Provides the latest RSS feeds for Australia News. For more headlines on Breaking, National, Business, Finance, Sports and World News, visit our home page The Sydney News.net http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/cat/88f7d0d02bea1b33/ en-us Tue, 21 May 2013 12:02:18 -0400 Tue, 21 May 2013 12:02:18 -0400 30 Cricket Australia (CA) Tuesday announced a restructuring of the contracting system for women players which will result in the Australian female cricketers becoming some of the best paid female athletes in the country. CA approved a restructure of the contract system with a move from a three-tier payment system to a squad-ranking system. The top player retainer increases substantially from ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214661903/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 09:20:02 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214661903/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Australian Test batsman David Warner is expected to plead guilty during Cricket Australia hearing over his recent Twitter rant with two prominent journalists. Senior Code of Behaviour Commissioner, Justice Gordon Lewis, will hear the case via teleconference. According to news.com.au, Warner faces sanction ranging from a fine, suspension, reprimand or counseling after being reported under CA's ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214658706/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:40:02 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214658706/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 An immune protein that has the potential to stop or reverse the development of type 1 diabetes in its early stages, before insulin-producing cells have been destroyed, has been identified by Melbourne researchers. The discovery has wider repercussions, as the protein is responsible for protecting the body against excessive immune responses, and could be used to treat, or even prevent, other ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657397/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 04:40:05 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657397/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 The 2013 Yellow Social Media Report has analyzed that a growing number of Australians are using social network at an addictive rate wherever they can, even in toilet cubicles! According to the study, three out of every five internet users are accessing these sites more than five times a day, making it a total of seven hours a day. In a report by News.com, the study found that the time spent by ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656525/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 04:10:03 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656525/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 The annual report of the Australia-India Institute-Australia India Youth Dialogue Partnership was launched at the Australian High Commission here last evening in the presence of Australian High Commissioner Patrick Suckling and Australia-India Institute (AII) Director Professor Amitabh Mattoo. The event was held in the Murray Harris Room of the Australian High Commission. Speaking on the ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655647/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 02:50:01 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655647/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Papua New Guinea A controversial Papua New Guinean businessman denies he had been hiding in Australia to avoid charges of misappropriating millions of dollars.Eremas Wartoto had been living in Australia since 2011 after being charged with misappropriating $3 million earmarked for a high school.He returned to PNG this month after it was revealed he had been living in Cairns on a 457 visa, which ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214662369/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 09:45:28 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214662369/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Australia A team of Australian gardeners have created history by claiming best in show honours at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show in London. The Trailfinders Australian Garden exhibit, which took a team of 18 volunteers 17 days to build, features a stone gorge, running waterfalls and a billabong.The $2 million display was designed by Melbourne's Philip Johnson, and is the first ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214662475/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 09:45:27 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214662475/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 An ecstatic team of Australians have won the best-in-show medal at the Chelsea Flower Show - the Ashes of horticulture. ''We're the best in the world; we're the Usain Bolts of gardening,'' said the head of Fleming's Nurseries, Wes Fleming. It was Fleming's last try for the medal after nine attempts. The 18-strong team hugged and broke into a ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214662476/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 09:34:57 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214662476/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tony Abbott is facing internal pressure from Victorian Liberals. Tony Abbott is facing internal pressure from Victorian Liberals to privatise the ABC and SBS if he wins the September 14 election amid claims both organisations are struggling to comply with their charters. State Liberals have launched a push ahead of the election to sell the public broadcasters, arguing the funds raised should ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214662478/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 09:34:57 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214662478/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 A bleak picture of disadvantage among single parents forced onto Newstart has emerged, with a new Salvation Army report finding the contentious policy has compounded levels of deprivation. The survey of 2705 people who used the organisation's emergency relief services in March highlighted the impact of the Gillard government's decision to shift 84,000 single parents on to the ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214662477/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 09:34:56 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214662477/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 The Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, brokered a deal with the television industry to allow betting companies to continue spruiking live odds during sports broadcasts, despite the growing public backlash against the spread of gambling culture. Senator Conroy has said repeatedly that sports fans are having live odds ''pushed down their throats'' - but Fairfax Media has ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214662479/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 09:34:55 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214662479/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Some doctors are calling for parents to be explicitly told not to sleep with their infants after a large study found it led to a five-fold increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome. A controversial review of data from the UK, Europe and Australasia found bed sharing significantly increased the risk of SIDS even when parents are non-smokers and the mother has not been drinking alcohol and ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214662480/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 09:34:54 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214662480/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Teaching students the dangers of gambling, in the same manner as alcohol, drugs and unsafe sex, is crucial with the boom in betting and easy access to online gambling, an international expert has warned. Canadian academic Jeffrey Derevensky, of McGill University's International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviours, said gambling should be treated like other teen ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214661099/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 08:24:28 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214661099/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Technology has enabled the proliferation of pornography, making it so pervasive that it has become the main sex educator for many young people. This is a profound problem because it gives a distorted view of sexuality and human relations, predominantly involves violence against women and encourages hazardous practices. It is causing young people confusion and anxiety, and they are feeling ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214661098/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 08:24:28 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214661098/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 A virtual war over gay marriage has broken out between key Labor government figures and a powerful Christian lobby group. Finance Minister Penny Wong has accused the ultra-conservative Australian Christian Lobby of ''peddling prejudice'' and engaging in ''bigotry that has no place in a modern Australia''. The sharp rebuke of an organisation courted by ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214661100/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 08:24:27 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214661100/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 SYDNEY - U.S. private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co will sell its entire AUS$260 million (US$255 million) stake in Australia’s Seven West Media, ending a seven year partnership in the top rating Australian TV network, Seven West ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214661018/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 08:20:00 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214661018/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Nationally only two-year-olds have an immunisation rate of 92.6 per cent. The declining immunisation rates are due in part to a group of parents who are vaccine refusers. In December 2012 the children of vaccine refusers made up 1.49 per cent of the kids who should be immunised, the Department of Health ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214661101/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 08:19:28 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214661101/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Around six per cent of young children and teens have met people in real life who made contact with them through the internet and many other share very personal data online via social networking ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214661102/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 08:19:26 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214661102/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Australian energy company Santos said it expects to produce 15,000 barrels of oil per day from its Fletcher Finucane project offshore Western Australia. Santos said it started oil production from the facility ahead of schedule and on budget. The $490 million development was sanctioned in January 2012. "Fletcher Finucane is projected to have an average gross production rate of 15,000 ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214661022/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 08:10:13 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214661022/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 SEEING the smiles on childrens faces makes going to work easy for day care centre employee Jessica Bleaney. The Salisbury’s Oasis Community Children’s Centre worker has been named the best young child care centre employee in Australia. The 22 year old was awarded the National Rising Star award at the Australian Family Early Education and Care gala dinner in Sydney this month. Ms ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214661016/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214661016/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 AUSTRALIAN filmmaker Baz Luhrmann is used to getting mixed reviews, but he's having the last laugh with The Great Gatsby. The Australian-filmed Gatsby has received some lacklustre reviews from the critics, but it has opened with a box office bang. "This morning internationally we were No.1 in the world against Iron Man and Star Trek," Luhrmann said during an interview on 7.30 on the ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214660809/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 07:28:21 