MP says give 'measly' $25m to SPC

Federal cabinet will discuss a proposal to co-invest in SPC Ardmona's fruit processing operations. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has used the rejection of taxpayer support for fruit processor SPC Ardmona to set an important "marker" for how his government will deal with requests for industry assistance.

The 93-year-old Victorian company wanted a $25 million federal grant, topped up by $25 million from the Victorian government and its own $150 million investment, for new product development and technology to prop up its operation.

But after three hours of debate in federal cabinet on Thursday, Mr Abbott said the plan was rejected because it was not the government's job to restructure a particular business.

The decision, which workers and growers fear will lead to the operation's closure, comes weeks after Holden's bid for support was rejected and its parent company General Motors announced the end of car production in Australia in 2017.

"The decision that came from the cabinet today does set an important marker," Mr Abbott said.

"This is a government which will make sure that the restructuring that some Australian businesses need, that some Australian sectors need, is led by business, as it should be."

The government's role was to create the right climate for business, he said.

Mr Abbott said SPC Ardmona - owned by food giant Coca-Cola Amatil - was a strong business with the resources to allow it to restructure.

The company advised the government it was prepared to invest an extra $161 million into the business and renegotiate its enterprise bargaining agreement.

Mr Abbott said the company's present EBA had conditions "well in excess of the award", including a wet allowance and generous redundancy provisions.

However SPC Ardmona managing director Peter Kelly said the company would review its business plans.

"This is an unexpected and extremely disappointing decision by the coalition, particularly after the enormous support we have received for our business plans from the local community and beyond," Mr Kelly said.

Acting Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek said the government had failed in its fundamental role - to protect jobs and bring on new investment.

"First they forced General Motors Holden out - now they are sending SPC Ardmona to the wall," Ms Plibersek said.

Labor pledged at the 2013 federal election to provide the $25 million grant.

If the plant closes, it is estimated 1500 direct and 2700 indirect jobs could be lost in the Shepparton region.

Shepparton mayor Jenny Houlihan said workers faced an unknown future.

"The $25 million that the government refused to let go today will be eaten up in unemployment benefits," she said.

Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union national secretary Paul Bastian said workers had been improving productivity, but other factors were affecting the business, such as the dumping of cheap imports and the high dollar.

"The government directly and indirectly subsidises mining, agriculture, finance, fisheries and other important Australian industries and yet it is continually cutting investment in manufacturing," Mr Bastian said.

"Soon, when we go to the supermarket ... there will be nothing left made in Australia."

Victorian Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said if state premier Denis Napthine could not convince Mr Abbott to stump up $25 million for SPC Ardmona, he struggled to see how Dr Napthine could secure $300 million for Toyota as it considers its future.

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Police given bus CCTV after woman pinned

A woman has died in hospital after being pinned under a bus for two hours in Sydney's CBD. Source: AAP

AFTER the death of two pedestrians on the same day in Sydney, police are urging the public to be more careful crossing roads.

A 51-year-old Granville woman died on Wednesday night after being hit by a bus in Sydney's CBD. She was trapped in its axles for two hours before emergency services freed her and she died only hours after undergoing emergency surgery.

Earlier that day, an 83-year-old man died instantly when he was hit by a truck in Monterey in southern Sydney while crossing the road.

NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol operations commander Stuart Smith said the deaths were tragic.

"It was a dreadful day on NSW roads," he told reporters on Thursday.

Superintendent Smith said crash investigators are looking into both accidents, including CCTV footage from the State Transit bus as well as an examination of traffic and pedestrian control records.

"It's a complex calculation that can only be provided once a re-enactment is provided," he said.

Police say the bus was turning right when it struck the woman, and the 70-year-old driver was provided with counselling.

"We believe he is a very experienced driver with the State Transit Authority," Supt Smith said.

He could not comment on whether jaywalking was a factor in the accident but reminded pedestrians and drivers to look out for each other.

"It is a place where we all need to be aware and to keep a proper lookout," he said.

He warned people about the dangers of jaywalking and using electronic devices such as mobile phones and MP3 players.

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China seeks new Antarctic station

China is seeking environmental approval for an Antarctic research station examining climate change. Source: AAP

CHINESE researchers have sought environmental approval for a new climate change research station in Antarctica.

Under the Antarctic treaty regulations, Australian officials are responsible for environmental approval of such projects.

The new Chinese research station - part of an international network - would be based on Inexpressible Island in Terra Nova Bay, in the Northern Victoria Land region.

"China believes that understanding climate change impacts on Antarctica is a matter of critical importance for the world and for the continent itself," the environmental approval submission says.

"The main purpose of the new Chinese station is to provide an international platform for regional multidisciplinary research focusing on the chain reactions caused by the changing climate."

China has conducted more than two dozen expeditions to Antarctica since 1984.

It currently operates two year-round stations - Great Wall station at King George Island and the Zhongshan station in the Larsemann Hills - as well as one summer station, Kunlun, on Dome A, the highest place in Antarctica.

The new station's researchers will study atmospheric and atmosphere-ice-ocean interaction, glacial and ice shelf-ocean interaction, ecosystem monitoring, space phenomena and geology.

Construction is planned to start in December 2015 and the station would start operating in early 2017.

The 5528-square-metre facility will be home to 80 personnel in summer and 30 in winter, when temperatures have been as low as minus 43 Celsius.

The 200-page environmental submission by the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration sets out its plans to mitigate such things as air pollution, potential fuel and oil leakage, solid waste, waste water discharge and disturbance to nearby penguins and other wildlife.

