Vic underworld man The Texan Longley dies

Billy "The Texan" Longley, who survived the Painters and Dockers wars, has died in Melbourne. Source: AAP

ONE of the Melbourne underworld's great survivors, former Painters and Dockers union hardman Billy "The Texan" Longley, has died.

Longley, who was convicted of ordering a rival's murder during the Painters and Dockers wars in the 1970s, died in Melbourne on Friday aged 88, multiple media outlets report.

He survived the Painters and Dockers underworld while many he came into contact with didn't.

"I never thought I'd see 80, for various reasons," Longley said in 2005.

Longley gained the nickname "The Texan" because he wore a Stetson hat and carried a Colt .45.

He served 13 years in Pentridge prison after he was found guilty of organising the murder of union rival Pat Shannon.

Longley was linked to more than a dozen others, in which he denied involvement.

The murders took place in the early 1970s when open warfare was waged on Melbourne's docks as factions fought for control of the union and the rorts it allegedly presided over.

In a book released in 2005 Longley told of a lifelong tendency to get into a stoush.

He put his survival down to "sheer good luck".

"Maybe it's because I was a depression child - you learn to be quick on your feet in the depression," Longley said.

"I've got a few regrets .... but it's been a great life."

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Customs nabs smuggled tobacco in Vic

Customs have seized tonnes of smuggled cigarettes from a shipping container in Melbourne. Source: AAP

CUSTOMS officers have smoked out more than 300,000 smuggled cigarettes and almost two tonnes of illicit molasses tobacco in Melbourne.

Australian Customs and Border Protection Service officials used X-ray equipment to find the massive haul at its Melbourne container examination centre which they say should have attracted about $1 million in duty.

About 100 cardboard boxes filled with the illicit cigarettes and 1866kg of molasses tobacco were found among household goods including blankets, plastic ware and ornaments.

Customs national cargo operations manager Jagtej Singh on Friday said the tobacco is illegal because import duties had not been paid.

The agency seized 183 tonnes of smuggled tobacco and 200 million cigarettes in 76 separate seizures last financial year, which represented a potential $151 million in unpaid duties.

The maximum penalty for tobacco smuggling is 10 years' jail or a fine of up to five times the amount of duty evaded.

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Art Gallery of NSW to give back sculpture

AUSTRALIA is returning a stolen statue worth more than $300,000 to India.

The 1000-year-old Ardhanariswara idol, depicting Hindu god Shiva and his consort Parvati, was on display at Sydney's Art Gallery of NSW after being purchased during the tenure of former director, Edmund Capon.

However, it later emerged that the valuable stone sculpture was stolen from a temple in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

It was sold, along with five other items to the Art Gallery of NSW by New York dealer Subhash Kapoor.

Kapoor is now facing trial in India for allegedly trafficking stolen antiquities from two Indian temples, with museums around the world also said to be examining items bought from him.

The Australian Attorney-General's department received a formal request from the Indian government to return the Ardhanariswara this month.

The statue depicts a hermaphrodite human form and is said to represent the 'synergy of man and woman'.

The Attorney-General's department said India's request to return the idol was being acted upon under Australia's international obligations.

Delhi's request stated that the statue was exported from India illegally.

The National Gallery of Australia in Canberra has already agreed to return a dancing Shiva statue, which it bought in 2007 for $5.6 million from Kapoor.

It is understood that Mr Capon's successor, Dr Michael Brand, is in favour of returning all six works that the Art Gallery of NSW bought from Kapoor.

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Labor no confidence bid on Speaker fails

Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus has been banned from parliament for 24 hours. Source: AAP

SPEAKER Bronwyn Bishop has fended off a no-confidence motion after attracting Labor's ire for banning a frontbencher for 24 hours.

Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus was punted from the chamber on Thursday - the final day of parliament before the six-week pre-budget break - after he called out "Madam Speaker" in an exasperated tone over a ruling relating to the prime minister.

The government voted to suspend Mr Dreyfus from parliament for 24 hours after the Speaker "named" him.

The incident riled the Labor opposition, which has become increasingly frustrated over Mrs Bishop's perceived bias in her question time rulings.

Manager of opposition business Tony Burke used the wording of a successful 1949 no-confidence motion in Deputy Speaker Clark, in which he was described as showing "serious partiality" and "constantly fails to interpret correctly the standing orders of the House".

Among her sins had been throwing out a Labor MP for laughing, ejecting 98 Labor members and not one coalition MP, allowing name-calling and ignoring time limits on answers from ministers.

Mr Burke said Mrs Bishop, who has been in parliament for 27 years, was respected as a formidable MP who could launch "scathing and effective attacks".

"But we cannot support you continuing to behave that way when you want to sit in the Speaker's chair," he said.

