Think twice before downloading GoT

Another Game of Thrones season ends with shocking violence and family drama. On Father's Day, no less. Here's a look at the biggest moment of the episode.

AUSSIES may need to think twice next time they go to download the latest Game of Thrones episode or the hottest new Hollywood blockbuster.

Monday's season-four finale of the must-watch fantasy drama became the most-pirated program in history, with 1.5 million people worldwide downloading it illegally within 12 hours of its US screening. It is expected to attract 7.5 million illegal downloads worldwide in coming days.

Australia is the worst offender in the world when it comes to online piracy and the Federal Government has plans to crack down on the practice.

Although the government is tight-lipped on exactly what measures it will pursue, Attorney-General George Brandis says he is considering "legal incentives" for internet service providers to co-operate with copyright owners to prevent illegal sharing.

That means it could become your internet provider's legal responsibility to try to prevent you downloading illegally, whereas currently they have no such responsibility. ISPs could then introduce a so-called graduated response scheme, which means repeat offenders could be hit with formal warnings.

When Game of Thrones' fourth season premiered in April, more Australians illegally downloaded the program than any other nationality worldwide. Australia accounted for 11.6 per cent of the piracy and Melbourne was the worst-offending city on the globe, according to TorrentFreak.

Mr Brandis expressed his concern to a senate estimates committee that "the legitimate rights and interests of rights holders and content creators are being compromised".

Games of Thrones continues to be one of the most popular targets for online piracy. Source: Supplied

FOXTEL FIGHTS BACK

Each episode of Game of Thrones season four has attracted about 525,000 viewers for Foxtel, including repeats, but an equal number of people download each episode illegally every week.

The pay TV provider has branded illegal downloaders as "thieves" and made representations to both sides of politics about the issue for several years.

A spokesman for Foxtel, which is half-owned by news.com.au's parent company News Corp Australia, said the piracy scourge was a "serious problem".

"It's important to understand that it undermines the viability of all creative businesses," he said.

"It's not just an issue for businesses, it affects the livelihoods of actors, writers, directors, set designers, and everyone else involved in the production of these programs."

RELATED: Australians named worst Game of Thrones pirates

Consumer group Choice slammed Foxtel this week, telling the ABC that it only had itself to blame for the number of Australians pirating Game of Thrones because its business model was outdated.

"It expects people to pay for a whole range of products when they may want (just) one. You're getting Real Housewives of every city, rather than just Game of Thrones, which you want," Choice's Erin Turner told the ABC.

Foxtel hit back at this claim, saying it fast-tracked the program, offered flexible ways to enjoy it and offered low-cost options such as the special Games of Thrones subscription for $35 a month.

"The bundled model is the one used around the world, including by HBO in the USA. Without it, many channels and programs would become economically unviable. Incidentally, it's the same model used by publishers around the world who put content behind a pay wall, including Choice itself," a Foxtel spokesman told news.com.au.

He acknowledged it was the responsibility of content owners to make content available quickly and conveniently.

Actor Claire Danes in Homeland, another popular target for online pirates. Source: Supplied

PIRATES IN GOVERNMENT'S SIGHTS

The government is considering ways to deter illegal downloaders as part of a review of the Copyright Act. Although it is yet to detail specific measures, earlier comments by Senator Brandis reveal the methods under consideration:

● The big stick: Speaking to the Australian Digital Alliance copyright forum in February, Mr Brandis floated the idea of a three-strikes policy or a graduated response scheme. This means customers are warned each time they are caught downloading illegally — and could be fined or disconnected from the internet altogether after three strikes

● Hitting ISPs: One option is to compel internet service provides such as Bigpond or iiNet to issue warnings to its customers. However, a landmark High Court ruling in 2012 found that iiNet was not responsible for its customers' illegal activities

● Block sites: The government could force ISPs to block offending peer-to-peer file-sharing sites, such as BitTorrent or The Pirate Bay. The problem with this is that savvy internet user can bypass these filters with ease.

"The illegal downloading of Australian films online is a form of theft. I say Australian films, but of course, the illegal downloading of any protected content is a form of theft," Senator Brandis told the Australian Digital Alliance forum.

"The government will be considering possible mechanisms to provide a legal incentive for an internet service provider to co-operate with copyright owners in preventing infringement on their systems and networks.

"This may include looking carefully at the merits of a scheme whereby ISPs are required to issue graduated warnings to consumers who are using websites to facilitate piracy."

News.com.au approached the Attorney-General's Office to comment on this story but a spokesman declined to confirm which measures were being considered.

With Games of Thrones over for another season, Australians have been illegally downloading Orange is the New Black in their thousands. Source: Supplied

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‘Microbeads’ an environmental disaster

Plastic exfoliants used in face scrubs and toothpastes called 'microbeads' are causing environmental concern and big business has agreed to help.

L'Oreal is one of the companies that will ban the use of microbeads after they were found to have devastating environmental effects. Pictured, Eva Longoria for L'Oreal. Source: Supplied

IT'S an unusual day when major companies usually in fierce competition with one another decide to cooperate on an issue.

But that's exactly what has happened in the US in a battle over "microbeads" — tiny bits of plastic used in personal care products such as facial scrubs and toothpaste that are flowing by the billions into the Great Lakes and other waterways in Illinois. Discovered only recently, they're showing up inside fish that are caught for human consumption, scientists say.

