Three survive car's 'spin' on Vic slope

THREE men have escaped with their lives after their ute overturned and rolled over itself several hundred metres down a steep slope in Victoria's Alpine region.

The men were attempting to drive up a track at Longley Road, Porepunkah on Saturday morning when they lost traction with the vehicle rolling over itself for up to 400-500m, an Ambulance Victoria spokesman said.

Police say the men had been driving a 4WD utility vehicle up a fire track.

A 17-year-old male driver suffered pelvic and arm injuries and was airlifted to the Royal Melbourne Hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition.

An 18-year-old man, who was airlifted to The Alfred, is in a critical condition after suffering head and chest injuries.

A third man, whose age is unknown, was taken to Wangaratta Hospital with minor injuries and is in a stable condition.

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Hard line on boats paying off: Morrison

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison says the government's tough stance on asylum seekers is working. Source: AAP

NO people-smuggling venture had succeeded in landing asylum seekers on Australia for more than four months, the government says.

In the latest update on Operation Sovereign Borders, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said on Saturday that vigorous border protection activities was deterring illegal boat arrivals, even into the post-monsoon period when weather conditions usually improve.

Mr Morrison said the practice of turning back unauthorised boats remained in effect.

"Anyone seeking to enter Australia illegally by boat will be faced with the same policies those who previously attempted illegal entry met," he said in a statement.

Mr Morrison said no one had reached Australia since December 19 and that continued this month. But 3351 on 47 boats arrived in April 2013 under the former Labor government.

The latest Operation Sovereign Borders operational update says there are now 1281 in the processing centre on Manus Island and 1177 on Nauru, making a total of 2458.

Another 1405 remain on Christmas Island. During the last week, eight asylum seekers were transferred to Nauru.

Seven unauthorised maritime arrival transferees were voluntarily returned to Iran.

Since Operation Sovereign Borders started on September 18, 220 asylum seekers have voluntarily returned to their home countries.

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NSW fisherman drowns trying to save wife

A SYDNEY rock fisherman who jumped into rough seas to save his wife has died and his mate is feared drowned.

The two men, 24 and 26, were part of a group of six that travelled to the NSW Central Coast from Sydney on Friday to go rock fishing.

The friends, some of whom are students, were on a notoriously dangerous rocky ledge at Wybung Head, near Lake Macquarie, when a woman was swept into the ocean by a wave.

The woman's husband and a friend entered the water to rescue her but disappeared. The woman survived after being washed back onto the rocks.

A major search operation was sparked about 6:30pm on Friday when the men failed to resurface.

Police say no one in the group was wearing a life jacket.

A helicopter winched the woman from the rock ledge while paramedics and police rescued three other people.

The emotional woman and her supportive friends returned to Wybung on Saturday as the Westpac Life Saver Helicopter, police and surf life savers searched for her missing husband and friend.

The husband's body was pulled from the ocean at 9am.

"The wife is absolutely devastated as you can imagine," Tuggerah Lakes police acting Inspector John Dooley told AAP.

The search has been called off but will resume at 8am on Sunday.

Local fishermen say the stretch of coast is treacherous and catches many people off guard.

"At that actual location, the people who go rock fishing aren't prepared for the danger of the sport," Peter Trenear, of Pelicans Wharf Fishing Tackle, told AAP.

"For the inexperienced, it can be life threatening."

Mr Trenear said he was washed off rocks in the same area about six years ago and had to be plucked from the ocean by a rescue helicopter.

"It was so easy, the water caught me by surprise," he said.

Insp Dooley said police had carried out several rescues and body recoveries at the spot over the years.

He warned people planning to rock fish to wear life jackets and check ocean conditions.

"You must be appropriately equipped to go down on these rock ledges," he said.

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No tsunami risk from Tongan quake

A 6.3-MAGNITUDE earthquake has struck off the coast of the Pacific Island nation of Tonga but experts say there is no threat of a tsunami.

The quake reportedly struck in waters northeast of the Tongan capital, Nuku'alofa, at about 7pm local time (1600 AEST) on Saturday.

Geoscience Australia reports the impact could have been felt by people more than 600-kilometres away.

Seismologist Marco Maldoni said residents of the island nation would definitely felt shaking after the movement of tectonic plates and that that part of the world was prone to earthquakes.

"That earthquake itself happened where the Australian plate meets the Pacific plate," Dr Maldoni told AAP on Saturday.

"Thankfully this is a non-tsunamigenic earthquake - something that can potentially generate a tsunami."

Dr Maldoni said that in the past five years there had been about 200 earthquakes within that area, with another one occurring near Tonga at a magnitude of 6.2 as recently as Friday.

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Woolworths investigates deadly mushrooms

WOOLWORTHS has advised any customers who may be feeling ill after recently buying mushrooms from an ACT supermarket to seek immediate medical attention following a possible Death Cap mushroom poisoning.

ACT Health is investigating three cases of possible poisoning by Death Cap mushrooms which may have been purchased from a Woolworths in the suburb of Dickson.

Three patients from the same household attended Canberra's Calvary Hospital in the last 48 hours with symptoms of Death Cap mushroom poisoning.

"This appears to be an isolated incident and there have been no other recent reports of Death Cap mushroom poisoning in the ACT," the territory's chief health officer Dr Paul Kelly said.

In a statement on Saturday night, Woolworths advised that customers who feel ill to follow ACT Health's recommendations and seek immediate medical attention.

ACT Health also advised people who bought mushrooms from Woolworths Dickson around April 17 to throw them away as a precaution.

Woolworths says it is not aware of any other cases.

"We take customer safety very seriously and are working closely with our supplier and ACT Health to investigate the claims," the company said.

In Canberra in 2012, a man and a woman died and two others were poisoned but recovered after consuming a meal which contained Death Cap mushrooms.

"People are reminded not to pick and eat any wild mushrooms. It can be extremely difficult for even experienced collectors to distinguish Death Cap mushrooms from other edible mushrooms," Dr Kelly said.

The highly toxic Death Cap mushroom is a native to Europe but has spread around the world, with populations observed in Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide. It resembles a common edible variety used in Chinese cooking.

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Smaller crowd falls silent at Gallipoli

THIS year's dawn service at Gallipoli was billed as a dress rehearsal for the 2015 centenary but a smaller-than-expected turnout made it a very intimate affair.

Some 4400 mostly Australian and New Zealand pilgrims were at North Beach 12 months out from the 100th anniversary when 10,500 people will be crammed on to the site.

The crowd on Friday was reminded that reverential silence on the often eerily quiet Turkish peninsula is a tribute to the diggers who died in 1915.

Veterans' Affairs Minister Michael Ronaldson said the soldiers who landed at Anzac Cove 99 years ago were, by their own admission, ordinary men.

"They did not seek glory, nor did they want their actions to be glorified - for it was they who quickly came to know the true horror of war," the minister said as the sun rose over the Gallipoli cliffs.

"That these ordinary men, however, did extraordinary things is beyond doubt."

