Paul Keating takes aim at Tony Abbott's policies

TONY ABBOTT says he will call a double dissolution election if he wins power and Labor and the Greens combine in the Senate to stop him from repealing the carbon tax.

The Opposition Leader, who is sitting on a massive election-winning lead in the polls, issued the edict in front of a community forum in Brisbane last night.

He said if the government was ''walloped'' at the next election over the carbon tax, it would be unthinkable that a humiliated Labor would not allow an Abbott government to rescind it.

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Mr Abbott said he would have a mandate to rescind the tax which would be equal to that of Labor when it repealed Work Choices after its 2007 victory.

''It's just not political commonsense,'' he said.

However, Mr Abbott said if Labor refused to budge, he would seek a double dissolution, which needs the same legislation being blocked twice by the Senate, three months apart, as a trigger.

If Australia can't effect these kinds of changes, where does it leave us in the big game against the Chinese, most of Europe, that are making these changes in climate."

He acknowledged that it was difficult to sell the tax to the public, but that the public would get behind it when it saw the package as whole, including the increase in the tax-free threshold.

Mr Keating said Opposition leader Tony Abbott's argument that "you don't tax the polluters, you give them money to change their bad habits, is tripe".

He accused Mr Abbott of telling Australians, "if you don't give me the job, I'll wreck the place".

"Tony Abbott has got to get the political judo chop," he said.

On day five of his anti-carbon tax sales pitch Mr Abbott toured an agricultural transport company in Gatton, 90km west of Brisbane, to outline his plan against the "toxic tax". "I will be campaigning every single day between now and the next election, whenever it is, against this carbon tax," he said.

"This is a tax which isn't fair, it won't do anything to reduce global emissions.

Police chief supports station guards plan

BILLBOARD campaign showing graphic violence inflicted on police officers - including a glassing injury - could be harmful to children, a leading psychologist said today.

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg said the "shocking" images launched today as part of an ongoing push for police pay had “the potential to cause significant anxiety among children".

“They are very graphic and whilst I totally support the Police Association and their bid for a pay rise, let's be very clear about this - this is an adult discussion and we shouldn't drag children into it," Dr Carr-Gregg told news.com.au.

The images show the bloodied results of a policeman being bashed and a policewoman's injuries after being glassed while trying to stop a fight.

Dr Carr-Gregg said he did not believe the campaign should be banned, but called for the Victorian Police Association to ensure children were not exposed to the violent pictures.

The new numbers were promised by the Baillieu government in the lead-up to the state election as part of its tough-on-crime agenda, which included the promise to put two officers on every Melbourne station and some regional stations after 6 o'clock each night.

The plan has been criticised by the Greens and others on several fronts, including that the officers will be unnecessary at most stations because there is rarely crime at many of them. But Mr Lay told The Age that while stations were mostly safe, police research showed only about a third of passengers felt safe using the network at night.

''I've got a young daughter and there's something quite comforting for me [knowing] when my daughter gets off the train … she will see bright green vests and people in uniform there to protect the community,'' he said.

''Clearly their presence there will result in reduced levels of crime. The other important thing is people feel safer.

''This is an opportunity that we've never had before.

''Is it an effective use of resources? You bet it is.''

While Mr Lay's predecessor Simon Overland said the plan had his support, he questioned the length of training that the protective service officers were likely to receive, a move that put him at odds with the Baillieu minister Richard Dalla-Riva.

The first guards will enter a 12-week training course in November before being deployed about February.

About 93 are expected at stations by mid next year but only city and major inner-suburban stations will be guarded for the first few months.

Shadow police spokesman James Merlino said he was confident that the force would implement the government of the day's policies but problems remained with the planning, implementation and effects of the rollout.

Victoria Police is expected to publish details of the information sessions on its website within days.

Tony Abbott

Anthony John "Tony" Abbott, born 4 November 1957 is the Leader of the Opposition in the Australian House of Representatives and federal leader of the centre-right Liberal Party of Australia. Abbott has represented the seat of Warringah since the 1994 by-election. He was Minister for Employment Services, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, and Minister for Health and Ageing in the Howard government at various times from 1998 to 2007 and Leader of the House from 2001 to 2007.