But instead of resisting a call to ban them, leading companies like Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Colgate, Unilever and L'Oreal have announced plans to replace microbeads with natural substances such as ground-up fruit pits, oatmeal and sea salt. Similar measures are underway in New York, California and Ohio as well as in the US Congress, in a rare compromise between groups that are often at each other's throats.

"To have that happen in one year is rare," said Jen Walling of the Illinois Environmental Council, recalling the pessimistic response when she initially sought legislative sponsors. "I was not predicting we'd get it done at all."

A kayaker takes a break Lake Michigan in Chicago, Illinois. Pic: Kiichiro Sato. Source: AP

Don't get used to it, said Mark Biel of the Chemical Industry Council of Illinois, which represented the product manufacturers during three months of negotiations. The quick deal resulted from unique circumstances, he said, including the availability of substitute ingredients.

"I just concluded that maybe this was one of those issues where it would be smart to try to work something out," he said.

Australian arms of Colgate and Unilever are yet to respond to requests for comment.

Disagreements over details are delaying similar bills in California and New York, while a measure in Ohio has gained little traction. Still, all sides expect deals in most cases, and that given those states' outsized place in the market, microbeads will disappear from US products as the industry swallows the cost. It's hoped a US wide ban will take effect in 2018 and environmentalists hope the collaborative experience carries over to other debates like the use of flame retardants.

It's been known for years that the world's oceans teem with masses of floating plastic. But microplastics in the Great Lakes were discovered only when scientists dragged the surface of all five lakes in 2012 and 2013 with specially designed nets and found the specks everywhere.

Barely visible without a microscope, the bits flow through wastewater treatment plant screens and into the lakes.

Toothpaste is one of the products that has microbeads in it. Pictured: a scene from a Johnson & Johnson advertisement. Source: News Limited

Sherri Mason, an environmental scientist with State University of New York-Fredonia who was a leader of the research team, said the beads are showing up the stomachs of Great Lakes perch and in fish-eating birds like the double-crested cormorant. Her group is studying whether the particles are absorbing toxins in the lakes.

Because treated wastewater flows into so many waterways, Mason said, "Every river and every inland lake you look at is going to have some plastic in it."

The plastic exfoliants apparently came into widespread use in the 1990s, preferred because they are smoother to the skin than natural ingredients. Laurent Gilbert, director of advanced research at L'Oreal, said they have "no proven environmental toxicity."

Models backstage at the L'Oreal Professional show in Turkey. Picture: Getty. Source: Getty Images

The industry has yet to endorse a California bill that wouldn't make an exception for biodegradable microbeads, which the industry says are on the drawing board. A ban has unanimously passed New York's state Assembly, but is awaiting Senate action while the industry pushes for a slower timetable. The measure would prohibit most cosmetics with microbeads by 2016. The Illinois phase-out is more gradual, running from 2017 to the end of 2019.

The companies say that it can take years to develop new mixtures and get them to market.

But with microbeads apparently on their way out, ban supporters say the lesson is that public pressure can pay off.

"People say, 'Wait, there's plastic in my face wash? In my toothpaste?"' said Mason, who teamed with the California-based organisation 5 Gyres on the research. "They understand innately that this isn't right and ... industry definitely responds. When we put our minds to something we can make it happen."

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Which stars love reading mean tweets?

US comedian Jimmy Kimmel has stars Kristen Stewart, Justin Bieber and others read out the hurtful tweets directed at them

Katy Perry read a mean tweet. Source: Supplied

IT'S easily one of the funniest segments on TV — when celebrities read mean tweets about themselves on US talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live.

So far there have been 10 editions of Celebrities Read Mean Tweets with stars such as George Clooney, Katy Perry, Tom Hanks and even Justin Bieber taking part.

You might think that A-listers would cringe at the thought of reading horrifically negative comments about themselves, but according to Jimmy Kimmel Live head writer, Molly McNearney, some celebs take great delight in it.

Pharrell ... not so happy. Source: YouTube

"Cate Blanchett actually wanted meaner," said McNearney to Entertainment Weekly .

"Julia Louis-Dreyfus wanted meaner. Emma Stone, when we booked her, said, 'I want to read as many mean tweets as you can find about me.' And she read a bunch."

"Anytime we book a guest on the show, we search their name on Twitter and pull all of the terrible things written about them," said McNearney.

Fair trade. Source: YouTube

"I take out ones that would offend them to a point that they wouldn't want to come on our show [laughs] and also that just shouldn't be said on television. But I keep some mean ones in there — truly, the meaner the funnier, in my opinion."

Here are our three favourite Celebrities Read Mean Tweets:

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Coles guilty over ‘freshly baked’ claims

The Aussie supermarket was misleading consumers by claiming their bread is baked fresh every day, according to the Federal Court. So how is made?

Coles has been found guilty of mislabelling bread as "freshly baked" when it was actually made months ago overseas. Source: Supplied

SUPERMARKET giant Coles is facing more than $3 million in fines after losing a court battle over the freshness of its bread.

The Federal Court agreed with the consumer watchdog's case that Coles falsely advertised pre-cooked bread as freshly baked.

Bread from the "Cuisine Royale" and "Coles Bakery" range advertised as "fresh, baked today and sold today" included one product from Ireland first baked months earlier.