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214660809/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 May 21, 2013 21:14:10 Australian storm chaser Melissa Marshall and her meteorologist husband were in Oklahoma's Tornado Alley when the tornado hit, and drove into the city after it had ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214659852/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 07:24:37 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214659852/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Since then, the Southern Stars beat England to clinch back-to-back world Twenty20 titles last October and again defeated them on the way to winning this year's World Cup. But, with England hosting this year's series, Southern Stars coach Cathryn Fitzpatrick says Australia won't have the upper hand. The last time Australia faced England away was in the women's quadrangular ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214659853/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 07:15:45 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214659853/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Up to three quarters of South Australia's civil construction businesses are seeking work in other states to survive, an industry lobby group says. The Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) on Tuesday said the industry in the state is at a 20-year low, with an acute shortage of public and private work. Internal CCF survey results suggest South Australia is facing a "civil construction ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214659854/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 07:15:44 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214659854/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Business is concerned about a significant drop in the number of people starting apprenticeships and wants the federal government to come up with a policy to stop the decline. The number of commencements for non-trade apprenticeships dropped 27 per cent in the March quarter, new figures from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) show. It continues the overall trend of a ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214659855/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 07:15:42 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214659855/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Police believe Kevin James Corbett (pictured) is in Perth and may be able to assist in the investigation into the death of a woman in Narrogin on May 18. Picture: ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214659856/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 07:14:05 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214659856/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 "It's a dream come true," exclaimed Phillip Johnson as his garden beat the best from across the globe at the Chelsea Flower Show this year in its milestone 100th year. For six weeks the garden's designer Johnson, driving force Wes Fleming and a team of 18 volunteers have labored over the largest and most elaborate garden ever attempted, a stunning showcase of an Australian ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214659693/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 07:13:55 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214659693/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 A Gold Coast lifeguard has been punched in the face after asking a couple to move their dog from a flagged area.Police are searching for a man they say assaulted the Gold Coast City Council lifeguard at North Burleigh on Tuesday.The attack happened after the lifeguard asked a woman not to walk her dog through the flagged area.He was attacked by a burly, heavily-tattooed man who was with her, ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214659857/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 07:06:35 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214659857/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 The Newman government is continuing its fight with the commonwealth over Cross River Rail funding as Tony Abbott refuses to guarantee the project's ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214658538/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:30:24 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214658538/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has suggested the 10-year jail sentence imposed on Australian businessman Matthew Joyce in Dubai is harsh by Australian standards and the government should be doing everything it can to ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214658686/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:30:13 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214658686/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 - A spate of profit warnings from Australian mining services firms suggests the country's "once-in-a-century" resources spending boom may have peaked sooner than companies, economists and policymakers had ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214658427/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:26:44 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214658427/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Melbourne 3000 There was a movie star moment high above Melbourne as theatre promoters re-enacted one of cinema's most famous scenes.Melbourne' Eureka Tower took the role of the Empire State building, as part of a stunt to promote the stage show, 'King Kong'.Ann Darrow was the original damsel in distress in the movie version, and on Tuesday it was stunt double, Leigh-Anne ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214658784/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:16:23 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214658784/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Manly have renewed calls for a rethink of the NRL's contentious extra-time policy after Monday's 10-10 draw with Melbourne.The golden-point period of Monday's match again degenerated into a series of field goal attempts with neither side coming close to scoring a try in the 10-minute overtime period.Initially promoted as a worthy way to decide a close game, entertaining football ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214659263/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:15:04 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214659263/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 With Robbie Deans' critique still ringing in his ears, Quade Cooper has been backed by Queensland Reds halves partner Will Genia to respond by sealing a belated Wallabies squad spot for the British and Irish Lions series. Wallabies halfback Genia admitted he was disappointed by Cooper's omission from Deans' initial 25-man squad for the three-Test series against the Lions. ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214658785/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:07:33 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214658785/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Dylan Grimes' horrendous run of injuries continues, with the Richmond defender set to miss up to eight more weeks in the AFL. Grimes was expected to miss only a couple of games after he suffered a foot injury in the round-six loss to Geelong. But the Tigers announced on Tuesday that the backman is sidelined for six to eight weeks. "Unfortunately, Dylan's foot has not responded ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214658786/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:07:32 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214658786/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 All is forgiven at Wests Tigers, with coach Mick Potter making an SOS call to star playmaker Benji Marshall to save their sinking season. Potter made the bold decision to bench his star five-eighth last week, but the move backfired with the Tigers falling behind 16-0 after 17 minutes before Marshall was injected into the game. But that move has been shelved after just one match, with Marshall ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214658787/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:07:30 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214658787/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 POLICE are investigating a "foolish" video showing a teenager throwing a bottle at a car from the fourth storey of a Perth car ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214658789/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:05:46 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214658789/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 GET the latest on what the weather's been doing today, plus the forecast for the next 24 hours and week ahead, with Channel 9's weather presenter Sally ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214658788/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:05:41 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214658788/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 NSW Fair Trading is warning against Robert Douglas Pentecost, who trades under the unregistered business names of Ku-Ring-Gai Tree Service and Bob Pentecost Tree Services.The 59-year-old has been cold-canvassing residents in the northern suburbs and northern beaches area.He has enticed elderly and disadvantaged consumers to enter into unsolicited consumer agreements for the trimming or removal of ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214658791/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:05:35 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214658791/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 MELBOURNE'S top Catholic has admitted he made an ill advised comment when he said it was "better late than never" that the church petitioned Rome to defrock an abusing priest after 18 ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214658790/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 06:05:34 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214658790/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Treasury Secretary Martin Parkinson says his department does not provide government with a range of forecasts, but its best professional ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657541/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 05:24:27 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657541/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Australia's gardeners have created history at the Chelsea Flower Show by claiming the prestigious event's top prize for the first time.In his ninth and final year entering the competition, Wes Fleming, head of Fleming's Nurseries, bowed out a winner on Tuesday after he and his crew were awarded the Best in Show for their landscape-style design encompassing desert, wildflower and ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657800/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 05:24:19 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657800/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 China's surprising growth in recent years has contributed to throwing Australian treasury economic and revenue forecasts out of whack, Secretary to the Treasury Martin Parkinson told economists at a budget briefing in Sydney Tuesday.The briefing was called to explain the context of errors in recent economic and revenue forecasts, which are currently undergoing extensive review.Parkinson ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657542/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 05:21:36 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657542/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Australia Cricket Australia said on Tuesday it had no immediate plan to curb the use of social media by players after a Twitter rant by David Warner, but suggested it could happen in the future.Opening batsman Warner is due to face a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday night into an alleged code of conduct breach after a heated tirade at two top cricket writers.He faces sanctions ranging from a ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657583/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 05:09:31 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657583/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 THE Australian Greens have announced policy to empower landholders to say no to coal seam gas (CSG) on their land. "The Greens are the only party standing up to the big CSG mining companies who are threatening our precious water, valuable farmland and global climate," Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne said yesterday. "CSG is methane which is a potent greenhouse gas and is ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657860/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 