Labor can bounce back as a team: Shorten

Party members and unions will have a say in choosing Queensland Labor's parliamentary leader. Source: AAP

FEDERAL leader Bill Shorten has likened the prospect of a Labor Party comeback to the form reversal of the Australian cricket team.

He told the Queensland party conference that Labor had been written off since the election like fast bowler Mitchell Johnson before the Ashes.

"But then something happened, Mitchell started running in hard, he started running in very hard and bowling very fast," he told the cheering crowd of Labor faithful in Brisbane on Saturday.

"Now no one knows what's going to happen in this Ashes series.

"It's wide open and anyone can win.

"And what's true in sport is true in politics."

Mr Shorten called for unity, but there were deep divisions over proposals to give the rank-and-file more power.

Motions called for ordinary members have an input in voting for Queensland senate candidates, the state parliamentary leader, the Brisbane lord mayoral candidate and the state party's three vice presidents.

But the powerful delegates dug in their heels.

A motion for the branch members and unions to each get 30 per cent of the vote to choose who held the state parliamentary leader was passed.

But only after a delegate's suggested amendment to give the rank-and-file 50 per cent of the vote, with the other 50 per cent split between unions and caucus, was shouted down by outraged union delegates.

Later a motion to democratise senate preselections was fiercely challenged by regional delegates, who thought it would give too much power to the southeast.

In the end there was a division, which was likely to see the motion deferred.

Another motion for branch members to have a say in choosing the state party's three vice presidents was also set to be deferred, with one delegate telling delegates that democracy would destroy their power.

"You're voting yourselves out of existence," he warned.

In the end the delegates' hardball tactics resulted in only one motion giving branch members more power being passed, with the rest set to be deferred.

But a motion to reintroduce a ban on mining uranium in Queensland was easily passed.

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Stabbed woman hails cab to NSW hospital

A NSW woman somehow waved down a cab to get to hospital after suffering critical stab wounds. Source: AAP

A NSW woman mustered the strength to wave down a cab to rush herself to hospital after suffering critical stab wounds.

Police say a 42-year-old woman waved down a taxi driver on Villiers Street in South Grafton at 11.40pm (AEDT) on Friday and asked for help, saying she had been stabbed.

A man who had been standing next to the woman fled while the taxi driver took her to Grafton Hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery for stab wounds to her stomach, upper chest area and neck.

Police believe the stabbing was related to a domestic incident and apprehended a 55-year-old man as he returned to a Villiers Street home in the early hours of Saturday.

He was taken to Grafton Police Station and charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder.

He will appear in court at a later date.

The woman remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition.

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Police charge would-be carjacker

A MAN who allegedly tried to carjack a BMW in central Sydney before hitting a bouncer outside a bar has been charged.

In the early hours of Saturday the 39-year-old allegedly pushed the driver of a BMW, parked on the corner of Sussex and Slips streets, into the passenger seat and tried to start the car, police say.

Security guards from a nearby hotel pulled the would-be carjacker from the BMW but he ran off to a bar on Lime Street.

Leaving the venue, the man allegedly assaulted a bouncer in what police say was an "unprovoked attack."

He tried to run again but was chased by doorman's colleagues, caught and restrained.

Police took the man, who had suffered a head injury, to St Vincent's Hospital.

He was released on Saturday afternoon and charged with carjacking, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault.

Bail was granted and he's due before Central Local Court on Monday.

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Honduran candidate calls for protest

Honduras' opposition leader says she will refuse to recognise the results of the country's election. Source: AAP

OPPOSITION candidate Xiomara Castro has announced that she won't recognise the result of Honduras' presidential election because of alleged voter fraud and called on her supporters to protest the win by the ruling party candidate.

Castro, whose husband Manuel Zelaya was ousted in a 2009 coup, told a news conference that she would demand a vote-by-vote recount of Sunday's balloting, which she described as "a disgusting monstrosity that has robbed me of the presidency."

Honduras' electoral court declared conservative Juan Orlando Hernandez the winner. The court says he received 36.5 per cent of the votes compared to 28.8 per cent for Castro, with 93 per cent of the votes counted. Six other candidates shared the remaining votes.

Claiming her campaign had found "innumerable examples" of voting irregularities, Castro said "we are not going to accept the results released by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal and we will not recognise the legitimacy of the government that is the product of this shameful assault."

Castro, 54, presented what she described as evidence of fraud and provided a document detailing alleged irregularities. She called on her supporters to hold massive and peaceful street protests against the result.

Castro led for months in the polls until Hernandez, 45, erased her lead by presenting himself as the law and order candidate in an impoverished country with the world's highest homicide rate and much of the cocaine travelling from South America to the US.

The European Union and the Organisation of American States observer missions have released reports calling Honduras' election process transparent despite some irregularities.

The electoral court has acknowledged that there were delays in the vote count because 20 per cent of the vote tallies from the polling stations couldn't be fed into the scanner and needed to be counted by hand. Former President Zelaya said Wednesday that the fraud occurred in that 20 per cent.

But Jose Antonio de Gabriel, deputy head of the European Union's team of election observers, said the irregular votes came from all over the country and not from areas that heavily favoured Castro.

The US State Department issued a statement after the election congratulating "the people of Honduras for their strong participation" in the vote.

"We note that Organisation of American States and European Union electoral observation mission reports reflect a transparent process," it said earlier in the week.

Castro's campaign was considered an attempt at a political comeback by Zelaya, whose ouster left Honduras politically unstable. Poverty and violence have worsened over the last four years under outgoing President Porfirio Lobo.

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Three Qld men charged with murder

THREE young men have been with charged the murder of a man who was bashed outside a Sunshine Coast nightclub.

The 45-year-old sustained head injuries when he was allegedly attacked by the three men in the early hours of Saturday morning, police say.

He was rushed from a Maroochydore nightclub to Nambour General Hospital where he died.

On Saturday night a 24-year-old from North Arm and two men from Buderim and Coolum, both 27, have been charged with murder.

They are due to appear before the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday.

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Top Aussie biologist offers stem cell hope

An Aussie scientist is optimistic stem cell cures are on the way for the most dreadful illnesses. Source: AAP

A WORLD-RENOWNED Australian scientist is optimistic stem cell cures are on the way for some of the most dreadful illnesses.

Several promising clinical trials are taking place, says Professor Alan Trounson, who now heads California's multi-billion dollar stem cell agency.

