BBC faces review of 'everything': UK govt

All aspects of how the BBC is run and paid for will be reviewed when its charter is renewed. Source: AAP

ALL aspects of how the BBC is run and paid for will be reviewed when its charter comes up for renewal, Britain's culture secretary says.

Sajid Javid said "everything" would be looked at, including licence fees and governance structures, when negotiations get under way.

Senior Tories have previously called the compulsory annual charge paid by British viewers out of date and warned it faces the axe but BBC executives insist a subscription system could end up costing more money.

Javid said plans for the process of renewing the charter, which expires in December 2016, were being worked on.

He told Total Politics: "We will announce plans in due course. That will be a time to look at all aspects of the BBC: governance arrangements, licence fees and so forth. That's where we plan to look at everything."

The renewal negotiations will take place on the back of a torrid few years in which the British broadcaster was lambasted for its handling of the Jimmy Savile scandal, massive executive pay-offs and a Newsnight investigation that led to the late Lord McAlpine being wrongly accused of child abuse.

Conservative MP John Whittingdale, chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, reportedly told senior BBC executives earlier this month that he did not believe the licence fee would survive.

Tory Party chairman Grant Shapps warned the corporation last year it could lose its exclusive right to the STG3.6 billion ($A6.57 billion) raised by the licence fee if it failed to tackle what he believes is a culture of secrecy, waste and unbalanced reporting in the organisation.

The government has frozen the annual licence fee, which is paid by every British household with a TV, at STG145.50 ($A265.58) for the rest of the charter period.

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Boy charged after Sydney party stabbing

A teen is in a critical condition in hospital after being stabbed at a party in Sydney's inner west. Source: AAP

POLICE have charged a 16-year-old boy with assault and affray after two other boys were badly hurt in an alleged fight at a Sydney house party.

Police were called to a house in Five Dock on Friday evening following reports of a backyard fight.

Officers found a 17-year-old boy with stab wounds to his chest and side, and another who had allegedly been hit on the head with a bottle.

The boy with stab wounds has undergone surgery at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and remains in a critical but stable condition.

The other boy was also treated at the hospital.

Officers arrested a 16-year-old after he received treatment for a head wound at Concord Hospital.

He was charged on Saturday afternoon.

He was given conditional bail to appear at a children's court on Friday, June 20.

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Kiwi drops againt major currencies

THE New Zealand dollar may extend its decline as the prospect of European Central Bank stimulus stokes demand for the greenback, while sliding business confidence locally saps demand for the kiwi.

It fell to 84.80 US cents at 5pm in Wellington from 84.95 cents at 8am and 85.36 cents on Wednesday.

The trade-weighted index dropped to 79.17 from 79.71 on Wednesday.

The kiwi fell to a two-month low 84.68 US cents on Wednesday after the greenback rallied on weak German employment data, which heightened speculation the ECB will stimulate the regional economy when it reviews monetary policy next week.

The local currency came under pressure after a survey showed New Zealand business confidence fell for a third month, the same day Fonterra cut its forecast payout to farmers on declining dairy prices.

"The market is looking to sell the kiwi and is looking for excuses," said Imre Speizer, market strategist at Westpac Banking Corp in Auckland.

The kiwi fell to 91.37 Australian cents at 5pm in Wellington from 92.18 cents on Wednesday to 86.23 yen from 87.03 and to 62.30 euro cents from 62.64 cents.

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ASPI warns of defence spending spree

DEFENCE has done so well from a tough budget that it has raised concerns the money might be wastefully splurged on expensive new equipment.

The latest Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) defence budget brief says the extra money has given the government a good start on its promise to lift defence funding to two per cent of gross domestic product in a decade.

Based on growth projections, that would be about $42 billion in today's money in 2023/24. The 2014/15 defence budget is $29.3 billion, an increase of $2.3 billion, which takes defence share of gross domestic product to 1.8 per cent.

The report's author, ASPI analyst Mark Thomson, said the budget established a credible base to reach the two per cent target, although it would still need 5.3 per cent annual growth from 2017/18.

But the risk was defence would splurge on new equipment and extra personnel.

Recent proposals exemplified the risk of generous funding leading to wasteful spending, he said.

