Injured dirt bike rider flown to hospital

A DIRT bike rider who was seriously injured after crashing on a fire trail northwest of Sydney has been airlifted to hospital.

Ambulance and police officers staged a two-hour rescue effort for the 46-year-old man who was knocked unconscious after crashing off his bike at Colo Heights at about 10am on Saturday.

After friends of the Kurrajong man raised the alarm, ambulance paramedics hiked in and carried him out to a nearby property where they met a Careflight medical team who flew him to Westmead Hospital.

The CareFlight doctor said the man suffered leg and wrist fractures along with head and other injuries.

He remains in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

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Swag maker among guests at royal reception

A GRAZIER, a swag maker and an Olympian are among the 224 Queenslanders invited to meet the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Barry Hughes, from the farmers' advocacy group Northhead, wants to tell Prince William about the plight of drought-stricken Queensland producers.

"I know he's well and truly aware of the issue otherwise I wouldn't have been invited," he told AAP.

"I know he'll give some kind words of compassion."

The last time William was in Queensland, it was to console victims of the 2011 floods that devastated parts of Brisbane and Ipswich.

Olympian Sally Pearson says she's met the Queen and it will be "an absolute honour" to meet the Duke and Duchess.

Pearson, who is dressed in a stylish knee-length orange dress, doesn't have anything in particular to say and says she'll only speak to them if they seek her out.

"I know the protocol," the gold medallist laughed, as guests waited for the royal couple to arrive at Brisbane's South Bank precinct.

"This is the future King and Queen, it's so exciting."

Jean Madden, who runs Street Swags, will give the Duchess a swag on behalf of her charity, and a dress designed by Sasha Drake "on behalf of all the women in Queensland".

"I've met the Duke before and spoken about my charity, hopefully he'll remember me and I'll have a few minutes with Duchess this time."

The royal entourage arrived at the reception venue at 2.13pm.

An estimated 9500 people were waiting for the couple to emerge, and they didn't disappoint.

The couple, despite running behind schedule, have rewarded the wellwishers who have been waiting to in 28 degree heat.

Outside the reception venue, the South Bank parklands are packed with royal watchers, some draped in the Australian flag, others carrying memorabilia from Prince William's 2011 wedding to Kate.

Among those hoping for a brush with royalty is 87-year-old great-grandmother Jennie Cushway, who has seen three generations of the royal family in Brisbane over the years and is hoping to glimpse a fourth on Saturday.

The Brisbane widow says she'd love to add William and Kate to her list.

"I really wanted to see them, I think they're great," she told AAP.

"I might give them a little bow. I only hope I can see them and get nice photos."

She saw the Queen in February 1954, a few months after her coronation, and glimpsed Prince Charles touring Griffith University as a bachelor in the late 1970s.

She said she'd also seen the late Queen Mother and Prince Andrew with his then wife the Duchess of York.

The royal couple will make a brief public walk after the reception, where Kate will pause to chat with the crowd and accept more bouquets of flowers.

One young bub in the crowd, 10-month-old Grace, grabbed the media scrum's attention with her pink "Marry me George" t-shirt, and grand feathered head wear.

She teamed the shirt with a flouncy pink skirt but looked a little unamused about being in the middle of an excited, swollen crowd.

Another veteran royal watcher, Helen Jackson, 70, arrived with her husband Gavin at 7am to secure a prime position near the convention centre entrance.

Mrs Jackson saw Prince William three years ago as he comforted Ipswich flood victims, which included her daughter.

"I have met the Duke before ... I just wish him all the best," she told AAP.

"I stood in the background because it was for the flood people that lost their houses and I stood back."

Even self-confessed republicans couldn't stay away.

One, Agnes Delos Santos, has spent seven hours waiting for the royal couple's public walk.

"This is history, their visit to Brisbane," the 42-year-old theatre nurse told AAP. "It's just good to be here and see them."

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Show stoppers for William and Kate

THE Duke of Cambridge picked up a tip for Halloween, the duchess shared one of Prince George's favourite meals, and they met a sheep with a special royal connection.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge got a taste of regional Australia on Friday in more ways than one when they visited Sydney's Royal Easter Show on Good Friday.

At the popular district exhibits display, the couple checked out the winning display, from the northern region, which might have been proud of its soft Alpaca wool.

