Scalping not a big problem, senators say

CONCERT-GOERS and sports fans can breathe easy: ticket scalping isn't a big deal in Australia, a parliamentary inquiry has found.

Because of this, the committee looking into the matter doesn't see the need for any further regulation.

But it does say the state and federal governments could work together to have greater co-ordination in how to deal with the scalping that does occur.

Committee chair Senator Mark Bishop was surprised to find only minimal evidence of ticket scalping across the country.

"I had expected the opposite," he said on releasing the inquiry report on Wednesday.

Several disgruntled Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and AFL fans had told the committee of their difficulties in getting tickets over the past year.

But ticketing companies and entertainment and sporting groups told the committee large-scale, concerted ticket scalping efforts were rare in Australia.

They said it was important to distinguish between genuine re-selling of tickets - for instance if someone bought tickets to a concert and then couldn't go - and scalping purely for profit.

Many said anti-scalping laws in place in some states and elsewhere in the world were not effective and were difficult to enforce.

The committee recommends an industry-wide standard of conduct be established to give more transparency over how tickets can be issued and distributed.

It also suggests the consumer watchdog look at increasing education around the sale and re-sale of tickets and what rights buyers have.

But independent senator Nick Xenophon, who initiated the inquiry, says there should be national anti-scalping laws.

He wants a cap on re-sales above the original purchase price, powers to block sites selling scalped tickets and sites like eBay to have to tell authorities the identities of scalpers.

Ticketing firm Viagogo seized on the Senate committee's report to attack the NSW government's ticketing legislation that passed the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.

Spokesman Alex Levenson said the O'Farrell government had ignored industry advice and consumers' opinions.

He claimed onerous conditions were being imposed on NSW music and sports fans such as the need to include photos of the tickets they are selling with portions graphically edited out.

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Questions over deadly NZ plane crash probe

QUESTIONS are being raised about the conclusions reached by an official investigation into a deadly 2010 skydiving plane crash at New Zealand's Fox Glacier.

Nine people, including two Australians, were killed when the Fletcher FU24-954 plane crashed shortly after take-off at the end of the runway at Fox Glacier airport on September 4, 2010.

There were no survivors.

A 2012 Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) report found the plane was unbalanced, with too much weight towards the rear, causing it to crash.

However, just days after the crash, large parts of the plane's wreckage were buried - on the instruction of the TAIC - meaning they weren't examined by investigators, a local current affairs TV program reports.

Among the parts buried was the plane's control stick and cables.

Investigator Andrew McGregor, who's conducted TAIC investigations in the past, says the TAIC's investigation in this case was flawed.

"I would think on the evidence we have available, that a control system failure of some sort is likely," he told TV3.

"In my view we do have sufficient information to warrant the investigation being reopened."

The crash killed four tourists - Glenn Bourke, 18, of Australia, Patrick Byrne, 26, of Ireland, Annita Kirsten, 23, of Germany, and Brad Coker, 24, of England.

The crew were Skydive New Zealand director Rod Miller, 55, pilot Chaminda Senadhira, 33, Adam Bennett, 47, an Australian living in Motueka, Michael Suter, 32, and Christopher McDonald, 62.

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Installing batts 'not that hard': Garrett

ALTHOUGH four people subsequently died working under the scheme, the minister in charge Peter Garrett reportedly believed it was easy to install pink batts.

According to an email from a cabinet staffer, former environment minister Mr Garrett and a federal environment department secretary thought the task was "not that hard", an inquiry has heard.

They shared the view at a meeting on April 3, 2009, two months after the scheme's announcement.

"The secretary and the minister compared notes on their personal experience in installing batts! 'not that hard'," the email from cabinet and prime minister's department staffer Martin Hoffman read.

The royal commission into the former Labor government's scheme was told that insulation companies were given only hours warning - via text message - about the termination of the scheme.

They were informed on February 19, 2010 that the program would end at 5pm that day, after a 2.30pm public announcement to that effect.

The former Rudd government pulled the pin on the stimulus measure after workers Matthew Fuller, Rueben Barnes, Mitchell Sweeney and Marcus Wilson died while installing insulation.

But insulation companies had no idea the program was going to be dumped as they'd been told to beef up employment, the supply of manufacturing materials and capital investment.

Michael Windsor QC, who is representing insulation companies at the inquiry, said the program's end left the industry in tatters.

Mr Windsor, who is also fighting for compensation for businesses adversely affected by the scheme's termination, said insulation companies were given little chance of off-loading stock and meeting obligations with suppliers.

The abrupt end of the stimulus program, he said, also negatively affected the economy with jobs lost and companies unable to meet obligations with financial institutions.

Under cross-examination by Mr Windsor, Mr Hoffman agreed that insulation companies were somewhat negatively affected by the announcement.

