Australia close to FTA with China: Bishop

AFTER eight years of negotiations, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says she is hopeful of clinching a free trade agreement with China within months.

Ms Bishop was in Beijing this week for high-level talks with Chinese officials including Vice-President Li Yuanchao.

She told a press conference China, Australia's biggest trading partner, had expressed enthusiasm for a free trade agreement (FTA) days after a similar deal was inked between South Korea and Australia.

"There are many opportunities for our economic relationship to be broader and deeper and more diversified and the potential for a Free Trade Agreement was discussed," Ms Bishop told reporters in Beijing on Saturday.

"Indeed, the Vice-President indicated that he thought we had the opportunity to conclude a Free Trade Agreement in the very near future."

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has previously pledged to secure three FTAs in his first 12 months as prime minister.

The third hoped-for agreement would be with Japan.

Ms Bishop said Australia was still hopeful of reaching a deal with China within a year.

"We didn't put a time-frame on it, that's Australia's aspiration. But most certainly the Vice-President was very positive about the conclusion of an agreement within a short period of time," she said.

"We have been negotiating a free trade agreement with China for eight years now and the high quality, comprehensive agreement that we were able to conclude with South Korea gives us hope that we will be able to do something similar with China."

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Motorcyclist dies after toy run event

A 58-YEAR-OLD man is dead and a teenage girl is in hospital after a motorcycle crash on the Brooker Highway in Hobart.

Police say the motorcycle, which had earlier been involved in a toy run event, was travelling north when it crashed about 200m south of the Claremont Link Road off ramp.

The driver, from Old Beach, died at the scene, while his passenger, a 17-year-old girl, was taken to Royal Hobart Hospital in a stable condition.

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Blue Mountains families want repair action

SOME 70 Blue Mountains families who lost everything in the October bushfires are on track to have their blocks cleared, ready for rebuilding, just in time for Christmas.

NSW Services Minister Andrew Constance on Thursday night fronted residents who lost their homes seven weeks ago when flames ripped through bushland communities west of Sydney, promising 60 blocks will be cleared by late January.

But he told AAP the clearing operation could come earlier - December 23 - for about 70 NRMA-insured families.

Local councillor and teacher Brendan Luchetti says for those residents who lost their homes, a fresh start is "the Christmas present they really want".

More than 200 homes were lost in the fires, but locals say despite promises of a speedy response from government at the height of the fire emergency, not a single block has yet been cleared.

Mayor Mark Greenhill wants an apology from the O'Farrell government, which has been negotiating with insurers.

He says the government could have moved faster by engaging a single contractor to clear up fire-affected properties and reconciling costs with insurers later.

"It's a hodge-podge, piecemeal approach," he told AAP.

"I think possibly there was a bit of penny-pinching going on; looking for a cheaper option, rather than the faster option."

Mr Constance, who on Monday was handed oversight of the Blue Mountains clean-up, which is being coordinated by ex-Rural Fire Service boss Phil Koperberg, acknowledged locals were hurting.

"Obviously I'm very sorry that the delays occurred," Mr Constance told AAP.

"My hope is now that we are moving through and I'm optimistic that we will see this progress incredibly quickly."

There were emotional scenes as locals spoke of their distress at waiting for burned-out homes to be cleared away.

"I'm one of the ones where people say, 'You're one of the lucky ones', because my house is still standing," Winmalee resident Fran Elston said.

"I don't feel like I'm one of the lucky ones ...

"Seven weeks is a long time when you have lost everything.

"Seven weeks is a long time when I hate walking out the front door, because all I see is ash."

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Shark blamed for NSW surfer's injuries

A SURFER who showed up at a NSW mid-north coast hospital with cuts to his hand and leg has received a surprising diagnosis: shark attack.

Police say the 26-year-old was in the water at Port Macquarie about 6.15pm (AEDT) on Thursday, when he felt something hit his right hand.

