Builders could be forced to follow national planning laws on rising sea levels as a
report warns of dangerous annual storm tides within 60 years.

Last-minute talks with Prime Minister Julia Gillard have failed to convince
independent senator Nick Xenophon to immediately back laws paving the way for the

There is no sign of life in a refuge inside a New Zealand coal mine where a methane
explosion five days ago trapped 29 men, two of them Australian.

In a refreshing change for an AFL superstar, Gary Ablett reckons he doesn't get
recognised much when he walks down the street on the Gold Coast.

Socceroos star Tim Cahill has been thrust into a new club versus country row, with
Everton manager David Moyes fuming about losing his most important player for up to

The opposition has accused Labor of allowing the Australian Greens to run the
government, as an ALP MP broke ranks to attack the minor party over its tax policy.

Victorian Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu is suing Labor over an election TV attack
ad which he says "gravely injured his reputation".

One of the teenagers charged over the murder of a friend in NSW's Belanglo State
Forest is related to convicted serial killer Ivan Milat.

The federal government's key election promise - the $43 billion national broadband
network (NBN) - remains in limbo, with two crucial crossbench senators yet to back
new laws.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan will be keeping a wary eye on developments in Ireland
but he doesn't think its debt crisis will have an immediate impact on Australia.