Coles sales figures fail to impress

Shares in Wesfarmers have fallen following the release of March quarter sales figures. Source: AAP

SHARES in retail group Wesfarmers dropped more than two per cent after the Coles supermarket owner's latest sales fell short of investor expectations.

Sales from Coles supermarkets and liquor stores rose 3.9 per cent during the March quarter to $6.7 billion.

And it was a mixed quarter for Wesfarmer's other retail businesses, with strong results from Bunnings and Officeworks offsetting weakness at Target and Kmart.

IG market strategist Evan Lucas said the sales figures were not enough to meet market expectations after several years of strong growth.

"It was a very stock-standard Wesfarmers result," he said.

"The result was still good, but it wasn't enough to drive it (Wesfarmers) to that all-time record high."

Wesfarmers shares fell 88 cents, or 2.01 per cent, to close at $43.01 after the company's latest quarterly figures were released on Tuesday.

The stock has recently been trading around the record high of $44.60 it reached in November 2013.

CMC chief market analyst Ric Spooner said the slide in the share price came after several weeks of gains and probably reflected unrealistic expectations from investors.

"I'd characterise it more in terms of the market having set a really high bar," he said.

"So it might reflect a marginal disappointment but I don't think there are really any serious concerns," he said.

Bunnings lifted sales more than 12 per cent to just over $2 billion during the quarter, while Officeworks recorded a near seven per cent rise in its sales.

But Kmart managed only a 0.4 per cent rise in sales and Target continued to struggle, with sales down 3.6 per cent.

Wesfarmers chief executive Richard Goyder said the weak performance from Target was partly the result of price reductions linked to efforts to turn around its performance.

Mr Goyder also said he was not worried about a possible slide in consumer spending following the federal budget in May.

Economists fear the Abbott government's first budget, which is expected to include spending cuts and higher taxes, will lead consumers to tighten their purse strings.

"One of the things that attracted us to Coles was the fact that through different phases of an economic cycle the food business is pretty resilient," Mr Goyder told reporters.

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School gun thief suspect remains locked up

A MAN charged with stealing several rifles and shotguns from a Brisbane Catholic school will remain behind bars as police try to track down the weapons.

Jason Francis Williams, 43, was remanded in custody after he appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Williams and a 27-year-old woman have been charged with breaking into a high-security building at St Joseph's Nudgee College and removing about 10 firearms.

A large amount of ammunition was also stolen during the heist on Sunday night.

The weapons belonged to a student gun club that's operated at the north Brisbane boys' school for more than a century.

Police arrested Williams and his friend Cristle Ten-Bohmer after finding one of the shotguns and most of the ammunition in the boot of their car.

The rest of the guns are still missing.

Ten-Bohmer was denied bail when she faced court on Monday charged with weapons and property offences.

Williams is charged with similar offences and both cases have been adjourned for several weeks.

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Plane catches fire at Perth Airport

A plane has made an emergency landing in Perth after flames were spotted coming from its engine. Source: AAP

A PLANE has made an emergency landing at Perth Airport after a suspected engine fire erupted shortly after take-off.

The Cobham Aviation flight landed safely after the mid-air incident on Tuesday, a Perth Airport spokeswoman confirmed.

Witnesses have reported seeing the flames coming from the right engine.

The Perth Airport website shows that a Cobham Aviation flight was scheduled to depart at 10.45am for Barrow Island.

Pictures have emerged on social media of a plane with an engine appearing to be on fire, but it has not been confirmed as the plane involved in the emergency.

The aircraft is currently being assessed at the airport.

Cobham operates aircraft on behalf of Qantas regional subsidiary QantasLink.

A spokesman for the regional carrier said a statement would be issued later on Tuesday.

Cobham Aviation Services said the engine fire occurred soon after take-off and that the four-engine BAE 146 jet was bound for Barrow Island.

A spokesman said the pilot and crew safely returned the jet to Perth Airport at 10.53am (WST).

"The aircraft was climbing after take-off when the fire occurred in engine No.2, which is on the inner port side of the aircraft," he said.

"When the fire was detected, the engine was shut down and the fire extinguished.

"There were no injuries among the 92 passengers or two pilots and three cabin crew."

The incident is being investigated and regulatory authorities have been informed, the spokesman says.

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NSW Liberal donations under ICAC spotlight

A fresh corruption inquiry will expose how NSW Liberal figures flouted electoral funding rules. Source: AAP

NSW Liberal figures used a sham company to secretly funnel more than $400,000 in donations to prospective MPs and associates in exchange for favours, a corruption inquiry has heard.

"This inquiry will expose the systematic subversion of the electoral funding laws of NSW," counsel assisting Geoffrey Watson told the Independent Commission Against Corruption as the Operation Spicer hearings began.

In the ICAC's sights are former NSW energy minister Chris Hartcher and former staffer Tim Koelma.

