Is this the end of the local mechanic?

Costly ... the Australian car industry has been accused of locking motorists into dealership servicing programs. Source: Supplied

LOCAL mechanics could soon become extinct and motorists may be forced to pay more for vehicle servicing after the car industry blocked independent repairers from getting access to complete maintenance data and specialist tools to fix modern cars.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries — the body that represents car companies — has walked away from negotiations with independent repairers and issued its own voluntary code of conduct on car servicing.

But the Australian Automobile Association, which represents seven million motorists nationally, says the code threatens to strip away the basic rights of consumers and local mechanics because it blocks access to critical information, computer upgrades and diagnostics equipment.

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About 20,000 independent workshops across Australia and approximately 1500 new-car dealer service centres maintain 17 million vehicles nationally.

Independent operators argue that as cars become complex "computers on wheels", smaller workshops need complete access to maintenance information and better diagnostics tools, rather than the bare essentials covered by the code.

Under the pump ... independent workshops want the same access to information as car dealerships. Source: Supplied

In Europe and North America it is compulsory for car companies to make available to independent workshops the same complete maintenance data and diagnostics equipment provided to new-car dealership service centres.

In most cases, independent mechanics in Europe and North America pay a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly subscription fee to access the most up to date information and diagnostics tools to work on certain cars.

But in Australia the car industry has been accused of locking motorists into dealership servicing programs.

"This shows complete arrogance and contempt on behalf of the car makers," said Andrew McKellar, the chief executive of the Australian Automobile Association, the peak body representing the NRMA, RACQ, RACV, RAA, RAC and other motoring groups in each state and territory.

"(The FCAI) is demonstrating little concern for the consumer and they are gunning for independent repairers and service providers. That's a bad thing for consumers as it reduces choice and reduces competition."

Money spinner ... dealerships source most profits from service and parts. Source: Supplied

Figures from market analysts Deloitte show, on average, service and parts account for more than 50 per cent of a dealership's profit; new-car sales contribute just 5 per cent to the bottom line.

"The new code has so many loopholes and so many exclusions as to make it utterly worthless," said Mr McKellar.

"It is a complete con. They're putting forward the appearance they're doing the right thing but if you dig into the detail it heavily restricts what is available (to independent repairers)."

Stuart Charity the executive director of the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association, which represents independent mechanics, repairers and parts suppliers, said: "This is not a dealer-bashing exercise, dealers are the meat in the sandwich in this".

"New-car dealerships are forced by car companies to have expensive showrooms and they need to recoup those costs by charging more for servicing," said Mr Charity. "That means car owners end up paying more for routine maintenance."

The AAA is concerned that restricting access to up-to-date servicing data could also have a negative impact on car safety.

"If people don't get their cars properly maintained because they are concerned about costs, then absolutely there is a risk this could affect vehicle safety," said Mr McKellar.

Up in the air ... new regulations for car servicing have been criticised by independent repairers. Source: AFP

The chief executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries Tony Weber said a 2012 Commonwealth Consumer Affairs Advisory Council (CCAAC) review found there "does not appear to be any evidence of systemic consumer detriment regarding the sharing of service and repair information in the automotive industry".

The advisory council recommended the automotive industry develop "within a reasonable period of time" a code of practice that "ensures there is a process for independent repairers to access repair information".

"Now, 23 months later, we are the only ones that appear to be making progress on this matter," said Mr Webber.

"If there is such a crisis according to others, why have they not issued their recommendations? Where is their commitment to the consumer? It's one thing for them to jump up and down but what are they doing?"

The Australian Automotive Dealers Association claims independent repairers already get access to relevant information.

The Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC) has offered to make their extensive repair information library available to independent repairers nationwide for a fee. The VACC claims it answers 98 per cent of technical enquiries in the first phone call.

But independent repairers claim the new code does not give them access to enough information because it lists 16 exemptions, including access to the latest diagnostics tools, and important vehicle updates that do not qualify as a recall but are fixed discreetly during routine servicing.

Federal issue ... Bruce Billson says independent repairers should have a "level playing field". Picture: Derrick den Hollander. Source: News Corp Australia

"Independent repairers in Europe and North America get access to this information and the right diagnostics tools, so why are the car companies blocking these in Australia? It's blatant anti-competitive behaviour," said Mr Charity.

"These days cars are computers on wheels, if you don't get access to the complete technical information, then a car owner is not going to get the same level of service," he said.

The Federal Minister for small business, Bruce Billson, said it was important that independent repairers had a "level playing field" when competing with car dealership service centres.

"While respecting that the FCAI may seek to introduce a voluntary code for its members, I would be concerned if agreement on the broader industry code was not reached," said Mr Billson.

"I have been contacted by (independent repairers) concerned that the FCAI does not address key aspects raised in the CCAAC report. Codes should be developed to ensure choice for consumers as to who repairs their vehicle."

This reporter is onTwitter: @JoshuaDowling

04.29 | 0 komentar | Read More

The Block's mock enviro shock is a crock

Scott Cam Visits the near finished Block in High St, Prahran. Picture: Jason Edwards Source: News Corp Australia

TOP-rating TV show The Block has been caught out ­faking a visit from the Environment Protection Authority after discovering thousands of litres of fuel at The Glasshouse building site at Prahran in Melbourne.

Channel 9 claimed to have used an EPA representative to check for possible soil contamination from a huge fuel tank found at the High St site.

The inclusion of Victoria's environmental inspection agency appeared to dramatically escalate the threat of ­contamination at the site.

But an investigation by Leader newspapers found the EPA had no involvement.

EPA representative "Chris".

When Nine was asked who the "EPA" inspector on the show was, spokesman Terry Stuart admitted it was a case of "misidentification" and an ­"editing error".

