ABC NewsMail - Afternoon Edition

NewsMail Afternoon Edition Tue 13 May, 2014 Top Stories More Top Stories » Live: Coalition prepares to deliver 'tough' budget Treasurer Joe Hockey is preparing to hand down the Abbott Government's first budget, which is expected to include widespread spending cuts alongside billions of dollars for road building and other infrastructure projects. Hikes to fuel excise and to personal income taxes for high-income earners are also expected. The Opposition has attacked the Prime Minister, claiming he has broken his promise not introduce new or increase current taxes. But the Government insists it will have reduced taxes by $5.7 billion in 2014/15. Follow all the day's political action on our live blog. More » Budget 2014: What we know and what to expect 11 things to watch as Abbott Government delivers first budget Fire truck freed from 'sink hole' after 10-hour ordeal Annual specialist referrals wasting millions, say GPs Garrett 'not aware' of risks during insulation roll-out Pace of house price rises starting to slow: ABS Hotel probes leak of Beyonce's sister, Jay-Z fight video Alcohol killed 3.3m people worldwide in 2012: WHO False sex abuse claims may deter male teachers: union More Analysis » Deficit of credibility for tough love budget It seems the public already has firm views about the Abbott Government's first budget: in voter-land, it just doesn't add up. Without believing the central premise that there's a budget emergency, voters are left with a sick feeling they'll pay for a budget that doesn't fix the economy but rather punishes ordinary people in favour of the wealthy. All this is hurting Tony Abbott's approval rating, which is now equivalent to the worst that dogged Julia Gillard during her prime ministership. More » The big and very public business of politics Selling the Mint: the new faces of Aussie currency Beware the Border Force fetish Banning donations would stifle democracy Don't follow the Fairfax model on job cuts Faith and politics and ... economics? Abbott's guide to how (not) to sell your budget Abbott has nowhere left to hide on education We were blinded by bounty, now we must act Just In More Just In » ACCC issues two more recalls over dye with cancer risk By consumer affairs reporter Amy Bainbridge The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued recalls for two more clothing items that contain a hazardous dye linked to cancer. More » Murder victim died trying to protect pregnant daughter, court told Crown case against Robert Xie 'pure speculation': defence Ray Carter 'heartbroken' after giving evidence against Hartcher, ICAC hears 'One-punch' murder accused denied bail Sydney FC rules out bid for Rio Ferdinand Pace of house price rises starting to slow: ABS Hotel probes leak of Beyonce's sister, Jay-Z fight video Bird set to contest dangerous throw charge Road to World Cup: Socceroos' bumpy ride World More World » Hotel probes leak of Beyonce's sister, Jay-Z fight video A New York hotel is investigating the leak of CCTV video of Beyonce's sister attacking rapper Jay-Z in a lift. More » Narendra Modi leads in India exit polls Pope Francis offers Martians baptism Rebels bid to join Russia after east Ukraine referendum Barkley in, Carrick out for England Cup squad Three crew members of S Korea ferry named as martyrs Business More Business » Budget will be 'easy to criticise but important to support': Hockey By political correspondent Emma Griffiths Treasurer Joe Hockey warned that today's budget will be an "easy" one to criticise but an important one to support "for the nation", as Prime Minister Tony Abbott met Coalition MPs this morning to calm their nerves. Tonight Mr Hockey will hand down his first budget, expected to include widespread spending cuts alongside billions of dollars for road-building and other infrastructure projects. "I would say to the Australian people, if you're only looking in the budget for your own interests, then you may be disappointed, but if you're looking for the national interests you will be cheered," Mr Hockey said as he arrived at Parliament House this morning. More » Budget 2014: What we know and what to expect Ford almost doubles losses, warns of earlier redundancies at Vic plants Port Hedland tugboat workers' strike could cost millions: BHP warns Pace of house price rises starting to slow: ABS Wall Street sets records after traders push indexes up overnight We were blinded by bounty, now we must act Politics More Politics » Ray Carter 'heartbroken' after giving evidence against Hartcher, ICAC hears By state political reporter Sarah Gerathy A veteran staffer of former energy minister Chris Hartcher says it broke his heart to give evidence against his long-time boss at a corruption inquiry in Sydney. More » Narendra Modi leads in India exit polls False sex abuse claims may deter male teachers: union MPs diaries will be published to improve transparency following ICAC allegations Budget will be 'easy to criticise but important to support': Hockey Sport More Sport » Giants player charged with assault GWS Giants midfielder Toby Greene has reportedly been charged with several assault-based offences in Melbourne. More » No further action against Mitchell Pearce Bird set to contest dangerous throw charge Dragons delay decision on Benji selection Road to World Cup: Socceroos' bumpy ride Reds approaching Wallabies exile O'Connor with 'open mind' Science and Technology More Science and Technology » Seaweed extracts used to help reproduce human bone, repair tissue By Sean Murphy Australian researchers have successfully used seaweed to help regenerate bone and damaged human tissue in medical trials which could lead to new treatments for serious diseases such as cancer and schizophrenia. More » 'Star Wars' robotic arm for amputees approved for sale Researchers develop three-dimensional body parts for implant Commission of Audit proposal may restrict business innovation Nutrition levels will drop as carbon dioxide rises: study Environment More Environment » Fire truck freed from 'sink hole' after 10-hour ordeal Emergency services have freed a fire truck that was caught in a hole for 10 hours and teetering on the edge of a cliff in Bilgola on Sydney's northern beaches. The fire crew was responding to reports of flooding due to a burst water main about 4:00am when the vehicle hit what they thought was a pothole on The Serpentine Road. The burst main also caused flooding and a minor landslip that filled houses at the bottom of the embankment with mud and silt. More » Floating solar power plant aims to cut evaporation Scientists develop new explanation for drying Australia Japan continues whaling in north-west Pacific 10 countries with the world's dirtiest air 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