Helping homeless cheaper than courts

PLACING the homeless in permanent accommodation with access to a case manager is much cheaper than having people go through court.

It would cost $2172 a year to house the homeless at a long-term address compared with $8719 if they went through the justice system, a study of homeless people in Brisbane found.

The "housing first" philosophy of placing the most at-risk in permanent accommodation debuted in 2010, as part of the former Rudd government's social housing partnership between Canberra and the states.

Before then, homeless people were mainly placed in short-term, crisis accommodation.

The three-year study followed five woman and seven men who had lived on the streets for an average of eight years and had experienced abuse, neglect and family breakdown.

Longer-term housing had kept all of them off the streets.

Karyn Walsh, the co-ordinator of the Micah Projects welfare group behind the report, said longer-term accommodation was more effective at helping people change their behaviour.

"For people who do have significant and complex needs, having their own place is a foundation to change," she said.

"People don't have to move every year or every two years."

Launching the report, Queensland Housing Minister Tim Mander said he hoped the policy would survive any government budget cuts.

"We want to make sure that ... concept can be continually promoted and funded, hopefully, as we try to constantly balance the books," he said.

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Accused container death couple in custody

A COUPLE accused of the manslaughter of an elderly woman who allegedly lived in a freezing shipping container are in custody in Hobart.

Michael and Jassy Anglin, of Cairns in Queensland, have appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court over the death of Ms Anglin's 77-year-old mother, Janet Mackozdi, in 2010.

They did not apply for bail but signalled they would do so when lawyers had had more time to consider their case.

Prosecutors will oppose the application on the grounds the couple are a flight risk.

Michael Anglin, aged 55, and wife Jassy, 52, will reappear in court on Monday.

They arrived in Hobart on Friday after being extradited from Queensland.

Police allege culpable negligence because adequate shelter was not provided to Ms Mackozdi.

A Cairns court heard on Tuesday of an alleged plot by the couple that involved dressing the body and driving it to a hospital.

Staff there were told Ms Mackozdi had died on a car trip, the court heard.

An autopsy showed the death probably occurred because of hypothermia in temperatures as low as -3C in Tasmania's Derwent Valley.

The court heard Ms Mackozdi, who had the care needs of a three-year-old, was housed in a shipping container.

The Anglins relocated to Cairns for work and lifestyle reasons in 2010, the Cairns court heard.

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Investors want Woodside to look at shale

AS Woodside Petroleum hammers out a big offshore deal in the politically unstable Middle East, some shareholders have called on the company to drill for shale gas in its own backyard.

The Perth-based oil and gas producer has made a name for itself developing offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in Western Australia, and it is now eager to cement a lucrative long term project in Israel.

But some believe the company should look to unconventional areas, such as the onshore Canning Basin in Western Australia, after the success of the shale gas boom in the United States.

Chief executive Peter Coleman said Woodside's deepwater and sub-sea capabilities were its major strength, and any move to onshore shale would likely involve dedicated unconventional gas players.

"We haven't ruled shale gas out," Mr Coleman told the company's recent annual general meeting.

"We've always said we'll look at all sources of hydrocarbon, and what we need to do is decide whether we've got the capability to go after that.

"Anyone who ignores the shale gas revolution that's happening globally does it at their own peril."

He also acknowledged it could take years before Woodside established itself as a shale gas player.

"We're not chasing what everyone else is doing," Mr Coleman said.

Woodside is yet to commit any serious money to its Leviathan project in Israel, as it needs to finalise tax issues and hold talks with joint venture partners.

It has also left the door open to develop the Sunrise project near East Timor, and is weighing up options in Myanmar, Canada and Ireland.

Mr Coleman said Woodside was also looking at opportunities to boost its oil production, from 10 per cent of the company's portfolio.

He pointed to the company's increased willingness to partner with substantial players, such as Noble Energy in Israel, and BG in Myanmar.

"As you extend that to unconventionals we'll be looking for opportunities with partners who have those particular capabilities as well," Mr Coleman said.

By his own reckoning, relationships with partners require a lot of work, especially after Woodside held off signing a contract which would have sealed a $US2.7 billion deal for a stake in Leviathan.

"Going into Israel on March 27 with a view that we were going to finalise the agreements and then not being able to do that was a very very hard decision," he said.

Mr Coleman believes the company is in a strong position in Myanmar, with the recent awarding of offshore exploration territory.

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Business gives tick to audit report

THE national commission of audit's roadmap to balancing the budget has won qualified support from big business.

The AIG, which represents more than 60,000 businesses, welcomed proposals to improve performance of organisations in the public sector and defence, the broad directions on transfer payment arrangements and incentives to encourage greater workforce participation.

But more work was needed on the commission's proposals related to the decentralisation of vocational education and training, and proposals on innovation were not firmly founded.

Also, the commission's approach to programs aimed at building up small and medium businesses did not adequately reflect the value of Australia's Enterprise Connect and Export Market Development Grants programs, the AIG said.