"He was, in fact, an environmental scientist hired by The Block Glasshouse to help us ­liaise with the EPA," he said.

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The cast of 'The Block Glasshouse'

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COMPENSATION CLAIMS HIT A BLOCK

Mr Stuart said "extensive testing" was carried out on the site and the all-clear was given.

Winners Simon and Shannon Vos. Picture: Tony Gough

But there was also no ­liaison with the EPA about the pollution concerns.

EPA senior media adviser Terry Sefton said the agency had not inspected the site for at least the past 10 years.

During episode 44 of The Block Glasshouse, the site was found to have been an Ampol service station and a tank with about 15,000 litres of fuel was discovered underground.

The Block winners Simon and Shannon say they feel for the other contestants and are making plans to take their builder on a surf trip

Foreman Keith Schleiger was filmed phoning the EPA to ask if someone could "come down and have a look".

In a voiceover, host Scott Cam said: "Back on the Block, the rep from the EPA has arrived and the news is not good".

The "EPA rep" was introduced as "Chris" and was on site with Schleiger. Cam said: "Chris from the EPA is taking a soil sample for testing."

"Chris" said: "We'll get this analysed at the lab and we'll see if there's any contamination." In Schleiger's piece to camera, he referred to the tank find as "an absolute disaster". "We're basically sitting on a bomb," he said.

The episode then showed fuel being removed from the tank.

When the Stonnington Leader asked if the tank had been removed, Mr Stuart­ said: "Go back and watch" the show.

holly.mckay@news.com.au

Originally published as The Block's mock enviro shock is a crock

04.29 | 0 komentar | Read More

Two quizzed after victim kicked to death

Police have released footage of two men they want to speak to over a fatal street attack outside McDonald's St Kilda Rd, Melbourne.

UPDATE: POLICE are speaking to two men over a brutal unprovoked street bashing outside a McDonald's restaurant that left a 21-year-old man dead.

Victoria Police spokeswoman Sergeant Sharon Darcy​ said officers had "located" one man this afternoon.

He was assisting police with their inquiries early this evening.

Sgt Darcy said the man may not be charged as police were trying to determine whether he was simply a witness to the attack.

Another man handed himself into police about 6.50pm and was taken into custody.​

Meantime, the dead man been identified as a 21-year-old from Parkville.

Police investigators at the scene at McDonald's in St Kilda Rd. Picture:Andrew Batsch

Melbourne University student Joshua Hardy was pushed to the ground and kicked in the head by two men outside McDonald's in St Kilda Rd at 1.05am.

GRIEF OVER BRUTAL DEATH OF 'TOP BLOKE'

Police earlier they wanted to speak to two men believed to be in their mid-20s, who detectives believe may be able to help with their inquiries.

Do you know more about this attack? Email david.hurley@news.com.au or call our newsdesk on 9292 1226.

They have urged anybody who knows anything about the shocking crime to get in touch.

Police investigators at the scene at McDonald's in St Kilda Rd. Picture:Andrew Batsch

The victim, whose name has not yet been released, was taken to The Alfred hospital but pronounced dead at 2.05am.

The attackers fled the scene on foot, going south along St Kilda Road.

Homicide squad detective Sgt Sol Solomon said: "Yet again we have another violent and senseless assault occurring on a public street in Melbourne late at night."

Police released images of the men they want to speak to. Officers have also obtained CCTV of the assault itself.

The victim, who was dressed smartly in a black suit, became involved in a discussion with two men outside McDonalds while they were eating their food.

Police investigators at the scene at McDonald's in St Kilda Rd. Picture:Andrew Batsch

The men then pushed the victim to the ground head first and kicked him in the head.

Shocked patrons rushed to the man's aid, but he had already fallen unconscious.

Det Sgt Solomon said: "An altercation took place between the victim and two males.

"Right out the front of the McDonald's store ... the victim was violently assaulted, thrown to the ground and kicked to the head.

"He lapsed into unconsciousness immediately.

Police investigators at the scene at McDonald's in St Kilda Rd. Picture:Andrew Batsch

"Emergency services were called, the victim was taken to The Alfred hospital in an ambulance where he was pronounced deceased at 2.05am.

"He has died as a result of injuries received in that assault."

CCTV footage of the attack has given police a strong lead.

"We have viewed CCTV footage of the actual incident," Det Sgt Solomon said.

"He was grabbed by the arm and violently thrown to the ground head first and then kicked to the head.

Police investigators at the scene at McDonald's in St Kilda Rd. Picture:Andrew Batsch

He said there was no indication the victim knew the men who attacked him.

"From what I viewed on the CCTV footage it was not a provoked attack," he said.

"There appears to have been a discussion leading up to the assault. However we are not aware of what words were exchanged.

"From the CCTV there appears to be interaction, a verbal interaction between the victim and two males."

Police want to find out what was discussed.

Police investigators at the scene at McDonald's in St Kilda Rd. Picture:Andrew Batsch

Det Sgt Solomon said the attackers would face "very serious charges".

"Both offenders struck the victim," he added.

"Two girls came out of the McDonald's restaurant and immediately went to the assistance of the victim.

"Another male customer came out and also ran off in the direction of the two male offenders ... however he didn't catch them.

"There will be an autopsy conducted some time later today where the exact cause of death will be identified by a pathologist.

Police investigators at the scene at McDonald's in St Kilda Rd. Picture:Andrew Batsch

"His head came into contact hard with the concrete floor."

Robert Gereige, who runs Cafe Rosco two doors down from where the attack happened, said: "You do get a few drunk people by the McDonald's and you do get a few scuffles. But usually as an area it is pretty safe.