After the defeat of the Howard government at the 2007 federal election, he was Shadow Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs until he resigned from Malcolm Turnbull's shadow cabinet on 26 November 2009 in protest against Liberal Party support for an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Following a spill motion, Abbott defeated Turnbull 42 votes to 41 in a party leadership election.

The 2010 federal election resulted in a hung parliament with the incumbent Labor government led by Julia Gillard, forming a minority government after gaining support of an Australian Greens MP and three independent MPs. Abbott was re-elected unopposed to the party leadership following the election.

Early life and family

Abbott was born in London, England, to Australian parents. In 1960, his family returned to Australia, living first in the Sydney suburbs of Bronte then moving to Chatswood. Abbott was schooled at St Aloysius' College before completing his secondary school education at St Ignatius' College, Riverview in Sydney (both are Jesuit schools). He graduated with a Bachelor of Economics (BEc) and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Sydney where he resided at St John's College, and was president of the Student Representative Council. He gained media attention for his political stance opposing the then dominant left-wing student leadership. He was also a prominent student boxer. He then went on to attend the Queen's College, Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar and graduated with a Master of Arts (MA) in Politics and Philosophy.

When Abbott was 19, his girlfriend became pregnant and believed Abbott to be the biological father. She was keen to get married but Abbott refused, so she left him seven months into her pregnancy. She later gave birth to a son and had him adopted. For 27 years, Abbott believed that he fathered this child. In 2004, the boy sought out his biological mother and it was publicly revealed that the child had become an ABC sound recordist who worked in Parliament House, Canberra, and was involved in making television programs in which Abbott appeared.

Abbott began public life as a journalist for The Bulletin, an influential news magazine, and The Australian Newspaper. He became well-known for his strongly worded criticism of trade unions and left-wing politics. For a time he was a plant manager for Pioneer Concrete before becoming press secretary to the Leader of the Opposition, Dr John Hewson from 1990 to 1993 and worked on the Fightback! policy. Between 1993 and 1994 he was the Executive Director of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy.

Despite his right-wing leanings, Abbott has acknowledged he voted for Labor in the 1988 NSW state election as he thought "Barrie Unsworth was the best deal Premier that New South Wales had ever had." Nevertheless, Abbott then clarified that he has never voted for Labor in a federal election.

Abbott was elected to the Australian House of Representatives for the Division of Warringah at a by-election in March 1994 following the resignation of Michael MacKellar. He served as the parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs (1996–98), Minister for Employment Services (1998–2001), Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Small Business (2001), Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations (2001–03) and Minister for Health and Ageing from 2003 to November 2007. From late 2001 to November 2007, he was also Manager of Government Business in the House of Representatives.

According to Sydney Morning Herald Political Editor Peter Hartcher, prior to the defeat of the Howard Government at the Australian Federal Election, 2007, Abbott had opposed the Government's centrepiece Workchoices industrial relations deregulation reform in Cabinet, on the basis that the legislation exceeded the government's mandate; was harsh on workers; and was politically dangerous to the government.

Abbott campaigned as Minister for Health at the 2007 Election. On 31 October, he apologised for saying 'just because a person is sick doesn't mean that he is necessarily pure of heart in all things', after Bernie Banton, (an asbestos campaigner and terminal mesothelioma sufferer) called him 'gutless' for not being present to collect a petition.

Action against the One Nation party

In 1998, Abbott established a trust fund called "Australians for Honest Politics Trust" to help bankroll civil court cases against the One Nation party and its founders, Pauline Hanson and David Ettridge.Prosecution ultimately resulted in Hanson & Ettridge being imprisoned. The conviction against Hanson was ultimately overturned, leading to criticism of a range of politicians for political interference by the adjudicating justice.

Post Howard Government: shadow minister

After the Coalition lost government in 2007 and he lost his health portfolio, in opposition Abbott was re-elected to the seat of Warringah with a 1.79% swing toward the Labor Party. Following Peter Costello's rejection of the leadership of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, Abbott nominated for the position of party leader, along with Malcolm Turnbull and Brendan Nelson. After canvassing the support of his colleagues, Abbott decided to withdraw his nomination. He seemingly did not have the numbers, noting that he was "obviously very closely identified with the outgoing prime minister." He also said he would not rule out contesting the leadership at some time in the future.

