Petrol price rise warning

TASMANIAN motorists are being warned to keep a close eye on fuel prices with fears a spike at the bowser is imminent.

With the wholesale price of fuel spiking in Singapore off the back of a drop in the Australian dollar the RACT has raised concerns the cost jump could soon hit the wallets of local motorists.

Retail prices have been gradually creeping up in Hobart in the past week.

Latest figures from fuel watchdog website Motormouth shows the average price for unleaded fuel in Hobart had reached 154.1c a litre on Thursday compared with the June average of 151.4c a  litre.

Hobart remains the most expensive capital city, behind Darwin, for the highest average petrol prices in the country.

Despite Hobart remaining relatively stable so far, other states states have seen quick rises in prices to the tune of up to 20c a litre in the past few days.

The wholesale price has also crept up, as it had in other states.

RACT spokesman Vince Taskunas said yesterday Tasmanians had become accustomed to a fairly stable market when it came to fuel.

However, in coming weeks motorists should keep a close eyes on fuel prices, he said.

"Generally, people don't look at the price," he said.

"But in coming weeks motorists should look at prices more closely.

"Fuel is inevitably going to go up."

Mr Taskunas said the recent drop in the Australian dollar was great news for Tasmanian exporters, but it  would have an impact on fuel prices.

"We are seeing an increase in the cost per barrel because of the exchange rate dropping," he  said.

In other states, petrol prices have jumped considerably recently.

In Perth and Adelaide, some service stations have  seen price rises of up to 20c a litre for unleaded fuel.

Mr Taskunas said prices in Hobart had remained relatively stable, but prices in the North and North-West of the state had jumped recently.

He said he expected price spikes would take longer to occur in Tasmania than they had in other parts of the country.

In the past few years, the average price of unleaded fuel in Hobart has jumped from 122.2c a litre in June 2009 to 148.8c a litre last month.

matthew.smith@news.com.au

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Dancing from here to infinity

ATHLETIC: The Melbourne Ballet Company is bringing a series of modern interpretations to Hobart's Derwent Entertainment Centre.

THE acclaimed Melbourne Ballet Company will put a modern spin on classical dance when it makes a rare visit to Hobart next week.

Designed to inspire both new and long-time ballet audiences, the company's entrancing show Infinite Space combines four original works choreographed by principal dancer Simon Hoy and brought to life by a talented ensemble of performers.

Infinite Space features In One Day, a physical and athletic piece set to Vivaldi's Four Seasons; Dark Before Daylight, the company's take on the timeless classic Swan Lake, complete with pointe shoes and tutus; Phrased Without Word, a physical expression of Arvo Part's Spiegel im Spiegel; and Infinite Space, an uplifting celebration of beauty set to Mozart's 27th Piano Concerto.

The Melbourne Ballet Company is at the Derwent Entertainment Centre from 2pm and 7.30pm next Saturday.

Tickets are $48 adults/$43 concession/$26 children.

Go to www.ticketmaster.com.au or phone 136 100.

Company members will host workshops at the DEC on Thursday and Friday for $27.

Interested parties should contact Ph: 6273 0233 to book your spot.

kane.young@news.com.au

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Man shot dead at Marrawah

The body of a man was found outside the Marrawah Tavern early this morning. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

THE shooting death of a man outside a hotel in Tasmania's north-west this morning was targeted, police say.

The man in his 40s was shot dead outside the Marrawah Hotel just after midnight.

"Investigations to date suggest this is not a random act -- and that it was a targeted act," police said in a statement.

"We are following a number of lines of inquiry. We have deployed significant resources to the incident and are seeking assistance from the public."

Police have urged anyone with information relating to people acting suspiciously, vehicles moving in the area at the time, hitchhikers or people walking along the road to contact them.

They will continue to have resources in the area and have set up a command post at the scene.

"We encourage the public to be alert to what is going on around them, but not alarmed -- but remember that any information could prove vital and don't hesitate to pass it on to us," a police statement said.

The man's next of kin have been notified, but police are not releasing his details at this stage.

Marrawah is a small town of about 400 people in the Circular Head area.

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Fun challenge for Fed PS

Tom Pedston and Acacia Prince-Pike try to do some ironing at waterman's dock. Pictures: KIM EISZELE

IF you saw a barista ironing or someone jumping into the cold River Derwent for no apparent reason this morning, there was a reason behind the madness.

Aardvark Adventures was running a challenge event for a Federal Government department.

Business owner Phil Harris said about 40 people from the Commonwealth Marine Services Branch, in Hobart for a meeting, took part in the event.