Mr Koelma's company EightByFive is said to have solicited illicit political donations and funded election campaigns for Central Coast MPs Darren Webber and Chris Spence in return for favours from Mr Hartcher.

One-time mining magnate Nathan Tinkler's Buildev Group paid $66,000, the Gazal family's development firm Gazcorp paid $137,000, and the notorious Obeid-linked Australian Water Holdings (AWH) paid $137,000 for fake services invoiced by EightByFive, the inquiry has heard.

Mr Hartcher resigned from the front bench last year after ICAC investigators raided his office.

The inquiry comes on the heels of Operation Credo, which felled former NSW premier Barry O'Farrell.

The new probe has already threatened to draw in Police Minister Michael Gallacher and Energy Minister Anthony Roberts.

The inquiry has heard that Mr Roberts may have joined Mr Hartcher as a guest on Nabil Gazal's yacht, which came replete with private chef, and in 2007 sailed to Hamilton Island, the luxury resort island in Queensland's Whitsundays.

The inquiry has heard Liberal MP Marie Ficarra took a banned $5000 donation from property developer Tony Merhi.

Operation Spicer will also examine a false corruption complaint levelled against former Sydney Water managing director Kerry Schott.

The ICAC has heard Mr Koelma's brother Eric made an anonymous complaint against Dr Schott - which later proved to be baseless - because she was seen as a stumbling block in EightByFive donor AWH's bid to secure a lucrative government deal.

Mr Watson said Eric Koelma made a complaint involving allegations of "cover-ups" and "jobs for the boys", which were included in a document sent to him by his brother.

"No, it was not done to disguise (Tim Koelma's) hand in this - he says he sent it on to Eric because his printer had run out of toner," Mr Watson said.

The first witness will appear on Monday afternoon.

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Tornadoes kill at least 12 in US

Officials say a tornado has killed at least two people and destroyed buildings in Oklahoma. Source: AAP

A TORNADO system that ripped through the central United States has left at least 12 people dead in a violent start to this year's storm season, officials say.

Matt DeCample, a spokesman for Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe, said 11 in his state were killed on Sunday when a tornado carved through several suburbs of Little Rock. A separate tornado from the same storm system killed one person in Oklahoma.

The large tornado outside Little Rock stayed on the ground as it moved northeastward for at least 48km.

Emergency workers and volunteers went door-to-door to look for victims. Law enforcement officers checked the damaged and toppled 18-wheelers, cars and trucks on a stretch of Interstate 40, a major thoroughfare in and out of the state's capital.

"It turned pitch black," said Mark Ausbrooks, who was at his parents' home when the storm arrived. "I ran and got pillows to put over our heads and ... all hell broke loose."

"My parents' home, it's gone completely," he said.

Tornadoes also touched down in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas, where dozens of homes in Baxter Springs were destroyed. Twenty-five people were injured and one person died, but it wasn't clear if the death was related to the storm, said Kari West, a spokeswoman for the Southeast Kansas Incident Management Team.

Forecasters had warned for days that violent weather would strike over the weekend.

In Arkansas, Pulaski County Sheriff's Lieutenant Carl Minden said three people were killed when a tornado destroyed a home west of Little Rock. Minden said several others were injured at the scene.

"I'm standing on the foundation of the house now. It's totally gone," Minden said.

In the Oklahoma town of Quapaw one person was killed.

Ottawa County Emergency Management director Joe Dan Morgan said Quapaw, which has about 900 residents, was heavily damaged.

"Looks like about half of town got extensive damage as well as the fire department," he said.

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Pair charged over spear gun attack

TWO people have been charged after a man was punched, almost run down and chased along a Gold Coast road before a spear gun was fired at his car.

The drama began when a fight broke out at a shopping centre car park at Labrador on Sunday morning.

Police say a man punched the victim in the face before a woman, who was waiting in a car, tried to run him over.

The victim left the scene in his vehicle but was followed by the man and the woman, who fired a spear gun at the fleeing car, hurled a crow bar at it, and then rammed it, causing the windows to shatter.

The victim pulled over and called police.

A 32-year-old man has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, dangerous operation of a vehicle, dangerous conduct with a weapon and wilful damage.

A 27-year-old woman has been charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle, dangerous conduct with a weapon and wilful damage.

Both are expected to appear at the Southport Magistrates Court on Monday.

Police said they did not suspect any link to bikie gang activity at this stage.

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Palmer trying to buy govt in NT: Giles

Federal MP Clive Palmer has induced three rebel Northern Territory MPs to join his political party. Source: AAP

CLIVE Palmer has been accused of buying his way into Northern Territory politics after three indigenous MPs joined his party a month after walking out on the Giles government.

The Palmer United Party founder declared that Alison Anderson would be chief minister after the next territory election, after announcing that she, Larissa Lee and Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu were now part of the Palmer United Party (PUP).