Senator Ronaldson said the Anzacs left a vanquished fighting force but "were victorious in helping forge the identity of our two new nations".

"As the dawn of this new day breaks over the peninsula our tribute to the spirit of Anzac is a reverential silence," he said.

Some 8700 Australians died during the eight-month campaign alongside 2700 New Zealanders.

It's estimated up to 87,000 Turks lost their lives.

The modern Turkish nation, too, was built partly on the back of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's success as a commander at Gallipoli. He went on to become the republic's first president in 1923.

Young Australian Erinn Cooper camped out overnight to represent her father and grandfather at the dawn service.

The 22-year-old comes from a military family - her father served in East Timor and Iraq while her grandfather fought in World War II.

"It's really mind-blowing to be here," she said.

"Anzac Day is our biggest day of the year. It's a really big thing in our family."

Ms Cooper considered applying for the centenary in 2015 but decided the ballot was too risky.

"Coming this year was something we could actually make happen."

Organisers saw this year's service as a dress rehearsal for 2015.

But while the crowd will be much bigger next year, it will also potentially be more manageable.

Authorities know exactly who's coming because the event is ticketed.

Further, the pilgrims will be older on average because 1600 passes were set aside for direct descendants and veterans.

In 2015, only 25 per cent of visitors will be under 35, whereas usually 60 per cent are in that age group.

Australian authorities think it's likely Prince Charles will attend the centenary service in Gallipoli although his spokeswoman has told AAP it is "too early to say".

Prince William this week revealed he was looking forward to "taking part in next year's Gallipoli centenary" along with wife Kate and brother Prince Harry.

That led to speculation they'd be at North Beach but a palace spokesman has clarified they could attend any number of Anzac ceremonies anywhere in the world.

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Digger wanted to march despite collapsing

A WAR veteran who collapsed during Melbourne's Anzac Day parade wanted to leave his hospital bed and rejoin his comrades.

The man suffered a cardiac arrest and required CPR while marching towards the Shrine of Remembrance on Friday morning.

He was taken to The Alfred hospital in a critical condition, but was keen to head back to the parade as soon as possible, an RSL spokesman said.

"His first question was when could he get back to the march," he said.

The parade was briefly suspended as the man received treatment.

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Royals provide 'different' Anzac touch

The royal couple joined a record crowd of 37,000 for the Anzac Day commemorations in Canberra. Source: AAP

IT was the personal touch from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge which impressed Dick and Janice Middleton.

The handwritten message on the wreath of red poppies placed at the Stone of Remembrance was simple but said all that was required.

"Never forgetting those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom".

The note is signed William and Catherine.

The royal couple laid the wreath at a solemn national Anzac ceremony in Canberra, in which Prime Minister Tony Abbott thanked them for their attendance.

"Your presence reminds us of all our comrades in arms," he said.

The Middletons from Engadine in Sydney praised the couple as "so casual and so friendly with everyone".

The pair, Dick having completed national service with the air force in 1956, and Janice wearing her uncle Merv's medals from World War I, said the royal couple had lifted the service at the Australian War Memorial.

"They're not the royals of old," said 77-year-old Dick.

"It's written in their own hand - very plain and casual.

"It just shows a different approach."

William, who was a lieutenant in the Royal Air Force, wore two service medals and a sprig of rosemary to the late morning service.

The Duchess dressed in a grey tweed trench coat and a poppy broach that Emma, the wife of Australian Victorian Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith, gave her at a reception on Thursday night.

The couple also visited the tomb of the unknown soldier and placed a poppy on the Wall of Remembrance, where they were visibly moved by the sea of red flowers.

The national service was the second attended by the Duke and Duchess on Friday, after they surprised all by joining a record crowd of 37,000 at the Canberra dawn service.

The couple had not been expected at the memorial so early, but made a discreet entry just after 5am.

The final duty on William and Kate's 10-day visit to Australia was to plant a sapling, cultivated from seeds collected in Gallipoli following the Battle of Lone Pine.

For Prince William, who served in the RAF for more than seven years, the tree had a special family connection.

Prince Henry the Duke of Gloucester - who later went on to serve as Australia's governor-general after World War II - planted the original pine at the war memorial in October 1934.

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More peace, less Simpson says Tas governor

TASMANIAN Governor Peter Underwood has told Hobart's Anzac Day ceremony Australia needs to understand the truth of its involvement in war.

Mr Underwood has called for peace studies centres to be funded and for the Anzac centenary in 2015 to be a designated Year of Peace.

The governor is renowned for his strongly worded anti-war Anzac Day addresses, and last year implored Australians to avoid glorifying the centenary.

More than six thousand people have attended Hobart's dawn service while seven thousand in Launceston didn't let near-freezing temperatures deter them.

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HMAS Darwin makes record heroin bust

Australian HMAS Darwin has seized a record one-tonne haul of heroin from a vessel off Kenya. Source: AAP

AUSTRALIAN warship HMAS Darwin has seized more than a tonne of heroin valued at almost $290 million from a smuggling boat off Kenya.

The record 1032kg haul was discovered aboard a dhow in the Indian Ocean, about 27 nautical miles east of Mombasa, Defence says in a statement.

Darwin's crew spotted the vessel on Wednesday and a boarding team discovered 46 sacks of heroin hidden among bags of cement.

HMAS Darwin's Commander Terry Morrison said the seizure removed a major source of funding for terrorist and criminal networks.

"The search tested the steel of Darwin's boarding parties who were working in difficult conditions throughout the night," he said in a statement.

Darwin is taking part in the UK-led Combined Task Force 150.

It's one of three multinational task forces conducting security and counter-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf region.

Coalition Maritime Force (CMF) director of operations, Australian Captain Craig Powell, said the heroin haul was the largest in the history of the CMF, with a street value of about $289 million.

Australian warships have destroyed large quantities of heroin, hashish and amphetamines during patrols off Africa in the past year.

Drugs are destroyed by dumping them in the sea, and crews of smuggling vessels are sent on their way.

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Tinkler named as ICAC witness

Mining magnate Nathan Tinkler has been named as a witness for the latest NSW corruption inquiry. Source: AAP

MINING baron Nathan Tinkler has been named as a witness in NSW's latest corruption inquiry.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) will launch public hearings for Operation Spicer in Sydney on Monday, with Mr Tinkler due to enter the witness box on Friday.

There is no suggestion Mr Tinkler has acted corruptly.

Operation Spicer will investigate allegations that former NSW energy minister Christopher Hartcher, and others, corruptly solicited, received, and concealed payments in return for MPs favouring the interests of those responsible for the payments.

Mr Hartcher is now suspended from the NSW Liberal Party.

The allegations, which centre on a period between April 2009 and April 2012, also involve fellow suspended NSW Liberal MPs Darren Webber and Christopher Spence.

ICAC will also investigate allegations that NSW MPs, including Messrs Hartcher, Webber and Spence, solicited, received and failed to disclose political donations from companies, including prohibited donors, contrary to the Election Funding, Expenditure and Disclosures Act 1981.

