Julia Gillard has cast herself as economically responsible as she addressed claims
she opposed key welfare reforms, vowing not to be distracted by yet another damaging
leak.

In an historic agreement, the 45 surviving thalidomide victims in Australia and New
Zealand will share in an annual $3 million payment which could last for another 20
years.

Wikileaks founder Australian Julian Assange could have committed a serious criminal
offence in helping an enemy of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), the lobby group,

Australia's largest seniors organisation has launched a campaign targeting 12
marginal seats, as Prime Minister Julia Gillard confirmed she queried a pay rise for
pensioners.

If coal prices fall to levels seen just a few years ago, the federal government
won't get any additional revenue from the commodity under the new mining tax, a

Australia's World Cup bid has suffered an untimely setback with Asian Football
Confederation president Mohamed Bin Hammam effectively promising his vote to Qatar

Wallabies playmaker Quade Cooper has failed in his bid to have a two-match
Tri-Nations suspension overturned, with his appeal dismissed on Wednesday.

Adelaide have withstood the threat of losing young star Patrick Dangerfield to a
Victorian-based AFL club, signing him up for the next two seasons.

The Victorian government will shut down the state's biggest greenhouse polluter but
has not set a date or revealed how much it will cost.

The AFL Players Association (AFLPA) has demanded the league consider relocating
games from Etihad Stadium given the poor playing surface at the arena.