National Breaking News
Sunday, 15 December
Missing Qld man found after four days
Sun Dec 15 21:57:18 EST 2013 A MAN who failed to return from checking on bores on his southwest Queensland property has been found after four days.
Police assaulted at NSW soccer game
Sun Dec 15 20:49:15 EST 2013 TWO men have been charged over an assault on police at a rowdy A-League soccer game north of Sydney.
Qld lifts pokies ban on big notes
![Gamblers play poker machines, known as pokies, in Brisbane](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113511im_/http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/518407-qld-lifts-pokies-ban-on-big-notes.jpg)
Sun Dec 15 18:12:45 EST 2013 POKER machines in Queensland's pubs, clubs and casinos will accept notes bigger than $20 now the government has lifted restrictions on note values.
Wind fears for WA bushfire near homes
![A sign indicating the fire danger of the day is seen in Canberra](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113511im_/http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/423235-severe-fire-danger-for-perth-prompts-ban.jpg)
Sun Dec 15 18:00:49 EST 2013 FIREFIGHTERS are still fighting a bushfire that has been controlled but not contained northeast of Perth.
Police officer stabbed in the neck
Sun Dec 15 16:43:11 EST 2013 A POLICEMAN has been stabbed in the neck during a national blitz on alcohol-related violence which has led to 430 arrests in Queensland alone.
I don't expect marriage bill, says Abbott
Sun Dec 15 16:14:13 EST 2013 THE coalition party room will consider any future gay marriage bill in the "usual way", says Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
Woman hit by garbage truck in Melbourne
![The emergency entrance sign at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113511im_/http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/470335-woman-hit-by-garbage-truck-in-melbourne.jpg)
Sun Dec 15 15:19:44 EST 2013 A YOUNG woman is clinging to life after being hit by a rubbish truck in Melbourne's city centre.
Bali punch victim on the mend
Sun Dec 15 15:18:18 EST 2013 AUSTRALIAN surfing teacher Matt Scarff is continuing to heal from serious head injuries after being punched by a stranger in Bali last month.
Turnbull says Labor wasted $20b on NBN
![Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113511im_/http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/472811-turnbull-says-labor-wasted-20b-on-nbn.jpg)
Sun Dec 15 15:17:20 EST 2013 COMMUNICATIONS Minister Malcolm Turnbull says Labor's rollout of the NBN would have wasted more than $50 billion.
Turnbull happy with cabinet under Abbott
![Senior minister Malcolm Turnbull](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113511im_/http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/473692-turnbull-happy-with-cabinet-under-abbott.jpg)
Sun Dec 15 15:16:48 EST 2013 THE cabinet system is working well in the Abbott government, says senior frontbencher Malcolm Turnbull, likening it to the Howard years.
Crash kills elderly man in Victoria
![An Emergency Department sign at Rockhampton hospital in Rockhampton](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113511im_/http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/473400-crash-kills-elderly-man-in-victoria.jpg)
Sun Dec 15 15:14:46 EST 2013 AN elderly man has died in hospital after a crash in Melbourne's southeast on Thursday.
NSW govt must act on violence: oppn
Sun Dec 15 15:01:20 EST 2013 AFTER hundreds of arrests for alcohol-related trouble across the country, the NSW opposition is calling for urgent government action - now.
Operation Unite Vic: 76 people arrested
![Police patrol a music festival in Sydney](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113511im_/http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/460731-operation-unite-vic-76-people-arrested.jpg)
Sun Dec 15 14:36:42 EST 2013 OPERATION Unite, which is targeting drinking and violent behaviour, has seen 76 people arrested in Victoria.
Police renew appeal for missing Sydney dad
![Missing person Paul Sekeres](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113511im_/http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/427093-police-renew-appeal-for-missing-sydney-dad.jpg)
Sun Dec 15 12:41:44 EST 2013 POLICE believe several people know what happened to Paul Sekeres but are too afraid or unwilling to come forward with information.
Motorbike rider, passenger killed in Tas
![Fire and police emergency services at a scene of a fire in Sydney](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113511im_/http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/12/15/1226783/425647-motorbike-rider-passenger-killed-in-tas.jpg)
Sun Dec 15 12:29:46 EST 2013 A RIDER and pillion passenger have been killed in Tasmania's northeast when the motorbike they were riding collided head-on with a utility.
NSW govt urged to take action on alcohol
Sun Dec 15 11:58:13 EST 2013 THE NSW government needs to work harder in its fight against alcohol-related harm, lobbyists say.
Three men stabbed in Sydney's west
Sun Dec 15 00:16:28 EST 2013 THREE men have been stabbed in Sydney and police are investigating whether they were injured in a fight between two groups of men at a service station.