He believes stem-cell cures for inherited blood disorders and HIV/AIDS are close.

"We are three, four, five years away," said Prof Trounson, who made the opening address to a NSW Stem Cell Network conference via video link on Friday.

A correction or cure for type 1 diabetes was almost certain, he told AAP in a telephone interview.

"Therapies are being trialled that are going to change things."

These included therapies for macular degeneration and there was important progress with some forms of cancer, he said.

"There are going to be big changes in the next five years."

He cautioned people against spending money on untested promises of miracle cures.

"Don't be tempted unless a treatment has a solid scientific basis and has approval by a regulatory body in its country."

Professor Bernie Tuch, a diabetes specialist and founder of the NSW Stem Cell Network, emphasised the need to provide patients with realistic hope rather than hype.

He was optimistic a stem cell-based therapy would replace insulin for type 1 diabetes in 10 to 20 years.

Initial trials could happen relatively quickly, but it could take a long time for an approved therapy to be widely used.

Prof Tuch said there was a need to rejuvenate Australia's stem cell industry.

The country was once a world leader in research, but was losing key people and production potential to overseas organisations.

"Australia is the birth place of innovative ideas in stem cell research and therapies and has demonstrated commercial success as the birthplace of the world's biggest stem cell company, Mesoblast," Prof Tuch said.

"We also have some of the most innovative research including success in clinical trials for treatment of a corneal eye disease at University of NSW and for treatment resistant Crohn's disease at the University of Western Australia."

But there were better commercial and investment opportunities abroad, he said.

"A collective effort is needed to push this industry forward."

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Peaches sorry for tweeting names

PEACHES Geldof has taken to Twitter to apologise for tweeting the names of the two mothers whose babies were involved in abuse by disgraced British rock star Ian Watkins.

The daughter of Boomtown Rats singer Bob Geldof posted a series of tweets on Friday morning explaining that she had assumed the names were already "public knowledge".

Her comments come after UK detectives confirmed on Thursday night that they were investigating reports of what she had done and were in talks with prosecutors.

"I deleted my tweets, however, and apologise for any offence caused as at the time of tweeting had only seen everyone tweeting the names at me so had assumed as they were also up on news websites and the crown courts public file that they had been released for public knowledge," she explained.

"Will check my facts before tweeting next time. Apologies and lesson learned."

The celebrity posted the names of the two women on Twitter after reportedly reading them on a US-based website.

Lostprophets singer Watkins was branded a "determined and committed paedophile" after he pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a string of sex offences, including the attempted rape of a baby.

The 36-year-old Welshman plotted the abuse with the two mothers in a series of text and internet messages.

Geldof on Friday gave a full account of how she came to tweet the names of the two mothers involved.

"For all of those out there tweeting me about naming the paedophile mothers involved in the Ian Watkins case, the names have been in the public domain since December 12th when the court named them and put them up on their website for all to see," she begins by explaining.

"Half of Twitter had tweeted out the names also aside from my (now deleted) tweet.

"The babies will most probably be given new identities to protect them from future abuse from other paedos who know who they are / their names from the videos Watkins uploaded to paedo websites.

"The question of whether or not to give anonymity to criminals in cases like this will go on forever. However these women and Watkins will be getting three meals a day, a double bed, cable TV etc all funded by the tax payer alongside not being named apparently. It makes me sad."

She then moves on to explain that she had deleted her postings and apologises "for any offence caused".

Geldof, 24, has more than 160,000 followers on Twitter, and has worked as a journalist, writing columns for the Daily Telegraph and Elle Girl, and articles for the Guardian.

Police on Thursday said they were "currently in consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service regarding the matter and will take action if appropriate".

A spokeswoman for the attorney-general's office said it was aware of the online posting and the fact that it had been deleted.

She warned that sex offence victims have automatic lifetime anonymity and publishing details that can lead to their identification is a criminal offence.

Watkins pleaded guilty to a string of offences on Tuesday that he had previously "furiously" denied.

The charges included sexually touching a one-year-old and encouraging a groupie to abuse her own child during a webcam chat.

Watkins also admitted possessing and making child porn as well as launching the plot to rape a baby.

He will be sentenced with the two unnamed women at Cardiff Crown Court on December 18.

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Elderly Albany man convicted over hit

AN elderly, wealthy West Australian businessman has been found guilty of attempting to hire a hitman to murder his son's ex-wife.

Brian Vincent Attwell, 73, has been on trial in the Albany Courthouse on the state's southern coast for the past five days, charged with the rare offence of attempting to procure the commission of a crime.

The court heard the accused asked a truck diver, who approached him desperate for work with his civil contracting company AD Contractors, to kill 50-year-old Michelle Patreena Attwell after becoming frustrated with a protracted, bitter legal dispute between her and his son following the breakdown of their marriage.

The driver informed police, who instructed him to set up a meeting between Attwell and an undercover policeman.

Attwell met the policeman twice at a beach near the woman's home, and paid $10,000 in two instalments as a down payment on a $30,000 job.

The court heard Attwell refer to her as a "maggot", a "pain in the arse" and a "nuisance to society" who should be "put to sleep".

He told the officer to bind Ms Attwell in duct tape, strangle her and bury her in a 30-foot hole dug by an excavator.

Defence lawyer Tom Percy argued his client was just expressing his frustration with the ongoing legal dispute, a central point of contention being his son's stake in AD Contractors, a multi-million dollar business.

Attwell repeatedly said during his testimony that his hateful comments were "huff and puff", and that he only wanted his estranged daughter-in-law frightened.

But state prosecutor James MacTaggart said evidence showed Attwell was committed to having her murdered.

Mr Percy argued the undercover policeman had not been given enough information about Ms Attwell - including a photograph - for her to have been in real danger.

Mr MacTaggart, however, said Attwell had provided an address and general description, and that was sufficient for the woman to be at serious risk.

On Friday, a jury convicted Attwell, who spent six months in custody after he was charged.

They deliberated for more than three hours over two days.

Mr MacTaggart noted Attwell was ill and barely mobile, but said he deserved a substantial term of imprisonment as he had engaged a contract killer to a party in a legal dispute.

Ms Attwell, who sat through the whole trial, would not speak with the media but issued a statement in which she asked for her privacy to be respected.

"It's been a long, sad and distressing year for the whole family and this week has been harrowing," she said.