They include suggestions to retire Anzac frigates early to give work to local shipyards or the "equally profligate proposal" for Australian construction of support ships that could be bought more cheaply overseas.

"By setting a generous financial target for defence, the government has effectively sent the military on a shopping expedition," he said.

Dr Thomson said the government's commitment to increased defence funding would be tested.

In the next three to five years, it will want to balance the books, giving it a choice between sustaining defence funding or delivering an early surplus at an opportune time in the electoral cycle.

Ability to spend up on defence will also depend on voters' willingness to cop higher taxes and forgo social services.

Australia's 10 million workers would each contribute about $5000 a year to sustain defence spending of two per cent of GDP, he said. However, polls show support for higher defence spending has fallen from 60 per cent in 2001 to less than 40 per cent now.

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Aristocrat set to launch mobile games

POKER machine maker Aristocrat Leisure will soon have its popular Facebook games ready for play on smartphones and tablets.

Aristocrat says its "Heart of Vegas" suite of games on Facebook is growing and was one of Facebook's top new games of 2013.

A new Facebook application, the "Jackpot Dreams" suite of games, has also been launched.

Both applications are soon to be launched on mobile platforms.

"Over the second half of 2014, we'll launch both Heart of Vegas and Jackpot Dreams on mobile platforms, representing out first major entry into the dynamic mobile channel," Aristocrat chief executive Jamie Odell said on Wednesday.

Part of Aristocrat's strategy is to modify games that have been successful on its "land-based" poker machines into similar games that can be played online, including on social sites such as Facebook.

Mr Odell said Aristocrat's acquisition in 2012 of US-based Product Madness, which now provides Aristocrat's gaming applications on Facebook, had been a great buy.

"I'd love for that business to become very significant in the next two to three years. It has the potential and every reason to do it," he said.

Aristocrat's online revenue for the first six months of the company's fiscal year increased fivefold to $16.1 million as it developed a greater presence on Facebook.

Aristocrat is also expanding its online distribution in Europe and says it has established a strong position in Italy.

Aristocrat on Wednesday reported a net profit of $57.4 million for the six months to March 31, up 9.1 per cent on the result a year earlier.

Profits were boosted by better operational performance, market share growth in the critical US market, and foreign and exchange and tax benefits.

Aristocrat's North American and online operations made more money, but profits in Australia and other regions and segments were lower.

Aristocrat gained a larger market share in the US market on the back of new games such as Walking Dead and the continued popularity of Tarzan.

In Australia, earnings were lower due to one-off licensing revenues received in the prior corresponding period.

But Aristocrat strengthened its position in NSW and Queensland as new games for the Australian market were rolled out.

Aristocrat expects strong profit growth for the full year.

Shares in Aristocrat were 19 cents higher at $5.36 at 1540 AEST.

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Ramsay Health appoints new chairman

Michael Siddle has been made chairman of Ramsay Health Care after the death of Paul Ramsay (pic). Source: AAP

RAMSAY Health Care has appointed Michael Siddle as its new chairman following the death of the company's founder Paul Ramsay.

Mr Siddle served as Mr Ramsay's deputy chair for 17 years.

The private hospitals operator has appointed Peter Evans as its new deputy chairman.

Mr Ramsay, one of Australia's richest men, died in early May after suffering a heart attack while sailing in Spain.

He founded Ramsay Health Care in 1964 and left most of his fortune to charity.

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Bishop defends her record, then boots Lib

THE government is trying to force Labor to apologise to Speaker Bronwyn Bishop after unearthing a 14-year-old report of a Labor member holding a party fundraiser in the Speaker's dining room.

Leader of the House Christopher Pyne moved a motion to force his opposition counterpart, Tony Burke, to apologise to Mrs Bishop for saying her reported use of her suite for a budget-night fundraiser was unprecedented.

He said the Australian Financial Review reported in 2000 a story of Hawke government speaker Leo McCleay holding a fundraiser in the suite.

Mr Burke responded that it was a "silly childish game" from Mr Pyne and the government had not handed over any evidence to support its claims.

The move came after a question time where Mrs Bishop rose to defend her impartiality - and then promptly booted a Liberal MP from the chamber for the very first time.

She said the Australian practice of the "so-called independent speakership" differs from the United Kingdom in that speakers here change when the government does.