"We gave them a range of items to collect, photos to take and missions to carry out," he said.

"A picture in the highest spot, the wettest spot or inside a stranger's hoodie while they are still wearing it.

"We asked them to film themselves humming the Mission Impossible theme while crawling through a store.

"It was almost as much fun thinking of the challenges as completing them.

"The idea is for people to get to know each other, it's a bonding exercise."

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Tense stand-off at Ta Ann

TENSIONS are high at an anti-logging protest that has shut down production at Ta Ann's timber processing plant at Smithton.

About 40 protesters – including several activists believed to be from interstate -- converged on the North-West Tasmanian site this morning, with two shackling themselves to machinery inside the mill.

Five Tasmania Police officers are outside the mill and it is understood several more are inside attempting to negotiate with protesters.

A crowd of forest industry supporters has also gathered to show their anger over the protest.

Still Wild Still Threatened spokeswoman Miranda Gibson said the action was designed to highlight concerns about "the appalling acceptance of this company in Tasmania".

But other major environment groups in Tasmania have come out against the protesters.

Signatories to the Tasmanian Forests Agreement -- including Environment Tasmania, the Wilderness Society and the Australian Conservation Foundation – issued a group statement condemning the action.

They said it was "uncalled for, unnecessary and working counter to the creation of new reserves in Tasmania".

"Ta Ann Tasmania supported the World Heritage listing of Tasmania's tall wet forests, the reservation of over 500,000ha of forests and, for the longer term, has committed to source its wood supply outside of the Tasmanian Forests Agreement reserve areas," the groups said in a statement.

"With broad support for the conservation and industry outcomes of the lengthy negotiations, now is not the time for this sort of action."

Circular Head Mayor Daryl Quilliam said the action was also potentially dangerous.

"Taking direct action by taking over a legal workplace is not only unnecessary, it is also potentially dangerous for all parties involved," Cr Quilliam said.

"Ta Ann is legally operating in Tasmania and should be able to undertake its operations without the threat of such acts."

But the protesters remain undeterred.

"Tasmania's outstanding native forests and their threatened species remain at risk of continued industrial scale destruction, despite the passage of new forest legislation in the Tasmanian Parliament," Ms Gibson said.

"This legislation has not declared new reserves, and it has allowed ongoing logging of proposed reserves."

Comment has also been sought from Ta Ann.

Read more in tomorrow's Mercury ...

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Tornado + sharks = epic film

WHEN a movie called Sharknado has a sole tag line of "enough said", you know expectations aren't high.

Unless you love bad movies - in which case that tag line just raises expectations higher than the English press believing in an Ashes win.

Sharknado - written by a guy called Thunder Levin (that's his real name, apparently) and directed by the guy who did the make-up for Scarecrow Slayer and The Revolting Dead (yes, those two...), is pretty much what you think it's going to be - sharks, caught up in an almighty TORNADO, and then landing on people. 

Take that, Snakes on a Plane. Take that, Sharktopus. Take that, Piranhaconda.

Sometimes, they land right on people, judging by the trailer. Which you should watch right now, just to see Ian Ziering (yes, Steve from Beverly Hills 90210) actually leap into a shark with a chainsaw. If you want to see that bit, skip straight to 50 seconds in.

Don't seek logic (why does the tornado choose only man-eating sharks? Why don't they die ONCE THEY'RE OUT OF WATER? Where DID Tara Reid go since the American Pie movies and did she really need cash this badly?).

Just watch for the pure absurdity of a flying shark shot out of the air with a hand gun. Of shots of people picking up household items such as what appears to be a spray-can to fend off the sharks. In their houses. Of CGI sharks falling out of the air on to a city.

And why do they hit so many billboards? And windows?

Let's leave the last word to the director, Anthony Ferrante: "There's a flood. And a storm. Don't worry about it."

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Froome in command of Tour

CHRIS Froome has accused the rogue Tour de France spectator who threw urine over Mark Cavendish of ruining the atmosphere of the centenary Tour.

Froome's elation at building an impregnable overall lead was tempered by the attack on former Sky teammate Cavendish.

The stage 11 incident followed Cavendish's role in the collision that upended Argos-Shimano rider Tom Veelers in a torrid finish into Saint Malo on Tuesday.

The disturbing incident came as Froome moved closer to a maiden Tour title, while Australians Cadel Evans, Michael Rogers and Richie Porte all climbed higher in the general classification.