Other loaves that the company claimed were "freshly baked" were found to have been made in Denmark and Germany before being frozen and transported to Australia.

Former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett initially put the issue in the spotlight. Source: News Corp Australia

Chief Justice Allsop ruled that Coles breached three sections of Australian Consumer Law and the "Baked Today, Sold Today" labels amounted to a misleading representation.

"It is not the place of the court to provide an advice …as to how Coles might sell bread that has been par-baked from frozen product…A start would, however, be to make it tolerably clear to the public that the recent baking was the completion of a baking process that had taken place sometime before, off site, and that "freshly baked" actually meant the completion of the baking process of frozen product prepared and frozen off site by suppliers," he said.

A lawyer for Coles argued the supermarket never intended the labels to be misleading.

The case follows a year-long investigation from the ACCC triggered by former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett who discovered his "freshly baked" bread was made from foreign ingredients in Ireland.

"I don't feel any sense of vindication or pride whatsoever," Mr Kennett said about today's ruling.

"I just hope it sends a message across the bow of all advertising agencies... that we expect them to be able to offer their products or services to use in a way that accurately reflects what they are offering us.

"I am very pleased that Coles have accepted the umpire's decision and are not going to challenge it further. I respect that."

The ACCC has also instigated separate proceedings against Coles for alleged "unconscionable conduct" towards 200 small suppliers, alleging that the company attempted to secure better trading terms and improve their earnings through rebates.

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The cool website that’s made IKEA really mad

The website at the centre of the drama. Source: Supplied

Swedish furniture giant Ikea has digitally removed women from it's Saudi Arabia catalogue has landed them in hot water.

A POPULAR website showing people how to repurpose their IKEA purchases has agreed to stop selling ads after the furniture giant threatened legal action.

Established in 2006, IKEAhackers.net offers tutorials on how to alter IKEA products to individualise them, sometimes in a novel way.

Popular entries include bedside lights made by fastening office lamps onto shelves above a bed and a minibar made from a collection of desk parts.

But IKEA recently issued the site with a cease-and-desist letter and requested it transfer the domain name to them.

A cabinet from IKEA. Picture: ikea.com.au Source: Supplied

Site operator "Jules" posted a statement earlier this week saying they were "crushed" by the company's decision to issue the letter.

"I don't have deep enough pockets to fight a mammoth company in court," they wrote.

They said IKEA had eventually ceded the IKEAhackers domain name, but only on a non-commercial basis.

This means all ads — and thereby income — will have to be taken down by June 23.

Jules stressed there was never any intention of exploiting the IKEA brand.

"I was a just crazy fan," they wrote. "In retrospect, a naive one too."

IKEAhacker fans were urged to sign up for a mailing list, so they can be informed about the new domain if it gets off the ground.

The site has denied it is a secret offshoot of the Swedish furniture giant.

Rather, it maintains the site is a place for IKEA fans to share their ingenious ideas to embellish and customise the company's products.

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Why P-plate laws are flawed

Ford's Fiesta Ecoboost S is illegal for P-platers to drive, despite being extremely safe and relatively low powered. Source: Supplied

OPINION: CAR technology is changing and the laws of our most populous state need to adapt.

The Victorian government today announced that it is overturning the blanket ban on turbocharged, supercharged and 8-cylinder plus vehicles for provisional drivers in the state, in favour of a power-to-weight ratio rule.

The South Australian government has had this in place since March and the Queensland government has had it since January. Yet despite considering changing the rules last year, the NSW government hasn't budged.

Let me explain how flawed these rules are.

As a P-plater myself, I am able to drive Honda's insane S2000 sports car that has a power-to-weight ratio of 140kW/tonne but I'm not allowed to drive Volkswagen's five-star ANCAP rated Golf that has a power-to-weight ratio of just 83kW/tonne. Simply because it has a small turbo charger to save fuel.

The Honda S2000 is regarded as one of the best sports cars of all time. It's bloody quick too. Yet completely legal for NSW P-platers. Source: Supplied

I am also allowed to drive Infiniti's Q50 Hybrid, which features a V6 engine that gets boosted by new battery technology, giving it nearly 270kW of power and a huge 546Nm of torque, yet, again, I can't drive the Golf.

Ford's excellent ecoboost engines are turbocharged petrol engines that are designed specifically to save as much fuel as possible. They do so by the use of the turbo charger and are usually pretty low powered, much less powerful than a lot of legal P-plate approved cars. But, of course, cars that run them are off limits.

The new rules only allow previously banned vehicles from 2010 onwards to be driven, with the official reason being that no official power-to-weight ration was available then. But it was also the time when manufacturers really began to push the technology for fuel saving measures, not just to gain power.

As we move on to an age where cars are more focused on safety and efficiency than ever, our laws need to adapt to make sure that those safe and efficient cars can be driven by the road's most inexperienced drivers, instead of pushing them into buying 20-year old rust buckets.

New South Wales, it's your turn to get with the times.

Do you think P-platers should be able to drive modern turbocharged, supercharged and V8 cars that fall under the 130kW/tonne rule? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter | @harrytuckerr or @newscomauHQ.

