World's worst cruise ships revealed in online survey
By Kate Schneider
NEWS.com.au
February 09, 2009
Travel Australia
Named and shamed ... cruise ship MSC Musica launched in Italy
THE world's worst-performing cruise ships have been named and shamed in an online survey, with major companies coming under fire.
Two Italian cruise companies fared the worst in the survey, conducted by www.cruises.co.uk.
The independent cruise agent collated the results from more than 12,000 passenger assessments.
Passengers rated their cruise under seven categories – food, entertainment, shore excursions, staff, provision for children, activities and cabins.
Of the major cruise lines, MSC, an Italian company, was voted the worst, achieving an average of 2.83 out of five, with a lack of activities and children’s entertainment the prime offenders in it receiving the title of the worst-performing cruise ship.
Costa Cruises, another Italian company, scored an average rating of 3.25 from 300 reviews with passengers slamming the onboard activities.
In brighter news, Oceania’s Insignia won three awards, while P&O’s family ship Ventura, landed in the top five for best for families.
How they rated (worst to best):
1. MSC Cruises 2.83
2. Costa Cruises 3.25
3. NCL Cruises 3.56
4. Fred Olsen 3.90
5. Celebrity Cruises 3.93
6. P&O Cruises 3.93
7. Thomson Cruises 4.06
8. Princess Cruises 4.08
9. Royal Caribbean 4.15
10. Cunard 4.36
Monday, February 9, 2009
Chris Brown charged with reportedly assaulting Rihanna
Chris Brown charged with reportedly assaulting Rihanna
By Dan Whitcomb
Reuters
February 10, 2009
DVDs Australia
SINGER Chris Brown was yesterday arrested and charged with making criminal threats against a woman widely thought to be his famous girlfriend Rihanna.
The alleged assault came just hours before the pair were due to appear at the Grammy awards.
Both were nominated and scheduled to perform but separately dropped out at the last minute, leaving a huge hole in the awards telecast.
As the show was getting underway, Brown turned himself in for questioning by Los Angeles police.
He was booked on a charge of making criminal threats and released on $US50,000 bail, according to police.
Brown was being investigated for alleged domestic violence felony battery, and additional charges could be filed after officials review the case.
Police said Brown got into an argument with a woman while sitting in a parked car in the LA's Hancock Park at around 12:30am on Sunday.
"After stopping his car, Brown and the woman got out and the argument escalated," the police said.
"The woman suffered visible injuries and identified Brown as her attacker."
Police received a 911 call reporting the disturbance and according to the statement, when officers arrived they found the victim, but Brown had already left the scene.
Rihanna cancelled her performance shortly before the Grammys started, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences said.
"We have just been informed that Rihanna will not be attending tonight's 51st Annual Grammy Awards," a spokesperson said.
"We're sorry she is unable to join us."
There was no further explanation for her absence.
Soul legend Al Green performed alongside pop star Justin Timberlake in Rihanna's place.
Grammy officials made no mention of Brown's performance but he did not appear on stage as scheduled.
By Dan Whitcomb
Reuters
February 10, 2009
DVDs Australia
SINGER Chris Brown was yesterday arrested and charged with making criminal threats against a woman widely thought to be his famous girlfriend Rihanna.
The alleged assault came just hours before the pair were due to appear at the Grammy awards.
Both were nominated and scheduled to perform but separately dropped out at the last minute, leaving a huge hole in the awards telecast.
As the show was getting underway, Brown turned himself in for questioning by Los Angeles police.
He was booked on a charge of making criminal threats and released on $US50,000 bail, according to police.
Brown was being investigated for alleged domestic violence felony battery, and additional charges could be filed after officials review the case.
Police said Brown got into an argument with a woman while sitting in a parked car in the LA's Hancock Park at around 12:30am on Sunday.
"After stopping his car, Brown and the woman got out and the argument escalated," the police said.
"The woman suffered visible injuries and identified Brown as her attacker."
Police received a 911 call reporting the disturbance and according to the statement, when officers arrived they found the victim, but Brown had already left the scene.
Rihanna cancelled her performance shortly before the Grammys started, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences said.
