Fewer businesses looking to hire

JUST one in five businesses are planning to hire new staff, the lowest level for hiring intentions since the global financial crisis.

However, information technology is booming area as more firms digitise their businesses.

Recruitment firm Hudson's survey of more than 2500 employers in July and August found 20.9 per cent are planning to take on new staff during the December quarter.

Low staff turnover levels mean businesses have less opportunity to recruit, Hudson executive general manager for regional Australia Dean Davidson said.

"That can become a challenge for some organisations," he told AAP.

The proportion of employers planning to hire was the lowest level since the September quarter of 2009.

But 36 per cent of IT employers were planning to hire, compared with just 13.6 per cent for the utilities industry.

"A lot of organisations are transitioning down the digital path so that's creating project work," Mr Davidson said.

"I definitely do not see that changing in the foreseeable future."

South Australian employers had the strongest hiring intentions, with 24.2 per cent planning to recruit.

Hiring intentions in the ACT were down to 22.2 per cent, as the territory government tightens recruitment.

But Victoria had the weakest jobs market, with just 16.2 per cent of bosses planning to take on new staff.

In Queensland, 18.2 per cent of employers were planning to hire, the same proportion as those looking to downsize, following the end of the mining boom and public sector job cuts.

Hudson chief executive Mark Steyn said businesses had been cautious in the lead up to the federal election, but recruitment activity was likely to improve in the coming year amid low interest rates and a falling Australian dollar.

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Carnival's profit falls 30%

CRUISE passengers continue to shy away from Carnival Corp's namesake brand, despite lower prices.

That, along with ongoing geopolitical fears in the eastern Mediterranean, is why the world's largest cruise company now expects revenue to drop 3 per cent this year, worse than its prior forecast.

The Miami-based company did turn a $US934 million ($A996 million) profit for June through August, but that was down 30 per cent from the same quarter last year.

Earnings totalled $US1.20 per share, down from $US1.71 last year in the same quarter. Revenue for the quarter rose less than 1 per cent to $4.7 billion, and expenses outpaced growth.

The company also took $US176 million in charges related to two ships in its Costa line that are being taken out of service.

Shares fell 7 per cent in early trading.

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Exercise keeps the brain healthy: research

PEOPLE who do regular physical activity have healthier brains and reduce their risk of Alzheimer's disease, according to a report released to mark dementia awareness week.

Apart from overall health benefits, physical activity significantly improves brain health, says Dr Maree Farrow, co-author of a paper released by Alzheimer's Australia and Fitness Australia.

"About half of Alzheimer's disease cases are potentially attributable to risk factors you can change," says Dr Farrow, whose paper is based on recent Australian and international research.

A study by US researchers shows that around 13 per cent of Alzheimer's disease cases are attributable to physical inactivity.

And Australian research shows a small increase in the number of physically active people could have a dramatic impact on the number of dementia cases.

It is normal for the brain to shrink a little as people age, says Dr Farrow. But this is reduced in people who engage in regular physical activity.

"Whatever your stage of life, being fit and healthy matters," Dr Farrow says.

"We can't yet cure dementia but we can reduce our risk by simply becoming more physically active," says Fitness Australia CEO Lauretta Stace.

"This can be as easy as going for a regular walk."

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Chief scientist unfazed by cabinet lineup

AUSTRALIA'S chief scientist Professor Ian Chubb has played down concerns about the incoming coalition government's failure to appoint a dedicated federal science minister.

The move by prime minister-elect Tony Abbott, which will see some areas of science come under the industry portfolio, has drawn community and Labor criticism and even sparked outcry from within the Liberal Party.

But Prof Chubb said supporting the future of science was about more than a ministerial title.

"If you look at the federal budget, science is spread over 14 portfolios already, so putting another one in there doesn't really make a huge amount of difference," Prof Chubb told ABC TV.

He said Australia needed to adopt a strategic approach to science which he hoped would involve a number of federal ministers and portfolios, with the support of the prime minister.

"The real benefit is when you have a senior minister with influence and a bit of power, who's passionate about science and whether they carry the title or not is a separate issue," Prof Chubb said.

