ABC NewsMail - Morning Edition

NewsMail Morning Edition Wed 06 Nov, 2013 Top Stories More Top Stories » Julie Bishop to return to Indonesia to face more spying questions By Naomi Woodley Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will return to Indonesia today, where she is expected to face more questions about reports of espionage. Ms Bishop is attending the Bali Democracy Forum, but her third visit to the country since September is being overshadowed by Indonesia's frustration that Australia will not provide answers about its intelligence-gathering activities. After failing to secure answers from the Australian and US governments, Indonesian foreign minister Marty Natalegawa has suggested co-operation and information-sharing in areas like people smuggling would be reviewed. But at least one analyst says the Indonesian government is merely playing to a domestic audience. More » Joe Hockey to take axe to Labor's tax announcements Toronto Mayor Rob Ford admits to smoking crack cocaine Pig farmers hit back in battle with welfare groups No big savings from repeal of carbon tax, group warns Holden closure could cost SA economy $1.24b Nazi-looted art trove contains lost works by Matisse, Dix and Chagall More Analysis » So much for our closer relationship with Indonesia For a time it might have appeared that Australia at long last had allayed lingering suspicions in the region that it was merely an interloper, a pawn in the geo-political domination of the global South by the global North. But thanks to revelations about clandestine eavesdropping, Australia is once again viewed with suspicion by its Asian neighbours and our plan to stop the boats has hit a rock. There is not much room for Tony Abbott to manoeuvre now. Diplomatic reassurances that Australia is a genuine team player in the region will be met with wry smiles in the neighbourhood. More » Never trust the 'diary' of a political spinner Whatever you think of unions, this isn't fair The pressure is off - time to make the tough calls People are scared about fracking for good reason Why should stupidity be illegal? Our political ignorance won't stay blissful forever Student debt should be tweaked, not sold When ministers operate on a wink and a nudge Missing votes and the preference lotto Just In More Just In » David Hicks lodges appeal to overturn terrorism conviction By North America correspondent Michael Vincent Lawyers for former Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks have filed an appeal to overturn his conviction for providing material support for terrorism. More » Man to face court over Sydney shooting murder Nazi-looted art trove contains lost works by Matisse, Dix and Chagall Qld Chief Magistrate's bikie bail directive an 'abuse of power' Joe Hockey to take axe to Labor's tax announcements Catastrophic fire rating imposed for west of SA Julie Bishop to return to Indonesia to face more spying questions Toronto Mayor Rob Ford admits to smoking crack cocaine Dramatic decline in Bosnian population since 1990s No big savings from repeal of carbon tax, group warns World More World » Nazi-looted art trove contains lost works by Matisse, Dix and Chagall Previously unknown paintings by Henri Matisse, Otto Dix and Marc Chagall were among a vast trove of Nazi-looted art found in a Munich apartment. More » Toronto Mayor Rob Ford admits to smoking crack cocaine Dramatic decline in Bosnian population since 1990s India's mission to Mars blasts off Hundreds of Bangladeshi soldiers sentenced to death over mutiny DR Congo M23 rebels end insurgency, pledge to disarm Business More Business » Reserve Bank leaves interest rates on hold at 2.5 pc By finance reporter Justine Parker The Reserve Bank has left Australia's official interest rate steady at the historic low of 2.5 per cent. The RBA's decision to hold its fire on Melbourne Cup day was widely tipped by economists, given recent signs of a pick up in the housing sector and employment. Governor Glenn Stevens said the economy was likely to keep growing at a slightly slower than average pace in the short term as it adjusts to "lower levels of mining investment". Mr Stevens also described the exchange rate as still too high. More » BCA prods Australia's top companies on gender targets Johnson & Johnson fined $2.2 billion for faulty drug claims Vacant homes keeping Melbourne house prices high: report Blackberry chief steps down as smartphone maker abandons sale Share market closes higher as RBA keeps rates steady Politics More Politics » Joe Hockey to take axe to Labor's tax announcements Treasurer Joe Hockey is expected to announce this morning that the Federal Government is ditching a range of Labor's proposed tax changes. The Government has set itself a December deadline to resolve uncertainty over tax and superannuation policies dating back to 2001. Of dozens of unlegislated proposals, Mr Hockey is expected to announce that the Government will keep 18 and consult on whether to ditch the rest. Seven policies will definitely be dumped, including Labor's proposed fringe benefits tax changes for the car industry, tax on superannuation pensions and changes to thin capitalisation. It is understood the Coalition is planning to keep Labor's planned slug on cigarettes in a hike that will see an increase to excise not just once, but four times over the next four years. More » Julie Bishop to return to Indonesia to face more spying questions Toronto Mayor Rob Ford admits to smoking crack cocaine No big savings from repeal of carbon tax, group warns DR Congo M23 rebels end insurgency, pledge to disarm Sport More Sport » Fiorente wins Melbourne Cup Gai Waterhouse became the first female Australian trainer to win the Melbourne Cup as Fiorente finished ahead of Red Cadeaux. More » Oliver back on top with third Cup win Nadal close to sealing top spot after Ferrer win Cook plays down Warne jibes Starc set to miss Ashes Neill to survive Socceroos axe Science and Technology More Science and Technology » India's mission to Mars blasts off India has successfully launched its first mission to Mars as the country aims to become the only Asian nation to reach the red planet. More » Journal corrects paper by NSW academic facing misconduct probe Australian websites hacked in protest at spy claims Rare solar eclipse sweeps across America, Europe and Africa E-health rollout has not met expectations: doctors Environment More Environment » No big savings from repeal of carbon tax, group warns One of Australia's largest business groups says consumers may not see a big difference in the price of many products when the carbon tax is removed. More » RSPCA backs cull of feral horses in WA Rare solar eclipse sweeps across America, Europe and Africa Scientists look to Arctic Ocean as Greenland Sea heats up Sea Shepherd captain expects Australian government support 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