Mandela improving, not about to die: Mbeki

ANTI-APARTHEID icon Nelson Mandela is improving in hospital as he fights a recurrent lung infection and is not "going to die tomorrow", former South African president Thabo Mbeki says.

The 94-year-old who became South Africa's first black president is on Friday spending his 14th day in hospital where he has been listed in serious condition.

Mbeki said on local PowerFM radio that he is in contact with the family and medical staff of the man he succeeded in 1999.

"Naturally ... I maintain very close contact with the family and the doctors about Nelson Mandela's condition," he told the radio late Thursday.

"And I think that we need to understand what has been said publicly by government, which is that Nelson Mandela is in fact improving in terms of his health.

"I don't think that anybody should kind of entertain some wrong notion, that Nelson Mandela is going to die tomorrow, he is not going to."

Mandela's latest hospitalisation, the fourth in seven months, has been met with a sense of resignation among many South Africans, who have come to terms with their icon's mortality.

On Thursday the Pretoria hospital treating Mandela received 20,000 litres in emergency water deliveries after a planned maintenance water cut lasted longer than expected, radio 702 reported.

The maintenance started on Tuesday and was due to end on Wednesday, but was prolonged because a problem arose as technicians tried to switch back supplies.

The water supplies were restored early on Friday, the municipality of Pretoria said.

Mandela, who was rushed to a Pretoria hospital on June 8 with a recurrent lung infection, is due to celebrate his 95th birthday on July 18.

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Environment holds business risk: UN

RISING temperatures, storms linked to climate change and growing competition for water and land point to tough times ahead for the business sector, but also a chance for profitable innovation, the United Nations says.

Citing the ravages of floods in Australia in 2010-11 which cost insurer Munich Re $US350 million ($A382 million) and mining group Rio Tinto another $US245 million, the report on Friday said companies had no choice but to adapt.

"From extreme weather events, to rising pressures on finite natural resources, changes in the global environment will increasingly impact operating costs, markets for products, the availability of raw materials, and the reputation of businesses, from finance and tourism, to healthcare and transport," said the UN Environment Program document.

"The future of the private sector will increasingly hinge on the ability of businesses to adapt to the world's rapidly changing environment and to develop goods and services that can reduce the impacts of climate change, water scarcity, emissions of harmful chemicals, and other environmental concerns."

In the tourism sector, for example, a 1.4-2.2C rise in average winter temperatures would likely mean the closure of more than half the ski resorts operating in the northeastern United States in 30 years.

The report said Earth-warming greenhouse gas emissions were projected to double in the next 50 years, leading to a global average surface temperature increase of 3-6C by the end of the century.

As for water scarcity, it said platinum mines in South Africa's Olifants River system faced 10 times higher water charges by 2020 as they compete with local communities for the ever scarcer commodity.

Global electricity demand could be over 70 per cent higher in 2035 than 2009, said the report -- and pointed to more frequent heat waves associated with climate change affecting grid reliability.

But while the risks to business were "significant", they also presented unique opportunities for companies that seized the growing demand for greener technology, investments and services, said the report entitled "GEO-5 for Business: Impacts of a Changing Environment on the Corporate Sector."

More than 80 per cent of the capital needed to address climate change may come from the private sector.

"This can bring about significant 'green economy' investment opportunities in the finance sector for green buildings, energy-efficiency technology, sustainable transport and other low-carbon products and infrastructure," the UNEP said.

"In cities, around 60 per cent of the infrastructure needed to meet the needs of the world's urban population by 2050 still needs to be built, presenting significant business opportunities for greener urban construction and retrofits."

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Christian schools defend abstinence

TRY burping and blowing bubbles instead of sex, Christian students are being urged.

Among a "101 things to do instead of doing it" pamphlet recently given to students at Caloundra Christian College in Queensland, were suggestions such as horse riding, eating something new, blowing bubbles, playing ball without the ball and a burping contest.

Christian Schools Australia CEO Steve O'Doherty says he's surprised by the public attention the pamphlet is receiving as it's hardly anything new that Christians preach abstinence.

"Christian schools teach that the safest way of protecting yourself medically and emotionally is to wait until a stable, married relationship," he told AAP.

"It's hardly front-page news that Christians have that perspective."

Mr O'Doherty said that while abstinence was the preferred option for children and teenagers, Christian schools taught a healthy message about sex.

"We teach kids about safe sex, we teach them about the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases and what you need to do protect yourself against them," he said.

"But we tell the full story too - there are emotional dangers in committing yourself to a sexual relationship and the best way to protect yourself medically and emotionally is abstinence."

While the pamphlet, which was written by a third party brought into to help the school with its curriculum, carries some light suggestions, it also has a serious side, Mr O'Doherty says.

