The Tasmanian forestry industry and environmentalists are on the verge of a historic
agreement that could end nearly three decades of bitter dispute.

Queensland is through the worst of its battering from the global financial crisis,
the central bank says.

Overturning a century of greed to better manage the Murray-Darling will be a test of
the nation, South Australian Premier Mike Rann says.

The fallout from naming two AFL players believed to be under investigation for
alleged rape has sent the Melbourne media into overdrive, but the two broadcasters

Two more asylum seeker boats have been intercepted north of Christmas Island, with
one boat towing the other.

Queensland farmers and the government say proposed water consumption cuts from the
Murray-Darling river system could significantly hurt communities.

The Australian dollar is heading towards parity after breaking through 99 US cents
and reaching record highs on Thursday afternoon.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has scrapped her election promise of a citizens'
assembly to deal with climate change, a scheme the opposition described as a dud
anyway.

A surprise surge in new jobs has stirred fears about a Melbourne Cup interest rate
rise and put the Australian dollar on course to reach parity with the greenback for

Greenpeace has criticised Papua New Guinea for stalling crucial global climate
change talks in China.