"I guess they just got into an argument. It's pretty disturbing."

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

david.hurley@news.com.au

Originally published as Two quizzed after victim kicked to death

04.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Why Coke owes a couple of Aussie guys big

L-R: Omid and Luke had an idea and ran with it. Source: Supplied

ON a winter's night in Kings Cross 2010, under the perma-glow of the iconic Coca-Cola sign, a group of creatives waited for Coke's summer campaign idea to go live. Standing in the cold the team watched as the billboard flashed to the famous red and white swirl, now emblazoned with the message 'Share a Coke with Matt'.

Few campaigns require representatives from the creative agency to watch over the installation, or in this case the activation of a billboard, but a lot was riding on this one. Earlier in the year, the Coca-Cola product team had briefed out a 151 word call-to-arms in the hope of solving a huge and immediate concern – teens and young adults' lack of connection with the super brand.

In the year leading up to January 2011, Coca-Cola sales were flat lining in the face of a cold start to summer and reduced consumer confidence. Far from being a one-off, Coke had been battling stagnating global sales for years.

The beverage giant had enduring positive sentiment among all ages, including the difficult-to-sway 14 – 24 group, however in the market conditions leading up to that summer, this wasn't translating into sales or actual consumption of Coke products. People loved Coke but they weren't drinking it.

After a hectic competitive pitch incumbent agency Ogilvy emerged victorious with what was to become the original 'Share a Coke' campaign.

The #shareacoke billboard in Kings Cross, Sydney. Source: Supplied

A deceptively simple idea, the now instantly recognisable 'Share a Coke' campaign saw the rebranding of Coke, Diet-Coke and Coke-Zero products with 150 of Australia's most popular names. The additional 'Mate', 'Bestie', 'Mum' and a seasonal 'Santa' were also thrown in for extra consideration.

In what would become the official start of the Share campaign street viewers were asked to send an SMS to the King Cross sign containing their, or a friend's, name which was then flashed to the landmark billboard for all to see. A subsequent MMS was sent to the contributor with thousands of names submitted in the first few hours the billboard was active.

In a marketing landscape now dominated by content savvy brands like Red Bull, bemused passers-by watched as names flashed one-by-one to the landmark sign, unaware they were also watching Coke's return to advertising dominance.

Consumers were directed to search out the names of BFFs, family members or workmates in order to share a Coke with them. More often than not, the search was documented on social media leading to tens of thousands of submissions under the #shareacoke hashtag and generating fresh interest in the 128 year old brand

By campaign end Coca-Cola saw a 4 per cent rise in consumption overall and a 7 per cent rise among the targeted teen to young adult age group; triple the growth of Coke's previous best summer. Now the gold standard in advertising case studies, the 'Share a Coke' campaign has been rolled out across 70 international markets and counting. Summer 2014 marked its entrance into the US market.

Everyone wanted to see their name on a can of Coke. Source: Supplied

Success is not totally assured with this summer's expansion into the US but things are looking positive for the beverage giant. Already the Wall Street Journal is reporting a 2 per cent increase on domestic sales covering the 2014 summer months and is touting the first increase in annual sales for America in ten years. And if anecdotal evidence is anything to go by the market for rare names is strong. A quick eBay search reveals over 1200 listings for collectable Cokes, including 30 bids for the rare find 'Sydney'.

Just why 'Share a Coke' has been so successful across a multitude of varied advertising climates is anyone's guess but at least some of its triumph is due to the inherent magic of the Coca-Cola brand says senior creative Luke Acret, who along with creative partner Omid Amidi, were a part of the wider team to work on the original Australian campaign.

"I don't think this campaign could have been successful for just any brand. There's a magic, a warmth about Coke, which not every brand in the world has and I'd even go so far as to say people love Coke," he said.

"It's a part of their childhood, it's been present in their life and it makes people happy. So when you have an iconic product like that and you start to introduce a personalisation, someone's name even, the marriage of those two things becomes really powerful, because you're taking something that people already love, and making it about them".

Now based at agency Pereira & O'Dell in San Francisco, the Share campaign is still a career highlight for Acret and Amidi.

"It was interesting. When you think of Coca-Cola, you don't think of 'declining sales'. You think of this always successful, never struggling brand. It was challenging to wrap your head around the fact that you're going to be working towards helping a brand you assume doesn't need help — that it simply sells itself and everyone loves it," says Amidi.

Wanna share a Coke with Natalie? Of course you do. Source: News Limited

From an executional point of the view the campaign leveraged the growing trend towards crowdsourced content; "When we spoke about 'sharing a Coke with Mel' we were talking about real Mels sending in real photos that we then used to populate commercials."

User-generated content campaigns are now standard if social phenomena like Australia's Next Top Selfie are anything to go by, but at the time it was new territory for Coke. It was also novel in other ways, adds Acret: "It was such a simple idea but it was groundbreaking because it used Coke as the advertising platform. That had not ever been done before to that extent. With that idea, Coke cans became billboards".

As to the road blocks thrown up by the logistics of the Share idea; "For any brand let alone a super-brand like Coke, changing or even coming close to modifying logos and labels is a huge deal, it's their identity so we had to very careful with that and it was something that the project team had to mindful of. The consultation with the product team and Atlanta (Coca-Cola's home base) was intense" a sentiment backed by former Director of Sales for Coca-Cola pacific, now head of Europe Lucie Austin.

Making reference to the issues inherent in messing with a 128 year old brand, Austin had this to say; "the idea was conceived with the names printed in the traditional "Coca-Cola" Spencerian script. We couldn't do that due to trademark issues, so we created a brand-new typeface inspired by the "Coke" logo".