"The Commission of Audit report released today presents an ambitious agenda to restore the strength of Australia's public finances and to secure a disciplined approach to fiscal policy into the future," AIG chief executive Innes Willox said on Thursday.

"Ai Group shares the commission's view that it is critical that as a community, we debate and deal with the particular long term challenges of our demographic outlook and our rapidly growing health expenditure."

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) said it would take time for business to absorb the report, which looked like "a bold and comprehensive step in the right direction".

"The federal Labor opposition and Greens, in particular, must demonstrate leadership in supporting necessary steps to repair the massive debt and deficits they left during the last government," ACCI chief operating officer John Osborn said.

He said business hoped to see the substance of the commission's work reflected in federal government budgets over the next 10 years.

CPA Australia, which represents certified practising accountants in Australia, said the audit report was an important step in identifying areas putting pressure on the budget.

But by itself a narrow focus on spending would not overcome future economic and social challenges.

PA chief executive Alex Malley said the audit report should stimulate discussion about what Australia should look like in the future and what would drive economic growth.

That discussion should include issues such as the GST, the retirement of inefficient taxes and broader tax reform.

The Financial Services Council (FSC) commended the commission's recommendation to tighten the link between superannuation and eligibility for the age pension.

"It is critical that the increased life expectancy of Australians is the driver for age pension and superannuation policy, so future generations of taxpayers are not burdened with the cost of retirement."

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ANZ shares fall despite record profit

ANZ has lifted its first half cash profit 11 per cent following solid growth across its divisions. Source: AAP

ANZ chief executive Mike Smith has attacked the current and former federal governments while slamming a proposed tax hike to cut the budget deficit.

Speaking while unveiling the bank's record $3.5 billion half year profit, he said the Abbott government's so-called deficit tax would upset Australians and damage fragile business confidence.

He also blamed the previous Labor government for inflicting deep wounds to business confidence and said the sector was taking longer to recover than expected.

Treasurer Joe Hockey is yet to confirm the new tax but said on Thursday the budget had to be made "fit for the future" as the commission of audit's $70 billion in proposed public savings were released.

Mr Smith said while he thought the overall economy was in good shape there was excessive caution among businesses.

"It is a worry with some of these suggestions around increasing tax, that is quite clearly not going to stimulate that confidence," he told reporters.

"If you are trying to encourage an entrepreneurial society and trying to encourage successful small businesses, the last thing you should be doing is taxing them more."

Such reforms were band-aid solutions, when the budget focus should include structural reforms that tackle "cost problems" for businesses, Mr Smith said.

ANZ's profit rose 11 per cent in the six months to March 31 from a year ago and was slightly higher than expected.

The nation's fourth largest lender also increased its fully franked interim dividend by 10 cents to 83 cents a share, beating market expectations.

ANZ shares opened higher but closed 40 cents, or 1.2 per cent, lower at $34.07.

That was attributed by investors to a run in the banks' share price of late and a lack of upside surprises in the result.

Caution in the business community along with low interest rates translated to the bank's lowest bad debt provisions since 2008, with less cases of borrowers unable to meet mortgage repayments.

The bank achieved loan growth of 12 per cent, customer deposits of 13 per cent and 110,000 net new customers were added.

The bank's Asian push was regarded as underpinning the improved profit result, with ANZ having hit a target for the region to contribute 25 per cent of profits - three years earlier than the aim of 2017.

"What is particularly pleasing is the diversification this strategy provides is delivering a better bank for customers, and indeed a better bank for shareholders," Mr Smith said.

Morningstar analyst David Ellis said the increasing income out of Asia also reduced the bank's exposure to the low margins of Australia's competitive low interest rate environment.

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'Elijah not dangerous when shot': inquest

THE family of a mentally ill young man fatally shot by a policeman in a country NSW shopping strip has called for criminal proceedings to be launched against the officer.

Five years after Elijah Holcombe, 24, was shot in the middle of an Armidale shopping zone, a long-running inquest into his death has concluded he died as a result of a police officer's actions.

NSW coroner Mary Jerram said Senior Constable Andrew Rich should never have pursued the 24-year-old student on June 2, 2009.

Mr Holcombe, who suffered from delusional paranoia, had voluntarily attended Armidale Hospital that morning but checked himself out.

The plain-clothes officer had been sent to find the Holcombe family car, which Mr Holcombe had taken.

But when Sen Const Rich approached the student, he turned and fled, running through a cafe and grabbing a serrated bread knife.

Sen Const Rich followed him into a laneway and shot Mr Holcombe in the chest.

The police officer said he thought the young man was a risk to himself and others.

However, no one described feeling threatened by, or frightened, of him.

Witnesses said the knife Mr Holcombe was carrying was "dangling from his hand, never raised or pointed".

Outside court on Thursday, Mr Holcombe's father Jeremy said Sen Const Rich should take responsibility for his son's death.

"Very bad things can happen to good people," he said.

"The allegation that Elijah had to be destroyed in order to protect the safety of another person has never been accepted by those who knew him best.