The chief scientist's response was less passionate than that of Western Australian Liberal Dennis Jensen, who said "science is in crisis" and needed expert decision-making at a federal government level.

"We've got a minister for sport, for God's sake, but we don't have a minister for science," he told ABC TV, taking a swipe at the decision of his own party.

Acting Labor leader Chris Bowen said the omission of a federal science minister, who has been in place since the 1930s, showed the "botched" coalition cabinet line-up.

Prof Chubb - who is also a member of the Climate Change Authority, due to be scrapped by the incoming government - admitted there had been value in a dedicated science minister, but said a "whole of government" approach was the way forward.

On the topic of climate change, he said Australia should not ignore the evidence, describing as "silly" people who dismissed it as a myth.

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Push for big booze clubs to pay more fees

BOOZE-SERVING venues in NSW should pay much higher licence fees more frequently to help pay for the cost of alcohol abuse, health and community groups say.

Alcohol abuse costs the NSW government $1.029 billion annually but only $1.09 million is collected from licensees, the NSW/ACT Alcohol Policy Alliance (NAAPA) said.

It argues in favour of annual "risk-based licence" fees, substantially higher than the one-off $5000 application fee paid by some large establishments.

A hotel licence costs $2000 but an additional application fee is charged for extending trade beyond midnight.

The highest fee, though, for a late-trading authorisation is $3000, which allows premises to keep the grog flowing between 2am until 5am.

Venues should be charged according to their capacity and opening hours, Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education, chief Michael Thorn said.

Under the NAAPA scheme, for example, the Sydney CBD mega-club The Ivy would have to pay $25,184 per year, the Penrith Panthers Leagues Club would pay $16,790 while the Coogee Bay Hotel would pay $20,387, each year for their licences.

"Liquor licenses should never have been granted in perpetuity," Mr Thorn said.

"The paltry one-off application fee that licensees are currently paying is not enough. An annual fee would return both equity and accountability to a system severely lacking in both."

In its submission to the statutory review of the NSW Liquor Act 2007 and the Gaming and Liquor Administration Act 2007, the NAAPA also advocates earlier closing times, late-night lock-outs and the abolition of 24-hour licences.

"Studies have shown that assaults occur most frequently at licensed premises after midnight," the submission states.

"Standard closing times for all on-licence premises across NSW from Monday to Saturday should be midnight, with extended trading venues limited to 3am and lock-outs no later than 1am."

The NAAPA also wants small bars - those that have patronage limits of 60 - to be governed by "the same rules and regulations as other licence types".

"One quarter of the total costs of alcohol abuse to the NSW community are criminal justice costs," the NAAPA submission says.

"The modest one-off licensing application fees currently paid by NSW liquor licensees do not even come close to recovering these substantial costs."

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Abbott springs into action on day one

EDS: STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 0001 (AEST) September 18, 2013

CANBERRA, Sept 18 AAP - The big day has arrived for Tony Abbott and the new prime minister will not stand still, with plans to launch into key legislation to scrap the carbon tax and crack down on asylum seeker arrivals.

After Wednesday morning's visit to the Governor General's Canberra residence, where Mr Abbott and his coalition cabinet will officially take on their new roles, he plans to head to Parliament House and get to work.

"Today is not just a ceremonial day, it's an action day. The Australian people expect us to get straight down to business and that's exactly what this government will do," Mr Abbott said in a statement.

Top of the to-do list will be instructing the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to set in motion moves to repeal the carbon tax.

Incoming treasurer Joe Hockey will be tasked with directing the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to suspend its operations.

Moves will also be made on Mr Abbott's "stand or fall issue": Operation Sovereign Borders.

"It's so important that we send a message to the people smugglers that, from today, their business model is coming to an end," Mr Abbott said.

He is expected to name Deputy Chief of Army Angus Campbell as head of the operation, which includes turning back asylum-seeker boats when it's safe to do so.

It is understood Major General Campbell, a former SAS commander, will take charge of the operation and be promoted to the three-star rank of Lieutenant-General, with special operations commander Major General Gus Gilmore as his deputy.