"I'm glad it is over and I hope this really is the end of the matter and I can get on with my life without fear and interference."

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Cash rate cutting cycle coming to an end

IT'S good new for the economy but bad news for borrowers.

There's not going to be an interest rate cut next week and the chances of a reduction next year are slim as the non-mining parts of the economy are expected to pick up pace.

All 14 economists surveyed by AAP say the Reserve Bank of Australia will not cut the cash rate at its board meeting on Tuesday.

Only eight of those surveyed expect a rate cut next year.

The mining and resources investment boom is at, or near, its peak and other parts of the economy are expected to pick up pace and have a more significant role in driving the Australian economy.

Citigroup head of economics Paul Brennan said there is evidence that the Australian economy is starting to rebalance, helped by recent rate cuts.

"The RBA's previous assessment that the influence of previous interest rates cuts working through the economy still holds true and there is data to show that domestic expenditure is slowly improving," he said.

"Housing and equity markets and measures of sentiment have either remained largely stable or strengthened further."

September quarter capital expenditure figures, released on Thursday, were stronger than expected, which Mr Brennan said shows mining investment will still be quite strong for some time to come.

"Mining capex plans are not falling off a cliff while the capex plans of non-mining companies are starting to firm," he said.

"Information from other business surveys also suggests some resilience in overall business investment and this resilience could be sustained if the recent rebound in confidence is sustained."

HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham said a lower exchange rate will also help the domestic economy and save the RBA from cutting its rate again.

In the past six weeks the Australian dollar has steadily fallen, losing six US cents since October 25 to its current level just below 91 US cents.

"RBA governor Glenn Stevens has suggested that it is his judgement that the Australian dollar is currently above levels that we would expect to see in the medium term," Mr Bloxham said.

"Our own view is still that the Australian dollar will be around 90 US cents at year end and will fall modestly through 2014 to 86 US cents."

As new mining and resource projects come into production, mineral exports and housing will be the main drivers for the Australian economy in 2014, he said.

"We expect the housing boom to continue as low interest rates continue to provide support," Mr Bloxham said.

"The recent pick up in consumer confidence is expected to translate into a modest pick up in household consumption."

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$375,000 supercar gets Lister treatment

Street artist Anthony Lister has been let loose on a Lamborghini to help raise money for a charity. Source: AAP

TAKE note Justin Bieber - THIS is how you do street art.

As the king of brat pop continues to cop flak for his attempts at graffiti on the Gold Coast, experienced Queensland street artist Anthony Lister has unveiled his latest work - a world-first restyling of a $375,000 Lamborghini Gallardo.

The LP 550-2 was transformed into a massive, moving piece of Lister artwork to raise funds for ToyBox International, a charity dedicated to raising funds to benefit sick and disadvantaged children.

The work was unveiled at the Barbagallo showroom in Perth on Friday, with Lister saying he wanted to make an impression both on the car, and the charity.

"Street art is all about expression, and being able to leave a lasting imprint on such an iconic car is a once in a lifetime opportunity," Lister said.

The mural, inspired by the luxury car, features a brooding dark background interspersed with trademark Lister flecks of colour making a unique version of the 320 km/h supercar.

Lister, one of Australia's most renowned contemporary artists, is showing his latest exhibition Still Life Crisis in Perth. The exhibition's run has been extended until the end of December.

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Barnett tells states 'get real' on Gonski

STATES complaining about potentially missing out on education funding under the coalitions' revamped Gonski reforms should "get real", West Australian Premier Colin Barnett says.

Federal Education Minister Christopher Pyne sparked outrage from the states and territories, and the federal opposition, when he announced the funding package set up by Labor would only apply in 2014 and a new scheme would be negotiated for 2015.

The former Labor government earlier this year got the backing of NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT, as well as independent and Catholic schools, for a new funding model based on student needs.

Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory held out, but on Wednesday the Abbott government said it would claw back an extra $230 million for their schools for 2014.

Mr Barnett admitted his state appeared set for a better deal, but said it was too early to say how good.

And the WA premier had some advice for other states feeling slighted.

"The others states are running around screaming that we signed up. Well get real - it is a political process," Mr Barnett said.

"What happened under the Labor government was confusing from the federal government. Doing secret deals with one state and a different deal with another was just nonsensical.

"You cannot have federal funding into education discriminating between states."

Mr Pyne said the Gonski scheme had become a "shambles" and had too many strings attached to be effective - an analysis Mr Barnett backed.

"He should go back to square one, and I would expect funding to be distributed fairly across every state, every school, and every boy and girl in Australia," Mr Barnett said.

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NZ government backs waist-watcher wines

THE New Zealand government will spend more than $NZ8 million ($A7.26 million) on research to create better wines for those watching their figure.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has announced a multimillion-dollar research and development program to create low-calorie, low-alcohol wines dubbed lifestyle wines.

The government will work with industry groups - who will foot about half the bill - to develop tools and techniques to make the wines.

MPI's $NZ8.13m contribution will be spread over seven years.

"We're excited by this program in providing the opportunity for further innovation in the wine industry, and the potential to strengthen New Zealand's reputation as a supplier of some of the world's finest wines," MPI primary growth partnership director Justine Gilliland said.

Labour says the government's cash injection is "drunken spending" on products that are already being sold in the supermarket.

"New Zealand companies have already brought low-alcohol products to market," Labour Primary Industries spokesman Damien O'Connor said.

But New Zealand Wine says the program will allow the the country's wine industry to cash in on the local and international market for lower-calorie, lower-alcohol wine.

It says the program will aim to develop "new, natural techniques for grapevine growth and wine production".

New Zealand Winegrowers chief executive Philip Gregan said demand for lifestyle wines was being driven by women and the health-conscious, particularly in the US and Britain.

He said New Zealand, with its reputation for high-end wines, was in a good position to establish itself as the major supplier of top-quality lifestyle brands.

"These are already well established markets for us, where people, particularly women are making choices not necessarily just based on price," he told AFP.

"We want to take the research and deliver that full New Zealand wine experience, but with lower alcohol and lower calories. We believe it's something that the market wants."

Gregan said the sauvignon blancs and pinot noirs that New Zealand is best known for were a natural fit for the lifestyle market because they were both lighter styles of wine.

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ADM ups Graincorp spending promises

US food giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) has enhanced its takeover offer for GrainCorp with extra commitments to the Australian agriculture sector.