"We have just been informed that Rihanna will not be attending tonight's 51st Annual Grammy Awards," a spokesperson said.
"We're sorry she is unable to join us."
There was no further explanation for her absence.
Soul legend Al Green performed alongside pop star Justin Timberlake in Rihanna's place.
Grammy officials made no mention of Brown's performance but he did not appear on stage as scheduled.
Stiff response to sex toy mystery as dildos appear on rural road
Stiff response to sex toy mystery as dildos appear on rural road
By Nick CalaCouras
Northern Territory News
February 09, 2009
* 30 sex toys found in front of house
* Residents change name to 'Dildo Boulevard'
Australia Sex Toy
RESIDENTS in a rural area of Darwin have renamed their street "Dildo Boulevard" after 30 sex toys were found lying in front of a house on Friday morning.
Robert Johns and Laurelle Bates discovered the mysterious toys as they left for work in the morning.
"It's a real mystery. We have no idea where they came from," Ms Bates told The Northern Territory News.
"I know they aren't new. They look used."
Mr Johns said he counted the sex toys on Friday morning, and the number had decreased within 24 hours.
"Yeah, some of the bigger ones are gone," he said.
Many of the devices are still lying outside the Osbeck Rd home - most crushed under the wheels of passing cars.
Within hours of the sex toys appearing, a resident replaced the street sign - changing it to "Dildo Boulevard".
"I just cracked up. It was very entertaining," Ms Cappa said.
"I don't know where they came from. This is the strangest thing."
By Nick CalaCouras
Northern Territory News
February 09, 2009
* 30 sex toys found in front of house
* Residents change name to 'Dildo Boulevard'
Australia Sex Toy
RESIDENTS in a rural area of Darwin have renamed their street "Dildo Boulevard" after 30 sex toys were found lying in front of a house on Friday morning.
Robert Johns and Laurelle Bates discovered the mysterious toys as they left for work in the morning.
"It's a real mystery. We have no idea where they came from," Ms Bates told The Northern Territory News.
"I know they aren't new. They look used."
Mr Johns said he counted the sex toys on Friday morning, and the number had decreased within 24 hours.
"Yeah, some of the bigger ones are gone," he said.
Many of the devices are still lying outside the Osbeck Rd home - most crushed under the wheels of passing cars.
Within hours of the sex toys appearing, a resident replaced the street sign - changing it to "Dildo Boulevard".
"I just cracked up. It was very entertaining," Ms Cappa said.
"I don't know where they came from. This is the strangest thing."
Healesville on alert as Victoria's bushfires continue to rage
Healesville on alert as Victoria's bushfires continue to rage
NEWS.com.au
February 10, 2009
Insurance Australia
THE town of Healesville and more than a dozen other communities are on high alert from the raging Victoria fires.
Healesville were told this morning to watch for ember attacks. Fire authorities have urged residents in Yarra Glen, Chum Creek and Toolangi to be on alert, Melbourne's Herald Sun reported.
The communities of Acheron, Connellys Creek, Crystal Creek, Scrubby Creek, Native Dog Creek and Molesworth have been warned they may be directly impacted by the fire. It is also threatening communities in Rubicon, Thornton-Taggerty Rd, Bulls Ln and in Cathedral Ln to the east of Little River.
The fire is also burning near Glenburn and is threatening communities in Kalatha Creek Rd and east of Two Hills Rd near Glenburn.
Earlier, the Country Fire Authority (CFA) says southerly winds are expected to strengthen which will fan the fires that are continuing in the area.
"There's an urgent threat message out to the community there," said a spokesman.
"It's not critical but the fire is spotting around there so the community is asked to be very vigilant as the winds are moving around a bit and there are some strong southerlies coming in later today."
The CFA says residents in the vicinity of Dowd, Romeo, Anderson and Gibbs roads, Juliet Avenue and Donald Street may get heavy ember attack.
Department of Sustainability and Environment spokeswoman Nina Cullen said: "There was a water outage for Healesville residents (late yesterday) but that has since been rectified and water supply is back on.
"There hasn't been any reported losses at this point."
