08:00:00 27/01/2011
Federal Cabinet is expected to approve a temporary flood surcharge, which could be collected through an increase to the Medicare levy this morning. But a leading economist says the government needs to make more fundamental changes to its budget plans. More
08:03:00 27/01/2011
The Finance Minister Penny Wong wouldn't give details about Cabinet's plans to pay for a flood recovery. But she's warned taxpayers that they'll need to make a contribution to the massive repair bill. More
08:06:00 27/01/2011
The Opposition's finance spokesman Joe Hockey says a levy isn't the best way to fund a flood recovery package. He says the Government should focus on reigning in expenditure instead of increasing taxes. More
08:09:00 27/01/2011
Floodwaters have caused havoc on cattle properties across the Darling Downs. Damaged roads and flooded farms have kept cattle away from the saleyards. But as the roads reopen and the floodwaters dry up sales are picking up again. More
08:13:00 27/01/2011
UNICEF worries that malnutrition in parts of Pakistan affected by last year's floods is worse than it is in Sub-Saharan Africa. The monsoon floods were the most damaging in 80 years and at least 170,000 people remain in relief camps dependent on foreign aid. There are indications however that a major crisis was developing even before floodwaters which swept from the north to the south of the country destroyed 14 per cent of its farmlands. More
08:17:00 27/01/2011
The Indonesian Police have revealed more details about the Australian citizen thought to be responsible for the shipwreck at Christmas Island. They've detained the alleged smuggler, Haydar Khani, alias Ali Hamid, on immigration violations. But a police source has told the ABC he was questioned in 2009 when he was spotted escorting of a large group of people from the Middle East on a remote Indonesian island. But he was allowed to walk free because, back then, he had a valid visa. More
08:20:00 27/01/2011
An inquest begins today into the deaths of 29 miners who were caught in a series of explosions at the Pike River Coal mine in New Zealand last year. There are doubts as to whether the remains of those killed will ever be recovered. The police have now left the scene, and the receivers for mine's owners have committed only to another 5 to 8 weeks. More
08:23:00 27/01/2011
Astronomer have captured images of the most distant galaxy ever spotted. It is showing them what the universe was like just 500 million years after the Big Bang. This is the limit of the Hubble telescope and it will take new technology to reveal earlier stars and galaxies. More
08:26:00 27/01/2011
There wasn't significant property damage in town of Blackwater in Queensland's floods, but the town is still suffering because of the effect the disaster had on the coal industry. It's estimated the floods will reduce the nation's coal exports by about 15 million tonnes, or up to $2.5 billion. More