ADM is promising an extra $200 million investment in GrainCorp's grain storage and handling network, including improvements to rail infrastructure, and caps on grain handling and storage charges at silos and ports.

ADM also says it is committed to providing access to grain infrastructure for growers and third parties, and will ensure an "open access" regime for port services.

Treasurer Joe Hockey is due to make a decision on ADM's proposed takeover of GrainCorp on December 17.

ADM's $3.4 billion offer has been opposed by the Nationals and some rural Liberals.

ADM grain president Ian Pinner said the company had held substantive talks with growers, policymakers and other stakeholders during its efforts to secure approval for its acquisition.

"Taking into account the feedback we received, we are committing to a further package of investments and initiatives to help ensure that Australian agriculture is able to serve a key role in meeting growing global demand," he said.

"These commitments are in addition to the existing capital expenditure and other commitments we have set out in our bidder's statement, which included a $50 million enhancement to GrainCorp's planned capital expenditure over the next few years."

ADM said GrainCorp's port services would be operated according to the current "open access" regime and the mandatory industry code of conduct when it is finished.

Current access arrangements will be continued for GrainCorp's up-country silos.

ADM said increases in GrainCorp's overall grain handling and storage charges would be capped to inflation for three years.

GrainCorp chairman Don Taylor said ADM's new commitments were a compelling opportunity for the grain industry in eastern Australia.

"While our industry has a range of views on many issues, there is general agreement that Australian agriculture needs significant and ongoing capital investment to ensure we are able to respond to rapidly growing global demand for food," Mr Taylor said.

"Clearly new investment of the scale outlined by ADM today will benefit growers and our industry by improving the efficiency and international competitiveness of our network."

Shares in GrainCorp were 58 cents higher at $11.76 at 1328 AEDT.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman, who worked as an export operations manager at Grainco Australia before GrainCorp acquired the company in 2003, said he supported the idea of ADM buying Australia's biggest grain handler with conditions.

"I'm totally supportive of that takeover ... but very clearly there's an opportunity to put some conditions in place that should have been put in place a decade ago," he told a business lunch in Brisbane.

"We need competition."

But Mr Newman suggested that GrainCorp be forced to sell two port terminals before the sale to ADM could proceed.

"It could be say Brisbane, it could be say Port Kembla," he said.

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Hot and dry summer in store for east

SUMMER is set to be drier and hotter than usual on Australia's east coast, cooler in the far southwest and wetter in Tasmania and parts of WA's mining country.

But the national weather agency says the chances of a warmer or drier than normal summer season are roughly equal over the rest of the country.

Weather models released on Wednesday by the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) show the chances of maximum temperatures exceeding the long-term average this summer are greater than 60 per cent over eastern Australia.

The odds increase to 70 per cent in Cape York Peninsula and southeast Queensland.

But cooler days are more than likely in southeast West Australia.

Australians have already endured their hottest January, hottest summer and hottest single day ever in 2013.

BoM's Lynette Bettio said the country is still on track for its hottest calendar year to date.

"Preliminary results indicate this calendar year is likely to be the hottest on record, but of course we won't know until those final figures are in in January," she told AAP.

Below-average rainfall is forecast for much of northeast Australia, particularly eastern Queensland and northeast NSW.

However, Tasmania and parts of the Pilbara and Gascoyne in West Australia could cop a soaking with a 60 per cent chance of exceeding the median rainfall from December to February.

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Bega weighs options in Warrnambool fight

BEGA Cheese is considering whether it will join legal efforts to stall Canadian firm Saputo's takeover offer for Warrnambool Cheese and Butter.

Dairy cooperative Murray Goulburn on Wednesday sought to stop Saputo acquiring shares in Warrnambool, via a Takeovers Panel application alleging a recent change in the Saputo offer means some Warrnambool shareholders were misinformed.

In an escalation of the three-way bidding war that began in September, Murray Goulburn sought interim orders from the panel to stop Saputo processing acceptances of its offer, and from acquiring Warrnambool shares on-market.

Murray Goulburn also wants to have Warrnambool ordered to reinstate special dividends and have Saputo blocked from varying the conditions of its bid.

Bega Cheese is expected to announce by Thursday whether it will join Murray Goulburn's application or launch its own application to the panel.

Bega Cheese adviser David Williams said Bega supported Murray Goulburn's actions and that Bega considered the latest changes to Saputo's offer to be a "substantial reduction" in value.

"We are considering our position," Mr Williams told AAP.

Saputo is leading the bidding war for Warrnambool with a $9.20-a-share offer that has the support of the Warrnambool board.

Saputo lifted its offer from $9 a share on November 25 and in the process Warrnambool scrapped conditions that would have paid accepting shareholders special dividends of 46 cents and 85 cents a share.

Franking credits worth 56 cents a share were associated with the dividends, valuing the deal at a maximum $9.56.

In a statement, the Takeovers Panel said Murray Goulburn had submitted that removing the special dividends meant Saputo's bid would not conform with previous announcements, contrary to truth in takeovers policy.

Murray Goulburn also alleged that shares traded before November 25 were traded "on the basis of misinformation" that franking credits would be available.

Bega Cheese and Murray Goulburn are both major shareholders in Warrnambool, holding 18 per cent and 17 per cent respectively.

While both are still bidding for Warrnambool, a variation in the Saputo offer affects the value they stand to receive as shareholders.

Bega has made a final offer of 1.5 Bega shares and $2 cash, worth $8.975 on current pricing, while Murray Goulburn has offered $9 a share.

The Takeovers Panel said no decision had been made on whether to conduct proceedings over Murray Goulburn's complaint.

In a statement, Warrnambool Cheese and Butter said it disagreed with the basis of Murray Goulburn's complaint and would respond in accordance with panel procedures.

Saputo also announced it has built its stake in Warrnambool to 4.799 per cent.

Warrnambool shares dropped one cent to $9.25 while Bega shares were unchanged at $4.65.

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NSW to hold Bowraville murders inquiry

An inquiry will be held into the murders of three Aboriginal people from NSW more than 20 years ago. Source: AAP

AN inquiry will be held into the murders of three young Aboriginal people who disappeared from northern NSW more than 20 years ago.

The NSW upper house voted unanimously on Tuesday to hold the inquiry into the deaths of Colleen Walker, 16, Clinton Speedy, 16, and Evelyn Greenup, 4.

The trio disappeared from the Bowraville community over several months from 1990 to 1991.