Among 33 actual reasons young people have given for abstaining are: "I'm only 14, I have the rest of my life" and "If I'm hurt too many times, I might miss out on something great because I'm so afraid of being hurt again."

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NSW fair trading receives weird calls

IF you need help with a dead body or you're a prostitute dealing with a stingy John who wants a refund, who you gonna call?

Surprisingly, some have phoned the NSW fair trading department with these kind of questions.

More than 900,000 calls are received by the fair trading centre at Parramatta each year and there are always several that "not only flummox, but entertain and amuse" its staff, commissioner Rod Stowe says.

Some are quirky, others a little more disturbing.

Recently, someone contacted fair trading inquiring what to do with a dead body.

When told to contact police, the caller asked: "What if the person is not dead yet?" before wondering "If I discover the body, am I responsible for the funeral costs?"

A request about refunds was also fielded by fair trading staff.

That is, for a prostitute who had been paid but whose client hadn't been able to "claim the service," Mr Stowe said.

"The fair trading officer informed the caller that as she had been prepared to fulfil the contract she was not obliged to give a refund," he said.

A lady called in asking for advice about what action could be taken against a taxidermist who over-stuffed a dog, distorting its appearance and angering its owner who said it "no longer resembled the animal he had been when alive."

When her hat blew off on a windy day, another lady sought redress saying the hat "was not fit for purpose."

A real estate agent asked for assistance after tenants vacated a property without notice claiming the place was haunted.

And "as for the owner of a duplex distressed by a builder moving a rock the size of her hand that allegedly modified the appearance of the property, there are some dilemmas best left unresolved, some stones best left unturned," Mr Stowe said.

"There is no end to the droll and dry inquiries that come to fair trading," Mr Stowe said.

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Ban Ki-moon arrives in China for talks

UNITED Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has arrived in Beijing for high-level talks with Chinese officials on North Korea, Syria and other issues, his spokesman says.

Ban will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and senior foreign policy officials during his stay, spokesman Martin Nesirky said.

Ban "expects to discuss a wide range of matters pertaining to peace and security, such as the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Mali and Syria," Nesirky said in an e-mail to AFP.

Ban will also meet China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Cabinet member Yang Jiechi, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying confirmed on Tuesday.

"The two sides will exchange views over international and internal issues of common interest," she said.

"China's position on the Korean peninsula nuclear issue is consistent and clear," Hua said.

"China is committed to peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, as well as the settlement of the issue through dialogue and consultation."

US President Barack Obama said China was taking a tougher line against North Korea's nuclear program as he credited new president Xi with taking more responsibility in the world.

UN diplomats also said that the worsening Syrian conflict and North Korea would top Ban's list of discussion topics in Beijing.

"Ban has taken a hard line on Syria, where China has sided with Russia. But North Korea is also an urgent problem for everyone," a UN Security Council diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP.

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Port to go, NSW public sector to tighten

NSW Treasurer Mike Baird says his budget will show a continuation of efforts to manage expenses. Source: AAP

THE world's largest port in Newcastle will be sold off by the NSW government as part of Treasurer Mike Baird's mostly prudent budget that included only a handful of nasties.

There are fears more public servants will lose their jobs as the beleaguered sector struggles to find another $750 million in savings over the next two years.

The government is also stepping up efforts to chase people over unpaid fines while doctors say a 5.2 per cent increase in health funding isn't enough to meet growing demand.

But the big announcement is that the government will sell off the state's last major port with the privatisation of the facility in Newcastle.

The 99-year lease is expected to net the government up to $700 million, half of which will be returned to the growth city north of Sydney to give it a light rail network.

The treasurer says his third budget "consolidates two years of tough decisions, two years of reform, two years of stringent expense control".

The government is estimating a smaller than expected deficit of $329 million for 2013/14, bouncing back into the black the following year by $829 million.

The figures, however, change when estimated under new accounting methods that bring NSW into line with global standards.

The new accounting standards have a return to surplus not happening until 2015/16 and a deficit of $1.89 billion for 2013/14.

The government says marketing and rating agencies will "look through that" as there is no actual change in the state's cash or debt position.

It follows years of savage cutbacks to rein in government expenditure, including an unpopular public sector wages cap and the reform of the police death and disability scheme.

And even though Mr Baird says his "tough decisions are beginning to bear fruit", the pain isn't over.

Public servants appear to have been spared the big job cuts of previous years but the treasurer has conceded more could come over the next 12 months.

"There's no number ... I am open at every opportunity to make the public sector more efficient."

The efficiency dividend and wages cap imposed on the sector is expected to net the government almost $19 billion in the six years to 2016/17.

On the plus side, 1300 businesses will be spared from paying from payroll tax next year while $302 million will speed up new home building.

A massive $60 billion will be ploughed into new roads, rail, hospitals and schools over the next four years as the government rolls out the largest urban road project and largest rail project in the country.

