Rockhampton murderer loses appeal bid

A university student found guilty of murdering a Rockhampton woman has lost his bid to appeal his conviction in the High Court.

Beau Ernest Hinschen was last year jailed for life for the murder of Suzanne Standing at her home in August 2005.

She was stabbed and had her face shattered and the trial judge described the killing as vicious and frenzied.

Hinschen claimed that Ms Standing's former partner, Scott Jobling, forced him at gunpoint to kill the 30-year-old woman.

Hinschen's lawyers today sought leave to appeal their client's conviction in the High Court, arguing the trial judge failed to properly instruct the jury about his previous good character.

But the High Court refused the application, concluding that it was not convinced that an error occurred or that there was a miscarriage of justice.

Hospital workers to walk off the job

Thousands of hospital workers across Queensland will walk off the job for at least two hours today as part of an ongoing wages dispute with the State Government.

Admin and clinical staff from at least ten major facilities including the Royal Brisbane and Womens' Hospitals and Princess Alexandra and Prince Charles will take part in the stoppage.

Queensland Public Sector Union spokesman Alex Scott says they have been forced into taking the drastic step.

"We are a minute from midnight in terms of a significant crisis because the Government is refusing to listen," he said.

Mr Scott says emergency cases will still be seen and some staff will remain at work.

The Premier Anna Bligh has warned public servants will be taken to the Industrial Commission if the strike is too disruptive.

"I don't expect we'll see any significant disruptions to services," Ms Bligh said.

The stoppage is due to begin at 11:30am AEST with workers to attend rallies around the state.

Pharmacist jailed over PBS fraud

The Federal Government says the jailing of a central Queensland chemist shows that defrauding the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) will not be tolerated.

The 60-year-old owner of the Clermont Pharmacy, Geoffrey Noel Lake, was jailed by the Brisbane District Court yesterday for four years for fraudulently obtaining $400,000.

Federal Human Services Minister Joe Ludwig says Lake used his parents' signatures or ordered his staff to falsely sign prescriptions that were not supplied.

He also used the identities of dead people to submit false claims.

Senator Ludwig says people who try to defraud Commonwealth programs will be caught and face serious consequences.