ALP offers $450 million for child care

PM Kevin Rudd has committed $450m to provide before and after hours school-based care for children. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has committed $450 million to provide before and after hours school-based care for children.

Mr Rudd said the funding will be offered under Labor's Better Schools Plan and comes alongside previous government investment in school facilities.

Children needed to be looked after before school and after school.

"A kid's development doesn't just begin at 9am and end at 3pm," Mr Rudd said.

"The government will give parents a further helping hand."

An additional $450 million will go to schools looking to set up outside school hours care on their grounds, or extend the hours they currently offer.

"This initiative will see, number one, more flexible school opening hours, before and after school and during school holidays," Mr Rudd said.

Secondly, it will provide additional places in areas where parent need access to such care.

It also means there will be new services, such as music programs, supervised sport and homework clubs.

The extra funds are also aimed at boosting employment for mums.

This should ease living cost pressures and "increase the opportunities for employment participation, especially for women", he said.

Starting in 2014, up to 500 schools across the nation would offer the extended services, benefiting some 345,000 children aged five to 12 years.

Mr Rudd confirmed the money for the Better Schools: Before And After program was net new investment.

Parents currently using out of schools hours care receive the child care rebate, which is not means tested.

Early childhood minister Kate Ellis said the program would not affect existing child care arrangements for parents - the child care rebate remains.

"The point of this arrangement is trying to ensure we have more places, more parents being able to use those places," she said.

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Prayer leader pleads guilty to assaults

A MUSLIM prayer leader has pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting two teenage girls and a grandmother on Sydney's northern beaches.

Ahmed Abdelshafy Mohamed El-Kahly, 60, appeared at North Sydney Local Court on Monday dressed in traditional Muslim clothing and headgear.

He is accused of kissing the hands of the women and touching their breasts at and near Dee Why Beach in late July.

The 57-year-old woman was allegedly indecently assaulted on Dee Why Beach while she was pushing her four-month-old grandson in a pram, court papers allege.

As she tried to pull away El-Kahly said to her "I love you, I love you".

He said the same thing to one of the two 16-year-old victims as she tried to get away from him.

El-Kahly is described in court papers as an Egyptian Iman who arrived in Australia on June 7.

He comes to Australia each year to "lead prayer", the papers said.

Police are still investigating and more charges may be laid, the court heard.

His temporary working stay visa will expire on August 18 but the matter returns to the same court on September 16.

Outside the court, El-Kahly's lawyer Rick Mitry said his client had suffered from psychiatric problems for years and didn't have his medication with him in Australia.

"He doesn't even remember most of what happened," Mr Mitry told reporters, adding his condition caused psychotic episodes and hallucinations.

"He has been treated for deep depression bordering on schizophrenia (in Egypt).

"He's very distressed. He has written a fairly extensive letter of apology (to the victims)."

Mr Mitry said he won't know for two or three days whether further charges will be laid.

El-Kahly covered his face with a scarf as he walked out of court.

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Hopes fade for Indonesians missing at sea

MALAYSIAN rescuers say hopes are fading for 40 Indonesians who went missing at sea days earlier, as one survivor recounted how passengers terrified by high waves panicked and caused their boat to capsize.

The wooden boat, believed to be carrying 44 people including women and children from southern Johor state to Indonesia's Batam island, sank in heavy seas late on Thursday.

Four men were rescued on Friday by passing fishermen and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency. The accident occurred 24km off the coast.

The passengers are believed to be illegal migrants working in Malaysia who wanted to return to their country to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the end of the Muslim fasting month next week, without passing border controls.

One of the survivors, Edey Muliadi, was quoted by The Star daily on Sunday as saying when high waves hit the boat, the passengers panicked and crowded to one side of it, causing it to overturn.

"When we were thrown into the sea, all I could hear was people and children screaming in the pitch-darkness," said the 26-year-old who worked as an excavator operator near the capital Kuala Lumpur.

He said the passengers tried to hold on to the overturned boat in the storm, but the vessel sank.

Amran Daud, an official with the maritime agency, said six vessels had been dispatched, while several helicopters were on standby with the weather clear on Sunday.

"We are continuing our operations. After three days in the ocean the chances are very slim to get a survivor," he told AFP.

"From the survivors' accounts, I would say that this boat is not seaworthy to travel in. They took the risk."

An estimated four million foreigners, mostly from poorer countries in the region, such as Indonesia and Myanmar (Burma), work in Malaysia - many illegally - filling low-paying jobs shunned by locals on plantations, construction sites and in factories.

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Election date set for September 7

Speculation is mounting that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd may be closer to naming the poll date. Source: AAP

AUSTRALIANS will go to the polls on September 7, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced.

"It's on. A few moments ago I saw the Governor-General and asked that she dissolve this parliament and call the federal election for September 7," he said in an email.

"Australians now face a choice. And the choice couldn't be starker.

"I have a positive vision about the country we can be.

"In this election I'll be talking with Australians across the country about better schools for our kids, investing so we can create good jobs, and about how the NBN can help keep our economy strong."

Mr Rudd will hold a press conference at 4pm (AEST) at Parliament House.

The prime minister flew into Canberra from his hometown of Brisbane about 2.38pm and arrived at Yarralumla around 3.10pm.

He left the governor-general's residence just 13 minutes later.

Mr Rudd appeared to downplay the likelihood of a September 7 election on Saturday when he told reporters he wanted to attend the G20 summit in St Petersberg just days before.

But on Sunday he announced Victoria had signed on to the schools funding deal, and Western Australia on to the national disability care scheme.

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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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