When the man discovered cuts to his right hand and blood on his leg he took himself to Port Macquarie Hospital, where doctors told him his wounds were consistent with a shark bite.

"He did not see a shark and was unaware at the time that he could have been bitten by one," NSW police said in a statement.

The man was treated for puncture wounds to his hand and a laceration to his leg, but was expected to be released.

Police said the northern end of Shelley Beach, where the suspected attack happened, was isolated and not widely used.

Officers could not find anyone else in the water when they visited the beach.

An expert is now set to visit Port Macquarie to try to identify the species of shark involved.

The suspected attack came just five days after Port Macquarie teenager Zac Young was killed by a shark while body-boarding further up the NSW coast.

The 19-year-old was in the ocean with three friends at Riecks Point, near Coffs Harbour, on Saturday when a shark bit off his legs.

He died shortly after his friends managed to drag him to shore.

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Manufacturing decline is limited: report

AUSTRALIA'S manufacturing sector has faced difficult economic conditions over the past decade but new research has pin-pointed a sharp downturn in overall productivity to just three key areas.

A staff working paper by the Productivity Commission found that while investment in manufacturing has risen over the long term, hours worked and employment in the sector have declined.

The report found no "overarching systemic reason" for the decline in manufacturing's rate of multi-factor productivity growth.

It declined by 1.4 per cent a year between 2003/04 and 2007/08 compared with 1.3 per cent productivity growth a year between 1998/99 and 2003/04.

"However, three of its sub-sectors - petroleum and chemicals, food and beverages, and metal products - collectively accounted for two-thirds of this decline between cycles," the report released on Friday shows.

One influence has been from the appreciation of the Australian dollar and changing competitive conditions.

It also noted that there has been a lag between new capital investment in these sub-sectors and the output from that investment.

In particular, additional investment in petroleum refining to meet new environmental standards, while improving the quality of outcomes, did not raise output.

Changes in consumer preferences have also had an impact on productivity, such as significant growth in smaller-scale bakeries that use more labour-intensive processes.

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Trade not aid key to Asian support: Abbott

TRADE, not aid, should be Australia's policy when it comes to assisting Asian neighbours, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said, as the opposition called for an inquiry into his government's $4.5 billion aid program cuts.

Speaking in Melbourne on Thursday night, Mr Abbott said foreign aid should be better targeted and Australia should help developing nations stand on their own feet.

He said the growing economic strength of the region needed to be matched in Australia by strengthening of the economy.

Australia's international clout doesn't rest on the size of its aid budget, but on the size of its economy, Mr Abbott said.

"As far as possible, Australian aid should be designed to enable other countries to stand on their own two feet as quickly as possible," Mr Abbott said.

"Trade, rather than aid, is the best way to sustainably boost poor countries' prosperity."

He said reducing the rate of increase in the aid budget would enable the government to ensure it was being targeted effectively.

His comments followed an announcement by Labor senator Ursula Stephens the opposition would be referring plans for $4.5 billion of cuts to Australia's international aid program to a Senate Committee for inquiry.

The matter will be moved in the Senate on Monday.

Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek said Australians deserved to know why the government had decided to slash aid funding and where the cuts would be made.

"We know Australians support a strong international aid program. Australia is a rich, generous country that can afford to lend a helping hand," Ms Plibersek said.

Mr Abbott also spoke about the importance of fostering strong relationships with the booming economies of China, India and Japan and in particular, Indonesia, which he said was Australia's, "important overall relationship."

He said the media made the relationship with Indonesia difficult.

"Being Indonesia's "trusted partner" is easier said than done, given the media's tendency to play to stereotypes and past disagreements over East Timor," Mr Abbott said.

On Thursday, the government agreed to a six-point plan aimed at repairing relations with Indonesia two weeks after the suspension in co-operation on November 26.

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Boy dies in Queensland road accident

A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD boy has died in hospital in north Queensland after his bike and a car collided.