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The bizarre twist in missing family case

A Family of four has vanished without a trace from a tiny community in the Alaskan wilderness. Fox News Shepard Smith talks with investigators. Courtesy: Fox News

Missing: Michelle and Jaracca Hundley, aged five and three. Source: Supplied

THE grandmother of two young children who vanished from their home along with their mother and her boyfriend is being questioned by police over the family's mysterious disappearance.

Rebecca Adams, 22, her daughters Michelle Hundley, five, Jaracca Hundley, three, and Adams' boyfriend Brandon Jividen, 37, have not been seen or heard from since May 27.

The four disappeared from their rented apartment on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula, about 250km from Anchorage, in unexplained circumstances more than two weeks ago.

In an unexpected twist to this already bizarre tale, 46-year-old Lisa Marie Hundley was taken into custody by US Marshals and an Alaska State Trooper over the weekend.

"Just know that I love you": The family disappeared after a disturbing phone call from Rebecca Adams to her sister Lanell. Source: Facebook

Ms Hundley was arrested in Smyrna, Tennessee on contempt of court charges connected with a 2010 drug possession and trafficking conviction.

She is the former mother-in-law of Rebecca Adams and the grandmother of Michelle and Jaracca, whose biological father Jaramiah Hundley was killed in a Kenai motorcycle accident on May 30, 2012 aged just 23.

Strange twist: The FBI is questioning Rebecca Adams' ex-mother-in-law Lisa Marie Hundley (above in a police mugshot taken over the weekend) over the family's disappearance. Source: Supplied

FBI special agent Steve Forrest told KTUU-TV that Ms Hundley was not being questioned as a suspect but as a person who could give investigators "more perspective on the family itself".

However, rumours that Ms Hundley fell out with Rebecca Adams after her son's death — possibly over financial matters relating to Jaramiah's estate or insurance — are being bandied around on social media.

Facebook is a hotbed of rumour and innuendo as relatives, friends and even strangers try to figure out what has happened to Jividen and Adams and her children. Other posts were too dodgy to publish. Source: Facebook

Deputy US Marshal Danny Shelton said Ms Hundley would be extradited back to Alaska from Tennessee's Rutherford County Jail, where she is being held.

The disappearance of Rebecca Adams, her children and Mr Jividen has sparked a multi-jurisdictional search involving the FBI, Alaskan State Troopers and police in at least three US states.

One of the flyers being circulated by authorities and relatives showing Rebecca Adams, her daughters Michelle Hundley, 5, and Jaracca Hundley, 3, and Rebecca's boyfriend Brandon Jividen, 37. Source: Facebook

Rebecca Adams last had contact with relatives on May 27, when she made an "ominous" phonecall to her sister and behaved "strangely" during a visit from their mother.

Kenai Police Sergeant Scott McBride told the Peninsula Clarion they were discovered missing on May 31 after relatives, neighbours and the couple's landlord called officers to ask for a welfare check.

Police found both the couple's vehicles still parked outside the four-apartment complex and all of their belongings, including their wallets, clothes, camping gear, childrens' car seats and Jaracca's nappy bag were left behind.

The entrance to the California St four-plex where Jividen lived with Adams and her daughters for almost two years. The family were model tenants according to their landlord. Source: Supplied

The family's brown and white English springer spaniel "Sparks" is also missing, fuelling speculation they planned their disappearance, or went willingly with another party before meeting with foul play. Their mobile phones have been turned off.

"It looks like they just vanished during breakfast," neighbour Desiree Guillam told local news site Your Alaska Link.

"Their food was still on the table and the counters and their jackets were on the back of the chairs, Becca's wallet with her ID and foodstamp card (was) there (and there) was a cellphone and everything."

"Know that I love you" Rebecca's ominous last words to sister Lanell (above) on May 27 before disappearing without a trace with her two young daughters (see below) and boyfriend of two years. Source: Facebook

Relatives say their last contact with Rebecca Adams, on May 27, was distressing and left them fearing for her welfare.

Lanell Adams told the Alaska Dispatch that she and her sister were planning to chat on Skype when Rebecca Adams called at the last minute to cancel.

The pair were always truthful with each other, Lanell Adams said, and growing up would often say "thou shall not lie" as a way to make the other tell the truth.

Lanell asked Rebecca, "Thou shall not lie — are you OK?"

Rebecca Adams responded, "Don't ask me that right now. Just know that I love you," Lanell Adams told the Dispatch.

Missing: Michelle and Jaracca Hundley, aged five and three, whose biological father Jaramiah tragically died in a motorcycle accident in May 2012. Source: Facebook

Concerned, Lanell Adams rang their mother, Jeanine Adams, who went to check on Rebecca.

"(Mum said) It looked like she had been crying," Lanell Adams said, but Rebecca "just blamed it on hormones or whatever."

Lanell Adams said her sister's disappearance was "extremely" out of character and that she was a "very responsible mum".

Hunter and survivalist Brandon Jividen, 37, with his young son, who lives in Louisiana with his mother. Source: Supplied

But she expressed concern about Mr Jividen, who moved in with Rebecca Adams about two years ago, just weeks after the death of her daughters' biological father, Jaramiah Hundley, in a motorcycle accident.

Little is known about Mr Jividen except that he is an avid hunter and fisherman and has at least two children from two previous relationships who live in different states.

