Sydney cafe's stolen animals found in Vic

TWO beloved farm animals stolen from a busy Sydney cafe in a midnight break and enter have been found in Victoria.

Police confirmed a pig, dubbed Kevin Bacon, and Bradley the sheep, which were taken from The Grounds at Alexandria earlier this month, have turned up at a vet in Victoria.

In a statement on Monday night, NSW Police said officers had been told the animals were dropped off at a sanctuary near the Victorian town of Orbost on October 16.

The sanctuary then took the animals to a veterinarian for treatment.

NSW Police were told on Monday that the animals had been found.

The Grounds launched a public appeal for its two resident animals after they were taken on October 7.

CCTV footage from the cafe, which includes a large garden area and farm animal pen, shows three people taking the animals at 1am.

A $7000 reward was offered in the search for Kevin Bacon and Bradley.

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Two dead, one missing as storm lashes UK

About 60 flights have been cancelled at Heathrow Airport due to predicted hurricane-force winds. Source: AAP

NEARLY 300,000 homes have been left without power in Britain and France, and trains and planes cancelled as a fierce storm battered the region, leaving at least two people dead.

A 17-year-old girl died after a tree fell on to the static caravan where she was sleeping in Hever, southeast England, and a man in his 50s died when a tree fell on his car in Watford, north of London, police said.

The rough conditions at sea forced rescuers to suspend the search for a 14-year-old boy who was washed out to sea from a beach in East Sussex on England's south coast on Sunday.

More than 450 people were stranded for several hours on two ferries outside the port of Dover after it was closed to sea traffic, as huge waves lashed the coastline on both sides of the Channel.

Winds reached 99 miles per hour (159 kilometres per hour) on the Isle of Wight off the southern English coast, according to Britain's Met Office national weather centre.

Heavy rain and winds of 80 mph elsewhere brought down hundreds of trees, while a crane fell onto the roof of a government building in central London. Police said nobody was hurt in that incident.

The Energy Networks Association, an industry body, said 220,000 homes across Britain were without power, as electricity lines were knocked down across the country.

In northern France the storm left some 65,000 homes without power early on Monday, according to the ERDF distribution network, after wind gusts reached 139 kilometres per hour. Earlier ERDF had estimated 75,000 homes were affected.

Southern England bore the brunt of the storm, with train operators cancelling services across the region in anticipation.

Many commuters delayed their journeys until it passed, leaving central London stations eerily quiet during what normally would have been the rush hour.

The capital's Heathrow airport cancelled 130 flights, about 10 per cent, while delays were reported on the Eurostar cross-Channel train service due to speed restrictions.

Meanwhile more than 30 firefighters were deployed to a gas explosion in Hounslow, west London, after a falling tree caused a gas main to rupture. Three houses collapsed and two others were damaged, the fire service said.

"Clearly this has been a difficult night for many Londoners and continues to be an incredibly trying morning," said Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

He said transport and emergency services were "working flat out in an effort to keep London moving and minimise disruption as far as is possible." Several major bridges were also closed, including the Severn Bridge over the estuary between England and Wales.

The Met Office said 50 millimetres (almost two inches) of rain fell in some areas overnight as the storm tracked eastwards across Britain.

The Environment Agency issued 133 flood alerts and warned that flooding was likely across 12 areas of southwest England, including Devon and Cornwall.

The storm, named St Jude in Britain after the patron saint of lost causes whose feast day was on Monday, had earlier been predicted to be the worst for a decade.

Forecaster Helen Chivers had told AFP the expected damage was likely to be comparable with a storm seen in October 2002, although stronger winds have been recorded since then.

However, the devastation fell far short of that caused by the "Great Storm" of October 1987, which left 18 people dead in Britain and four in France and caused damage worth 1 billion ($1.6 billion or 1.2 billion euros at current exchange rates).

The Met Office had given plenty of warning of St Jude - in contrast to 1987 when BBC weatherman Michael Fish famously assured viewers just hours beforehand that no hurricane winds were expected.

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Two men rescued in Bass Strait

TWO men have survived hours in freezing and dangerous waters after their ultra-light aircraft ditched in the Bass Strait.

The men, aged in their 20s, were about 30km southwest of Flinders Island when their aircraft went down about 3pm (AEDT) on Monday.

The men were picked up by a small boat after they set off a distress beacon and were rescued in a dramatic and difficult operation by Ambulance Victoria.

Ambulance Victoria MICA flight paramedic Ben Meadley said there were concerns that the downwash from their helicopter was so strong that it could flip the small boat.

"With that in mind, we decided to put the men into a small dingy trailing behind the boat before I was put into the water and swam across to the men," Mr Meadley said.

The men were not seriously injured and suffered moderate hypothermia, some cuts and grazes from the impact and it is possible one of them also had a fracture to their lower leg, Mr Meadley said.

This accident highlighted the value of carrying a beacon, he said.

