Eight dead in China bridge collapse

Eight people have been killed and 13 injured when a bridge on a major highway in China collapsed. Source: AAP

A BRIDGE on a major expressway in central China has collapsed, leaving the twisted remains of cars and trucks scattered among the rubble as state media reported at least eight fatalities.

There was confusion over the toll, with the official news agency Xinhua saying eight people were dead and 13 injured after a fireworks-laden truck exploded on Friday, sending a long section of the viaduct crashing to the ground.

State-run China National Radio initially said 26 people had been killed, but the report could not later be found on its website, after local authorities in Henan province called the figure "inexplicable".

State broadcaster CCTV quoted nearby residents as saying they heard a loud booming noise, although it added the cause of the collapse was unclear and it was not known if the truck exploded before or after the bridge collapsed.

Pictures showed tangled wreckage beneath the bridge, including three upturned trucks, as rescue workers in orange uniforms scaled the wreckage.

At least five cars could also be seen. CCTV said on its website at least 25 vehicles were involved.

A crowd of people peered at the debris through thick hazy fog as another lorry teetered on the mangled edge of the bridge's collapsed section.

A new bridge appeared to be under construction right next to the collapsed section.

The bridge near the city of Sanmenxia is on the G30 expressway, the longest road in China, which stretches for nearly 4400 kilometres from China's western border with Kazakhstan to the eastern Yellow Sea.

It stands 30 metres above the ground, media reported.

Many of China's roads are packed as the country gears up for its most important holiday, the Lunar New Year, when hundreds of millions of people travel back to their hometowns in what is billed as the world's largest annual human migration.

The season is also a peak period for fireworks producers, as Chinese traditionally buy the explosives to celebrate the festival, which falls on February 10 this year.

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Bundy residents weep at flood losses

North Bundaberg residents have begun the heartbreaking journey of returning home to assess damage. Source: AAP

RESIDENTS of north Bundaberg have wept either tears of joy or despair after finally being allowed back to their homes after a raging torrent swept through the suburb.

The area, which was subject to an exclusion zone, is considered the worst-hit in the Queensland flood crisis.

Residents were allowed in on Saturday for the first time to assess the damage and collect personal items like wallets, identification and photo albums.

Deputy police commissioner Brett Pointing, who is overseeing disaster recovery operations in the region, said opening the suburb was a key step in helping the community recover.

"I think getting people back into their homes, certainly for them to evaluate the extent of the damage is one of the key milestones," he told reporters.

Superintendent Rowan Bond said the area was no longer considered an exclusion zone, although only residents, volunteers and emergency crews were allowed to enter via checkpoints.

Supt Bond said residents were being asked to show identification in an effort to stop sightseers hampering clean-up efforts.

"In my experience from previous events like this, people find that very undignified and it certainly doesn't assist with their own recovery," he said.

There had been fears bodies may be found in the disaster zone, but authorities on Saturday confirmed thorough searches had turned up nothing.

Supt Bond said it would still be some time before residents could actually return to live in their homes.

Vital infrastructure like power, sewerage and water had been destroyed and had to be re-established, he said.

Residents had to leave the suburb again by nightfall.

Bundaberg mayor Mal Forman said he spoke with residents who had returned from the disaster zone and feelings were mixed.

"There's been one who's said 'I don't know if I'll come back'," he said.

"Another couple have said 'yeah, we didn't get as much damage as we thought'... and they'll go back to get their lives back together."

Meirion Roberts said while most of his house hadn't gone under, the devastation across the entire suburb was unbelievable.

"I felt guilty seeing a lot of the other houses that were worse off," he said.

After four days without money or identification, Eseki Kaitani returned for his wallet, only to find looters had stolen $805 he had withdrawn to use as emergency funds before he was hastily evacuated.

"I can't believe people would do this," he told AAP.

"I haven't been able to feed my children and now I don't know what I'm going to do."

Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott visited the city on Saturday, calling on the government to increase the amount of relief loans offered to businesses.

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Iemma undecided on federal move: Burke

FORMER NSW premier Morris Iemma is mulling over a move to federal politics which could see him run for Robert McClelland's south Sydney seat once he retires.

The former federal attorney-general announced his retirement from politics on Tuesday, triggering speculation he could be replaced by Mr Iemma, who left NSW parliament in 2008.

Mr Iemma is yet to state his intentions but senior ALP figures have backed him as a good candidate.

Cabinet minister Tony Burke says he spoke to the former premier on Thursday, who hadn't yet made a decision on running for the seat.

"It would be great if he made the decision that he was able to run but he's got a whole series of family issues that he's quite responsibly weighing up," Mr Burke told reporters in Sydney.

"If he chooses not to run, we've got some fantastic other candidates who are there waiting to see what Morris Iemma decides."

It's understood there will be a rank and file pre-selection for Labor's candidate.

A spokeswoman for NSW Labor said this week nominations for the seat are likely to open when the branch's administrative committee meets on February 8.

Mr McClelland was dumped from the frontbench by Prime Minister Julia Gillard after he supported Kevin Rudd in a leadership challenge in early 2012.

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North Burnett gets flood help at last

THE clean-up effort in Queensland's North Burnett is gaining momentum after some jaded locals protested that help had been too slow to arrive after devastating floods.

Crews started arriving in the region on Thursday and Friday, but it was not soon enough for some locals.

North Burnett Deputy Mayor Faye Whelan says locals in Mundubbera had been feeling forgotten.

She says residents, including many elderly, were already worn out by the floods two years ago and had been quietly hoping that help would come in the immediate aftermath but it didn't arrive.

"I'm a little bit angry," she told AAP.

Premier Campbell Newman, in Mundubbera and nearby Gayndah on Friday, was met by two locals carrying placards saying: "Go home Newman" and "You're seven days too late!!"

The premier took the criticism in his stride and sympathised.

"They are entitled to be angry and upset by it if they've lost everything," he told the ABC.

"I'd be angry and upset too. I'd want to stand up and shout and scream."

The army rolled into Mundubbera on Friday morning, four days after the Burnett River peaked, almost setting a record.

The Queensland Rural Fire Service got teams in on Thursday and 10 SES workers arrived on Thursday night.

A total of 100 homes and businesses were flooded in the town and a similar number in outlying areas.

Paul Dare from the Mundubbera Local Disaster Sub Management Group said the army had boosted morale.

"We could do with more, but it shows the outside cares, and that's a big deal for the community."

North Burnett Mayor Don Waugh said flood-ravaged Bundaberg, about two hours away, had understandably consumed resources.

Mr Waugh said about 60 homes and 12 businesses in Gayndah and 10 in outlying areas were flooded, some up to their guttering.

Dead cows and pigs as well as shipping containers were washed downstream and onto a local bridge.

The army arrived on Thursday, and extra police, SES and fire crews will start a major clean-up.

"We're really feeling fairly important now and understand that people do recognise our plight," Mr Waugh told AAP.

North Burnett Councillor Kevin Wendt said Biggenden hadn't been flooded by the Burnett River but a local creek had flooded the dump.

It spread five years of rubbish across six grazing properties, spanning up to 2000 acres, he told AAP.

"It's an environmental disaster - just think what could be in there."

Mr Wendt said council's environment officers were working with the EPA to develop a plan to clean-up the area but it was a daunting prospect.

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Qld damage bill to top 2011 floods

QUEENSLAND Premier Campbell Newman says the damage bill from ex-tropical cyclone Oswald across the state could exceed the insurance claims of the 2011 floods.

Flooding in Brisbane, Ipswich and the Lockyer Valley in 2010/11 cost $2.388 billion to repair, Insurance Council of Australia data shows.

But Mr Newman, who is touring the flood-hit city of Rockhampton on Thursday, says the latest damage may cost more than that to repair.