Meanwhile, the Beechworth blaze has burnt 30,000ha and continues to pose some threat to the communities of Dederang, Gundowring, Gundowring Upper, Kergunyah South, Glenn Creek and Running Creek.
Residents in those communities have been asked to enact their fire plans.
"At the Dederang area particularly during the day (yesterday), the fire significantly escalated," Ms Cullen said. "Work has occurred on the north side of that fire, and that activity has gone extremely well.
"There remains a few spot fires but the crews on the ground are working really hard and getting somewhere on that fire. The threat has now been downgraded."
The deadly Churchill-Jeeralang fire in Gippsland, which was threatening the township of Won Wron and remains out of control but has been downgraded.
NEWS.com.au
February 10, 2009
Insurance Australia
THE town of Healesville and more than a dozen other communities are on high alert from the raging Victoria fires.
Healesville were told this morning to watch for ember attacks. Fire authorities have urged residents in Yarra Glen, Chum Creek and Toolangi to be on alert, Melbourne's Herald Sun reported.
The communities of Acheron, Connellys Creek, Crystal Creek, Scrubby Creek, Native Dog Creek and Molesworth have been warned they may be directly impacted by the fire. It is also threatening communities in Rubicon, Thornton-Taggerty Rd, Bulls Ln and in Cathedral Ln to the east of Little River.
The fire is also burning near Glenburn and is threatening communities in Kalatha Creek Rd and east of Two Hills Rd near Glenburn.
Earlier, the Country Fire Authority (CFA) says southerly winds are expected to strengthen which will fan the fires that are continuing in the area.
"There's an urgent threat message out to the community there," said a spokesman.
"It's not critical but the fire is spotting around there so the community is asked to be very vigilant as the winds are moving around a bit and there are some strong southerlies coming in later today."
The CFA says residents in the vicinity of Dowd, Romeo, Anderson and Gibbs roads, Juliet Avenue and Donald Street may get heavy ember attack.
Department of Sustainability and Environment spokeswoman Nina Cullen said: "There was a water outage for Healesville residents (late yesterday) but that has since been rectified and water supply is back on.
"There hasn't been any reported losses at this point."
Meanwhile, the Beechworth blaze has burnt 30,000ha and continues to pose some threat to the communities of Dederang, Gundowring, Gundowring Upper, Kergunyah South, Glenn Creek and Running Creek.
Residents in those communities have been asked to enact their fire plans.
"At the Dederang area particularly during the day (yesterday), the fire significantly escalated," Ms Cullen said. "Work has occurred on the north side of that fire, and that activity has gone extremely well.
"There remains a few spot fires but the crews on the ground are working really hard and getting somewhere on that fire. The threat has now been downgraded."
The deadly Churchill-Jeeralang fire in Gippsland, which was threatening the township of Won Wron and remains out of control but has been downgraded.
Kevin Rudd's $950 payments to be blown on pokies, plasmas, economists warn
Kevin Rudd's $950 payments to be blown on pokies, plasmas, economists warn
By Cathy Alexander and Colin Brinsden
AAP
February 10, 2009
* Economists raise concerns about handouts
* "Will be spent on plasma TVs, pokies"
* Tax cuts or a GST holiday a better idea
Australian Legal Law
ECONOMISTS have raised concerns the Federal Government's cash handouts to millions of people will be blown on pokies and plasma televisions.
The Government wants to give payments of up to $950 to individuals as part of its $42 billion economic rescue package.
But economists have told a Senate inquiry that $42 billion is too much money, and the handouts would be wasted.
Reserve Bank board member Warwick McKibbin called for the payments to be scrapped.
"A cash payment ... only has the potential to temporarily stimulate demand and has no long-run benefits to the economy," Professor McKibbin told the inquiry last night.
He said it would be better to bring forward tax cuts or temporarily cut the GST.
Professor McKibbin, who said his remarks reflected his own views and not those of the Reserve Bank, said the $42 billion package was "too large".
Sinclair Davidson, professor of economics at RMIT, slammed the handouts.
"Do we believe that Australians have not been borrowing and spending enough on alcohol, pokies and tobacco, and that there aren't enough plasma televisions around?" he asked the inquiry.