Saturday, 14 December
Muse delivers epic Sydney show
![Matthew Bellamy, lead vocalist and guitarist of British band Muse.](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113511im_/http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2013/12/14/1226783/208008-muse-delivers-epic-sydney-show.jpg)
Sat Dec 14 21:14:10 EST 2013 BRITISH rockers Muse have thrilled Sydney fans with a spectacular sound and stage show on the final leg of their Australian tour.
US man dies in Vic skydiving accident
![Police tape](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113511im_/http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/12/14/1226783/188403-man-dies-following-vic-skydiving-incident.jpg)
Sat Dec 14 20:31:59 EST 2013 A MAN, 33, has died following a skydiving incident in Euroa in the Victoria's northeast.
Man arrested after shots fired in Tas
![Police tape](http://web.archive.org./web/20131215113511im_/http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2013/12/14/1226783/167831-man-arrested-after-shots-fired-in-tas.jpg)
Sat Dec 14 19:45:19 EST 2013 A MAN has been arrested following reports of shots being fired in a street on Tasmania's east coast.
Saturday, 14 December
Sydney road and railway line reopen
Sat Dec 14 18:35:18 EST 2013 A MAIN road and part of a Sydney railway line have reopened after they were shut when a train broke down on a level crossing in the city's northwest.
Teen charged for assaulting police
Sat Dec 14 18:10:34 EST 2013 POLICE have charged a teenager who allegedly attacked a police officer after he was caught doing burnouts in Sydney's west.
Probe into alleged attack by Qld cops
Sat Dec 14 18:10:31 EST 2013 FOOTAGE which allegedly shows a uniformed officer punching a man in the face outside a Brisbane nightclub has been published online.
Disabled man robbed outside NSW hospital
Sat Dec 14 18:10:29 EST 2013 POLICE have charged a woman who allegedly stole a disabled man's bag while pretending to help him into a cab outside a Sydney hospital.
Australian Nobel Prize winner dies at 96
Sat Dec 14 18:10:27 EST 2013 AUSTRALIA'S only winner of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry, Professor John Cornforth, has died at the age of 96.
Brother accused of stabbing sibling in NSW
Sat Dec 14 16:35:18 EST 2013 NSW police have charged a man over the stabbing of his teenage brother in the arm during a domestic dispute at a southern tablelands home.
Vic motorcyclist critical after collision
Sat Dec 14 16:32:42 EST 2013 A MOTORCYCLIST was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries following a collision with a car.
PM backs easing Qantas ownership limits
Sat Dec 14 16:15:47 EST 2013 PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has backed easing limits on ownership of Qantas shares but others are not convinced.
Calls for crackdown on 'scourge of Sydney'
Sat Dec 14 15:39:17 EST 2013 AFTER a night of horrific violence on Sydney streets, workers at the front line say they have had enough.
Knife attack on Qld cop 'unprovoked'
Sat Dec 14 14:32:21 EST 2013 A FAR north Queensland police officer is recovering in hospital after being stabbed in the neck in what police allege was an unprovoked attack.
Abbott to unveil auto sector package
Sat Dec 14 14:05:38 EST 2013 PRIME Minister Tony Abbott will release a package of support for autoworkers and businesses next week, after Holden's production shutdown decision.
Elderly woman robbed in Tamworth
Sat Dec 14 14:05:37 EST 2013 A 79-YEAR-OLD NSW woman suffered a broken shoulder and cheekbone when she was pushed to the ground during an alleged robbery in Tamworth.
Motorcycle accident kills two in Victoria
Sat Dec 14 14:05:34 EST 2013 A MOTORCYCLE rider and his passenger have been killed at Essendon in Melbourne.
Missing ACT man found safe and well
Sat Dec 14 14:05:30 EST 2013 A FISHERMAN who went missing in the NSW Snowy Mountains six days ago has been located safe and well.
Labor, Greens slam marine park decision
Sat Dec 14 13:34:22 EST 2013 LABOR and the Greens say the government has undone years of work by scrapping management plans for marine parks.
ACT police arrest man over robbery spree
Sat Dec 14 12:37:23 EST 2013 CANBERRA police have arrested a 20-year-old man for holding up the same supermarket twice and trying to rob a third
Galilee Basin coal mine moves ahead in Qld
Sat Dec 14 12:37:20 EST 2013 A REVIEW of a proposed $2.2b rail line from a planned Galilee Basin coal mine to a major Queensland coal port has been released for public consultation.
Vic Labor slams public transport fare hike
Sat Dec 14 12:37:18 EST 2013 THE Victorian opposition says the government should not increase public transport fares if it is not going to invest the money back into the system.
Aussie soldiers finish trek to pole
Sat Dec 14 11:55:19 EST 2013 TWO wounded Australian soldiers have completed a two week trek to the South Pole, along with other wounded soldiers and Prince Harry.
Two Vic fire refuges open for summer
Sat Dec 14 11:05:16 EST 2013 TWO community fire refuges have been opened in Melbourne's outer east and southeast in time for the bushfire season.
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