"I can tell you today that early estimates put the damage across Queensland at at least $2.4 billion," Mr Newman told a media conference in front of the swollen, crocodile-infested Fitzroy River.

"Sadly, I think that figure will rise."

The premier stressed again it was a "very early estimate" and the figures could change.

"It has been an extremely damaging event.

"When you see the photographs of north Bundaberg, the damage for example to the main road bridge heading north, you will be blown away."

The Fitzroy River is already above eight metres and is expected to peak at 8.5 metres on Friday night.

Rockhampton Regional Council Mayor Margaret Strelow told the media conference the flash flooding that had already occurred was likely to be "far more dramatic" than the "flood that's coming".

"But 8.5 (metres), there are still some people who are impacted and we're working to lift their things up," she said.

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Origin's production steady in Dec quarter

ORIGIN Energy's production was steady in the three months to December, and the company says all maintenance work planned for the financial year is complete.

Origin produced 28.8 petajoules (PJe) of gas in the December quarter, up slightly from 28.5 PJe in the same period in the previous year.

That took production in the six months to December to 62 PJe, down five per cent from 65.4 PJe in the previous corresponding period.

The reduction in first half production was caused by upgrade work at Origin's Yolla project in the Bass Strait, suspension of other operations for maintenance, and the reduction in the company's interest in the Australia Pacific liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.

Sales for the six months to December of $425 million were down one per cent from the same period in the previous year.

"We have now completed all major maintenance shutdowns that were scheduled for the financial year," Origin upstream chief executive Paul Zealand said in a statement.

Origin shares gained 14 cents to $12.59.

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Thailand pushes 200 Rohingya back to sea

THAILAND'S navy has blocked more than 200 Rohingya refugees from entering the kingdom as part of a new crackdown on refugees from violence-hit western Myanmar (Burma), officials say.

Thousands of Rohingya - members of a stateless Muslim minority group described by the UN as one of the most persecuted in the world - have fled Myanmar in recent months, mostly believed to be heading for Malaysia.

A Thai navy official in Bangkok said more than 200 Rohingya were found on Tuesday about 40 kilometres off the Thai mainland.

"We took them food and water before pushing them towards a third country," said the official, who did not want to be named, on Wednesday.

Local media said the Rohingya were found near Raja Noi island in the Andaman Sea off Phuket province - a magnet for foreign tourists.

National Security Council secretary-general Paradorn Pattanathabutr told AFP on Monday that Thailand would turn away any more Rohingya boat people who tried to land on its shores.

The tougher stance came after Thai authorities said they were investigating allegations that army officials were involved in the trafficking of Rohingya.

An explosion of tensions between Buddhist and Muslim communities in Myanmar's western state of Rakhine since June 2012 has triggered a huge exodus of Rohingya.

More than 1300 members of the minority group have been detained by Thailand after landing on its shores in recent months.

Officials have said those already in Thailand will be allowed to stay for six months in detention while the government works with the UN refugee agency to find third countries willing to accept them.

Myanmar views its population of roughly 800,000 Rohingya as illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and denies them citizenship.

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More funding for Vic students: Minister

THE Victorian government says disadvantaged students will receive more support with increases in school education funding, despite opposition claims millions of dollars have been ripped from the sector.

Education Minister Martin Dixon said last year's state budget showed a three per cent increase in school education funding.

Mr Dixon said there was an extra $170 million for students with disabilities, with 90 primary schools to be equipped with primary welfare officers this year.

"There's actually an increase in education spending, and it's going to the families and schools and students that need it most," he told reporters.

But Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said the government had made $555 million in cuts to a raft of education services and vulnerable students were hardest hit.

"Parents across the state have lost vital assistance to purchase school uniforms and textbooks and also help with transport costs and school excursions because of the state government cuts," Mr Andrews said in a statement.

Individual schools have also reportedly complained changes to the structure of the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) and school start bonus mean they will lose funding to assist poor families.