Key to the proposal is a hybrid solar-wind-diesel power supply system and wastewater recycling.

China is also looking at building an aviation network to support researchers and deal with emergencies.

The Chinese government recently bought a Basler BT-67 aircraft with modified scientific instruments, which is expected to be in use by the end of 2015.

The Australian Antarctic Division has invited public comment by March 21.

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New Zealand shares follow Asia lower

NEW Zealand shares have fallen as Asian markets continued a downturn due to anxiety over global economic recovery.

The NZX 50 Index fell 19.899 points, or 0.4 per cent to 4,853.799 on Monday.

Within the index 22 shares fell, 13 rose and 15 were unchanged. Turnover was $60.3 million, with light trading due to public holidays in Auckland and Australia.

Markets across Asia fell after stocks in the US closed lower last Friday. New Zealand is the first market to open after the weekend and felt the sting of nervous investors during early trading with the NZX 50 falling as much as one per cent before paring the decline.

Japan's Nikkei 225 Index was down 2.1 per cent in afternoon trading, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell about 2.1 per cent and South Korea's KOSPI 200 Index was down 1.5 per cent.

The Australian market was closed because of Australia Day.

"It's not the complete carnage that some people might expect," Andrew Bascand managing director at Harbour Asset Management said.

"The markets have opened down, but there hasn't been the fallout."

Wellington-based accounting software company Xero led the day's decliners, sliding 4.3 per cent to $40.

Fellow tech stocks, which have seen big gains this year, also dropped as investors took the opportunity to take profit.

Security-software company Wynyard Group sank 6.7 per cent to $2.65, and SLI Systems, makers of retail website search engines, fell 3.5 per cent to $2.50.

Retirement village operator Summerset fell 3.1 per cent to $3.42. Auckland-based lines company Vector slid 2.7 per cent to $2.51 and New Zealand's biggest listed company, Fletcher Building, slipped 0.3 per cent to $8.85.

Gold miner OceanaGold was the biggest gainer, rising 1.4 per cent to $2.25. Gold has been a beneficiary of the risk-averse market.

Air New Zealand and Sky Network Television both rose 1.2 per cent, to $1.74 and $5.89 respectively.

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Bryce moved by final Aust Day as GG

WITH the announcement of her replacement pending, Quentin Bryce spoke of how moving it is to unite Australians with shared values as she took part in her last Australia Day as governor-general.

Mrs Bryce relinquishes the role in March after five-and-a-half years as the Queen's representative, with former Defence chief Peter Cosgrove tipped to be named Australia's 26th governor-general this week, possibly as early as Monday.

"There's something very, very special about welcoming new members to our community and uniting all Australians to the values we share," Mrs Bryce said after inspecting troops at a flag-raising and citizenship ceremony in Canberra.

"I've had the honour of attending many citizenship ceremonies and I find each one just as moving as the very first I attended."

Mrs Bryce led an affirmation for current citizens after Prime Minister Tony Abbott welcomed 24 new citizens to the nation's team.

She also helped cut a cake to mark the 65th anniversary of the Nationality and Citizenship Act, which created the status of Australian citizen.

General Cosgrove has long been the frontrunner to succeed Mrs Bryce in the role.

Gen Cosgrove led the Australian contingency in the 1999 East Timor peacekeeping mission, subsequently commanding the army and serving as defence force chief from 2002 to 2005.

He was Australian of the Year in 2001.

Since leaving the military he has worked as a non-executive director of Qantas, a Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu consultant and been the chairman of the South Australian Defence Industry Development Board and peak aged services industry body Leading Age Services Australia.

A Townsville suburb was named after him in 2008 in recognition of his work leading the rebuilding taskforce after Cyclone Larry devastated northern Queensland.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd appointed Mrs Bryce governor-general in 2007. She was Australia's first female governor-general.

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Rush and Weaver honoured on Aust Day

CELEBRATED Australian actor Geoffrey Rush may have missed out on an Oscar nomination this year but he is being honoured on our national day.

Rush, who is currently gracing our movie screens in The Book Thief, has been appointed a Companion in the Order of Australia.

He was named the 2012 Australian of the Year and has won a swag of awards for his film roles, achieving the triple crown: Academy, Tony and Emmy awards.

Rush's breakthrough performance in Shine earned him an Oscar in 1996 and he became the first Australian-born actor to win an Academy Award.

"I've been fortunate to belong to a particular generation that was driven to explore our national imagination and who enabled a vibrant and distinctive energy to flourish on our stages and screens," he says.

"To have that recognised is the greatest honour."

Born in Toowoomba, Queensland, Rush now lives in Melbourne.

His other popular films roles include swashbuckling Captain Barbossa in Pirates Of The Caribbean opposite Johnny Depp and language therapist Lionel Logue in The King's Speech.

Compatriot Jacki Weaver has also been appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia.

Weaver made her film debut in 1971 with Stork and picked up her first Australian Film Institute Award.

During the 1970s, she had roles films such as Alvin Purple, Picnic at Hanging Rock and Caddie.

She has been nominated for two Academy Awards in recent years: for her role opposite Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook (2013) and the Australian crime drama Animal Kingdom (2011).

Fellow Australian actor Rhonda Burchmore was also awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.

Burchmore is known for her role in the dancing musical Hot Shoe Shuffle and for her cabaret spectacular Red Hot & Rhonda. She was also a regular on long-running variety show Hey Hey It's Saturday.

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