ABC NewsMail - Afternoon Edition

NewsMail Afternoon Edition Tue 05 Aug, 2014 Top Stories More Top Stories » Government backtracks on Racial Discrimination Act changes By political correspondent Emma Griffiths The Federal Government has taken contentious changes to racial discrimination laws "off the table" to protect national "unity" and moved to toughen the nation's security laws to combat home-grown terrorism. Prime Minister Tony Abbott, flanked by Attorney-General George Brandis and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, has revealed the measures at a press conference in Parliament House in Canberra. "When it comes to counter-terrorism, everyone needs to be part of Team Australia," Mr Abbott said. More » Gaza ceasefire begins; Bishop labels school attacks 'indefensible' Baby Gammy's father has child sex offence conviction Pearson disputes Peris view on Aboriginal income Victorian town marks firing of 'first shot' of WWI Interest rates pass a year on hold at record lows Farmer kept shooting as victim tried to flee, court told Ex-Army commando pleads guilty over sex photos 'Hobbit' skeleton a human with Down syndrome: research Jodhi Meares' drink-driving case in court More Analysis » The politics of (downward) envy Blaming the unemployed for their jobless status has become standard fare in Australian political life. While conservatives like to deride the "politics of envy", stoking downward envy has become a standard tactic of politicians and some sections of the media. But with its latest Tough Love proposal for dole bludgers, the Abbott Government has reached a point where many people are saying "enough already". More » Abbott needs to hit the reset button A poor plan to tackle the pirates Balibo's ghosts and East Timor's media law We must be honest with children about tragedy Believe me, Germans don't ignore WWI The West risks creating a Central Powers 2.0 We didn't choose to join WWI - nothing has changed Don't underestimate Aussie strategic thinking in 1914 Diplomacy failed in 1914 - it must not fail now Just In More Just In » Government backtracks on Racial Discrimination Act changes By political correspondent Emma Griffiths The Federal Government has taken contentious changes to racial discrimination laws "off the table" to protect national "unity" and moved to toughen the nation's security laws to combat home-grown terrorism. Prime Minister Tony Abbott, flanked by Attorney-General George Brandis and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, has revealed the measures at a press conference in Parliament House in Canberra. "When it comes to counter-terrorism, everyone needs to be part of Team Australia," Mr Abbott said. More » Cartwright quits as Titans coach: reports War widows speak of impact of conflict on loved ones Baby Gammy's father has child sex offence conviction Interest rates pass a year on hold at record lows Farmer kept shooting as victim tried to flee, court told NSW bail laws toughened to prevent 'unacceptable risks' Ex-MP survives almost eight hours trapped in grain silo Xie trial told bitterness and hatred behind killings Royal commission told of strike payments from redundancy trust fund World More World » China investigating Canadians over alleged spying China is investigating two Canadian nationals for suspected theft of state secrets involving military and national defence research. More » MH17 search effort hampered by fighting nearby China begins earthquake clean-up in Yunnan Gaza ceasefire begins; Bishop labels school attacks 'indefensible' James Brady, aide wounded in Reagan shooting, dies Troops deployed to enforce quarantine as Ebola toll rises Business More Business » Interest rates pass a year on hold at record lows By business reporter Michael Janda The official cash rate been on hold for a year at a record low 2.5 per cent, with the Reserve Bank leaving it unchanged at today's meeting. More » Share market slips despite Wall Street gains Transurban boosts profit at motorists' expense Cochlear profit falls but sales, shares surge Trade deficit narrows but weak commodity prices keep Australia in the red Services industry going backwards, but at slower pace Politics More Politics » Pearson disputes Peris view on Aboriginal income Indigenous community leader Noel Pearson has challenged the views of Senator Nova Peris on the issue of Aboriginal income management, warning that a failure to intervene could see more children taken away from their parents. Speaking on ABC's Q&A program, broadcast live from Arnhem Land, Mr Pearson said he supported the idea of Aboriginal income management, rejected by Peris as "discrimination". "I just know with the problems afflicting some of our communities... income management is the crucial first step," he said. More » Gaza ceasefire begins; Bishop labels school attacks 'indefensible' Bombing, rocket attacks reported during Gaza ceasefire Crossbencher rules out supporting PPL, Direct Action As it happened: World marks centenary of start of WWI Sport More Sport » Cartwright quits as Titans coach: reports John Cartwright has reportedly resigned as Gold Coast Titans coach amid the club's disappointing season. More » Geelong to contest Johnson's kneeing charge Injured Sio leaves Wallabies squad, Carter to miss Bledisloe Tests Tanking a negative influence on Melbourne: Roos Under-siege Tigers batten down hatches Leishman ready for major success Science and Technology More Science and Technology » CSIRO gets new research vessel 11 months overdue By Ros Lehman and Tom Nightingale Australia has officially taken possession of its new $122 million marine research vessel, Investigator, but almost 12 months later than scheduled. Billed as a game-changer for marine research, RV Investigator was expected to be completed last September and be operational by March. Now it is expected to arrive in Hobart in mid-September, where it will be fitted with research equipment worth $6.7 million. A series of delays saw the ship remain longer than expected in its Singapore shipyards, and those setbacks have impacted upon the CSIRO's 2014 research program. Project head Toni Moate, who was in Singapore to "pick up the keys", said the delay was within normal expectations for a build of its size. More » High-tech tools can turn carbon dioxide to oxygen: NASA Modern birds 'evolved from flesh-eating dinosaurs' Crew 'back on Earth' after simulated Mars mission NASA's Opportunity rover sets travel record on Mars Environment More Environment » Alan Jones and Greens co-founder reunite for coal seam gas fight By Kristine Taylor The coupling of Greens co-founder Drew Hutton and radio shock jock Alan Jones has taken aback plenty of observers. More » Nuclear waste dump could 'close Aboriginal gap': Hawke Coal power station to close, two years after $50m bailout Bow and arrow attacks on wildlife on the rise: carers Massive coal mine won't affect Great Barrier Reef: Hunt 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. 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