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NewsMail Morning Edition Fri 20 Sep, 2013 Top Stories More Top Stories » Abbott urged to 'step up' and consider lifting GST Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett has reignited the debate over the Good and Services Tax (GST), calling on the Prime Minister to show leadership and consider lifting the tax rate. The Federal Government intends to set up a wide-ranging review of the tax system, but prior to the election Prime Minister Tony Abbott ruled out changes to the GST. Mr Barnett, whose state lost its AAA credit rating on Wednesday, says revenue from the GST is not growing fast enough to fund basic services like health and education. He says while Mr Abbott made a political promise not to lift the GST, he thinks the Prime Minister will have little choice but to address the issue. "One of the tough jobs Tony Abbott is going to have is to step up to the plate, as they say, and take some leadership on the federation. Front and centre in that will be the GST issue." More » Pope says church should not obsess over homosexuality, abortion JPMorgan fined $970 million over 'London whale' Abbott's lobbyist integrity drive sparks resignations Draft IPCC report predicts sea levels to rise a metre by end of century Greece vows to rein in neo-Nazi group after rapper's murder UEFA backs moving 2022 World Cup in Qatar from summer More Analysis » Abbott wise to pull back... but not too far Tony Abbott's immediate media strategy is to put the country to sleep, or at least lower the volume so that everybody can enjoy a little quiet reflection after a tumultuous few years. That approach is eminently defensible and politically smart. It will represent a stark contrast to the appalling priorities of the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd governments over the past six years. Nevertheless, Abbott should consider the cautionary tale of Ted Baillieu before he stops feeding the chooks altogether. More » Labor's mini-moguls lose power but gain perspective Australia's new PM for Women has a lot to learn Disability reform is enough to keep any minister busy Only one side is fighting the curriculum wars Conspiracy theories do no good for democracy Modern politics 101: adapt or perish Where are all the 'others' we keep voting for? Policy challenge: Abbott's education plans Open the gates for stories about disability Just In More Just In » New Zealand made to wait again for America's Cup win A seemingly inevitable victory by Emirates Team New Zealand in the America's Cup has been delayed for one more day. More » Inquiry accuses South African police of lying about shootings JPMorgan fined $970 million over 'London whale' Arson squad investigates cause of fatal house fire Count continues in Fairfax as Palmer keeps slim lead British tourist trampled to death by elephant in India Teller jailed for inside job robbery Kerry tells world leaders to 'stand up and speak out' against Syria at UN Aged care residents more likely to be hospitalised: report UEFA countries say 'impossible' to have summer World Cup World More World » New Zealand made to wait again for America's Cup win A seemingly inevitable victory by Emirates Team New Zealand in the America's Cup has been delayed for one more day. More » Inquiry accuses South African police of lying about shootings JPMorgan fined $970 million over 'London whale' British tourist trampled to death by elephant in India Kerry tells world leaders to 'stand up and speak out' against Syria at UN UEFA countries say 'impossible' to have summer World Cup Business More Business » JPMorgan fined $970 million over 'London whale' Banking giant JPMorgan Chase has agreed to pay more than $900 million in fines to US and British regulators and made a a rare public admission of wrongdoing over actions involved in last year's 'London whale' trading debacle. Settlements with four US and British regulators resolve the biggest civil probes of the bank's $6.2 billion of Whale derivatives trading losses last year. Criminal investigations are still under way. "JPMorgan failed to keep watch over its traders as they overvalued a very complex portfolio to hide massive losses," the US Securities and Exchange Commission said in announcing the settlement. More » Share market rallies after Fed stimulus decision Official figures show largest drop in quarterly employment for 13 years PNG government takes control of Ok Tedi mine, orders BHP Billiton to pay for pollution in the Fly River ASX directors quit after being embroiled in US trading scandal CommSec crashes amid biggest share market rally in weeks Politics More Politics » Abbott urged to 'step up' and consider lifting GST Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett has reignited the debate over the Good and Services Tax (GST), calling on the Prime Minister to show leadership and consider lifting the tax rate. The Federal Government intends to set up a wide-ranging review of the tax system, but prior to the election Prime Minister Tony Abbott ruled out changes to the GST. Mr Barnett, whose state lost its AAA credit rating on Wednesday, says revenue from the GST is not growing fast enough to fund basic services like health and education. He says while Mr Abbott made a political promise not to lift the GST, he thinks the Prime Minister will have little choice but to address the issue. "One of the tough jobs Tony Abbott is going to have is to step up to the plate, as they say, and take some leadership on the federation. Front and centre in that will be the GST issue." More » Abbott's lobbyist integrity drive sparks resignations Ex-lover of former Macedonian ambassador discusses blackmail case Child abuse, neglect on the rise in Australia: report TEPCO ignored warnings about Fukushima contamination Sport More Sport » McGlynn, Rohan back for Swans in AFL Sydney's Ben McGlynn and Gary Rohan regain their spots for Saturday's AFL preliminary final against Fremantle. More » Cranky Shark Gallen rules out Carney Diamonds level Test series with New Zealand Murray to undergo back surgery, faces season end Bolt admits to unfinished business I won't walk out on Eels, says Hayne Science and Technology More Science and Technology » Shark population decline linked to reef damage By Samantha Donovan Marine scientists say they have found evidence of the role sharks play in reef environments, with declining shark populations linked to damage on coral reefs. More » Australian researchers mothball scramjet project after failed test Technical glitch gives Iranians temporary social media access Liberal MP hits out at science 'confusion' in Abbott ministry Scientists say humans key factor in global warming Environment More Environment » British tourist trampled to death by elephant in India A 69-year-old British tourist has been trampled to death by an elephant in India as he was engrossed in taking photographs, according to reports. More » Draft IPCC report predicts sea levels to rise a metre by end of century Flannery defends Climate Commission after axing Shark population decline linked to reef damage PNG landowners conned by companies cutting down forests: O'Neill 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 © 2013 ABC | Conditions of Use | Privacy Policy | Discover other ABC Email newsletters