Household insurance premiums rose by as much as 30 per cent in the first half of
2010 due to harsh storms and the Victorian bushfires, a survey of insurance brokers
shows.

Discussions with East Timor about setting up a refugee processing centre have not
stopped due to the election, says Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith.

The federal government's compromise mining tax deal will be rendered "null and void"
by any intervention by the Greens, mining magnate Clive Palmer says.

Decorated AFL forward Jason Akermanis' career with the Western Bulldogs came to a
fittingly controversial end on Wednesday - sacked six weeks out from the finals.

The coalition's education policy tears a hole in its economic credentials, Education
Minister Simon Crean says.

Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsunday Islands has been named the Number One Eco
Friendly Beach in the world by global news network CNN.com.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has shelved his controversial two-prong goalkicking
experiment by handing sole duties back to Matt Giteau.

A furious Danny Green has promised to dish out the punishment of a lifetime to Paul
Briggs after the Queenslander blatantly flouted the weight limit for Wednesday

Resurgent Parramatta have rushed Timana Tahu back into the centres for their big NRL
clash against Canterbury on Friday night.

Richmond midfielder Trent Cotchin will miss the AFL club's next four games, after
losing a tribunal fight over a charging incident which left North Melbourne's Sam