Coca-Cola made sure to test the idea across numerous and varied markets before beginning the expansion into the lucrative US market but if the recent upswing in sales is anything to go by, expect to see an expansion of the Share campaign next summer.

Adds Amidi: "People love to see their name in bright lights. And if not theirs, then someone they know. It's exciting".

Expect to see a lot of these billboards in Times Square in New York. Source: Supplied

04.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

ASADA hits Bombers with fresh doping notices

Mick Warner from the Herald Sun updates us on the latest news that 34 current and former Essendon players have been issued with notices by ASADA.

SOME Essendon players will consider doing deals with ASADA after being slapped with thousands of pages of "compelling and comprehensive" evidence on Friday.

The 34 current and former Bombers stars at the centre of footy's drugs storm were hit with fresh show cause notices alleging use of the banned peptide Thymosin beta-4 in 2012.

The players' legal team will review more than 12,000 pages of evidence this weekend, but one player manager said last night his clients were prepared to see what deals the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority was willing to table to end the saga.

"If you were offered three months (over summer) you would think about it," the manager said last night.

CLAIMS PEPTIDES SOURCED IN CHINA

But another player agent said: "Most of them will still want to go to the tribunal and fight because that is where the onus will be on ASADA to prove that they did it."

The AFL Player's Association has responded to the the show cause notices re-issued to 34 former and current Essendon players by ASADA.

Cronulla players in the NRL accepted heavily back-dated penalties from ASADA in August that saw some miss just three matches.

ASADA yesterday made clear Essendon's 2012 drugs program was far more sophisticated.

"The situation at Essendon was more regimented and more systematic and ran for a longer period of time than what we saw at Cronulla," ASADA chief executive Ben McDevitt said on Friday night.

The Herald Sun understands the anti-doping agency will not entertain penalties for Essendon players that do not include suspensions for several matches in the 2015 premiership season.

The players have been given until October 31 to respond to the notices before ASADA presents its evidence to the Anti-Doping Rule Violation Panel.

Essendon coach James Hird before the fresh bombshell for the Bombers. Picture: Nicole Garmston

The panel is an independent body that decides whether players should be placed on the Register of Findings - the trigger for AFL infraction notices.

It is expected the players will offer a "limited response" to the show cause notices and allow the case to progress to the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal.

Two of the players, Western Bulldogs forward Stewart Crameri and Footscray VFL player Brent Prismall, have engaged separate legal representation.

The 32 other players are being represented by a legal team led by the AFL Players' Association.

A representative of the players said last night he hoped the tribunal could sit next month and penalties were handed down by Christmas.

Having defeated AFL club Essendon in the Federal Court, ASADA is today expected to reissue the club with show-cause notices.

The amended notices provided on a compact disc at 4.30pm on Friday fully detail ASADA's claim that the players were injected with Thymosin beta-4, sourced from China, as part of Essendon's experimental supplements program in 2012.

McDevitt said the evidence against the players was "comprehensive and compelling".

"There is no positive test for any of them but we believe that the evidence that is there is sufficient, in our view, to prove the use of a prohibited substance," he said.

Asked if discounted penalties could apply in the Essendon case, McDevitt said: "If they believe that they would like to claim 'no significant fault' due to basically saying they weren't aware of the substances they were administered, then they can make that claim and in time that will be assessed against the evidence.

"That is a choice for each of them."

Essendon players must now decide on their next move. Picture: George Salpigtidis

He said delays in the Essendon investigation could partly be blamed on Essendon's legal tactics.

"One point I should make is that whilst I have the players' association now pushing for ASADA to take a particular course of action in the interests of the players, for several months I've had Mr (James) Hird taking certain actions again, purportedly, in the interests of the players," McDevitt said.

"And I've also had Mr (Paul) Little make another range of decisions purportedly in the interests of players and all three of those have tended to want slightly different things or to take matters slightly different directions ... so whilst I've got various parties saying hurry up and others saying slowdown, I will continue to enforce the role and do the job ASADA is required to do."

Show cause notices were originally issued in June but were put on ice after the Bombers launched a Federal Court counter attack against ASADA.

AFLPA chief Paul Marsh said late on Friday: "The players' legal team will review the material in the coming days and discuss the contents with players, to determine what response, if any, they will provide in respect to these amended show cause notices."

Members of the 2012 playing group face potential game bans in 2015. Picture: Getty Images)

It is up to the AFL to issue infraction notices, after reviewing the evidence and taking into account ASADA's recommendations.

But if the league chooses not to charge players, ASADA could take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Essendon and the AFL said last night it was inappropriate to comment on the latest development in footy's 20-month doping saga.

michael.warner@news.com.au

Bombers supporters have been doing it tough all year. Picture: Getty Images

Originally published as ASADA hits Bombers with fresh doping notices

04.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Why this man hunts down paedophiles

Victorian man Glen Hulley is a former cop on a mission to stop child exploitation. Vision supplied.

A still from one of Glen Hulley's videos. Source: Facebook

A FOREIGN man stands with his arm around a young girl.

On another corner, a sex worker is waiting for a client. It's appears obvious what is going on — but proving it is another matter.

But helping stop child sex tourism and the illegal sex trade is exactly what Victorian policeman Glen Hulley packed up his life and moved to Southeast Asia for.

Some of the things the 39-year-old has already seen in this time has shocked him.

The father-of-two took up his new role with Terre Des Hommes Southeast Asia — a Dutch organisation aimed at supporting children through healthcare and child protection — earlier this month.

His job, heading up Project WATCH, sees him oversee 10 investigation and support teams based in locations deemed as 'hot spots' for travelling and expatriate child sex predators as well as high incidents local offenders in Indonesia, the Philippines, Nepal, India and Cambodia.