"This particular package has got a very low bang for buck, and there are certainly (a) substantial amount of bucks involved in the project."
Prof Davidson said tax cuts or a "GST holiday" would be a better way to stimulate the economy.
The opposition will vote against the plan, so the Government needs the support of the Greens and two cross-bench senators to get it through the Senate.
Ominously for the Government, cross-bench senators aired a litany of concerns about the cash hand-outs at the inquiry, which is due to wrap up today.
Family First senator Steve Fielding raised the case of a doctor earning $300,000 a year who did not think his family should reap thousands of dollars from the package.
"There's a lot of people that are contacting me saying they don't actually need the money, they'll take it but they don't need it," Senator Fielding told the inquiry.
"There's something wrong here, there's something horribly wrong".
The Greens took aim at the fact that people earning more than $80,000 would get a payment, saying it seemed like every player would win a prize.
Richard Evans, executive director of the Australian Retailers' Association (ARA), said much of the last round of cash hand-outs was used to pay off debt.
"Indeed, there is something uncomfortable to us about taxpayer funds being used to reduce credit card debt," he told the inquiry.
The ARA is recommending a voucher system, redeemable at retail outlets.
Accountants told the inquiry that bringing forward tax cuts would be a better way to boost consumption.
The Senate inquiry is due to hand down its findings tomorrow night, and the Senate to vote on the stimulus package on Thursday night.
By Cathy Alexander and Colin Brinsden
AAP
February 10, 2009
* Economists raise concerns about handouts
* "Will be spent on plasma TVs, pokies"
* Tax cuts or a GST holiday a better idea
Australian Legal Law
ECONOMISTS have raised concerns the Federal Government's cash handouts to millions of people will be blown on pokies and plasma televisions.
The Government wants to give payments of up to $950 to individuals as part of its $42 billion economic rescue package.
But economists have told a Senate inquiry that $42 billion is too much money, and the handouts would be wasted.
Reserve Bank board member Warwick McKibbin called for the payments to be scrapped.
"A cash payment ... only has the potential to temporarily stimulate demand and has no long-run benefits to the economy," Professor McKibbin told the inquiry last night.
He said it would be better to bring forward tax cuts or temporarily cut the GST.
Professor McKibbin, who said his remarks reflected his own views and not those of the Reserve Bank, said the $42 billion package was "too large".
Sinclair Davidson, professor of economics at RMIT, slammed the handouts.
"Do we believe that Australians have not been borrowing and spending enough on alcohol, pokies and tobacco, and that there aren't enough plasma televisions around?" he asked the inquiry.
"This particular package has got a very low bang for buck, and there are certainly (a) substantial amount of bucks involved in the project."
Prof Davidson said tax cuts or a "GST holiday" would be a better way to stimulate the economy.
The opposition will vote against the plan, so the Government needs the support of the Greens and two cross-bench senators to get it through the Senate.
Ominously for the Government, cross-bench senators aired a litany of concerns about the cash hand-outs at the inquiry, which is due to wrap up today.
Family First senator Steve Fielding raised the case of a doctor earning $300,000 a year who did not think his family should reap thousands of dollars from the package.
"There's a lot of people that are contacting me saying they don't actually need the money, they'll take it but they don't need it," Senator Fielding told the inquiry.
"There's something wrong here, there's something horribly wrong".
The Greens took aim at the fact that people earning more than $80,000 would get a payment, saying it seemed like every player would win a prize.
Richard Evans, executive director of the Australian Retailers' Association (ARA), said much of the last round of cash hand-outs was used to pay off debt.
"Indeed, there is something uncomfortable to us about taxpayer funds being used to reduce credit card debt," he told the inquiry.
The ARA is recommending a voucher system, redeemable at retail outlets.
Accountants told the inquiry that bringing forward tax cuts would be a better way to boost consumption.
The Senate inquiry is due to hand down its findings tomorrow night, and the Senate to vote on the stimulus package on Thursday night.
Police close in on arsonist responsible for Churchill fires in Victoria
Police close in on arsonist responsible for Churchill fires in Victoria
NEWS.com.au
February 10, 2009
Insurance Australia
POLICE are hunting down the arsonist believed to have been responsible for lighting the worst of the Victoria fires.
