It is not unconstitutional for the speaker of the lower house to be paired with an
MP from an opposing party, the commonwealth solicitor-general says.

With his blond mop and rock-star looks, it's not hard to picture Clint Jones
screaming down the boundary line with his hand outstretched, begging for the easy
handball.

Collingwood's Mick Malthouse has won the AFL Coaches' Association's senior coach of
the year award, completing the double with midfielder Dane Swan who won the most

It's a factor that Chris Judd and Tom Harley both believe contributed to their sides
winning AFL premierships, but Ross Lyon is not a believer.

Violinist, conductor and composer Andre Rieu has postponed his Australia and New
Zealand concert dates in October due to ill health.

Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran have begged an Indonesian
court for forgiveness and a second chance at life.

The odds of an October rate rise have shortened considerably after the Reserve Bank
of Australia (RBA) hinted for the second time this week that its finger was on the

Two men who chained themselves to counters at an immigration department office in
Sydney have been arrested.

The eight remaining detainees staging a roof-top protest at Sydney's Villawood
detention centre have ended their 29-hour stand-off.

Melbourne radio personality Derryn Hinch has been diagnosed with liver cancer which
requires major surgery.