Podiatrist denies sex assault

A PODIATRIST pulled a patient's underpants down before sexually assaulting her during a consultation for a foot problem in 2011, the Supreme Court in Launceston has heard.

Terence Williams has pleaded not guilty to indecently assaulting the woman by touching her breasts and one count of aggravated sexual assault.

The offences allegedly occurred at a clinic in suburban Kings Meadows on November 15, 2011.

The complainant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said it was the second time she had seen Mr Williams about a problem with her right foot.

The 30-year-old woman sobbed as she told a jury that Mr Williams said "I am going inside now " before putting his fingers into her bottom.

The woman said Mr Williams had not said anything else to her.

"I asked him if I was out of line," she said.

"He said 'I thought you were'."

She said she was shocked he had not used a glove or washed his hands.

The woman said Mr Williams had earlier undone her bra and moved his hands up and down her sides before cupping her breasts.

The trial, before Justice Peter Evans, is continuing.

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Churches blast reform 'tsunami'

TASMANIA'S church leaders have united to try to stop the "tsunami" of social changes being pushed by the State Government.

Anglican Bishop John Harrower and Catholic Archbishop Adrian Doyle were among those today calling for the Government not to ignore Christian values as it pushed for legislative reform on euthanasia, abortion and same-sex marriage.

Presbyterian moderator David Jones, the Baptist Union's John Smith, Australian Christian Churches Pastor Peter Shurley, and Salvation Army division commander Ritchie Watson were among the others to sign the "Salamanca Declaration".

The group said it affirmed the values of "life, liberty and legacy".

Bishop Harrower said the "appalling" abortion laws cemented social and economic factors that could include gender selection as reasons for justifying terminations up to full term.

"Are we moving to infanticide?" he asked.

He said it was wrong to expect proper responses to the "tsunami of legislation" and a few weeks were not enough to allow full consideration of the issues.

"This is not the same as Victorian legislation."

Legana Christian Church pastor Andrew Corbett said the termination law was more dramatic than the most liberalised in the world.

He said Christian views were specifically excluded in the legislation.

"Enough's enough," he said.

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C-cell proponent seeks funds

Southern Waste Solutions chief Christine Bell at the site of the company's proposed C-cell development.

SOUTHERN Waste Solutions will lodge its application for federal funds this week to help it build a C-cell dump at Copping.

The company is understood to be seeking about $5 million and hopes to start the project by the end of this year.

Last year, Independent MP Andrew Wilkie called for no federal funds for the controversial contaminated-waste dump.

Tasmania is the only state without a Category C waste disposal cell.

The proposal has already been approved by the Environment Protection Authority.

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Accused killer faces court

A MAN accused of the hammer murders of two academics at Mountain River last December has appeared via video-link in Hobart's Supreme Court.

Nicolau Francisco Soares, 27, of Western Australia, is accused of killing his mother Delys Weston, 62, and health economist Gavin Mooney, 69, at their property on December 20.

Mr Soares spoke only once -- to confirm his identity -- during today's proceedings.

Justice Helen Wood ordered him to appear again on July 22.

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Tassie shucks oyster slight

TASMANIA'S reputation for seafood has taken a hit after the oyster contamination but can survive an isolated case, say industry leaders.

A gastroenteritis outbreak struck more than 200 people in Tasmania and Victoria after a sewerage line leaked near an oyster lease at Dunalley.

On Thursday night, viewers of The Footy Show heard remarks about Collingwood player Heath Shaw's gastro, which stopped him playing in last Sunday's match.

Panellists said he had eaten Tasmanian oysters.

Oyster pioneer Barilla Bay Seafoods recalled stock and destroyed harvested oysters.

Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council chief executive officer Neil Stump said action had been swift.

"The industry when alerted has acted promptly and put in the proper protocols and measures so, hopefully, consumers will be understanding this is not caused by the farmers," Dr Stump said.

"We're hoping for a bit of understanding."

Oyster-related gastro outbreaks interstate are not uncommon, but it was a first for Tasmania's commercial oyster industry, public health director Roscoe Taylor said.

Dr Taylor praised Barilla Bay's voluntary recall as a good example to business.

Oysters Tasmania executive officer Tom Lewis said public health bosses acted conservatively and everything had been done correctly.

Tourism Minister Scott Bacon said the case showed why water and sewerage reform was so important for health and environment.

