SA to seek ideas for cost of living cuts

THE South Australian government will ask consumers for ideas on how to cut the cost of living.

The government has launched a consultation paper to consider measures to help families struggling with household expenses, as well as those going through life-changing events like having a baby or health crisis.

Premier Jay Weatherill says the state government wants to ensure South Australia remains an affordable place to live.

"I know that many South Australians are struggling with cost of living pressures," the premier told the Australian Council of Social Service conference on Monday.

"Over the past decade, the South Australian economy has grown and we have had great prosperity, but the cost of some essential household expenses has risen considerably.

"I want to ensure South Australia remains an affordable and attractive place to live, work, do business and raise a family."

Mr Weatherill said the government was already focused on protecting people's jobs and delivering services but wanted to do more to help families manage the household budget.

The government wants to hear about their priorities and concerns and ways the government can best assist.

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Still living under a shadow

Jay Thomas Hart / Pic: Today Tonight Source: The Daily Telegraph

A NORTH coast community organisation is standing behind one of its employees after it was revealed he was living under a new name after twice being acquitted of murder.

Jay Thomas Hart, 45, had passed all the criminal checks required for his job with young people, a spokeswoman for the community centre said.

Hart, who was acquitted in 1994 and in 2006 of the murders of two young Aboriginal neighbours in the north coast community of Bowraville, was tracked down this week to his new job and the new home in the Newcastle area where he has been living under his new identity.

He was living in Bowraville when the two young people - Clinton Speedy-Duroux, 16, and Evelyn Greenup, 4 - went missing in 1990 and 1991.

No one was charged following the disappearance and suspected murder of another neighbour, Colleen Walker, 16, about the same time. Hart has always denied any involvement in any of the three cases.

A spokeswoman for the community organisation which now employs Hart, which helps disadvantaged and troubled youth including young Aboriginal people, said yesterday that they had no plans to sack him.

"All our staff members have had criminal checks and they have all come back clean," she said.

The Daily Telegraph has chosen not to reveal his new identity.

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80 asylum seekers living in uni

RADIO announcer Ray Hadley has called on the Federal Government for a detailed report and explanation after he revealed 80 asylum seekers have been living inside the grounds of a Sydney university.

On his radio show this morning, Hadley said approximately 80 Sri Lankan men were living at student accommodation inside Macquarie University.

"In the grounds of the university there are two dorm buildings housing young women - those dorms are surrounded by the dormitories containing the 80 Sri Lankan men,'' Hadley said.

"According to people I've spoken to at the university, the young women feel both intimdated and frightened by having the men in close proximity. Some are in fact scared and conveyed that to police officers on the scene yesterday.''

NSW Police today confirmed officers were investigating reports a man indecently assaulted a female university student while she was sleeping in her dormitory.

Detectives have been told a 20-year-old woman was asleep in her dormitory when a man broke into her room and indecently assaulted her about 3.20am yesterday.

The woman awoke during the incident and the man fled the scene.

The man is described as 20-25 years old, thin build, dark skinned, with dark short curly hair. He was wearing no t-shirt and a pair of grey coloured tracksuit pants.

Hadley has called on the Immigration Department to provide a report into why the university was doubling as "some sort of a Quasi detention centre".

POLICE have confirmed officers are investigating reports a man indecently assaulted a female university student while she was sleeping in her dormitory.

Detectives have been told a 20-year-old woman was asleep in her dormitory when a man broke into her room and indecently assaulted her about 3.20am yesterday.

The woman awoke during the incident and the man fled the scene.

The man is described as 20-25 years old, thin build, dark skinned, with dark short curly hair. He was wearing no t-shirt and a pair of grey coloured tracksuit pants.

It is believed he is one of approximately 80 Sri Lankan refugees who are being housed on the university grounds.

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