Further allegations include whether the business Eightbyfive entered into agreements with a series of companies including Australian Water Holdings Pty Ltd (AWH), purportedly for media, public relations and other services, in return for Mr Hartcher favouring the interests of Eightbyfive.

Australian Water Holdings was at the centre of the most recent ICAC inquiry, which ended last week.

The then NSW premier, Barry O'Farrell, resigned after appearing as a witness at that inquiry after it emerged that he was sent a bottle of expensive wine by AWH chief executive Nicholas Di Girolamo.

AWH and some of its senior managers are alleged to have engaged in improper conduct, including passing on dubious expense claims to taxpayer-funded Sydney Water.

ICAC is due to report findings from its investigation into those allegations later this year.

ICAC Commissioner Megan Latham will oversee the Operation Spicer public hearings, which are expected to last about three weeks.

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New generation of Anzacs remembered

OVERSEEING Australian army operations in Afghanistan and other dangerous places, Lieutenant General Ash Power knows first-hand the ongoing, devastating consequences of war.

In his time as Chief of Joint Operations, 18 Australian soldiers have died in Afghanistan with many others wounded.

General Power will lead the Call to Remembrance at the Anzac Day dawn service in Villers-Bretonneux in France on Friday and, like so many, he has a close personal connection to the area.

His grandfather Hab Power fought on the Western Front in World War I and General Power said Anzac Day was a time to honour diggers past and present.

"If you look back to attrition warfare, the trench warfare of the First World War, thank heavens we've moved a long way from that," General Power told AAP on Thursday.

"But it's still traumatic, and each of these people we lose is a human being.

"Each of them have mums and dads, brothers and sisters, some have their own kids and the loss is significant for each of those families.

"Thankfully the scale has changed but it is a time to not only remember those remarkable generations of the two world wars but to remember the ultimate sacrifice made by so many up to today."

This is the first Anzac Day since Australia started pulling out of Afghanistan, where 40 Australian solders have died since 2001.

But General Power said the Australian Defence Force would remain busy and Australians continued to risk their lives every day in minor operations at places such as Golan Heights, the Sinai Peninsula and South Sudan.

General Power has also overseen the ADF's role in the search for the missing plane MH370, a task he will resume after Anzac Day.

He admitted he wasn't optimistic that an end to the search was in sight.

"The Indian Ocean is huge and if someone's done this deliberately to try and hide it, it's probably the best place on the surface of the earth to do it," he said.

"It's really remote and very difficult. There's not much going for us but we'll continue to work at it for a little while yet."

Foreign minister Julie Bishop will also attend Friday's ceremony in France.

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Heineken returns to growth in Europe

Brewer Heineken has returned to growth in its crucial Western Europe market in the first quarter. Source: AAP

HEINEKEN says it has returned to growth in its crucial Western Europe market in the first quarter, after a long period of stagnation.

Organic sales - a figure which strips out the effects of currencies and acquisitions - grew by 3.4 per cent.

However, the Dutch-based brewer's reported sales fell because of the strong euro and because its Eastern European sales shrank. Earnings were lower because of one-off gains in the same period a year ago.

Net profit was 143 million euros ($A214.25 million), against 227 million euros a year ago. Sales fell 2.6 per cent to 4.08 billion euros.

Heineken said that like-for-like sales in Western Europe, where it is the largest brewer, were up 1.8 per cent to 1.51 billion euros.

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Rudd's batts evidence must yield answers

Former PM Kevin Rudd will appear at a royal commission into Labor's home insulation program. Source: AAP

THE relatives of four men who died installing insulation deserve answers, not apologies, from former prime minister Kevin Rudd when he fronts an inquiry, a lawyer says.

Mr Rudd will take the witness stand at the royal commission into Labor's home insulation program on Wednesday, May 14.

The bungled stimulus scheme has been blamed for the deaths of Queenslanders Rueben Barnes, Matthew Fuller and Mitchell Sweeney, and Marcus Wilson from NSW.

Lawyer Bill Potts is representing Rueben's father Murray who simply wants the former government to take responsibility for its actions.

"Rueben's father wants to know where the buck stops," Mr Potts told AAP.

"Does it stop at the PM's desk?"

Mr Rudd apologised for the three Queensland fatalities in July last year after a coroner found the scheme's rushed rollout was a significant factor in their deaths.

Mr Potts said apologies were easy to make and the families deserved concrete answers from the $20 million royal commission.

"It's not just crocodile tears we're after."

Former environment minister Peter Garrett, put in charge of the scheme, will give evidence the day before Mr Rudd, according to a witness list released on Thursday.

Former Labor senator Mark Arbib, who was charged with coordinating government stimulus programs, will appear on May 12.

The relatives of the men who died will be permitted to address the inquiry the day after Mr Rudd's appearance.

Mr Rudd will be represented by leading defence barrister Bret Walker, SC, and is expected to be pressed about the scheme's rushed rollout, including revelations two public servants were given two days to cost it.

He may also be questioned over the program's lack of installer training and what safety warnings he received before its July 1 2009 rollout.

The royal commission before Ian Hanger, QC, resumes in Brisbane on May 1.

It's expected to wind up on May 16, after former Labor frontbencher Greg Combet gives his evidence.

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Four WA boys jailed over man's death

FOUR teenagers convicted of unlawfully killing a 28-year-old man have each been sentenced to more than four years in detention, while the victim's mother has urged them to make a better future.

Tauri Litchfield was killed in Mandurah, south of Perth, in March last year after four boys, aged 15 and 16, assaulted and chased him until he tripped over a wall and hit his head.

In sentencing on Thursday, Children's Court president Denis Reynolds said the boy who punched Mr Litchfield - after he slapped the youth on the back of the head for trying to pickpocket him - wanted to show the older man that he was the boss.

"You likely felt demeaned (by the slap) in the presence of the group," Judge Reynolds said.

He said if the boy had not started and continued to pursue the confrontation, Mr Litchfield would still be alive.

Despite suggestions Mr Litchfield had been agitated after celebrating St Patrick's Day, Judge Reynolds found he did not engage in any unprovoked violence and was extremely fearful for his safety from the "pack" of youths when he tried to escape further assault.

People should be able to walk in public alone, and deterrence was important to prevent similar violence in the community, Judge Reynolds said.

Mr Litchfield's mother, Kerry Biggs, told the court she was broken by the loss of her son and would take the pain to her grave.

"I will carry his heart in my heart forever," she said.

Ms Biggs told the teenagers they could still change their lives.

"You have an opportunity to choose how to use the rest of your lives, to make a better future for your family, your community and your children," she said.

Ms Biggs said there were no words to describe the agony and anguish she felt.

"When you have your own children, then you will understand what you took from us," she said.

Judge Reynolds, who questioned the remorse of the troubled teenagers, said he hoped they would take note of Ms Biggs' comments in their rehabilitation.

Mr Litchfield's girlfriend, Lisa Emes, said in her victim impact statement that she screamed for him to wake up in hospital so she could see his blue eyes again.