In 1991, local man Jay Hart was charged with the murder of Clinton and Evelyn, but was acquitted of murdering Clinton in 1994.

Shortly afterwards prosecutors also dropped the charges relating to Evelyn.

After an inquest into her death in 2004, Mr Hart was once more charged with Evelyn's murder and then acquitted.

NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge, who put forward the motion calling for the inquiry, said it should go some way to acknowledging the pain and trauma the community of Bowraville and the families of the three young people have endured for the past 23 years.

"No inquiry and no court can bring these children back or end the hurt, but I do hope that this inquiry can show respect, and will listen to the families and make recommendations to help the community deal with their longstanding pain," he said on Tuesday.

The parliamentary standing committee on law and justice inquiry, expected to be held next year, will hear from the families of the three children and investigate the impact of the deaths on the community.

The committee would call for public submissions soon, Mr Shoebridge said.

It comes after members of the children's families rallied outside parliament last week calling on Attorney-General Greg Smith to reopen the cases and for a judicial inquiry.

Mr Smith had agreed to review the case in 2011, but in February this year announced his decision not to consider new charges.

Leonie Duroux, a sister-in-law of Clinton, and Muriel Walker, a relative of Colleen, watched the proceedings in parliament on Tuesday via a webcast.

The women shared a hug and "a few tears" when it became clear the inquiry would go ahead.

"We're really happy, we're over the moon," Ms Duroux told AAP.

Ms Duroux said the families had hoped for a review of retrial laws - though they accepted this was unlikely - or for Mr Smith to reverse his February decision.

"Maybe once they hear the stories, the attorney-general might do a backflip and say let it go to the Court of Criminal Appeal," she said.

"That would be a dream - that we could have our day in court."

But she said the opportunity for still-grieving relatives to speak out at last meant a lot.

"I couldn't even put into words what it means for the families to be able to have their say," Ms Duroux said.

"I believe that anyone who has a heart and listens to their stories (will not be able to) turn their back on them."

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NSW govt takes swipe at Pyne over funding

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell has taken a swipe at federal Education Minister Christopher Pyne, saying he is acting like someone in opposition.

Mr Pyne has raised the ire of states and territories who are calling on him to deliver on the previous Labor government's so-called Gonski reforms.

But the new coalition minister has signalled he wants to set up a revised national school funding model.

Mr O'Farrell hit out at Mr Pyne for the way he had handled the issue.

"In all my years in politics I have worked out that it is best to have respectful discussions and consultation in private, not through the media," Mr O'Farrell told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday.

"Secondly, when you move into government you have to stop behaving like an opposition.

"This issue has escalated because of the poor way in which it has been handled and that is not acceptable when we are talking about the education of future generations of Australians."

Mr O'Farrell said he wrote to Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Monday expressing his concerns and seeking assurances, but he had not heard back.

"I continue to be concerned in the way in which the federal education minister ... is dictating this debate through the media and not doing what any other reasonable minister, state or federal would do, which is pick up the phone and explain what the hell is going on."

NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli said Mr Pyne had called him before the federal election, describing the coalition's stance on Labor's schools funding policy as a "unity ticket".

"I understand that is: you keep the model the same, the funding the same," Mr Piccoli told reporters.

"I expect him to honour that promise."

While next year's funding was safe, he said Mr Pyne had placed into question future budgets.

Describing it as a "body-blow for education", Mr Piccoli said the school sector was unanimous in its favour of a needs-based funding model.

"He (Mr Pyne) must be the only person in Australia who thinks the SES (Socio-Economic Status) model is a good model. The Gonski panel said 'No', if you walk into any school in NSW every teacher and principal would say 'No'."

Mr O'Farrell said he expected further details following a ministerial meeting on Friday, but warned NSW would not "settle for less".

NSW Opposition Leader John Robertson said the federal government had "perpetrated a massive deceit on the people of NSW".

"Mr O'Farrell knew all along his Liberal colleagues were wobbly on Gonski and that this funding deal was under threat," he said in a statement.

"Barry O'Farrell's colleagues clearly knew they were dealing with a soft touch in Macquarie Street and could rip up agreements with him at will."

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TGA warns of child Panadol syringe

AUSTRALIA'S medicines regulatory body is reminding parents to check incorrectly marked measuring syringes supplied with Children's Panadol Drops.

And if they feel they might have given their child an overdose, they should contact the Poisons Information Centre or their doctor.

That follows an update on Tuesday to a safety advisory from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) last week, warning that a misaligned label on the syringe could lead to an accidental overdose.

"The harmful effects of large amounts of paracetamol on the liver are usually delayed, so children may feel well for the first day after an overdose but become very sick after that," TGA said on its website.

Medicines company GlaxoSmithKline launched a recall of the product from pharmacies last week. It said this appeared to be a rare incident that posed a low safety risk.

The TGA said the problem was only with the syringe, not with the accompanying medicine.

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Bali king-hit victim has more surgery

A surf instructor who was king-hit in Bali has undergone further surgery in a Perth hospital. Source: AAP

A SURF instructor who was king-hit when he tried to help a woman in Bali has undergone further surgery in a Perth hospital.

Matt Scarff, 41, remains in Royal Perth Hospital with major head injuries he suffered when he was punched by a stranger outside the Townhouse Club in Seminyak on November 15.

A hospital spokeswoman said on Tuesday that Mr Scarff was critically ill.

A Facebook page was set up by his cousin Tony Maguire to raise money for CareFlight to bring Mr Scarff to Australia and for his rehabilitation.

Mr Maguire says the surfer has undergone two operations since arriving in Western Australia.

A message posted on Saturday by Mr Maguire said: "He is still in a critical condition but in the last 24 hours he has been kept stable.

"We are taking things hour by hour, day by day and we promise to keep everyone updated with any change.

"Thank you for all your love and support x."

Mr Scarff had brain surgery in a Bali hospital to relieve a clot and pressure on his brain.

The fundraising campaign for him has raised almost $88,000.

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Courts can cancel licence for any crime

Victorian courts can now cancel the licence of any person convicted or found guilty of any offence. Source: AAP

NEW laws give Victorian courts the power to cancel licences even if the offence has nothing to do with driving.

Changes introduced on September 30 allow courts to suspend or cancel the licence of any person convicted or found guilty of any offence.

Sergeant Sherril Handley said about 50,000 offenders could potentially be penalised.