But Kate commented on the fleece for other reasons.

"The princess said (the Duke) should put some on his head," said Lyn Cregan, 67, from Glen Innes.

"She pointed at him and said 'You need it more than me.' He laughed."

When Ms Cregan revealed she used hair lacquer on the pumpkins to give them extra shine, the Duke said he would try the trick next Halloween.

While admiring piles of root vegetables in the South East Queensland display, Kate told preserve maker Diana Lisle that George is particularly fond of sweet potatoes.

Hundreds watched the couple move through the hall, viewing exhibits from producers from across NSW. The displays are the largest of their kind in the world, with more than 10,000 fresh pieces of produce on display.

The couple tasted wild berry and macadamia nougat and chocolates, and scores of presents were pressed into their minders' arms, including half a dozen Easter eggs, baby clothes, fudge and tea.

A trolley was brought to cope with the flow as the crowds passed them books, Possum Magic and Peppa Pig toys, and bouquets.

The couple unveiled a plaque in the new Southee and Badgery Pavilion, home to the Show's arts and crafts, fashion and style and flower and garden displays.

Kate, a keen photographer, paid special attention to the pavilion's photography display.

She told Alison Renwick, former chair of the arts and crafts pavilion, that she enjoyed taking photos, and painting and drawing.

"She said she doesn't get much time for it anymore," Ms Renwick said.

But it was Cox Pavilion that seemed to hold special interest for William, who in March completed a University of Cambridge 10-week course in agricultural management.

There they met Fred the six-year-old ram, who had been taught to bow for the occasion, and watched shearers in action.

Wool from Fred's Merino fleece went into a suit that was presented to the Duke on the occasion of his wedding.

At the Wool for School exhibit, Kate met last year's winner, Sophie Aylward, from Kinross Wollaroi School in Orange, whose winning design was a blue woollen dress for the Duchess.

The couple were due to sign the Show's visitors book on leaving, but made time to receive posies on their way out.

They didn't, however, have time to pick up a Bertie Beetle showbag.

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Royals highlight of Easter Show

Big crowds have greeted Prince William and Kate at Sydney's Royal Easter Show. Source: AAP

THE Sydney Royal Easter Show could have been renamed the Cambridge Royal Easter Show on Good Friday.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made a two-hour visit to the show at the Sydney Olympic Park on a perfect warm autumn Sydney day.

The show, which was founded in 1822, attracts close to 900,000 visitors every year. And it seems many of them were there on Friday, greeting the royal couple with wild cheers and applause.

Kate wowed by wearing a white cotton lace dress by Australian designer sisters, Nicole and Simone Zimmermann.

However, like many eight-month-olds, Prince George was deemed too young to see the show - but it didn't mean he was forgotten.

While admiring piles of root vegetables in the South East Queensland display, Kate told preserve maker Diana Lisle that George was particularly fond of sweet potatoes.

And there were plenty of presents. A trolley was brought to cope with the flow as the crowds passed books, Possum Magic and Peppa Pig toys and bouquet after bouquet to the royal visitors.

The couple were greeted by the president of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, Glenn Dudley, and his wife, Jennifer, before being taken to look at a fresh food display in the main exhibition dome.

A female security guard collapsed just before the royals arrived and was loaded into an ambulance.

It might have been the bright sunshine. It might have been the royal effect. Australians have warmed to William and Kate on this trip.

"They're such a lovely couple. They're so much in love," Margaret Bryant from Cowra told AAP.

She and her pals Margaret Wright and Marie Whiteman - all in their 80s - arrived in Sydney at 3am (AEST) to see the royals.

The royals saw sheep shearing, vegetables, showbags, skateboarding and snakes.

They also unveiled a plaque in the new Southee and Badgery Pavilion, home to the Show's arts and crafts, fashion and style and flower and garden displays.

At the Wool for School exhibit, Catherine met last year's winner, Sophie Aylward, from Kinross Wolaroi School in Orange, whose winning design was a blue woollen dress for the Duchess.

The couple were due to sign the Show's visitors book upon leaving, but made time to receive posies from a trio of girls and finally a bunch of red and yellow roses from Jessica Badman, 30, and her one-year-old daughter Alivia, on their way out.

