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Afternoon Edition. Wed 11 May 2011
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Top Stories	More Top Stories >
China inflation sparks surplus concerns China's inflation figures released today show consumer prices rose 5.3 per cent in the year to April, sparking predictions the Asian giant's economy will soon begin to slow down. NRL report recommends Waldron ban The NRL report into the Melbourne Storm salary cap scandal recommends the club's former chief executive, Brian Waldron, never be allowed to work in rugby league again. Inside Japan's damaged nuclear plant Footage has been released of the damaged spent fuel rod pool at Japan's crippled nuclear plant. Police shoot woman in Perth Investigators are at the scene of a police shooting in the Perth suburb of Armadale after a woman was shot by an officer. Age-old concerns raised in Question Time The first post-budget Question Time for 2011 was stolen by the Member for Longman, Wyatt Roy, who stood and declaimed to loud cheers "I'm about to turn 21".
The Drum	More from The Drum >
Ignoring the deficit: disappointingly predictable $21.7 billion worth of savings in this budget was matched with $18.9 billion in new spending. That's policy churn – the sort of fiddling which makes the tax code blossom and keeps accountants in business. It's a bit rich to describe a budget as tough if it includes free electronics - the government is playing chicken with the economy, hoping revenue will catch spending before the self-imposed 2013 wall. Time to revolt against Gillard's education revolution For all Julia Gillard's rhetoric and supposed passion about education, the reality is that her track record bears little scrutiny. Last night's budget did nothing but confirm our concerns. The dogs bark, and the budget carnival rolls on Wayne Swan has produced a workmanlike budget that does the minimum you would expect from a vulnerable minority government that does not have crazy-brave as an option. The attack on 'middle-class welfare' is the gutsiest and most overdue of the reforms. This is the one area the Government will need to nurse through the immediate media cycle. The more substantial criticism will centre on whether the cuts went far enough. And then there it was: pretty much budget as expected And so after a couple weeks of announcements that the budget would be tough (you know a Horror Budget), out came a budget that well... was pretty much as expected. It was a fairly typical Labor budget - ie not a left-wing, Ben Chifley budget, but a Hawke-Keating budget. And as is always the case, the Government will be trying to tell us it was tough but fair for those 'doing it tough', and the Opposition will say they were not only not tough they were not fair on 'families'. Budget from a party of reform I suspect Swan is on the way to being acknowledged as being as serious an economic manager as Costello.
Just in	More Just In Stories >
Funds pulled from dental health scheme Dental health is one of the big losers in this year's federal budget, with the Government axing a $3 billion chronic disease dental scheme. Sharemarket makes strong comeback The local share market has made a comeback today, with investors largely ignoring the detail in last night's federal budget, and instead running with a solid lead from offshore markets. China inflation sparks surplus concerns China's inflation figures released today show consumer prices rose 5.3 per cent in the year to April, sparking predictions the Asian giant's economy will soon begin to slow down.
World	More World Stories >
China inflation sparks surplus concerns China's inflation figures released today show consumer prices rose 5.3 per cent in the year to April, sparking predictions the Asian giant's economy will soon begin to slow down. Virgin, Delta form alliance United States regulators have approved an alliance between Virgin Australia and Delta Airlines. Fergie hurt by royal wedding snub Sarah Ferguson has told US talk show host Oprah Winfrey that not receiving an invitation to last month's royal wedding was "difficult", but she blamed herself for the snub.
Business	More Business Stories >
Sharemarket makes strong comeback The local share market has made a comeback today, with investors largely ignoring the detail in last night's federal budget, and instead running with a solid lead from offshore markets. Virgin, Delta form alliance United States regulators have approved an alliance between Virgin Australia and Delta Airlines. Big tick for junk food plan The Heart Foundation is backing moves to regulate junk food advertising in Tasmania.
Politics	More Politics Stories >
Funds pulled from dental health scheme Dental health is one of the big losers in this year's federal budget, with the Government axing a $3 billion chronic disease dental scheme. Nuclear waste dump opponents rally A Northern Territory Labor Minister has called on his federal colleagues to abandon plans to set up a nuclear waste storage facility in the Northern Territory. White supremacist stickers under investigation Victoria's Multiculturalism Minister, Nicholas Kotsiras, has launched an investigation into white supremacist stickers that have been put up in the seaside community of Torquay, west of Melbourne.
Sport	More Sport Stories >
Science & Technology	More Science & Technology Stories >
Australia's science budget 'uninspiring' Australia's scientific community has given a muted response to the country's latest budget. Radio astronomy project given budget boost A radio astronomy project in WA's Murchison has been given a $40 million dollar boost in the federal budget. Coffs council not against solar powered developments A mid north coast council is defending itself from accusations it is not encouraging sub-division powered by renewable energy sources.
Environment	More Environment Stories >
Nuclear waste dump opponents rally A Northern Territory Labor Minister has called on his federal colleagues to abandon plans to set up a nuclear waste storage facility in the Northern Territory. Forestry exit funding fears Environmental groups are concerned about the lack of money in the federal budget for Tasmania's forest peace deal. Grey nurse shark threatened by recreational fishing Conservationists in the region are increasingly worried about the removal of fishing restrictions off South West Rocks east of Kempsey.
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