But Mr Dixon said disadvantaged students, particularly those with disabilities, will have more funding.

"A whole range of changes in education funding have meant that the most disadvantaged students and the most disadvantaged schools actually have an increase in funding," he said.

Mr Dixon said the EMA had been increased for eligible students with top-ups for parents with children starting prep and Year Seven.

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Gillard congratulates Nova Peris

Olympian Nova Peris has won pre-selection as the Labor Senate candidate for the Northern Territory. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard says Nova Peris will be a tough candidate for Labor in this year's federal election.

Ms Peris on Tuesday won pre-selection as the Labor Senate candidate for the Northern Territory.

"She is a strong, tough candidate who will make history as the ALP's first indigenous representative, and the first indigenous woman to sit in the Federal Parliament," Ms Gillard said in a statement.

She said Ms Peris, an Olympian, had displayed great leadership through her work with Girls Academies in the NT and looked forward to her contributions on youth and indigenous issues.

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Man suffers head injury after snake bite

A 54-year-old man who was bitten by a snake has been rushed to hospital after fainting and hitting his head in Queensland's north this afternoon.

The man was trying to get a snake out of his Proserpine home pool when he was bitten on his foot.

He then went inside but fainted, suffering a head injury.

The man was flown by the RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter in a stable condition, arriving at Mackay Base Hospital at 2.15pm.

He will undergo treatment and will be monitored through the day.

It has not been confirmed what type of snake bit the man.

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Hugh and Naomi's Oscar hopes sag at SAGs

IT'S a good thing Hugh Jackman, Naomi Watts and Nicole Kidman could drown their sorrows together at the Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG) in Los Angeles.

It was a tough night for the Aussie trio, particularly Jackman and Watts, who likely came to the realisation they won't be Oscar winners at the upcoming Academy Awards ceremony.

The SAG Awards, held at the Shrine Auditorium, were the last chance for Jackman and Watts to cause an upset, gain some momentum and challenge Oscar frontrunners Daniel Day-Lewis and Jennifer Lawrence at the February 24 Academy Awards.

It was not to be.

"Oh my God. This is incredible," Jennifer Lawrence, who despite suffering pneumonia, slipped into a Christian Dior gown and a king's ransom of Chopard jewels to win the SAG lead actress award ahead of Watts.

Lawrence, who plays a sex addict and police widow in Silver Linings Playbook, won a Golden Globe a fortnight ago and will go into the Oscar ceremony the outright favourite.

Watts, who has failed to win a major lead-up award for her performance in The Impossible as a mother fighting to survive and find family members after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, will be a long shot.

Day-Lewis, who gives a grand performance as civil rights leader and US president Abraham Lincoln in the Steven Spielberg-directed Lincoln, will be at unbackable odds for the best actor Oscar after relegating Jackman (Les Miserables) and Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook) to spectators at the SAG ceremony.

"It occurred to me it was an actor who murdered Abraham Lincoln and therefore somehow it was only fitting every now and then an actor tries to bring him back to life again," Day-Lewis, a two-time Oscar winner (My Left Foot in 1989 and There Will Be Blood in 2008) told the audience inside the Shrine.

Just like the Golden Globes, Kidman walked into the SAG ceremony with two chances of winning but walked out with nothing.

She was nominated for supporting actress for The Paperboy and for her performance in the TV movie Hemingway & Gellhorn.

Anne Hathaway, for Les Miserables, won the supporting SAG and will also be at unbackable odds to win the Oscar.

Although Kidman was not nominated for the Academy Awards, another Aussie, Jacki Weaver, was nominated for Silver Linings Playbook but has next to no chance of unseating Hathaway at the Oscars.

Julianne Moore, for her portrayal of US vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in Game Change, beat Kidman for the SAG in the TV movie or miniseries actress category.

