under the umbrella of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C).

But in administrative arrangements released on Wednesday there is no specific reference to indigenous health in either PM&C, the department of health or ministerial responsibilities.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Tony Abbott told AAP indigenous health would be the responsibility of Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion and indigenous health programs would fall under the department of PM&C.

Asked if the absence of a specific minister could negatively impact efforts to achieve the close the gap targets and improve life expectancy, Mr Snowdon told AAP: "I think it is a problem."

The life expectancy gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians is 11.5 years for men and 9.7 years for women.

This year's report card on it said efforts to close the gap on life expectancy by 2031 were falling behind.

Mr Snowdon, who released Australia's first national indigenous health plan in July, says he is concerned about the Abbott government's commitment to it.

The coalition dismissed it as an exercise in political spin and lacking substance when it was released.

Mr Snowdon is also worried about progress on negotiations for a new national partnership agreement between states and territories on indigenous health.

The previous agreement expired in June and had $1.57 billion in combined federal and state funding.

Labor committed $777 million until 2016 in the May budget towards the national partnership agreement, but so far only Victoria has offered money.

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Philippine military hunts Muslim rebels

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Four Malaysians detained after WA crash

FOUR Malaysian men have been detained by immigration authorities for overstaying their visas, after one of them was badly injured in a car rollover in Western Australia.

Police were alerted to the crash in the early hours of Monday morning on the North West Coastal Highway, just north of the Overlander Roadhouse, where a man suffered serious head injuries.

As he was being treated, three foreign nationals in another car not involved in the crash were spotted acting suspiciously.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) confirmed the three men were found to have overstayed their visas, and were taken into immigration detention.

The injured man - who was flown to Perth for treatment - has also overstayed his visa.

DIAC said he would also be taken into immigration detention once his medical treatment had concluded.

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Stocks to watch at close on Tuesday

STOCKS to watch on the Australian stock exchange at close on Tuesday:

FMG - FORTESCUE METALS GROUP - up 4.0 cents, or 0.9 per cent, at $4.62

Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group will start reducing its $12 billion in debt from November.

LEI - LEIGHTON HOLDINGS - down 35 cents, or 1.8 per cent, at $19.15

Construction firm John Holland has won a $257 million contract for work on a rail project linking to Gina Rinehart's Roy Hill project.

NHC - NEW HOPE - down 29 cents, or 6.8 per cent, at $4.00

Coal miner New Hope's annual profit has fallen heavily due to lower coal prices, a high Australian dollar and one-off writedowns.

PMV - PREMIER INVESTMENTS - down 7.0 cents, or 0.8 per cent, at $8.31

Retailer Premier Investments is taking its children's brand Smiggle to the UK as it forecasts a sluggish Australian retail environment.

QAN - QANTAS AIRWAYS - up 0.5 cents, or 0.3 per cent, at $1.475

Qantas has announced a review of its aircraft maintenance work at Avalon, triggering union fears that up to 300 remaining engineering jobs may be made redundant.

RRL - REGIS RESOURCES - down 30 cents, or 7.5 per cent, at $3.70

Regis Resources has more than doubled its full year profit, on boosted gold sales amid higher prices.

TPM - TPG TELECOM - up 53 cents, or 14.3 per cent, at $4.23

TPG has increased customer numbers at a faster rate than last year, substantially boosting the telco's annual profit.

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More officers and a nurse at Perth lock-up

PERTH'S new lock-up could have a nurse on duty at all times and an additional 20 officers within months, a public hearing has heard.

The West Australian Police Union has requested 50 additional auxiliary officers at the Perth Watch House.

But the state's police commissioner, Karl O'Callaghan, told a parliamentary committee looking into custodial arrangements at police lock-ups that 20 officers were more likely.

The commissioner told the inquiry it would cost an estimated $700,000 a year to employ a nurse 24/7 at the Perth lock-up.

He said there was no need for a doctor - as requested by the union - because in serious cases, detainees would still be taken to a hospital.

Mr O'Callaghan said it was probable that 80 per cent of people in lock-up were either drunk or had taken drugs.

But there was no need to test detainees because police were more concerned about those who were visibly drunk and behaving badly, he said.