05:07:41 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657860/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 TONY Abbott's budget reply speech has given irrigation farmers hope of some future respite from escalating energy costs, which they say are hurting and threatening their business futures. "All the Coalition's main policies are designed to make it easier for you to get ahead and for businesses to be more productive," Mr Abbott's said in last week's speech. "We ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657861/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 05:07:40 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657861/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Up-and-coming young forward Dave Hala has urged referees to give battered Brisbane halfback Peter Wallace the same protection given to the NRL's big names after he was again targeted heavily by Gold Coast. Wallace was hit late and high several times last weekend as an ill-disciplined Titans racked up an incredulous 10 successive penalties in a wild opening 30 minutes of Brisbane's 32-6 ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657862/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 05:00:30 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657862/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Sonny Bill Williams has paid tribute to coach Trent Robinson for transforming the Sydney Roosters into the most miserly defensive unit in the NRL and helping him to fine-tune his own game. Last year under former coach Brian Smith, only wooden spooners Parramatta conceded more points than the Roosters. But after 10 rounds this year under NRL rookie Robinson, the tricolours boast the best defence ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657863/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 05:00:28 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657863/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Melbourne Storm's stunning transition from the basket case of Australian sport to rugby league powerhouse has reached another milestone with their sale to a private consortium. Less than three years after the Storm were stripped of two NRL titles for rorting the salary cap, chief executive Ron Gauci officially handed over the reigning premiers on Tuesday to their new owners. New Zealand ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657865/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 05:00:27 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657865/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Parents who object to vaccinations on religious or medical grounds will be exempt from laws giving NSW preschools the power to refuse children who haven't had their shots. NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner flagged the new legislation in parliament on Tuesday. "We expect to introduce our amending legislation, probably next week," she told the lower house. "Any changes will ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657864/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 05:00:26 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657864/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Canterbury's smiling assassin Krisnan Inu is in danger of having his good guy reputation ruined following a second unsavoury NRL suspension on Tuesday. Rather than try to clear his name at the judiciary on Wednesday, Inu accepted a two-week ban for his ugly leg twist on Newcastle winger James McManus which resulted in a grade-two dangerous contact charge. The tackle, which Newcastle ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657866/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 05:00:25 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657866/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 A ban on live odds betting during sports broadcasts does not require commonwealth legislation, South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill says. Mr Weatherill on Monday said he wanted to ban such advertisements before the end of the AFL season, but federal Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said on Tuesday he preferred the matter be dealt with by the commonwealth, because of the involvement of ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657868/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 05:00:23 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657868/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Prime Minister Julia Gillard says authorities are not aware of any Australian victims of the United States tornado. The tornado in the US state of Oklahoma killed at least 91 people, with at least 145 people injured including 70 children. "I express my condolences and sympathy to the families of those killed and injured in the Oklahoma tornado," Ms Gillard said in a statement. ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657867/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 05:00:22 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657867/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Hot and dry conditions have burned agribusiness Ruralco's earnings, sparking a half-year loss only a year after it yielded a $10 million profit. Managing director John Maher said warmer weather had dried up the demand for agricultural chemicals and suppressed livestock prices. "Livestock gross profit and rural supplies sales had been seriously affected by unusually dry and hot ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657869/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 05:00:19 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657869/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 The 66-year-old South Australian man, named in media reports as Bruce Ottaway, and Torquay man Rob Lithgow, 53, failed to return from a tandem paragliding flight near Warrnambool on Saturday afternoon.Mr Lithgow's body and part of the paraglider were found in water on Sunday morning, but Mr Ottaway remains missing.The air, land and sea search was called off on Monday afternoon because of ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657870/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 04:58:30 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657870/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 The man, whose age was not immediately known, was attacked at a home in Morrisey Way in Rouse Hill about 3.30pm (AEST) on Tuesday.Police say he was stabbed multiple times during a home invasion and was rushed to hospital.His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.An investigation is underway with detectives at the ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657872/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 04:58:29 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657872/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 The draft framework released by the Australian Curriculum and Reporting Authority (ACARA) on Tuesday is the first national curriculum document outlining how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages can be taught and supported in schools.It proposes three pathways to cater for students who speak an indigenous language at home or in their community, for those learning languages which are in ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657874/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 04:58:28 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657874/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 IT was a momentary, panicked, alcohol-fuelled decision that ended with one man dead, his girlfriend in jail and her teenage brother serving his sentence in the ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657871/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 04:58:28 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657871/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 CHINA'S state-owned companies may be deterred from investing in Australia because they are being treated unfairly, a Chinese business leader ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657875/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 04:58:28 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657875/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 MORE oil spills will occur in western Queensland if the state government dilutes Labor's environmental protection laws, the Wilderness Society ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657873/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 04:58:27 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657873/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Australian stocks declined, and Hong Kong equities snapped a three-day winning run on Tuesday, weighed by overnight losses on Wall Street and uncertainty over U.S. monetary ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657519/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 04:57:43 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657519/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 George Smith's hopes of playing for the Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions for a historic second time remain alive after scans on his knee revealed he could be back on the park within a month.The news is even better for teammate and fellow Wallabies squad hopeful Pat McCabe, who could return in as little as two weeks after also hurting his knee in the Brumbies' 28-22 loss to ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657289/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 04:17:44 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214657289/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Prime Minister Julia Gillard will take her pitch for better schools funding and to tackle law and order issues to western Sydney on Wednesday.Ms Gillard will hold a community cabinet at the Regents Park Christian School in the safe Labor seat of Blaxland, with a public forum starting at 6pm (AEST).It's been two months since the prime minister conducted a week-long western Sydney blitz in a ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656845/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 04:15:58 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656845/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Renewable ocean energy harnesses the power of the oceans to produce electricity. This can be done in several ways, but the resources that have the most immediate potential in terms of energy production for Australia and globally are: waves: using wave energy converters (WEC) to generate electricity tides: using tidal barrages, fences and turbines to generate ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656660/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 04:15:40 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656660/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Australia's dollar has received its fair share of whacking lately and perhaps it's time to give the currency a bit of a break, currency strategists say. The Aussie dollar has shed almost 5 percent in the past two weeks against the U.S. dollar, hurt by signs of weakness in the Australian and Chinese economies, broad strength in the greenback and a continued fall in commodity prices. It ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656588/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 04:05:34 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656588/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 The NRL has issued a crackdown on time-wasting in a bid to regain an estimated eight minutes of match time every game. Rules being introduced this week will require teams to be ready to pack for a scrum within 30 seconds of one being awarded, and the 40-second time limit for line drop-outs has also been cut to 30 seconds. Failure to do so will result in a penalty, but only from round 15 onwards ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656846/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 03:54:34 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656846/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 The Australian dollar has pushed back above 98 US cents amid weakness in its US counterpart. At 1700 AEST on Tuesday, the currency was trading at 98.17 US cents, up from 97.57 cents on Monday. OzForex chief currency strategist Jim Vrondas said the Australian dollar had regained some of the ground it had lost over the past fortnight. The Australian dollar lost around six US cents in the two ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656847/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 03:54:34 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656847/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Canberra hooker Matt McIlwrick has been dropped in one of just two changes for his