ABC NewsMail - Afternoon Edition

NewsMail Afternoon Edition Tue 03 Sep, 2013 Top Stories More Top Stories » Abbott warns Labor not to 'commit suicide twice' on carbon tax By chief political correspondent Emma Griffiths Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has warned the Labor Party it would be "committing suicide twice" if it tried to block his efforts to repeal the carbon tax. Labor says it will not "cave in" to the Coalition's moves to replace the tax with its Direct Action policy if Mr Abbott wins Saturday's poll, adding currency to the Opposition Leader's threat to hold a double dissolution election next year. Mr Abbott is standing firm, again indicating that he will retain the option of calling a double dissolution election on the issue. "A Labor Party which persists in support of the carbon tax is just setting itself up to lose not one election but two," he said. More » Election live: Kevin Rudd's gay marriage defence goes viral Court told teen suicide victim failed by mental health system RBA leaves interest rate at 2.5 per cent Young pilots praised for 'textbook' emergency landing Dwarf entertainer allegedly set on fire in St Kilda 'Mad Monday' event More Analysis » 'On track' for a surplus? Not good enough As recently as January, Joe Hockey was promising a budget surplus in the first year of government. Now the Coalition is only willing to guarantee a budget surplus by 2023. OK, sometimes public finances change. Tax receipts are unpredictable. (Just ask Treasury.) And promises are easy to regret. (Just ask Julia Gillard.) But temporary deficits have a tendency to become entrenched - just ask the US. If Tony Abbott fails to return the budget to surplus quickly, Australia could face the same fate. More » Postal vote campaigns are a service to democracy Policymakers need to rethink how reading is taught Abbott's deeply depressing speech for the globe Ghosts of Iraq haunt British debate on Syria Disability is no justification for murder What is wrong with having a disciplined leader? Security Council presidency: a golden opportunity Kevin Rudd saves his best until it's too late Abbott shouldn't be looking back on defence Just In More Just In » Bucket of chlorine thrown at woman in 'random attack' A woman is being treated in Nepean Hospital after having a bucket of chlorine thrown over her in Sydney's west. More » Nathan Tinkler's Aston Metals enters receivership Brazil, Mexico ask US to explain if NSA spied on presidents Microsoft to buy Nokia phone business for $8 billion Village remains in mourning after children's poisoning deaths RBA leaves interest rate at 2.5 per cent Court told teen suicide victim failed by mental health system Top End under attack as US 'invasion' begins Prosecutors raise stakes against coal hoax accused Young pilots praised for 'textbook' emergency landing World More World » Brazil, Mexico ask US to explain if NSA spied on presidents Brazil demands an explanation from the US after a new report on an NSA leak shows Washington spied on its president. More » Microsoft to buy Nokia phone business for $8 billion Village remains in mourning after children's poisoning deaths Funding granted for recovery of remains at Pike River mine Kenya police chief sent human head in a box Robredo sends Federer crashing out of Open Business More Business » RBA leaves interest rate at 2.5 per cent By business reporter Pat McGrath The Reserve Bank of Australia has left the official interest rate unchanged at a historic low of 2.5 per cent. The rate has been cut by 225 basis points since November 2011 and is at its lowest level since 1960. More » Nathan Tinkler's Aston Metals enters receivership Microsoft to buy Nokia phone business for $8 billion US phone company Verizon buys Vodafone out of US partnership ACCC approves Virgin Australia's deal with Air New Zealand Politics More Politics » Brazil, Mexico ask US to explain if NSA spied on presidents Brazil demands an explanation from the US after a new report on an NSA leak shows Washington spied on its president. More » Abbott warns Labor not to 'commit suicide twice' on carbon tax Your say: Kevin Rudd makes impassioned defence of gay marriage Labor at risk of losing four Queensland seats, according to latest poll ICAC dealings private until they reach court Sport More Sport » Robredo sends Federer crashing out of Open Five-time US Open winner Roger Federer has lost in the fourth round in straight sets to Spain's Tommy Robredo. More » Buddy to miss final against Swans Gunners grab Ozil as transfer window shuts Ricciardo named as Webber's successor at Red Bull Gallen to miss Raiders but will be back for finals Vinci beats Giorgi, makes quarters at wet US Open Science and Technology More Science and Technology » Microsoft to buy Nokia phone business for $8 billion Microsoft has announced it will acquire Nokia's mobile phone business for almost $8 billion. More » New method might boost accuracy of heatwave forecasts Several new species found around remote WA coast Businesses tracking customers via mobile phone signals Photographer's Near Miss proves the perfect snap Environment More Environment » Fukushima plant's radioactive water to be dumped in Pacific By North Asia correspondent Mark Willacy, wires The head of Japan's nuclear watchdog has flagged dumping radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific, but says the level of contamination in the water would be well within legal limits. More » Greg Hunt not giving the full story on climate research Photographer's Near Miss proves the perfect snap Japanese brave notorious temper of Sakurajima volcano Abbott using outdated figure on carbon tax cost to households 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. Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 700 Harris Street, Ultimo NSW 2007 © 2013 ABC | Conditions of Use | Privacy Policy | Discover other ABC Email newsletters