When asked when he became aware about the government's decision to end the program, Mr Hoffman said: "It would have been a few days before ... it would have been right at that period."

Mr Hoffman also said that no industry body, to his knowledge, had been informed of the government's decision at that time.

The inquiry into the troubled scheme also heard on Wednesday of how the government took a "light touch" approach to installer registration standards.

Mr Hoffman said it was important to note the tight exit approach, which included a one-strike policy for those who breached safety guidelines.

But Richard Perry QC, who is representing the Fuller and Barnes families, said the "light touch" approach did nothing to stop installers dying while using metal staples to secure foil insulation, like Mr Fuller.

Former co-ordinator-general Mike Mrdak is expected to give evidence at the royal commission when it resumes on Thursday.

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New debris found in hunt for MH370

NEW satellite images taken three days ago have revealed 122 potential pieces of debris from the missing Malaysian Airline flight MH370, Malaysia's Transport Minister says.

Hishammuddin Hussein revealed the latest - and largest - find of objects that may have come from the plane at a daily press briefing in Kuala Lumpur.

The news comes after satellite images from China, Australia and France showed items floating in the southern Indian Ocean, where the plane is believed to have crashed, leaving no survivors.

"Yesterday, on the 25th of March, the Malaysian Remote Sensing Agency, MRSA, received new satellite images from Airbus Defence and Space, which is based in France, and these images were taken on the 23rd of March," he said on Wednesday evening.

"MRSA analysed the images and in one area of the ocean, measuring some 400 square kilometres, were able to identify 122 potential objects.

"Some objects were one metre in length, other objects were as much as 23 metres in length. Some of the objects appeared to be bright, possibly indicating solid material."

The minister said the objects were found about 2557 kilometres from Perth, Western Australia, from where search planes are flying.

"MRSA immediately forwarded the information to the Australian rescue coordination centre yesterday," he said.

"It must be emphasised that we cannot tell if the potential objects are from MH370. Nevertheless, this is another new lead that will help direct the search operation.

"Our determination to find MH370 remains steadfast.

"As we have said all along, we will never give up trying to find the plane in order to bring closure to the families and explain what happened."

A dozen planes from six nations travelled to the search area, divided equally into east and west zones, on Wednesday.

Two ships also joined the operation, HMAS Success and Chinese polar supply ship Xue Long.

A Japanese Gulfstream jet also flew to Perth to become involved in the search.

Malaysia Airlines is now taking the lead in communicating with the families of the passengers and crew.

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Pistorius defence argues he loved Reeva

An expert has told a Pretoria court that Oscar Pistorius' girlfriend was sometimes scared of him. Source: AAP

THE defence of South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has downplayed evidence that there were problems in his relationship with Reeva Steenkamp, saying the vast majority of their text messages show they loved each other.

Defence lawyer Barry Roux on Tuesday questioned police mobile phone expert Francois Moller, who retrieved more than 1700 text messages exchanged between the couple, as the murder trial of the double-amputee Olympic sprinter in Pretoria entered its 15th day.

Moller on Monday presented the court with messages depicting Pistorius as a jealous man with a nasty temper, whom Steenkamp was afraid of.

Roux said only four of the messages were related to arguments, while more than 90 per cent reflected a normal and loving relationship.

Some of the messages deal with the couple's shared interest in motor vehicles, the lawyer said.

The court was shown a WhatsApp image of Steenkamp blowing a kiss to Pistorius.

Roux said messages sent in the weeks before Pistorius killed Steenkamp were of a loving nature.

Pistorius and Steenkamp exchanged five phone calls the same day he shot her through the bathroom door in his home in February last year, Moller told the court.

Pistorius says he mistook the model for a burglar.

Immediately after the shooting, Pistorius made phone calls to the manager of the estate where he lived, an ambulance service, security services of the estate, his friend Justin Divaris, his father and his manager, Moller said.

Divaris has said Pistorius said to him "God take me away, I have killed my baba," according to broadcaster eNCA.

Prosecution is expected to wrap up its case this week.

Defence will then call its own witnesses.

Pistorius will be among the first, unless he invokes his constitutional right not to testify.

The trial is expected to continue until May 16, with a recess scheduled for the week of April 7.

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Knights, dames return under Abbott

Retiring Governor-General Quentin Bryce (R) has become a dame under changes suggested by the PM. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott insists he's not bringing knights and dames back in the Australian honours system to lock Australia into the monarchy.

Retiring Governor-General Quentin Bryce has become a dame and her successor Peter Cosgrove will become a knight, after Mr Abbott asked the Queen to restore the system of pre-eminent honours.

The honours category, which was removed in 1986, will recognise extraordinary and pre-eminent Australians for their service to Australia or humanity. Up to four knights or dames can be appointed each year.

"I believe this is an important grace note in our national life," Mr Abbott said on Tuesday.