side's NRL clash against Manly on Saturday. Veteran utility Shaun Berrigan has been named at hooker as McIlwrick's replacement, although Raiders assistant coach Brett Kimmorley said Glen Buttriss was still an outside chance of recovering from a calf injury for the match. "Berro's got a lot of ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656848/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 03:54:32 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656848/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Sonny Bill Williams says he is impressed with the ease in which Israel Folau has adjusted to rugby union as the NSW Waratahs fullback moves closer to his Wallabies debut. All Blacks World Cup winner Williams trod a similar path to Folau when he left Canterbury during the 2008 NRL season to join French side Toulon. But what has made Folau's transition so impressive is that he spent two ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656849/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 03:54:31 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656849/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 An ecstatic team of Australians has won the best-in-show medal at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show - the Ashes of horticulture. "We're the best in the world - we're the Usain Bolts of gardening," shouted Wes Fleming, head of Fleming's Nurseries. It was Fleming's last try for the medal after nine attempts. The 18-strong team hugged and broke into a spontaneous ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656850/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 03:54:31 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656850/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 A review of the taxation system must include everything, even the impost that is treated like Harry Potter's arch-enemy by federal politicians, a professional tax body says Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey has flagged the GST will be included in a review of tax reform if the coalition wins the September 14 election. Any changes would have to be driven by the states as they are the main ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656851/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 03:54:30 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656851/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 The Australian market has closed around half a per cent lower, dragged down by weakness among the banks and industrial stocks. CMC Markets trader Ben Taylor said the local market finished in negative territory, following weak global leads. He said markets were anticipating that US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke would announce more quantitative easing (QE) in his speech to Congress on ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656852/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 03:54:29 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656852/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Australian bond futures prices are lower as traders wait for key events over the next fortnight. Nomura head of fixed income Jon Linton said it had been a quiet trading session, though futures prices weakened as the market prepared for an announcement regarding Australian government bonds. The Australian Office of Financial Management will announce the price of its new April 2025 bond on ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656853/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 03:54:27 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656853/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Kevin Rudd says his decision to support same-sex marriage is not about the Labor leadership, but a matter of conscience. Seeking an edge over the coalition, Prime Minister Julia Gillard has spent the week campaigning on her schools improvement plan and talking up the prospects of a coalition government raising the GST rate. She visited Melbourne on Tuesday to pressure the Victorian government ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656854/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 03:54:26 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656854/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Justice Shane Marshall has extended an injunction that halts work on Shree Minerals' proposed iron ore mine at Nelson Bay River in the state's northwest,The injunction is in place until the court decides whether an action by green group Save The Tarkine is successful.A temporary injunction was imposed 10 days ago.Save The Tarkine is challenging federal Environment Minister Tony ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656856/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 03:52:30 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656856/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 APPROPRIATE measures are in place to ensure there's no conflict of interest between a senior political staffer's final months at parliament and his new corporate job, NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656855/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 03:52:29 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656855/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is updating the voter roll ahead of the September 14 federal election.Since laws recently passed allowing the AEC to directly enrol voters through cross-checking other government data, 80,000 people have been added to the roll and 310,000 addresses updated.The AEC expects to add about 150,000 names to the roll by this process before the election.However, ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656858/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 03:52:27 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656858/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell has defended calling for an increase in the GST rate and base, saying it's in the best interest of the ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656857/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 03:52:26 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656857/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 THE federal government watchdog says asylum seeker applications must be processed within 90 days and warns rates of self harm are strongly linked to the time spent in ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656859/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 03:52:26 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656859/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Good Morning, - EUR/USD meets resistance at 1.29...ahead Bernanke's testimony to Congress on Wednesday. - Asian shares: Japan's Nikkei -0.21%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng -0.40%, Korea's Kospi -0.07%, Australia's ASX 200 -0.56% and China's Shanghai +0.15%. - German Producer prices for industrial products rose by 0.1% in April. In March 2013 the annual rate of change was ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656860/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 03:51:27 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656860/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 The AFL has fined Melbourne $2000 after their club runner Andrew Nichol clashed with Richmond forward Jake King during a halftime melee at Sunday's MCG game."A club runner ... may not interact with opposition players or the umpires at any time," the AFL said in a statement on Tuesday.The Demons said Nichol appeared to stand inadvertently on King's foot during the melee and he ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656390/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 03:14:30 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656390/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 The Oakland Athletics earned the valuable scalp of rivals and divisional leaders the Texas Rangers in MLB on Monday.The Athletics were helped by a brilliant start from pitcher Bartolo Colon, who kept Texas to two runs and six hits in seven innings at the mound at Rangers Ballpark.Rangers debutant pitcher Josh Lindblom was belted out of the game by Oakland's four-run fifth inning, which split ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655943/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 03:12:09 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655943/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 (Adds details, comments) SYDNEY, May 21 (Reuters) - Australian shares fell 0.6 percent on Tuesday, with banks taking a break from recent sharp gains while a series of profit warnings took a heavy toll on mining services firms. Investors were also cautiously awaiting comments from U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke for any hint of a sooner-than-expected reduction in bond-buying stimulus. ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656579/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 02:55:17 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214656579/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange at close on Tuesday: NWS - NEWS CORPORATION - down nine cents at $33.89 NWSLV - NEWS CORPORATION NON-VOTING SHARES - down two cents at $33.77 News Limited has sold NRL club Melbourne to a private consortium gathered by New Zealand entrepreneur Bart ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655944/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 02:50:20 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655944/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 A deadline is looming as North Queensland sweats on off-contract fullback Matt Bowen's fate. But Cowboys coach Neil Henry says he is keeping his fingers crossed the livewire No.1 remains a one-club player. Reports linking 31-year-old Bowen to rival NRL clubs were dismissed as "rumours" by Henry on Tuesday. However, Henry admits his club will need to decide on what to do with ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655945/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 02:50:20 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655945/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 The Australian market has closed around half a per cent lower, dragged down by weakness among the banks and industrial stocks. CMC Markets trader Ben Taylor said the local market finished in negative territory, following weak global leads. He said markets were anticipating that US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke would announce more quantitative easing (QE) in his speech to Congress on ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655946/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 02:50:19 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655946/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Football Federation Australia (FFA) boss David Gallop does not believe it would be a "disaster" for the Socceroos to not qualify for the 2014 World Cup. With the Socceroos facing World Cup qualifiers in Japan on June 4, followed by hosting Jordan in Melbourne on June 11 and Iraq in Sydney on June 18, Gallop isn't banking everything on the national side making it. Gallop says he ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655947/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 02:50:17 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655947/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Australians expect more from their government than they are willing to pay and the community will need to decide whether it wants to cut spending or raise taxes, Treasury secretary Martin Parkinson says. Dr Parkinson said community expectations would need to change for state, federal and local government budgets to be in surplus over the long term. "We have a big gap between what the ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655948/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 02:50:15 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655948/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 The Queensland government's controversial Costello audit was used to conjure up a "make-believe" crisis to justify mass sackings and privatisation, the state opposition says. In a scathing response to the report on Tuesday, shadow treasurer Curtis Pitt told parliament former federal treasurer Peter Costello's audit of the state's finances used pessimistic population ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655949/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 02:50:12 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655949/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 The husband of missing Gold Coast woman Novy Chardon has appeared in court on a string of unrelated charges. John Chardon, 65, was arrested and charged on Monday and appeared in court