He was riding at the intersection of Hans Christian Street and Brownsey Court at Sarina on Thursday afternoon when the accident happened.

He was taken to the Mackay Base Hospital, where he died a short time later, police say.

The woman driving the car wasn't injured.

Investigations are continuing.

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Asthma hampers play, sex and work: study

NEARLY a third of dads with uncontrolled asthma avoid running around with their kids, according to a study that shows the condition affects almost every aspect of adult life.

It takes a toll on dating, sexual pleasure and people's careers, according to an Asthma Australia report on the study of more than 1000 people with poor asthma control.

More than one in 10 mothers in the study avoid playtime with their children and 16 per cent of parents find it difficult to carry their child.

More than two million Australians have asthma, and the condition can be controlled with the right medication and treatment plan, says respiratory physician Dr Simon Bowler.

"There is absolutely no reason why people with asthma can't gain better control."

He said the place to start was to discuss an action plan with a GP.

Dating and socialising are a major problem, with a large proportion of people in the study saying they cannot not keep up with friends during a night out. Many say they go home early.

A third say they worry about wheezing at the theatre or movies.

One young woman said she didn't tell her boyfriend about her asthma on their first few dates. When she could not hide it any more, she pretended it wasn't important.

A third of men and about 20 per cent of women in the study say their asthma interferes with their sex life.

Asthma Australia CEO Mark Brooke says it is essential for people to ask their GP for help.

"Often simple changes like getting a treatment plan or reviewing their medication can help minimise the impact on patients' sex lives," said Dr Bowler, chair of the organisation's medical advisory committee.

More than half of the people in the AstraZeneca-sponsored study miss work every year because of their symptoms.

Almost 20 per cent take time off six times a year or more.

A large proportion say asthma has hampered their career.

Almost two thirds have had an asthma attack at work, with 40 per cent saying stress made their symptoms worse.

One senior executive said he had been embarrassed by staff who tried to keep away from him when he had an asthma cough.

Only six per cent say their colleagues are supportive and many do not feel comfortable taking medication in front of others.

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Amphetamines link to higher HIV risk

THE growing use of amphetamine-style stimulants across Southeast Asia has increased the risk that users will contract HIV or other blood-borne viruses, a report has found.

Amphetamine-type stimulants are the second most used recreational drugs in the world, after cannabis, and the use of amphetamines continues to grow.

The study of amphetamine use in 11 countries in Southeast Asia found those who injected the drugs were more at risk of contracting a blood-borne virus.

Other users are at higher risk of contracting HIV due to higher-risk behaviour, such as unsafe sex.

The study found users of amphetamine-type stimulants faced multiple HIV risks.

"Use appears higher among groups vulnerable to HIV such as sex workers, men who have sex with men, and young people," said the report, by the Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) in co-operation with the Asia-Pacific Drugs and Development Issues Committee.

ANCD chairman John Herron said the report highlighted the need for governments to take action.

"The effects of amphetamine-type stimulant use on young people cannot be underestimated," Dr Herron said.

"Drug use may negatively impact on schooling and employment opportunities and contribute to risky behaviour - especially risky sexual behaviour amongst young people."

He said the rising use of amphetamines in Australia and in Southeast Asia was disturbing.

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Art project elicits the profound, profane

IT is public art made of private wishes.

In a phenomenon spreading across the globe, over-sized blackboards, painted on buildings and freestanding displays, invite passers-by to complete the sentence: "Before I die I want to ..."

Answers, some profound, some profane, are written on stencilled lines with pieces of sidewalk chalk picked from the ground below.

"... make my dad proud."

"... find the yin to my yang."

Since artist Candy Chang created the first wall on an abandoned house in her New Orleans neighbourhood in 2011, more than 400 walls have gone up in the United States and more than 60 other countries, including Kazakhstan, Mexico, Iraq, Haiti, South Korea and South Africa.

"... be happy."

"... see Italy."

