Paying $900 cash bonuses to dead people is stupid, absurd and reckless, the federal
coalition says.

The West Australian government will prosecute oil and gas producer Apache Energy Ltd
for failing to maintain and repair a gas pipeline that exploded last year.

Efforts to save the ailing Murray-Darling Basin have been turbocharged with a
massive water purchase.

ANZ Banking Group Ltd has raised $2.5 billion by selling new shares to institutions
to bolster its cash holdings as it bids for some of Royal Bank of Scotland's Asian
assets.

Mark Viduka has until the end of the week to decide his international future after
he was left out of an extended squad for Australia's remaining three World Cup
qualifiers.

There are tentative signs the economy will start pulling out of recession towards
the end of the year.

Every cruise ship entering NSW waters will be treated as if there is swine flu
onboard following criticism after an outbreak among passengers on another vessel.

Business could lose out if the emissions trading scheme (ETS) is rewritten, the
federal government has warned.

Glenn Stewart's Origin dream is over after the NRL judiciary found him guilty of a
dangerous throw on Wednesday night, robbing the Manly backrower of a debut NSW
jumper.

A future government may decide it was better to pay off the budget deficit than to
meet old commitments to increased defence funds, an analyst has warned.