"A court or a magistrate can suspend or disqualify a person's driver's licence for any offence under any act," she said on Tuesday.

Sgt Handley said drivers who returned to court to be relicensed could be forced to use a vehicle interlock device if drugs or alcohol were found to be a factor.

"This is just another option provided to magistrates for those occasions that don't fall under those current road safety offences," she said.

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Police appeal for video of NSW ski crash

POLICE are calling for anyone who may have filmed the moments leading up to a tragic waterskiing accident in NSW to come forward.

On Sunday morning a 20-year-old champion waterskier, Sarah Teelow, had just started the Bridge to Bridge Water Ski Classic when she came off her ski on the Hawkesbury River.

Ms Teelow sustained serious spinal and head injuries and was airlifted to the Royal North Shore Hospital.

Her parents rushed to her bedside.

A hospital spokesperson corrected early reports on Monday Ms Teelow's life support had been turned off.

The spokeswoman confirmed as of 8:30pm (AEST) on Monday, she remained in a critical condition.

NSW Police are investigating how Ms Teelow fell off her ski at high speed, including reports she hit wake created by another boat.

Kuring-Gai Local Area Command Inspector David Hogg said police were looking at every possibility.

"We are making inquiries with the driver of the boat and witnesses to the incident," he told AAP.

Insp Hogg urged anyone who may had been filming the race and captured the fall to come forward.

A NSW Roads and Maritime Services spokeswoman said RMS was also assisting police with the investigation.

Ski Racing Australia stated on Sunday it did not know what caused the accident.

Chairman Rick Love said the conditions were good and sea was slight at the time.

Ski Racing Australia did not return calls on Monday.

Ms Teelow's mother, Tania Teelow is also a champion waterskier, the co-owner of Teelow Pools in Dubbo.

According to the University of Technology Sydney website, Ms Teelow, a bachelor of human movement student, is part of an elite athlete scholarship program.

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Almost 90% of Indons want harsher action

ALMOST 90 per cent of Indonesians want their government to deliver an even harsher warning to Australia over spying revelations, although less than eight per cent support a military strike.

A survey published by Indonesia's biggest selling national newspaper, Kompas, also shows 63 per cent of people agree with the decision to recall ambassador Nadjib Riphat Kesoema from Canberra.

Mr Nadjib, who said in an interview also published on Monday that the decision to recall him was necessary to send a strong message to Australia, is yet to return to Canberra.

"We're now showing that there's something going on that does not please Indonesia," he said.

"There are lots of diplomatic instruments that can be used ... and the ambassador being called back for consultation, that shows that something's happening.

"I don't want to talk about the relationship degradation because the Indonesian embassy is still there (and functioning) and the Australian embassy is also still here.

"But I was recalled to express (our anger)."

An official with the Indonesian Foreign Ministry confirmed to AAP on Monday that Mr Nadjib would remain in Jakarta until after the spying issue was resolved.

The Kompas poll, published on Monday, comes in the wake of relations between Jakarta and Canberra slipping to their lowest level since the East Timor crisis in 1999, following revelations Australian spies bugged the phones of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his wife.

According to the poll of Indonesians in 12 of the largest cities across the archipelago, 89 per cent of people support Australia being given a "harsh warning", while 39 per cent of people want further cuts to diplomatic ties.

The poll also showed 7.6 per cent of people would support some sort of military action, while an overwhelming majority of 91.5 per cent were against such a move.

The vast majority of those surveyed (87 per cent) also believe Indonesia's intelligence capabilities have been proven to be weak as a result of the eavesdropping revelations.

Indonesia has already suspended military co-operation with Australia, as well as calling a halt to joint efforts in the areas of law enforcement and measures aimed at combating people smuggling.

Dr Yudhoyono is yet to respond to a letter from Prime Minister Tony Abbott, written in response to demands for an explanation of Australia's spying activities and delivered to him in Bali on Saturday.

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Albany hitman plot got serious: witness

A MAN who told police about an apparent hitman plot said he knew the situation was serious when he was offered $30,000 to kill the intended victim.

The man, whose identity has been suppressed, gave the testimony in the first day of the trial of Brian Vincent Attwell, 73, who has been charged with the rare offence of attempting to procure the commission of a crime.

In his opening address to the Albany Courthouse on Western Australia's southern coast on Monday, state prosecutor James MacTaggart said the well-known local businessman was approached by a Kiwi truck driver who desperately wanted work and hoped Attwell could offer him employment.

The man was shocked after Attwell allegedly offered him $30,000 to kill Michelle Patreena Attwell, who the AD Contractors managing director despised intensely.

"I've got $30,000 to pay you right now. I want her gone," it is claimed Attwell said.

Alarmed, the truck driver told police, who called Attwell back on police instruction, saying he knew "a bit of a nasty bastard" who would do it.

At first, he thought Attwell's proposal may have been an integrity test, but things got serious when talk turned to money.

"He wasn't joking - he looked me straight in the eye," the man said.

"When he offered me $30,000, that's when everyone changed."

Asked by defence lawyer Tom Percy whether he made the allegation because he was angry the interview process had taken an unwelcome turn, the man said no.

"I went there for a job - not to be offered to murder someone," he said.

Attwell, who is frail and barely mobile, was then called by an undercover policeman who agreed to fly to Albany from Perth to discuss the deal.

They met twice, and the policeman was handed a $10,000 down payment on the hit in two instalments.

Atwell called his target foul names, saying she had cost his son Ian $200,000 in a bitter marriage breakdown.

"I just want her strangled, no blood," Attwell allegedly said.

The intended victim briefly took the stand, saying the accused had made a threatening phone call to her in September 2011.

"If he saw me walking down the street, he would run over me, he would take me out," she said.

But Mr Percy described his client's talks with the truck driver and undercover officer as "bravado and puff, an attempt to express the depth of his frustration".

It was no secret Attwell hated the woman, but was considering having her followed, perhaps scared, he said.

And the undercover police officer had never been given a detailed description of her, where to find her or a time to kill her.

"At no stage was he actually committed to the prospect of causing her physical harm, let alone killing her," Mr Percy said.

"Nothing was ever concluded. There was a long way to go."

The trial continues.

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WA shark threat order rescinded

Some surfers in Western Australia are calling for a cull of sharks larger than three metres. Source: AAP

AN imminent threat order in place following a fatal shark attack in Western Australia's South West has been lifted.