Mr Abbott, a former director of Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy, defended the decision, saying it would enhance the dignity of the existing system.

Asked whether he was seeking to cement the monarchy into Australian life, Mr Abbott said: "No, I'm not."

"Everyone knows where I stand on this particular issue," he said.

"I am a staunch supporter of our existing constitutional arrangements - always have been and, I imagine, always will be.

"But ... I think it is entirely appropriate that someone who represents the monarch should be honoured in this way."

Opponents were quick to mock the government's move, some adopting a humorous approach.

"I have consulted my economic roundtable and can categorically state that by adopting this policy, dozens and dozens of pounds can be saved," a sarcastic Labor senator Sam Dastyari told the upper house, at times adopting Shakespearean language.

He welcomed news from "Sir Anthony Abbott of Warringah" that ministries will now be decided by way of a jousting tournament in the caucus room.

His Labor colleague Stephen Conroy was more serious in his criticism, asking why the government can find money for knighthoods but not $250,000 a year for the families of veterans.

Australian Republican Movement national director David Morris called it a retrograde step.

"This is turning the clock back to a colonial frame of mind that we have outgrown as a nation," he said.

Mr Morris also questioned why the current system was deemed insufficient.

"Our identity today is Australian, so our national honours should be thoroughly Australian."

The Australian Monarchist League commended Mr Abbott's announcement.

The prime minister consulted Dame Quentin and General Cosgrove on the proposition and said they were happy to accept.

Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus said the move showed the government was rushing back to the 19th century.

"Even the arch-monarchist John Howard didn't bring back knights and dames," Mr Dreyfus said.

Dame Quentin's son-in-law, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, said the government had a plan for knights and dames but no plan for job creation.

"I'm concerned the Abbott government thinks this is a priority - what about jobs, health and education?"

Australian Greens leader Christine Milne said Australia had gone socially backwards under Mr Abbott's government.

"Bring on a republic," she said.

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Govt seizes on Thomson jailing

The government says Craig Thomson's jailing shows the need for tougher checks on unions corruption. Source: AAP

FORMER Labor MP Craig Thomson's jail sentence for misusing union members' funds shows the need for tougher checks on corruption, the federal government says.

Thomson was sentenced in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday to 12 months jail for spending more than $24,000 of members' money on prostitutes and personal expenses while national secretary of the Health Services Union (HSU).

Employment Minister Eric Abetz says the matter shows the need for Labor to support the coalition's efforts to stamp out union corruption, including a new Registered Organisations Commission and restoring of the Australian Building and Construction Commission.

The government has also named the HSU in the terms of reference for a royal commission into unions which starts next month.

"They (Labor) have learned nothing from the Craig Thomson affair," Senator Abetz said.

"Clearly they believe it's okay for union members' funds to be spent on prostitutes and living a life of luxury."

Former HSU official Marco Bolano, who Thomson accused in parliament of conspiring against him, said it was not just "one or two bad apples".

"Unfortunately what I've seen in the union movement is this is commonplace," he said outside court following Thomson's sentence.

"I hope the royal commission shines a giant light on this."

Labor frontbencher Michelle Rowland said it was important that the full force of the law be applied in such cases.

"I think that this is a very sorry episode in terms of what happens when you betray people that put their trust in you," she said, adding HSU members had a right be angry about the behaviour.

The HSU's acting national secretary Chris Brown said the union would be pursuing Thomson to recover the misused money, including that dealt with by the Fair Work investigation but not brought to court.

"Today brings to an end a long seven-year wait by the union to have Thomson brought to account for the misuse of union funds," he said.

The House of Representatives privileges committee is still investigating whether Thomson misled parliament with his 2012 statement in which claimed his innocence and railed against the media and his HSU accusers.

HSU whistleblower Kathy Jackson said the court decision was about "justice for all working men and women across the nation".

The Fair Work Commission is still pursuing other matters relating to the HSU, including fraud in the former Victoria No.1 branch and a new investigation into whether Victorian officials broke right of entry and financial reporting rules.

Mr Brown said the HSU's national executive had thoroughly reviewed its governance and financial rules to prevent future problems.

Claiming his innocence outside the court on Tuesday, Thomson was bailed after launching an immediate appeal which will be heard in November.

Nine months of his 12 months sentence is wholly suspended.

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Harry Potter artwork up for auction

THE original artwork for first copies of JK Rowling's Harry Potter series is set to go under the hammer in the US.

British artist Cliff Wright produced the ink and water colour illustrations, which were used for the covers of the 1998 classic Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets and the follow up the Prisoner of Azkaban, released the following year.

The Chamber of Secrets' illustration measures 57cm by 48.25cm and has a starting guide price of $US20,000 ($A21,956).

