PM takes solace from Baird victory

Treasurer Joe Hockey has slammed Labor for running a racist, backdoor campaign in the NSW election. Source: AAP

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has hailed Mike Baird's state election victory as a win for the Liberal Party and NSW residents.

MR Abbott, who kept a low profile during the election campaign and was interstate on polling day, said Mr Baird had stayed the course in the face of a concerted Labor scare campaign.

"This result is unambiguously good news for the Liberal Party and for the people of NSW," Mr Abbott said.It's also good news for Mr Abbott.Some commentators had linked his future to the outcome of Saturday's election after he was blamed in part for the recent failures of the first-term conservative governments in Victoria and Queensland.Mr Baird's coalition easily secured a second term of government on Saturday, despite losing at least 15 seats and Labor picking up around 13.He's now claiming a mandate to lease 49 per cent of the state's electricity poles and wires to fund an infrastructure program.Treasurer Joe Hockey accused Labor and unions of "backdoor xenophobia" amid speculation the government was planning to sell off the state's electricity assets to the Chinese."There was an element of xenophobia and racism involved in the NSW Labor campaign that I have not seen in more than 20 years in Australian politics," he told reporters in Tasmania.Social Services Minister Scott Morrison described it as a win for policy over populism.He acknowledged a year ago the NSW Liberal party had been in "pretty crook shape"."Last night they won a thumping election, the second worst result for Labor in its history," Mr Morrison told Sky News.Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said a swing of almost nine per cent to Labor and an additional dozen seats was a remarkable achievement.Deputy leader Tanya Plibersek said it was telling that Mr Abbott, a NSW native, had been absent on election day."If he thought he was any asset to the NSW campaign, he would have been here," she told reporters in Sydney.Federal Labor MP Ed Husic joked Mr Abbott had been missing in action for so long that his face should have been put on milk cartons."I don't think he can necessarily sleep any easier at night because of this result," he told ABC TV.Mr Baird's personal popularity faced a critical test in defending the state against further federal budget cuts, he said.Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce played down the loss of two Nationals seats on the north coast.Mr Joyce defended the party's conditional support for coal seam gas mining in light of votes seeping to the Greens.He said Greens' vote across the state remained the same but was more concentrated in areas such as Nimbin and Byron Bay.

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WA rally against Abbott government

Adversaries of the Abbott government have rallied in Perth to protest on a day of nationwide action. Source: AAP

ADVERSARIES of the Abbott government have rallied in Perth to protest on a day of nationwide action.

SEVERAL hundred people attended the March In March event on Sunday to voice concerns on a range of issues including indigenous rights, climate change, homelessness, live animal exports and metadata.

Federal Labor MP Melissa Parke told the crowd she thought Prime Minister Tony Abbott was a cross between Russia's Vladimir Putin and former US President George W Bush and that he was leading "the worst government ever".

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Police probe woman's death in Sydney

A woman has died after being attacked in the street on her way home in Sydney's west. Source: AAP

HOMICIDE detectives are investigating the death of a woman from a suspected knife attack in Sydney's west.

THE woman, believed to be in her early 40s, was found lying on the ground at Westmead on Saturday night.

She was taken to Westmead Hospital, where she died early on Sunday."A post-mortem is being conducted to determine the cause of the woman's death. However, early investigations suggest she died as a result of a wound inflicted by a sharp-edged weapon," police said.It's believed the woman was walking home from Parramatta train station when she was attacked.A crime scene has been established and forensic experts are investigating, along with local police and homicide detectives.

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Candidate denies punching Sydney mayor

A SUBURBAN Sydney council candidate says he didn't punch the local mayor at a polling booth.

INDEPENDENT Victor Tagg has denied striking 52-year-old Ryde Mayor Bill Pickering at Putney Public School, in the city's northwest, on Saturday.

The pair were there attending a ward by-election for which Mr Tagg was a candidate.When asked on Sunday by the Seven Network whether he struck Mr Pickering, Mr Tagg said: "No."Pressed to explain what happened, he declined to make further comment.Asked if he was going to speak with police, Mr Tagg replied: "I am going to talk to my solicitor."Mr Pickering told reporters on Sunday he was recovering.However, he declined to give specifics, saying a police investigation was underway."I had an MRI scan, everything's OK neurologically," he said."Obviously there's swelling and other things but nothing I won't recover from in a couple of days."He said he could identify the man who allegedly assaulted him.The Ryde mayor said he was handing out sandwiches and thanking volunteers when he became aware of a couple being berated.He began talking to them before being confronted by another man.Mr Pickering said he only just saw the punch coming."It was too late to react," he said.Police say inquiries are ongoing.

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Beaches reopen after NSW shark attack

BEACHES around Ballina on the NSW north coast have reopened following a fatal shark attack and shark sightings.

THE beaches have been closed for six days since Tadashi Nakahara, 41, was bitten and killed by a 3-4m great white while surfing at Shelly Beach on Monday.

Since then, shark sightings and a large number of baitfish in the area have kept beaches closed.It's believed the last shark sighting was at Lighthouse Beach on Friday.Police and local lifesavers have reassessed the situation and opened the beaches between South Ballina and Lennox Heads.

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Crews battle three out-of-control WA fires

Firefighters are still battling three out-of-control bushfires in Western Australia's south. Source: AAP

FIREFIGHTERS continue to battle three out-of-control bushfires in Western Australia's south amid scorching temperatures.

NORTHCLIFFE residents have been given the go ahead to return home after a lightning-sparked bushfire burnt to within two kilometres of the township in the state's far south.

Because of the huge blaze the town was deemed "undefendable" but fire crews from WA and inter-state worked around the clock for more than a week to ease the threat.On Saturday the emergency alert for Northcliffe was dropped to a watch and act, however it is still not safe for residents in the secluded coastal township of Windy Harbour to leave.The fire has burnt more than 85,000 hectares. Two homes and five sheds have been confirmed destroyed.A separate bushfire burning near the community of Lower Hotham in the state's south has also been downgraded to a watch and act.But people have been told to remain vigilant as changing weather conditions may upgrade the warning level.At least one house and two sheds were destroyed in the Lower Hotham fire, which has burnt more than 52,000 hectares.A third watch and act is in place in Wattleup, south of Perth.The bushfire, which started on Wednesday, is currently stationary and contained but not under control.The cause of the fire is suspicious. Temperatures in Perth were forecast to reach 40C on Sunday.

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