Political News
Secrecy over asylum seeker boat turn-backs puts navy in a bind
David Wroe, Defence Correspondent The government's obsession with keeping silent on boat arrivals and turnbacks may come back to bite it.
Denis Napthine to chair meeting on Toyota as Joe Hockey slams union
James Massola, Mark Hawthorne Federal and state ministers, union officials and car industry heavyweights will sit down on February 13 in a crunch meeting that will attempt to save Toyota's manufacturing operations in Australia.
Claims navy assaulted asylum seekers may not get clear verdict
Mark Kenny, Michael Bachelard Indonesia's investigation has stalled and the government has denied the allegations.
Labor says Coalition's plan to cut welfare benefits not justified
DAN HARRISON Labor has accused the Abbott government of exaggerating welfare spending to justify cuts, pointing to figures that show Australia spends less on welfare than most developed nations.
Tony Abbott to chase big business over tax lurks
Mark Kenny, Gareth Hutchens and Georgia Wilkins Prime Minister Tony Abbott has fired a shot across the bow of big business, saying Australia will use its leadership of this year's G20 meeting to push for a co-ordinated international crackdown on tax-avoidance strategies favoured by global corporations.
Denis Napthine to host key players for crisis talks on Toyota's future
Mark Hawthorne and James Massola Premier Denis Napthine will host a crucial round-table meeting with unions, car makers and the federal and state governments next month in an effort to save Toyota as a local car manufacturer.
Probe into asylum seeker burns claim stalls
Mark Kenny and Michael Bachelard Claims that the Australian navy deliberately burned the hands of asylum seekers intercepted at sea may never be conclusively disproved, with an Indonesian investigation stalling and the Australian government refusing to give a full account of what happened.
Tony Abbott attacks corporations' avoidance of tax by global profit shifting
Mark Kenny and Gareth Hutchens Tony Abbott has fired a shot across the bow of big business flagging that Australia will use its leadership of this year's G20 meeting to push for a co-ordinated international crackdown on tax avoidance strategies favoured by global corporations.
Coalition fears on welfare spending not justified, says Labor
DAN HARRISON Labor has accused the Abbott government of exaggerating Australia's welfare spending to justify cuts, pointing to new figures which show the nation spends less than most other developed nations.
Australian Valuation Office job cuts criticised by Labor, unions
Stephanie Anderson and Ben Westcott The closure of the Australian Valuation Office "smacks of an ideological preoccupation with cutting government services", the Opposition says.
Warning Greg Hunt's plan to reduce Tasmanian world heritage area threatens to reignite forest wars
ANDREW DARBY Opponents of Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt's plan to reduce the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area warn forest wars could re-ignite, as a potential new Liberal state government promises a protest crackdown.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union at 'war' with Toyota: Joe Hockey
JAMES MASSOLA Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey has accused the Manufacturing Workers Union of being at 'war' with Toyota and threatening the viability of Australia's last car maker by blocking attempts to cut high costs.
'We will determine who comes to our nation': Nauru President Baron Waqa echoes John Howard in defending judicial decisions
JUDITH IRELAND Nauru President Baron Waqa has issued a fierce rebuttal against claims his country has abandoned the rule of law, saying ''we will determine who comes to our nation''.
Expert wants climate change study introduced in younger school years
Tom Arup, Benjamin Priess Climate change should be taught to all students from middle primary school and be embedded in a range of subjects, a senior science curriculum authority says.
Top role took former foreign minister Bob Carr on journey of a lifetime
HEATH ASTON It reads like the bucket list of a dedicated sightseer. Except Bob Carr managed to tick off some of the world's must-see tourist and cultural destinations in just 19 months as foreign minister.
Bill Shorten says Tony Abbott is hiding plans for big cuts from Griffith voters
MARK KENNY Labor leader Bill Shorten has promised to be positive and has called on his frontbench to present the ALP as the party of ideas against a government he says is already running out of policy options.
Signature links Craig Thomson to brothel receipts, court told
Adam Cooper, Mark Russell Signatures on brothel receipts paid for by union-issued credit cards matched samples of Craig Thomson's handwriting, court documents show.
Tony Abbott uses global stage to take a swipe at Labor over financial crisis
MARK KENNY Prime Minister Tony Abbott has used his contribution to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to criticise Labor's stimulus spending during the global financial crisis while also calling on the US to tread carefully as it tapers its own stimulus measures.
Toyota workers warned
James Massola, Mark Hawthorne Industry Minister Ian MacFarlane says the 2500 manufacturing workers at Australia's last car maker must accept cuts to their pay and ''archaic'' conditions or face Toyota's probable exit from Australia.
Drinks industry representatives reject AMA's calls for alcohol summit
DAN HARRISON Alcohol industry representatives have rejected the medical profession's call for a national summit to tackle an ''epidemic'' of booze-related harm.