on Tuesday. Regional Crime Co-ordinator Detective Superintendent David Hutchinson says police can't discuss the matter. "It's all before the court now and all we can say is that it is unrelated to ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655950/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 02:50:10 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655950/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 The arrest of a pedophile in Australia has led to a US judge jailing Kansas child molester Philip Andra Grigsby for 260 years. The trans-Pacific child abuse investigation began in Australia a year ago when a pedophile in Australia, who can't be named for legal reasons, was arrested and a search of his computer discovered emails containing attachments with child pornography. One of the ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655951/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 02:50:09 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655951/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 6PR's Sattler was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease last year and since then his ratings have been varied.He enjoyed a spike during the previous radio survey, but was again down 1.1 points in the latest Nielsen results released today, to hold 8.4 per cent of the audience.Nova 937 continue to dominate the drive timeslot gaining another 1.4 points, bringing its audience share to 15.2 per ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655952/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 02:48:19 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655952/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has dismissed the Federal Government's budget pledge for Brisbane's Cross River Rail plan. Last week, Treasurer Wayne Swan promised $715 million for the $5 billion project. But Labor is locked in a funding stoush with the Queensland Government. Mr Abbott says the Federal Government is not being "fair dinkum". "It's more of the kind ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655749/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 02:40:52 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655749/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 YOUNG Crows player Rory Laird today avoided having his wings clipped after losing two demerit points and being fined $75 for speeding. Laird, 19, was caught speeding on Tapleys Hill Rd, Glenelg North, in November last year. The Elizabeth Magistrates Court today heard Laird was driving at 69km/h in a 60km/h zone. The court heard the P-plater was driving his dad's car at the time and Laird had ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655953/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 02:34:08 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655953/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 AFL management says it's necessary, but it drives the prime minister crazy and at least one state has had enough. So it's an odds-on favourite the screening of live betting odds during sports broadcasts faces extinction, as the public outcry over the negative effects on child viewers gathers momentum. South Australian Labor Premier Jay Weatherill is taking the first step with plans to ban ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655722/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 02:22:41 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655722/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 SYDNEY (AFP) - An Australian zoo said Tuesday the birth of a southern white rhinoceros was a "sign of hope" for the species given the escalation of poaching in Africa.Taronga Western Plains Zoo said the yet-to-be-named male calf was born to first-time mother Mopani in the safari-style animal park in Dubbo, 400 kilometres (250 miles) west of Sydney, on May 14."It seems the first ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655058/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 02:10:54 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655058/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Treasury secretary Martin Parkinson says the economic and revenue forecasts included in the federal budget are his department's best professional estimates, though numbers are likely to change by the time of the September election.Treasury is legally required to release its Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Outlook (PEFO) during the election campaign in August.The federal opposition has said ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654869/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 02:10:50 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654869/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Treasury secretary Martin Parkinson concedes his department has struggled to keep pace with a "tumultuous" decade for the Australian economy.Addressing an economists' lunch in Sydney, Dr Parkinson said the difficulty Treasury and other economic forecasters had had was predicting the path of global commodity prices, the exchange rate and capital gains."While our forecasts for ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654872/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 02:08:53 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654872/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 The resources sector's contribution to economic growth will fall because increased production won't be enough to offset the decline in mining investment, Treasury Secretary Martin Parkinson warns.Dr Parkinson says the economy faces two major transitions over the next few years, which while supported by lower interest rates, will be challenged by continued weakness in the global economy ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654840/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 02:08:49 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654840/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 The Detroit Red Wings took a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference semi-final series over the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL on Monday.The Red Wings scored twice in the space of 31 seconds in the second period at the Joe Louis Arena, opening up what proved to be a match-winning buffer.Rookie Gustav Nyquist and Drew Miller were credited with the goals that put Detroit 2-0 up in the match on home ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655059/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 02:08:44 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655059/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Chief executive James Sutherland says Cricket Australia might need to look at developing a social media policy in light of the David Warner ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655467/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 02:08:01 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655467/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Australia have named a 15-player squad for the women's Ashes tour of England, including all 14 players contracted for the 2013-14 season as well as the batsman Sarah Elliott as a Test specialist. Elliott will fly home after the one-off Test and is the only player from outside the contract list to be part of the official touring party, although the 17-year-old Jemma Barsby will join the group ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655060/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 01:59:27 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655060/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Australia A survey has found a quarter of Australian children aged between eight and 12 use Facebook, despite the minimum age for a user being 13.Tech company MacAfee surveyed 500 tweens - children aged between eight and 12 - and found more than two-thirds are on Facebook. The survey discovered that children found ways to get around the age restrictions, but in most cases they were given access ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654939/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 01:56:08 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654939/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 A US Senate report has concluded that Apple Inc has held billions of dollars in profits in Irish subsidiaries to pay little or no taxes to any ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655567/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 01:54:58 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655567/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 People with bad credit histories are flocking to the Radio Rentals' brand, helping boost the revenues of its parent company by eight per cent . The Radio Rentals businesses posted record rentals and revenue for the 12 months to March 31. Thorn Group reported revenues of $203 million for the 12 months but net profit was flat at $28 million due to the cost of developing new products. Thorn ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655061/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 01:47:32 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655061/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Liberal backbencher Alex Hawke says the coalition has no plans to alter existing negative gearing arrangements, saying a media report to the contrary is false. The West Australian newspaper on Tuesday said the coalition's promised review of the taxation system could lead to the scrapping of the tax break on investment properties. But Mr Hawke told Sky News "the coalition has no plans ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655062/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 01:47:29 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655062/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 A Melbourne man will stand trial on multiple counts of rape next year. Adrian Ernest Bayley, 41, appeared in the Victorian County Court on Tuesday facing 14 charges in total. The offences allegedly occurred in the St Kilda area and date back to 2000. Bayley, of Coburg, was not asked to enter a plea on Tuesday but during a previous appearance in the Melbourne Magistrates Court he pleaded not ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655063/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 01:47:27 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655063/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 , claiming his comments were "selectively edited" by the show's producers to give a glowing account of his former radio nemesis Ray Hadley. Carlton launched his tirade via his Twitter account, describing the program, which aired on Monday night, as a "travesty", "disgrace" and "garbage". On Tuesday, Carlton tweeted: "Bizarre that last ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655064/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 01:47:26 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655064/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 6PR's Sattler was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease last year and since then his ratings have been varied.He enjoyed a spike during the previous radio survey, but was again down 1.1 points in the latest Nielsen results released on Tuesday, to hold 8.4 per cent of the audience.NOVA93.7 continue to dominate the drive timeslot gaining another 1.4 points, bringing its audience share to ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655065/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 01:45:53 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655065/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 A SYDNEY waterfront probe into organised crime has led to the alleged seizure of 75 kilograms of a restricted drug and two ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655066/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 01:45:51 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655066/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 THE Queensland government is misallocating funds which are supposed to flow from gambling profits to vital community organisations, a report ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655069/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 01:45:45 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655069/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Property developer Kyluk Pty Ltd launched an appeal after it was fined $127,500 in March last year for "picking" Shale Sandstone Transition Forest (SSTF) to make way for cattle grazing at a property near Appin, southwest of Sydney, in 2009.But the fine was overturned by the Court of Criminal Appeal, which has sent the matter back to the Land and Environment Court.The Land and ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655068/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 01:45:43 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655068/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 THERE is an "unstoppable momentum" for cultural change in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) following the notorious Skype sex scandal, the chief of the army ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655067/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 01:45:39 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655067/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 A LIBERAL MP opposed to same-sex marriage has signalled the party could allow a conscience vote on the issue after the September 14 ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655070/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 01:45:33 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655070/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 The Queensland Audit Office's report to parliament about the Drink Safe Precinct (DSP) trials in Townsville, Brisbane's Fortitude Valley and Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast was tabled on Tuesday.The report says the scheme, which began in 2010, doesn't appear to have worked and gives no indication as to how alcohol-fuelled violence can be combated in the future."The DSP ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655071/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 01:45:33 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214655071/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 The central bank has given no clues whether more reductions are on the cards after low inflation allowed it to cut the cash rate to a record low at its May board meeting.The Reserve Bank of Australia said that inflation was expected to remain within its target range of two to three per cent for the next few years."The board decided that some of that scope to ease policy should be used at ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654011/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 01:06:19 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654011/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Golden girl Cathy Freeman gushed with excitement on Tuesday at the mere sighting of former St Kilda star Nicky Winmar.While Freeman's 400-metre dash during the 2000 Olympics was a high point in celebrating Australia indigenous sporting talent, Freeman sees Winmar's jumper-lifting moment following the Saints' round-four win over Collingwood at Victoria Park in 1993 as another ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654677/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 01:06:19 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654677/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Drilling services company Boart Longyear says its earnings will fall in 2013 because mining companies are scaling back on exploration."The downturn in capital and exploration spending in the mining sector globally has clearly reduced the demand for drilling services and products," chief executive Richard O'Brien told Boart Longyear's annual general meeting in Adelaide.He said ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653962/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 01:06:17 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653962/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Members of the Australia women's cricket team will be among the country's highest-paid female athletes as part of a restructure of the Cricket Australia contract system. The leading players could earn up to $80,000 over the next year as part of the new payment programme, with the top player retainer having increased from $15,000 to $52,000 and the minimum retainer having been boosted ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654213/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 00:54:42 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654213/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 A 49 per cent surge in Elders' shares triggered talk that long-awaited asset sales were finally here. But Elders is expected to tell the Australian Securities Exchange today it has no idea what was behind Monday's rally, which generated its second speeding ticket in as many weeks from the ASX. However, Elders is understood to be close to striking a deal and could reach an outcome by the ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654214/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 00:49:57 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654214/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 TRADERS in the grain market remain focused on the North American corn crop, which is in the last few weeks of its planting season. Good weather could lead to what is being forecast as a bumper crop - perhaps the biggest since 2009-10. The US Department of Agriculture has forecast that US farmers would be paid 32 per cent less for corn this year if the record harvest is collected. It would also be ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654215/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 00:49:56 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654215/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Opposition Leader John Robertson is urging the NSW government not to play politics with a bill allowing preschools and care centres to refuse children who haven't been vaccinated. Labor will introduce the legislation to the lower house on Tuesday afternoon. "I want to see this parliament do something to ensure the safety of our children," Mr Robertson told reporters. "I am ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654216/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 00:43:14 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654216/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Young people who regularly miss out on just a few hours sleep are at a hugely increased risk of crashing their cars, a study of more than 20,000 NSW P-Platers has found. The teenagers – who slept, on average, six or fewer hours each night – may be so impaired by regularly missing out on sleep that they are unable to pick up the safe driving skills they need, lead researcher Alexandra ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654217/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 00:43:13 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654217/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Australia's women cricketers have been rewarded with big pay rises as they prepare their bid to add 2013 women's Ashes glory to their current World Cup and world T20 titles. Cricket Australia (CA) has announced a restructuring of the contracting system for women's international and state cricket which will make national team members some of the best paid female athletes in the ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654218/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 00:43:12 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654218/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Almost $141 million has been wiped from the value of mining engineer Transfield Services as cost cutting in the mining sector sent its shares to a record low. The company has slashed its profit forecasts and fast-tracked additional cost saving measures, including job cuts, in response to weaker demand for its services. But analysts say Transfield's decision to slash 113 jobs comes too late ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654219/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 00:43:11 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654219/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Robert Eggington is among indigenous leaders to meet with WA bureaucrats over rising suicide levels among the Noongah community.Picture: Richard ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654223/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 00:41:32 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654223/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 EXERCISE rates among high school children in Western Australia are declining to alarming levels, fuelling health concerns, an academic ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654222/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 00:41:30 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654222/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Health Minister Dr Kim Hames says he has no problem with individual child care centres banning unvaccinated kids, but won't be legislating on ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654221/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 00:41:28 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654221/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 JULIA Gillard says the government will continue to offer support to an Australian businessman for 10 years and fined $25 million on discredited bribery charges in ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654224/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 00:41:21 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654224/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Police say the elderly woman was alone in her Eastlakes unit on Monday when she answered a knock at the door.She was confronted by an unknown woman who threatened her, tied her up and covered her mouth.The intruder, who was about 40 and wearing a baseball cap and reading glasses, searched the home and demanded money but fled empty-handed.After untying herself, the woman went to a neighbour's ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654225/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 00:41:21 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654225/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 NSW needs a container deposit scheme because it will reduce litter and won't cost consumers money, the man behind Clean Up Australia Day ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654226/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 00:41:21 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654226/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 It is the third sitting week that Mr Driscoll has missed since quitting the Liberal National Party to become an independent in April.The first-time MP is fighting fraud and misconduct allegations and quit the LNP less than 24 hours before he was expected to be expelled.Speaker Fiona Simpson told parliament on Tuesday that the parliamentary ethics committee had suspended its investigation into Mr ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654228/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 00:41:20 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654228/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 PARAMEDICS will be able to break away from the scandal-plagued Health Services Union (HSU) after a court ruled they could register their own ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654227/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 00:41:20 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654227/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 The appetite for risk improved in the FX space on profit taking. While the dollar remains strong overall, the foreign currencies enjoyed a recovery on Monday from their recent losses. Still, the yen remains near a 4 1/-year low and the Aussie close to an eleven-month low. The US stock indexes slipped, but gold and oil closed higher. The short-term outlook for most foreign currencies is sideways. ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654230/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 00:39:52 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654230/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 A Tasmanian woman pleaded guilty to five counts of engaging in sexual intercourse with a young person after her partner filmed her cuddling and kissing his teenage son. ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654231/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 00:38:46 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654231/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 SYDNEY | Tue May 21, 2013 12:38am EDT SYDNEY May 21 (Reuters) - Australia is to issue a new Treasury bond due April 21, 2025, the country's debt management office said on Tuesday, and expects the issue to be of benchmark size - typically at least A$1 billion. Initial price guidance for the issue is a spread of 18-20 basis points to the implied yield for the primary 10-year Treasury ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654873/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 00:38:09 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654873/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 SYDNEY music station 2DayFM has reclaimed its lead from rival WSFM. Southern Cross Radio (SCA) outperformed WSFM, which lost listeners across all timeslots, particularly in the 40-64 age demographic, according to figures supplied on Tuesday by Nielsen. Talk station 2GB remains top of the ratings ladder after gaining listeners across all timeslots. King of Sydney early morning radio Alan Jones ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654229/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 00:25:16 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654229/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 THE heavens have finally opened across regional parts of the state and metropolitan Adelaide is set for a good drenching this evening. In the past 24 hours, the state's far North recorded almost 50mm of rain up to 9am this morning. Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Paul Bierman said Ernabella recorded 47mm of rain and Mintabie, 45mm. "It's quite a lot... over 40mm is 24 hours is quite ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654148/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 00:17:34 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214654148/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Australians living in tornado-ravaged Oklahoma are bracing for more of the killer twisters that have ripped through the US State."I've lived here for 30 years and this is unprecedented," Kerry Vincent, the world-renowned, WA-born cake designer, said from her home in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Monday."My heart bleeds for my friends who I can't find."There's so many dead ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653286/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Tue, 21 May 2013 00:03:02 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653286/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 A powerful tornado with winds over 300 kilometres per hour has pulverised an Oklahoma City suburb, hitting at least two schools and wiping out blocks of homes. At least 51 people have been ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653287/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 23:59:40 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653287/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 " alt="Why wait until you fly to choose your meal?" style="position: absolute; top: 50%; left: 50%; margin-left: -233.5px; margin-top: -130px;" title="Why wait until you fly to choose your meal?" ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653111/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 23:48:36 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653111/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Adelaide 5000 Australian Federal Police (AFP) said they would have a more visible presence in future at Adelaide Airport.A $6.5 million centre has opened to allow all the AFP operations on one site.Commissioner Tony Negus promised there would be a more visible presence in the airport precinct."There are 49 officers here in this building who will respond to various incidents within the ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653141/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 23:47:54 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653141/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Melbourne Storm's new owners plan to make the NRL club break even financially by 2017 and also want to dramatically boost membership.New Zealand entrepreneur Bart Campbell heads a group of businessmen who bought the reigning premiers from News Ltd on Monday night.The other members of the consortium, Holding MS Australia, are expected to be announced at a Melbourne function within a ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653822/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 23:46:18 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653822/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan believes any future change to the breadth or rate of the GST will "smash" low and middle incomes earners. But former NSW premier Nick Greiner believes the perilous public finance conditions facing state governments demand a review of the consumption tax. Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey has indicated the GST will be included in a review of tax reform if the ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653288/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 23:39:31 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653288/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 The Australian dollar is higher, despite suffering some falls on the back of profit taking during the morning. At 1200 AEST on Tuesday the local unit was trading at 97.85 US cents, up from 97.57 cents on Monday. Since 0700 AEST on Tuesday, the Australian dollar traded between 97.52 and 98.25 cents. During overnight trade, the US dollar ended its recent rally, falling against all the major ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653289/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 23:39:29 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653289/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 More than a million low-paid Australians who depend on the nation's award system to set their wages should get a 79¢-an-hour wage rise, the ACTU has told the national industrial relations commission. Appearing before the Fair Work Commission, ACTU assistant secretary Tim Lyons said low-paid workers' wages had declined in recent years. The union body wants a $30-a-week wage rise ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653290/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 23:39:28 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653290/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Canterbury forward Greg Eastwood fears the reputation of teammate Krisnan Inu is being ruined after the star centre accepted a two-game ban on Tuesday. Inu took the early plea on the ugly leg twist on Newcastle winger James McManus which resulted in a grade two dangerous contact charge. Meanwhile, Gold Coast back-rower David Taylor is disputing the grading on his grade two dangerous contact ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653291/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 23:39:27 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653291/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Victorian schools could be worse off than those over the NSW border if the state does not sign on to education funding reforms, Prime Minister Julia Gillard says. NSW is so far the only jurisdiction to agree to the federal government's planned changes, which Ms Gillard says would mean an additional $16 billion will be spent on the nation's schools. The prime minister used a visit to a ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653293/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 23:39:24 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653293/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Australian stocks are weaker at noon as the Reserve Bank of Australia forecasts below-average economic growth in 2013. RBS Morgans Ipswich manager Tony Russell said the minutes of the central bank's May 7 board meeting, at which it cut the cash rate to a record low, had prompted investors to reconsider the outlook for mining companies. "That's probably not helping our market, ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653292/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 23:39:23 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653292/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Changing the GST would unfairly punish lower income earners and impact on health and education services, says Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan. WA Premier Colin Barnett has called for a change in GST distribution to a per-capita model, which Mr Swan said would have a "savage impact" on states like South Australia and Tasmania. A switch to a per-capita GST distribution model "would ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653294/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 23:39:21 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653294/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 HOAX calls that triggered a search for a crashed aircraft in Western Australia cost more than $20,000 and wasted valuable human resources, The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653295/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 23:37:59 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653295/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 WA Environment Minister Albert Jacob is calling on a private company find a solution to recycle WA's ever-increasing pile of used mattresses Picture: Justin ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653297/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 23:37:57 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653297/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 After 90 minutes the Storm and Sea Eagles can't be split, and they're forced to share the spoils following a 10-all draw at AAMI Park.The two sides traded field goals in golden point extra-time but no one could split the goal posts and they leave with a point ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653296/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 23:37:57 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653296/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 "I've lived here for 30 years and this is unprecedented,'' Kerry Vincent, the world-renowned, West Australian-born cake designer, said from her home in Tulsa, Oklahoma."My heart bleeds for my friends who I can't find."There's so many dead folks, it is just unbelievable.''Ms Vincent said Oklahoma City, hit by a tornado packing 321 km/h winds, is ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653193/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 23:37:55 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653193/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 A MAN whose dad died before he was born in the 1970s has finally won the right to have him legally recognised as his father on his birth ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653301/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 23:37:48 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653301/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 "We can get above the 90 per cent (national vaccination) rate, which is where we need to be and we can do that without forcing parents who don't have their child vaccinated to do so."WA authorities today unveiled a three-year policy to raise the state's child vaccination levels, which according to latest figures remain the lowest in the country for children between 12 and 15 ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653300/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 23:37:47 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653300/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 A NEW report which says one in five children talk to strangers online is "troubling", Communications Minister Stephen Conroy ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653299/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 23:37:47 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653299/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Industry consultant ACIL Tasman and its Melbourne executive director Marianne Lourey have been appointed by the education department to lead the TAFE transition taskforce.Department secretary Richard Bolt says the contract, worth more than $500,000, was initially awarded to ACIL Tasman without going to tender because there was pressure to hire someone with the appropriate expertise."Yes, the ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653303/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 23:37:46 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653303/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 SUBSIDIARIES of energy company AGL have been slugged with penalties of $1.55 million for dodgy door-to-door sales practices in which salesmen denied they were selling anything and claimed customers' current suppliers were ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653298/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 23:37:46 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653298/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 The government is considering introducing a new levy in next month's budget for flood repairs and improving infrastructure.The tax could be imposed on household bills such as electricity or water and the government hopes to raise $1 billion over four to five