"I think there's no question there's been some negative media around this," Mr Bacon said.

"We put in a lot of work to establish Tasmania's clean reputation for quality food right across the different types of produce and we want to see that continue."

Primary Industries and Water Minister Bryan Green said he was saddened.

"We fight so hard to make sure our seafood, our aquaculture industry, is sold around the world and it's disappointing we have affected oysters making people sick here and on the mainland," Mr Green said.

"The good thing is that we've been able to isolate the problem so people understand it's not a wider problem. This was an isolated incident, one we're now on top of, but it highlights how important it is we have water and sewerage reform. That will ensure our waters are and can remain pristine to provide for this fantastic industry."

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Keeping the V8 roar on track

WINNER: Fabian Coulthard crosses the line first - ahead of Jamie Whincup and Mark Winterbottom. Picture: ROSS MARSDEN

V8 SUPERCARS Australia and the State Government are negotiating a new deal to keep the V8s coming to Tasmania until at least 2017.

Talks include a multi-million-dollar upgrade of Symmons Plains raceway and creating new local jobs around the state's biggest sporting event.

Round two of the Australian V8 Supercar championships at Symmons this weekend, which Premier Lara Giddings will attend today, is the second instalment of a three-year contract between the Supercars and Government for the V8s to race in Tasmania.

Even though 2014 is locked in, talks started behind closed doors on Friday on a new three to five-year deal.

As well as an event guarantee, talks have centred on millions being spent on the track and its facilities in the next few years, with money coming from the State Government and V8 Supercars Australia.

Tasmanian Mark Perry, V8 Supercars Australia's new director of promoted events, is in the thick of negotiations.

The former boss of Targa Tasmania has just moved from Hobart to the Gold Coast to take up the post.

"Tasmania is definitely part of our future plans and we've started talking about a new three to five-year arrangement," Mr Perry said.

"The Government, us, and all the stakeholders would love to see more money spent at Symmons Plains to make the facilities better for the fans, drivers and everyone.

"That is definitely a key to our discussions right now putting a bit more into the track and also the local community and into getting more employment involved around the round and the economy.

"The Government is very much onside with that and we'll spend more money here as well and form some partnerships that will make this track better."

The investment in infrastructure would be a joint effort.

"No one expects the Government to be constantly dipping into its pocket," Perry said.

"It's unreasonable in the current world, and our sport and the fans get the benefit at the end of the day."

Upgrades may eventually include altering the track layout for the Supercars, which lap at an average 170km/h and reach 280km/h.

"This track was never built for cars that go as fast as they do these days, so we need to consider all of that for the long term," Perry said.

"Nothing happens overnight so you've got to start planning now so budgeting can be done and signed off."

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Cost cuts hit bins

HOBART city streets and parks are set to lose 100 public rubbish bins in a bid to save money.

Hobart City Council's infrastructure committee has recommended their removal in a six-month trial to reduce rubbish-collection costs.

Many of the bins will disappear from bus stops.

Acting Lord Mayor Ron Christie said bins placed on bus routes for the disposal of tickets were now redundant.

The changeover from paper to electronic ticketing meant the bins remained empty, Alderman Christie said.

Bins clustered around the city were also on the council's hit list.

"There are six bins on the corner of Argyle and Collins streets and eight bins in Cornelian Bay Park," Ald Christie said.

"We don't need that many bins in the one spot."

The review also recommended a six-month trial of halving weekend waste collection from city bins to one day.

Ald Christie said council staff would monitor the amount of rubbish left during the six-month trial.

He said the council would save $300,000 by reducing its kerbside rubbish collection from weekly to fortnightly but that move was described as a "highly emotive issue" and too costly to implement.

Under that arrangement, all 120-litre bins would be upgraded to 240-litre if a fortnightly collection went ahead, Ald Christie said.

"The council would not even entertain it because it would cost us $1.2 billion," he said.

As well, larger families had concerns about the fortnightly collections.

"You leave rubbish out for two weeks it tends to go off a bit," he said.

The recommendations will go before the council for consideration at its meeting on Monday, April 15.

Public litter bin and weekly kerbside collection costs the council $2.4 million a year.