"This provides a speaker who is politically affiliated but who is required to be impartial in the chair," she told parliament to laughter from opposition MPs.

She's come under fresh fire from the opposition this week over reports a Liberal Party fundraiser was held in the Speaker's suite on budget night.

One of Labor's chief grievances has been that the hardy Liberal Party warrior contributes to debate from the chair.

Mrs Bishop also said that in House of Representatives practice it was unusual for speakers to participate in debate but there was no rule against it.

"I trust this provides some perspective on how I see my role as Speaker," she said.

One minute after question time began, Mrs Bishop turfed out Queensland coalition MP Ewen Jones.

That makes one coalition MP expelled and 102 from Labor.

Former Labor government speaker Anna Burke said she and her Labor predecessor Harry Jenkins never used the Speaker's office, or made it available, for party political events.

She said health minister Peter Dutton was wrong in saying that previous speakers had done just that.

"To do so would have been highly inappropriate," she told parliament.

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Rogerson charged with student's murder

DISGRACED ex-NSW detective Roger Rogerson has been charged with the murder of university student Jamie Gao.

Police confirmed the human remains found floating in waters off Cronulla in Sydney's south on Monday morning were those of Mr Gao.

Rogerson was charged with murder and large commercial drug supply.

He has been refused bail to appear in Bankstown Local Court on Tuesday.

A handcuffed Rogerson was frogmarched out of his Sydney home in dramatic scenes on Tuesday morning and taken to Bankstown police station for questioning.

Fellow former Sydney detective and self-titled whistleblower Glen McNamara was charged on Monday with Mr Gao's murder.

Police said a post-mortem examination of Mr Gao's body had not been completed.

Rogerson's lawyer, Paul Kenny, earlier on Tuesday said the disgraced former policeman had been "treated like a dog" by police.

Rogerson was meeting with Mr Kenny at his Padstow Heights home on Tuesday morning when police swooped, banging on his door and surrounding the home.

Mr Kenny said he would be calling NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione to complain about his client's treatment.

"He was treated like a dog. I've never seen conduct like this by NSW police," Mr Kenny said.

"This is like something off a TV show, but a bad TV show."

Mr Kenny said Rogerson, 73, was just about to head off to a meeting with police when the officers arrived.

"Police starting smashing at the door and a number of them came into Mr Rogerson's office where we were having a legal conference to make arrangements to go into the city," he said.

"I was just about to call Superintendent (Luke) Moore to let him know we were on our way."

The NSW Police said in a statement that they were not satisfied with Rogerson's arrangements and decided to arrest him.

Police allege Mr Gao was killed last Tuesday after a drug deal went wrong.

Mr Kenny said on Tuesday that Rogerson was shocked at being linked to the murder.

He appealed for calm, telling journalists Rogerson wanted to avoid any media hysteria.

"We don't want any OJ Simpson situation," he said.

Rogerson is one of the most infamous policemen in NSW history.

The highly-decorated detective was dismissed from the force in the 1980s after being convicted of conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

His police career was later depicted in the ABC drama series Blue Murder.

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Qld treasurer says asset sales more likely

QUEENSLAND'S treasurer has hinted that federal government budget cuts have made state asset sales more likely.

Tim Nicholls says cabinet will have to sign off on the final plan next Monday, before the state budget is handed down the following day.

The government wants to sell or lease $30 billion worth of assets, increase taxes or reduce services to help pay down $80 billion worth of state debt.

"More cuts on cuts, more taxes on taxes has made it more difficult for the government in terms of dealing with that $80 billion worth of debt and obviously that weighs on our decision making process," Mr Nicholls said.

"The federal government's decision has made those choices tougher for us in terms of looking at tax increases and cuts to services."

Mr Nicholls said a public share offering could be considered for any asset sold.

Premiers are revolting against $80 billion in federal budget cuts to health and education over the next decade, and a $7 doctor co-payment.

Mr Nicholls wouldn't say if any money raised from potential asset sales would help make up the shortfall.

Deputy Opposition Leader Tim Mulherin has questioned how much money reaped from asset sales will be used to pay down debt, as originally planned.

He also attacked the LNP for keeping up the charade over whether or not they're selling assets.