Landlords Jeff Pfile and Anna Haave told AP they called police after Rebecca Adams and Mr Jividen were late with their rent — a first for the couple.

"If I felt they were going out of town I would have been the first person they called because they are so responsible (for paying their rent on time)," Ms Haave said. "For them to not say anything is not normal."

A Facebook post by Brandon Jividen's estranged teenage daughter Shelby (pictured below). Source: Facebook

Jividen's teenage daughter from a previous relationship, Shelby, has expressed suspicion on Facebook about the lack of apparent witnesses in relation to the disappearance of her father, his girlfriend and her two young children. Source: Facebook

A massive hunt involving FBI officers, Alaska search and rescue dogs, local police and volunteers, state trooper helicopters and small planes was carried out in the wooded area surrounding the family's California Ave home over the weekend and will continue until sundown today.

The search area backs on to a jail, Wildwood Correctional Facility, which houses long-term prisoners convicted of serious crimes.

FBI special agent Steve Forrest said "significant resources" had been allocated to the investigation.

"The major reason for our involvement in this particular matter is the age of the children and the mysterious circumstances surrounding their disappearance," Agent Forrest said.

Local Police and FBI agents have joined forces in the air and land search for Jividen, Adams and her two young daughters. Source: AP

Lanell Adams, who lives in Washington state, flew to Alaska last week to help with the search.

The Adams family was "afraid," she said, and had no idea what might have happened.

The family's baffling disappearance has sparked much rumour and innuendo among residents of Kenai, which has a population of just 7000 but is more transient than close-knit.

The case has eerie similarities to that of the McStay family, who mysteriously disappeared from their suburban Californian home in February 2010.

Three years later the bodies of Joseph and Summer McStay and their sons, aged three and four, were found buried in the Mojave Desert. The matter remains unsolved.

Another poster for the missing family. Source: Facebook

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‘Cannabis is keeping my daughter alive’

Tara needs marijuana to stay alive. Source: AP

One of Australia's largest nursing unions is supporting the use and possession of medicinal cannabis.

BEFORE Tara O'Connell started taking medical marijuana, she used to have up to 200 seizures a day, with doctors saying she would not live to see her ninth birthday.

That Tara will not only celebrate this milestone on Friday, but that she has also been seizure-free for more than a year, is undoubtedly linked to use of a tincture made from cannabis plants, her mother Cheri O'Connell says.

Now the mother-of-three says she is willing to start a class action against the government to ensure her daughter's supply.

She is one of hundreds, if not thousands, of people she believes are willing to fight back against laws outlawing marijuana in Australia.

"I will not stop, I will not let my child die because our government is 15 years behind the rest of the world," Ms O'Connell said.

"If something doesn't give, I will launch a class action against the government.

"Hundreds, if not thousands, are being denied medication that could save lives."

Cheri O'Connell with her daughter Tara in 2008. Source: News Limited

Medicinal marijuana. Source: AP

Ms O'Connell said the family had tried everything to relieve Tara's rare condition, a fatal form of epilepsy called Dravet syndrome, and at one stage she was taking 18 tablets a day.

"If you looked at an EEG it showed she was having seizures every five to 20 seconds," Ms O'Connell said.

"We tried everything, in the end they told us to take her home and love her because there was nothing left to try.".

Doctors advised Ms O'Connell in December 2012 that her daughter would not live to see her ninth birthday. Tara's miraculous turnaround came about only after she started taking the tincture on Australia Day, 2013. She has been seizure-free since April 3 of that year.

A drop of the tincture is placed under Tara's tongue and the medicine has been manufactured to be low in THC, which is the compound that produces a "high".

Ms O'Connell said her daughter, who used to struggle to walk and used a wheelchair, has improved so much that she is "walking, talking, reading, things we thought she would never do".

She is also giving the tincture to her son Sean, 12, who has a less severe form of epilepsy and is also seizure-free.

Life changing: Tara with her brother Sean earlier this year. Source: News Limited

Mrs O'Connell said she was grateful for the new life that her children could now experience.

"I personally know of 13 kids who have died of epilepsy in the past year to 18 months," she said.

Medical marijuana could possibly help these children, and those dealing with conditions such as cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease and other chronic pain or post-traumatic disorders.

In a controversial step, one of Australia's largest nursing unions came out last weekend in support of the use and possession of medical cannabis. The NSW Nurses and Midwives Association general secretary Brett Holmes said its 59,000 strong membership had recognised the importance of exploring options for pain management.

The union has signed a petition started by NSW resident Lucy Haslam, whose 24-year-old son Daniel has also been using cannabis to help deal with the side effects of chemotherapy to treat his terminal bowel cancer.

The government has come under fire for rejecting recommendations to legalise marijuana. Source: Getty Images

The NSW government has faced increasing criticism from experts for rejecting the findings of a cross party committee last year that recommended legalising cannabis for the terminally ill.

Nationals MP Kevin Anderson said last month he wanted to introduce a private members bill to legalise cannabis for terminally-ill patients. He met with Premier Mike Baird to discuss this and afterwards Mr Baird said that his government would give "careful consideration" to the proposal.

Over the weekend the NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner finally came out in support of a proposed trial of medical cannabis, but not in NSW.

"I am advised there is a proposal seeking approval to extract the non-hallucinogenic component from cannabis grown in Tasmania with a view to clinical trials to prove its safety and effectiveness. I support this approach," Ms Skinner said.