The WA Department of Fisheries has spent the past few days searching the area for sharks, including the one responsible for killing 35-year-old Chris Boyd on Saturday.

Mr Boyd, a father of two, was surfing at the popular surf break Umbies, off Gracetown, when the shark bounced off another surfer's board and attacked him.

Following efforts to capture the shark and aerial surveillance, Department of Fisheries rescinded the imminent threat order at 5pm (WST) on Monday.

Shark Response Unit spokesman Tony Cappelluti said he took the issue of rescinding such an order seriously.

"The attack on 35-year-old Chris Boyd on Saturday was very likely a white shark and, as the shark posed an imminent threat to water users in the area, we had no choice but to issue this order, especially as many school leavers are in the region at the moment," he said in a statement.

"The scientific advice is that some white sharks remain in the vicinity of an attack site for a period while others move on.

"There have been no further sightings of a white shark in the area and it is likely that the shark responsible for the attack is no longer in this general locality."

Mr Cappelluti urged people to be cautious when entering the water at South West beaches.

Mr Boyd's death is WA's first fatal shark attack this year.

It comes weeks after abalone diver Greg Pickering was bitten on the face and body by a five-metre great white while diving off the coast of Esperance.

Gracetown is the site of three fatal shark attacks in the past 10 years.

Surfer Bradley Smith was taken by a great white in 2004 and Nicholas Edwards was killed by a shark at nearby South Point in 2010.

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Federal govt relists terror groups

THE federal government has updated its listing of terror groups and their financiers, renewing some and removing others.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said these listings implemented Australia's obligations under a resolution of the United Nations Security Council to suppress the financing of terrorism.

"The threat of terrorism to Australia is real and enduring. The Australian government remains determined to combat and prevent terrorism in all its forms," she said in a statement.

Ms Bishop recently considered whether to renew the listings of 87 of the 93 listed persons and organisations, set to expire soon.

The renewal extends their listing for another three years. Listed organisations include terror groups such as al-Shabab, Tamil Tigers and Real IRA.

Removed from the list were three defunct terror groups and Imad Mughniyah, a senior member of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah killed in a car bomb explosion in 2008.

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Three-year-old Vic boy missing

A THREE-YEAR-OLD boy is missing on a property in rural Victoria.

Police say he was last seen playing on the edge of a dam in Digby, about 350km west of Melbourne.

Family members raised the alarm after finding his shoes stuck in the mud on the bank.

Local police and SES personnel are searching for the boy.

A search and rescue team and the dog squad have also been sent to help.

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Crowds search for NATO trucks in Pakistan

PROTESTERS are roughing up drivers as they seek to stop trucks carrying NATO troop supplies and equipment passing through northwest Pakistan.

The demonstration on Sunday comes a day after the party led by politician and cricket star Imran Khan said it would prevent NATO supply trucks making their way to and from Afghanistan from travelling through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to protest US drone strikes.

Close to 100 party activists on the outskirts of Peshawar city were checking the documents of truck drivers headed toward Afghanistan.

Pakistan's GEO TV showed video of protesters wielding wooden batons dragging a driver out of his truck who apparently refused to co-operate.

Khan's Tehreek-e-Insaf party, which controls the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, said on Saturday it would stop the trucks until the US ends drone strikes.

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Drug lab uncovered in Sydney's north

A DRUG lab has exploded on Sydney's northern beaches.

Police were called to a unit block on Frazer Street at 5pm on Saturday following reports of the blast.

Entering the unit via a balcony, they allegedly found a clandestine laboratory.

NSW Fire and Rescue HAZMAT crews were called to the scene to render it safe.

No one was injured in the explosion.

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No let up as more storms forecast this evening

NT residents are being urged to make final preparations as tropical Cyclone Alessia heads for the coast.

SEVERE thunderstorm warnings remain in place for several areas across Queensland tonight.

The weather bureau said the Wide Bay and Burnett, and Southeast Coast districts could expect damaging winds and large hailstones.

Areas expected to be affected include the  Gympie, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Rockhampton, and Yeppoon.

At 6.30pm the bureau said there were no longer severe thunderstorm warnings for the southeast of the state, east of Dalby from Rainbow Beach to Stanthorpe.

The Gabba is hit by a quick but intense storm cell that produced small hail during day four of the first Ashes Test. Picture: Adam Head

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Storms that sprang up on the city's doorstep earlier on Sunday produced marble to golf ball-sized hail which damaged some cars at the bayside suburb of Manly.

There also were reports of hail at Mt Tamborine on the Gold Coast hinterland, while a 107 km/hr wind gust was recorded at the Sunshine Coast Airport.

An Emergency Services Department spokeswoman said nine homeowners sought help from emergency services at Jimboomba, Macleay Island, Mt Tamborine, Upper Coomera and Coolum.

"It wasn't too bad,'' she said. "There was no damage of any significance and the calls were for trees down and leaking roofs.''

Mr Knepp said there would be little chance of rain saving England at the Gabba tomorrow despite Sunday's storms stopping play on Day 4 of the first Ashes Test. 

Hail at the Gabba as a storm hits day four of the first Ashes test. Picture: Jono Searle.

The hailstorm left the grounds looking  like a winter wonderland about 2pm.

Earlier, The Courier-Mail reported sunny conditions are forecast for the first cricket Test at the Gabba on Monday while in the north graziers are bracing for storms and showers as the first cyclone of the season pushes moisture inland over the drought-hit Gulf of Carpentaria.

It follows a weekend of storms that started in the Maranoa and Warrego yesterday before sweeping southeast, roughing up the Inglewood, Warwick, Lockyer Valley, Laidley, Rosewood and Ipswich districts.

The Gabba is hit by a quick but intense storm cell that produced small hail during day four of the first Ashes Test. Picture: Adam Head

Weather Bureau forecaster Michael Knepp said there would be little chance of rain saving England at the Gabba.

Send us your wet weather pics - MMS 0428 258 117

"Of course we still might get a storm or showers today,'' he said. "But after that, the whole week should be okay," he said.

At least one home has been destroyed by a tornado that whipped through northern NSW.

"The next round of activity won't be until late Friday or Saturday when a trough comes through.

"There's very little chance of any interruptions with the cricket tomorrow.''

Mr Knepp said Cyclone Alessia was moving east towards Queensland at 20km/hr and - despite being a long way away - its moisture-laden winds were expected to bring showers and storms to the Gulf and northern parts.

