O'Farrell sacks NSW finance minister

NSW Finance Minister Greg Pearce has been sacked for breaching the ministerial code of conduct, Premier Barry O'Farrell says.

Mr O'Farrell says he told Mr Pearce of his decision over the phone at 1.45pm (AEST) on Thursday.

It follows months of allegations of wrongdoing and questionable conduct by Mr Pearce.

On Thursday, after previously standing by Mr Pearce, Mr O'Farrell said the finance minister had failed to declare a conflict of interest in appointing lawyer Richard Fisher to the board of Sydney Water.

Mr Pearce's wife reported to Mr Fisher in her area of work, Mr O'Farrell said.

"The ministerial code of conduct is very clear," Mr O'Farrell told reporters.

"I've repeatedly said I expect the highest standards from my government.

"Where codes are broken there will be consequences."

Mr Pearce will be replaced by Disabilities Services Minister Andrew Constance.

John Ajaka will join cabinet as Mr Constance's replacement.

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Maths teachers deserve more pay: Pyne

SCIENCE and math teachers should have higher wages than other teachers, shadow education spokesman Christopher Pyne says.

A recent study found nearly half of 17 NSW universities' teachers graduated with only a general level of maths skills, Mr Pyne told the Queensland Media Club in Brisbane on Thursday.

He said the country had a serious shortfall of quality maths and science teachers.

"We are falling behind in real terms in mathematics," Mr Pyne said.

He said there was a perception among young teachers that science and maths were harder than other subjects but didn't attract any more pay.

"I think the state government should introduce more flexibility and paying science and math teachers more would be a very sensible start," he said.

Mr Pyne said the bar on tertiary admission standards for teachers also needed to be lifted.

When asked if a coalition government would reverse Labor's plan to introduce a $2000 cap on how much students can claim on education expenses, he remained tightlipped.

"With an election about to be called that announcement about what we might do will have to wait until the election campaign," he said.

"I'm over giving good ideas to the Labor party to take from me and pretend it is their own."

He continued to call on Labor to scrap the cap proposal.

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Shutter down on PixiFoto: 300 jobs lost

THE iconic PixiFoto family portrait business is closing its doors after its parent company was put into administration with more than 300 people to lose their jobs.

Photo Corporation Australia (PCA) was last week placed into administration after falling sales limited "the company's ability to operate," John Morgan of administrators BCR Advisory said.

BCR will manage the sale of PCA's profitable school photography business and has closed its PixiFoto business which specialised in baby, child and family portraits.

Mr Morgan told AAP more than 300 staff across the two businesses will, by next month, be unemployed.

"It's technology that's gone past it," he said on Monday.

"People just don't want to go and get their photos taken because they can... produce a reasonable photo themselves."

Several of PCA's assets are being sold and Mr Morgan said the revenue would be used to pay out "most" staff.

Despite the lay offs, Mr Morgan said the company had been run well during its 42 years.

"(The management) saw it coming. They did everything they possibly could to make sure that they could maximise the dollar value here," he said.

Comment is being sought from Photo Corporation Australia.

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AirAsia X to fly into Adelaide

LOW-COST, long-haul airline AirAsia X will operate a direct Kuala Lumpur to Adelaide service from October.

Premier Jay Weatherill said the move would make Adelaide an affordable destination for tourists coming from south-east Asia.

The airline plans to grow its initial service to five flights each week from the end of November.

"We have been working hard to attract a low-cost international carrier and AirAsia X is a very welcome addition," Mr Weatherill said on Monday.

"AirAsia X's links into China will also help us capitalise on our fastest growing international market."

AirAsia X chief executive Azran Osman-Rani said securing the Adelaide route had been a priority for the airline.

"Our goal since launching our first Australian service on the Gold Coast in 2007 was to operate in the five major mainland states and we are proud to have accomplished this within six years," he said.

"South Australia has a lot of diverse experiences to offer and has long been waited for on our network."

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Reshaping of WA's councils begins in Perth

THE radical reshaping of Western Australia's local governments has begun, with the state government announcing Perth's main iconic landmarks will be brought under the City of Perth's authority.

After years of wrangling, the process to reduce WA's 40 local councils will be finalised on Tuesday.

As an appetiser, Premier Colin Barnett ascended to the 53rd floor of a Perth office block to announce the expansion of the City of Perth authority, and a significant increase in revenue for the council.

The City of Perth will expand from 782 hectares to 1893 hectares, with Kings Park, the new Perth Stadium at Burswood, the University of Western Australia, the QEII hospital, the Leederville cafe strip and Burswood Casino all now included in the boundaries.

The Burswood peninsula, including the Packer-owned Crown Casino, is estimated to generate up to $16 million a year in revenue.

Mr Barnett said it was pivotal step in the history of WA's capital.

"These changes will give it the status it should hold as Australia's west coast capital and an increasingly important city in the Asia region," Mr Barnett said.

"What we have is a one in 100-year opportunity to really enhance the city of Perth. They bring the iconic features that are Perth's great selling points under one umbrella."

The full plans will outline the Government's amalgamation blueprint in a briefing to mayors, shire presidents and CEOs from Perth's 30 local councils on Tuesday.

It is understood South Perth and Victoria Park will merge, and a super council will be formed in some of Australia's most affluent suburbs of Cottesloe, Peppermint Grove, Nedlands, Cambridge, Claremont, Subiaco and Mosman Park.

The City of Vincent and the City of Stirling could also come together, against the wishes of both.

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Qld family wants to raise abandoned baby

A SOUTHEAST Queensland family who had a baby dumped on their doorstep are prepared to raise the child as their own if the mother is not found.

But Queensland Police are continuing their search for the mum, saying they are concerned for her wellbeing.

The newborn boy, who had been wrapped in blankets and placed in a basket, was found by the family in front of their home in the Logan City suburb of Kingston, near Brisbane, about 5.30am (AEST) on Saturday.

The family who found the boy have reportedly already named him "Moses", in reference to the biblical prophet who was also found in a basket as a baby.

Detectives on Sunday showed the small wicker basket, blanket and baby's clothes to the media in the hopes it might jog someone's memory.

They also have been scouring churches and hospitals in the search for clues about the mother's identity.

But Detective Sergeant Deon Ditton says police suspect the underweight baby, who is no more than a few days old, was born at home before being left at the doorstep with a note pleading for the family to look after him.

He says the family, who are well known and respected in multicultural Logan's Samoan community, are eager to care for the boy.

The baby appears to be of Samoan or Pacific Islander descent.

Logan Samoa Advisory Council President Lesa Changwai says she has spoken with the family, who are going through a gamut of emotions.

"They are so surprised and anxious because their feelings are very involved now with the baby," she told AAP.

"They feel that they should be looking after the baby because a note was left for them with their names on top of the note.

"They love the baby now, but it's out of their hands."

Sgt Ditton said the family had been with the boy at Logan Hospital, where it would remain at least until it reached a normal weight.

The Department of Child Safety is also involved.

"As far as I'm aware, the baby's in good health," Sgt Ditton told reporters.

He was reluctant to reveal whether detectives had any idea of who the mother was or what her punishment might be.

But he did have a message for her.

"If the mother is listening, if she could make contact with police," he said.

"We are obviously concerned for her welfare and also the welfare of the child."

Sgt Ditton is also calling on anyone who may have been in Juers St around the time the baby was found to come forward.

Logan churches held special services on Sunday, praying for the wellbeing of the little boy and his mother.

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