The commissioner also defended single-officer custodial duties in rural areas.

Union Vice President Brandon Shortland told reporters it was inappropriate to have one officer in charge of prisoners, even with the officer in charge living close by.

"There needs to be at least two police looking after a prisoner," he said.

Mr O'Callaghan said there were 171 police sites in WA and many were small with few prisoners.

The number of people having to be conveyed to bigger facilities was low and it was not cost effective to refurbish some condemned cells when it was easier to transport detainees elsewhere, he said.

Mr O'Callaghan conceded there was a lot of pressure on police infrastructure and it was an unfortunate reality that many buildings would be worn down further before being refurbished.

He said priorities included replacing the Fremantle station, which would be a big investment.

The commissioner also said a new court at the Perth police centre was being under-utilised, which was a waste of resources.

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Kings Cross venues prosecuted for breaches

KINGS Cross club and hotel owners have been put on notice after two venues breached their licences and a host of others copped penalties.

The licensee of The Village, at Sydney's late night strip, was prosecuted by the the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR) earlier this month, after covert inspections in June found the venue was serving alcohol without having food available.

Meanwhile last month, the licensee of the Beach Haus bar at Kings Cross was prosecuted for for two counts of breaching its conditions.

"The message to licensees is clear - stick to the rules or face the prospect of fines, possible prosecution or extra conditions on your licence," OLGR director of compliance Paul Newson said in a statement on Tuesday.

Since December last year, Mr Newson said the office had issued an additional 16 penalty notices to nine other Kings Cross venues for breaches.

Thirteen of these notices, which include penalties for serving shots after midnight, are still awaiting an outcome, he said.

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Albo launches ALP leadership bid

Anthony Albanese will visit three cities and launch a website in his bid for Labor leadership. Source: AAP

BILL Shorten may have the majority support of the ALP caucus for the party's federal leadership but he's going to have a tough fight winning over NSW rank and file members.

More than 200 people packed into the trade union hall in central Sydney on Tuesday night for the launch of outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's leadership bid.

The fervent supporters gave the member for Grayndler a standing ovation and cheered "Albo, Albo," as he entered.

ALP member and staunch "Albo" supporter Melanie Brake, 36, told AAP the party needed reform and Mr Albanese was the best person to deliver it.

"He is the kind of person that has the integrity and a Labor vision," she said.

"He has the credibility within the party, he has the standing in the party and he's got the credentials and the experience to do it."

Mr Shorten and Mr Albanese have both nominated for Labor's inaugural ballot of caucus and ordinary ALP members to elect the new federal parliamentary leader in opposition.

The result will be announced on October 13 after a postal ballot of Labor's estimated 40,000 members and an October 10 caucus meeting.

Mr Shorten says the majority of the ALP caucus is behind him and that he was encouraged by expressions of support from grassroots members.

But that didn't stop Labor frontbencher Penny Wong throwing her support behind Mr Albanese for leader.

Former climate change minister Greg Combet, who introduced the aspiring opposition leader at the launch, is also backing Mr Albanese.

"You've got to be clear in mind about your values, your policies... and articulate that to the community," he told AAP.

"Most importantly, you've got to be tough and fight hard and Anthony has all those attributes. I think the times demand him."

But he expects Mr Shorten will have a lot of support particularly in his home state of Victoria.

"He'd be a great leader if he was elected too," Mr Combet said.

It is understood Mr Shorten, the Right faction powerbroker, can count on about 54 per cent of the caucus vote.

But the grassroots membership skews to the Left and is likely to favour Mr Albanese.

Mr Albanese is embarking on a three-city tour over the next three days and will be taking along his three word slogan "Vision. Unity. Strength."

Acting Labor leader Chris Bowen wouldn't endorse either contender but would attend campaign events if both aspirants were present.

Mr Shorten said he and Mr Albanese had agreed to a "civil debate about ideas, not personalities".

The pair also agreed that the loser of the ballot would still get a senior role in opposition.

Asked whether he and Mr Albanese had policy differences, Mr Shorten said their values were "quite similar".

But he added that issues surrounding services for people with disabilities must be kept at the centre of the political stage, and that Labor must still keep the Abbott government accountable during the leadership contest.