"We respectfully ask the Director of Public Prosecutions to reconsider this matter for criminal proceedings."

The coroner said Sen Const Rich's description of Mr Holcombe as "aggressive" was inconsistent with evidence from other officers who had been in contact with him.

"I do not accept that it was in fact how Elijah was," Ms Jerram said.

"Constable Rich had no basis for shooting, chasing or arresting Elijah.

"Even if he did say, 'shoot me, shoot me' - it was not an invitation."

In August last year, the DPP declined proceedings, saying the case for self-defence was too strong.

Their decision came 16 months after the coroner halted the inquest in 2010 and referred the case to them.

The Holcombes' legal representative Phillip Stewart said the family did not understand why the police officer had never been prosecuted.

"There is absolutely nothing in today's findings that condemns anything Elijah did," Mr Stewart said.

"The same cannot be said for Constable Rich."

The DPP declined to comment on the Holcombe family's request.

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Gold stars at refurbished Perth Mint

THE biggest, heaviest and most valuable coin in the world is the centrepiece of a new permanent exhibition at the refurbished Perth Mint.

The colossal coin is one tonne of 99.99 per cent pure gold, worth more than $50 million.

Measuring 80 centimetres in diameter and more than 12cm deep, it depicts a red kangaroo surrounded by rays of sunlight.

And it sits atop its very own vault, which swallows it up each night when the mint closes.

West Australian Premier Colin Barnett said the coin would be a big drawcard for the Mint, which has undergone a $5.5 million redevelopment in two stages, the biggest revamp it has had since it was founded 115 years ago.

Mr Barnett said he expected visitor numbers, which already nudge 80,000 a year, would rise dramatically.

The coin was recently exhibited around the world and has increased already strong sales of bullion coins from the Mint.

"It achieved its objective - we are selling more gold bullion coins," chief executive Ed Harbuz said.

Also on display at the mint are massive gold nuggets, including the world's second biggest, Newmont's Normandy nugget.

Perth Mint was established as a branch of Britain's Royal Mint in 1899.

Its primary functions of refining gold from WA's eastern goldfields and striking gold coinage continues today but at its refinery near Perth Airport, with precious metal coins struck onsite at the Mint.

The Mint also issues Australia's official bullion and commemorative coins.

In 2012/13, it refined more than 300 tonnes of precious metals, reported close to $3 billion worth of holdings in its depository, and sold 4.3 million gold, silver and platinum coins.

It is one of only four mints in the world that produces bullion coins.

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Eat wild mushrooms and risk death

A fourth Canberra resident has been poisoned after eating a Death Cap mushroom. Source: AAP

DON'T pick and eat wild mushrooms in the ACT at this time of year or you risk death.

The ACT chief health officer's warning follows a fourth case of death cap mushroom poisoning this weekend, after three from a shared meal of mushrooms.

Paul Kelly said the latest patient was in Canberra Hospital after eating wild mushrooms.

The other three remain in hospital, two of whom are in Sydney.

Dr Kelly said these mushrooms were so toxic that just 5g - enough to fill a teaspoon - was sufficient to cause fatal liver damage.

At first, it was suggested mushrooms responsible for the first three cases came from Woolworths.

But Dr Kelly said it was conclusively proved they did not.

Death caps are native to Europe but have spread around the world, with populations found in Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide. In the ACT, death caps are found near oak trees.

In Canberra in 2012, a man and a woman died and two others were poisoned but recovered after a meal containing the mushrooms.

The ACT has recorded 16 poisonings and four deaths in the past 15 years.

Dr Kelly said the mature death cap was readily recognisable. But young death caps resemble edible varieties found in Asia.

"The reality is these mushrooms pop up like mushrooms. They are there. Every mushroom has millions of spores and every one of those spores can lead to a new mushroom," he said.

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Hit-and-run victim could be brain-damaged

A man is in hospital in critical condition after a suspected hit-and-run incident in Sydney's east. Source: AAP

A SKATEBOARDER could be permanently brain-damaged after being injured in a suspected hit and run in Sydney's east.

The 26-year-old man was hit by a car while skating home down a steep, wet Bronte street in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

About half an hour later, a suspect was stopped by police in Chatswood.

He was questioned for 12 hours, but released after being charged with drug offences.

Forensic specialists are examining his car, which had signs of damage.

The skateboarder was found lying unconscious in the middle of the road by a passing motorist and was treated by paramedics before being taken to St Vincent's Hospital, where he remains in a critical condition with head injuries.

The man's brother was by his side in hospital throughout Wednesday and has been trying to contact their mother, who is overseas, Network Ten reports.

Bob Tate manages the Sydney pub where the man works and said his staff were devastated.

"You wouldn't think that these sort of things would happen," he told Network Ten.

"(He's) well humoured, the life of the party. It's a very sad situation."

Local resident Antonia Stocken said cars speed up and down the road, especially in the early morning.

"Generally, it's busy," she said.

"Cars can really hurtle up and down here really fast."

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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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