The court heard that two of the boys did not have criminal records, but two others had violent records including one who was involved in an attempted group sex attack and another who threw a brick at a person's face.

Three teenagers were each sentenced to four-and-a-half years in detention, while the instigator was sentenced to five-and-a-half years behind bars.

Each boy has already been in custody for about a year and will be eligible for supervised release orders after serving half their sentences.

A fifth boy was acquitted of any crime against Mr Litchfield, while a charge against a sixth boy was dropped during the trial.

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Cancellations on Everest as sherpas walk

ANOTHER major mountaineering company has abandoned its Everest expedition after a deadly avalanche killed 16 Nepalese guides, as the government strives to save the climbing season, a vital earner for the country.

New Zealand-based Adventure Consultants lost three people in last Friday's avalanche which struck a party of sherpas preparing routes for commercial climbers up the world's highest peak.

The company said in a statement late Tuesday that "after much discussion and consideration of all aspects, the tough decision has been made to cancel the 2014 expedition this season".

US-based Alpine Ascents International and the Discovery Channel, which intended to broadcast the first winged jumpsuit flight off the summit, have also scrapped their plans on the 8848-metre peak.

Hundreds of others at base camp who have paid tens of thousands of dollars face bitter disappointment after sherpas announced Tuesday they would abandon the season to honour their fallen colleagues.

That decision, which would wreck the season and lead to messy compensation claims, featured in crisis talks under way in Kathmandu between tourism officials, representatives of the sherpas and expedition leaders on Wednesday.

British mountaineer Phil Crampton, owner of climbing company Altitude Junkies, said immediate action was needed to "make expeditions possible this year".

He said a high-level government delegation will head to base camp on Thursday to present a document to the sherpas and address their concerns.

Before Tuesday's call to abandon the season, the guides had issued a string of demands to the government, including higher compensation for the dead and injured, an agreement to raise insurance payments and a welfare fund.

The government has offered to set up a relief fund for injured guides using up to five per cent of fees paid by climbers, while increasing life insurance payments by 50 per cent.

The amounts fall short of demands by the sherpas who want 30 per cent of climbers' fees to be earmarked for the fund and life insurance payments, set at $10,000, to be doubled.

The government, expected to earn at least $US3 million ($A3.21 million) this year from Everest climbing fees alone, has issued permits to 734 people, including 400 guides, for 32 expeditions this season.

Hundreds of anxious climbers remain at base camp, uncertain whether to leave or stay following the sherpas' announcement, with tensions running high.

New Zealand mountaineer Russell Brice, owner of top expedition company Himex, told AFP he hoped the government delegation's visit on Thursday would persuade sherpas to start climbing again.

"I hope the visit will calm tempers and the sherpas will understand the reasons for continuing the season," Brice said from base camp.

"They can continue their negotiations once the climbing season ends."

More than 300 people, most of them local guides, have died on the peak since the first ascent by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953.

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Brisbane's southside on measles alert

Brisbane's southside is on measles alert after a man was diagnosed with the infectious disease. Source: AAP

BRISBANE'S southside is on measles alert after a man was diagnosed with the highly infectious disease.

It's likely he was infectious when he visited the Underwood Marketplace shopping centre between 9am and 11.30am last Thursday, health authorities say.

Public health physician Dr Kari Jarvinen says people who were at the shopping centre around that time should immediately contact their GPs.

Residents in Logan and Brisbane's southside should be particularly vigilant for symptoms, he said.

A red, spotty rash and other measles symptoms, including a fever, cough and runny nose, usually appear 10 days after infection.

Dr Jarvinen said that given the large numbers of people potentially exposed to the latest infection, further measles cases could emerge in Brisbane over the next few weeks.

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Tasers rolled out across country Victoria

Officers in all 24-hour police stations in regional Victoria will be given Taser stun guns. Source: AAP

HUNDREDS of Tasers will be rolled out in police stations across regional Victoria following a trial of the stun guns.

Officers in all 24-hour stations in country Victoria will get Tasers after police trialled the devices in six major regional centres.

Deputy Commissioner for Regional Operations Tim Cartwright said police were still taking a "softly softly" approach to Tasers given community concerns about their use.

Mr Cartwright said officers had drawn Tasers about 60 times but only fired them on seven occasions during the trials over the last four years.

There were no serious injuries when the Tasers were fired, he said.

He said it was difficult to distinguish between the use of capsicum spray and Tasers but there had been a continuing decline in injuries to officers and the people they dealt with.

"At the same time, the number of confrontations has increased quite markedly," he told reporters on Wednesday.

"Typically we see people either on drugs or alcohol or with mental illness or a combination of factors trying to do harm to themselves or others.

"Given the number of confrontations that we have we've been very pleased with the results."

Mr Cartwright said metropolitan officers would not be equipped with Tasers as the critical incident response and special operations group teams already carried the devices and were on hand in those areas 24 hours a day.

He said in the long run Victoria Police would want all officers to be equipped with Tasers.

"We've been very careful in our approach and continue to be careful in our approach but it is another opportunity for our members to minimise the risk to themselves and members of the community."

The rollout of 580 new Tasers to 24-hour stations in 29 regional areas will cost $13.5 million.

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Younger veterans to lead Perth Anzac march

YOUNGER post-Vietnam military veterans will be brought to the front of the Anzac Day march in Perth, one of three firsts for this year's annual commemorations.

Returned and Services League of Western Australia president Graham Edwards said they would lead the ex-military contingent, only marching behind senior veterans in cars.

With the focus of Anzac Day being World War I for the next four years - given November 2014 marks 100 years since Australian troops departed for the four-year conflict - this year's march was a good time to shine the spotlight on former servicemen from more recent hostilities, Mr Edwards said.

In another first, the RSLWA has held daily Last Post ceremonies at Kings Park's State War Memorial this week in a bid to cap ever-swelling crowds on the Anzac Day public holiday. More than 40,000 people are expected to attend on Friday.

Crowds of up to 500 people have been attending the 15-minute sunset services since they started on Sunday, with the final ceremony to be held on Thursday.

Mr Edwards said the sunset ceremonies would return in 2015.

"Anzac Day itself is getting so big, people tell us that they felt like they've lost the important connection that's there," he told AAP.

"We hope that these (sunset) services will continue to grow and people will become involved in them, because that's what it's all about."

On Thursday at 5.30pm, a service will be held at Blackboy Hill in Greenmount, where West Australian World War I troops trained before marching to Midland, catching a train to Fremantle and setting sail.

The rest of the convoy, from New Zealand and other parts of Australia, left from Albany.

"While there's a strong focus on Albany as there should be, we can't lose sight of the fact most West Australians left from Fremantle and they joined the convoy after," Mr Edwards said.

And on Friday, the dawn service at Kings Park will be broadcast live for the first time.

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Possible MH370 debris examined by ATSB

DEBRIS washed up on a West Australian beach is being examined by authorities to determine if it is from missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

The Perth-based search coordinators said on Wednesday afternoon the material washed ashore 10 kilometres east of Augusta, about 320km south of Perth.

