18:10:00 25/10/2012
The Federal Government's forecast the Minerals Resource Rent Tax will yield $2 billion this financial year, but it's been revealed that it didn't deliver any revenue in the first quarter. The Treasurer's standing by the Government's forecast for the tax, but the mining industry says with commodity prices sharply lower, it's unlikely to meet those expectations. More
18:14:00 25/10/2012
The latest opinion poll into the popularity of Victoria's Liberal National Coalition shows the Labor Party has secured an election winning lead over the Government for first time since the 2010 election. In an added test for Premier, senior press gallery journalists have supported Labor's claims that a problem-plagued Liberal backbencher made offensive gestures and comments in the Parliament yesterday. More
18:18:00 25/10/2012
Sydney may host a second casino after the State Government agreed to consider a proposal by James Packer to build a high rollers hotel. The Government insists it's a VIP-only gaming facility with no extra poker machines, but anti-gambling advocates say those promises have been made and broken before. More
18:21:00 25/10/2012
A piggery near Young in southern New South Wales is converting the manure from 22,000 pigs into electricity. It's the first piggery to be given approval for the Federal Government's carbon farming initiative. More
18:24:00 25/10/2012
A seven generation pastoral family is fighting against Commonwealth plans to expand the Cultana Training Area in South Australia's north. The military ground is set to become the biggest training area in Australia, where troops get ready for combat before deployment. Bruce Nutt from Pandurra Station is refusing to sell his land, which is expected to be compulsorily acquired before the end of the year. More
18:28:00 25/10/2012
New evidence has emerged of the link between the oral health of children and their parents. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has found almost a quarter of the children with dental problems had parents with the same troubles. More
18:31:00 25/10/2012
A new program will see groups of specialised mental health workers stationed in each state ready to help schools affected by suicide. One of its aims will be to stop copycat suicides amongst children's peers. More
18:37:00 25/10/2012
Wesfarmers, which owns Coles, released its first quarter sales results today. Sales for Coles were up 3.7 per cent. Bunnings and Kmart also performed well. Among Wesfarmers' worst performing businesses were Target and the conglomerate's mining operations. The overall result beat Woolworths' performance for the quarter. Analysts say Woolworths' once dominant market position is now under threat. More
18:41:00 25/10/2012
Tiger Airways has been fined by the Australian Communications and Media Authority for continuing to spam customers with advertising emails after they had unsubscribed from the mailing list. The company failed to respond to repeated requests from customers and ACMA to rectify the situation. More
18:44:00 25/10/2012
A Tasmanian whisky, Sullivans Cove, has been named the Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year by a notable critic. Jim Murray has given the whisky the highest score ever achieved by an Australian whisky and declared it one of the best in the world. The word about Tasmanian whisky is already spreading, with the US ambassador to Australia planning to send some whisky to the US president. More
18:50:00 25/10/2012
The ANZ Bank has delivered another record profit. Full year earnings rose 6 per cent to $5.7 billion. Meanwhile credit ratings agency, Standard and Poor's, has put both the New South Wales and Western Australian governments on negative credit watch. That means both states could lose their current credit ratings in the next two years. And it was a quiet session on the local share market with defensive stocks pulling the market into positive territory. More