years.Mr Newman says the existing $80 million flood kitty would not be enough to replace infrastructure or shift it to higher ground.He ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653304/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 23:37:45 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653304/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 MAJOR insurers will be asked to publicly demonstrate that they will not offset the removal of the Victorian fire services levy with increases in premiums. There are already signs that insurers will increase premiums when the levy changes from being an insurance-based tax to a property-based one later this year, says Victorian Fire Services Levy Monitor Professor Allan Fels. "I am concerned ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653138/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 23:12:13 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214653138/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 The outlook for Australia's major trading partners is good, with economic growth for most expected to pick up in 2014, the Reserve Bank of Australia says.The minutes of the RBA's May board meeting gave a positive assessment of the economic outlooks for China, Japan and the US.While growth in China is not expected to return to its stellar levels of recent years, the RBA board said the ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214652320/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 22:56:37 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214652320/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Australia Former prime minister Kevin Rudd says a "personal journey" has led him to change his mind and support same-sex marriage - a position that puts him at odds with his leader, Julia Gillard.Ms Gillard does not support same-sex marriage, although she has allowed Labor MPs a conscience vote on the issue.Mr Rudd ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214652399/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 22:43:50 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214652399/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 (57 mins ago) Foreign Minister Bob Carr has criticized as ';indefensible’’ the length of time the legal process took in the United Arab Emirates after an Australian man was jailed for 10 years for property fraud. Businessman Matthew Joyce was sentenced yesterday, four years after being arrested, and reportedly fined US$24.5 million after being convicted over a collapsed land ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214652400/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 22:37:38 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214652400/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Brisbane defender Daniel Merrett on Tuesday accepted a three-match ban from the AFL's match review panel for rough conduct after a tackle which knocked out Essendon's Michael Hurley. A groggy Hurley was subbed off during Saturday's round-eight game at Etihad Stadium following the incident which caused the forward's head to thump into the turf. Brisbane's Justin Clarke ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214652402/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 22:34:41 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214652402/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Stocks to watch on the Australian stock exchange at noon on Tuesday: NSW - NEWS CORPORATION - down 19 cents, or 0.56 per cent, at $33.79 NWSLV - NEWS CORPORATION NON-VOTING COMMON STOCK - down 10 cents, or 0.30 per cent, at $33.69 News Limited has sold NRL club Melbourne to a private consortium gathered by New Zealand entrepreneur Bart ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214652403/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 22:34:40 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214652403/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 An important change of heart on road to marriage equality Kevin Rudd has denied hiding his true beliefs about same-sex marriage while he was prime minister, saying his current stance was the result of a ''personal journey''. Mr Rudd, who announced he had changed his position on same-sex marriage in a ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214652404/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 22:34:39 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214652404/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Canterbury still deserve to be considered NRL title contenders but only if they make some changes, according to skipper Michael Ennis. The Bulldogs, minor premiers and grand finalists last season, opened the year as outright premiership favourites. But a miserable start to the season was compounded by the absence of Ben Barba (personal problems) and James Graham (suspension) in the early stages ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214652405/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 22:34:38 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214652405/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 TimTam biscuits contain palm oil. It's everywhere - in your bathroom, your pantry - and if you use make-up, it's probably on your face as well. According to ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214652406/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 22:34:36 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214652406/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mining stocks fell, with BHP Billiton losing 14 cents to $34.65 and Rio Tinto falling 62 cents to $54.80. Resources engineering group Transfield Services saw its shares plummet to a record low on Tuesday morning after it cut its profit forecast and slashed another 113 jobs. Its shares were down 27.5 cents, or 21.57 per cent, to $1.00 at 1203 AEST. Banking shares were also down but, Mr Russell ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214652407/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 22:34:34 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214652407/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 A 12-YEAR-OLD girl says she "froze" when a man held a gun to her head and robbed her of her phone and wallet as she walked back from a friend's house in ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214652408/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 22:32:54 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214652408/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey has reportedly confirmed a coalition government's white paper on tax reform could include a look at negative gearing, which allows residential property investors to claim tax deductions when interest costs exceed rental income."We ruled out any change to the existing arrangements in our response to the Henry (tax) report," Mr Swan told reporters in ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214652409/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 22:32:33 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214652409/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 SYDNEY | Mon May 20, 2013 10:00pm EDT SYDNEY May 21 (Reuters) - Australia-listed copper miner Discovery Metals Ltd has opened its books to spurned private equity suitor Cathay Fortune Corp and others in an effort to attract a new takeover offer, potentially valuing it at A$195 million ($190 million), it said on Tuesday. Discovery, which has been ramping up output at its main project in ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214652329/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 22:00:39 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214652329/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Paralympic gold medallist Oscar Pistorius will not compete in 2013 as he awaits trial on charges of murder.Pistorius is currently on bail after being charged with the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in February.The South African was an outside chance to compete at August's IAAF World Championships in Moscow after his agent, Peet van Zyl, said the event was 'on the ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214651449/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 21:51:11 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214651449/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 For many Arab Australians being gay is still taboo, and now some are turning to fake marriages to hide the truth about their sexuality, reports The Feed's Patrick ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214651387/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 21:50:42 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214651387/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 The Australian stock market is trading weak on Tuesday with investors pressing sales, tracking cues from Wall Street where stocks ended slightly lower overnight amid a lack of fresh triggers.Consumer discretionary, financial, healthcare and industrial stocks are mostly trading lower, while energy, mining and property trusts stocks are trading mixed.The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index, which ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214651450/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 21:50:14 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214651450/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Developing countries need not fall victim to the 'resource curse', writes Andrew Leigh. Australia has a role to play in ensuring these countries use their natural resources to foster democracy and boost living ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214651391/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 21:38:17 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214651391/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Solomon Islands An Australian former Olympian is in Solomon Islands to help encourage the country's young people to play basketball.Former Opal Annie La Fleur is in Honiara participating in a range of development activities, including visiting local schools to promote healthy lifestyles through basketball, and working with the country's national players and clubs.She says she'll ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214651451/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 21:38:11 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214651451/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Wallace Gunthorpe, Gunthorpe Cattle Co, Tarramba Red Brahmans, Banana, with son Adam, said the sensible thing to do would be to deregulate BJD in Queensland and allow producers to manage BJD themselves with the assistance of DAFF and ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214651452/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 21:36:20 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214651452/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell says he's prepared to amend the state's anti-discrimination laws to allow preschools and care centres to refuse children who haven't been vaccinated. Legislation giving child care facilities the right to ban unvaccinated children will be moved in parliament by opposition leader John Robertson on Tuesday. "I believe the health of our children ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214651453/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 21:29:12 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214651453/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Former prime minister Kevin Rudd has called on Tony Abbott to ''have the decency'' to give the Coalition a conscience vote on same-sex marriage, saying that if the Opposition Leader will not allow it, Australia should look at a referendum to resolve the issue. Mr Rudd, who announced he has changed his position on same-sex marriage in a ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214651454/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 21:29:11 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214651454/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 CONSERVATIONISTS have protested outside Queensland parliament over what they say is a broken promise not to relax tree clearing ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214651455/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 21:27:29 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214651455/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 THE remote Aboriginal community of Lombadina in the Kimberley would be under water today after a massive 180mm was dumped on it late ... http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214651456/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33 Mon, 20 May 2013 21:27:25 -0400 http://www.thesydneynews.net/index.php/sid/214651456/scat/88f7d0d02bea1b33