Audio
Tenth National Disability Awards night of November 7th in Canberra Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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More than four million Australians live with a disability. And tonight those working to improve their lives and those of their carers will be honoured at the tenth National Disability Awards in Canberra.
Topics: disabilities, awards-and-prizes, science-and-technology, australia
A lack of thinking time considered modern problem Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Do you ever feel you need more time to just sit down and think to solve a problem or work out a better way of doing things? Many of the ABC reporters, who are pressed for time, certainly do. Could sitting, reflecting and thinking for just a few minutes actually make you better at your job or stop you doing stupid things?
Topics: philosophy, england
Moral challenges: story of country with much promise Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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As the time approaches for our Africa Correspondent to finish up his posting, he's becoming a little more philosophical. Martin Cuddihy and his family are moving back to across the Indian Ocean in January. It's got him thinking about the value of an individual's life in Kenya.
Topics: murder-and-manslaughter, kenya, australia
Only days to go until the new US President is elected Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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By Wednesday afternoon Australian time, the counting is expected to be over and the next leader of the United States will hopefully be known, barring any legal challenges, having been one of the most dispiriting and ugly races of all time.
Topics: united-states
All Girl Electronic calls for change on gender problem in Australian music Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Female musicians say the Australian music scene has a gender problem and they're calling for change. They want more women behind the scenes, and on the airwaves.
Topics: music-industry, electronic, music-education, australia
Federal Labor says residents near NT RAAF base kept in the dark on contamination testing Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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The Federal Opposition is calling on the Department of Defence to release a report on the impact of chemicals from firefighting foam once used at defence sites around Australia. This week it was revealed residents near the Williamtown RAAF base in NSW have launched a class action against the defence department after finding out their groundwater was contaminated with the chemicals. In the Northern Territory, Labor says there's an appalling lack of information being given to residents near the Tindal RAAF base near Katherine.
Topics: water-pollution, defence-and-national-security, water, australia
Indonesia moves towards abolishing death penalty Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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On the eve of his visit to Australia, The Indonesian President, Joko Widodo has indicated Indonesia wants to move towards abolishing the death penalty. President Jokowi, as he is commonly known, has also urged Australia to adopt a soft approach to tackle Islamic radicalism while stressing the importance of rebuilding trust between the two nations.
Topics: world-politics, indonesia, australia
Clinton leads tight race to US presidential election Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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With just four days to go in the US presidential election, Hillary Clinton is only just leading in the polls. Both candidates are campaigning in Pennsylvania, which has voted for the Democratic candidate in the last six presidential elections.
Topics: united-states
Eltham plans to house 120 Syrian refugees, anti-refugee campaigners protest Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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The suburb of Eltham in Melbourne's north-east has become a suburb divided. The plan to house up to 120 Syrian refugees in a disused part of an aged care facility in Eltham has caused disquiet, and anti-immigration campaigners are planning to protest there today. But one group of locals is trying to counter the image that Eltham isn't a welcoming community.
Topics: refugees, immigration, australia
Racial act at forefront after key case lost in Federal Circuit Court Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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A very public racial vilification case has sparked renewed calls for reforming and abolishing parts of the Racial Discrimination Act. It comes after a judge threw out a racial vilification case against three Queensland university students, made under Section 18c of the act. Some Liberal backbenchers say that section undermines freedom of speech in Australia. But other politicians say a simple reform could save the Act.
Topics: courts-and-trials, race-relations, australia
Shocking allegations continue to surface against marketing giant Appco Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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More shocking allegations of workplace humiliation rituals are emerging from young workers who are joining a class action against the marketing giant, Appco. The lawyer leading the class action has told AM workers were forced to cross dress, take part in 'cockfights' and lick underpants if they didn't meet their sales targets. Workers in Tasmania also allege they were forced to participate in an obscene ritual involving cigarettes.
Topics: advertising-and-marketing, charities, australia
Peter Fox details reservations about redress scheme and unfinished work around child sexual abuse Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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The man whose allegations about child abuse in the Hunter-Maitland region sparked the Royal Commission is Peter Fox. Four years ago, the veteran Detective Chief Inspector spoke out on the ABC's Lateline program about "the evil of paedophilia within the Catholic Church", alleging cover-ups by the church and police. He says the Commonwealth's redress scheme is a good step forward but the government must convince all states and institutions to get on board.
Topics: child-abuse, catholic, australia
Abuse survivors concerned about details of national redress scheme Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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People who survived child sexual abuse in institutions are worried about some aspects of a new national redress scheme. The Federal Government cannot compel states, territories, churches and institutions to be involved, and there are fears some people will unfairly miss out.
