Audio
Benjamin Netanyahu meets Malcolm Turnbull in historic and controversial visit Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has set foot on Australian soil and met with Australia's Malcolm Turnbull. The two leaders have discussed security matters and how there can be greater collaboration on cyber security. A joint press conference has just been held where Mr Turnbull has reaffirmed Australia's support of a two state solution.
Topics: international-law, international-aid-and-trade, israel, palestinian-territory-occupied
Record high for women in lead roles in 2016 as number of female protagonists in hit films increased Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
For women in film, 2016 was a good year. A new study by the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film in California has tallied the number of female protagonists in hit films and found 2016 was a record high for women in lead roles. 29 per cent of the top 100 grossing films in 2016 had a female lead, that might sound small but it's up seven per cent from 2015.
Topics: film-movies, arts-and-entertainment, australia
AFL umpires say the sport's iconic bounce is crippling them Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
From the stands or the couch it looks like an effortless way to start the game, but AFL umpires say the game's iconic bounce is crippling them. The Umpires' Association says the bounce is extremely taxing on their bodies, leaving many with chronic pain and some even seeking surgery. For years, the AFL's defended the technique, which it says is sacrosanct and here to stay. But umpires say that might mean there won't be any referees left to perform the controversial move in the years to come.
Topics: australian-football-league, health, medical-history, sport, australia
Malaysian authorities say cause of Kim Jong Nam's death remains unconfirmed Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Malaysian authorities appear to be having difficulty determining the cause of death of the half-brother of North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un. The autopsy results of Kim Jong Nam are so far inconclusive, but the Malaysian Director-General of Health has not ruled out that he was poisoned.
Topics: murder-and-manslaughter, law-crime-and-justice, crime, australia
US issues new guidelines designed to make it easier to deport illegal immigrants Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
The Trump administration has issued new guidelines designed to make it easier to deport illegal immigrants from the US. Undocumented immigrants arrested for even minor offences, such as traffic violations, will now be targeted, along with those convicted of more serious crimes. The guidelines don't change existing US laws, but take a much tougher approach towards enforcing them.
Topics: immigration, community-and-society, international-law, united-states
Amnesty International report highlights lack of global response to mass atrocities Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
Amnesty International has released its annual report on the state of human rights around the world, and is warning that creeping 'us versus them' rhetoric is generating hate and fear. Australia has been labelled as complacent when it comes to world leaders and politicians accused of creating division and fear.
Topics: charities-and-community-organisations, community-and-society, discrimination, multiculturalism, australia
Kerry Stokes and Jeff Kennett criticised as Amber Harrison gag order extended Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
Seven West chairman Kerry Stokes and director Jeff Kennett have been criticised by a NSW Supreme Court judge for their public comments that vilified former employee Amber Harrison. Giving his reasons for extending a gag order against Ms Harrison, Justice McDougall said Mr Stokes and Mr Kennett 'has descended into accusation and counter accusation' and that comments from Mr Kennett on Twitter were 'not well advised'.
Topics: courts-and-trials, company-news, australia
Essendon and the aviation industry facing fallout from fatal plane crash Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
There is intense debate in Melbourne today about the operations of Essendon airport. Ambulance aircraft and charter services are based at the site which is close to the large shopping complex and homes. Yesterday, a plane carrying five people crashed into the DFO centre, killing the pilot and a group of American tourists.
Topics: air-and-space, disasters-and-accidents, accidents, air-transport, australia
Official figures show landing a pay rise is as hard as it's ever been Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Official figures confirm it remains as hard as ever to land a pay rise in Australia. The latest data show wages growth remains at record lows. The data release came just hours after the head of the Reserve Bank warned that households are in danger of getting in over their heads financially, as personal debt levels soar.
Topics: business-economics-and-finance, industrial-relations, small-business, unemployment, australia
Workers shocked as Coke closes Adelaide bottling plant Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
In yet another blow to manufacturing in South Australia, Coca Cola Amatil has announced it will close its bottling facility in 2019. Staff were told the news this morning, which will leave 180 people at the Adelaide bottling plant, out of work. The company says the closure will save it $20 million, and it has plans to spend another $90 million upgrading its Richlands plant in Queensland.
Topics: manufacturing, industry, community-and-society, unemployment, australia
Medicinal cannabis campaigner says demand will outstrip supply under government importation plans Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Ben Oakley, is a 21-year-old man who suffers from a rare, one-in-a million neurological disease called stiff-person syndrome. He uses cannabis oil, which he's been forced to buy on the black market. He and his family are among the growing band of campaigners pushing for reform. His father Michael says the government's plans to import medicinal cannabis are a good first step, but he predicts the demand for the product will outstrip the supply.
Topics: health, government-and-politics, drug-use, australia
Medicare rebate freeze up for review as Government prepares budget Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
The Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has again indicated that the freeze on the Medicare rebate for GPs is under review, as the Government prepares the federal budget. The ABC has been told the Government is determined to demonstrate its commitment to Medicare, in the wake of last year's federal election. The AMA says it's had encouraging discussions with Mr Hunt. The Government has also announced plans to allow private companies to import and store stocks of medicinal cannabis while local production is developed.