The donation funded, three-year project also sees him train and enhance the investigative skills and evidence gathering techniques of local private investigators and educators.

Recently his team filmed in a red light area in Indonesia as part of one its many surveillance operations.

Their footage shows very young sex workers on the hunt for work. There are also watchers on every corner and girls at the front of massage parlours and bars.

Some will likely be offering sex to the hundreds of foreigners who visit the area, but trying to stop it is a totally different matter.

In another clip, foreign men are seen walking the streets, one with his hand on what appears to be the back of a young sex worker.

The team will use this all information and pass it onto police.

Victorian man Glen Hulley is a former cop on a mission to stop child exploitation. Source: Supplied

In addition to collecting footage, Mr Hulley and his team also took part in a rescue raid assisting local police in busting a brothel which was illegally using underage and teenage girls.

The raid was a culmination of months of investigation by Project WATCH and then executed under a search warrant in cooperation with local police.

The Indonesian woman in the video, who owned the business, was charged with human trafficking and supplying child prostitution, and was recently sentenced to five years in prison by an Indonesian court.

"The children rescued ranged from 14 to 16 years old, and all are receiving counselling and rehabilitation via welfare support and education by one of our partner charity providers," Mr Hulley said.

For identification and security reasons, faces in the video remain blurred and the exact locations have not been specified.

While this footage may seem shocking, Mr Hulley said it was tame compared to other video his team have captured.

"It's very hard seeing some of the actual offending take place when we cannot intervene as we are not the police," he said.

"I have a monumental task ahead of me in dealing with language, cultural, legal and political challenges between five different countries plus dealing with multiple foreign embassies and international police in handling their citizens committing offences abroad.

"It is exhaustive so far but as the results are beginning to come. It is also extremely rewarding and the support I have received from both Australia and overseas in terms of donations, offers of resource assistance and messages of appreciation has been overwhelming."

Glen Hulley was visiting South-East Asia in July last year when he saw things that made him question his life comfortable life in Australia. Source: Supplied

Mr Hulley's job with Project WATCH, which pays him a tenth of what he earned in Australia,

may be enough to live off in South-East Asia, but he said it wasn't enough to ensure he could travel home to see his children and partner, so he created a gofundme page to help make that a reality.

The work is also dangerous.

"Corruption is a systemic problem in Southeast Asia and our activities disrupt a very complex crime system that involves kidnapping, slavery and prostitution," he said.

"The corrupt police do not wish to lose their secondary incomes, the local pimp gangs and organised crime groups don't want to lose their trade and local drug syndicates can mistake our investigators for anti narcotics agents."

Mr Hulley said the work was also challenging as cases of tourist and expatriates "grooming" victims and acting alone outside the services provided by gangs are often on the move, making it difficult to conduct any lengthy investigations.

But it's a challenge he is so far relishing.

"I am now currently conducting an intensive tour of each location and visiting with each of my investigation teams to assess their experience, knowledge, competencies and resources in order to develop a training package to roll out by early next year to begin building capacity in terms of effectiveness and the quality evidence gathering," he said.

"In the meantime I am mentoring the teams in case management, surveillance techniques, intelligence analysis and informer management as well as network building with community and government stakeholders in their areas."

Terre des Hommes conducts a surveillance operation from a red light area in Indonesia known for prostitution but also child prostitution. Footage supplied. Project WATCH assisted with on a massage parlour in Indonesia using 14 and 15 year old girls after it investigated it and then handed it over to police. Footage supplied.

04.29 | 0 komentar | Read More

Killer tells Oscar’s sister: ‘F**k you’

Watch live coverage from AP

OSCAR Pistorius stormed out of his sentencing hearing after a self-confessed killer at court allegedly mouthed the words "f**k you" to his sister, who started crying.

The hearing had just adjourned for lunch when Pistorius left the court in a hurry, and his sister Aimee, was "crying and shaking" and left the court weeping.

The Pistorius family told reporters outside the court that self-confessed hitman Mikey Schultz who gained entry to the hearing was sitting in the room on the same side as them in the public gallery, when he allegedly mouthed the obscenities.

REEVA'S COUSIN: 'I pray to God he's cheating on Reeva'

PISTORIUS TRIAL: Oscar's 'blood money' bombshell

In tears, the sister of South African paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, Aimee, sits next to her aunt Lois. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

Schultz has denied making the verbal threat to the family, and told reporters outside the court: "Pistorius family are the victims. Always the victims".

The Pistorius family now want an order made by the court to ban him from future proceedings, according to local reports.

They are meeting with their lawyers to discuss the possibility of making such a request, after they felt threatened by Schultz.

Before the break, Acting Commissioner of Correctional Services has said he is unaware of claims that a gang leader in prison would attack Oscar Pistorius if he was sent to jail.

Zac Modise has been giving evidence to defence lawyer Barry Roux, who cited newspaper reports that suggested a gang leader from "26" in prison who is known as a "General" had "promised Oscar Pistorius hell" in jail, where he'd be "taken out".

Modise said he was unaware of such reports, and they are dealing with incidents of gangsterism in prisons.

He told the court that Correctional Services is in a position to cater for inmates with disabilities like Pistorius.

His evidence contradicts the defence's witness, Annette Vergeer, who said yesterday that Pistorius would not have suitable facilities and could be raped in jail.

He added that prisoners can attend anger management courses and a range of practical skill learning courses and sports including athletics and boxing among others.

REEVA'S COUSIN: 'I need to give her a voice'

Oscar Pistorius attends the fourth day of sentencing proceedings in the high court in Pretoria, South Africa. Picture: AP Source: AP

His evidence comes after Pistorius desperately wanted to meet and privately apologise to the family of his slain girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

The offer of a private meeting between the Blade Runner and Reeva's parents Barry and June Steenkamp was made on day four of Pistorius' sentence hearing.

