JAIL FOR SCARRED COUSINS
DOUBT has been thrown on the validity of the Census results as the Australian Bureau of Statistics gets ready to release the findings of the disaster- plagued national survey.
The ABS will release a preview of Census results on April 11, two months before an independent panel hands down its report set to identify any problems with the data linked to the backlash over privacy concerns.
Australian statistician David Kalisch recently announced the first release of Census data would come 2 ½ months earlier than previous Census collections.
The ABS says that more than 96 per cent of Australian households lodged their Census forms, which ensures the result is statistically valid but that number fails to address the concern of misleading data.
The ABS said in a statement to News Corp that the independent panel would hand down its report on June 27, before detailed Census data was released, and it would have “adequate” time to review the Census results.
The independent panel, chaired by JCU vice- chancellor Professor Sandra Harding, is examining issues including quality assurances of the data. THE Australian Energy Market Operator has reaffirmed its calls for a co- ordinated national approach to energy transformation in its final report into South Australia’s statewide blackout.
The report has 19 recommendations, including more rigorous weather warning and improvements to AEMO’s capacity to restart a particular energy network.
Hundreds of thousands of properties were left without electricity when fierce storms brought down three major transmission lines in SA’s north. In its initial findings in October, AEMO said South Australia’s heavy use of wind power wasn’t the cause of the blackout. But it also found nine of the state’s 13 wind farms switched off because they were unable to withstand voltage disturbances. TROUBLED former AFL premiership player Ben Cousins was willing to do 12 months of drug rehabilitation, but a Perth magistrate has instead ordered him to spend one year in prison. Cousins ( pictured) was sentenced in Perth Magistrates Court yesterday, having previously pleaded guilty to 11 offences, including aggravated stalking, breaching a violence restraining order and drug possession. When the former West Coast captain was arrested, police found 8g of meth, which his lawyer Michael Tudori told the court would only last four days because he had a high tolerance. The VRO was taken out by Cousins’ former partner Maylea Tinecheff, with whom he has two children, and the breaches related to him visiting their school and church, and making hundreds of phone calls to her. Cousins rang Ms Tinecheff 371 times in February, including 50 calls in one day. In November, he contacted her 542 times, including 103 in one day. The police prosecutor said Ms Tinecheff feared for her safety, and that of her children, because Cousins was unpredictable while on drugs. Cousins, who was supported by his father, had a full beard and was wearing the same Tshirt he wore the previous day to court.
Mr Tudori said the Brownlow medallist had “hit rock bottom” with his heavy drug usage, which caused psychosis.
“It’s the root of problems,” he said.
Mr Tudori said while Cousins had been reluctant to address his addiction, his five weeks in prison changed him.
“The ultimate master of his own destiny is himself,” he said.
“No one can force him, but he’s at the stage where he accepts that he needs to grab the hand of help. He needs intensive therapy.”
Mr Tudori said the residential rehab program Cousins wanted to do could last 12 months, and would include urinalysis and counselling.
The court heard the AFL Players Association offered to pay part of the cost and the Eagles might employ him when the program ended.
Mr Tudori said Cousins had not had regular employment since the end of his football career and had been living off savings.
He asked Magistrate Richard Huston to grant Cousins a suspended prison sentence so the 38- year- old could attend rehab.
But Mr Huston said Cousins’ criminal behaviour was “persistent, sustained and intended”.
He said Cousins had been in a position to show leadership and inspiration, but had instead made a series of poor decisions.
Cousins was fined $ 2400 for the drug offences and jailed for the stalking and VRO breaches.
He will be eligible for parole after serving six months and will also have his driver’s licence suspended for an additional nine months. all his