In December 2007, Abbott was assigned the Shadow Portfolio of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. As indigenous affairs spokesman, Abbott said that it had been a mistake for the Howard Government not to offer a National Apology to the Stolen Generations.; spent time teaching at remote Aboriginal communities; and argued for the Rudd Government to continue the Northern Territory National Emergency Response which restricted alcohol and introduced conditional welfare in certain Aboriginal communities.

The number of unauthorised boat arrivals to Australia increased in Australia during 2008. Abbott claimed that this was an effect of the Rudd Government's easing of border protection laws and accused Kevin Rudd of ineptitude and hypocrisy on the issue of boat arrivals, particularly during the Oceanic Viking affair of October 2009, and said "John Howard found a problem and created a solution. Kevin Rudd found a solution and has now created a problem".

In November 2009, Abbott resigned from shadow ministerial responsibilities due to the Liberal Party's position on the government's Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), leading to the resignation of other shadow ministers.

On 1 December 2009, Abbott was elected to the position of Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia over Malcolm Turnbull and Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey (See 2009 Liberal Leadership ballot). Abbott proposed blocking the Rudd Government's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) in the Senate whereas Turnbull sought to amend then pass the bill which the majority of the Liberal Party did not support.Abbott named his Shadow Cabinet on 8 December 2009.

Abbott described Prime Minister Rudd's Emission Trading plan as a 'Great big tax on everything' and opposed it. The Coalition and minor parties voted against the Government's ETS legislation in the Senate and the legislation was rejected. Abbott announced a new Coaltion policy on carbon emission reduction in February, which committed the Coalition to a 5 per cent reduction in emissions by 2020. Abbott proposed the creation of an 'emissions reduction fund' to provide 'direct' incentives to industry and farmers to reduce carbon emissions. In April, Rudd announced that plans for the introduction his ETS would be delayed until 2013.

When appointed to the Liberal leadership, the subject of Abbott's Catholicism and moral beliefs became a subject of repeated media questioning. Various commentators suggested that his traditionalist views would polarise female voters.

During his time as Opposition Spokesman for Indigenous Affairs, Abbott spent time in remote Cape York Aboriginal communities as a teacher, organised through prominent indigenous activist Noel Pearson. Abbott has repeatedly spoke of his admiration for Pearson, and in March 2010, introduced the Wild Rivers (Environmental Management) Bill to Parliament in support of Pearson's campaign to overturn the Queensland government's Wild Rivers legislation. Abbott and Pearson believe that the QLD law will 'block the economic development' of indigenous land, and interfere with Aboriginal land rights.

Abbott completed an Ironman Triathlon event in March 2010 at Port Macquarie, New South Wales and in April set out on a 9 day charity bike ride between Melbourne and Sydney, the annual 'Pollie Pedal, generating political debate about whether Abbott should have committed so much time to physical fitness. Abbot described the events as an opportunity to "stop at lots of little towns along the way where people probably never see or don't very often see a federal member of Parliament.

Constitutional monarchist

Abbott is a supporter of the constitutional monarchy in Australia. Prior to entering Parliament, he was Executive Director of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy from 1993-94. Arguing against the case for a republican system of government in Australia in 1999, Abbott outlined his beliefs on conservatism and the monarchy.

“ There are some people who believe that any republic would be better than what we have now. “Republic or bust” zealots are incapable of perceiving any difficulties. Conservatives, however, don’t change anything lightly. Conservatives approach issues with instinctive respect for institutions and approaches that have stood the test of time. “If it is not necessary to change” the conservative ethos runs, “it is necessary not to change”. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” say conservatives, “and if it is broke, recycle it, don’t throw it away”. ”

Speaking in July 2009, Abbott told the ABC's 7:30 Report that though he thought the science of climate change was "highly contentious" and that he thought that the economics of an ETS was "a bit dodgy", he nevertheless thought that the Opposition should pass the Rudd Government's ETS as he did not think it would be "a good look for the Opposition to be browner than Howard going into the next election".

At an October 2009 meeting in the Victorian town of Beaufort, Abbott was reported to have said: "The argument is absolute crap... However, the politics of this are tough for us. 80% of people believe climate change is a real and present danger". 

On 1 December 2009, when questioned about that statement, he said he had used "a bit of hyperbole" at that meeting rather than it being his "considered position".

