08:00:45 03/02/2017
United States President Donald Trump has done nothing to clear up the confusion about whether or not Australia's deal to send 1,200 refugees from Manus Island and Nauru to the US will go ahead. Speaking about his weekend phone conversation with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, the President has cast doubt on the deal, saying 'We'll see what happens.' White House press secretary Sean Spicer has gone further, stating that the President is 'unbelievably disappointed' by the agreement, which was signed by his predecessor's administration. More
06:08:50 03/02/2017
Refugees sent to Manus Island by Australia say they're not surprised that President Trump has expressed doubts about a plan to resettle them in the United States. One refugee says that the President's reaction to the deal confirms what many refugees already believe: that Australia was simply trying to placate the people sent to Manus and Nauru. There are growing concerns among both refugees detained on the island and residents of Manus that the deal will fall through. More
08:07:55 03/02/2017
Professor Simon Jackman from the US Studies Centre says that the US-Australia alliance is broad and deep and has survived greater crises than the apparently cursory telephone call between US President Trump and Prime Minister Turnbull over the agreement to resettle 1,200 asylum seekers currently detained on Manus Island and Nauru. Speaking with AM's Sabra Lane, Professor Jackman says that the simple fact that Mr Trump did not repudiate the deal outright, given his political rhetoric in regards to immigration and national security, speaks volumes about the importance of the US-Australia alliance. More
08:13:35 03/02/2017
Just two days after the Prime Minister put clean coal-fired power stations back on the political agenda, the Government is already signalling that it's taking applications for new projects. The $5 billion Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility opened its doors last July, aimed at supporting new infrastructure programs in northern Australia through Government concessional loans. Resources Minister Matt Canavan spoke with AM's Sabra Lane ahead of his announcement later today that the facility is now taking applications for clean coal electricity projects. He says that he has already had one interested party register their interest. More
08:20:25 03/02/2017
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce will be in the firing line today when he meets Queensland graziers to discuss the possible forced acquisition of their land to expand military training areas for use by Singaporean troops. The State Government and cattle producers want Mr Joyce to rule out any compulsory land grab which, they say, would cost the country millions of dollars in lost agriculture and hundreds of jobs. More
08:23:40 03/02/2017
The NBN company's chief executive, Bill Morrow, says the $49 billion project is rolling out on time and on budget, despite having to secure a special loan from the Federal Government late last year. The $19.5 billion top-up - in addition to the Government's $29 billion budget allocation - was negotiated despite original expectations that the private sector would be tapped to cover any shortfall. The Government's intervention raises questions about whether private investors will be lining up to buy the NBN when the rollout is complete in 2020. More
06:11:55 03/02/2017
Tourism Tasmania has been using photos from Instagram at Hobart Airport. Photographer Cameron Blake says it's unfair, as he has not given permission for his photo to be used at the airport. Mr Blake says he and about 30 other photographers have decided to stop giving Tourism Tasmania permission to use their work on social media until the dispute is resolved. More