While Jackman and Watts were hoping for a SAG boost to their Oscar campaigns, the big winner at the Shrine was Ben Affleck and his film Argo, which continued its late run at the best picture Oscar.

For months Lincoln was the favourite, but Argo defeated Lincoln at the Golden Globes and again on Saturday night at the key Producers Guild of America Awards.

At the SAGs, Argo was again victorious, beating Lincoln to the top prize - outstanding cast in a motion picture - and giving the film, about the joint CIA-Canadian secret operation to extract six Americans out of Iran, favouritism for the best picture Oscar.

The 100,000-plus actors who decide the SAG Awards showered the soon-to-be-retired TV comedy 30 Rock with awards for its two stars, with Tina Fey claiming best actress in a comedy series and Alec Baldwin actor in a comedy series.

Modern Family won the comedy series ensemble SAG award while Downton Abbey was a surprise winner for drama series ensemble.

Bryan Cranston, for Breaking Bad, claimed SAG's actor in a drama series award while Claire Danes, for Homeland, took the actress gong.

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Storms whip up ocean foam on Qld coast

Ocean foam whipped up by wild seas has blanketed beaches on the Gold and Sunshine coasts. Source: AAP

THE wild weather on Queensland's southeast coast has whipped up more than the swell, with layers of ocean foam blanketing some roads and parks on the Gold and Sunshine coasts.

Gold Coast holiday-maker Lionel Armitstead says the white froth has come up the foreshore at Burleigh Heads and is covering pedestrian paths and picnic areas.

In some places the suds are up to one metre high.

"It's like a snowstorm," he told AAP.

"The kids are up to their shoulders basically ... I've never seen anything like it."

Currumbin resident Mike Thies says the suds have been whipped up by "huge" surf overnight and have blanketed the beach near his house in a thick layer spreading about 15 metres from the beach towards the road.

Mr Thies said he'd seen similar scenes after a wild storm several years ago.

Extraordinary video footage shows a car emerging from beneath a thick blanket of foam, startling traffic police who are forced to leap from its path.

The footage was posted on YouTube and police have confirmed it was filmed on the Sunshine Coast.

The coastal froth is formed during storms when powerful waves force air into the water and produce foam, according to the Griffith University Centre for Coastal Management.

The Sunshine and Gold coasts have been pummelled by the low pressure system that was tropical cyclone Oswald in recent days, with six-metre swells reported in some areas.

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Elderly man's body found in Qld flood zone

The body of an elderly man has been pulled from the water, northeast of Bundaberg, Qld police say. Source: AAP

QUEENSLAND has recorded its first flood death - an elderly man whose body was pulled from the water at Burnett Heads, northeast of Bundaberg.

Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said the death was connected to the flooding, but with next of kin yet to be advised he would not reveal further details.

Authorities also hold grave fears for two other people.

One is a woman who was last seen driving into floodwaters at Pacific Haven near Maryborough on Sunday.

Swift water rescue teams are searching for her.

The other is a man who was swept away when he and two companions drove into flood waters at Widgee Creek near Gympie.

He remains missing. A man and a woman he was with were rescued early on Sunday.

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Schwarzenegger to speak in Australia

Former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger is to visit Australia for a speaking tour. Source: AAP

WHEN he says he'll be back, he means it.

It's been 23 years but Arnold Schwarzenegger is coming back to Australia as a guest for motivational speaker Jamie McIntyre's 21st Century Financial Education Summits.

Schwarzenegger will be sharing his wisdom at events in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney, where he last appeared in 1980 to win the title of Mr Olympia at the Sydney Opera House.

In a statement on Sunday Schwarzenegger said he was excited about visiting Australia.

"Australia is one of my favourite countries in the world and the people there are always so friendly and welcoming," he said in the statement.

"Sydney will always be special for me as it's the city where I won the title of Mr Olympia for the final time!"

McIntyre says Schwarzenegger is the embodiment of what those attending his summits wish to achieve.

"He is motivated, inspirational, an achiever against all odds."

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