The biggest overhaul of Queensland police since the infamous Fitzgerald inquiry will remove more than 100 senior officers and scrap regional offices in some areas of the state. Police Commissioner Ian Stewart, who was installed in the job last November, today announced the restructure of the service in a bid to cut bureaucracy and boost … Continue reading Australia: Hundreds to go in Queensland police shake-up
Category: Australian Current Affairs
Abbott has long-held views on IVF, says Australian Attorney-General Roxon
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott will be judged on his long-held views on abortion and IVF access despite his chief-of-staff going public about his support for her IVF attempts, says Attoney-General Nicola Roxon. Peta Credlin, Mr Abbott's top adviser, has told magazine Marie Claire in an article to be published this week that she quizzed the … Continue reading Abbott has long-held views on IVF, says Australian Attorney-General Roxon
Tragic scenes as fires destroy homes across Tasmania, Australia
Thousands of residents and tourists are stranded across parts of Tasmania after bushfires destroyed more than 100 properties and cut off communities. The bushfire threat has been downgraded but authorities are warning residents to remain on alert as fires continue to burn. There are two watch and act warnings current for fires at Forcett and … Continue reading Tragic scenes as fires destroy homes across Tasmania, Australia
Australia’s Newstart far from a temporary payment
New figures revealing the average time spent on the dole is two years undermine Wayne Swan's claim that the Newstart allowance is a "temporary payment" between jobs. The figures, released through the Senate estimates process, bolster the case mounted by Labor MPs and the welfare sector to increase the dole on the grounds it is … Continue reading Australia’s Newstart far from a temporary payment
Australia services sector contracts on consumer caution
Australia's services sector continued to contract in December even after the central bank lowered interest rates at the start of month, a performance gauge by an industry group published Friday showed. The Australian Industry Group-Commonwealth Bank Performance of Services Index fell 3.9 points in December from a month earlier to 43.2 points--well below the 50-point … Continue reading Australia services sector contracts on consumer caution
Australian stocks surge to 19-month high as US fiscal cliff averted
THE sharemarket started 2013 with a bang as US lawmakers agreed a budget deal to avoid the worst of the so-called fiscal cliff that had threatened to derail the world's biggest economy. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 closed up 1.2 per cent at a 19-month high of 4705.9, also after better Chinese manufacturing data helped lift commodity … Continue reading Australian stocks surge to 19-month high as US fiscal cliff averted
Australian political leaders off and running
AS Australians yesterday put the final touches on their New Year's Eve celebrations, Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott fired the first shots of the 2013 election campaign. In a sign of what is in store for voters this year, the leaders used their New Year messages to pitch their plans to the people. The Prime … Continue reading Australian political leaders off and running
Craig Hill 