Pistorius' lawyer Barry Roux made the comment during the evidence of Ms Steenkamp's cousin Kim Martin. And he said that very shortly after shooting Ms Steenkamp dead last year, Pistorius had written letters to her parents "where he sincerely apologised and dealt with a lot of emotional issues".

But he was advised by his legal team not to hand them over at the time.

Ms Martin was not aware of this. She concluded her emotional evidence, about the devastating effect of Ms Steenkamp's death on her family, by saying that she rejects Pistorius' courtroom apology for the crime and that he must pay for what he has done.

Her family was not seeking revenge she said.

Happier times ... Oscar Pistorius and former girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Picture: AP Source: AP

Asked how she felt about Pistorius now, Ms Martin said she was fearful of him and had tried really hard to put him out of her mind.

"We've even made a point of not mentioning his name in my house because I don't want to spend any energy thinking about him. That is not easy for me ... I really believe that Mr Pistorius needs to pay for what he has done," Ms Martin said.

"I just feel that to take someone's life, to shoot somebody behind a toilet door that is unarmed and is harmless needs sufficient punishment ... I don't feel the suggested punishment fits the crime," Ms Martin said.

Ms Martin, who is 12 years senior to Ms Steenkamp, gave tearful testimony on Wednesday about the devastating impact that the young law graduate and model's death has had on her parents and family.

The family was ruined by the shooting and it had impacted dreadfully on father Barry's health. He had suffered strokes since his daughter was killed.

Ms Martin was called as a witness by the State as part of its case of aggravation on sentencing of Pistorius.

The State wants him jailed for the culpable homicide of Ms Steenkamp but the defence is fighting hard to keep him out of prison, given the court's finding that he did not

intend to shoot his lover and instead believed he was firing at an intruder in his home that evening.

Pistorius' lawyers have called two witnesses to testify that he should not be jailed and instead serve house arrest. One witness, from the Department of Correctional Services, suggested three years house arrest with the requirement to do 18 hours per month of community service, such as cleaning duties at a museum.

Mother of Reeva, June Steenkamp. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

Father of Reeva, Barry Steenkamp. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

The State calls this a "shockingly inappropriate" sentence for shooting dead an innocent woman in a locked toilet cubicle.

A war of wards has erupted over defence witness claims that the South African prison system is overcrowded and rife with violence, crime, drugs and disease and could not adequately deal with a disabled person such as Pistorius, who has two prosthetic legs.

The acting National Commissioner for Correctional Services, Moleko Zac Modise, has been called to testify and to rebut the claims that prison system could not humanely deal with pistorius.

A crying Oscar Pistorius, left, is comforted by his brother Carl Pistorius, as his defence lawyer, Barry Roux, right looks on during the third day of sentencing hearings in the high court in Pretoria. Picture: AP Source: AP

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel has a total of three witnesses left, raising concerns about when a sentence will be given to the fallen athlete.

Judge Thokozile Masipa is understood to be assigned to other cases next week, which makes the time frame for her to make a decision on Pistorius's fate very short if she does hand down a sentence this week.

Legal experts are now suggesting she may make Pistorius wait till November before she sentences him.

The case continues.

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Brad opens up on married life with Angelina

April, 1945. As the Allies make their final push in the European Theatre, a battle-hardened army sergeant named Wardaddy (Brad Pitt) commands a Sherman tank and her five-man crew on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Outnumbered and outgunned, Wardaddy and his men face overwhelming odds in their heroic attempts to strike at the heart of Nazi Germany.

A scene from the upcoming war drama Fury. Picture: AP Photo Source: AP

A LINE of paparazzi wait outside Manhattan's Tribeca Grill, the famed upmarket restaurant part-owned by Robert De Niro, while Brad Pitt sits inside to chat about his upcoming WWII saga, Fury.

Despite sporting facial hair circa mid-1970s replete for his upcoming movie, By the Sea, written and directed by his multi-tasking wife (who was recently awarded the title of honorary Dame by the Queen, no less), this father-of-six, at age 50, is indelibly handsome.

And despite his unmitigated fame and success, as far as interview subjects go, he's the same person he's always been — a boy from Oklahoma, raised in rural Missouri who made good. Throughout his high wattage relationships with the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, and of course, a five-marriage to Jennifer Aniston leading up to his relationship and marriage to Angelina Jolie, he's always maintained a casual, low-maintenance demeanour.

Pitt with Logan Lerman in Fury. Source: Supplied

Q. You had to speak a lot of German in this movie. That's not easy.

A. I was sweatin' it. I have a fondness for the language; I actually find it quite beautiful, especially when spoken softly. It's just got a beautiful music to it for me. But I want to get it right.

Q. Like your role in Inglourious Basterds, you were there killing Nazis. Did you visit the Museum of Tolerance and places like that to get the feel of the time and of the situation?

A. I have been. We had the great opportunity to sit down with a lot of veterans who were in the war and experienced it, from Battle of the Bulge to lesser-known battles. And our tanks were so superior to the Panzer division and they could punch right through our tanks, but we threw numbers at them, which means a lot of people were killed, these were death traps and a lot of people burned up in them and died horrifically. So by the end of the war, we were throwing kids in, which is the Logan Lerman character, who had no experience. But we did have numbers, and we did have an amazing engineering team behind that would pull them back in, patch them back together and send them back out. And I got so much from the veterans who were very giving in sharing their stories, and our goal was to get it right for them.

Now a married couple, the pair will soon go head to head in the cinemas. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Q. You're going to be competing with Angelina in this awards season with her WWII film, Unbroken.