Speaking in November 2009, prior to being elected Leader of the Opposition, Abbott told the ABC's Lateline program that in relation to Climate Change Policy:

“ I am always reluctant to join bandwagons. I think there are fashions in science and in the academe, just as there are fashions in so many other things. But look, we should take reasonable precautions against credible threats. I think it is perfectly reasonable to take action against climate change. The problem with the Rudd Government's position is that Australia could end up impoverishing itself through this dramatic ETS, and not do anything for the environment if the rest of the world does not adopt an ETS or something like it. ”

Outgoing Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull wrote that Abbott had described himself as a 'weathervane' in relation to climate change policy in the months prior to his becoming leader of the Liberal Party.

Upon becoming Leader of the Opposition, Abbott put the question of support for the Government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS), to a secret ballot and the Liberal Party voted to reject support for the policy - overturning on an undertaking by Abbott's predecessor, Malcolm Turnbull, to support an amended version of the government's scheme. Under Abbott, the Coalition voted against the CPRS in the Senate, and the bill was defeated twice, providing a double dissolution trigger.

Abbott is pro-life, an opponent of embryonic stem cell research and euthanasia. He supports legal abortion but with restrictions; he has said that abortion should be "safe, legal and rare". He also tried, but failed, to block the introduction of the abortion pill RU-486, but promised not to change abortion law if elected.

As Health Minister, Abbott said that he saw reducing the number of abortions performed each year as a national priority. In March 2004, he asked, "Why isn't the fact that 100,000 women choose to end their pregnancies regarded as a national tragedy approaching the scale, say, of Aboriginal life expectancy being 20 years less than that of the general community?" In February 2006, he said, "We have a bizarre double standard, a bizarre double standard in this country where someone who kills a pregnant woman's baby is guilty of murder but a woman who aborts an unborn baby is simply exercising choice."

Abbott promised to launch an investigation into a product called Pink or Blue, produced by the American firm Consumer Genetics. This test is one of several pre-natal blood tests designed to detect the sex of a fetus as early as six weeks into pregnancy. Some ethicists and anti-abortionists have raised concerns that it would become a "sex select" tool.

Abbott opposed allowing the introduction of embryonic stem cell research or therapeutic cloning in another conscience vote. He argued, "There are very important ethical questions here and even the very best end does not justify every possible means.

In his 2009 book, Battlelines, Abbott proposed that consideration should be given to a return to an optional at-fault divorce agreement between couples who would like it, similar to the Matrimonial Causes Act, which would require spouses to prove offences like adultery, habitual drunkenness, cruelty, dessertion, or a 5 year separation before a divorce would be granted. 

Religion

Abbott is a socially conservative Catholic. As a former Catholic seminarian, Abbott's religiosity has come to national attention and journalists have often sought his views on the role of religion in politics. Abbott says that a politician should not rely on religion to justify a political point of view:

“ We are all influenced by a value system that we hold, but in the end, every decision that a politician makes is, or at least should, in our society be based on the normal sorts of considerations. It's got to be publicly justifiable; not only justifiable in accordance with a private view; a private belief.”

Various of the political positions supported by Abbott have been criticised by church representatives, including aspects of Coalition industrial relations policy, asylum seeker and Aboriginal affairs policy. After criticisms of Liberal Party policy by clergy, Abbott has said: "The priesthood gives someone the power to consecrate bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. It doesn't give someone the power to convert poor logic into good logic.

According to John Warhurst from the Australian National University, academics have at times placed an "exaggerated concentration on the religious affiliation and personal religious background of just one of [the Howard government's senior ministers, Tony Abbott. Journalist Michelle Grattan wrote in 2010 that while Abbott has always "worn his Catholicism on his sleeve", he is "clearly frustrated by the obsession with it and what might hang off that.

Abbott is a volunteer member of the NSW Rural Fire Service as a member of the Davidson Rural Fire Brigade.

Abbott has participated in many events for charity including running in a 100 km charity ultramarathon.

In April 2007 he launched the tenth annual Pollie Pedal, a charitable event which aimed to raise money for breast cancer research. Federal Territories Minister Jim Lloyd said that the event was Abbott's "brainchild".

As Opposition spokesman on Indigenous Affairs, Abbott spent weeks teaching in a remote Aboriginal settlements in Cape York in 2008 and 2009, organised through prominent indigenous leader Noel Pearson. He taught remedial reading to Aboriginal children; worked with an income management group, helping families manage their welfare payments; and visited children who had not been attending school—with a goal 'to familiarise himself with indigenous issues'.

