Audio
Christensen quits as National Party whip Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
The outspoken Government MP George Christensen has quit as National Party whip, saying it was untenable to stay in the leadership position given his vocal criticism of the Government. Mr Christensen says he won't quit the Government altogether, and that he has made the decision himself to go. He's been threatening to cross the floor to support a commission of inquiry into the banking industry, and he wants the Government to do more to help cane growers in his electorate.
Topics: federal-government, australia
Barnaby Joyce certain George Christensen will remain in the Government Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted | Updated
Nationals leader and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has told reporters in Canberra he's confident MP George Christensen will remain in the Government after quitting the National Party as whip.
Topics: federal-government, australia
Australian adults to get one big dental check-up Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted | Updated
Australian adults are about to get one big dental check-up, in the first national oral health study in more than a decade. As part of the $5.8 million National Study of Adult Oral Health, 15,000 Australians aged 15 and over, will be randomly selected for a survey and free dental examination. It will consider the affect of sugar intake, tobacco consumption and the impact of fluoride, where researchers are expecting to see a reduction in tooth decay.
Queensland Government accused of breaching international conventions on the rights of children Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted | Updated
The Queensland Government has been accused of breaching international conventions on the rights of children, by refusing to amend corporal punishment laws. In non-government schools, it's still legal for a teacher or master to use reasonable force against a child. South Australia has recently drafted legislation to explicitly prohibit the practice. This leaves Queensland as the only jurisdiction in Australia that's not updating its law.
Topics: child-abuse, education, law-crime-and-justice, prisons-and-punishment, qld, australia, sa
'Greatest threats to human health' are superbugs Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
We've all heard of superbugs, the antibiotics resistant bacteria that threaten our ability to recover from serious infections. Well, now the World Health Organisation has released its first list of 12 families of bacteria that they label as 'the greatest threats to human health'. WHO has called on governments to invest in research and development to make new antibiotics to combat these superbugs. But how likely is it that these new drugs will be made? And how long will it take?
Topics: medical-research, health, pharmaceuticals, australia
Former US President George W Bush says Americans need answers about Trump's links with Russia Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted | Updated
The former US President George W Bush says Americans need answers about Donald Trump's links with Russia. Mr Bush was giving a rare public interview and also used it to distance himself from President Trump's attacks on the media. The fellow Republican said an independent media is indispensable to democracy.
Topics: world-politics, united-states
Eye disease breakthrough led by Melbourne researchers Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted | Updated
An international team of researchers led by Melbourne's Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research has identified five genetic clues which may help identify people at risk of the eye disease MacTel. It is incurable and eventually leads to blindness.
Topics: medical-research, health, doctors-and-medical-professionals, medical-procedures, melbourne-3000, australia, vic
Mike Baird joins NAB only 6 weeks after resigning as Premier: Thomas Clarke Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
It was only six weeks ago that the then New South Wales Premier, Mike Baird, made the shock announcement that he was resigning. Today in a far more under the radar announcement, the National Australia Bank issued a media release detailing several new staff members. Among them the former Premier. The bank has been a prime investment partner in the New South Wales Government's multi-billion-dollar infrastructure projects. Professor Thomas Clarke is Professor of Management and Director of the University of Technology Sydney's Research Centre for Corporate Governance.
Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, nsw, australia
UK inquiry examines experience of child migrants abused on Australian soil Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
The former Managing Director of the ABC, David Hill, says he hopes Britain's inquiry into child abuse will help thousands of people who were forcibly deported last century. The inquiry is examining the experiences of poor and orphaned children who were sent to former British colonies, including Australia.
Topics: child-abuse, community-and-society, law-crime-and-justice, sexual-offences, england, australia, united-kingdom
Space X announce private moon mission Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted | Updated
Private space exploration company Space X has announced that it will be sending a privately crewed spacecraft to orbit the moon next year. The two as-yet-unidentified citizen passengers have paid handsomely for the privilege to undertake this moon mission. Experts are sceptical as to whether the project can meet its very ambitious deadline.
Topics: defence-and-aerospace-industries, science-and-technology, astronomy-space, australia
Brandis: 'Absurd' threshold for discrimination complaints should be reviewed Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
The Federal Attorney-General says the threshold for the Human Rights Commission to accept complaints is absurd and ridiculous, and he's suggested it should be more in line with the test for a case to making it a hearing stage in court. The Commission's President Gillian Triggs has also described the current threshold as 'extremely low' but she says it's up to parliament to change. A parliamentary committee examining questions of freedom of speech will hand down its report this afternoon.
Topics: discrimination, community-and-society, law-crime-and-justice, rights, australia
Unions and employer groups set to wage media war over penalty rates Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted | Updated
The union movement's promising to run a deep and wide campaign right up to the next election against the lowering of penalty rates for hospitality and retail workers, saying other industries could be at risk. But employer groups are warning of another 'mediscare'-type campaign with truth the first casualty.
Topics: work, community-and-society, australia
Mitch Fifield grilled on being in the dark about Ahmed Fahour pay deal Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted | Updated
Communications Minister Mitch Fifield has faced hostile questioning about why he didn't know the specifics of Ahmed Fahour's multi-million dollar salary as head of Australia Post. Mr Fahour's $5.6 million dollar pay deal was a factor in his decision to quit as chief executive late last week after his salary was publically criticised by the Prime Minister. Ahmed Fahour has flown to Canberra to confront his critics at a senate estimates committee hearing.
