ABC NewsMail - Afternoon Edition

NewsMail Afternoon Edition Tue 12 Nov, 2013 Top Stories More Top Stories » 'Formidable' Bronwyn Bishop elected Speaker of 'Hogwarts' Parliament By chief political correspondent Emma Griffiths Veteran Liberal MP Bronwyn Bishop has pledged to be "impartial" in her new role as Speaker of the 44th Parliament. More than two months after the federal election, MPs and senators have been sworn in and the new Parliament officially opened. But the new Parliament began with some of the rancour which dominated the old one, with Tony Abbott jeered for saying the chamber "should never be a place where motives are impugned or characters assassinated". A Labor backbencher likened Mrs Bishop to a "head slave" for refusing to back quotas for women, and Manager of Opposition Business Tony Burke compared her to a Harry Potter villain. "When they all return to Hogwarts, Dumbledore is gone and Dolores Umbridge is now in charge of the school," he said. More » Survivors wait for help in typhoon-devastated city Family says 'Australia's first suicide bomber' alive and well Gittany has bail revoked in balcony death murder trial Woman in Milne rape case repeatedly asked footballer to stop, court told Joe Hockey approves Saputo's takeover bid for Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Ashes 2013: Australia names squad for Gabba Test, George Bailey to make debut More Analysis » Freedom: the forgotten human right Attorney-General George Brandis is right. Sure, the phrase 'the freedom agenda' sounds a bit naff. But a reorientation of public policy towards fundamental civil liberties is overdue. For too long the Australian Human Rights Commission has harboured a systemic, consistent, and unforgivable bias against some of the basic rights to freedom that it is supposed to protect. If the human rights community seriously can't abide the introduction of a freedom commissioner, then the commission ought be put out of its misery and abolished. More » The anti-doping farce continues Should alcohol and school fetes mix? Getting the Australian economy back on track Afghanistan's uncertain future Shared memory and the licensing of hate South Korea - Asia's overlooked powerhouse Ending the squabble over election mandates After Afghanistan: the faces of war Abbott shouldn't complain about a carbon tax delay Just In More Just In » Transurban launches bid for Cross City tunnel The company which owns the lion's share of Sydney's toll roads has launched a bid to buy out the failed Cross City Tunnel. More » Caterpillar distributor WesTrac to cut 630 jobs Australians worried depression will cost them their jobs: study Family says 'Australia's first suicide bomber' alive and well PNG police investigate reported tribal killings $18m racing championships unveiled for Sydney autumn carnival Philippines official makes emotional plea for climate change action 'Air of unreality' about evidence to ICAC Bailey to debut at Gabba as Ashes line-up named Gittany has bail revoked in murder trial World More World » PNG police investigate reported tribal killings By PNG correspondent Liam Fox Police in Papua New Guinea's rugged highlands are investigating reports that more than a dozen people have been killed in a long-running tribal fight. More » Philippines official makes emotional plea for climate change action Hundreds attend funeral for WWII veteran they never knew 29 killed in South African bus crash Djokovic sinks Nadal to win Tour Finals again Philippines typhoon: thousands dead in once-vibrant city transformed into wasteland Business More Business » Caterpillar distributor WesTrac to cut 630 jobs By business reporter Pat McGrath Caterpillar machinery dealer will shed positions over the next month as part of a restructure. More » Joe Hockey approves Saputo's takeover bid for WCB News Corp quarterly revenue drops Internet entrepreneur Simon Hackett joins NBN Co board Maurice Newman laments spending cuts quarantine, slams Rudd, Gillard governments over 'reckless' spending Politics More Politics » Honeymoon uranium mine might cease production Premier Jay Weatherill says he understands a drop in the price of uranium is behind reported closure plans for the Honeymoon mine in the far north-east of South Australia. More » Greenpeace activists moved from Murmansk to Saint Petersburg Acquisition of controversial gas hub land finalised 'Formidable' Bronwyn Bishop elected Speaker of 'Hogwarts' Parliament UNICEF calls on Parliament to tackle child poverty Sport More Sport » White, red ball form the same: Bailey Test call-up George Bailey says he is confident his one-day form will carry over to red-ball cricket. More » Slater calls pub attack 'wake-up call' for players Bailey to debut at Gabba as Ashes line-up named Former St Kilda footballer Stephen Milne's alleged rape victim repeatedly asked him to stop, court hears England seamer Finn keen on Ashes return Kuridrani in line to face O'Driscoll Science and Technology More Science and Technology » Olympic torch returns from space on Russian capsule A Russian spacecraft has brought three astronauts and the Olympic torch back to Earth after the torch was taken on its first spacewalk in the run-up to the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi. More » Public sector told not to renew contract workers' jobs Greens challenge charitable status of anti-wind farm group Scientists seek volunteers to have genetic code published on internet Australian schools to reap 3D printing benefits Environment More Environment » Philippines official makes emotional plea for climate change action A Filipino politician breaks down at a UN conference, calling for climate change action after Typhoon Haiyan devastated his home town. More » Greenpeace activists moved from Murmansk to Saint Petersburg Gillard urges Parliament to keep price on carbon Shark attack survivor stirs fascination with great whites Greens challenge charitable status of anti-wind farm group 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. 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