Books by Abbott

Abbott has published three books. In 2009 he launched "Battlelines"; a personal biography, reflections on the Howard Government and discussion of potential policy directions for the Liberal Party of Australia. Previously he had published two books in defence of the existing constitutional monarchy system, "The Minimal Monarchy" and "How to Win the Constitutional War".

Abbott, Tony (2009). Battlelines. Carlton Victoria Australia: Melbourne University Press. ISBN 9780522856064.

Abbott, Tony (1997). How to Win the Constitutional War: and give both sides what they want. Kent Town South Australia: Wakefield Press. ISBN 1862544336.

Abbott, Tony (1995). The Minimal Monarchy: and why it still makes sense for Australia. Kent Town South Australia: Wakefield Press. ISBN 1862543585.

Tony Abbott tells Courier-Mail People's Forum the Coalition carbon tax if elected

Opposition Leader took his anti-carbon tax crusade from the nation's mine sites and agricultural markets to the heart of Brisbane city in front of a 100-strong crowd at a forum organised by The Courier-Mail and Sky News.

Ramming home his message that the government had an "honesty problem", Mr Abbott told Brisbane voters the carbon tax was counterproductive and unnecessary.

"If the package is as good as the Prime Minister is telling us, it really should have gone to a vote," he said.

But while Mr Abbott tried to sell his $3.2bn direct-action plan to voters, he was repeatedly questioned over his stance on renewable energy funding and claims the coal industry would be harmed.

Former teacher Vicki Monaghan, 51, asked why Mr Abbott was "scaremongering" about the future of jobs in the coal industry.

Mr Abbott replied: "Well, what do you think about Bob Brown, he says he wants to phase out coal", before saying the emissions trading scheme would vastly reduce the output of coal companies.

IT consultant Adam Champion, 29, challenged Mr Abbott on which experts he would listen to, after he "bagged climate scientists and bagged economists".

Mr Abbott said he listened to the public.

"I don't accept this line that the people are incapable of making an intelligent and informed judgment," he said.

But Mr Abbott also faced questioning over the details of how he would be able to rescind the carbon tax under his government with a hostile Senate.

But support for the tax also rose from 25 per cent to 32.1 per cent, while the undecided vote fell from 38.4 per cent to 16.5 per cent.

The Opposition Leader hammered Julia Gillard for breaking her pre-election promise not to introduce a carbon tax.

But he insisted his own "direct action" policy would meet the same targets.

"I don't think we can ... protect our environment by trashing our economy," he said.

"We've got to do this in a sensible way, not a destructive way."

Members of the audience asked how much his alternative policy would cost, how it would save jobs and whether it would promote green energy.

Mr Abbott described himself as a "conservationist" who wanted to take precautions against climate change.

He said his plans built on existing activities including tree planting and storing carbon in soil.

He vowed the cost would not rise above $3.2 billion. Mr Abbott said the carbon tax was already hurting the Australian economy and could spark a drop in the Australian dollar.

"The strength of the currency is a sign of the strength of the economy," he said. There was now "a government-induced climate of uncertainty and anxiety", he said.

The tax would create a "sovereign risk" and cause foreign investors to shun Australia, he said.

Mr Abbott predicted Labor would drop its support for the carbon tax if it lost the election.

He said he would be prepared to go to a double dissolution election if he could not get the changes through both Houses of Parliament but he

left open the option of changing his policy in the future.

"If the whole world changes, obviously we will too," he said.

But he said that was highly unlikely to happen. "There is no way on God's Earth the Chinese and Indians would do it because it would destroy their economy," he said.

Jason Richards

Jason Richards, born 10 April 1976 in Nelson, New Zealand is a motor racing driver, currently competing for Brad Jones Racing in the Australian touring car series, V8 Supercar.

Early career

Richards started his motor racing career at the age of eight in 1985, driving in karting events in his home country of New Zealand. He made his move out of karting in 1993 after 35 championship titles, entering the Mini 7s.

After much success again, Richards was offered the Canterbury Racing School Formula Ford drive for the Nissan Mobil 500 meetings at Wellington and Pukekohe.

