ABC NewsMail - Afternoon Edition

NewsMail Afternoon Edition Tue 25 Feb, 2014 Top Stories More Top Stories » Abbott flags cuts to growth of health and education spending By business editor Peter Ryan, staff Prime Minister Tony Abbott has flagged he wants to curb spending growth in health and education in the longer term. Mr Abbott promised at the election he would not make cuts to the overall health and education budgets. But in last night's speech to the Australian-Canada Economic Leadership Forum in Melbourne, the Prime Minister suggested he would move to curb spending growth to help balance the budget. "We will keep our pre-election commitments to maintain health spending and school spending, but we must reduce the rate of spending growth in the longer term if debt is to be paid off and good schools and hospitals are to be sustainable," he said. "You can't spend money until you can have the means to pay it back. As this Government said pre-election, within three years, Australia will be on track for a sustainable surplus." More » Coles, Woolworths taken to court over fuel discount vouchers Convicted child rapist denies killing schoolboy Daniel Morcombe Police hunt arsonist as open cut mine fire continues to burn in Victoria Two injured after scaffolding collapses at Sydney building site Craig Thomson apology to be made by Parliament Ghostbusters actor Harold Ramis dies aged 69 More Analysis » Another G20 deal for everyone to ignore It's a bit much to say Joe Hockey had a "win" by striking a deal with G20 finance ministers given the organisation itself is fundamentally worthless. The ease with which the G20 signed up to a growth agenda now the GFC has abated is a sign of its irrelevancy rather than vibrancy. Ultimately countries are going to pursue their own domestic agendas and organisations like the G20 either endorse pre-existing national policy preferences or are ignored. More » The momentum of events Racism hides true culprit of housing discrimination Busting out of a three-lane life with the Boss The morality of Manus can no longer be avoided Don't fall for the Qantas ruse Manus Island riot: a plague on both your houses Making meaning from celebrity death Juggling careers, childcare and choice Manus Island violence: shocking but not surprising Just In More Just In » Will the Cambodia refugee proposal work? analysis by Zoe Daniel If the Malaysia solution was complicated enough, Cambodia will be tricky in a much less developed country, writes Zoe Daniels. More » Match-winners for the Cape Town Test Profile: George Pell's career in the Catholic Church Asylum seekers' details available on website for over a week CCTV released in hunt for Sydney gang member's killer Choice hits back in food-ratings website controversy Mining firms hold back Australian share market Fatal truck crash at Serpentine Police hunt arsonist as Hazelwood mine fire continues to burn Two injured after scaffolding collapses at Sydney building site World More World » Death toll rises as Venezuela anti-government protests continue Anti-government demonstrators have put up barricades and set fire to rubbish in Venezuela's capital, Caracas, despite calls from within the opposition to rein in protests that have led to 13 deaths in the country's worst unrest for a decade. More » Facebook gives up on email Japan to lift part of Fukushima evacuation order Pentagon to slash US army to pre-WWII levels Ghostbusters actor Harold Ramis dies aged 69 Leopard terrorises northern Indian city Business More Business » Qantas still keeping job loss numbers below the radar By business editor Peter Ryan, staff Qantas is refusing to comment on speculation that it will announce 5,000 job cuts when its half-year results are released on Thursday. The struggling carrier is under pressure to restructure its finances as it seeks a debt guarantee from the Federal Government. However Qantas says it will not comment on the latest job cut figure reported by News Limited tabloid newspapers, which quote an unnamed Qantas source. "There is lots of speculation about what things we will or won't announce on Thursday, but we're not in a position to comment on that speculation," a Qantas spokesman told the ABC. More » Coles and Woolworths taken to court over fuel discounts Mining firms hold back Australian share market Singleton slams Fairfax bosses over failed radio deal QBE confirms $281m loss on back of US insurance sales GrainCorp forecasts profit fall because of drought Politics More Politics » Will the Cambodia refugee proposal work? analysis by Zoe Daniel If the Malaysia solution was complicated enough, Cambodia will be tricky in a much less developed country, writes Zoe Daniels. More » Choice hits back in food-ratings website controversy Plibersek to introduce private members bill on marriage equality Craig Thomson apology to be made by Parliament Abbott flags cuts to growth of health and education spending Sport More Sport » Postecoglou to go for 'new look' against Ecuador Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou is poised to reveal some of his hand regarding his World Cup selection plans. More » Match-winners for the Cape Town Test Blues base can help end Queensland dominance Lehmann says Australia 'absolutely flogged' in second Test Postecoglou offers Neill no World Cup assurances Selectors mull Shane Watson return Science and Technology More Science and Technology » Qld scientists hope to turn China's red bayberry into Aussie favourite By Courtney Wilson Queensland scientists are hoping to turn a traditional Chinese fruit into a new Australian favourite. More » Researchers use sensors to develop new car crash avoidance systems NBN Co to launch trial of alternative broadband network Canberra is nation's hot spot for broadband access Facebook acquires WhatsApp in $19 billion deal Environment More Environment » No reliable link between wind farms and health problems, NHMRC says By environment reporter Jake Sturmer No reliable evidence exists that wind farms directly cause health problems, a review by the National Health and Medical Research Council has found. More » Barrier Reef board members cleared of conflict of interest Landslides in Indonesia's Papua kill 11, two missing Nun, 84, jailed for breaking into US nuclear facility Government to review Renewable Energy Target 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 © 2014 ABC | Conditions of Use | Privacy Policy | Discover other ABC Email newsletters