The federal government's emissions trading scheme (ETS) has found an unlikely ally
in Australia's peak mining and energy union.

The Department of Community Services (DoCS) had already taken custody of a couple's
youngest child before another daughter died, a jury has been told.

Large swathes of northern NSW have been declared disaster areas after another day of
wild storms forced thousands to evacuate homes and isolated major towns.

The NRL has fined five clubs a total of $41,438 for salary cap breaches in the 2008
season.
St George Illawarra were the hardest hit with a $15,200 fine, followed by South

Struggling Collingwood have regained ruckman Josh Fraser to take on West Coast star
big man Dean Cox, but there is no help at hand for their severely undermanned
attack.

Minerals and energy exploration spending in Australia over 2008/09 will probably
reach a record $5.64 billion, a government report says.

NSW Police have charged six youths as young as 12 following a series of unprovoked
attacks on foreign students at Newcastle University.

The federal and West Australian governments have each pledged $339 million towards a
deep-sea commodities port, which will include investment from China.

Consumers and family businesses will benefit from a proposal to ban retail chains
from pricing smaller competitors out of the market, two senators say.

The Rudd government is prepared to consider proposals that may improve the
transparency of parliamentary entitlements.