After a short stint in the English Formula Ford Championship, Richards returned to New Zealand to sign with BMW Motorsport NZ as junior driver, winning the 1995/96 Class 1 Touring Car Championships for the team, along with nine out of 12 series races.

Career highlights

Winner, New Zealand Touring Cars Championship 1998/99, 2000/01

11th, Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 at Mount Panorama Circuit 2002

5th, Oran Park V8 Supercar round 2003

3rd, Betta Electrical Sandown 500 2005

2nd, Supercheap Auto 1000 at Bathurst 2005, 2008

Winner, Winton Motor Raceway, RD.5 Race 2, V8SA 2006

3rd, Surfers Paradise V8 Supercar Challenge, V8SCS 2007

Pole, Hidden Valley Darwin, Race 9, V8SCS 2009

Teams

Team Kiwi Racing

Promoted to lead driver, Richards won the next three NZ Touring Car Championships prior to joining Team Kiwi for the V8 Supercar series in Australia in 2001. Battling testing restrictions and the tyranny of distance, Richards finished an extremely creditable 19th in the 2002 V8 Supercar Series.

Team Dynamik

Richards moved to the new South Australian Team Dynamik in 2003, putting in some strong results, including a narrow failure to snatch victory in the Sandown 500 from Mark Skaife in the race's dying stages.

Tasman Motorsport

He then made the decision to move to the newly-formed Tasman Motorsport outfit in 2004 and has developed into a driver who believes he is capable of standing on the top step of a V8 Supercar podium.

Coming back from a major rollover in the 2005 round at Queensland Raceway,[3] Richards quickly returned to stride and promptly placed the repaired Commodore into the top 10 in the following round at Oran Park Raceway.

His podium results in the Sandown and Bathurst endurance events in 2005 helped cement his place as a ‘coming man’ of the V8 Supercar category.

In the 2005 Supercheap Auto 1000, Richards produced a strong performance and came very close to winning the race.

At the 2007 Bathurst 1000 Richards and Murphy were the best placed Holden team, finishing fourth overall. Surfers Paradise was his best round in 2007 where he finished third overall, and finished 14th in the Championship, with 235 points 15 points behind teammate Greg Murphy.

Team BOC

Richards will be racing the #8 Team BOC VE Commodore for 2009, a new race number for the team in V8 Supercars but was the racing number of team co-principal Brad Jones during the teams years racing in AUSCAR and NASCAR at the Calder Park Thunderdome. Richards secured his first V8 Supercar pole position at Hidden Valley Raceway in 2009. Richards finished third at the 2010 L&H 500 with Andrew Jones.

Illness

In November 2010 it was revealed that Richards was admitted to hospital on 16 November and was later diagnosed with an adrenocortical carcinoma.

Bathurst 1000 statistics

Debut: 1997 (BMW 320i with Brett Riley)

Starts: 8 (including 2 Super Touring)

Best Results: 2nd (2005, Holden Commodore VZ with Jamie Whincup, 2008, Holden Commodore VE with Greg Murphy, 2009, Holden Commodore VE with Cameron McConville) 4th (2007, Holden Commodore VE with Greg Murphy)

Search setback for Jason Richards and his girlfriend fears the worst

The dog, called Amy, was found wandering on a station near the Stuart Highway.

Station hands alerted South Australia police after the brown and white pointer-cross was found south of Glendambo, 120km west of where Mr Richards was last seen on July 21.

His father, Wayne, said a sighting of Mr Richards's navy Toyota HiLux utility was reported on Friday near where the dog was found, but there was no sign of the ute when police arrived at the location.

A robust hunting dog who was heavily pregnant when Mr Richards left Darwin three weeks ago to drive home to his family in Ballarat, Amy is now emaciated, with the outline of her ribs clearly visible. Her puppies are most probably dead after she gave birth somewhere in the outback.

Ms Laidlaw is in central South Australia with friends and relatives, searching for Mr Richards, who disappeared three weeks ago.

Police have already searched 4300 sq km to no avail. They even brought in an Aboriginal tracker.

Police yesterday described the case as "strange".

"It is odd Mr Richards' vehicle or himself have not been found," said Det Supt Grant Moyle of the SA major crime unit.

"I would have expected that if he was all right, if he had left that area and was still travelling, then we would have had some reports of his interactions with members of the public."