The items are being held by Busselton police, who are awaiting instructions from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).

The Joint Agency Co-ordination Centre (JACC), led by former defence chief Angus Houston, said the ATSB was studying photographs of the material and had also passed on the images to the Malaysian investigation team.

But WA police warned against jumping to conclusions, saying items of interest had been previously reported after washing up on a WA beach and had turned out to be unrelated to MH370.

ATSB chief commissioner Martin Dolan also played down the find, which he said appeared to be sheet metal with rivets.

"It's sufficiently interesting for us to take a look at the photographs," Mr Dolan told CNN.

"The more we look at it, the less excited we get."

The search for the plane continues in a vast area of the Indian Ocean northwest of Perth and authorities have previously said it's more likely the prevailing currents would take debris west toward Africa rather than east to the Australian coast.

Earlier on Wednesday, Defence Minister David Johnston said Australia was consulting with Malaysia, China and the United States on the next phase of the search.

The autonomous underwater vehicle Bluefin-21 has scoured more than 80 per cent of the search area, centred about 855km northwest of Perth, with no items of interest discovered to date.

The Bluefin-21 is focusing on a circular area with a radius of 10km.

If the device turned up nothing, the operation would turn to more advanced side-scan sonar technology, which would be able to go deeper than the Bluefin-21, Senator Johnston said.

The Bluefin-21 loses some scanning effectiveness in water depths greater than 4.5 kilometres, but has plunged almost 4.7km on a recent mission.

While the Bluefin-21 had less than one-fifth of the seabed search area to complete, Senator Johnston estimated its mission would take another two weeks.

There are suggestions more powerful towed side-scan sonar technology, similar to that which found the Titanic in 3.8km-deep waters in the Atlantic Ocean in 1985, could soon be deployed.

The same system was used to find HMAS Sydney in 2008, which was located north of the MH370 search area.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott insisted the search would continue while there was a reasonable hope of finding something.

"Australia will not rest until we have done everything we humanly can to get to the bottom of this mystery," he told reporters.

The Bluefin-21 is focusing on a circular area with a radius of 10km where the second acoustic signal was picked up by a towed pinger locator on April 8. Acoustic signals were also picked up in the vicinity on April 5.

JACC said the area remained the best lead.

"It is important this lead is pursued to its completion so we can either confirm or discount the focused underwater area as the final resting place of MH370. This is clearly of great importance to the families of those on board," JACC told AAP.

The Boeing 777 went missing on March 8 with 239 people on board.

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Cyclone hampers MH370 air search

The air search for the missing Malaysia Airlines jet has been suspended due to a tropical cyclone. Source: AAP

A TROPICAL storm has hampered the aerial search for the missing Malaysia Airlines jet as an underwater drone scours the final third of the narrowed-down search area.

The decision to suspend the aerial search on Tuesday came just just hours after organisers said up to 10 military aircraft would be deployed.

The Perth-based Joint Agency Co-ordination Centre said heavy seas and poor visibility were making any aerial search "ineffective and potentially hazardous".

Before the suspension was in place, four military aircraft had already departed RAAF Base Pearce while one RAAF E7 Wedgetail plane, which coordinates all search traffic, had flown out of RAAF Base Learmonth.

JACC said the aircraft continued with their missions, but captains of other aircraft would use their discretion whether to push on with planned activities or return to base.

The surface search continued throughout the day, with 10 vessels scouting for floating debris from MH370, which disappeared over the Indian Ocean on March 8 with 239 people on board.

At 2.30pm, the Bureau of Meteorology said ex-Tropical Cyclone Jack had weakened below cyclone intensity.

It was 660 kilometres south-southwest of Cocos Islands and moving southeast at 20km per hour.

Earlier on Tuesday, JACC said the Bluefin-21 automated underwater vehicle had combed about two thirds of the search area, centred some 1584 kilometres northwest of Perth, during its first eight missions.

The area has been narrowed to a 10km radius around the site of the second acoustic detection by a towed pinger locator on April 8.

Acoustic signals were also picked up in the vicinity on April 5.

No items of interest have been found so far, JACC said.

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Baird unveils 'experienced' NSW ministry

NSW Premier Mike Baird says the decision to drop Greg Smith (pic) from his cabinet wasn't easy. Source: AAP

NSW Premier Mike Baird says his new-look cabinet has the hunger and experience to transform the state.

Mr Baird on Tuesday dumped four O'Farrell ministers and promoted five new young faces into his ministry.

"It is a group that brings experience but, just as importantly, it brings a hunger," Mr Baird told reporters.

"A hunger to transform New South Wales."

Opposition Leader John Robertson slammed the reshuffle for rewarding bad ministers and for under-representing women.

Rising star Andrew Constance emerged as one of the clear winners in the new line-up, being appointed treasurer.

Pru Goward becomes planning minister, replacing Brad Hazzard who was given the role of attorney-general.

The announcement came an hour after veteran north coast MP Don Page, grandson of former prime minister Sir Earle Page, said he was retiring from politics.

Mr Baird confirmed the Nationals MP had been demoted from local government minister and paid tribute to his service to the state.

Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner said he wouldn't be surprised if George Souris - another Nationals MP who has also been demoted - would also step away from parliament before the next election.

Greg Smith was dumped as attorney-general and Robyn Parker lost the environment portfolio.

Mr Baird described Mr Smith as a "good man and a good friend", but stood by his decision to replace him as attorney-general.

Troy Grant, Paul Toole, Rob Stokes, Dominic Perrottet and Jai Rowell, who are in their 30s and 40s, were also promoted to the ministry.

Meanwhile, the reshuffle hands the Hunter ministry to Gladys Berejiklian, who represents the Sydney electorate of Willoughby, in addition to her transport portfolio.

Northern beaches MP Mr Baird replaces Mr O'Farrell as minister for Western Sydney.

He said it was "entirely appropriate" he represented the west given the many infrastructure projects being built there.

"I'm going to be there a lot," the premier said.

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Climber caught in Vic rock "squeeze test"

A rock climber has been rescued after he was stuck overnight in a crevice in western Victoria. Source: AAP

A MAN wedged in a "very, very narrow" crevice at a Victorian rock climbing mecca, dubbed the Squeeze Test, wasn't getting out of a jam in a hurry.

It took a marathon, multi-agency rescue effort, a pulley system and lots of olive oil pinched from nearby campers to finally end his 10-hour ordeal.

The 24-year-old manipulated his body through a narrow gap between two boulders, known as The Squeeze Test, at Mount Arapiles, when he became wedged late on Monday night.

Ambulance Victoria Wimmera group manager Nick Thresher said it was a "very, very narrow opening" and emergency crews knew the man wasn't going to get out in a hurry.

"It was impossible to access," Mr Thresher said.

"We knew it was going to take an awful long time."

It was initially feared the man would suffer "crush syndrome", where body parts compressed in an accident can fill with potentially deadly toxins that spread rapidly through the body once freed.

But he escaped with only minor cuts and hypothermia.