Police have confirmed that they believe they know the identity of the man who allegedly contributed to the Churchill-Jeeralang blaze in Gippsland. Twenty-one people have died in that region.
But the Country Fire Authority said the firefront could have included towns further north, including Kinglake, St Andrews and Strathewen, where dozens more died in the firestorm.
It's expected police will release an image in the next couple of days of a man sought for questioning over the fires.
"We'll soon be in a position to provide face images of people we believe responsible," Morwell Detective Sergeant Brett Kahan said.
Deputy police commissioner Kieran Walshe has refused to confirm reports police have been given a video tape to help their investigation but she told ABC Television they're confident they're making progress.
Task Force Phoenix has been established to lead the investigation with 100 police looking into all fire-related deaths.
The task force will be headed by Crime Department Assistant Commissioner Dannye Moloney who was involved in similar investigations during the 1983 Ash Wednesday bush fires.
Fire criminologist Dr Damon Muller said more than one arsonist would have been responsible for the Victorian fires.
He said the number of fires burning in the state - up to 400 over the weekend - pointed to multiple arsonists.
"It would be surprising if some of them were not deliberately lit, just by virtue of the significant number," Dr Muller said.
Profiling an arsonist is as difficult as controlling the fires they start, according to psychologists. But in general they are likely to be male, a loner, live outside the community but love to watch their handiwork.
NEWS.com.au
February 10, 2009
Insurance Australia
POLICE are hunting down the arsonist believed to have been responsible for lighting the worst of the Victoria fires.
Police have confirmed that they believe they know the identity of the man who allegedly contributed to the Churchill-Jeeralang blaze in Gippsland. Twenty-one people have died in that region.
But the Country Fire Authority said the firefront could have included towns further north, including Kinglake, St Andrews and Strathewen, where dozens more died in the firestorm.
It's expected police will release an image in the next couple of days of a man sought for questioning over the fires.
"We'll soon be in a position to provide face images of people we believe responsible," Morwell Detective Sergeant Brett Kahan said.
Deputy police commissioner Kieran Walshe has refused to confirm reports police have been given a video tape to help their investigation but she told ABC Television they're confident they're making progress.
Task Force Phoenix has been established to lead the investigation with 100 police looking into all fire-related deaths.
The task force will be headed by Crime Department Assistant Commissioner Dannye Moloney who was involved in similar investigations during the 1983 Ash Wednesday bush fires.
Fire criminologist Dr Damon Muller said more than one arsonist would have been responsible for the Victorian fires.
He said the number of fires burning in the state - up to 400 over the weekend - pointed to multiple arsonists.
"It would be surprising if some of them were not deliberately lit, just by virtue of the significant number," Dr Muller said.
Profiling an arsonist is as difficult as controlling the fires they start, according to psychologists. But in general they are likely to be male, a loner, live outside the community but love to watch their handiwork.
Victoria fires: 173 dead, towns ruined, police chase arsonists
Victoria fires: 173 dead, towns ruined, police chase arsonists
By staff writers
NEWS.com.au
February 10, 2009
Magazines Subscription
POLICE are hunting down the arsonist believed to be responsible for lighting one of the worst of the Victoria fires.
Police have confirmed that they believe they know the identity of the man who allegedly contributed to the Churchill-Jeeralang blaze in Gippsland. Twenty-one people have died in that region.
But the Country Fire Authority said the firefront could have included towns further north, including Kinglake, St Andrews and Strathewen, where dozens more died in the firestorm.
The fires killed 173 people according to the last official death toll. The death toll from the bushfires was certain to rise further.
Police said they could release a photo of the suspect in the next couple of days. Yesterday, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd likened lighting the blazes to mass murder.
Twenty-four fires were still burning and towns remained under threat as authorities moved deeper into the ruins of more than 700 homes which were lost.
Bushfire relief funds were receiving $1 million in donations per hour yesterday, with $15 million pledged by last night.
Victorian Premier John Brumby has vowed to rebuild the razed communities, but as the toll mounts the grim fates of many residents are becoming clearer. Thirty-five people died in Kinglake alone, while 22 deaths had been confirmed in St Andrews out of a population of just 1500.