Topics: cannabis, health, doctors-and-medical-professionals, drug-use, addictive, australia
Aviation expert defends development near Australian airports following deadly Melbourne crash Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Melbourne residents and aviation experts have condemned the commercialisation of airport land after yesterday's fatal plane crash. The disaster at Essendon Airport claimed five lives and has prompted calls for a rethink about development close to airports. One aviation expert is defending commercialisation despite suggestions a nearby shopping centre is in an inappropriate location
Topics: air-and-space, air-transport, vic, australia
BHP ramps up calls for energy security Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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The global miner BHP Billiton has joined the debate over energy security for industry and consumers after recent outages took out its Olympic Dam site in South Australia. BHP's chief financial officer Peter Beaven has backed the federal government's campaign for clean coal power generation, while urging action for greater reliability and affordability of energy - including gas. The push comes as BHP reported a first half loss a year ago to a $US3.2 billion profit thanks to rising iron ore prices.
Topics: company-news, mining-industry, australia
Kevin Rudd calls on Australia to recognise Palestine as a state Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has called on Australia to recognise Palestine as a state, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in Australia for a historic visit. Mr Rudd has also comdemned moves by Mr Netanyahu's government to legalise the settlement of West Bank territories.
Topics: australia
Israeli soldier sentenced to prison for shooting wounded Palestinian attacker Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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An Israeli military court has sentenced a soldier to 18 months in prison for fatally shooting a wounded Palestinian attacker. Palestinian authorities have dismissed the sentence as a 'joke', but military prosecutors say the decision sends an important message.
Topics: murder-and-manslaughter, israel
Medicinal marijuana still difficult to obtain despite legalisation Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Despite the legalisation of medicinal marijuana last year, patients are still finding it difficult to obtain, and local supply is limited. Supporters argue it can be used to treat a vareity of illnesses where regular medicine isn't doing the job.
Israeli PM arrives in Australia Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived in Sydney for the first visit by a serving Israeli leader to Australia. The Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is using the visit to issue a strong rebuke to the United Nations for last year's resolution which condemned Israel's settlement action as being 'illega'". Mr Netanyahu's visit has also exposed a deepening row within Labor over whether Australia should formally recognise the state of Palestine.
Topics: federal-government, world-politics, australia
Medical marijuana imports to be fast-tracked for Australian prescriptions Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt says he's listened to the concerns of patients, and will fast-track approval to import medical marijuana. That will enable the safe storage of the drug in Australia for easier access, until domestic production meets local demand.
Topics: federal-government, health, cannabis, australia
Santos pushes ahead with plans for huge CSG project in NSW Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Controversy over coal seam gas mining looks set to flare again as a major resources company pushes forward with its proposal for a massive development in north-west New South Wales. Santos is seeking approval to drill more than 800 CSG wells around the Pilliga state forest near Narrabri. Farmers fear it could have a disastrous impact on the region, but others see CSG as playing a vital role in the country's energy supplies.
Topics: oil-and-gas, coal, nsw, australia
Lawyers shocked at eight-year sentence demand in Australian woman's Bali trial Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Lawyers for an Australian woman standing trial for the killing of an Indonesian police officer are shocked at prosecutors' request for an eight-year sentence for the woman. Sara Connor, of Byron Bay, is facing charges for her role in the death of Wayan Sudarsa, along with her boyfriend David Taylor.
Topics: murder-and-manslaughter, crime, bali
PM Full Program Audio
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On Tuesday's program: Amid public shock and grief, investigators are working on how a light plane could have smashed into a shopping centre near Essendon airport in Melbourne's suburbs; Federal Labor MP Michael Danby accuses party elders, including Bob Hawke, of 'beating up' on Israel ahead of this week's visit by the Israeli Prime Minister; And in the latest instalment in the legal saga between Seven West Media, its CEO, and former staff member Amber Harrison, Seven West Media has revealed extraordinary excerpts from emails by Ms Harrison in which she threatens to 'destroy' the company chief executive Tim Worner.
Topics: australia
Milo Yiannopoulos sparks outrage over pro-paedophilia comments Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
The editor of the far-right American news website Breitbart, Milo Yiannopoulos defended paedophilia in an internet stream and podcast. As a result, the publication of his book 'Dangerous' has been cancelled and he has been uninvited as a drawcard speaker at the Conservative Political Action Conference.
Topics: sexual-offences, australia
Catholic Bishop calls for equality between clergy and parishioners Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
At the child sexual abuse Royal Commission, the Catholic Bishop of Parramatta has criticised the clergy's lack of accountability and called for women and lay people to have a greater say in the management of the Church. Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen gave evidence parishioners should have a say in the hiring and firing of priests.
Topics: royal-commissions, law-crime-and-justice, sexual-offences, australia
Pumped hydro proposed to stabilise South Australia's energy network Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
In a bid to deliver reliability and affordable power to South Australia, Energy Australia, backed by federal funding, will investigate pumped hydro in the state. The energy retailer and its partners briefed the Prime Minister and cabinet members today, on its project which could help stabilise the state's embattled power network.
Topics: electricity-energy-and-utilities, industry, environment, alternative-energy, federal-government, energy, sa, australia