Mr Shorten appears to favour outgoing health minister Tanya Plibersek for the opposition deputy leader position, if she chose to run.

Bookmakers have Mr Albanese a clear favourite.

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Billson to end revolving door: business

Business groups have welcomed the appointment of Bruce Billson as Small Business Minister. Source: AAP

BUSINESS groups are hoping the confirmation of Bruce Billson as Small Business Minister will end the revolving door around the portfolio under Labor.

Mr Billson will be a strong voice for the sector in Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott's cabinet, professional accounting body CPA Australia chief executive Alex Malley says.

"Mr Billson's appointment to the stand alone portfolio of small business is a welcome statement by the Prime Minister-elect about the importance of the sector to the national economy," Mr Malley said in a statement.

NSW Business Chamber chief executive Stephen Cartwright agreed, saying small business owners were right to question the commitment of the various Labor ministers who seemed to treat the particular appointment as a stepping stone to a higher calling.

Mr Billson has been small business spokesman since December 2009 in opposition.

Mr Malley also warned newly appointed Treasurer Joe Hockey and Finance Minister Senator Mathias Cormann of the challenging budget position and rising unemployment.

"A rush to surplus for the sake of it is not in the national interest and the business community will look to both Mr Hockey and (Senator) Cormann to provide the stability the country needs right now," Mr Malley said.

Mr Abbott stressed his government would bring the budget back into surplus as quickly as it responsibly can.

There is a "very serious deterioration" in the budgetary situation, although not markedly different from the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Outlook (PEFO), he said.

He indicated the Mid-year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) may be delayed until January.

"The important thing is to get the right policies in place as quickly as we can, so that when MYEFO does come out, it does so in ways which reassure the Australian people that the economy is under stronger management than it might have been over the last few years," he said.

Business Council of Australia president Tony Shepherd approved of Mr Abbott's considered approach to government.

"Things that are rushed have a high likelihood of being wrong," he told Sky News.

But acting Labor leader and former treasurer Chris Bowen said Mr Abbott was avoiding scrutiny by waiting until everyone was on holiday in January.

Many of Canberra's press gallery will be away on holiday, he said.

"You will have your board shorts on ... there will not be the normal scrutiny you get in this building in other months of the year," he told reporters at Parliament House.

He said Mr Abbott had promised to reveal the state of the books in his first 100 days of government.

"Now we are told, it's not urgent enough, it can wait," Mr Bowen said.

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Scientists slam claims of cooler climate

AUSTRALIAN scientists have rejected claims a multi-national climate change body is set to revise down its previous warnings about the rate of global warming.

The United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is preparing to hand down the first part of a major report on the updated science of global warming in Stockholm next week.

But a series of apparent leaks has sparked media speculation the IPCC's highly-anticipated assessment could contain an admission it overstated rising temperatures.

It's a claim that's rattled Australian scientists, who say such a finding is hard to believe given it contradicts decades of data and the draft version of the report hasn't even been finalised yet.

In particular, they're furious at suggestions the IPCC will admit it got its numbers wrong and that over the past 60 years the world has been warming at half the rate stated in its previous 2007 report.

"That is complete fiction," Professor David Karoly, a review editor of the IPCC report at the University of Melbourne, told AAP on Monday.

He said the observed global average warming of surface air temperature over the last 60 years was 0.12 degrees per decade - almost identical to the 0.13 value reported in the IPCC report of 2007.

That assessment was backed by Dr John Cook from the University of Queensland, who warned such statements misrepresented the findings of the IPCC.

Professor Steven Sherwood from the University of NSW said the IPCC didn't conduct its own modelling, but relied on analyses provided by global climate bodies like NASA and Australia's CSIRO.

The upcoming IPCC report is based on more than 9000 published scientific papers and aims to provide the latest assessment on the state of climate change and the risks it poses.

The IPCC was forced to issue a statement last week denying it was holding emergency meetings following alleged leaks to media organisations.

"Contrary to the articles the IPCC is not holding any crisis meeting," it said in a statement.

Greens senator Richard di Natale said the IPCC collected existing data, so was likely to show the world was still heading towards dangerous climate change as scientists had been warning for years.