"They're an incredible asset that allows us to find you with pin point accuracy," Mr Meadley said.

The two men were flown to Launceston Hospital for further treatment.

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Man fractures face in boat backflip

A MAN has sustained head injuries after trying to backflip off the top of a ferry on NSW's Central Coast.

Police responded to reports of drunk passengers on board a ferry at Ettalong Wharf on Saturday night.

Paramedics treated a man with head injuries.

Police say the man, 25, tried to back flip from the top of a ferry but hit his head on the boat railing on the way down.

The man was taken to Gosford Hospital with fractures to his head and face.

NSW Police transport commander Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell labelled the incident as dangerous and stupid.

"It's quite clear alcohol was a factor in this incident, which by anyone's definition was dangerous, foolish and stupid," he said in a statement.

"We remind commuters it is an offence to consume alcohol on public transport or to behave in an anti-social manner as a result of drug or alcohol intoxication."

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Teen stabbed at Melbourne party

Two people were injured at a party attended by about 200 youths in Melbourne's western suburbs. Source: AAP

A 15-YEAR-OLD boy has been stabbed during a fight at a large Melbourne party.

Police say the teenager was stabbed twice and a 17-year-old suffered head injuries at a party in a Deer Park hall on Saturday night.

Up to 200 youths attended the party.

Police were called and dispersed the crowd.

The 15-year-old boy was taken to the Royal Children's Hospital in a stable condition.

The 17-year-old was taken to Sunshine Hospital and released early on Sunday morning.

Police are looking for two men who they believe may be able to assist their enquiries.

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Vic opposition slams road compo plans

Victoria's opposition say proposed changes to the road accident compensation scheme are unfair. Source: AAP

PROPOSED changes to Victoria's road accident compensation scheme are unfair and unjust, the state opposition says.

The Victorian government will this week introduce laws to parliament that would change the eligibility for Transport Accident Commission (TAC) payments.

As part of the changes, relatives of victims will face more stringent guidelines for trying to claim compensation for mental injuries suffered as a result of road collisions.

Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said the government was being unnecessarily cruel.

"They intend to make, I think, some of the worst changes that you could imagine to the way our traffic accident compensation scheme works," he told reporters on Sunday.

"They are bad changes, they are the wrong changes - unfair, unjust and we'll oppose them."

Assistant Treasurer Gordon Rich-Phillips said the laws made reasonable changes, and would provide more counselling for families.

"These reforms will ensure there is a clear, modern definition of what constitutes a serious mental injury for the purposes of lump-sum compensation," he told AAP.

"This legislation will ensure that the TAC continues to provide relevant and appropriate support to victims, preserves their common-law entitlements, and helps to keep the cost of the scheme under control for Victorian motorists."

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Govt must justify $9b RBA payment: Bowen

Labor is demanding Treasurer Joe Hockey justify his reasons for giving the Reserve Bank nearly $9bn. Source: AAP

LABOR is demanding Treasurer Joe Hockey justify his reasons for giving the Reserve Bank nearly $9 billion in what it's calling a bid to score "expensive political points".

The federal government this week announced it would make an $8.8 billion payment to the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to ensure it was in the best shape to face the financial challenges ahead.

Mr Hockey said RBA governor Glenn Stevens had written to him indicating the bank wanted to boost its reserve funds, which had been depleted in recent years by the high dollar and "extraordinary" dividend withdrawals by the former Labor government.

Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen called on Mr Hockey to publicly release this letter, saying the government was trying to score "expensive political points" instead of justifying its decision.

"If he can't, then he's got something to hide," he told Network Ten on Sunday.

There was a case for allowing the RBA to build up its reserve funds but Mr Hockey had come nowhere near justifying how this payment was necessary, he added.

Mr Bowen said at no point did he or former treasurer Wayne Swan receive advice from the RBA or Treasury suggesting it would be appropriate for such a payment to be made.

"On the contrary, the former Treasurer received explicit advice that that would be a retrograde step," he said.

Labor has also questioned Mr Hockey's other decision this week to seek parliamentary approval to raise the debt ceiling to $500 billion.

Mr Bowen said the treasurer would have to release the midyear economic forecast before putting the legislation to raise the cap to a vote in parliament.

"I don't believe he's come anywhere near yet justifying that extraordinary increase to the debt limit," he said.

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Royals turn out for Opera House 40th

LIKE many Australians, Crown Princess Mary has a fond appreciation for the Sydney Opera House.

The Tasmanian-born Danish Royal even conceded before a crowd of 5000 on Sunday it was one of two things she knew about Denmark before her marriage to Crown Prince Frederik.

Mary told the crowd that turned out for the Sydney Opera House's 40th anniversary about a journalist who asked her what she knew about her new home country before she got engaged to Frederik 10 years ago.

"I replied Hans Christian Andersen and that the Sydney Opera House was designed by a Dane," she said.