"I've been surprised by how quickly people have dropped their guards and written sincere and sometimes heartbreaking things on these walls," said Chang, who said the first wall was inspired by the loss of a loved one. "It reassures me that I'm not alone as I try to make sense of my life."

"... eat more everything."

"... get my wife back."

"... slow down for a moment and maybe even stop."

"It's an honest mess of the longing, anxiety, joy, pain, gratitude, insecurity and wonder you find in every community. ... It's like collective therapy in public space," said Chang, responding to questions via email.

Chang earned a master's degree in urban planning and sees in public spaces the potential to unify and communicate.

Her own entries have ranged from "enjoy more places with the people I love" to "revive a ghost town."

"I don't know if maybe you're more likely to do it because now it's out there for the world to see, there's just something magical about stuff like this," said Sara McAlister, 22, after stopping to write on a former factory building in Syracuse.

"I think putting it out there, even considering the question, is going to make a difference."

"Travel the world," "brighten someone's day," wrote McAlister, a bartender who recently finished a master's degree in social work at Syracuse University.

"And between you and me, I wrote, marry this one over here," she said, nodding toward her boyfriend, Patrick Kraushaar, 26, who was writing "inspire someone positively" and "make my family proud."

"It's almost like positive imagery," Kraushaar said after putting his chalk down. "It helps bring it to fruition, maybe?"

Building owner Rick Destito painted the "Before I Die" wall after seeing the idea on Facebook.

"It's such a simple idea but it resonated so much with me because there are so many things that I want to do before I die," said Destito, who is transforming the former gear factory into artist and rehearsal studios.

He has watched people of all ages and backgrounds stop and write, some lingering, others dashing off a hope and hurrying off.

"... see a cure for autism."

"... grow a moustache."

"... get clean."

Nyquis Turner, 16, stopped to write, "play in the NFL."

"Find a cure for cancer. Be famous," Lynn Morehouse read from one of two boards that went up last month in Providence, Rhode Island.

"Some of them are funny. Some of them are a little off the wall. ... I like it."

"... find alien life."

"... tell my dad I'm gay."

Chang said a universal theme is personal well-being, citing repeat entries like: "come to terms with who I am," "have no regrets," "forgive and be forgiven," "heal".

A hardcover book, "Before I Die," released earlier this month by St. Martin's Press, permanently captures some of the answers, which are often otherwise erased to make room for more.

"Some walls reflect the current politics of the region," Chang said.

"But for the most part, the walls have shown just how universal our hopes are.

"We want to love and be loved," she said.

"We want to see the world. We want to help others. We want to understand who we really are."

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'Little joy' in UK soldier killing: court

ONE of the two men accused of hacking to death a British soldier in broad daylight told police he had "little joy" in killing, the jury at his London trial has heard.

Islamic extremists Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22, are charged with the murder of Lee Rigby on May 22 outside his barracks in the London suburb of Woolwich.

In an interview with police played to the jury on Wednesday, Adebolajo said it brought him "little joy to approach anybody and slay them".

He was ashamed of being British, he added, because the country was associated with the "murder, pillaging and rape of innocent people" and its leaders were "wicked, corrupt, selfish and oppressive".

A war existed "between the Muslims and the British people", said Adebolajo, describing himself as a "soldier of Allah".

Both he and Adebowale are British citizens of Nigerian descent.

The court also heard that days after the attacks Adebolajo told forensic psychiatrist Tim McInnerney he had acted "on the basis of his religious beliefs and because British soldiers were killing people in the Middle East".

In a statement read out to the jury, McInnerney said Adebolajo "showed no signs of regret or remorse" and would be a "continuing risk to the British military".

Both of the accused deny murder, as well as further charges of attempting to murder a police officer and conspiracy to murder a police officer.

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Seven policemen killed in India blast

AT least seven policemen have been killed in a landmine blast triggered by Maoist rebels in eastern India.