Wednesday is Mr Abbott's "day one", when he has long promised to make a difference on the number of asylum seekers arriving in Australia by boat without a visa.

The Immigration Department will stop granting permanent protection visas and instead reintroduce temporary protection visas for those who arrive by boat, while permanent residency will be denied to those who have already arrived.

The start of government business might come as a welcome relief for Mr Abbott, who has faced widespread criticism, including from within his own party, for naming just one woman in his cabinet of 19.

"We will deliver results for the Australian people from day one and live up to our pledge to have a safe, secure Australia and a strong, prosperous economy," Mr Abbott said.

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Penthouse mag owner files for bankruptcy

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Smugglers try to overwhelm PNG boat plan

PEOPLE smugglers are trying to overwhelm Australia's hardline asylum seeker settlement deal with Papua New Guinea, Immigration Minister Tony Burke says.

"In the last few days, some of the smuggling operations have tried to put together a bit of a surge and to see if they can overwhelm the current system," Mr Burke told ABC television on Tuesday.

More than 500 asylum seekers aboard four boats have arrived since Sunday.

The latest boat to arrive in Australian waters capsized north of Christmas Island on Tuesday. Up to five people are believed to have drowned.

Mr Burke insists the number of people arriving by boat has been falling since Prime Minister Kevin Rudd unveiled his tough regional resettlement plan on July 19.

He says Australia and PNG stand ready to build more facilities on PNG's Manus Island if needed.

Meanwhile, Mr Burke said Australia's processing centre on Nauru was almost ready to receive family groups but that it wasn't ready for unaccompanied minors.

"Family groups will be going to Nauru very soon," he said.

"Unaccompanied minors will be going when I'm confident that they will be safe, that the facilities are in place (and) the accommodation and services are in place that meet the obligations that I'd expect."

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Nine charged in UK hacking probe

A SENIOR Sun journalist, a former Daily Mirror journalist, a police officer and a prison officer are among nine people to be charged as part of an ongoing probe into British media wrongdoing.

Graham Dudman, former managing editor of The Sun; John Troup, a former journalist at The Sun; Greig Box Turnbull, a former journalist at the Daily Mirror; Marc Alexander, formerly a prison officer at HMP Holloway in London; and Darren Jennings, an officer with Wiltshire Police, are to be charged under Operation Elveden.

Sun journalist Vince Soodin; Alan Ostler, who was formerly an assistant technical instructor at Broadmoor Hospital in Berkshire; Grant Pizzey, a prison officer at HMP Belmarsh in south east London; and his partner Desra Reilly, will also be charged, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said on Tuesday.

All nine will appear before London's Westminster Magistrates' Court on September 5.

The CPS said it is alleged that, between September 5 and 27, 2002, Dudman requested the authorisation of payments of 3000 to one or more police officers in exchange for information relating to investigations.

It is also claimed that between June 2002 and December 2007, he authorised payments to public officials relating to the health of a patient at Broadmoor, details of an incident at a hospital and details of an incident relating to army combat.

It is further alleged that Dudman, now editorial director of Newsroom 360 at News UK, approved a payment requested by Troup for information relating to the death of a prison inmate.

The CPS said Dudman should be charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office, one reflecting conspiracy with Troup, who should also be charged as a co-conspirator.

So far more than 30 people have been charged in the media wrongdoing scandal, including journalists, police officers and former newspaper executives.

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Crime novelist Elmore Leonard dies at 87

ELMORE Leonard, a former adman who later in life became one of America's foremost crime writers, has died. He was 87.

His researcher, Gregg Sutter, says Elmore passed away on Tuesday morning from complications from a stroke.

Leonard's books were populated by pathetic schemers, clever con men and casual killers. And many of the novels - notably Out of Sight, Get Shorty and Be Cool - were made into films. Critics adored his simple, direct language.

More recently, he served as executive producer of the FX drama, Justified, which featured as its centerpiece US Marshal Raylan Givens, a recurring Leonard character.

Earlier in his career, the man known to friends as "Dutch" wrote Western novels and stories, but his major commercial success didn't come until the 1980s.

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