"And today we are celebrating the masterpiece of timeless beauty and simplicity designed by that Dane architect Jorn Utzon."

The eager crowd at the Opera House forecourt strained to get a glimpse of Mary and Frederik as they arrived at the celebrations on Sunday night.

In a knee-length white coat and embellished cream and gold dress, Mary told the crowd the Opera House was a symbol of national pride for both Australia and Denmark.

"The Sydney Opera House has the ability to move us, not only with its visual magnificence but also what it holds inside and what it was built for - the arts," she said.

Among the contingent of dignitaries seated near the Royal couple were NSW Governor Marie Bashir, Premier Barry O'Farrell and Jan Utzon.

Opera House chief executive officer Louise Herron said it was an honour to have the royal couple in attendance.

She said it symbolised the enduring links between Australia and Denmark.

While many concert goers would have purchased their tickets before the Danish Royals were revealed as VIP guests, attendees viewed it as an added bonus.

Wollongong mother Tanya Cross said the princess's attendance was the drawcard for her daughters.

"I was telling them about the singers coming but they didn't really care about that," she said.

Daughter Ella, 10, said she was excited the princess was visiting Australia.

"I have only seen her on TV but now I get to see her for real," she told AAP.

The royals were entertained by some of Australia's best musicians, including Megan Washington, John Butler and Sarah Blasko, and internationally renowned director Baz Luhrmann.

The spectacular backdrop of the Sydney Harbour, Opera House and Circular Quay was a striking contrast to the fire-ravaged scenes the royal couple faced earlier on Sunday.

About 200 fans and curious locals gathered at Winmalee's Rural Fire Service station on Sunday to catch a glimpse of the home-grown princess.

The prince, dressed in leather boots and cargo pants, took a back seat as his wife - who at one point had to wave over a minder to relieve her of an armful of bouquets - did the rounds.

Six-year-old Jessica told AAP she'd been practising her curtsy at ballet class, and when the princess came around, she handed over a bunch of pink roses.

"She wanted to cut them out of the garden but there's not many flowers there at the moment," father Peter Berechree said.

"She would've found a few things with petals falling off them and bits and pieces.

"It would've been colourful. But we thought it was a bit more appropriate to go and get something that was a bit more wrapped."

The family is building a house on Singles Ridge Road, a Winmalee street that was devastated in the fires.

"We were very lucky, we didn't get touched but our neighbours did lose part of their property," Mr Berechree said.

Mary thanked volunteer firefighters and took a tour of the station before setting out for nearby Buena Vista Road, where some 40 homes were destroyed by fire.

Mary and Frederik are in Sydney as patrons of the Opera House's 40th anniversary.

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Stuntman-director Hal Needham dies

HAL Needham, a top Hollywood stuntman who turned to directing rousing action films including Smokey and the Bandit and The Cannonball Run, has died aged 82.

His business managers told the Los Angeles Times that Needham died on Friday in Los Angeles.

A former paratrooper, Needham appeared in thousands of TV episodes and hundreds of movies, performing and designing stunts and new equipment to execute them.

Needham jumped from planes, was dragged by horses and wrecked cars - breaking 56 bones in the process.

His best-known directing efforts involved 1970s Burt Reynolds action comedies, including Smokey, Cannonball Run and Stroker Ace. He also directed Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Villain.

In a Twitter posting, Schwarzenegger called Needham an icon.

Needham received an honorary Oscar last year.

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End failure mentality, PM tells Tasmania

Prime Minister Tony Abbott says Tasmania has to stop programming itself to fail. Source: AAP

TASMANIA needs to stop programming itself for failure, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has told the ailing island state.

In a clear reference to environmental standards, Mr Abbott has told Liberal members at the party's state conference Tasmania has set the bar too high.

"All too often, particularly here in Tasmania, we have programmed ourselves to fail," the prime minister said on Saturday.

"We have burdened ourselves with unnecessary taxes and regulations.

"We have set standards of perfection which no one can achieve instead of getting on with a reasonable job with a reasonable prospect of success."

Mr Abbott reminded members the state had the country's highest unemployment, lowest wages and lowest life expectancy.

"All that simply has to change," he said.

The prime minister received a standing ovation from around 200 members in a celebratory mood on his first visit to Tasmania since his election in September.

The state delivered massively for the coalition, dumping ALP members from three of its five seats in an 11.3 per cent swing against the government, the biggest of any state.

"It is so good to be here to savour success," Mr Abbott said.

The party looks likely to savour more success in a state election due next March.

Opposition leader Will Hodgman is riding high in the polls after 15 years of Labor government, the last four in coalition with the Greens.

Mr Abbott gave Mr Hodgman, the son of the late former federal minister Michael Hodgman, a ringing endorsement.

"What we need here in Tasmania is new will and new leadership and that's what is sitting right here beside me," the prime minister said.

Mr Hodgman will address the conference on Sunday.

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