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NewsMail Afternoon Edition Wed 07 Sep, 2011 Top Stories More Top Stories » Spending survey busts struggling families myth Claims that many Australians are doing it tough and households are being weighed down by the soaring cost of living no longer match up with the facts. A comprehensive analysis of household spending by the Bureau of Statistics shows that in real terms we are richer than we were six years ago, and while we're spending more on essentials like housing and transport, we are also spending more on recreation. Incomes have risen 50 per cent and that suggests that although we may be paying more for goods and services, we are consuming more as well.More » Unrest warning as Abbott urged to dump Nauru Abusive footy dad placed under supervision Brisbane police in murder-suicide probe GDP figures show economy back on track Bail refused over 11-hour Sydney siege Schools to make the call on chaplains 'Palm reader' arrested over train assaults Families suffer as eczema cases soar Photos show footprints still on the moon More Analysis » The enemy of my enemy is my friend? British prime minister David Cameron has ordered an inquiry by retired judge Peter Gibson into claims that MI6 was involved in the transfer and torture of terrorism suspects in Libya. In the past, Britain has always denied initiating or being complicit in rendition operations. But it was not in a position to make an outright denial this time because of compromising documentation implicating MI6 and the CIA recovered by journalists from abandoned intelligence offices in Tripoli.More » Labor and asylum seekers Welcome, union brothers and sisters UN Palmer report: blockade of Gaza legal National curriculum: Labor's big failure Blaming Defence... again Coalition asylum mistake now a Labor problem The ALP ship has already hit the electoral iceberg Arts not lost at ABC Malalai Joya: an inconvenient truth Just In More Just In » Spending survey busts struggling families myth Claims that many Australians are doing it tough and households are being weighed down by the soaring cost of living no longer match up with the facts. A comprehensive analysis of household spending by the Bureau of Statistics shows that in real terms we are richer than we were six years ago, and while we're spending more on essentials like housing and transport, we are also spending more on recreation. Incomes have risen 50 per cent and that suggests that although we may be paying more for goods and services, we are consuming more as well.More » Abusive footy dad placed under supervision Unrest warning as Abbott urged to dump Nauru 'Palm reader' arrested over train assaults Government accused of breaking detention centre promise Group launches legal challenge against Gunns Bail refused over 11-hour Sydney siege Missing motorcyclist was headed for Birdsville races Yahoo! fires its chief executive Everyone knew Williams was working with police: father World More World » Death of a Syrian doctor How did a Syrian doctor with no vendetta against president Bashar al-Assad end up being tortured to death?More » ABC under fire with US army in Afghanistan Deadly Texas bushfires claim 1,000 homes Murdoch knew about hacking, ex-staff say Desert convoy sparks rumours of Gaddafi deal Obama's approval rating hits record low NATO stops Afghan prisoner transfers over torture Italians vent austerity anger UN court jails ex-Yugoslav army chief Business More Business » GDP figures show economy back on track Australia's economy bounced back into positive growth in the June quarter, figures released today show.More » Optus agrees to 15-year NBN gag Consumers 'losing battle' against phone salesmen Wall St withstands Euro sell-off Wage bid fails as Fair Work sides with Qantas Reserve Bank leaves rates on hold NSW in the red, thousands of jobs to go Politics More Politics » Unrest warning as Abbott urged to dump Nauru Jeremy Thompson Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is likely to be told by government officials today that if Australia drops offshore asylum seeker processing, the community could then expect social problems similar to those of Paris or London. In a special briefing in Brisbane to be led by Department of Immigration secretary Andrew Metcalfe, Mr Abbott will be told more than 600 people a month will flood into the country. He will be told that the Malaysian solution represents the best way to deter boat arrivals and that, under the Howard government, the Pacific solution did not work.More » Palm Island death will haunt authorities: mayor Senator's shoplifting case back in court Schools to make the call on chaplains Independents take swipe at food pricing and imports Sport More Sport » Cooper happy to play the villain Wallabies fly half Quade Cooper says he is in New Zealand to win the Rugby World Cup - not to win new friends. More » Bombers' Heppell named Rising Star Gallop hails 'cleanest' ever season Socceroos sweep past Saudis Scully still weighing up future Science and Technology More Science and Technology » Photos show footprints still on the moon Pictures taken by an orbiting NASA camera show the footprints of the last man to walk on the moon still visible in the lunar dust.More » Light speed research nets Eureka prize Gene discovery to help leukaemia fight Scientists identify 'thinness' genes NASA fears losing vacant space station Environment More Environment » Music and surf event not one for the birds The Conservation Council says a surfing competition soon on Kangaroo Island could wipe out the entire breeding season for a vulnerable bird species in South Australia. The Kangaroo Island Pro surfing event will be held at Vivonne Bay in November, in conjunction with a music festival that is expected to attract about 5,000 people.More » Euro chief backs Gillard over carbon price Water deal to benefit SA irrigators Greens say water authority knew of contamination Guitar-maker denies 'smuggling' after US raid About this email You received this email because you are subscribed to ABC News email alerts. This message was sent to you at starnewsposting@gmail.com Please add newslists@your.abc.net.au to your email address book to see images by default and stop the email being treated as spam. This email address is not monitored - Please don't reply to this email. Manage your preferences | Unsubscribe | Contact Us   This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. 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