Large hail fell in the Tamborine area, south of Brisbane, on Sunday afternoon.

The cyclone was 100km off the coast at 9am and flood warnings had been issued for the NT.

The monsoon trough is expected to drift south through the week, allowing monsoon rain areas to extend from the Gulf Country to Queensland's east north coast and Tablelands.

It will see scattered showers and thunderstorms from the northern interior across to the central coast.

This rainbow was captured at Narangba, following the first storm that swept through the southeast on Sunday.

Rollingstone just north of Townsville had 120mm overnight, the highest falls recorded in the state in the 24 hours to 9am.

"There have been falls of 50mm to 60mm around Normanton, Kowanyama had 28mm, Miranda Downs 30mm but it's likely there were heavier falls around that that,'' he said.

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Storms roll over Brisbane, as seen from Kangaroo Point Cliffs. Pic: Adam Smith

"We don't have a lot of rain gauges out there in the Gulf so we just don't know.

"How much we get up there is highly dependent on the movement of the tropical cyclone. If it moves towards the NT-Queensland border as a low, we could get quite a lot of rainfall.''

Some cumulative rainfall totals over the past week include Bowen 295.3mm, Georgetown 74mm, Richmond 44.8mm and Charters Towers 53.6mm.

Storms roll over Brisbane, as seen from Kangaroo Point Cliffs. Pic: Adam Smith

Overnight in the southeast, Junction View, southeast of Toowoomba, had 69mm, Nanango 62mm, nearby Brooklands 72mm, Amberley 52mm, Churchill 55mm, Coolangatta 26mm, Currumbin Creek 42mm, North Stradbroke Island 37mm, O'Reilly's 36mm, Tallebudgera Creek Dam 41mm.

Goondiwindi had 31mm while in the north Mareeba had 79mm, Chillagoe 50mm, Ingham 58mm and Coen on Cape York 67mm. Falls around Brisbane were mostly in the teens.

By tomorrow, the monsoon trough should extend from the northwest, across the tropical interior and south to the Fraser Island area with showers and thunderstorms contracting to its north.

Storms roll over Brisbane, as seen from Kangaroo Point Cliffs. Pic: Adam Smith

A drier air mass should dominate to the south.

Last night, forecasters said the line of storms that barrelled through the southeast corner had started to weaken by 10.30pm and were likely to reach the Sunshine Coast by 1am.

"They have weakened over the past hour but we are still seeing some intense bursts of rainfall and the odd significant wind gust," said Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Brett Harrison.

Storm clouds north of Moonie, Western Darling Downs, Saturday afternoon. Pic: Jeff Higgins. Higgins Storm Chasing

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Early reports suggested one house was completely demolished and up to 30 other homes were reportedly damaged in the Rosewood and Pine Mountain area near Ipswich, although this could not be confirmed by emergency services.

"We have dodged three big storms lately, but we really copped it tonight,'' said Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale late on Saturday.

Top of Bunya Mountains looking west out over the Darling Downs. Things are really brewing up out here today! Picture courtesy: Jeff Higgins / Higgins Storm Chasing

"One has collapsed completely and 25 to 30 have got damage at various degrees.

"No-one has been injured so far as we know.''

On Saturday night, the heaviest falls were recorded at Junction View, south of Gatton, with up to 62mm of rain dumped in just over an hour.

Bowen certainly has copped some rain!! Thankfully tide was out bit still water is still through some houses and cars. Picture: Tash Edwards

Wind gusts of up to 92km/h were recorded at Amberley at the height of the storm.

Golf ball-size hail was dropped near Inglewood, Ipswich and Warwick, but senior forecaster Brett Harrison said there had been no reports since 5.30pm Saturday.

Energex reported more than 5000 homes across the southeast were without power at around 10pm.

Bowen certainly has copped some rain!! Thankfully tide was out bit still water is still through some houses and cars. Picture: Tash Edwards

More showers and thunderstorms are expected to brew on Sunday, with the activity likely to be closer to the southeast coast.

Mr Harrison said November had certainly made up for a late start to the storm season.

"This time of year is when we expect there to be a large number of severe thunderstorms," he said.

Bowen certainly has copped some rain!! Thankfully tide was out bit still water is still through some houses and cars. Picture: Tash Edwards

"The main trigger is the upper trough."

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A severe thunderstorm warning had been issued at 10.58pm for damaging wind and heavy rainfall in the Sunshine Coast and Cherbourg Shire areas and for parts of the Gympie, Moreton Bay, Somerset, South Burnett and Toowoomba areas.

Damaging winds and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding were likely, the Bureau of Meteorology warned.

The warning came after several thunderstorms rolled across southern Queensland throughout Saturday.

Residents reported seeing hail stones, lightning strikes, strong winds and heavy rain across the area.

By 9.15pm, the State Emergency Services had received 47 requests for help through the Rosewood, Hatton Vale, Marburg, Amberley, Ipswich and Brisbane CBD areas.

A spokeswoman said the requests related to structural damage to homes, fallen trees and general storm and flood damage.

"There was significant roof damage to houses in Lower Mt Walker, near Laidley," she said.

A 92 km/h wind gust was recorded at Amberley Airport at 7.45pm, an 87 km/h wind gust was recorded at Gold Coast Seaway at 8.30pm and a 79 km/h wind gust was recorded at Inner Beacon (Moreton Bay) at 8:55pm.

Wild weather also battered northern NSW on Saturday, with a twister destroying at least one home.

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- additional reporting by Kate McKenna

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ACT house shatters Christmas lights record

MORE than half a million Christmas lights have been switched on in Canberra, smashing a Guinness world record for the largest number on one house.

The Richards family in Forrest have turned on more than 500,000 lights, eclipsing the 346,283 displayed by a family in LaGrangeville, New York.

David Richards said on Sunday the effort was aimed at raising funds for SIDS & Kids ACT.

He said the cause was one "very close to our hearts" since SIDS counsellors had helped his family through the devastation of losing a child.

The money they raise from gold coin donations will help pay for more counsellors.

The lights, all 502,165, include multicoloured streamers, icicles, candy canes, reindeer and a Christmas tree.

Mr Richards says he and his wife and three kids love the spectacle of Christmas and the catching up with neighbours and fiends that goes with having an open house.

People can visit them after dark from November 30 to December 26 at 3 Tennyson Crescent, Forrest.

Last year they raised $78,000.

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