"No matter how much fake consulting the treasurer has done will stop the fact that he made up his mind up in 2012," Mr Mulherin said.

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ECB may hold clues for kiwi's direction

THE New Zealand dollar has held near the bottom of its recent band as the European Central Bank (ECB) forum may give investors clues to how the monetary authority will stave off threats to the regional economy.

Holidays in the US and UK are likely to keep trading volumes light, traders said.

The kiwi traded at 85.33 US cents 5pm in Wellington from 85.36 cents at 8am and 85.39 cents on Friday in New York. The trade-weighted index was 79.73 from 79.78 at the Friday close.

Traders are looking for any clues as to how the ECB will overcome low inflation and whether the bank will ease monetary policy further through a series of stimulus measures.

"The ECB speakers have started off fairly dovish" and "there's still more ECB rhetoric to come," said Alex Hill, head of trading at HiFX in Auckland.

"The euro is under pressure, which is keeping the US dollar bid firmly and commodity currencies down."

Mr Hill said the lack of liquidity in the market means traders could push the kiwi around in the northern hemisphere session.

The kiwi is trading about 20 basis points above a strong support level, he said.

It traded at 86.98 yen at 5pm in Wellington from 87.06 yen on Friday in New York, and was little changed at 92.37 Australian cents from 92.44 cents and at 62.66 euro cents from 62.63 cents.

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New prison unit for dangerous Vic crims

THE Victorian government will build a maximum security prison wing to house a growing number of underworld figures, bikies and violent offenders.

The new unit of 40 cells will be built adjacent to Barwon Prison, near Geelong.

A spokesman from Corrections Victoria said the wing was needed to house the state's growing prisoner population.

"It will build on the prison system's capacity to manage an increasingly complex prisoner population, including outlaw motorcycle gang members, underworld figures and violent prisoners," he told AAP.

The Banksia Unit - used to house protected prisoners - will also be upgraded, he said.

The spokesman said the government was seeking expressions of interest from contractors to build the unit, which is expected to be built by the middle of 2016.

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We won't compromise on co-payment: Hockey

Treasurer Joe Hockey has all but ruled out compromise on a GP co-payment. Source: AAP

TREASURER Joe Hockey has all but ruled out compromise on a GP co-payment, as Labor finally confirmed it would not block the government's deficit levy for the rich.

A bullish Mr Hockey on Sunday said the government would be willing to negotiate with senators on the budget, but warned against outright opposition to every measure.

"If the immediate answer of everyone in the Senate is no, then I think the Australian people have a low, low tolerance for that," he told Sky News on Sunday.

Labor, the Greens and cross-benchers have said they will oppose many of the unpopular changes in Mr Hockey's first budget, including the $7 Medicare co-payment.

But Mr Hockey said he did not think the government should compromise on the payment, $5 of which will go into a new medical research future fund.

"If the independents and the Labor party want to have a medical research future fund, there has to be a co-payment," Mr Hockey said.

"You cannot have both."

Health Minister Peter Dutton also signalled an unwillingness to negotiate on the $7 co-payment.

"As people realise that this package really is about strengthening Medicare ... I think that will bring pressure to bear on the senators," he told the Ten Network.

"Some people advocated that we get rid of bulk billing altogether, but we haven't."

Labor Senate leader Penny Wong revealed her party would not stand in the way of the proposed deficit levy for those earning more than $180,000, after weeks of hinting it may support the new tax.

However, the opposition was "not for moving" on changes to pensions and Medicare, or cuts to health and education funding, she said.

Senator Wong ruled out negotiation on plans for university deregulation, which will allow them to charge higher student fees.

Labor's opposition to the Medicare co-payment was also non-negotiable, she said.

"If Tony Abbott wants to do that he's going to have to come through us in the Senate," she told ABC Television.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said he won't surrender his government's budget commitments to the Senate, and has hinted a double dissolution election isn't out of the question if negotiations fail.

But Greens leader Christine Milne labelled Mr Abbott untrustworthy and incapable of negotiating with the senators.

Mr Abbott was leading a "lame duck government", she said.

The prime minister said the government's tough budget was "absolutely necessary" to rein in the country's debt and deficit.

"We need to take action now or an even greater burden will fall on our kids' generation," Mr Abbott said in a brief statement.

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