Police have consulted psychologists as they explore the theory that Mr Richards may have suffered a deranged episode linked to sleep deprivation.

Mr Richards, 29, vanished late last month on his journey home to Ballarat from Darwin, where he had been working as a glazier.

He was last seen on the Stuart Highway, south of Woomera.

Peter Falconio vanished on the same highway, about 1200km north, in July 2001.

Mr Richards' dog, Amy, was found alive on Sunday, about 100km from where he disappeared. Vets believe she gave birth a week ago to a litter of pups, which have not been found.

Ms Laidlaw said Mr Richards had no enemies.

The boat he was towing was found torched and abandoned the day he was last seen, June 21.

His father, Wayne, lives near the scene of the last sighting.

Factor 50+ raises the bar in sun protection

You may be surprised to learn that many common foods offer some protection to your skin from the potentially damaging rays of the sun, from the inside out. This SPF or sun protective factor aspect of foods has to do with the presence of certain antioxidant compounds. Plants produce antioxidants within their own tissues to protect their own cells from premature destruction, due to exposure to heat, light, air, moisture and time.

When we consume many of these plant-derived antioxidants, these natural agents provide protection to the cells of our bodies, including skin cells. By eating certain foods, especially those that are brightly colored, you can actually help to reduce damage to your skin caused by exposure to UVA and UVB rays from sunlight. Let’s consider some of the better sun protective foods.

Cancer Council has resisted the increased level to 50+, saying it gives people a false sense of security as the higher level of chemicals in sunscreen do not necessarily provide an exponentially higher rate of protection.

The organisation, however, acknowledges the importance of using broad spectrum sunscreen.

The chairman of Standards Australia's sunscreen standards committee, Craig Sinclair, is also a spokesman for the Cancer Council.

''Certainly the Cancer Council has not been the ones advocating for this change, it's been largely led by industry,'' Mr Sinclair said.

He said broad spectrum products - that included protection against both UVA and UVB - were more important than the SPF level.

It was also important to ensure people applied enough sunscreen at regular intervals.

''It's much more about application than it is about the SPF numbers, as such. From the perspective of the Cancer Council, we haven't been pushing for this at all, but if it means that the industry, in going to SPF 50+, is producing better quality sunscreens which have much broader UVA and UVB protection, then we're going to get better public health outcomes.''

The proposal also recommends banning potentially misleading terms such as ''sun block'' and ''water proof'' from sunscreen labels.

The draft standard is available for public comment.

Mr Sinclair said he expected it would be introduced later in the year, and would take effect by the following summer.

Mother left wondering if her baby could have been saved

Forrestfield couple say their 18-week-old foetus was disposed of by staff at the Swan District Hospital who had not consulted them.

The North Metropolitan Area Health Service says while the treatment of the patient was clinically appropriate, what happened to the foetus should have been discussed with the parents.

The Department expressed its condolences and says it has met the family to discuss their concerns.

Doctor Hames says the lack of consultation was inappropriate.

"A certain course of events were supposed to happen and it didn't and that was obviously distressing for the mother so I'm more than happy to apologise to her that that occurred," he said.

He says the case will be investigated.

The autopsy was unable to show any problems with the baby, but because the hospital had thrown out the placenta instead of sending it for testing, the reason why she miscarried remains unknown.

Mrs Right became pregnant again this year and went to the hospital again after having severe pains, but staff again refused to run tests or do an ultrasound.

“They just told me ‘no, go home and the baby will pass naturally’,” Mrs Right said.

“They were just saying: ‘if it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen’.

“I knew something was wrong. It’s just a mother instinct, so the next day I went straight to Joondalup Hospital and they were more than helpful.”

Tests at Joondalup Hospital revealed the baby had died.

Mrs Right said after the first incident, the hospital told her they would use her case to ensure that no other parents would go through the same ordeal, but it was clear after her second miscarriage nothing had changed.

A Swan hospital spokeswoman said: “We express our condolences to the family involved for their tragic loss and apologise for any distress caused by the events that followed early last year."

"Shortly after this occurred, senior hospital staff met with the family to discuss the concerns they had regarding the care they received and to apologise.

“Should the couple have outstanding concerns, we welcome the chance to meet with them again to ensure their concerns are resolved.

"We are unable to disclose any further information about the specifics in this case due to patient confidentiality."