"The idea that there is going to be some explosive allegation or claim made within the IPCC report is just laughable," he told AAP on Monday.

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One woman in Abbott's boys club

Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott has come under fire over the lack of women in his cabinet. Source: AAP

LABOR has mocked Tony Abbott's new cabinet saying Afghanistan has better female representation.

Prime Minister-elect Mr Abbott unveiled his ministerial line up on Monday, revealing the only woman in his cabinet is Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop.

Acting Labor leader Chris Bowen called it a sad day for the nation, Liberal senator Sue Boyce says the embarrassing omission will tarnish the coalition victory, and the Women's Electoral Lobby said Australia had gone backwards.

Mr Abbott said he was "disappointed" adding there were talented women "knocking on the door" of the cabinet and ministry.

That door would be opened "as time goes by", he said.

"If Sophie Mirabella had been clearly ahead in Indi, Sophie would be in the cabinet," he told reporters in Canberra.

"So plainly, I am disappointed that there are not at least two women in the cabinet."

Mr Bowen said Australian had gone backwards.

"The cabinet of Afghanistan now has more women (three) in it," Mr Bowen said.

There was a record six women appointed to cabinet after Kevin Rudd took over in July, in a move that some speculated was aimed at countering negative reaction over his knifing of Australia's first female prime minister Julia Gillard.

One of them, outgoing families minister Jenny Macklin said they didn't just deal with women's issues.

"We made cabinet more representative of the Australian population we were there to govern," she told the Guardian Australia website.

Senator Boyce, who retires when her term expires next July, said the lack of women in cabinet was a systemic problem for the Liberal Party and should be a wake up call.

"It's a shame that this shocking and embarrassing statistic will permanently tarnish a wonderful victory," she said in a statement.

Women's Electoral Lobby chair Melanie Fernandez told AAP it was disappointing that government was again a "boys club".

"Good diversity of representation ... means a better discussion and better policies being put in place," Ms Fernandez said.

"It's not an equal playing field."

She urged the coalition to introduced quotas for women in its party preselection processes.

Former Liberal Senator Judith Troeth said the coalition boasts women capable and suitable for promotion to the federal cabinet.

"Over the years we've had a number of good, talented women," she told the ABC.

But Ms Troeth, who was a senator for 18 years, spoke of a stigma that she believes impacts on the rise of women.

"I think men have an innate fear of capable women at that level, not telling them what to so, but certainly putting their views forward ... I still think men like to run the show."

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Stronger pound could hit UK recovery

THE pound has defied recent expectations of a fall as it heads towards a level of $US1.60 for the first time in eight months.

A focus on prospects for a tapering of monetary stimulus in the American economy has pushed down the greenback against sterling in the money markets.

Investors believe the withdrawal of former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers from the running to become the next chair of the US Federal Reserve makes a sharp cut in the Fed's multi-billion dollar quantitative easing (QE) program less likely.

It comes on top of a recent improvement in the pound's fortunes due to scepticism over Bank of England governor Mark Carney's flagship low interest rate policy.

The strengthening in the currency may have come too late for many British summer holidaymakers but could make imported goods and materials cheaper for UK firms and consumers.

By contrast, exporters are likely to face a struggle to sell their products abroad as they become increasingly expensive - threatening prospects for recovery in the country's beleaguered manufacturing base.

The pound has been rising since plunging to below 1.49 US dollars in July, and pushed above 1.59 following the latest announcement about the future running of the Fed.

But the strength of sterling could hamper the UK's efforts to boost gross domestic product, which remains 3% below pre-recession levels.

Lee Hopley, chief economist at manufacturers' organisation EEF, said: "The higher pound is going to be an issue for some exporters.

"A lot of what British companies export is less price sensitive than it used to be, but it will still be an issue. Quite a bit of the recovery has been led by exports."

Sterling has been on a rollercoaster ride over the summer, falling sharply on the initial impact of Mr Carney's arrival at Threadneedle Street, after an indication that interest rates would remain low for some time to come.

The prospect of cheap money pushed stock markets up but sent the pound spiralling lower, with some analysts predicting it would go as low as 1.30 US dollars, given the decline in North Sea oil production and continued trade deficit.