Topics: company-news, australia
How did the Oscars envelope gaffe actually happen? Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted | Updated
Accounting firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers has apologised after yesterday's monumental error at the Oscars. 'La La Land' was announced as the winner of best picture but, as the film's producers were half way through their thank you speeches it was revealed 'Moonlight' was the real winner.
Topics: academy-awards-oscars, arts-and-entertainment, film-movies, event, united-states, australia
Electricity debate: New enquiry into modernising power grid is launched Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted | Updated
There is a small spark of hope this morning that the major political parties can put aside the bitter rancour that's defined the electricity debate in recent weeks, to stop the blackouts and load-shedding. The House of Representatives standing committee on the Environment and Energy has this morning launched a new inquiry into modernising the power grid. Nationals MP Andrew Broad is the committee's chairman, the deputy is Labor MP Pat Conroy whose seat of Shortland is close to coal country in Newcastle, NSW.
Topics: electricity-energy-and-utilities, business-economics-and-finance, industry, environment, alternative-energy, government-and-politics, australia
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull urged to rein in gas exports in bid to avert energy security crisis Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted | Updated
Multinationals should be forced to renegotiate lucrative contracts that allow unrestricted gas exports in a bid to avert an energy security crisis, according to one of Australia's most powerful trade unions. The Australian Workers Union (AWU) has written to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull urging him to 'act decisively and rationally in the national interest' to ensure a portion of Australia's natural gas is quarantined for domestic use.
Topics: oil-and-gas, business-economics-and-finance, industry, environment, australia
David Hill tells inquiry about child sexual abuse cover up in emotional speech Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted | Updated
The former ABC Managing Director David Hill has broken down while giving evidence at the first day of public hearings in Britain's historic child sexual abuse inquiry. The first stage of the inquiry is looking at the tens of thousands of poor and orphaned children sent to former British colonies last century. Mr Hill was one of those children and he's written a book documenting the experiences of child migrants. He told the inquiry that the British government was involved in a cover up and betrayed the children who were sent to Australia.
Topics: child-abuse, community-and-society, sexual-offences, australia, united-kingdom
Border Force rejects audit claims of unlawful searches Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted | Updated
The National Audit Office has accused Australia's Border Force of conducting illegal body searches on people at international airports. However the wording of the report has been attacked by Border Force officials, who accused the Audit Office of using 'loose' terms and calling the analysis 'unworldly'.
Topics: laws, law-crime-and-justice, prisons-and-punishment, rights, australia
Anticipation ahead of Parliamentary report into free speech Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted | Updated
Later today a Parliamentary report into the Racial Discrimination Act is set to be handed down, looking at whether parts of the legislation are too restrictive on freedom of speech. The three-month inquiry received hundreds of submissions, and many Coalition MPs are hoping it will lead to changes to Part 18C of the Act which makes it illegal to offend, insult and humiliate someone because of their race.
Topics: parliament, community-and-society, discrimination, government-and-politics, australia
Study shows regional 'brain drain' worse than previously thought Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
New research shows the number of regional students across Australia moving to cities for university is on the rise, and much higher than previously thought. Those involved in the study say this could be intensifying a regional brain drain, if students are deciding not to return home.
Topics: university-and-further-education, education, access-to-education, adult-education, darwin-0800, australia, nt
Donald Trump: First speech in Congress to address bolstering US military in 'statement to the world' Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted | Updated
Donald Trump has offered hawkish insights into his plans to bolster the U.S. military. The President will speak at greater length during his first speech to Congress tomorrow. The hour-long address will outline his approach to the debt-ridden Federal budget, but will also be what Mr Trump calls a 'statement to the world' of America's strength, security and resolve.
Topics: world-politics, government-and-politics, united-states, australia
Cambodia cancels counter-terrorism exercise with Australian military Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted | Updated
Cambodia has cancelled a counter-terrorism exercise with the Australian military saying it's too busy preparing for its elections. But some see it as a 'slap in the face' for Australia and a reflection of shifting alliances in the region. Cambodia held its first military drills with China in December and receives hundreds of millions of dollars from Beijing.
Topics: foreign-affairs, government-and-politics, world-politics, australia, cambodia
PM: Full Program Audio
Posted
On Monday's program: It seems the wealth inequality gap in Australia really is getting bigger, with new figures showing the economy picking up, but ordinary workers still getting a raw deal. The WA Premier today Colin Barnett promised to nominate Aboriginal rock art carvings near Karratha for the World Heritage List ahead of his potential re-election on Saturday week. And PM speaks to writer James Fenton, who says the Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte may be manoeuvring to bring in martial law.
Topics: australia
Darebin Creek: from rubbish dump to potential platypus habitat Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted | Updated
There's been a heartening story of environmental clean-up in Melbourne, where Darebin Creek in Heidelberg West has gone from little more than a rubbish dump and stormwater drain, to a potential platypus habitat. A recent sighting of the platypus in the creek has raised the hopes of volunteers and workers who've spent decades restoring the area to its former health.
Topics: conservation, environment, animals, melbourne-3000, australia, vic
Bats vs humans: inquiry searches for solutions Audio Transcript and Verbatim
Posted
The seemingly unsolvable issue of bats and people competing for habitat could receive national attention, with a recommendation for a COAG committee and a more consistent approach. A Parliamentary Inquiry has investigated the vexed problem after increasing complaints from residents and councils about bat colonies. Some environmentalists and scientists are pleased, but Councils are concerned they'll still be left to deal with bat problems.