Strathewen, with only 200 people prior to the bushfires, had lost 30 residents in the last official count. Firefighters dubbed the tiny town the "Valley of Death". A bridge out of town was damaged, leaving those still there as the firestorm swept through with little chance of survival.
Three bodies were found crowded in a bath. The victims may have hoped the water would save them but instead it would have boiled in the intense heat.
Further north, in Flowerdale, residents consider themselves the forgotten town. While authorities have been working their way into other towns, Flowerdale's survivors have been left to cope on their own.
"It's like we got left off the map. A lot of the locals are really upset. It kind of felt very lonely, as if we didn't f---ing exist," one angry resident told The Australian, whose reporters were the first into the town since Saturday night.
Morgue
A temporary morgue was set up at Victoria's State Coronial Services Centre to accommodate the mounting toll of victims. Coroner Jennifer Coate said 101 victims had already been received into the facility.
She said the makeshift morgue was similar to the one set up during the London terrorist bombings. "We at the State Coronial Services Centre have an enormous and complex task ahead of us."
Concerned relatives were using the Herald Sun's bushfire message board to post pleas for information about the whereabouts of loved ones. Some had been reunited, while for others the agonising wait for news remained.
Tough work
Specialist teams used in the aftermath of the Bali bombings were continuing the gruesome task of identifying victims as hundreds of reinforcement firefighters were heading from interstate to relieve crews which had been working nearly non-stop since the emergency began.
The army now has more than 460 defence force personnel working alongside emergency services.
An additional 170 are playing a search role.
"They face the task of finding dead bodies and that's happening on a regular basis," Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said.
"One reservists came across six bodies last evening.
"This is really challenging work. These are civilian volunteers and it's a reminder to the broader community of the important role our reservists play in the Australian Defence Force," he said.
Bushfire policy
Mr Brumby said yesterday a royal commission would be held into the fires and the bushfire policy that promoted either leaving early or staying to defend your property.
"I think our policy has served us well in what I call normal conditions," Mr Brumby said last night.
"These are unbelievable circumstances."
In Marysville, Mr Brumby said it looked as though a bomb had gone off in the once picturesque town.
"I have never seen anything like this in my life. It is a mixture of fire, hurricane and cyclone - houses, trees just snapped in half."
For the first time, Mr Brumby linked the fires to global warming: "There's clear evidence now that the climate is becoming more extreme."
- With the Herald Sun and wires
By staff writers
NEWS.com.au
February 10, 2009
Magazines Subscription
POLICE are hunting down the arsonist believed to be responsible for lighting one of the worst of the Victoria fires.
Police have confirmed that they believe they know the identity of the man who allegedly contributed to the Churchill-Jeeralang blaze in Gippsland. Twenty-one people have died in that region.
But the Country Fire Authority said the firefront could have included towns further north, including Kinglake, St Andrews and Strathewen, where dozens more died in the firestorm.
The fires killed 173 people according to the last official death toll. The death toll from the bushfires was certain to rise further.
Police said they could release a photo of the suspect in the next couple of days. Yesterday, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd likened lighting the blazes to mass murder.
Twenty-four fires were still burning and towns remained under threat as authorities moved deeper into the ruins of more than 700 homes which were lost.
Bushfire relief funds were receiving $1 million in donations per hour yesterday, with $15 million pledged by last night.
Victorian Premier John Brumby has vowed to rebuild the razed communities, but as the toll mounts the grim fates of many residents are becoming clearer. Thirty-five people died in Kinglake alone, while 22 deaths had been confirmed in St Andrews out of a population of just 1500.
Strathewen, with only 200 people prior to the bushfires, had lost 30 residents in the last official count. Firefighters dubbed the tiny town the "Valley of Death". A bridge out of town was damaged, leaving those still there as the firestorm swept through with little chance of survival.
Three bodies were found crowded in a bath. The victims may have hoped the water would save them but instead it would have boiled in the intense heat.
Further north, in Flowerdale, residents consider themselves the forgotten town. While authorities have been working their way into other towns, Flowerdale's survivors have been left to cope on their own.