A. She made an incredible movie; it's big and her film is about the triumph of the human spirit against tremendous odds. I see the films as distinctly different, I see ours more of a day in the life of a family, three and a half years into war, that have been through Africa, France, Belgium, and now they are in Germany. And again, hers is something different. Hers is Louis Zamperini, this boy who came from nothing and against really great odds and it's a triumph of the human spirit and it's very inspiring in that way. But we are not pitted against each other and I hope it gets everything ... It's worth seeing.

Q. When you look back on your youth, doing commercials in Japan for Levis jeans — what do you remember about that time?

A. Listen, I had never been on a plane until I was 24, 25, so everywhere I got to travel to, whether it was the Netherlands or whether it was Tokyo, it was all such an experience, so exciting for me, so at that time, I remember just soaking in everything I could see and now what we try to do is to indulge in the country as a family, so when we get to go, we get to carve out days where we experience more of the culture and the country.

Q. You're living in France much of the time. How is your French these days? And why France?

A. My French is pretty good. And the first idea is to get our kids to a place where it's outside of all that, that they can just be kids and explore and we also wanted everyone to learn another language and the kids just started with French and they are all speaking French, so they expand their worldview. And we wanted a European base, because we want to be able to get to Africa and Asia the same trip. But the idea was to get a European base to travel to some of the other areas, and we want the kids to see where Angie has work.

At 50, still a credible action hero. Source: AP

Q. And why the South of France?

A. We go by feeling, we go by instinct and it just felt right. It just felt right. And I think my French is pretty good. My writer/director put a lot of French in the film we are doing now ... My writer/director being my wife. [laughs] And, I think it's coming, but I am determined, I am determined to learn it.

Q. Now that you're 50, when you think about going back to the age of 25 and on the plane for the first time, what did you imagine you'd be doing at the grand old age of 50? Are you now as confident as you will ever be?

A. Yeah, I am pretty clear about how I want to live my life and what I want from my kids and my family and my wife and that determines everything, and I have never been one of those guys who thinks about the five-year plan and the 10-year plan; I have always gone by instinct and have great confidence in that instinct, and developed that radar of what feels right, what doesn't feel right, and that's been my guide.

Pitt in a scene from Fury. Source: AP

Q. Are you comfortable in the role of leader of the platoon? Shia LaBeouf has said that they all wanted to get your attention.

A. Well that was kind of the dynamic of the family: us being together, going to boot camp, sparring together ... the architecture of a boot camp, of a training session for a soldier, is brilliantly laid out and it tears you down, it forces you to work together, to bond together, to solve a problem, it tears you down again and it builds you up, psychologically, it's a very interesting structure. It's very cool.

Q. How do you feel being 12 years older than your wife? How is that dynamic?

A. Eleven and a half, alright? Let's get the record right! But probably the same age, maturity-wise. That's the way it works. But anyone who is there, it doesn't feel any different, does it? It's great. And I have said this before but I will take wisdom over youth any day.

Q. Being in the tank for so long in this very close environment, what thoughts went through your head?

A. You know, it was an almost womblike sense and experience in it and there's some days I would go in the morning and I wouldn't come out until the end of the day. And had the lunch brought up there and some days were like that. I love my tank!

Q. With everything you've accomplished, what goals do you have yet to achieve?

A. It's just improving; improving on themes, film, fatherhood, as a husband, partner ... we spend so much of our life trying to shake our own personal haunts and I like that about getting older and I still have design aspirations and things that I want to mess around with.

This behind-the-scenes featurette from FURY takes a look at the father-son relationship that develops between Brad Pitts Wardaddy and Logan Lermans Norman, as Norman is inducted into a 4-year strong tank crew and has to learn the hard lessons of war.

Q. How have you grown as an actor since the beginning of your career?

A. Craft. With time you get to develop craft and it's my worry for the younger guys because they are eating up so much, that they are used up so quickly before they are able to develop craft and I mean there are guys who are smart and making their way through it and Shia is certainly one of them and Logan is one of them, but it's craft. And really learning and understanding tone because in a scene, a film, is all about tone. What is the tone of that scene? And that's the puzzle we are always solving, and that's my interest in still being in front of the camera and solving that puzzle, it's tone.

Q. One of your co-stars Jon Berenthal, who is in Walking Dead and you did World War Z — did you do much zombie comparisons?

A. Yeah, we certainly had a laugh for our tolerance for zombies. But yes, there is one in the works and we will see if we figure it out, no promises yet, but we are trying and I love those boys, I love Berenthal, he's that guy on set that has got everyone's back and he's a beautiful guy and I hope he gets immense opportunities.

Q. On a lighter note. Congrats on your wedding. The world waited a long time for that.

A. Yeah, us too. [laughs]

Fury is in Australian cinemas from October 23.

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Dude, where’s my desk?

Offices are looking for ways to encourage employees to work smarter, not longer. Source: Getty Images

A DESIGN studio in the Netherlands has found an imaginative way to encourage its employees to maintain a healthy work-life balance — at 6pm their desks simply disappear.

In the evenings and on weekends, Heldergroen's large communal work tables, which are made from recycled telephone poles, are lifted up into the ceiling on steel cables.

The nifty key-operated system allows the Haarlem-based firm to create a new space for other activities, such as networking events, yoga classes and even food festivals.

"We think that doing activities like this makes it easier for people to work here," Vincent Stolk, a junior art director at the company, told CNN by email.

"You know when it's time to relax or do something else that inspires you."

With its computers and other belongings tucked up securely in the ceiling, the company makes the space available for free to "anyone with great ideas and possibilities," said Stolk.

"We believe that if you give something ... you will eventually get something back," he said. "But besides that, it's just very cool to elevate your table every single time."