The insurgents targeted a police vehicle that was on patrol in Bihar state's Aurangabad district, 130km south of the state capital Patna. The district is a known rebel stronghold.

"All policemen from the Tandwa village, including the area's police officer-in-charge, were killed in the attack," senior police official Amit Kumar said on Tuesday.

Kumar said police had rushed reinforcements and were conducting search operations to track the assailants.

Maoist rebels are active in more than one-third of India's 626 administrative districts and usually target security personnel and government installations.

The Maoists, who reject parliamentary democracy, say their armed rebellion is to secure the rights of the poor and marginalised.

More than 6000 people, including civilians, militants and security personnel, have been killed in Maoist-related violence in India since 2005.

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Ford's US sales rose 7% in November

FORD'S US sales rose seven per cent in November, led by strong demand for the Fusion midsize car and F-Series pickups.

Ford said Fusion sales jumped 51 per cent over last November to 22,839. F-Series pickup sales were up 16 per cent to 65,501.

But sales of the Escape SUV - one of Ford's best sellers - dropped slightly to 20,988, and Focus small car sales were off almost 17 per cent to 15,239. Explorer SUV sales also were down nearly 9 per cent to 13,220.

Ford said its Lincoln luxury brand sales rose 17 per cent to 6,727 on strong sales of the MKZ midsize sedan.

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Sri Lankan military 'executed 17 in 2006'

SRI Lankan security forces executed 17 local workers in 2006 and the government has protected the killers, a French aid group says.

Action Against Hunger said in a statement on Tuesday that it had compiled a report with information implicating army, navy and police personnel.

They are accused of having lined up the victims at their office in the eastern town of Muttur, forcing them to their knees and shooting them in their heads.

The group says its information sources range from witnesses on the ground, confidential documents and diplomatic contacts.

It asked for an international investigation into the massacre.

Military spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said that withholding the alleged evidence instead of releasing it in support of the government's investigation raises suspicion about the group's motives.

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Economic growth staying solid

AUSTRALIA'S economic growth is expected to have picked up a little as the non-mining sectors of the economy start to recover.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) will release national accounts data on Wednesday.

Gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to have grown 0.7 per cent in the September quarter, for an annual rate of 2.5 per cent, according to an AAP survey conducted last week.

This would be slightly higher than June quarter growth of 0.6 per cent.

HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham said the nation's economic growth was showing signs of rebalancing away from one that was heavily driven by mining and resources investment.

"Low interest rates are lifting the established housing market and this month brought more evidence that the upswing in residential construction is picking up pace," he said.

Many economists have made small upward revisions to their forecasts after international trade data released on Tuesday showed stronger than expected net exports will contribute 0.7 percentage points to September quarter growth.

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US home prices rise just 0.2 per cent

A MEASURE of US home prices rose only modestly in October, adding to signs that prices have stabilised after big gains earlier this year.

Real estate data provider CoreLogic said on Tuesday that prices increased 0.2 per cent in October from September. That's up from a 0.1 per cent gain in September. But it is down sharply from a 0.9 per cent increase in August.

One reason for the slowdown is that the figures aren't adjusted for seasonal patterns. Prices usually decline in the fall and winter, when sales slow.

Still, big gains in previous months, along with higher mortgage rates, may be pricing some buyers out of the market.

Home prices have risen 12.5 per cent from a year ago. The increase could encourage more sellers to put their homes on the market, easing a shortage of homes for sale.

Only 1.88 million homes were for sale at the end of October, down 2.1 per cent from the previous month and the fewest since March.

The shortage of inventory has slowed sales. Home re-sales fell in October for a second straight month to a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 5.12 million, the lowest since June, according to the National Association of Realtors.

That pace is still six per cent higher than it was a year earlier. But it's below the roughly 5.5 million sold each year in healthier markets.