However, sentiment hardened as doubts began to emerge about the details of the Bank's "forward guidance" policy, linking any possibility of an interest rate rise to a fall in unemployment to 7%.

While the headline guidance suggested this meant they would not rise until 2016 at the earliest, traders began to believe the Bank's forecasts on unemployment were too pessimistic, leading to the expectation that rates would come up sooner.

The likelihood of higher interest rates has led traders to expect there will be increasing demand for the pound, pushing up its price.

In addition, this weekend's announcement by Mr Summers that he was pulling out of the race to lead the Fed has depressed the dollar

Mr Summers was seen as a sceptic on the Fed's QE policy. The prospect of billions continuing to flow out of the central bank continuing to flow into the US economy unhindered drove down the value of the currency.

Some economists already believe the rise in the sterling has gone too far, however, and that it is set for a fall.

Jessica Hinds of Capital Economics said that the rise in the pound was already looking overdone last week, predicting that UK rates were likely to remain at their current low until 2017 amid a recovery not yet as strong as that of the US.

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Comet collisions 'can spawn life'

BUILDING blocks of life can spring into existence spontaneously when icy comets smash into planets, a study has shown.

A similar process can create amino acids - bits of proteins - when a rocky meteorite strikes an ice-covered world.

The discovery suggests that life could be getting a kick start just about everywhere in the universe.

How often the building blocks end up constructing proteins and living organisms is an unanswered question. But the research fills in another piece of the puzzle of life's origins on Earth.

Scientists believe that about the time life first emerged, between 4.5 and 3.8 billion years ago, Earth was being bombarded by comets and meteorites.

"Our work shows that the basic building blocks of life can be assembled anywhere in the Solar System and perhaps beyond," said Dr Zita Martins, from the Department of Earth Science and Engineering at Imperial College London.

"However, the catch is that these building blocks need the right conditions in order for life to flourish.

"Excitingly, our study widens the scope for where these important ingredients may be formed in the Solar System and adds another piece to the puzzle of how life on our planet took root."

Proteins, the giant molecules that form living tissue, are made from chains of amino acids whose assembly is directed by the genetic code.

Writing in the journal Nature Geoscience, the scientists show how when a comet - essentially a dirty snowball - impacts it creates a shock wave that generates the molecules needed for amino acids.

Heat from the impact the transforms these molecules into the protein building blocks.

The study involved firing steel projectiles at high velocity into ice mixtures similar to those found in comets.

A large compressed gas gun, housed at the University of Kent, propelled the projectiles at 7.15 kilometres per second.

High temperatures and pressures from the impacts led to the creation of several amino acids, including the important protein components glycine and alanine. Non-protein amino acids were also generated.

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Comedian Simon Pegg in Perth for film

Shaun of the Dead star Simon Pegg has arrived in Perth to film Kill Me Three Times. Source: AAP

ENGLISH actor and comedian Simon Pegg has arrived in Perth to work on the Australian film, Kill Me Three Times.

The star of Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead and the recently released The World's End tweeted on Friday: "G'day Perth. Let's make a film."

Pegg seemed to enjoy Perth's sunshine on Sunday too, tweeting: "Beautiful day in Perth, WA. I might even leave the hotel, if I can find the exit."

An hour later he joked: "People keep recommending a bar called The Lucky Shag. Australia, you beautiful bitch, I don't think I could love you more at this point."

The Lucky Shag is a waterfront bar in Perth's CBD.

Written by James McFarland and steered by Red Dog director Kriv Stenders, Kill Me Three Times is a crime thriller set in the Australian surfing town of Eagle's Nest.

It tells the story of a young woman linked to three tales of murder, blackmail and revenge.

Pegg will play a murderer in the film, in stark contrast to his previous good guy roles.

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Worst over in Vic baby illness mystery

More than a dozen babies in Melbourne's Royal Women's Hospital have fallen ill to a mystery bug. Source: AAP

VICTORIAN Health Minister David Davis says the worst is over after more than a dozen babies in a hospital nursery came down with a mysterious infection.

Fifteen newborns being cared for in The Royal Women's Hospital's intensive and special care nursery were quarantined when the illness emerged nine days ago.