Froome now has a gaping 3min25sec buffer over Alejandro Valverde (Movistar). Belkin's Bauke Mollema is third at 3min37sec ahead of Saxo-Tinkoff's dual champion Alberto Contador (3min54sec).

The stage was won by Cavendish's Omega Pharma team-mate Tony Martin.

Martin covered the 33km course in 41min53sec, 12 seconds faster than Froome.

Belgian Thomas de Gendt was third, 61sec down, while Porte was an impressive fourth, 1min21sec behind.

Evans (14th), Rogers (16th) and Porte (31st) all improved their positions after another dramatic day.

Cavendish avoided the media after a time trial to Mont-Saint-Michel from Avranches, telling a team official he was "sad rather than angry" after being doused in urine.

Froome also was upset by the incident.

"It is disappointing to hear about one individual like that," he said.

"That's one of the beauties of our sport. Anyone can come and watch at the side of the road and enjoy the excitement and really get close to the top riders in the world.

"Mark is one of the big characters in the sport, and some people love him, some people hate him. But to do something disrespectful like that, that's really sad. It ruins the whole atmosphere."

Cavendish's French teammate Jerome Pineau took to Twitter last night, saying he was "ashamed" of the spectators responsible.

"Yesterday I was so proud about the support (at) the race but today I am ashamed," Pineau wrote.

"Ashamed when my friend Mark Cavendish said that he was insulting and p...ed (on) all the parcours (course). Shame on you!"

Team boss Patrick Lefevere confirmed Cavendish had been jeered by hostile spectators and before one of the onlookers threw liquid out of bottle at the Briton.

"We always thought that cycling fans were gentlemen," Lefevere told the Daily Mail.

"In a football stadium we have a certain distance between players and the public. Here we are very close to the public. We cannot blame everybody because there are maybe 200,000 people along the course and one man or woman thought to do this."

Tour officials have vowed to catch the offender.

Cavendish was heckled not long after leaving the start ramp. Cleared of blame by race officials after commissaires studied video of the fall, Cavendish apologised to Veelers - who is said to still be furious with the world champion.

Lefevere believes simmering anger over Veelers' crash was the motivation behind the urine incident.

"Probably some spectators were not very pleased with what happened yesterday and they yelled to him (Cavendish) and then one other idiot threw urine at him," Omega Pharma team CEO Patrick Lefevere said. "Mark is not upset, but he is really disappointed because he thinks he didn't deserve this."

Lefevere was unable to confirm when exactly the incident had occurred.

"The cycling public is known for being very fair, we have no hooligans, but there are thousands and thousands of people on the roads and not everybody is a gentleman."

Cavendish's partner Peta Todd was devastated.

"The way people have behaved today is disgusting," she tweeted. "Yet we are just expected to take it on the chin. The jury ruled. #Inhumane." She followed up with: "My little heart hurts."

Cavendish's French team-mate Jerome Pineau described the episode as "shameful".

"It's shameful that my friend Mark Cavendish has told me he was whistled and had urine thrown on him during the race. It's a scandal," he tweeted.

Cavendish telephoned Veelers on Tuesday night to apologise, but Veelers is understood to have rejected the approach and demanded a face to face meeting.

Lefevere hopes the pair can move on.

"He (Cavendish) apologised already yesterday on Twitter and on the phone," he said. "If you don't agree you don't take the telephone, but he (Veelers) took the telephone.

"Today is a time trial so you don't have the time but maybe tomorrow he can have a little handshake with Tom Veelers if he agrees to do it and then this case has to be closed."

Australian Olympic gold medallist Scott McGrory was outraged.

"The spectator that threw urine on @MarkCavendish in the TT needs to be found and prosecuted. What a scum bag," he tweeted.

Orica-GreenEDGE's Svein Tuft set the early standard, roaring through the first intermediate time check after 9.5km at Ducey in 10min43sec.

As the second rider to start, the Canadian was quickest after 22km at Courtils in 25min35sec and held the position to Mont-Saint-Michel in 38min4sec.

The next 61 riders failed to better Tuft's time before de Gendt (Vacansoleil) crossed the line in 37min30sec.

Martin, who was following de Gendt across the winding, mostly flat course to the "Wonder of the West", promptly obliterated that effort.

Porte sat in third place briefly after a superb ride in the strengthening afternoon crosswinds after riding the course late morning with Froome.

The Tasmanian indicated he had recovered fully from Sunday's ordeal in the Pyrenees as Martin's time remained out of reach to all, including Froome.

The Englishman led at the intermediate time checks before fading slightly into gusting winds in the shadows of Mont-Saint-Michel.