Tasmanian company Tasman Health Cannabinoids has applied for a licence to grow cannabis to conduct a clinical study in conjunction with the University of Tasmania.

But Tony Bower, who has been producing the tincture that Ms O'Connell uses, has been trying to get a licence to produce it legally in NSW since 2008.

Effective: The medical cannabis tincture used to treat Tara and Sean. Source: News Limited

The founder of Mullaways Medical Cannabis Pty Ltd said his application had been tied up in red tape but he had still been supplying — for free — the tincture to more than 150 families.

This supply is now at risk because police have charged Mr Bower with cultivation.

But support for medical marijuana seems to be growing in NSW with a former "tough on drugs" federal police commissioner Mick Palmer backing it as well as radio host Alan Jones.

The Cancer Council's Hunter regional manager Shayne Connell is calling for a "mature debate", while Victoria's peak medical body AMA Victoria as well as Epilepsy Australia have also backed the call for further research.

A worker packs cannabis at the growing facility near the northern city of Safed, Israel. Source: Getty Images

Medicinal cannabis is legal in Canada, Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden, Spain, Israel, Italy and in some states of the US.

Ms O'Connell urged people to support a change in the laws in Australia and to contact their local MPs.

"It may not be a cure all for every person but they should be able to give the chance to try it," Ms O'Connell said.

People can also sign the online petition started by Lucy Haslam calling on the NSW Health Minister to decriminalise the use of medicinal cannabis for people with terminal cancer.

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Who should be your World Cup backup team?

Brazil fight back from a horror start to claim the maiden victory of the 2014 World Cup

Seek guidance from the divine if you must, as you select your backup team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Source: ThinkStock

LET'S be realistic for a moment.

Considering the Socceroos' loss to Chile at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil on Saturday morning, you're probably going to need a backup team.

Otherwise, when the knockout stages of the World Cup start, you won't have anyone to cheer for.

CHECK OUT OUR WORLD CUP PREDICTOR

MORE: The FIFA World Cup guide for everyone

MORE: All the latest World Cup stories

Which nation should you support? Obviously, we can't make the decision for you. But we can give you vitally important information about the teams that could still be around at the end of the tournament.

Lots of people are already cheering for Mesut Ozil, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at the World Cup. Source: Getty Images

ARGENTINA

Team nickname

"The White and Blue Sky."

Best player

Lionel Messi, otherwise known as the Tyrion Lannister of football.

Best expression

"Cerrado como culo de muneca."

Translation: "Closed like a doll's backside."

Their jersey is ...

Stripy.

Argentina will still be using this jersey at the World Cup in 300 years. Source: Supplied

Best eye candy according to a straight guy

Striker Sergio Aguero, when he's in a cheerful mood.

There's a winning smile. Source: Getty Images

Would you go there on holiday?

Yep. One visit to Iguazu Falls will make you "fall" in love with the whole country.

Definitely prettier than any of the players. Source: Supplied

Did you know?

Argentina is full of massive dinosaur fossils. It's also famous for another kind of fossil, Diego Maradona.

Support this team if you ...

Really, really hate Brazil and want all its people to suffer.

Messi has many talents. Aeroplane impersonation is obviously not one of them. Straighten your wings, son. Source: Supplied

Meanwhile, Javier Mascherano's plane impression is crashing down to Earth very quickly. Source: AP

BELGIUM

Team nickname

"The Red Devils."

Who's their best player?

Eden Hazard, otherwise known as an extreme Hazard to the safety of ball boys.

Best expression

"Een blind man schiet somtijds wel een kraai."

Translation: "A blind man sometimes shoots a crow."

They're talking about you, Fernando Torres.

Their jersey is ...

Extremely tight.

The black strip is much better. Source: Supplied

Best eye candy according to a straight guy

Winger Nacer Chadli. Those eyes stare into your soul.

Those eyes are blacker than the horizon confronting Australia at the World Cup. Source: Getty Images

Would you go there on holiday?

Do you like chocolate?

If this doesn't excite you, you're hopping mad. Source: Getty Images

Did you know?

Belgium's Prime Minister, Elio Di Rupo, is the first openly homosexual male leader of a modern country.

Support this team if ...

You plan to celebrate victories and mourn losses by stuffing your face with chocolate.

Eden Hazard practices for his upcoming performance at the opera, while Romelu Lukaku salutes. Source: AP

What a happy bunch. Source: AP

BRAZIL

Team nickname

"Selection."

Who's their best player?

Neymar, otherwise known as "definitely not the next Pele so stop putting so much pressure on him".

Best expression

"Como vai, gatinha?"

Translation: "How's it going, kitten?"

No wonder Brazilians are so irresistible.

Describe their jersey in one word.

Yellow.

See? Totally yellow. Told you so. Source: Getty Images

Best eye candy according to a straight guy

The right back, Maicon. He has a strong jaw or something.

Strong, silent ... you know. Source: Getty Images

Would you go there on holiday?

Of course you would. The power of Christ the Redeemer compels you.

THAT is a view. Source: ThinkStock

Did you know?

That massive statue of Jesus is one of the "new seven wonders" of the world.

Support this team if ...

You love a good bandwagon.

