ABC NewsMail - Afternoon Edition

NewsMail Afternoon Edition Tue 06 May, 2014 Top Stories More Top Stories » Costello warns debt levy has no economic benefit By political reporter Latika Bourke Peter Costello is warning PM Tony Abbott against breaking his promise not to introduce new taxes, saying the proposed debt levy has "no economic benefit". Federal Cabinet is expected to approve a deficit levy to be included in next week's budget tomorrow. Mr Costello says the Government's rationale for the levy is "political" and not economic and warns that "attacks over tax promises can be devastatingly effective â€" just ask Julia Gillard". The Government says a levy is the only way of ensuring the rich, who do not receive taxpayer benefits, do their fair share of helping to repair the budget. More » James Packer and David Gyngell risk business reputations over Bondi brawl ICAC investigator flags new evidence implicating Mike Gallacher Navy added passengers before turn-back: asylum crew Victorian budget reveals details of big-ticket rail projects Foreign-trained doctor investigated over four operations Troy Buswell apologises for car crashes, reveals bipolar diagnosis Reserve Bank keeps interest rates on hold U-2 spy plane causes US air traffic meltdown Vietnam Airlines flight abandons take-off in Melbourne More Analysis » You can't just tax your way to a surplus "Temporary" taxes are rarely temporary. Once introduced, they have a habit of staying high and sticking around. It is important that we reduce the deficit as soon as possible. But not by any means possible. While the long-term dynamic of forgiving budget deficits would be bad, the medium-term dynamic of introducing higher taxes would be far worse. More » Breaking through the class ceiling Treasurer for sale? Not exactly Campaign madness breeds government regrets Baristas beware: robots are out for your jobs Abduction of Nigerian girls demands aid rethink Bondi's game of groans Don't take these dystopian budget ideas seriously Afghan powerbrokers risk election mess When does interrogation become torture? Just In More Just In » Six injured in knife attack in southern China Six people have been wounded in a knife attack at a train station in Guangzhou city in southern China. Police shot one of the attackers at the train station, the city's public security bureau said in a statement on its microblog, adding all six injured had been hospitalised. A Chinese state-owned newspaper says police killed one attacker but the other escaped. More » Rodman claims North Korean leader Jong-Un didn't execute uncle Laughing gas safe to use, according to Alfred Hospital study Victorian budget reveals details of big-ticket rail projects Anderson accuses CLP of racism at party meeting Brisbane honours Roar with ticker-tape parade Reserve Bank keeps interest rates on hold Myer looks stranded as David Jones looks forward to Woolworths Packer and Gyngell risk reputations over Bondi brawl Christopher Pyne dismisses Coalition's Newspoll slump World More World » Six injured in knife attack in southern China Six people have been wounded in a knife attack at a train station in Guangzhou city in southern China. Police shot one of the attackers at the train station, the city's public security bureau said in a statement on its microblog, adding all six injured had been hospitalised. A Chinese state-owned newspaper says police killed one attacker but the other escaped. More » Rodman claims North Korean leader Jong-Un didn't execute uncle Somalia ranked worst place to be a mother Treasure hunters recover $1.4m in gold from 1857 shipwreck Egypt presidential favourite says Muslim Brotherhood finished U-2 spy plane causes US air traffic meltdown Business More Business » Reserve Bank keeps interest rates on hold By business reporter Michael Janda The Reserve Bank has again promised stability, leaving interest rates on hold at 2.5 per cent for the ninth straight month. More » Trade surplus falls but still bodes well for economic growth Packer and Gyngell risk reputations over Bondi brawl David Jones sales jump leaves Myer in shade Myer looks stranded as David Jones looks forward to Woolworths ACCC will test new legislation in action against Coles Costello warns debt levy has no economic benefit Politics More Politics » Anderson accuses CLP of racism at party meeting The Northern Territory leader of the Palmer United Party (PUP) has accused Chief Minister Adam Giles of allowing racist comments at a meeting of the Country Liberal Party (CLP). Alison Anderson said the derogatory comments were made about her, Larisa Lee and Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu - the three bush MLAs who last month quit the CLP for the PUP - at a meeting on April 15. "They called us coons, niggers and monkeys. You know, they're bred by the best, the racist part of the Country Liberal Party," she told 105.7 ABC Darwin. The CLP, however, has said the allegations were completely false and an effort to stir up trouble. More » Christopher Pyne dismisses Coalition's Newspoll slump Troy Buswell apologises for car crashes, reveals bipolar diagnosis Bob Such attends opening of SA Parliament despite leave for tumour Egypt presidential favourite says Muslim Brotherhood finished Sport More Sport » Brisbane honours Roar with ticker-tape parade Fans lined the streets of Brisbane to honour the Roar's third A-League championship. More » Liverpool throws it away against Palace Pattinson suffers further injury setback Viney bump sent straight to AFL tribunal Suarez honoured with Footballer of the Year award Hannant out of favour in Brisbane: reports Science and Technology More Science and Technology » Samsung ordered to pay Apple $129m over patents A US jury has ordered electronics company Samsung to pay $129 million to Apple, in what experts see as a big loss for the iPhone maker in the latest round of their globe-spanning mobile patent litigation. More » CSIRO needs $175m to upgrade ageing buildings: Audit Scientists look to past to beat antibiotic resistance Chemo researchers 'discover immune cells on/off switch' Gene test could boost breast cancer survival rate Environment More Environment » Miner's corporate affairs manager developing environmental policy for LNP By the National Reporting Team's Mark Solomons and Mark Willacy The head of corporate affairs for a mining company at the centre of an environmental dispute has been in charge of developing policy on the environment for Queensland's ruling Liberal National Party (LNP) since 2012. James Mackay also worked full-time for the LNP during the 2012 election, while he was being paid $10,000 a month by the company, QCoal.  QCoal is embroiled in controversy over plans to divert Coral Creek in north Queensland to mine the coal underneath. The company's owner, reclusive billionaire Chris Wallin, is one of the LNP's biggest donors. More » Nyrstar smelter transformation getting SA Government guarantee Western quoll returns to Flinders Ranges in SA Government releases climate change policy white paper National Water Commission under threat from budget cuts 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