Two babies had to have surgery for an inflammatory bowel condition.

Mr Davis said the outbreak was a challenge that had been well-managed.

"An infection in neonatal has been worked through and followed up with the support of the chief health officer of Victoria," he said.

"We are now eight days since any further infection. This can happen from time-to-time but has been handled appropriately and carefully."

Mr Davis said state opposition allegations that funding cuts were to blame for stress in neonatal units were false and bed numbers were at record numbers.

He said adequate bed numbers in neonatal units was a long-term challenge for government that was separate to the infection.

"From time-to-time there are peaks in demand (of beds) and there is pressure. However the state government is working to ensure their sufficient capacity," he said.

A hospital spokeswoman said there was no danger to new arrivals and that the babies are getting better.

Australian Nursing Federation state secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said she was concerned about the stress on neonatal care units across the state.

"There is continuing pressure put on those units and we know that there has been an issue this week with 20 babies still being barrier nursed," Ms Fitzpatrick said.

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London mayor Johnson backs UK fracking

London Mayor Boris Johnson says wind farms are a "disease" and the UK should embrace nuclear power. Source: AAP

WIND farms are a "disease" which have blighted Britain's countryside and the country should embrace nuclear power and fracking to meet its energy needs, London Mayor Boris Johnson says.

Johnson accused the energy companies of "ruthlessly exploiting" a shortage of supply as he insisted the UK must stop "pussy-footing around" and start exploiting shale gas reserves.

The senior Tory said turning to a new generation of nuclear plants and fracking would cut energy bills and boost the economy.

Writing in The Sun on Sunday he said he was shocked by the number of wind turbines he saw on a recent drive to Scotland.

"It is a good 20 years since I last drove all the way to Scotland, and in the interim something unbelievable has been done - in our name - to our green, pleasant and precious countryside," he said.

"I mean the windmills, the turbines - whatever they are called. I mean the things that look like some hideous Venusian invasion, marching over the moors and destroying the dales; the colossal seaside toys plonked erratically across our ancient landscape; the endless parade of waving white-armed old lunatics, gesticulating feebly at each other across the fields and the glens.

"They seemed to be everywhere, and I asked myself, when were we consulted? Was there a referendum? Did someone ever warn the British people that these moaning seagull slicers were going to be erected on some of the most sensational scenery that God ever called into being?

"The answer is that no one warned us, because no one really took the decision to do it. It just sort of happened. We have contracted these mills like a disease, because of our pathetic apology for an energy policy."

Claiming that the turbines would not meet the UK's needs he blamed the last Labour administration for failing to get to grips with the issue, leaving the UK facing an energy crisis.

"It is time to take the fight to the energy companies, who have been ruthlessly exploiting their position - and the best answer is an enormous increase in supply. We can do it, and we can do it in a way that is as clean and green as any technology on earth," he said.

"First we need to grow some collective cojones and launch the nuclear energy programme that this country has too long delayed. Do you know how much of their juice the French get from their nuclear programme? Almost 80%. They are laughing at us - us, the nation that split the atom!"

He added: "Next, we must stop pussy-footing around, and get fracking. Even if we have 100s of fracking pads, they are nothing like as ugly as windmills, and they can be dismantled as soon as the gas is extracted."

Mr Johnson said shale was "clean and green" and would help the UK secure its own energy supply without relying on gas from countries such as Russia.

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Trekkers' attackers captured in PNG

FOUR men suspected in the ambush and murder of two guides leading a group of Australian trekkers in Papua New Guinea have been captured by villagers, police say.

The four were captured on Sunday morning near the town of Wau, a five-and-a-half-hour walk from the Black Cat Track in PNG's Morobe province, where local guides Kuia Kerry and Matthew Lasong were killed when they were attacked by six armed men.

Several Australians and six PNG men were injured in the attack.

Police said on Sunday one suspect was caught in the town of Salamaua while the other three were caught in Wau.

"I believe it is only a matter of time before the other two are captured and brought in," Police Commissioner Tom Kulunga said in a statement.

"Whilst I encourage the local community to continue to assist police capture the remaining attackers, I urge you not to take the law into your own hands.

"Let the law deal with them."