Badly hurt in a crash in Corsica on the first day, Martin returned intervals of 10.21, 24.42 and 36.29.

Martin revealed he had been unable to sleep on his back because of injuries suffered in Bastia.

After averaging 54.271km/h for the stage, Martin slumped onto the road in the shadows of one of the world's most iconic abbeys.

OPS director Helge Riepenhof said: "They are exceptionally hard men in this race. And Tony in particular impresses me.

"There wouldn't be many riders still on their bikes if they had injuries like what he sustained in that crash.

"After the crash, the team was very supportive and told him that whatever he decided to do - stay or go home - they were behind him.

"But even in the hospital, he said to me: 'OK, what can we do to make sure I get through the next few days so that I'm ready for the time trials?'

"As soon as he saw that there's nothing broken, he was ready to race again and already focussing on the days ahead."

The stage started to the northwest of Mont-Saint-Michel in Avranches, famed in WWII as site of one of American General George Patton's most illustrious victories.

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Masked man robs bottle shop

CCTV footage of the alleged robber and his vehicle.

POLICE are searching for a masked man who robbed a Bridgewater bottle shop overnight.

The offender entered the Big Bargain Bottle Shop in Hurst St at 7.55pm yesterday, using his body weight to force open the automatic doors.

The attendant inside was just closing up for the night.

"Once inside, he (the offender) removed a till containing a quantity of cash before exiting through the same point and returning to a waiting vehicle," Detective Senior Constable Louise O'Connor said.

"At no time throughout this incident was the attendant threatened, or was violence offered."

The masked man -- who was wearing a stocking over his head with eye holes cut into it -- is described as being about 176cm tall and of slim build.

Police say he was dressed in a khaki checked jacket, possibly with a dark hooded jumper underneath, dark trousers and white runners.

He was also wearing bright red or orange gloves.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

It was the third robbery of an alcohol outlet in Bridgewater, in Hobart's northern suburbs, since May.

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Jobless rate surges in Tassie

THE jobless rate unexpectedly jumped to its highest level in nearly four years in June, adding to the case for a further cut in interest rates.

The national unemployment rate rose to 5.7 per cent, from an upwardly revised 5.6 per cent in May, and was last at this level in September 2009 when the impact of global financial crisis was being felt.

The number of people in employment rose by 10,300 in June, when economists had been expecting no change.

The spike was largely due to a 14,400 increase in part-time jobs, offset by a fall in full-time work, the Australian Bureau of Statistics report showed.

The Reserve Bank of Australia earlier this month left the cash rate unchanged at an all-time low of 2.75 per cent, but left the door open for a further reduction.

Recent economic data has added to that case, with business conditions falling to a four-year low and consumer confidence also down, despite the low interest rate environment.

While higher than expected, the June jobless rate is still just below the 5.75 per cent three-month average for the June quarter forecast by the Federal Government in the May Budget.

Among the states, the unemployment rate rose to 5.8 per cent from 5.4 per cent in Victoria and jumped to 6.4 per cent from 5.9 per cent in Queensland.

It also increased in South Australia, to six per cent from 5.9 per cent, and surged to 8.9 per cent from 7.5 per cent in Tasmania.

In the nation's most populous state, NSW, the jobless rate fell to 5.4 per cent from 5.5 per cent, while in Western Australia it declined to 4.6 per cent from 4.9 per cent.

In the territories, the rate fell in the ACT to 3.7 per cent from 3.9 per cent but rose to 5.3 per cent from 5.2 per cent in Northern Territory.

Read more in tomorrow's Mercury...

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Icy roads create havoc

A PEDESTRIAN has been knocked unconscious in Launceston's CBD, with police officers at the scene.

In a statement issued about 1.45pm today, police said the accident had happened in Cimitiere St and no further details were immediately available.

It is understood the incident occurred near the Spotlight department store.

Light rain that turned to ice has caused havoc on northern Tasmanian roads earlier today.

Tasmania Police Sergeant Nick Clark said there had been 22 car accidents between 7am and 9.30am, damaging cars but causing no serious injuries.

Sgt Clark said there had been five crashes at George Town and four at Travellers Rest.

Five cars piled up on Ecclestone Rd, a steep road in the Launceston suburb on Riverside, after brakes became useless on black ice.

Pedestrians also had trouble staying upright on iced-up footpaths.

Sgt Clark said such extensive black ice cover had not been seen in the north for many years.

He said motorists needed to be wary when light rain fell on very cold mornings.

For a full list of roads affected by ice, click here.

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