Topics: child-abuse, australia
Europeans living in UK lobby MPs to grant permanent residency Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Europeans living in the UK say they're being treated like scum despite spending decades helping the country become what it is. Several groups have joined forces to lobby MPs for a new law giving permanent residency to anyone living in Britain at the time of the Brexit vote. Many Europeans living in the UK remain fearful of what the future will hold despite reassurances from the May government that people wouldn't be summarily sent packing.
Topics: world-politics, united-kingdom
'We are spectators in Jerusalem': Professor Efraim Inbar on the Syrian conflict Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Professor Efraim Inbar is the director of the Begin-Sadat Centre for Strategic Studies. PM spoke to him about the worrying conflict in Syria, Russia's involvement, and the implications for the region. Mark Colvin started by asking him about the Syrian war's impact on Israel.
Topics: world-politics, israel
Ships facing tougher restrictions on fuel quality Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Ships entering Australia's harbours could soon face tougher restrictions on fuel quality in an effort to reduce air pollution. The International Maritime Organisation has approved plans to force shipping lines to drastically cut sulphur content in their fuel by 2020. But critics say while it will reduce the smog in the sky it won't impact levels of greenhouse gas emissions.
Topics: federal-government, maritime, australia
New strategy to retain women at the top of legal profession Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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The Law Council of Australia's new policy aims to boost the proportion of women barristers taking on high profile legal cases by almost a third, to keep them in the profession. But some gender equity experts say targets are not strong enough to create substantial change and mandatory quotas should be employed instead.
Topics: law-crime-and-justice, australia
Coroner finds no one to blame for cricketer Phillip Hughes' death Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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A coronial inquest has found that sledging and short-pitched bowling didn't contribute to the death of cricketer Phillip Hughes. Twenty-five-year-old Hughes died after being struck by a delivery while batting for South Australia against New South Wales in November 2014. His family believes the bowlers were intimidating Hughes with threatening comments and aggressive bowling and this played a role in the fatal accident. The Coroner found it hard to believe no sledging took place that day but says Hughes was in control of his game and appeared unaffected by it.
RBA banking on debt-laden consumers and cautious businesses supporting economy Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Australia looks set to enjoy yet another year of economic growth. There are, however, obvious risks on the horizon. To ensure the economy remains strong, policy makers and economists are counting consumers and businesses to increase their spending and investment. At present though there's no real indication that will come to fruition. Interest rates are also set to remain at record lows for the foreseeable future.
Topics: economic-trends, federal-government, australia
Family First donations to be investigated as part of Home Australia collapse Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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The liquidator of Bob Day's failed construction company Home Australia group, says it will scrutinise money the company paid to his Family First party. Creditors at a meeting in Adelaide today were told they were unlikely to get back any of the money owed to them, with Home Australia Group in a 'dire financial position', a result left many small businesses and homebuyers devastated.
Topics: federal-government, australia
Uncertainty as up to 1,000 Hazelwood power workers weigh up transition to new jobs Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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And there's just as much uncertainty in the Latrobe Valley, where up to a thousand power workers are wondering how to transition into different jobs. Today the Victorian Government announced $266 million for workers, infrastructure and investment and discussions have already begun on how those funds should be used.
Topics: electricity-energy-and-utilities, federal-government, australia
Porter announces national compensation scheme for victims of institutional child sexual abuse Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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The Federal Government has announced that victims of institutional child sexual abuse will be eligible for up to $150,000 compensation. The Commonwealth will lead the program, with states, territories and institutions, including churches, able to opt in. But already there are questions about whether South Australia will participate.
Topics: federal-government, australia
Australia 'lagging behind' in world's transition to renewables Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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As the Hazelwood power station prepares to close, the Greens say Australia has failed to plan properly for a future of renewable energy. And a Climate Institute report shows Australia's progress is at odds with global momentum.
Topics: electricity-energy-and-utilities, coal, australia
NT pastoralist getting Indigenous youth into work and back on track Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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They once dominated the stock camps, but in recent times Aboriginal stockmen have been scarce on the ground, while jobless rates for Indigenous youth climb. In the Northern Territory, a cattle station run by the third generation of an Aboriginal family is working to save young people struggling with unemployment, alcohol and violence.
Topics: indigenous-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander, alcohol, nt
Cyberattack threats expose Australia to $16 billion risk, warns global insurer Lloyd's Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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The growing risk of cyberattacks leaves the Australian economy exposed to a potential $16 billion damage bill over the next decade, according to one of the world's biggest insurance companies. In a joint study with Cambridge University, the Lloyd's insurance giant has found that out of 301 global cities, Sydney ranks 12th in terms cyberattack exposure with $4.86 billion of economic growth at risk. Lloyd's says demand cyber insurance in Australia has increased by 16,828 per cent in the past two years as businesses seek protection from current and emerging threats.
Topics: internet-culture, insurance, terrorism, australia