Some sales were delayed in October due to the 16-day partial government shutdown, the Realtors' group said. The shutdown prevented the IRS from verifying incomes, a critical part of the mortgage-approval process. Those sales may have been pushed into November or December.

But a measure of signed contracts to buy homes fell for a fifth straight month in October. That points to weaker final sales in the coming months. Final sales typically occur one to two months after contracts are signed.

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US construction spending up 0.8 per cent

US developers boosted construction spending in October at the fastest pace in more than four years, propelled by a surge in government buildings.

The increase suggests the 16-day partial government shutdown didn't slow public projects.

The Commerce Department said on Monday construction spending increased 0.8 per cent in October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $US908.4 billion ($A998.30 billion). That's up from September, when spending fell 0.3 per cent.

The October pace was the best since May 2009. Spending has increased 5.3 per cent in the 12 months ending in October.

A 3.9 per cent surge in public buildings drove the October increase. But construction of private homes and commercial projects fell 0.5 per cent.

Both the October and September figures were released on Monday, after reporting was delayed due to shutdown in October.

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Dow Chemical to separate about 40 plants

DOW Chemical is looking to separate about 40 manufacturing plants from its business as it continues to concentrate on moving away from cyclical commodity products.

The company said on Monday it was considering joint ventures, spinoffs or sales.

It expects those deals to happen within the next 12 to 24 months.

Almost 2000 workers will be affected by the moves.

Dow Chemical Co. said the businesses make up to $US5 billion ($A5.49 billion) of total annual revenue.

The assets include its US Gulf Coast chlor-alkali and chlor-vinyl facilities, the global chlorinated organics production plants, the global epoxy business, its brine and select assets supporting operations in Freeport, Texas, and Plaquemine, Louisiana, and energy operations in Plaquemine, Louisiana.

The company said it will also shut down about 800,000 tonnes of chlorine and caustic equivalent capacity in Freeport, Texas.

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Saab back, first cars under new owners

FOR the first time in two-and-a-half years, a new Saab sedan has rolled off the production line in Trollhattan in southwest Sweden.

National Electric Vehicle Sweden, the Hong Kong-based company that bought Saab out of bankruptcy in September last year, on Monday presented its new 9-3 Aero.

The company, also called NEVS, aims to make electric cars under the Saab brand, but said it will also provide gasoline-fuelled cars until "electric cars fully meet customer demands".

The first 200 cars will be delivered in the spring and will cost 279,000 kronor ($A46,700).

Saab shut down production in April 2011 as its previous Dutch owner, Spyker, struggled with financing.

Formerly owned by General Motors, Saab filed for bankruptcy in December the same year.

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Bank of America to pay Freddie Mac $US400m

BANK of America will pay $US404 million ($A444 million) to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac to settle all remaining claims over home loans sold in the previous decade.

The bank says the deal resolves claims on loans sold from 2000 through 2009, which includes mortgage-backed investments that soured during the housing crash.

The bank's reserves will cover the payment.

Earlier this year, Bank of America Corp. agreed to pay $US3.6 billion in cash to Freddie's sibling company, Fannie Mae, and buy back $US6.75 billion in loans sold by the bank and Countrywide Financial, which Bank of America bought in 2008.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac buy mortgages from banks and package them as bonds to sell.

The government rescued both during the financial crisis in 2008 with loans of about $US187 billion.

So far, they have repaid about $US136 billion of that aid.

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High Court to hear gay marriage challenge

A LEGAL challenge to the ACT's marriage equality laws will begin in the High Court on Tuesday.

A full bench of the court, Australia's highest legal jurisdiction, will hear a challenge from The Commonwealth seeking to discredit the validity of a same-sex bill approved by the ACT in October.

During a hearing scheduled to start at 10.15am (AEDT) the Commonwealth will ask the court to consider eight legal questions as it argues the new law is inconsistent with the federal Marriage Act which it regards as the sole and uniform code.

But the ACT will defend its legislation, maintaining there is scope for states and territories to legalise marriage between same-sex couples.

