Audio
Christchurch bushfires destroy 11 properties Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
Firefighters in Christchurch, New Zealand's second-largest city, have stopped a bushfire's advance on suburban homes overnight. But 11 properties were destroyed in the hill suburbs surrounding Christchurch, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate. Civil defence officials say about 130 firefighters on the ground, aided by more than a dozen helicopters, have stopped the fire from encroaching further into the city. Officials say the plan is to let it burn itself out and believe a forecast of rain over this weekend will help. The bushfire, rare in the country, is the latest emergency to afflict Christchurch, which was heavily damaged by earthquakes in 2011 that killed 185 people.
Topics: bushfire, new-zealand
Dinosaur from Victoria about to come to life again with the help of VR technology Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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A team from Deakin University is using 3D printing and virtual reality technology to try to bring to life a small dinosaur that once lived in the Otway region of Victoria. The Leaellynasaura was first discovered in the 1980s and is one of the most complete dinosaur skeletons ever found in Australia. The project will eventually be on display at the National Wool Museum in Geelong. Those behind the team are hoping to find ways of using new technology to communicate science to the general public and to educate Australians about their rich dinosaur heritage.
Topics: fossils, apollo-bay-3233
PM Turnbull to visit NZ counterpart Bill English to strengthen ties Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Malcolm Turnbull will today become the first foreign leader to visit New Zealand since Bill English succeeded John Key as Prime Minister in December. They are expected to discuss the economic challengers both nations face in the wake of US President Trump's withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Mr English recently delivered his second consecutive budget surplus, turning around the substantial deficit he inherited in 2008 when he became finance minister.
Topics: world-politics, new-zealand, australia
George Christensen presents an ongoing problem for Federal Government Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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For the second Friday running, a newspaper report is suggesting that the Coalition MP George Christensen is on the verge of quitting the Government. The ABC understands the Queensland MP has not directly threatened to the Prime Minister that he'll quit, but is considering his future. The Nationals Whip wants the Federal Government to do more to help cane growers in his electorate who are in dispute with a foreign-owned sugar mill.
Topics: liberal-national-party-queensland, federal-government, liberals, canberra-2600
Trump slams media in media conference as Russia questions continue Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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US President Donald Trump has aggressively faced the media in an hour-long press conference, as his administration faces further scrutiny over alleged links with Russia. Mr Trump said that former national security adviser Michael Flynn was just 'doing his job' when he spoke to a Russian diplomat about sanctions imposed on Moscow by the Obama administration. The President has also signalled that he will sign a new executive order next week to circumvent court rulings stalling his immigration ban on citizens from seven mostly-Muslim countries.
Topics: world-politics, united-states, russian-federation
Turnbull Government weighs up cutting spending and hiking taxes Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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The Turnbull Government has finished the first parliamentary fortnight for the year on a high. Malcolm Turnbull's spirited attacks seem to have impressed the sometimes restive Coalition backbench. Now the Government faces mounting challenges as it tries to frame the May budget, with billions of dollars of savings unlikely to pass the Senate.
Topics: government-and-politics, budget, canberra-2600
Naval shipbuilding program embroiled in lease quarrel Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Australia's multi-billion-dollar naval shipbuilding program has become embroiled in a real estate spat over who should pay for the use of Adelaide's state-of-the-art facilities. The South Australian government says that the Commonwealth wants a 99-year lease of its shipyards but is not willing to pay anything for it.
Topics: defence-and-aerospace-industries, navy, defence-industry, federal---state-issues, osborne-5017
Defence Minister Payne attends NATO meeting on Islamic State Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Islamic State has claimed responsibility for two bombings overnight in Iraq and Pakistan, which have killed more than 100 people. Western allies are meeting in Brussels to discuss the military campaign against IS extremists in Iraq and Syria. Australian Defence Minister Marise Payne, who will be attending the NATO ministers' meeting, says 'very significant' progress has been made on the campaign, but will not be drawn on the possibility of Australian involvement in a new US military campaign and insists that the people of Iraq and Syria must 'own' the outcome of any military action in their respective countries.