Ms Badman, from the Blue Mountains, said the Duchess asked her whether Alivia was walking yet and said her outfit was beautiful.

"I can't believe that just happened," said an overwhelmed Ms Badman. "It's just like talking to a girlfriend, she's absolutely lovely."

Then it was back on the Australian tour merry-go-round as the royals were whisked off to Manly for their second engagement of the day.

Just another day on the royals' wild ride around Australia.

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Gold miner Ramelius reduces cash costs

GOLD producer Ramelius Resources has reduced its cash costs and achieved record quarterly production.

Shares in the company were flat at 11 cents at 1530 AEST as investors remained unimpressed with the WA mining company's high costs.

Ramelius produced 27,653 fine ounces of gold in the three months to March 31, at a total cash cost of $1,213 per ounce, down from $1,450 in the December quarter.

The company expects to produce 19,000 to 20,000 ounces of gold at its Mt Magnet operation, while Burbanks is expected to produce 6,000 ounces of gold in the June quarter.

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Govt appoints banks for Medibank sale

The federal government has appointed three banks to manage the Medibank Private sale. Source: AAP

THE federal government has appointed three banks to manage the sale of health insurer Medibank Private.

After receiving 11 bids through a tender process, the government says the joint lead managers will be Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and Macquarie Capital.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said on Thursday that each bank brings a substantial mix of experience in Australian and global capital markets, privatisations, equity offers and the ability to project manage large capital market transactions.

The government may include another joint lead manager if required, and other firms may be appointed closer to the sale with a focus on retail selling roles.

The government has also extended the contracts of its scoping study advisers.

The precise timing and structure of the Medibank Private sale has yet to be determined, although it will be in the 2014/15 financial year.

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Royals to touch down in Sydney

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have arrived in Sydney for the first leg of their Australian tour. Source: AAP

THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Catherine, will touch down in Sydney on Wednesday for the first leg of their Australian tour, with their nine-month old baby, Prince George.

The royal couple - and George - are starting a super busy tour of Australia that will take them to many parts of Sydney, as well as to Brisbane, Uluru, Adelaide and Canberra in 10 days.

The royal party arrives in the country after completing a packed tour of New Zealand that saw them visit six cities in 10 days.

After touching down in Sydney, the royals' first stop will be the Opera House.

The party will then travel across the harbour to Admiralty House where they'll stay as guests of new Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove.

Next day they'll travel to the Blue Mountains to meet bushfire-affected families.

The region, west of Sydney, is still recovering after major bushfires last October.

"I think ultimately this (visit) is something that will please the community because what it says is that the world hasn't forgotten what happened in October 2013," Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill told AAP.

"It means long after the smoke has cleared people still remember and I think that is very important."

During their time in Sydney, the royal party is also due to visit the Royal Easter Show at Homebush, attend Bear Cottage children's hospice in Manly, and take in a surf life saving display on Manly beach.

Bear Cottage's nursing unit manager Narelle Martin said the royal visit would be a "memorable memory" for the centre's sick kids and their families.

"Part of Bear Cottage is about creating happy memories for children whose lives are shortened, and this is certainly going to create a very happy memory for those families," Ms Martin, told AAP.

After a brief trip to Queensland, the couple will return to Sydney to make a stop at Taronga Zoo and its bilby enclosure - named after Prince George as part of the nation's gift after his birth.

The couple will then visit Uluru, leaving Prince George with his nanny in Canberra, before heading to Adelaide followed by a final stop in Canberra for Anzac Day.

The tour comes 30 years since Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, visited Australia and New Zealand for six weeks with William when he was Prince George's age.

The trip, which will be the duchess's first official visit to Australia, follows Prince William's last official visit in March 2011 to Queensland and Victoria.

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Sydney sunshine and cheers for royals

THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been greeted by wild applause by thousands of people on their arrival at the Sydney Opera House.

The royal couple stepped from their royal motorcade at the western side of the Opera House just after 3pm Wednesday.

They were met by NSW Governor Marie Bashir and her husband Sir Nicholas Shehadie, as well as NSW government representative, Don Harwin MLC.

Both Kate and William waved to the crowd, which on each occasion responded with huge cheers. But the young royals weren't able to meet those who turned out to catch a glimpse of them.

