March 2015
Private health insurers urged to ditch homeopathy cover
Private health insurers are being urged to drop cover for homeopathy after a landmark study found no credible evidence it is effective in treating health problems.
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Sussan Ley says no to means-testing bulk billing
Health Minister Sussan Ley has ruled out means-testing bulk billing as an immediate fix in the search for replacements for the dumped $5 GP co-payment.
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February 2015
Most direct action bids ‘too expensive’: RepuTex
Up to three-quarters of potential carbon emissions reduction projects offered into the Emissions Reduction Fund at its first auction are likely to be rejected as too expensive, carbon advisory firm RepuTex says.
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Low activity forecast in ERF auctions
The government’s direct action scheme is likely to see little interest from new carbon emission reduction projects in its first few rounds of auctions, which could limit the total amount of carbon savings gained in the early stages of the scheme’s operation.
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Julie Bishop denies plans to dump Joe Hockey
Foreign minister Julie Bishop denied Prime Minister Tony Abbott was planning to dump Treasurer Joe Hockey in favour of leadership contender Malcolm Turnbull, dismissing the suggestions as speculation.
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Senate stalemate here to stay: PUP’s Glenn Lazarus
Palmer United Party Senate leader Glenn Lazarus declared his party would not pass key budget measures no matter who was in charge of the government.
Julie Bishop considers Indonesia ambassador recall
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is actively considering the recall of Australia’s ambassador to Indonesia if planned executions of Bali Nine accused Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan proceed.
Abbott critics ‘will act as they see fit’: Bishop
Julie Bishop has declined to criticise government backbenchers who have questioned Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s leadership, breaking ranks with other cabinet ministers who have called for an end to instability.
Foreign property buyers target of new crackdown
The federal government will announce a new crack down on illegal foreign investment in housing, likely to include a fee of several thousand dollars for all applications and a national register of land title transfers.
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Childcare reform on agenda as Tony Abbott drops parental leave
Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s decision to dump his signature paid parental leave scheme opens the way for the government to implement major childcare changes.
‘No interest’ in leadership position: Scott Morrison
The Prime Minister’s expected dumping of the paid parental leave scheme at a highly-anticipated speech on Monday is an example of policy “honesty”, according to Social Services Minister Scott Morrison.
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January 2015
Australia will continue search for MH370 despite Malaysia declaration
The Australian-led search for missing Malaysian Airlines plane MH370 will continue regardless of an official declaration that all 239 people who were on it are presumed dead.
Boral one of many holding back $200m in carbon tax liabilities
Construction company Boral has been put on notice by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for apparently failing to reverse customer charges on some of its key products following the repeal of the carbon tax.
Andrew Bolt says Prince Philip decision could be ‘fatal’
Conservative commentator Andrew Bolt, a close media ally of Prime Minister Tony Abbott, has declared the decision to award a knighthood to Prince Phillip could be “fatal” for his leadership.
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Australia hit hardest by global warming
Australia could be one of the countries hardest hit by global warming at the end of this century, according to the latest projections by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and Bureau of Meteorology.
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Minimum wage, penalty rates face review
Changes to the national minimum wage, penalty rates and unfair dismissal laws will be canvassed by the biggest inquiry into Australia’s workplace relations system for the last 30 years.
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Tony Abbott dismisses leadership speculation as ‘nonsense’
Prime Minister Tony Abbott insists his government has a solid record of achievement and that he’ll remain leader, despite some problem getting legislation through the Senate.
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Hockey denies split with PM over Medicare
Treasurer Joe Hockey has denied reports that he was at odds with the Prime Minister over the recently-dumped cuts to Medicare rebates, describing it as “gossip”.
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Middle earners to face near 50pc tax rates: Joe Hockey
Middle-income earners will soon spend six months of the year working for the federal government as tax rates near 50¢ in the dollar, Treasurer Joe Hockey said, as he prepares to kick off this year’s tax reform debate.
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Business ‘feeling pretty grim’ as confidence drops
Australian business confidence has taken a battering over the Christmas period according to the latest national survey from the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
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