Topics: terrorism, belgium, iraq, pakistan, syrian-arab-republic
PM Full Program Audio
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On Thursday's program: Disturbing data about child abuse has been released and shows the majority of claims made against the Catholic Church relate to abuse within its vast network of schools; It's been yet another dramatic and bruising 24 hours for the US President Donald Trump, as his pick for Labor Secretary has withdrawn, he's veered away from long held US Middle East policy, and has once again lashed out at the media via Twitter; And the latest official data shows a growing explosion of part-time roles, at the expense of full-time positions paving the way for significant social changes in Australia.
Topics: australia
Jakarta Governor election: second round in April as neither candidate wins outright majority Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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The people of Jakarta will be heading back to the polls in April after yesterday's ballot failed to produce an outright winner for the position of governor. Despite mass protests and blasphemy charges against him, the city's incumbent Christian Governor marginally won yesterday's ballot but he has a tough battle to gain the votes he needs in the weeks ahead.
Topics: world-politics, government-and-politics, indonesia, australia
Government unclear about changes to capital gains tax concessions Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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The first parliamentary fortnight for the year has wrapped up but it hasn't been a tidy one and there are plenty of loose ends, with the Government now seemingly at odds with itself over tax policy. The Finance Minister has categorically ruled out making any changes to capital gains tax concessions. But the Prime Minister appeared to concede in Question Time that the Government has looked into it as a way of repairing the budget and improving housing affordability.
Topics: parliament, government-and-politics, political-parties, australia
Audit into Aurukun School finds enrolments overstated Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Indigenous leader Noel Pearson says he has been vindicated by an investigation into the troubled school at Aurukun in far-north Queensland. The school was temporarily closed in May last year after student unrest. Queensland's Auditor-General has found no evidence of financial impropriety in his report into the school's operations. But the report did find that there were poor governance mechanisms in the partnership between government and Noel Pearson's organisation.
Topics: education, community-and-society, indigenous-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander, qld, australia
Abuse survivors and police call for St Stanislaus College Royal Commission investigation Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Notorious paedophile priest Brian Spillane has today been sentenced to a further nine years jail for sexual assaults committed while he was a teacher and chaplain at St Stanislaus College in Bathurst. He's one of 12 people connected to the Catholic boys school and abuse survivors and police are baffled as to why the school has not been investigated by the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Assault.
Topics: sexual-offences, community-and-society, child-abuse, law-crime-and-justice, crime, laws, prisons-and-punishment, nsw, australia
Donald Trump lashes out at media and intelligence, suffers cabinet loss Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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It's been yet another dramatic and bruising 24 hours for the US President Donald Trump. His pick for Labor Secretary has withdrawn, he's veered away from long held US middle east policy, and has once again lashed out on twitter at the media. Donald Trump has also stuck out at his own intelligence officials, over what he's termed 'unfair treatment' of his former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Topics: world-politics, government-and-politics, united-states, australia
Aboriginal group calls for guarantee NT gas pipeline won't lead to fracking Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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The contracts for a gas pipeline connecting the Northern Territory to the eastern states have been drawn up, but some Aboriginal people say they're not ready to sign-off on the deal. The Aboriginal land council representing traditional owners across Central Australia says the deal's done and it's too late to speak up. But the group says they want a guarantee their land and the pipeline won't be part of a plan to frack Northern Territory land.
Topics: pipelines, business-economics-and-finance, industry, community-and-society, indigenous-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander, land-rights, aboriginal, nt, australia
Native Title Council doesn't want Native Title Act used as a political football by the Greens Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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The National Native Title Council says it doesn't want the Native Title Act being used as a political football by the Greens. Greens MP Adam Bandt today accused the Government of rushing through changes to the act to benefit the Adani coal mine in Queensland. But the Native Title Council, which represents traditional owners, says the legislation must be passed quickly to safeguard Aboriginal people's rights.
