Today's Fresh Blogs...

• Climate sceptic MP following Howard's lead: Brown

  Published: August 12, 2007, 9:00 pm

  Tags: Environment, Climate Change, Government Politics, Federal Government, Political Parties, Greens, Australia

  Greens leader Bob Brown says a federal Liberal MP who has pronounced himself a "climate change sceptic" is echoing Prime Minister John Howard.

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• Housing affordability at 25-year low: HIA

  Published: August 12, 2007, 9:00 pm

  Tags: Government Politics, Housing, Australia

  New figures out today show housing affordability at its lowest level in nearly a quarter of a century.

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• Labor promises $100m manufacturing innovation fund

  Published: August 12, 2007, 8:49 pm

  Tags: Industry, Manufacturing, Government Politics, Federal Government, Australia

  The Labor Party has pledged to invest up to $100 million in a network of centres to foster innovation in Australian manufacturing businesses if it wins government.

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• Govt to get tough on lasers targeting planes

  Published: August 12, 2007, 8:20 pm

  Tags: Government Politics, Federal Government, Law Crime Justice, Laws, Australia

  The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) says the Federal Government is developing legislation that will include a two-year jail sentence for anyone convicted of shining laser beams at planes.

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• Howard urges Iraq to follow soccer team's lead

  Published: August 12, 2007, 8:17 pm

  Tags: Government Politics, Federal Government, Foreign Affairs, Australia

  Prime Minister John Howard says Iraqis should follow the example of their nation's Asian Cup-winning soccer team as they struggle to lift their country from the mire of sectarian conflict.

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• Nats push to stop under-18s body piercing

  Published: August 12, 2007, 8:04 pm

  Tags: Environment, Government Politics, Law Crime Justice, Laws, Social Policy, Australia, Vic

  The Victorian National Party has called for stricter measures to stop young people getting their bodies pierced.

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• Police union backs permit system

  Published: August 12, 2007, 6:47 pm

  Tags: Community Society, Indigenous, Government Politics, Federal Government, Unions, Law Crime Justice, Laws, Police, Australia, Darwin 0800

  Australia's peak police union says the Commonwealth's plans to scrap the permit system governing access to Indigenous communities will be a hot topic at today's annual conference in Darwin.

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• WorkChoices hitting women hardest: study

  Published: August 12, 2007, 6:41 pm

  Tags: Business Economics Finance, Industrial Relations, Community Society, Government Politics, Federal Government, Law Crime Justice, Laws, Work, Women, Australia

  A report has found that women in low-paid jobs are being hit hard by the Govt's WorkChoices legislation.

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• Building group pushes for 'tree change' incentives

  Published: August 12, 2007, 6:38 pm

  Tags: Government Politics, Federal Government, Housing, Australia, Melbourne 3000

  Governments around the country have been urged to offer first home buyers incentives to move to regional areas.

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• Labor unveils low-cost rentals scheme

  Published: August 12, 2007, 4:37 pm

  Tags: Government Politics, Federal Government, Housing, Australia

  The Federal Opposition has announced a new scheme that it says would mean 50,000 low to middle-income families get new housing and pay rent that is 20 per cent below the market rate.

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• Poll bounce for Coalition

  Published: August 12, 2007, 4:26 pm

  Tags: Government Politics, Elections, Federal Government, Australia

  A new opinion poll is showing a significant increase in support for the Federal Coalition, but is still predicting a Labor landslide victory at the coming federal election.

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• Woman appointed to High Court

  Published: August 13, 2007, 6:17 am

  Tags: Government Politics, Law Crime Justice, Judges Legal Professionals, Australia

  Federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock has appointed a 53-year-old woman from Queensland to sit on the High Court.

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• Business group calls for urgent targets on renewable energy

  Published: August 13, 2007, 5:31 am

  Tags: Business Economics Finance, Industry, Electricity Energy Utilities, Environment, Alternative Energy, Government Politics, Federal Government, Australia

  The Business Council for Sustainable Energy says new renewable energy targets are urgently needed to increase levels of green power generation.

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• Scientist says Govt must commit to emissions cuts

  Published: August 13, 2007, 5:20 am

  Tags: Environment, Climate Change, Government Politics, Federal Government, Science Technology, Research, Australia

  A Sydney climate change forum has been told the Federal Government's promises to stabilise climate change are not enough to combat global warming.

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• Senate report backs NT intervention bills

  Published: August 13, 2007, 5:07 am

  Tags: Community Society, Child Abuse, Indigenous, Government Politics, Federal Government, Federal Parliament, Laws

  A Senate Committee report into the Federal Government's intervention in Northern Territory Indigenous communities has recommended Parliament pass the legislation.

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