Audio
Ross River Fever cases spike across eastern Australia Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
2017 has seen a big jump in the number of reported cases of the mosquito-spread virus, Ross River Fever. The virus isn't fatal but it can be debilitating for those who contract it. In a normal year, Australia sees around 5,000 reported cases of Ross River. This year Queensland has already seen 155 new cases. In NSW, 436 cases have been reported, compared to around 102 for the same time last year. By far, the highest number of reported cases this year has been in Victoria, with 708 cases reported - a huge increase from the same period last year, when there were only 34.
Topics: ross-river-fever, health, diseases-and-disorders, australia
Skateboarders compete on iconic motor-racing track Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted | Updated
Competitive skateboarders from across the globe are converging on Bathurst's Mount Panorama in NSW. Reaching speeds of up to 100 kilometres an hour, skaters don streamlined helmets and body suits in a bid to be the fastest down the mountain.
Topics: sport, human-interest, motor-sports, bathurst-2795
Government websites set to be overhauled Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
Many Federal Government services now must be accessed online, including Medicare and Centrelink. But recent problems with the ATO and the census have highlighted how the technology behind them often doesn't work. Assistant Minister for Digital Transformation Angus Taylor is overseeing a massive update to the Federal Government's information technology portals. He says the MyGov site has already undergone significant changes which make it much easier for people to use and that further changes will be implemented. He acknowledges 'hiccups' have hit some areas, including Centrelink, but won't be drawn on the systemic issues that saw thousands of debt recovery letters incorrectly sent to recipients.
Topics: computers-and-technology, biotechnology-industry, information-and-communication, internet-culture, australia
Photos of x-rays on smart phone as effective as x-rays themselves: study Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
A new study has found that smart phones can help doctors diagnose common lung problems in babies just as effectively as x-rays. Doctors from the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne compared the accuracy of mobile phone images with standard x-rays in babies suffering a suspected collapsed lung.
Topics: doctors-and-medical-professionals, infant-health, mobile-phones, parkville-3052
Islamic State steps up terror attacks as it loses ground Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for two deadly bomb attacks in Iraq and Pakistan that have killed and wounded dozens of people. More than 70 people were killed by a suicide bomber attack inside a Sufi shrine in the city of Sehwan. In Iraq's capital, Baghdad, a car packed with explosives destroyed a marketplace in one of the city's Shiah districts. IS has stepped up its terror attacks as it continues to lose territory in Iraq and Syria.
Former Republican administration lawyer concerned about Trump business interests Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
A lawyer who worked closely with a previous Republican administration has warned that President Donald Trump's international business interests could be unconstitutional. Richard Painter is a law professor at the University of Minnesota and the former chief White House ethics lawyer for the George W. Bush administration.
Topics: constitution, world-politics, law-crime-and-justice, united-states
'A fine-tuned machine': Trump defends administration, slams media Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Donald Trump has launched a blistering attack on the media, in an unprecedented press conference at the White House. The US President spoke for well over an hour, defending his government against claims of chaos and incompetence. And he's denounced journalists for making up news, and ignoring his government's achievements.
Topics: media, world-politics, information-and-communication, print-media, united-states
Locals divided over new fish farm on Tasmania's east coast Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
The Tasmanian Government has given Australia's largest salmon producer, Tassal, permission to build a new farm at Okehampton Bay on Tasmania's east coast. The decision is dividing opinion in the local community, with some people welcoming the jobs that will be created; while others are worried about the impact that salmon farming will have on the environment. The decision comes only one week after the state's Environment Protection Authority ordered Tassal to de-stock one of its salmon farms at Macquarie Harbour on the west coast of Tasmania, due to environmental degradation of the area.
Topics: fishing-aquaculture, rural, fish, triabunna-7190
Joyce believes Christensen will stay within the Coalition Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
The Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce, is playing down reports that Queensland MP George Christensen is set to quit the Coalition Government. Mr Christensen has discussed his future with colleagues, but the ABC understands he has not directly indicated to the Prime Minister that he's planning to quit. Mr Joyce says he spoke to Mr Christensen last night and is confident that the backbencher is loyal to the Nationals.
Topics: liberal-national-party-queensland, government-and-politics, parliament, liberals, australia
Medibank posts flat profit as unhappy customers downgrade Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
Medibank Private is blaming a flow of disillusioned customers leaving private cover as a factor that helped crunch its bottom line. The insurer's half-year profit rose only 1.9 per cent to $232 million, as chief executive Craig Drummond acknowledged pain points in the business.
Topics: insurance, health-insurance, australia
Anna Bligh, new bank chief lobbyist, to rebuff royal commission calls Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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The former Labor premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh, has been appointed chief executive of the Australian Bankers Association, the lobbying arm of the 'Big Four' banks. Ms Bligh's appointment comes as the Opposition Leader, Bill Shorten, continues to campaign for a royal commission into bad and unethical behaviour at banks. Mr Bligh spoke with the ABC's Peter Ryan.
Public hospital system at breaking point, warns AMA Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
The Australian Medical Association says its annual report card shows the nation's public hospitals are posing a threat to patients because of inadequate funding. The report looks at governments' own data on waiting lists for elective surgery and on how long people wait in emergency departments. It found public hospitals failed 40 out of 48 key indicators set by governments.
Topics: health-policy, health, doctors-and-medical-professionals, healthcare-facilities, health-insurance, medical-history, health-administration, australia
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
Posted
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
Posted
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
Posted | Updated
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
Posted
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