The three MPs quit the ruling Country Liberal Party at the beginning of April as a result of a rift between Ms Anderson and Chief Minister Adam Giles, saying they wanted to create their own regional political party.

But on Sunday they revealed they had joined the Palmer United fold, with Ms Anderson to be the party's leader in the territory.

Mr Palmer said on Sunday the trio had approached the PUP, not the other way around.

He said his party were in discussions with other territory parliamentarians, and expected them to join the PUP in the next few weeks.

"I think she'll (Ms Anderson) be the chief minister after the next election," Mr Palmer told ABC Television.

"That government is falling apart, it's not really got a good future."

But Mr Giles said the multi-billionaire miner was trying to "buy government" in the NT, and was not concerned that other members of the CLP could join Mr Palmer's party.

"Clive can try and throw his money around as much as he wants but I can tell you the members of the CLP, the Country Liberals, are not for sale, the Northern Territory's not for sale," he told Sky News.

"And we won't stand up for any of these bullyboy tactics by some rich bloke from the Gold Coast."

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman joined in the criticism of the former Liberal National Party member, saying questions needed to be asked about what cash, jobs and financial support Mr Palmer had offered the three MPs.

Ms Anderson defended her defection, describing the PUP as "the new force in Australian politics".

Asked what was in the PUP deal for the three NT MPs, she said: "I think it gives us comfort, it gives us stability, it gives us a home".

"He's welcomed us, and said that you can come on board with his party, and we're happy to do that," she told ABC Television.

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We'll be fair in tough May budget: Abbott

PM Tony Abbott has refused to comment on reports his government may soon introduce a debt levy. Source: AAP

TONY Abbott has promised to be fair and equitable when meting out some of the tougher measures in the May budget.

However, the prime minister has refused to comment on reports he is considering a debt levy to tackle the deficit.

Mr Abbott said the government wouldn't "squib the challenge" of fixing the budget, when asked if the coalition would soon introduce what Labor has dubbed a "deceit tax".

Based on the Queensland flood levy, News Corporation on Sunday said a "one off" impost on high income earners would be a feature of Treasurer Joe Hockey's May budget.

Mr Abbott repeated his well-worn mantra that he would not rule anything in or out of the May 13 budget when asked about the latest speculation.

But he said the coalition had committed to fixing the "fiscal disaster" left by the Labor government.

"Now we are going to do it in ways which are faithful to the commitments that we made to the Australian people," the prime minister said on Sunday.

"We will do it in ways which are fair, which are equitable, and which I believe will be seen to be fair by the Australian people."

Labor says the levy would breach a pre-election pledge not to impose new taxes on the Australian public.

"Make no mistake, this will be the biggest broken promise of all," shadow treasurer Chris Bowen said.

"Tony Abbott told the Australian people he would cut taxes and he specifically said he would introduce no new taxes."

Mr Bowen accused Mr Hockey of creating a "conflated budget emergency".

"But that doesn't justify a tax on Australian families who would pay the cost for this breach of promise from Tony Abbott," he said.

But Mr Abbott said the government would keep its election commitments.

"A very important commitment was to get the budget back on track to a sustainable surplus, but we will do that in ways which keep faith with our commitments to the Australian people in the election campaign," he said.

The levy is the latest unpopular measure mooted to be in Mr Hockey's first budget.

Since the beginning of the year the government has been forced to fend off concerns it may introduce a GP co-payment.

Last week the treasurer said an increase in the pension age was an "inevitability", but stopped short of confirming the budget will lift it to 70.

Clive Palmer on Sunday said he wouldn't support lifting the pension age, when the Palmer United Party along with other crossbenchers hold the balance of power in the Senate.

"I just couldn't employ Joe Hockey or Tony Abbott at 69, no matter how competent they are," Mr Palmer told ABC Television.

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Search zone for MH370 broadened

The search zone for MH370 has been expanded after an underwater drone found nothing of interest. Source: AAP

THE search area for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight has been expanded after the Bluefin-21 underwater drone found no trace of the passenger jet.

The automated underwater vehicle (AUV) has completed sidescan sonar work in a narrowed-down circular zone 10km in radius, 1584km north west of Perth, which centred on an acoustic ping detected on April 8.

Other man-made acoustic signals were picked up in the vicinity on April 5.

Now on its 15th mission, the Bluefin-21 is combing adjacent areas, the Joint Agency Co-ordination Centre said in a statement on Sunday.

Due to deteriorating weather conditions, the air and surface search for floating debris has been suspended for the day.

On Friday, the AUV was forced to resurface after a software issue that required re-setting.

Last week, Malaysia's Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said more sophisticated and expensive technology would be needed if the Bluefin-21 came up with nothing.

The next phase of the search would require probably submersibles that would be very, very expensive and probably more Bluefin-21s, he said. MH370 vanished en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8 with 239 people on board.

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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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