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NewsMail Afternoon Edition Tue 03 Dec, 2013 Top Stories More Top Stories » Abbott threatens to make MPs sit through Christmas By political reporter Latika Bourke Prime Minister Tony Abbott has accused Labor of giving voters the "two-fingered salute" and is threatening to extend Parliament into the Christmas break unless the Opposition agrees to pass his Government's legislative agenda. The Government wants to repeal the carbon tax, raise the debt ceiling to $500 billion and restore Temporary Protection Visas - all measures that Labor opposes. "I don't think the Labor Party should get a free pass at Christmas time ... they really should be listening to the people of Australia," Mr Abbott said. He earlier accused Labor of trying to "wreck" the country, and raised the prospect of keeping Parliament sitting through December until his legislation was approved by the Senate. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has also been on the attack, saying the Government has had "the shortest honeymoon in history" and describing its handling of the schools funding furore as "cataclysmic". More » Government looking at new measures to stop permanent arrivals Reserve Bank leaves the official interest rate on hold at 2.5 per cent ABC's Mark Scott defends publishing spy story Cairns murder victim's teeth found in drain, court told Two Sydney men arrested for allegedly attempting to join Syria fighting Patients stopping heart drugs because of ABC's Catalyst program: survey More Analysis » Qantas: the spirit of Australian nationalism If the Abbott Government wants to save Qantas, it has two options. It can abolish the absurd, nationalist and anachronistic restrictions on foreign investment in the Qantas Sale Act - completing privatisation and increasing Qantas' competitiveness. Or it can commit Qantas to the cycle of subsidy and decline that has entrapped our car industry. 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More » Salvage operation ends after Scottish helicopter crash New York crash train was travelling nearly three times speed limit Bill Gates says Amazon drone delivery plan 'overoptimistic' Bob Dylan investigated in France for 'racist' comments French artist Laure Prouvost wins Turner Prize Business More Business » Reserve Bank leaves the official interest rate on hold at 2.5 per cent By business reporter Pat McGrath The Reserve Bank has left Australia's official interest rate unchanged at the historic low of 2.5 per cent, in line with economists' forecasts. Concerns about ongoing uncertainty in the global economy has led the the central bank has cut the cash rate by 225 basis points since November 2011. The most recent cut came in August, when the RBA lowered the rate by 25 basis points. More » Retail sales beat expectations in October Bill Gates says Amazon drone delivery plan 'overoptimistic' Global markets dip despite positive US economic data Former NBN Co boss warns Government review not to rewrite history Politics More Politics » Abbott threatens to make MPs sit through Christmas By political reporter Latika Bourke Prime Minister Tony Abbott has accused Labor of giving voters the "two-fingered salute" and is threatening to extend Parliament into the Christmas break unless the Opposition agrees to pass his Government's legislative agenda. The Government wants to repeal the carbon tax, raise the debt ceiling to $500 billion and restore Temporary Protection Visas - all measures that Labor opposes. "I don't think the Labor Party should get a free pass at Christmas time ... they really should be listening to the people of Australia," Mr Abbott said. He earlier accused Labor of trying to "wreck" the country, and raised the prospect of keeping Parliament sitting through December until his legislation was approved by the Senate. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has also been on the attack, saying the Government has had "the shortest honeymoon in history" and describing its handling of the schools funding furore as "cataclysmic". More » AWU flags legal challenge to Gove refinery closure Government looking at new measures to stop permanent arrivals States want Coalition to honour original Gonski funding model Pyne hails 'national model' after backflip on Gonski funding Sport More Sport » Clarke skips Adelaide training with sore ankle Michael Clarke has missed training in Adelaide with a stiff ankle, but he is still tipped to play in the second Ashes Test. More » Postecoglou arrives in Brazil for World cup draw Bresnan ready to make his mark Folau determined to improve on 'brilliant' year Jedinak signs new deal with Palace Hewitt wins Newcombe Medal Science and Technology More Science and Technology » ACCC rejects complaints over nano-free sunscreen By Rachel Carbonell Nano-safety campaigners are criticising Australia's consumer watchdog over its decision to reject complaints against two sunscreen companies. The ACCC says the claims were not made in trade and that Australia lacks a legal definition of nano. More » Bill Gates says Amazon drone delivery plan 'overoptimistic' Bitcoin explained: the digital currency making millionaires Chinese launch sends rover to the Moon Department confirms NBN revenue may drop under Coalition plan Environment More Environment » Abbott hits YouTube to ramp up pressure on Labor over carbon tax By chief political correspondent Emma Griffiths, staff Prime Minister Tony Abbott has taken to YouTube in a bid to up the ante on Labor to axe the carbon tax. Legislation to repeal the scheme is set for debate in the Senate this week but the bills are headed for defeat at the hands of the Opposition and the Greens. Mr Abbott continues to push his assertion that abolishing the carbon price will save householders hundreds of dollars. "You could do a lot with $550. That's what every Australian household on average will get from the abolition of the carbon tax," he said in the video. "It would be the best possible Christmas present for the Australian people." Labor insists it will only agree to abolish the tax if it is replaced with an emissions trading scheme and not the Coalition's Direct Action policy. More » Somerset koalas give scientists hope Clean Energy Finance Corp warns shutdown will hit budget Kiribati man fails to become first climate change refugee Captive-bred Tasmanian devils thriving on island haven 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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