William and Kate greeted the dignitaries, before making their way up the western stairs to the Concert Hall for an official reception.

Before stepping inside, Kate and William took in some of the stunning sights of Sydney Harbour on a gorgeous, sunny autumn afternoon.

About 400 guests attended the reception, including former Australian cricket fast bowler Glenn McGrath and Australian Women's Cricket Team member Ellyse Perry, along with children dressed to represent all nations competing in the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

When they stepped out into the Sydney sunshine, the royal couple were greeted with more cheers and applause.

Kate wore a bright yellow fitted dress by Serbian-born, London-based designer Roksanda Ilinic, while William looked smart in a navy suit.

Monica, 54, said Kate looked "beautiful inside and out".

"I'm here to see Kate. I don't care much about William. I wanted to see if she looks as good in real life as she does in the magazines," the St Ives resident told AAP.

"I think she's just a gorgeous girl."

Leanne, from Yorkshire, said she had no choice but to turn up.

"I'm English so I have to be here," she said.

"If you don't go to London there aren't many opportunities to see them, so that's why I'm here."

After the reception the royals are expected to mingle with members of the public as they leave the iconic building.

They were then scheduled to be taken by police boat to Admiralty House where they will be hosted by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove.

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Watchdog 'hamstrung' by Vic legislation

VICTORIA'S anti-corruption watchdog says it has felt unable to investigate some corruption allegations because of restrictions in how it was set up.

The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) says there have been cases where it has felt unable to probe allegations because they do not meet the threshold required under the legislation.

Not all the cases were suitable to be referred elsewhere, possibly undermining the integrity body's functions, IBAC says in a special report tabled in parliament on Tuesday.

"There have been corrupt conduct allegations where IBAC has not felt able to commence investigations because of threshold restrictions in the IBAC Act," IBAC says in the report on its first year of operation.

"Not all of these were suitable for referral elsewhere.

"This constraint has possibly undermined IBAC's ability to perform and achieve its principal objects and functions."

IBAC says the constraint should be a matter of concern and further consideration.

The integrity body also says it should be able to investigate misconduct in public office as part of its jurisdiction.

The offence is covered by other Australian integrity regimes but it was not included as part of IBAC's jurisdiction because it was considered a less serious offence.

But IBAC says the offence can fall into the serious category and it could refer any less serious examples to other bodies to probe.

"Once this is appreciated, it must follow that a body like IBAC, whose primary functions include the exposure of serious corrupt conduct within the public sector, should be able to investigate allegations of serious misconduct in public office," IBAC says.

IBAC also says there are cases where people who have disclosed information about corrupt conduct appear not to qualify for whistleblower protection.

It says the matter needs more consideration, because this may deter whistleblowers coming forward with valuable information.

IBAC can also only refer protected disclosure complaints to a limited number of entities, being the Victorian Ombudsman and Inspectorate and police.

But in some cases matters would be better referred to another more specialist integrity body or relevant public sector agency, and IBAC wants the parliament to consider broadening the choices it has to refer such complaints.

The parliament should also consider making it mandatory for the heads of public sector bodies and local councils to notify IBAC of corrupt conduct they become aware of, as is already the case in other states.

The change should apply at the very least for more serious matters within the public sector, IBAC says.

Victorian Attorney-General Robert Clark said the government would carefully consider the various recommendations and suggestions made by IBAC.

He said the amendments to the IBAC legislation suggested by the integrity body were consistent with the government's view that IBAC's role should be to focus on tackling serious corruption.

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$3000 wine? I'd remember:O'Farrell at ICAC

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell has flatly denied suggestions he wrote a letter supporting Australian Water Holdings (AWH) in exchange for Liberal Party donations.

Nor can he recall receiving a bottle of vintage Grange wine, bought for $3000 by AWH and apparently couriered to his home just after the 2011 state election.

Mr O'Farrell was on Tuesday quizzed before the NSW corruption watchdog about a letter he wrote to then-AWH chief executive Nick Di Girolamo in late September 2010.

He agreed it was "broadly supportive" of the company's push to secure a lucrative public-private partnership.

"We can show you lots of money going into Liberal Party coffers which coincides with this letter of support. Did you know anything about that?" counsel assisting Geoffrey Watson, SC, asked Mr O'Farrell.