WORKING SMARTER, NOT LONGER

Heldergroen isn't the first company to find novel ways to create an office culture that promotes working smarter, not longer.

Many recent initiatives have focused on redrawing the line between work and play that has been blurred by advances in technology.

In 2011, Volkswagen began restricting email access for some of its employees in Germany when they were off duty.

French technology company Atos is working towards eliminating internal email use altogether after research found only around of tenth of the emails staff received on an average day were useful.

In the Swedish city of Gothenburg, a group of civil servants began scaling back their work day to six hours this summer, as part of a government trial to see whether shorter work days can improve productivity and lead to employees taking fewer sick days.

Design studio Heldergroen has communal desks which disappear into the roof. Source: Supplied

REGIONAL ATTITUDES

Although Europe seems to be leading the charge, attempts to improve productivity and prevent burnout appear to be catching on in other regions.

Energy recruitment firm Spencer Ogden has transformed its Singapore office into a quirky space complete with astroturf floors, miniature golf and a giant opium bed in the "Not Bored Room." And if employees hit their targets three months in a row, they're rewarded with an all-expenses-paid week working remotely from an office in Ibiza.

But initiatives like these are still very much the exception in Asia, where working hours are notoriously gruelling.

On average, South Koreans work 2,163 hours per year, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development — more than any other OECD country except Mexico.

In Indonesia last year, a 27-year-old advertising agency writer collapsed and later died after reportedly working excessive hours.

Japan even has a word that means "death from overwork" (Karoshi).

Those working in professional services, such as bankers, consultants, accountants and lawyers are particularly vulnerable, according to Leslie Perlow, a professor of leadership in organisational behaviour at the Harvard Business School. She found that some 94% of professionals in these sectors said they worked at least 50 hours a week.

A pressure to be "always on" is to blame, Perlow wrote in the Harvard Business Review. But even in these industries, it's possible for employees to unplug while also meeting the needs of their clients, she said.

Perlow helped the Boston Consulting Group introduce a program where consultants were allocated one day or evening a week where they would not be contacted by colleagues or clients and could turn off their phone and email.

"We found that when the assumption that everyone needs to be always available was collectively challenged, not only could individuals take time off, but their work actually benefited," she said.

This article originally appeared on CNN and was republished with permission.

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Ebola Halloween costume sparks outrage

Ebola attacks a type of cell in blood vessels. Can early treatment help improve chances of survival? WSJs Jason Bellini has #TheShortAnswer.

More than 4033 people have died from the Ebola outbreak, with 10,000 more expected to be infected. Pic: John Moore/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

NO HOLIDAY screams controversy quite like Halloween.

So what's the costume flap of the year? It might just be Ebola - as in Ebola zombies, bloody Ebola patients and faux protective gear.

Twitter and other social media sites are abuzz leading into the holiday, with talk of hazmat suits and respirators.

But is it too soon? Absolutely, says Philadelphia physician's assistant Maria McKenna.

One of her own, a Dallas nurse who, at 26, is exactly her age, was diagnosed with the virus in the United States after she helped care for a Liberian man who died at her hospital.

The idea of using the crisis for Halloween "definitely rubs me the wrong way," said McKenna, who works with post-surgical patients at a hospital.

"Normally I think that irony and humour is funny, but this thing with the costumes, is it really that funny? I mean, Ebola's not even under control yet," she said.

Nina Pham is quarantined with the disease in Texas. Source: Supplied

Like it or not, some costume sellers have leftover yellow jumpsuits, rubber gloves and masks from the "Breaking Bad" craze last Halloween. Some sellers predict Halloweeners will repurpose those for takes on Ebola or make their own get-ups.

Halloween, falling on a Friday, is sure to be a big season for many costume sellers, including a shop called Ricky's NYC.

Some revellers are notoriously last-minute on costumes, so it's a bit too early to tell whether all the talk about dressing up as something Ebola-related will actually take off.

"I wouldn't say we can see an uptick in sales. I'd say it's still chugging along because it's a good seller no matter what," said Ricky's president Richard Parrott of the 'Breaking Bad' look. "But people are definitely asking about an Ebola-type costume."

Ricky's had gone so far as to internally kick around the idea of selling some type of Ebola costume and donating a portion of proceeds to finding a cure, Parrott said. Ultimately, "we felt like it probably crosses a line that we don't want to cross."

Many shops are still stocking the popular Breaking Bad costume from last year. Source: Supplied Source: Supplied

If searches on Google are any indication, the Ebola crisis doesn't match the Top 10 popularity of Elsa from "Frozen," or even your basic Wonder Woman, among searches for DIY costumes.

Regardless, the costume site BrandsOnSale went there. It's selling an "Ebola Containment Suit Costume" for $79.99, complete with white suit emblazoned with "Ebola," face shield, breathing mask, safety goggles and blue latex gloves.

"You are sure to be prepared if any outbreak happens at your Halloween party. This will literally be the most 'viral' costume of the year," declares the online product description.

The company's chief executive, Johnathon Weeks, said he sold about a dozen of the costumes in the first week after its October 8 launch. That's barely a ripple in the more than one million costumes he stocks, but it was shared on social media 7,000 times by Monday — the most shared item on his site. The costume was greeted by some blowback from outraged members of the public, he said.

The costume is billed as the 'viral' hit of the year. Pic: AP/Brands On Sale, Inc. Source: AP

"We don't stray away from anything that's current or controversial or anything like that," Weeks said from his 127,000-square-foot warehouse in Banning, California. "If I told you we had a toddler ISIS costume in the works, your mouth would drop."

Does he?

"I will definitely let you know when that goes on sale," Weeks said. "I can tell you it will come complete with a fake machinegun."

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