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Showing posts from December, 2009

When push comes to shove for Liberal ladies - It's Eric Abetz who gets the blame.

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The Tasmanian Senator featured in a Hobart Mercury report after a former Liberal Party candidate and   Miss Tasmania beauty Sue Hickey and Hobart lawyer and Hobart City Council alderman Elise Archer, the Liberal's star Denison candidate, clashed at a private function at the Taste of Tasmania. Apparently there was a   bit of pushing and shoving between the ladies after Mrs Archer approached Ms Hickey at the function and, according to the Mercury, questioned an inference she had made regarding too many lawyers standing for State Parliament. Despite the conversation being conducted in private between the two women, it has been alleged it soon turned heated and involved both women claiming the other had swung an arm in a threatening manner. Witnesses included Hobart Deputy Mayor Helen Burnett and Margaret Valentine, the wife of Lord Mayor Rob Valentine. Ms Burnett, who is a Green candidate in the state election, then intervened but was allegedly told by Mrs Archer's husband a

Media wrap - Abbott promises to turn back the boats

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POLITICS AND ECONOMICS Immigration Tony Abbott pledges to turn asylum boats back – Tony Abbott says he will turn asylum-seeker boats back out to sea if the Coalition wins the next election, accusing Kevin Rudd of lacking the "steel" to fulfil his promise to do the same – The Australian Tamils set down in Australia – Refugees off the Oceanic Viking have been welcomed to Australia by relatives in Melbourne and Sydney while six with family detained on Christmas Island were reunited there – Melbourne Age Economic matters Recovery to gather pace in new year – Major resource projects and a buoyant housing market will drive Australia 's economy next year, offsetting the impact of the withdrawal of two key Rudd government stimulus measures – The Australian War of words over cost of ETS to households – A row over the impact of Kevin Rudd's emissions trading scheme has erupted, with Tony Abbott claiming half of middle-income earners will be left worse off

Media wrap - Hmong refugees are coming

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POLITICS AND ECONOMICS Immigration Refugees fast-tracked to resettlement from Operation Viking rescue – Forty of the 78 asylum seekers rescued at sea by the Oceanic Viking will be resettled this week, with 16 heading to Australia – Sydney Daily Telegraph Oceanic Viking asylum seekers arrive today - Sixteen asylum seekers from the Oceanic Viking will arrive in Australia today as the Rudd Government works frantically to ensure the bulk of the group are sent to other countries – The West Australian Australia offers new home for expelled Hmong – Some of the 4000 Hmong asylum seekers forcibly expelled from refugee camps in Thailand back into Laos will be resettled in Australia within a month – Melbourne Age Minister opens door to Hmong refugees – The federal government has condemned the forced repatriation of 4000 ethnic Hmong to their native Laos , saying Australia 's doors are open to genuine refugees. The Australian Twist as Tamil refugees arrive today – Sixtee

Media wrap - Thank goodness for the sailing and the cricket!

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POLITICS AND ECONOMICS Economic matters Cut in stamp duty on new homes extended – Cuts to the stamp duty levied by the State Government on new homes have been extended after intensive lobbying by the building industry – Sydney Morning Herald $50m more for new home relief – The NSW Labor government has been able to offer an extra $50 million in stamp-duty concessions to buyers of new homes, but only because the flatlining housing-construction sector has meant fewer takers than expected for existing duty relief – The Australian State taxes hit growth and jobs – South Australia has eclipsed NSW as the nation's highest-taxing jurisdiction for business. And state taxes are frustrating federal infrastructure plans and impeding job creation – The Australian States urged to review tax – The states have been urged to undertake their own Henry-style reviews of their tax systems and act on the findings, rather than blame Canberra for their economic woes. A string of busine

Media wrap - Waiting for a hospital bed in Queensland

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POLITICS AND ECONOMICS Health and hospitals Elective surgery wait shows health sector still unwell – Almost 200 Queenslanders have been waiting more than five years to have elective surgery. The 183 patients have conditions classified as "non-urgent" but under Queensland Health guidelines should still have had their operations within 12 months – Brisbane Courier Mail Mentally ill face long wait in emergency care – Mentally ill Victorians who should be in psychiatric care spend up to four days in emergency departments because of a shortage of beds – Melbourne Age Elections Taxpayers 'funding Labor ads' - The Opposition is demanding tougher rules against using public money for political gain as the Government spends more than $10 million on TV advertisements and mass mail-outs to promote its performance in the sensitive areas of hospitals, schools, roads and public transport – Melbourne Age Administration Government covers mistakes with secret payouts

Media wrap - A boat race and cricket fill a news vacuum

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POLITICS AND ECONOMICS Political lurks and perks Jetsetting MPs' Tour de Farce - Dictator Robert Mugabe is "forward-thinking", the Islamist paramilitary organisation Hezbollah is "not radical" and chickens in Thailand are scrawny. These are among the startling findings of $4.9 million in taxpayer-funded political study tours. Federal MPs spent the record sum in just six months of globetrotting to June 30 this year, visiting 31 countries to "investigate" everything from the global financial crisis to Mekong River hill tribes and upmarket boutiques in Milan – Sydney Sunday Telegraph Economic matters Debt level enters danger zone - Reserve Bank figures show personal debt now equates to 100.4 per cent of Australia 's annual GDP, one of the highest ratios in the developed world – Brisbane Sunday Mail Women urged to learn male trades – Women hold the key to unlocking WA's next mining boom. Training Minister Peter Collier said wom

Media wrap - Australians get wealthier

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POLITICS AND ECONOMICS Economic matters Surge in wealth as markets bounce back – Australians have enjoyed the fastest growth in household wealth for more than a generation, as the rebound on stock markets has given back almost half the money people lost in the global financial crisis. Financial accounts issued by the Bureau of Statistics on Christmas Eve show that even excluding real estate, households' net financial assets shot up by a record $147 billion or 17 per cent in the September quarter alone – Melbourne Age Income tax overhaul off agenda – Across-the-board income tax cuts are off Labor's agenda as the Henry review looks instead to ease the burden on individual taxpayers by simplifying returns and reducing churn in the tax and family payment systems – The Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan quizzed on tax report secrecy – The Coalition is demanding Treasurer Wayne Swan immediately reveal the contents of the landmark 18-month inquiry into Australia 's tax