Unions are urging the government not to ship the promised infrastructure in from overseas in flat packs while the opposition claims families will bear the brunt of the budget's cuts to hospital resources and frontline services, despite rising revenues.

Mr Baird hailed his budget for slowing expense growth, accelerating spending on infrastructure and reducing net debt - "an extraordinary trifecta in the light of the challenges we face".

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell told parliament the government was "living within its means".

Shadow Minister for Education and Training, Carmel Tebbutt, said the "disappointing" budget had reduced education spending from 22.4 to 21 per cent.

"Axing the jobs of another 315 high school staff is the worst possible strategy when we are meant to be promoting greater Year 12 retention," she said in a statement.

She said the budget for school infrastructure remained at the same level as 10 years ago, despite higher enrolments and the need to upgrade physical assets.

Meanwhile, Greens MP and spokeswoman on Family and Community Services, Jan Barham, said the homeless had been neglected in the budget, which had been an opportunity to deliver much-needed increases for services that support disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.

"Keeping families safe and together and ensuring they have a stable home are fundamental aims that needed more investment than this Budget delivered," Ms Barham said in a statement.

The NSW Teachers Federation welcomed confirmation that the Gonski schools agreement would be funded over the next six years, but was unhappy that tertiary students would suffer as a result.

"The Gonski agreement will provide significantly increased funding to public schools and distribute it more fairly to the students who need it the most," said Teachers Federation President, Maurie Mulheron.

"It is bitterly disappointing, however, that TAFE colleges will continue to suffer funding cuts and students face increased course fees to offset the costs of the Gonski agreement."

Mr Mulheron said the government should be looking to raise revenues through taxation reform and other measures, rather than cutting public services.

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Australia on notice to protect reef

UNESCO has postponed a decision on whether to list Australia's Great Barrier Reef as "in danger". Source: AAP

THE Great Barrier Reef will be listed as an "in danger" World Heritage site next year if new developments along the Queensland coast aren't restricted.

The World Heritage Committee has told Australia it must present a plan on how to protect the reef from increasing coal and gas extraction and shipping.

If improvements aren't made the reef could be listed as "in danger" when the committee meets in June next year.

Although Australia has made some progress, "some issues still need to be addressed more forcefully", Marc Patry, program specialist at the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, said at its meeting in Cambodia on Tuesday.

WWF Great Barrier Reef spokesman Richard Leck, who attended the committee meeting, says the state and federal governments have been put on notice.

"They have 12 months to take these recommendations seriously or risk the Great Barrier Reef being listed on the World Heritage list of shame," he said.

The committee also had some good news, noting Australia's commitment to improving water quality.

Both Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke and Queensland Environment Andrew Powell welcomed the decision.

"I am pleased that the final report takes into account more recent commitments by the government to safeguard the reef," Mr Burke said.

This includes a further $200 million for the next stage of the Reef Rescue program and continued scientific research to protect the reef, he said.

Mr Powell said the state government had worked hard over the past year to address concerns raised by the UN's environmental arm.

This includes scaling back plans for a multi-cargo port at Abbott Point near Bowen, improving water quality and reducing nutrient run off from farms.

However, environmental groups say more needs to be done.

"The committee is essentially saying: 'things aren't good enough, you have to do better'," Felicity Wishart, from the Australian Marine Conservation Society, said.

"We're still seeing the Queensland government fast tracking developments and we're still seeing the Australian government failing to stop that."

Greenpeace says the proposed dredging of three million cubic metres of sand to expand Abbott Point must be stopped to protect the reef.

"This is exactly the kind of destructive development that has the world worried about the future of the Great Barrier Reef," spokeswoman Louise Matthiesson said.

A study led by the Australian Institute of Marine Science last year found that between 1985 and 2012 the reef had lost half of its coral cover.

The main culprits were tropical cyclones, crown-of-thorns starfish and coral bleaching.

An in-danger listing for the reef would admit Australia to an undesirable club that includes the likes of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has all five of its World Heritage sites on the danger list.

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Australian soldier hurt in chopper landing

An Australian soldier has been injured in a Black Hawk helicopter landing in Afghanistan. Source: AAP

AN Australian soldier has been injured in Afghanistan after a Black Hawk helicopter slammed to the ground.

The unnamed special operations member was one of five Australians on board when the helicopter made a "hard landing" 55kms east of Tarin Kowt on June 11, the Defence Department has reported.

The aircraft was not engaged in combat leading up to the crash.

On return to base, the crew was assessed with one soldier found to be suffering concussion.

"While the wounding doesn't appear to be of a serious nature, all precautionary measures are taken before soldiers are returned to duty," said the soldier's commanding officer in a statement.

All other Australian personnel travelling in the helicopter have since returned to duty.

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