Pakistan News update
World News
World-News
Premier dismisses Cabinet claims
Jun 9th
Updated June 8, 2011 16:28:00
Tasmania’s Premier has slammed Opposition suggestions she’s lost support of her Cabinet.The Opposition claims Lara Giddings’ time as Premier is limited after she admitted the Cabinet was likely to vote down a proposal to fund AFL games in Hobart.
The Premier this morning said the suggestion is farcical.
Ms Giddings says she delayed the decision from Cabinet because she was going to recommend the Government not fund football, given the state’s grim financial position.
State-owned TT-Line has stepped in with $1.5 million to save the deal.
It took just three days for the board to approve the funding after More >
Industry hit hard by live export ban
Jun 9th
By Susan McDonald, Anna Henderson, Alison Middleton
Updated June 8, 2011 14:11:00 The Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association says it is disappointed with the Federal Government’s decision to temporarily suspend all live cattle exports to Indonesia, but says it may save the industry in the long term.The Government plans to stop all exports to Indonesia for up to six months or until animal welfare safeguards are in place.
Association president Rohan Sullivan says it is better than an indefinite ban.
“I am disappointed that it has had to come to this,” he said.
“But I do believe this may be the difference between being able More >
Technology boost for Adelaide transport safety
Jun 9th
Updated June 8, 2011 14:48:00
The South Australian Government says new technology will help make Adelaide trains safer.It will spend $35 million over four years toward a $50 million system which can monitor a train’s speed and detect the next braking point.
SA Transport Minister Pat Conlon says the technology will reduce the risk of collisions or derailments.
He says it will fit in with an upgrading of Adelaide’s public transport network.
“We are increasing the services that we are running on these new electric rails. We are going to run faster services with more modern trains and we want the best protection More >
Blanchett film opens Sydney festival
Jun 9th
Posted June 8, 2011 22:23:00
The 58th Sydney Film Festival has officially opened at the State Theatre with the Australian premiere of Cate Blanchett’s latest movie Hanna.There will be over 150 features this year with movies from more than 40 countries.
Among those is Julia Leigh’s Sleeping Beauty, the only Australian film selected for official competition in the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.
The festival’s director Clare Stewart says there is a political theme to a number of the movies screening over the next 11 days.
“There’s a really great selection of films from the Middle east including Cairo 678, an Egyptian film More >
Housing finance posts biggest bounce in two years
Jun 9th
By online business reporter Michael Janda
Posted June 8, 2011 13:41:00 Housing finance for owner-occupied dwellings jumped 4.8 per cent in April – the biggest rise in more than two years.The increase easily beat average analyst forecasts for a rise of about 2 per cent.
However, the bounce comes after three straight months of declines, and leaves the number of new home loans taken out still down around 8 per cent on December’s levels.
The biggest seasonally adjusted rises in April were in the number of loans for the purchase of new dwellings (up 9.4 per cent), and the purchase of already established More >
Australia ‘falling behind’ on Indigenous literacy
Jun 9th
By Timothy McDonald
Posted June 8, 2011 22:54:00 It has been several years since the Federal Government committed to halving the literacy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, but the latest report suggests there is still a long way to go.The first progress report shows that literacy among younger Indigenous students has improved, but five out of eight states and territories failed to meet literacy goals for Indigenous students in year nine.
Minister for School Education, Peter Garrett, says he is hopeful that next year’s figures will be better.
The report was compiled by the Council of Australian Government Reform Committee. The committee’s More >
Housing finance posts biggest bounce in two years
Jun 9th
By online business reporter Michael Janda
Posted June 8, 2011 13:41:00 Housing finance for owner-occupied dwellings jumped 4.8 per cent in April – the biggest rise in more than two years.The increase easily beat average analyst forecasts for a rise of about 2 per cent.
However, the bounce comes after three straight months of declines, and leaves the number of new home loans taken out still down around 8 per cent on December’s levels.
The biggest seasonally adjusted rises in April were in the number of loans for the purchase of new dwellings (up 9.4 per cent), and the purchase of already established More >
Social workers march for equal pay
Jun 9th
By Jean Edwards
Updated June 8, 2011 21:40:00 Thousands of social and community workers have marched across Australia to demand better pay.The rallies held in many major cities were part of a national day of action organised by the Australian Services Union (ASU), which represents the workers.
Among them, more than 1,000 people marched on the Victorian Parliament and called on the state and federal governments to support their claim for higher wages.
Last month Fair Work Australia found the sector’s workers are not being paid enough, partly because most of them are women.
Zelda D’Aprano, 83, chained herself to a Commonwealth building in More >
Khawaja happy to open if needed
Jun 9th
Updated June 8, 2011 21:17:00
NSW batsman Usman Khawaja says he is willing to step into an opening role for Australia if required.While Phil Hughes appears to be the biggest beneficiary of Cricket Australia’s decision to dump veteran Simon Katich from their 25 contracted players, Khawaja said he would be happy to fill any position that he is asked to.
And if Ricky Ponting returns to the Test team in Khawaja’s favoured number three role the rookie Test batsman will have to slot in elsewhere to get a start.
“I love batting three. I think that’s where I’ve done most of my More >
Sex drug company’s failure to perform irks ACCC
Jun 9th
Posted June 8, 2011 19:16:00
Australia’s consumer watchdog is taking a major medical company to the Federal Court for failing to tell consumers it has collapsed.The Advanced Medical Institute, which sold treatments for sexual dysfunction, went into administration last year a day after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission alleged it had engaged in “unconscionable conduct”.
A court has extended the company’s period of administration to July.
But the ACCC has now accused AMI of continuing to accept patient payments in advance despite the risk future treatment will not be available.
It wants AMI to disclose its failed financial status More >