Marriage equality advocates are expected to attend the Canberra court on Tuesday in support of the ACT's laws.

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Second body removed from UK pub

THE body of a second victim has been removed from the Glasgow hotel which collapsed when a police helicopter crashed through its roof.

At least eight people were killed when the helicopter crashed into the Clutha Vaults pub in Scotland's largest city on Friday night, including the civilian pilot and two police officers.

Work to remove the chopper from the site is under way.

Police Scotland said on Sunday it would be a "painstaking process" expected to take some time, stressing the need to ensure the safety of the operation and emergency workers.

The body was removed from the crash scene at the same time as a service to remember the victims was being held in the city.

Hundreds of people were at Glasgow Cathedral, where prayers were said and candles lit.

Police Scotland have so far named only one of the victims as Gary Arthur, 48, from the Paisley area.

His daughter, Celtic and Scottish women's footballer Chloe Arthur, 18, wrote on Twitter: "RIP dad. you'll always mean the world to me, I promise to do you proud, I love you with all my heart.

"'Thanks to everyone who has tweeted me, text me etc, means so much, I have the most amazing friends ever."

John McGarrigle, 38, said an eyewitness told him his father, also John McGarrigle, 59, had also been killed.

Reports have also named helicopter pilot David Traill and police officer Kirsty Nelis as among the dead.

A post on the Facebook page of Mr Traill's cousin Heather Lawson read: "RIP David Traill my lovely big cousin away far to soon xxx"

Many of Mrs Nelis' friends on the social networking site changed their profile pictures to a black square cut across by a thin blue line in remembrance.

Deputy Chief Constable Rose Fitzpatrick said on Sunday: "We hope to make further formal identifications as the operation continues today.

"Our casualty bureau has already handled more than 600 calls and we are working hard to piece together information that will allow us to progress that.

"Clearly the processes involved take time."

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Salvos snapshot shines light on homeless

THEY'VE been reaching out to the homeless for 130 years, but for the first time the Salvation Army is releasing data on the people they help.

The Salvation Army on Monday released its first National Homeless Report, revealing how many people are accessing its help and their circumstances.

The largest provider of homeless services in Australia, the Salvos provide around 25 per cent of the support available for people living on the streets.

Dr Bruce Redman says it's hoped the data can reveal the extent of the homeless crisis in Australia and help plan a response.

"It's important to pinpoint the determining factors behind homelessness," he told AAP.

"From that we can then tailor our response in collaboration with the governments."

Dr Redman, who has been working with homeless people for more than 35 years, says the face of homelessness is changing.

While many Australians still figure the typical homeless person is an elderly man, perhaps with mental health or alcohol issues, the Salvos are actually seeing many types of people.

Dr Redman is particularly concerned about the number of young children arriving at Salvos centres with their mothers.

"They aren't able to settle into school or get any sort of stability in their lives and that's a real concern," he said.

The homeless reports will be released annually.

The inaugural report shows the Salvos helped 22,594 people in the six months from July 1 2012 to December 31 2012.

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Three Qld men in court for bashing murder

THREE young men will appear in a Sunshine Coast court on Monday charged with murder after allegedly killing a man in an early morning bashing.

The 45-year-old victim sustained head injuries when he was attacked outside the Factory nightclub in Maroochydore just after 3am (AEST) on Saturday, police say.

He was rushed to Nambour Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A 25-year-old North Arm man, a 27-year-old Coolum man and another 27-year-old man from Buderim will face Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday.

The men reportedly attacked the victim following an argument.

He was knocked to the ground, then kicked and punched in an attack that lasted less than 20 seconds and was captured on CCTV cameras.

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Watkins bandmates unaware of abuse

THE ex-bandmates of paedophile rocker Ian Watkins insist they did not know about the abuse.

The Lostprophets frontman has admitted a string of sex offences, including the attempted rape of a baby.