Mr Thresher said specialist paramedics, Country Fire Authority and State Emergency Service volunteers as well as police search and rescue officers rigged up a pulley system to free the climber.

The man's friends scrounged around the adjacent camping ground at the western Victorian site, described by Mr Thresher as a mecca for rock climbers, for olive oil, vaseline and even shampoo.

"We actually lubricated his body with various lubricating agents which were provided for us," he said.

The man was finally freed about 8am (AEST) on Tuesday and taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, where he is in a stable condition.

Mr Thresher warned climbers against attempting The Squeeze Test.

"It is a very risky activity," he said.

"Our message would be carefully consider if you really need to do The Squeeze Test," he said.

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Uluru might have royal return

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will receive a series dot paintings when they visit Uluru. Source: AAP

THE ancient heart of Australia welcomed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and gave them a special gift - a moment of peace and solitude.

On a day warm in spirit and temperature, Prince William and Kate spent Tuesday afternoon at Uluru in the Northern Territory - the site of William's first encounter with Australia more than 30 years ago.

At the end of the day, which included a welcome to country ceremony by Anangu traditional owners, they were taken on a special guided walk to the base of the desert monolith.

Anangu man Sammy Wilson took the royals on the Kuniya walk, an easy 1km return journey to the Mutitjulu Waterhole, full from recent rains that have also greened the surrounding desert, at the base of Uluru.

The royals walked the last part of the path to the waterhole alone to spend some time in quiet reflection.

For a handful of minutes, theirs was the desert kingdom.

"It's nice and peaceful down there, very peaceful," William said later.

Mr Wilson said his guests enjoyed their tour.

"They said 'Oh, we might come back," he said.

The duchess, who started the afternoon in a mauve Roksanda Ilincic dress before changing into a grey and white checked sundress, and William waved to the 50 or so onlookers who had gathered to see the royal couple ahead of their walk.

After the walk, William and Kate enjoyed a sunset viewing of Uluru, watching the rock's magnificent colour-changing display in the waning sunlight.

The viewing was a late addition to their schedule that was kept under wraps to give the royals a rare moment of intimacy - albeit one still captured by a handful of authorised media and a crowd of wellwishers.

It was their last engagement on a packed afternoon that had hundreds of locals and tourists, some having driven from Alice Springs or further afield, turning out to wish them well.

The couple's visit began with the future of central Australia, presenting certificates to graduate students at the National Indigenous Training Academy and meeting students from high schools at an afternoon tea, before ending with their immersion in the Red Centre's ancient traditions.

Anangu elders danced an "inma" - a song and story - in the red desert dust at a welcome to country ceremony at the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre where the royals were also presented with gifts.

Among Kate's gifts was a necklace of painted gumnuts and red ininti seeds from the local desert.

Although he remained behind in Canberra, baby Prince George was given a gift of hand carved wooden animals - said to be ideal for the royal sandpit.

William was given a hand-carved shield, after being presented with a barbed hunting spear made of mulga wood and kangaroo tendon bindings earlier in the day.

It was the first visit for the young royal family but a return for William, whose journey to the Red Centre as a babe in arms in 1983 is looked on warmly by the Anangu people and Territorians alike.

Cecilia Cadell met the royals on the Kuniya walk and said hello.

"She was beautiful - she said hello, it makes you have goosebumps," she said.

Melbourne visitor James Bremner, who watched the media pack at the Uluru visit, pitied the royals.

"I feel sorry for them, in a way, that the can't have a normal life as such," he said.

William and Kate will spend the night - their first away from George in Australia - at the exclusive Longitude 131 resort, situated in the desert close to Uluru.

The resort's 15 luxury tent pavilions feature king-sized beds, prestige bathrooms and sweeping private views of Uluru.

On Wednesday the couple fly to Adelaide, where they will visit Elizabeth, named after William's grandmother, the Queen.

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Biden tells Ukrainian leaders US with them

VICE President Joe Biden has told Ukrainian political leaders the United States stands with them against "humiliating threats" and he encouraged them to root out corruption as they rebuild their government.

In the most high-level visit of a US official since crisis erupted in Ukraine, Biden told leaders from various political parties in Kiev on Tuesday he brings a message of support from President Barack Obama as they face a historic opportunity to usher in reforms.

"The opportunity to generate a united Ukraine and getting it right is within your grasp," Biden said.

"And we want to be your partner and friend in the project. We're ready to assist."

Biden spoke to nine Ukrainians in a hearing room with gilded mouldings at the parliament, or Rada, as the media looked on.

The group included three candidates running for president in the May 25 election - most notably billionaire chocolate magnate and front-runner Petro Poroshenko. Biden told the candidates he hopes that they have more luck than he did in two presidential runs.

Biden also met privately with acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov and acting Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and later planned to meet with democracy activists. After his meetings, Biden plans to announce new technical support to the Ukrainian government for energy and economic reforms.

The vice president's visit comes at a critical time, days after a tenuous international agreement was reached to de-escalate violence in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russia insurgents oppose the government in Kiev.

"You face some very daunting problems and some might say humiliating threats are taking place," Biden said.

Biden told the lawmakers a priority for the US is to help them become independent from Russian energy supplies. "Imagine where you'd stand today if you could tell Russia to keep your own gas," Biden said.

He said they had an historic chance now that former President Viktor Yanukovych has fled the country.

"This is a second opportunity to make good on the promise of the Orange Revolution," Biden said in a reference to 2004 protests that overturned a widely criticised election that had given Yanukovych the presidency. Yanukovych later took office but left the country after violent protests in February.

Biden added, "You have to fight the cancer of corruption that is endemic in your system right now."

He mentioned cleaning up the court system and finding the right balance of power between the president and Rada.

"I want you to know I do not underestimate the incredible pressure you all are under," Biden said.

"I do not underestimate the challenges you all face. And I do not underestimate the frustration you all must feel when someone like me comes along to say what a great opportunity this is for you all."

But he added that the upcoming election may be the most important in the country's history. "The truth of the matter is your fellow countrymen expect a whole lot from you right now," he said.

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More than 400 charges in Operation Unite

MORE than 400 charges have been laid for assaults and drink driving offences in Western Australia during the eighth Operation Unite targeting alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour.

Total statistics from Thursday to Sunday night included 433 charges, 165 arrests and 200 summons.

They include 21 assaults, as well as 15 people caught driving under the influence, 43 people in excess of 0.08 per cent, 12 people in excess of 0.05 per cent and two people in excess of 0.02 per cent.

Specialist squads made up of officers from the Liquor Enforcement Unit and the Regional Operations Group joined the operation in WA for the first time.

Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said last week that the excessive consumption of alcohol was still the most significant factor contributing to night-time violence.

Operation Unite is not about restricting people from having a good time, it is about continuing to raise community awareness about the dangers of determined drunkenness and the impact it has on others, he said.

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16-year-old survives stowaway flight drama

AN FBI agent says a 16-year-old US boy who stowed away in the wheel well of a flight from California to Hawaii has no memory of the trip and is lucky to be alive.