Topics: political-parties, government-and-politics, qld, australia
Surge in part-time work leading to significant social change, say researchers Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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The latest official figures show the unemployment rate fell slightly in January to 5.7 per cent. A surge in Australians landing part time work, more than made up a big slump in full-time work. Social researchers say the trend to part-time work is placing a heavy financial burden on families, and is also seeing the nation undergo a significant social change.
Topics: unemployment, community-and-society, australia
Data released by Catholic Church shows 'massive breaking in trust of church personnel' Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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The data released today at the child sexual abuse Royal Commission on the number of claims has led to shocking results. The records date back to the 1950s and show the extent of the abuse. In Australia, the Catholic Church has paid out $276 million in response to claims. Francis Sullivan from the church's Truth Justice and Healing Council speaks to PM
Topics: community-and-society, religion-and-beliefs, australia
Catholic education system under Royal Commission scrutiny Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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New data commissioned for the child sexual abuse Royal Commission shows the highest percentage of claims made against Catholic Church authorities relate to abuse in schools at 46 per cent. The Royal Commission is considering the Catholic Education system and its current practices for the protection of students.
Topics: royal-commissions, child-abuse, law-crime-and-justice, australia
Radical new vaccine proves completely effective against malaria Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Scientists may be a step closer to eradicating malaria following the stunning success of a new vaccine in a small human trial. The radical approach involves injecting patients with the cells of live malaria parasites. Thirty-five test subjects were injected with different amounts of the vaccine and those who received the highest doses enjoyed 100 per cent protection against infection.
Topics: malaria, health, vaccines-and-immunity, australia
CEO focus switching from China to US, but business leaders worried about Donald Trump and protection Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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A global survey of around 1,300 chief executives by the consulting firm PWC shows money is starting to move out of China's slowing economy for the first time in seven years, despite the political uncertainty in the US. PWC chief economist, Jeremy Thorpe, says while business is optimistic about Donald Trump's economic policies, many are worried about protectionism.
Topics: corporate-governance, international-aid-and-trade, united-states, australia, china
Sweeping changes announced to Queensland's parole system Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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The most sweeping changes to Queensland's parole laws in 80 years were handed down in a report into Queensland's parole system today. The state's former Solicitor General Walter Sofronoff made 91 recommendations, including more rehabilitation programs in prisons, the expanded use of GPS to track parolees and establishing a new parole board. The review into the state's parole system began after the murder of Townsville grandmother Elizabeth Kippen in July last year allegedly by a man on parole.
Topics: prisons-and-punishment, law-crime-and-justice, murder-and-manslaughter, australia
NSW Government mulls greyhound industry reforms Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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The New South Wales Government is considering major changes to greyhound racing in the state, after announcing and then lifting a ban on the industry last year. A reform panel has unveiled 122 recommendations, designed to improve the industry's practices and reduce the number of dogs killed. Its key recommendation is for a new and independent Commission for Integrity and Welfare, to oversee the sport.
Topics: animal-welfare, australia
Calls to create an au pair visa and regulate the industry Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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There are calls to formalise the so called 'backpacker au pair' and create a specific visa to ensure safeguards are in place for workers and families. Experts say there's a rising demand for foreign live-in carers, but the industry remains unregulated and open to exploitation. It comes as childcare reforms hit the headlines again, and more families look for affordable and flexible alternatives for their children.
Topics: child-care, immigration, australia
Catholic school linked to child sex abuse wants to be a leader in child protection Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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The highest number of abuse claims paid for by the Catholic Church relate to its education system. At St Patrick's College, in Ballarat, several Catholic priests and Christian Brothers were eventually convicted of sexually abusing children in their care. Now, the school says it wants to change its reputation to one that makes it a leader in child protection.
Topics: child-abuse, catholic, sexual-offences, ballarat-3350, australia
