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NewsMail Morning Edition Mon 23 Dec, 2013 Top Stories More Top Stories » Government defends plans to change disability pension Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews has defended his plans to alter the Disability Support Pension to make it harder for some people to receive it permanently. More than 800,000 Australians receive the payment of up to $813 a fortnight - a number the Government says marks a 20 per cent increase in the past decade. Mr Andrews says he would prefer a two-tier system that separates permanent and temporary recipients, and he is looking at a number of options for a change. But the Opposition says the Coalition should rethink its costly paid parental leave scheme before it targets "the most vulnerable in society". Disability support advocates have also expressed concerns the Government will eventually move people off the pension and onto a lower payment. More » Home insulation scheme royal commission to get underway SA locals may hold clues about miniature horse slaughter Search continues for 5yo missing in water off Sydney Government accused of breaking election promise over whaling Freed Khodorkovsky to challenge Putin but won't enter politics Proteas fall just short of record run chase against India More Analysis » The Coalition is a victim of its own rhetoric For too long, the Coalition shouted about a budget emergency and a debt crisis. They created a sense of anxiety in the community. Having won that argument, they now need to drastically reduce both debt and deficit a time when the fundamentals beyond their control will make that task extremely difficult. The early months give a strong sense that both the economic and political achievements of the new Government will rest with the Treasurer, Joe Hockey. More » The age of internet empires The Hobbit as you've never experienced it before These falls may be just the beginning for the AUD The opportunistic embrace of free speech Tim Wilson and the balancing act of human rights Fear of missing out drove our Ashes success Hockey is saving the good news for May All Hockey wants for Christmas is a lower dollar Ashes: the urn is home for Christmas Just In More Just In » Government defends plans to change disability pension Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews has defended his plans to alter the Disability Support Pension to make it harder for some people to receive it permanently. More than 800,000 Australians receive the payment of up to $813 a fortnight - a number the Government says marks a 20 per cent increase in the past decade. Mr Andrews says he would prefer a two-tier system that separates permanent and temporary recipients, and he is looking at a number of options for a change. But the Opposition says the Coalition should rethink its costly paid parental leave scheme before it targets "the most vulnerable in society". Disability support advocates have also expressed concerns the Government will eventually move people off the pension and onto a lower payment. More » Proteas fall just short of record run chase against India Home insulation scheme royal commission to get underway Egyptian court jails leading anti-Mubarak activists Freed Khodorkovsky to challenge Putin but won't enter politics SA locals may hold clues about miniature horse slaughter Half a million wounded in Syria conflict: Red Cross DFAT tells Australians to leave South Sudan Fact File: Protecting people from shark attacks Can governments protect people from killer sharks? World More World » Proteas fall just short of record run chase against India South Africa fell tantalisingly close to a world record run chase of 458 as the Test against India ended in a draw. More » Egyptian court jails leading anti-Mubarak activists Freed Khodorkovsky to challenge Putin but won't enter politics Half a million wounded in Syria conflict: Red Cross DFAT tells Australians to leave South Sudan Bangladesh police charge 13 over deadliest garment factory fire Business More Business » Waratah talks up jobs potential of massive mine By Simon Lauder and staff Waratah Coal has welcomed the Federal Government's environmental approval of what could become Australia's biggest coal mine, despite the imposition of 49 conditions to ensure protection of sensitive wilderness. The company, owned by Federal MP Clive Palmer, says the operation in Queensland's Galilee Basin will produce 40 million tonnes of coal for export every year. The $6.4 billion project involves the construction of a 450-kilometre railway line, linking the thermal coal mine to a controversial terminal proposed for Abbot Point near Bowen. Environmentalists have been angered by the approval, fearing the mine and its rail link will threaten endangered bird species and a local nature reserve. More » Whitehaven Coal mine gets federal green light Coalition to alter Future of Financial Advice reforms Hockey approves Chinese investment in power companies Telstra to sell Hong Kong mobile for $2.73 billion Politics More Politics » Home insulation scheme royal commission to get underway The first public hearing of the royal commission into the Rudd government's home insulation scheme, which was linked to four deaths, gets underway in Brisbane today. More » Egyptian court jails leading anti-Mubarak activists Freed Khodorkovsky to challenge Putin but won't enter politics Government accused of breaking election promise over whaling Thai anti-government protesters mass ahead of major rally in Bangkok Sport More Sport » Spurs get back on track, Everton jumps to fourth Tim Sherwood made a winning start to his Tottenham tenure in Southampton while Everton climbed to fourth. More » Proteas fall just short of record run chase against India Brisbane Heat opens BBL title defence with win Glory unable to end bad week on winning note Wellington secures first win of A-League season Swann announces shock retirement Science and Technology More Science and Technology » Snorkel-clad spacewalkers leave ISS for crucial repairs Two NASA astronauts, their spacesuits rigged with snorkels in case of a water leak, have floated outside the International Space Station for more than five hours, successfully completing the first steps to fix the outpost's cooling system. More » Scientists reverse ageing process in mice Experts warn against experimental stem cell treatments 3D printed horseshoe breakthrough Study shows how parents lose perspective on child size Environment More Environment » Fact File: Protecting people from shark attacks As the weather warms up, many Australians head to the beach and into the water. They share the sea with a variety of creatures, including sharks. More » Can governments protect people from killer sharks? Government accused of breaking election promise over whaling Waratah talks up jobs potential of massive mine Palmer's Waratah Coal mine gets green light 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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