House leader Christopher Pyne defended Mrs Bishop, saying Mr Burke clearly had been working up to the motion since the 44th parliament began.

"The fact that this is a stunt ... is so clearly indicated by the fact the manager of opposition business came into the chamber with a prepared speech," he said.

Mr Pyne said Tony Abbott had been criticised in the previous parliament by Labor for having "trouble with strong women" - such as Julia Gillard and then-speaker Anna Burke - but Mr Dreyfus had made a habit of bullying Mrs Bishop.

He accused Labor of being rude, aggressive and "behaving quite intolerably badly towards a woman in the chair".

Independent MPs Andrew Wilkie and Cathy McGowan supported the government in fending off the suspension motion, while Greens MP Adam Bandt sided with Labor.

A spokesman for Mrs Bishop told AAP she remained confident of her position and took heart at the vote from the two independents as well as phone calls of support after the debate.

On her return to the office she had a cup of tea, followed by a meeting with the Solomon Islands high commissioner and the French ambassador.

Mr Abbott, who this week marked 20 years in parliament, told reporters he had faced tough decisions by Speakers but MPs had to cop it.

"I was ejected back in 2000 when I called the then leader of the opposition Mr Beazley a sanctimonious windbag," he said.

"I happen to have a much higher opinion of Mr Beazley now that he's our ambassador in Washington."

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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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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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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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NSW urged to get flu-ready

Pregnant women and the elderly are being urged to prepare for winter and get a flu shot. Source: AAP

PREGNANT women and the elderly are being urged to prepare for winter and get a flu shot following an "unusually high" level of influenza in NSW this summer.

The Director of Health Protection NSW, Dr Jeremy McAnulty, said the northern hemisphere had experienced widespread influenza over the past months, with influenza A(H1N1) pandemic strain, A(H3N2) and influenza B circulating to different extents in different countries.

An unusually high level of influenza had also been seen in NSW over summer, he said.

He and other health professionals are now urging people, especially the elderly and pregnant women, to prepare for winter.

"The Australian flu vaccine has been updated to more closely match the influenza strains likely to circulate in NSW this year.

"So get a shot in preparation for this season," Dr McAnulty said on Sunday.

He said the seasonal flu shot continues to be the best defence for pregnant women and has the added advantage of protecting babies during their first six months when they are too young to have the vaccine.

NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner said the government's Be Winter Wise campaign, launched on Sunday, was focusing on pregnant women, the elderly and people with chronic medical conditions.

"Although we are still experiencing warm weather, people should not be complacent when it comes to the dangers of the flu," she said in a statement.

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Mining tax debate focus in parliament

THE federal government will try to pressure Labor over the repeal of the mining tax this week as the re-run of the West Australian Senate election looms.

The repeal bills have been listed as the first item of business in the upper house when parliament resumes on Monday.

The Senate election on April 5 is expected to be a focal point of debate in question time, as the Liberals aim to retain the three seats they won at the 2013 election and Labor aims to pick up two seats.

The government has already targeted Labor over its decision this week to vote with the Greens to block the repeal of the carbon tax, despite former prime minister Kevin Rudd pledging in 2013 to scrap the tax.

"We always said that our two first priorities in terms of legislation was to scrap the carbon tax and the mining tax," Finance Minister Mathias Cormann told AAP on Friday.

"We are continuing to work down our to-do list."

Prime Minister Tony Abbott will also seek Labor support for a package of bills on his "repeal day" on Wednesday.

The legislation aims to remove thousands of regulations and pieces of legislation that are redundant, outdated or impose a burden on business.

Mr Abbott says the repeal package - coupled with other measures - will take $700 million a year in compliance costs off business and community groups.

Another repeal day will be held later in the year.

The Senate on Monday will receive a report from its economics legislation committee on the Qantas Sale Act, which would allow majority foreign ownership of the airline.

Labor and the Greens say the airline should remain in Australian hands and be based here, but there might be room for a compromise: allowing foreign airlines to hold more than a 35 per cent stake in Qantas or a greater than 25 per cent stake for any single foreign shareholder.

Senate inquiry reports will be received on Wednesday relating to ticket scalping, the coalition's Direct Action climate plan and people living with dementia.

On Thursday, reports will be tabled from inquiries into Operation Sovereign Borders, Qantas jobs and overseas aid.

The lower house will continue to debate laws to extend road funding and re-establish the Green Army of environmental volunteers.

Labor wants an inquiry into the Green Army legislation, saying it has concerns about workplace protections, the interaction with other welfare payments and the obligation of employers to provide training.

The House of Representatives will also debate a Labor motion on Monday seeking assurances from the government that ABC funding won't be cut and that it will stop vilifying the broadcaster.

It will be the last sitting week before the May 13 budget.

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