Speaking for the first time since Watkins' last-minute change of plea on Tuesday ahead of what would have been his trial at Cardiff Crown Court, his former bandmates revealed on Saturday night that they were "heartbroken, angry and disgusted".

They said in a statement to their fans: "Many of you understandably want to know if we knew what Ian was doing. To be clear: We did not.

"We knew that Ian was a difficult character. Our personal relationships with him had deteriorated in recent years to a point that working together was a constant, miserable challenge.

"But despite his battles with drugs, his egotistic behaviour and the resulting fractures and frustrations within our band, we never imagined him capable of behaviour of the type he has now admitted."

Watkins pleaded guilty to sexually touching a one-year-old and encouraging a groupie to abuse her own child during a webcam chat.

The 36-year-old, from Pontypridd, south Wales, also admitted possessing and making child porn as well as launching the plot to rape a baby.

The remaining band members announced in October that they had split up.

Their statement went on: "We are heartbroken, angry and disgusted at what has been revealed. This is something that will haunt us for the rest of our lives.

"Being in a band has always been a labour of love and a platform to inspire people, not to take advantage of them.

"It's still hard to believe this is happening and that someone we were once so close to has destroyed so many lives, lying every step of the way."

They added: "Our hearts go out to Ian's family, the fans and friends he betrayed, and most importantly, the victims of his crimes and others like them.

"We hope for justice, but also that Ian will truly take responsibility for what he's done. We would urge any other victims to contact the authorities."

The message was signed by lead guitarist Lee Gaze, rhythm guitarist Mike Lewis, bass player Stuart Richardson, keyboard player Jamie Oliver and drummer Luke Johnson.

Watkins will be sentenced on December 18.

Meanwhile, the Independent Police Complaints Commission has announced that it is investigating how South Yorkshire Police handled allegations against Watkins made last year.

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Government data found on old memory sticks

USED memory sticks being sold on the internet have been found to contain sensitive Australian government data, according to a new study.

The research paper, to be presented at a cyber security conference in Perth, reveals how researchers discovered the government information amongst a "treasure trove" of confidential material on the discarded memory sticks.

And the results have prompted authors Patryk Szewczyk and Krishnun Sansurooah, of the Security Research Institute at Perth's Edith Cowan University, to urge sellers to beware they are not handing over their secrets by taking money for old memory sticks.

"The results show that sellers are sending memory cards with no evidence of erasure, poor attempts to erase data - or simply asking the buyer to erase the data prior to use," the study concluded.

"The data recovered is not only of a personal nature, but also appears to originate from Australian government departments and business."

A total of 140 second-hand memory cards were purchased during the year, with each having its data recovered and subsequently analysed - with some sellers not even bothering to delete their old data themselves.

Previous similar studies by the same authors have also revealed government data on memory sticks sold, with authors concerned sellers were not learning the lessons of increasingly common cases of identity theft.

Last year's analysis of dozens of cards purchased online also revealed nearly 20 per cent of all the memory devices contained suggestive or sexualised images.

And the authors are now suggesting sellers such as eBay need to issue warnings when data storage devices are being offered online.

"It is evident that actions must be taken by second hand auction sites, and the media to raise awareness and educate end-users on how to dispose of data in an appropriate manner," the study says.

The Security Research Institute conference, to be held over three days, will discuss all aspects of cyber security, and expert concerns about it.

These include an investigation into the possibility of hacking into the controls of a remote control aerial drone, with the results finding devices are open to attack, which means they could be controlled by a third party.

The influence and potential deception on Twitter - through fake tweets and automated 'netbots' - and how it affected the 2013 federal election was also studied.

An analysis of the open source Twitter activity for the two major party leaders was examined, with the results showing fake online personas and fake bots deploying automated Twitter dissemination.

The authors concluded the existence of a tolerance of new media "slacktivism", where Twitter users mistake auto-narrative for genuine political sentiment.

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