"No, the Liberal Party's financial code requires members of parliament to be at arm's length from fundraising," Mr O'Farrell replied.

"If your inference is that this letter was signed by me because of donations made by Australian Water Holdings then I reject it completely."

Mr Di Girolamo has told the Independent Commission against Corruption he bought Mr O'Farrell a bottle of Grange wine to express his congratulations on securing the premiership but denied using the gift to "butter Mr O'Farrell up".

The ICAC has heard the 1959 vintage bottle - aged since the year of Mr O'Farrell's birth - was delivered to his home in Roseville, on Sydney's north shore, on or around April 20, 2011.

But Mr O'Farrell said he never received it and that he may have been away on a family holiday to the Gold Coast for Easter when the bottle showed up.

"It's the Don Bradman of wine. Unforgettable," Mr Watson said.

"Yes. If it had been received, I don't believe I would have forgotten it," Mr O'Farrell replied.

The gift was never declared on the premier's pecuniary interests register and ICAC investigators have been unable to find a document from the courier company to show when it was dropped off.

But Mr Di Girolamo has told the inquiry he received a thank you call from the premier after sending the wine - and on Tuesday afternoon, Mr O'Farrell was shown a record of a 28-second telephone call from his mobile number to Mr Di Girolamo's, made about 9.30pm on April 20, 2011.

"I've no knowledge - I don't know about this phone call," Mr O'Farrell said.

"What I do know is if I had received a bottle of 1959 Penfolds Grange I would have known about it and I did not receive a bottle of Penfolds Grange."

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Police search cliffs after reports of body

SA police hope tourists in a motorhome can help shed light on the disappearance of a Frenchwoman. Source: AAP

UNCONFIRMED reports of a body being sighted have sparked a search at the base of cliffs on South Australia's far west coast as the hunt for missing French tourist Aurelie Lhorme continues.

Ms Lhorme, 30, was last seen in her parked car near the Head of the Bight Whale Watching Centre, near the Nullarbor Plain, on Saturday night.

Staff at the centre spoke to her as she appeared to be sleeping in her car on an access road.

Her car was found in the same spot the following morning, along with her mobile phone, wallet and passport.

A search on Sunday, involving an Aboriginal tracker, failed to find the woman and resumed on Monday.

A police spokesman said officers at the scene were now heading for the base of cliffs at the Head of the Bight after reports that a body had been sighted.

He said it could take several hours to confirm the sighting.

Police also want to speak to the occupants of a Jayco motorhome, which was parked next to the whale watching centre on Saturday night, who may have had contact with Ms Lhorme.

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iPad prices show $A is at fair value

FARMERS, manufacturers and tourism operators might beg to differ, but if iPad prices are anything to go by, the Australian dollar's current value is exactly where it should be.

According to CommSec's iPad Index, which compares the price of the popular Apple product across 51 countries, the recent rise in the dollar has it hovering around fair value.

The currency has climbed from around 87 US since late January to be at almost 94 US cents.

With a sale price of around $A598 ($US561), Australia is the 13th cheapest place to buy the latest iPad, putting it roughly on par with the US and China.

"It suggests that the Aussie dollar is probably around fair value against the greenback," CommSec economist Savanth Sebastian said.

"The iPad is priced in US dollars and manufactured in China and across both those economies the Australian pricing on an iPad is pretty similar."

The cheapest place to buy an Ipad is Japan at $US480, while Argentina is the most expensive at $US974.

The index shows the cost of buying an iPad in Australia has increased by around $60 from six months ago, though the price increase coincided with the release of the new model iPad Air.

CommSec's index is modelled on The Economist magazine's well known Big Mac Index, and measures the purchasing power of consumers in different countries.

With inflation more or less in check in the US and further interest rate cuts unlikely in Australia, Mr Sebastian expects the dollar to remain roughly around its current level for the next few months.

"Over the near term it's probably going to hold around these levels, we don't see it heading back below 90 cents for some time," he said.

"There's really not much of a catalyst to suggest there is a need to push it in that direction."

But while the currency may be fairly valued from a consumer point of view, Mr Sebastian said a lower dollar would help the economy by making Australian exporters more competitive.

"There's no question that a lower currency would be a lot more beneficial in readjusting the Australian economy," he said.

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