Mr Kulunga also confirmed reports a man was attacked and killed by relatives of one of the two murdered porters.

He said the relatives accused the man of harbouring the six criminals and attacked him.

Police intervened and flew him to the nearest health centre but he died from loss of blood.

"There will be an investigation and the persons responsible for this recent death will be arrested. No one has the right to take anyone's life," Mr Kulunga said.

Police have sent 30 additional personnel to the area to capture the remaining fugitives.

"The commitment of the villagers in helping police bring in the four suspects speaks volumes for our people's genuineness and hospitality as well," he said.

"The attack was an isolated and one-off incident and not a reflection of the generally friendly people of the Morobe Province."

Meanwhile the survivors of Tuesday's machete attack have set up a trust fund for the local porters who were injured in the ambush.

Mackay man Nick Bennett was injured when he was hit on the head with a gun.

On Sunday, he told ABC radio all the trekkers had returned home and were coming to terms with the horrific experience.

But he says while the trekkers are traumatised, their injuries are insignificant compared with what had happened to the porters, some of whom had limbs hacked off and would never walk again.

"We've set up a trust fund and we're asking people ... just to provide a few dollars into an account that we've got set up to help them get the services that they need," he said.

"We've made a commitment to ensuring that we support those porters and their families who've absolutely been devastated by this.

"We really need help and we're appealing to people to be generous. Anything - a peso, a dollar, a pound - would be helpful right now for these guys."

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Colorado floods leave hundreds missing

EMERGENCY workers involved in a massive effort to rescue stranded flood victims in Colorado, where more than 500 people are still unaccounted for, are bracing for a fresh pounding from storms.

Officials said efforts to locate those in need of help were hampered by flood damage to many mobile phone towers.

New flash floods were expected to inundate the area, which thousands were forced to evacuate.

Raging floodwaters in the city of Boulder, already confirmed to have killed at least four people, apparently claimed the life of a fifth on Saturday - a 60-year-old woman swept away in the torrent.

The Larimer County Sheriff's Office said on Twitter that the woman was "missing presumed dead", after floodwaters destroyed her house, and officials warned the toll will likely climb further.

"There might be further loss of life," Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle told reporters on Sunday. "It's certainly a high probability.... With an army of folks and an air show, we're hoping to reach everyone as soon as possible."

But some additional help was on the way, with President Barack Obama declaring a major disaster in Colorado and ordering federal aid to support state and local efforts.

"Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster," the White House said.

And the Wyoming National Guard was helping the evacuation effort after Governor Matt Mead activated five UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and 20 crew members, the state's military department said.

In the disaster zone, helicopters circled above submerged houses in a search for survivors in the western US state, with hundreds still missing.

About 350 people were unaccounted for in Larimer County alone, from where about 475 people were evacuated, according to the sheriff's office.

In neighbouring Boulder County, 231 people were unaccounted for, according to CNN, though authorities cautioned that the numbers were fluctuating.

"It is no doubt an epic event," Weld County Commissioner Sean Conway told The Denver Post. "It is a once in 500 years or 1000 years situation."

Search and rescue teams are being deployed to assess the situation and contact stranded residents.

The US National Guard provided seven helicopters to help get people out of danger.

About 1200 residents were pulled out of the Pinewood Springs area by the National Guard and Fort Carson personnel, state authorities said on Twitter.

But many others are still awaiting rescue, which authorities said could take days for some.

Impassable roads forced authorities to use a helicopter to evacuate 200 residents from Jamestown, northwest of Boulder, according to news reports.

Residents' furry friends were also stranded by the torrential rains.

"Our victims' advocates told me tonight there were almost as many pets as people getting off the evacuation helicopters today," the Larimer County Sheriff's Office tweeted.

Officials said there were widespread power outages as streets became raging rivers after the state received months' worth of rain in just a few days.

Rain began pelting the state earlier this week, in Boulder, which saw 18.3 centimetres of precipitation in about 15 hours beginning from Wednesday night, with more downpours likely over the weekend.

Pictures from helicopter cameras showed heavy rain had reduced the towns of Jamestown, Lyons and Longmont to little more than islands, with ready-to-eat meals being dropped to stranded, anxious residents below.

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