It shows Harry and Ron Weasley in the flying Ford Anglia, with the wizard's owl Hedwig in the back seat.

The second sketch shows Harry and Hermione on Buckbeak the mythical Hippogriff, with bids starting at $US12,500 ($A13,722) for the 14cm by 12.7cm artwork.

The pieces will be auctioned by Nate D. Sanders in Los Angeles on Thursday.

JK Rowling wrote a series of seven wizarding novels that were reproduced around the world and led to a hugely successful series of films.

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Eight killed, 18 missing in US landslide

Rescuers in the US state of Washington are searching for 18 people after a mudslide buried houses. Source: AAP

AT least eight people are dead and 18 are missing after a massive landslide slammed "like a freight train" into a mountainside community in the northwestern United States.

The wall of mud, rocks and trees smashed into the rural town of Oso, northeast of Seattle, on Saturday. Three people were reported dead shortly after and another body was pulled from the rubble earlier on Sunday.

Travis Hots, chief of the regional Snohomish County Fire districts, announced the higher toll at an area community meeting.

"I'm saddened to inform you that we have assured four additional fatalities," Hots told reporters. "It's very disappointing for all of the rescuers on the scene."

The field of rubble is about 2.4 kilometres (1.5 miles) across and some four to six (15-20 feet) deep in areas, The Seattle Times reported.

Rescuers reported hearing voices calling for help on Saturday, but Hots told reporters that they "didn't see or hear any signs of life" on Sunday.

Snohomish County spokeswoman Shari Ireton told AFP: "We are able to confirm we know that 18 people who may have been in the area are unaccounted for. We do not have identification for those people that we are releasing at this time."

At the televised press conference, Hots would only say that the number was "fluid."

"There may be people in their cars, there may be people in their homes," he said.

John Pennington, head of the county Emergency Management department, said that rescuers will continue searching for survivors overnight Sunday to Monday.

"Resources are coming in that allow us to conduct night operations," Pennington said at the briefing. "There are boots that are on the ground that are really working to continue operations 24/7."

Six homes and much of a two-lane highway reaching the area were destroyed, while as many as 16 other homes were damaged, the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office said.

Washington state Governor Jay Inslee, who declared a state of emergency for the area, told reporters there is "a full-scale, 100-per cent, aggressive rescue effort" going on, adding that helicopters, hovercrafts and rescue personnel had rushed to the scene.

"There's no missing piece in this rescue effort," he said.

The muddy area was so unstable that some rescue workers "went in and got caught literally up to their armpits" and had to be pulled out themselves, Inslee said.

People injured in the landslide include a six-month old infant and an 81 year-old man.

"It sounded like a freight train," landslide witness Dan Young told Komo4News. "In just 35 to 45 seconds it was over." Young's home survived but is flooded.

Rain has been especially heavy in the Cascade Mountains region in the past weeks. While there was a break on Sunday, the forecast is for more heavy downpours throughout the week.

Authorities were keeping careful watch on a nearby dam, over fears pressure from the flooded river behind it could wash it away, inundating downriver communities.

Patty Murray, who represents Washington in the US Senate, gave assurances that federal resources would be made available, as she offered thanks to rescue workers and her prayers to the families of the ravaged community.

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Dump financial advice changes: Labor

LABOR has demanded Prime Minister Tony Abbott take a controversial rollback of financial advice laws out of the deep freeze and put it on the scrap heap.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann says the government has put the changes on ice temporarily until he undertakes further consultation with stakeholders.

"We remain committed to implement the improvements to (Future of Financial Advice laws) which we took to the last election as soon as possible," the minister told AAP on Monday.

Senator Cormann took charge of the issue after Assistant Treasurer Arthur Sinodinos stepped down last week pending his appearance as a witness before two anti-corruption inquiries in NSW.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said the government had been deaf to the concerns of industry experts, consumer advocates and previous victims of dodgy financial practices.

"The prime minister should dump these changes just like he's dumped its champion Arthur Sinodinos," he said.

"This has been a nightmare from the start."

The proposed changes have divided the industry, with the Financial Planning Association strongly opposing the payment of commissions under the general advice exemption proposed by the government.

It described the change as a retrograde step that would open the door to mis-selling and inappropriate advice.

Senator Cormann there was some misinformation about the changes and some was deliberate and mischievous.

"We are not proposing to get rid of the requirement that financial advisers act in the best interest of their clients," he said.

Nor was the government proposing to reintroduce commissions or other conflicted remuneration structures for financial advisers providing personal advice.

Senator Cormann said Labor's laws had cost the industry in excess of $1 billion, with ongoing annual costs of more than $350 million.

Industry Super Australia chief executive David Whiteley said the freeze was a timely circuit breaker and a victory for common sense.

He said gaining industry consensus on the regulation of financial advice will ultimately boost consumer confidence.

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