The teen survived the trip halfway across the Pacific Ocean unharmed despite frigid temperatures at 38,000 feet (11,500 metres) and a lack of oxygen.

FBI spokesman Tom Simon in Honolulu said on Sunday night the boy was questioned after being discovered on the tarmac at the Maui airport with no identification.

"Kid's lucky to be alive," Simon said.

Simon said security footage from the San Jose airport verified that the boy hopped a fence to get to Hawaiian Airlines Flight 45 on Sunday morning.

The teen had run away from his family after an argument, Simon said. When the flight landed in Maui, the boy hopped down from the wheel well and started wandering around the airport grounds, he said.

"He was unconscious for the lion's share of the flight," Simon said. The flight lasted about 5 1/2 hours.

Hawaiian Airlines spokeswoman Alison Croyle said airline personnel noticed the boy on the ramp after the flight arrived and immediately notified airport security.

"Our primary concern now is for the well-being of the boy, who is exceptionally lucky to have survived," Croyle said.

Simon said the boy was medically screened and found to be unharmed.

"Doesn't even remember the flight," Simon said. "It's amazing he survived that."

The boy will not be charged and was referred to child protective services, Simon said.

In August, a 13- or 14-year-old boy in Nigeria survived a 35-minute trip in the wheel well of a domestic flight after stowing away. Authorities credited the flight's short duration.

Others stowing away in wheel wells have died, including a 16-year-old killed after stowing away aboard a flight from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Boston in 2010 and a man who fell on to a suburban London street from a flight from Angola in 2012.

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Royals' quiet day makes news

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will spend a day of rest in Canberra before heading north. Source: AAP

THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were supposed to be having a day free of official engagements, spending the day in Canberra but it proved too tempting for the paparazzi.

The royal couple and their baby were photographed unawares in the ground of Government House at Yarralumla, with vision making news broadcasts across the country.

Kate was filmed taking a stroll with her son in the grounds, with the images showing Prince George being carried on his mother's shoulders, pushed in a buggy and on Kate's lap as the pair played together.

William and Kate were also filmed without their knowledge walking hand in hand along the foreshore of Lake Burley Griffin, casually dressed in shirts, jumpers and jeans. At one point, Kate is captured giving an odd little kick.

The pictures taken on a rest day during their tour Down Under may be seen by aides as an intrusion into the couple's privacy.

Although there has been no official word from Kensington Palace, it was tweeted that the palace has requested that the media refrain from intruding on the family's privacy.

On Tuesday, William and Kate will tour Uluru.

The visit will be only their second night away from their son during their 19-day tour of Australia and New Zealand. George, who turns nine months on Tuesday, is expected to remain in Canberra with his nanny.

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NSW police breath-test 60,000 during blitz

ALMOST 60,000 people have been breath tested by NSW police who have issued more than 2000 traffic fines and charged 58 motorists with drink driving during the Easter road blitz.

They've handed out 910 speeding notices and another 1,500 tickets for other offences since Operation Tortoise began on Friday.

On Sunday afternoon, a 25-year-old man was breath tested after Deniliquin police saw him swerve onto the wrong side of the road.

He allegedly blew 0.261, more than five times the limit, and was charged with high-range drink driving and is due before Finlay Local Court in June.

A 19-year-old woman was on Sunday morning charged after being caught behind the wheel with an alleged blood-alcohol concentration of 0.163.

She also caught the attention of police while driving down the wrong side of a Cronulla road.

In the early hours of Monday morning a man, 24, was allegedly clocked speeding through a 80km/h zone at 140 km/h.

"The driver was issued a traffic infringement notice for exceeding speed by more than 45km/h and his licence was suspended for a period of six months," police said.

Traffic and highway patrol's commander Assistant Commissioner John Hartley said it's disappointing people were drink-driving despite consistent warnings from police.

"If you're going out to have a drink you need to find another way home, driving is simply not an option," he said.

Despite the heavy traffic only two people have died, down from three during Easter last year.

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Mickey Rooney laid to rest in California

Hollywood veteran Mickey Rooney has been laid to rest at a private funeral in California. Source: AAP

MICKEY Rooney has been laid to rest at a private funeral in California.

Family and friends of the Breakfast at Tiffany's star bid farewell to the beloved actor at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Saturday, following a memorial service on Friday.

The funeral comes a week after Rooney's conservator and attorney Michael Augustine, and Rooney's estranged wife, Janice Rooney, debated on where to hold the send-off. The two parties eventually settled on the popular site, where other Hollywood legends are buried.

Rooney, 93, died on April 6.

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Bittersweet royal encounter in Canberra

THE disappointment was palpable as the royal couple strapped little George into his car seat and - with the briefest of waves - drove off into the Canberra night.

The royal fans had been waiting for hours at Fairbairn air base to greet the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as they arrived in the bush capital, and expectations were running high.

Just 200 people had been chosen out of a ballot of thousands to welcome the royals, and many were optimistic their presence in such an exclusive setting would translate into a close encounter.

But no such luck: the crowd forced to settle for a wave.

For Katie Agar, it was bittersweet because she was convinced Kate would come over for a chat.

"But it was still special. The atmosphere was nice," she told AAP on Sunday.

Things got off to a good start, with Governor-General Peter Cosgrove leading an official delegation to warm up the crowd.

The Governor-General admitted he was "no substitute" for the royals, but those waiting seemed chuffed to be greeted by the Queen's representative in Australia, given the occasion at hand.

By the time the plane touched down and Kate emerged, Prince George wide awake on her arm, the crowd was cheering ecstatically, crying out her name.

Descending the stairs with Will, they met the official delegation, including federal MP Andrew Leigh and his young excited son Theodore, whose greeting with George made the crowd coo.

Excitement mounted as the royal couple approached the crowd, with Will bobbing young George and Kate holding a bouquet of flowers presented by a young Canberra schoolgirl.

But hopes were dashed when mum and dad got into a car to strap George into a child seat, and then - with a smile and few quick waves - they were gone.

The collective sigh of disappointment was audible, and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was left to break the news to the crestfallen fans.

"George was starting to cry," she said.

The crowd seemed forgiving nonetheless, blaming everything from the bitter Canberra weather to the fading light to excuse the quick departure.

"It's a shame no one told her it was cold," someone quipped, referring to Kate's summery choice of outfit for the occasion.

Others mused that it wasn't surprising the royal family was keen to unwind after such a busy day in Sydney.

Meryl Crane said she was disappointed but not surprised the royals didn't stick around.

"I think it was cold and it was getting dark," she told AAP. "I don't think I'll ever get closer than that in my entire life.

"It was good fun."

Others were already discussing their next move, planning how they'd try and sneak a glimpse of the royals at other events around Canberra this week.

The royal family will spend Monday at Government House in Yarralumla, on Canberra's Lake Burley Griffin.