The Brazilian team sports many haircuts, from bald to affrolicious. Source: Getty Images

No matter how fast Nerymar runs, the pressure will always catch up with him. Source: AFP

ENGLAND

Team nickname

"The Three Lions."

Best player

Wayne Rooney, otherwise known as the human reincarnation of Shrek.

Best expression

"Bollocks."

It's certainly to the point.

Their jersey is ...

More boring than Boring James Milner.

England's jersey is white. How exciting. Source: Supplied

Best eye candy according to a straight guy

Luke Shaw ... maybe? Or Jordan Henderson?

Luke Shaw (left) looks a bit like Ryan Gosling. Henderson doesn't, but how about that chin? Am I right? Source: Getty Images

Would you go there on holiday?

Maybe. There are some cool places to visit in London, such as the National Gallery, if you're into that sort of thing. Just take an umbrella.

Did you know?

We beat England 5-0 in the last Ashes series. You knew that, of course, but we can never rub it in enough.

Support this team if ...

You have an irrational attachment to the motherland.

James Milner doing something that isn't boring. Source: Getty Images

Wonder what Frank Lampard is thinking about? Source: Getty Images

FRANCE

Team nickname

"The Blues."

Best player

Karim Benzema, otherwise known as "the monsieur". These French nicknames are just oozing with creativity.

Best expression

Parler francais comme une vache espagnol.

Translation: "To speak French like a Spanish cow."

My French teacher used that one a lot back in high school.

Their jersey is ...

A polo shirt.

Typically fashionable. Source: Getty Images

Best eye candy according to a straight guy

Defender Raphael Varane and striker Olivier Giroud. They have pretty names to match their pretty boy faces.

OK, that's probably not Giroud's best photo. But Varane certainly has a winning smile. Source: Getty Images

Would you go there on holiday?

Sure, once you figure out which part of France you're going to visit. Consider skipping Paris and going to the Loire Valley instead.

This is the chateau Chenonceaux, in the Loire Valley. It's quite nice. Source: News Limited

Did you know?

Apparently, there is a Victor Hugo street in every French town.

Support this team if ...

You plan to speak with an obnoxious French accent for the rest of the tournament.

French striker Olivier Giroud leaps towards the ball. Source: AFP

France celebrates a goal in one of its World Cup warm up games. Source: AFP

GERMANY

Team nickname

"Die Nationalmannschaft."

Best player

Mesut Ozil, otherwise known as the "German Zinedine Zidane", minus the headbutting.

Best expression

"Ihre Mutter saugt Schweine."

Translation: "Your mother suckles pigs."

Germans are obviously very good at insulting each other.

Their jersey is ...

Functional.

Anything German is functional. Source: Supplied

Best eye candy according to a straight guy

Germany's players are about as pretty as the German language, actually. But the talents of Thomas Muller here might get your heart racing.

"I score ze goals." Source: Getty Images

Would you go there on holiday?

Not when you're after a warm beach vacation. But the historian inside you (if there is one) will love Germany.

The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany. Source: News Limited

Did you know?

The longest word in the German vernacular is "Rechtsschutzversicherungsgesellschaften". It means "insurance companies providing legal protection". The German language is full of ridiculously long compound nouns.

Support this team if ...

You actually think German accents are sexy.

Mesut Ozil is one of the World Cup's most talented players. Source: Getty Images

Ozil sets up the goals, and Thomas Muller scores them. Source: Getty Images

PORTUGAL

Team nickname

"The Navigators."

Best player

Cristiano Ronaldo, otherwise known as "The Walking Ego" or "He of the Exposed Abdominal Muscles".

Best expression

"A mulher e a sardinha a mais pequenina."

Translation: "Of women and sardines, rather the smaller ones."

Petite sardines are better, apparently.

Their jersey is ...

Hoopy.

The dark hoops add a distinctive layer of hoopiness. Source: Supplied

Best eye candy according to a straight guy

Goalkeeper Rui Patricio or yes, OK, maybe Ronaldo.

Rui Patricio smoulders while Ronaldo fixes his pretty boy hair. Source: Getty Images

Would you go there on holiday?

The Algarve region in southern Portugal has some charming beaches, but if you're planning a trip to western Europe ... go to Spain instead.

The Algarve region is famous for its beaches. Source: News Limited

Did you know?

As a colonial power, Portugal used to control huge swathes of the "New World", including Brazil. That's why the host nation's official language is Portuguese.

Support this team if ...

You'd rather perv on Ronaldo than watch the actual football.

"I just feel so restricted ..." Source: Getty Images

"Ahh, that's better." Source: Getty Images

SPAIN

Team nickname

"The Red Fury."

Best player

Andres Iniesta, otherwise known as "that really pasty guy". He always plays well in the big games.

Best expression

"Perdona a tus enemigos, pero recuerda sus nombres!"

Translation: "Forgive your enemies, but remember their names!"

Messi, Ronaldo, Suarez, Neymar ...

Their jersey is ...

Furiously red.

Never change a winning shirt. Source: Supplied

Best eye candy according to a straight guy

Defender Gerard Pique. The guy's dating Shakira for crying out loud, he must have something going for him.

Yeah, we'd celebrate too. Source: AFP

Would you go there on holiday?

Yes! Barcelona is pretty much the greatest city on the planet. No offence, Madrid.