"It's like we got left off the map. A lot of the locals are really upset. It kind of felt very lonely, as if we didn't f---ing exist," one angry resident told The Australian, whose reporters were the first into the town since Saturday night.
Morgue
A temporary morgue was set up at Victoria's State Coronial Services Centre to accommodate the mounting toll of victims. Coroner Jennifer Coate said 101 victims had already been received into the facility.
She said the makeshift morgue was similar to the one set up during the London terrorist bombings. "We at the State Coronial Services Centre have an enormous and complex task ahead of us."
Concerned relatives were using the Herald Sun's bushfire message board to post pleas for information about the whereabouts of loved ones. Some had been reunited, while for others the agonising wait for news remained.
Tough work
Specialist teams used in the aftermath of the Bali bombings were continuing the gruesome task of identifying victims as hundreds of reinforcement firefighters were heading from interstate to relieve crews which had been working nearly non-stop since the emergency began.
The army now has more than 460 defence force personnel working alongside emergency services.
An additional 170 are playing a search role.
"They face the task of finding dead bodies and that's happening on a regular basis," Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said.
"One reservists came across six bodies last evening.
"This is really challenging work. These are civilian volunteers and it's a reminder to the broader community of the important role our reservists play in the Australian Defence Force," he said.
Bushfire policy
Mr Brumby said yesterday a royal commission would be held into the fires and the bushfire policy that promoted either leaving early or staying to defend your property.
"I think our policy has served us well in what I call normal conditions," Mr Brumby said last night.
"These are unbelievable circumstances."
In Marysville, Mr Brumby said it looked as though a bomb had gone off in the once picturesque town.
"I have never seen anything like this in my life. It is a mixture of fire, hurricane and cyclone - houses, trees just snapped in half."
For the first time, Mr Brumby linked the fires to global warming: "There's clear evidence now that the climate is becoming more extreme."
- With the Herald Sun and wires
Paddy Power to open 80 shops
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Paddy Power to open 80 shops
By Geoff Percival
BOOKMAKER chain Paddy Power has announced plans to open more than 80 outlets in Britain in the next two years, as part of a major high-street expansion drive, costing nearly €23 million.
The development will largely be focused on Scotland — three shops are opening in Glasgow almost immediately — and will bring to 150 the number of British-based retail outlets run by the firm.
According to Paddy Power chief executive Patrick Kennedy the decision to launch a visible high street retail presence in the Scottish market was made on the back of the previous success of the company’s telephone and online betting channels in that region.
"Scottish punters have already experienced significant exposure to the unique brand offering of Paddy Power through our phone and online betting services. This move to ground and complement our brand with a bricks and mortar presence is very exciting," he said.
The new Scottish investment — worth between £16m and £20m (€18m- €23m) — will create more than 400 jobs when fully complete.
The first new shop, on Glasgow’s Cambridge Street, opened yesterday and two more are due to open in the city centre in the next few weeks.
With regard to the remainder of the shops, most will be in Scotland, some will be in England (with Manchester a planned destination), while none are planned for Ireland.
Paddy Power to open 80 shops
By Geoff Percival
BOOKMAKER chain Paddy Power has announced plans to open more than 80 outlets in Britain in the next two years, as part of a major high-street expansion drive, costing nearly €23 million.
The development will largely be focused on Scotland — three shops are opening in Glasgow almost immediately — and will bring to 150 the number of British-based retail outlets run by the firm.
According to Paddy Power chief executive Patrick Kennedy the decision to launch a visible high street retail presence in the Scottish market was made on the back of the previous success of the company’s telephone and online betting channels in that region.
"Scottish punters have already experienced significant exposure to the unique brand offering of Paddy Power through our phone and online betting services. This move to ground and complement our brand with a bricks and mortar presence is very exciting," he said.
The new Scottish investment — worth between £16m and £20m (€18m- €23m) — will create more than 400 jobs when fully complete.
The first new shop, on Glasgow’s Cambridge Street, opened yesterday and two more are due to open in the city centre in the next few weeks.
With regard to the remainder of the shops, most will be in Scotland, some will be in England (with Manchester a planned destination), while none are planned for Ireland.
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