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China car show opens with fanfare

Global and Chinese automakers are unveiling their new vehicles at Auto China 2014 this week. Source: AAP

LEADING car makers have gathered in Beijing for China's biggest car show, expressing confidence in the world's largest car market although lacklustre growth and environmental restrictions have thrown uncertainty into the mix.

More than 1100 vehicles are on show at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in the capital's suburbs, which opens on Monday.

General Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen and Hyundai are among the manufacturers taking part, along with SAIC and Dongfeng, China's top two domestic automakers.

At Ford's display, president and CEO Alan Mulally arrived in a bright red Mustang, the latest incarnation of the iconic model celebrating its 50th year.

The expo comes as a growing number of Chinese cities are restricting the number of cars, in a bid to battle pollution and congestion - moves that analysts warn could cut into purchases.

The eastern city of Hangzhou, a popular tourist destination, last month became the sixth major city to implement such a restriction, with some estimates placing the limit at 80,000 car plates a year.

China's car sales jumped by 13.9 per cent to 21.98 million vehicles last year. But that growth hit a speed bump in March, slowing to a 6.6 per cent year-on-year rise after reaching a record 17.8 per cent high in January.

China's economy has also turned in its weakest performance in 18 months, growing 7.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2014.

Despite the concerns, industry players and analysts say the China market's importance to global manufacturers cannot be overstated.

"I think the market for cars is going to continue to be fantastic," Mulally said on Sunday, adding that the promise of increased domestic spending outweighed concerns about congestion.

China's overall plan "to move to a consumer-based economy" was a key factor "that reduces risk", he said.

"We are also working with all of the cities and the government because just to add more cars in the cities is not going to be the answer," he said.

Ford has opened three plants in China since 2012, with four more under construction, Mulally said.

"This is part of our biggest global manufacturing expansion in 50 years," he said.

Karsten Engel, president and CEO of BMW's operations in China, said the German manufacturer would introduce 10 new models to China this year, and carry out more manufacturing and research and development inside the country.

"All these efforts are based on our confidence in the long-term development of our success here," he said.

Further underscoring China's significance, French auto giant Peugeot Citroen's agreed earlier this year to hand over part control to Dongfeng and the French state.

German giant Daimler said last month that it had signed a deal worth 1 billion euros ($A1.485) with Chinese partner Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation to expand production at their joint venture in Beijing.

South Korea's largest automaker Hyundai Motor also announced in March that it was planning a fourth plant in China.

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Nine die over Easter on Aussie roads

A man has died after a car ran over him while he was lying on a Melbourne road. Source: AAP

AUSTRALIA'S Easter road toll has climbed to nine following two deaths in Victoria and Queensland on Sunday.

A man lying on the road was Victoria's first fatality during the reporting period.

A car ran over him while he was lying on Canterbury Rd in Box Hill at 12.20am on Easter Sunday, police said.

The man, in his 20s, died at the scene while two people in the car were uninjured.

Police are investigating how the man came to be lying on the road.

Queensland had its second road fatality when a man died after his car hit a pole.

Police say the man's car crossed to the wrong side of Wembley Rd in Logan in the early hours of Sunday, hitting a light pole before coming to rest in bushland. The man, in his 50s, died at the scene.

On Thursday, a 67-year-old woman died on the way to hospital after she was hit by a station wagon while crossing the road in the town of Beaudesert, south of Brisbane.

The deaths follow tragedies in NSW, Western Australia, Tasmania and Queensland over the holiday period.

Three of the fatalities were on WA roads and involved young men aged between 17 and 20.

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Two men sought over alleged Vic kidnap

TWO men in fluoro vests may hold key information about an alleged kidnapping at a Melbourne service station last year.

The incident took place on August 23 when a man allegedly pushed a woman, 31, into a vehicle at Craigieburn and drove off.

Police say the two men, wearing fluoro vests and may have been workmen, retrieved an item the woman threw out of the vehicle.

While the men are not connected to the incident, which occurred at the intersection of Craigieburn and Hanson roads, they may have information police need.

A Seymour man, 33, is due to face Melbourne Magistrates Court on June 16 charged with offences including kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers.

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Former NSW premier Neville Wran dies

Former long-serving New South Wales Premier Neville Wran, has died aged 87. Source: AAP

NEVILLE Wran, who was premier of NSW for a decade, has died after suffering dementia. He was 87.

His family was by his bedside when he died just before 6pm on Sunday at the Lulworth House nursing home in Sydney's eastern suburbs, where he had been in care for the past two years

"This is of course a very sad time for us all, but in fact a blessed release for Neville," his wife Jill Hickson said in a statement to AAP.

"Dementia is a cruel fate and I have been grieving the loss that comes with it for some years.

"But I hope now, especially in this political climate, people will join me in celebrating the life of a great man, a true political hero."

Bob Carr, who surpassed Mr Wran's record for the longest continuous service as NSW premier, said Mr Wran set a template for successful Labor leaders, including prime ministers Bob Hawke and Paul Keating.

"He was a master politician. He taught contemporary Labor a great deal," Mr Carr told Sky News.

"He presented a model of stable state government that had a big impact on future Labor governments that followed his."

Mr Carr said Mr Wran showed Labor governments could be moderate and trustworthy after the tumult of the Whitlam years.

"They remarked he was the barrister Labor briefed to get it back into government ... when people though after the defeat of 1975 federally that it would never be a serious party for government again," Mr Carr said.

The NSW Labor party said "NSW lost a true Labor great" with the death of Mr Wran.

"Vale Neville Wran, the brightest of his generation. He transformed his Party and his State," Labor pollster Bruce Hawker tweeted.

Barry O'Farrell, who last week stood down as NSW premier, tweeted: "Sad news. Neville Wran helped build NSW incl initiating our sister-state relationship with China's Guangdong province in 1979."

Mr Wran led the Labor government in NSW from May 1976 to July 1986, before dramatically announcing his resignation to a shocked Labor conference.

He was a successful lawyer before entering parliament in the Legislative Council in 1970. He moved to the lower house in 1973 before becoming Labor leader.

In 1976, he led Labor to government in a tight election, forming government after a 10-day wait, with the support of an independent.

Mr Wran and his government were involved in damaging scandals.

In 1983, he stepped aside while a royal commission examined allegations he'd tried to influence a magistrate over a misappropriation hearing against rugby league boss Kevin Humphreys. He was cleared.

Prisons minister Rex Jackson was jailed for selling early releases and chief magistrate Murray Farquhar was jailed for perverting the course of justice. Senior police were caught up in corruption scandals.

Mr Wran was fined $25,000 for contempt of court after declaring his belief in the innocence of his old friend Lionel Murphy, the High Court judge facing a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

After politics, Mr Wran had success in the business world, including running a merchant bank with Malcolm Turnbull, now Communications Minister in Tony Abbott's cabinet.

Mr Wran was married twice, first to Marcia Oliver, whose son he adopted before they had two more children, and then to Ms Hickson, with whom he had two children.

He was put into care as dementia took hold two years ago.

Ms Hickson paid special tribute the nursing staff of Lulworth House who had been caring for the former premier.

"They really are angels," she said.

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