Meanwhile, Hobart City Council is monitoring neighbouring Glenorchy City Council's fortnightly rubbish collections.

jennifer.crawley@news.com.au

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Lowndes happy with 90

CRAIG Lowndes is on the verge of a record-equalling 90th V8 supercar win today but he has something bigger on his mind at Symmons Plains today - don't stuff up the start.

After setting the fastest time in official practice yesterday, Lowndes is the man to beat going into qualifying for the opening race of round two of the Australian V8 Supercar championship today and tomorrow.

Lowndes lapped Symmons in 51.3794sec yesterday, with Red Bull Racing teammate Jamie Whincup's Commodore and Fabian Coulthard's Lockwood Commodore a blink of an eye behind.

If Lowndes continues his sizzling pace and grabs pole today, he believes the rolling start the first in V8 supercar history will be a challenge in itself.

"It could easily be stuffed up," he said yesterday.

"We had a practice at Eastern Creek and that was a bit of a calamity.

"And that was with only 16 cars, because some teams didn't want to take part."

Race one today is a 25-lap sprint race, with only a 15-minute break before race two, which will get away under a rolling start.

The RBR drivers have been studying the rules and running through the scenario given they are two contenders for pole.

"The rules are unbelievably clear, so if someone stuffs it up they should get a penalty," Whincup said.

The top 10 in practice were all Holdens, except for Mark Winterbottom's Ford Falcon in seventh place.

Only two Fords were faster than the best of the newcomers Mercedes-Benz and Nissan - Lee Holdsworth's Mercedes E63 AMG in 15th.

The other Mercedes and Nissans struggled on the time sheets because they could not match the Commodores and Falcons down the long main straight.

Should Lowndes win this weekend he will join his former Bathurst-winning teammate Mark Skaife on 90 race victories.

"I'm more excited about it than nervous," he said.

"But everyone's been talking about it, so it would be nice to get it over and done with and get on with it.

"It would be fantastic to do it here, but if it doesn't happen this weekend I'll look toward New Zealand next weekend."

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Accused pleads not guilty

NOT guilty pleas have been entered on behalf of a man charged with two murders at Hamilton in December.

Patrick Stanley Daley, 59, is accused of the murders of Meagan Wilton, 31, and Benjamin Samuel Eyles, 34, in their Hamilton home in December.

Daley was conscious but did not speak and was unable to enter a plea during a bedside court hearing at the Royal Hobart Hospital this morning.

Not guilty pleas were recorded on his behalf.

Magistrate Chris Webster has ordered a report into Daley's fitness to plead to the charges.

The case will return to the Magistrates' Court on June 17.

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Push for new island abattoir

KING Island's beef producers are speaking to financial experts about setting up a new "green" abattoir on the island which will allow them to finally own the whole meat chain from paddock to plate.

The island's 140 beef farmers were rocked last year when the world's biggest meat producer JBS Swift closed its Currie abattoir leaving thousands of cattle stuck on the island with no other processing option.

Almost 100 workers also lost their jobs.

Ken Fleming, head of research at investment bank Willard Greening, went to King Island recently with Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson and Tasmanian Greens MHA Paul O'Halloran.

Mr Fleming said every producer he spoke to was willing to put their hand in their pockets to invest in a new independently owned abattoir.

"The farmers on the island produce great cattle but have been poor at owning their brand and garnering a premium from that," he said.

He said the proposal stacked up financially.

"People have been looking at what producers could do to re-establish an abattoir but the idea involved government funds," Mr Fleming said.

"We see it more as a commercial venture with private investors and the numbers appear to stack up."

A State Government feasibility study into re-establishing a meat plant on King Island as a locally run operation is expected to be finalised by the end of May.

But JBS Swift has already made it clear it will not sell or lease its old meat plant to new processors.

Under the JBS Swift system, 180 head of cattle a day were processed locally.

Producers received 40 per cent of the return and the abattoir pocketed 10 per cent.

The other 50 per cent was picked up at the retail end of the food chain.

Having to ship their cattle off the island since October last year has also hurt farmers both financially and in terms of good agricultural practice.

Mr Fleming said farmers acknowledged live shipment was not the best animal husbandry and saw off-shore processing as a short-term solution only.

He said a new meat plant could involve new technology such as bio-digesters, making fertiliser from blood and bone and even bio-fuel for tallow.

"It is easy to build an abattoir, a killing station, but this idea will add exclusivity of the King Island brand and is a marketable on the clean and green front," Mr Fleming said.

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