Barcelona, Spain, is one of the world's most popular travel destinations. Source: Getty Images

Did you know?

A Spaniard, Manuel Jalón Corominas, invented the mop. You're welcome.

Support this team if ...

You like to shout the exotic names of your favourite players excitedly during matches.

Spain's David Villa really should be able to beat a goalkeeper who has his eyes shut. Source: Getty Images

Will the reigning world champions go back to back? Source: AP

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How much was Wills and Kate’s trip worth?

During day two of the Australian tour, the Royal couple admire the views of the Blue Mountains. Courtesy: AAP

Surfs up ... the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge look over a surf board they were presented during their visit to Manly beach. Picture: Toby Zerna Source: News Corp Australia

THE Wills and Kate effect has sparked a business boost for tourism operators, who are reaping the rewards of the recent royal tour.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's highly-publicised visit to Australia in April with baby George has created a sustained spike in web traffic to tourism sites ever since and an increase of bookings from British travellers.

Prince William and his wife Catherine showcased some of our country's most famous tourist attractions — Sydney Harbour and the Opera House, the Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains and Manly Beach — during their whirlwind 10-day tour.

Baywatch moment ... Kate runs along Manly Beach during a visit to watch the nippers perform on the beach. Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Corp Australia

Tourism Australia managing director John O'Sullivan said the enormous international exposure had resulted in daily inquiries to Australia.com increasing by up to 125 per cent when they were here.

Even Adelaide witnessed a whopping 213 per cent growth in searches during the royal visit, while other destinations visited by the royal couple experienced a 41 per cent increase in interest, according to search data from booking website trivago.com.au.

A trip that's high on the bucket list of most Aussies — visiting Uluru — is also more likely to get ticked off in the wake of the royals' walk around the sacred rock.

Destination Australia ... the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge watch on as the sunsets on Uluru. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

Voyages indigenous Tourism and Longitude 131, who run the accommodation and tours in Central Australia reported a massive spike in inquiries and bookings after the couple's stay.

Ray Stone from Voyages said the impact of the media attention from the Royal Visit had been immediate.

"We had a spike in website traffic and have seen an increase of calls into our call centre with a an increase in primarily domestic bookings at this stage with an expectation of a pick-up internationally in the next three to six months," he said.

William and Kate pay their respects at Anzac Day Dawn Service

Big hit ... Prince George meets a Bilby at an enclosure at Sydney's Taronga Zoo named in his honour. Picture: David Gray Source: AFP

Mr O'Sullivan said exposure from the British royal couple's visit — estimated to have cost taxpayers more than $2 million — had been priceless and was already paying dividends.

"I have no doubt that we're going to see a positive impact on visitor arrivals, especially from the US and the UK, two of our largest volume and most valuable traditional markets," he said.

"We know from Oprah's visit in 2010 that the impact, in terms of long haul travel, usually takes 12-18 months to be fully felt, but we're already riding the wave of resurgence in US and UK visitors so hopefully this will give this hot streak a long and lasting tail."

Royal wave ... Prince William and Duchess Kate visit the fire effected town of Winmalee in the Blue Mountains. Picture: Adam Taylor Source: News Corp Australia

UK-based tourism operator Austravel said that during the Royals' tour, they received a new inquiry every seven minutes from holiday-makers eager to emulate the Royals.

And despite the royals' return to Britain, calls keep coming in.

They have seen a surge of booking inquiries, with a 120 per cent increase from last year.

They even had to bring in extra staff and extend their opening hours to handle the influx of calls from holiday-goers who wanted to walk in the footsteps of the much-loved Royals.

Meeting the locals ... the Duchess of Cambridge meets some girls from the local surf life saving clubs at Manly Beach. Picture: Toby Zerna Source: News Corp Australia

"The Kate Middleton effect strikes again, but this time it's not the latest dress the nation is after, it's a holiday. We have seen a huge demand from travellers looking to replicate that of

the recent Royal tour," said general manager Karen Joyce.

"Following what looked to be a wonderful trip to the land down under by Kate and Wills, it's no surprise the nation is looking to wave goodbye to the grey British weather and soak up some Australian sunshine."

I love Australia ... Prince George proved the star royal during the tour. Picture: Kate Geraghty/Fairfax Media Source: Supplied

■ To celebrate the 10 millionth person joining Qantas Frequent Flyer program, the airline is giving away 10 million Qantas Frequent Flyer points across Australia and New Zealand, and our

readers have the chance to win a share of this unprecedented prize.

The competition is open to readers of escape.com.au and News Corp Australia newspapers including The Sunday Telegraph, The Sunday Herald Sun, The Sunday Times, The Sunday Mail (QLD), Sunday Mail (SA), The Sunday Tasmanian and The Sunday Territorian.

All you need to do is fill out the entry form and say in up to 200 words how a million Qantas Frequent Flyer points could make a difference to your life or someone else's.

Among the thousands of entries so far have been people wanting to "finalise my bucket list with a bang", take the honeymoon they never got to have, visit long lost relatives or help others' dreams come true. For some that includes a trip with the mother-in-law.

If you are not already a member, Qantas Frequent Flyer will waive the usual $89.50 joining fee during the two-week competition period — just follow the instructions.

The competition ends tonight at 11.59pm (AEST).

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