Australians pay the western world's highest banking fees, a new report says, and the
opposition claims the government's doing nothing about it.

Angry Rio Tinto Ltd shareholders have labelled as "completely wrong" suggestions by
chief executive Tom Albanese that investors are warming to the Chinalco deal.

NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell has been thrown out of parliament amid
concerns the government is reducing the ombudsman's scrutiny of the child protection
system.

Kevin Rudd and Peter Costello have clashed over the economy and climate change, with
the former treasurer offering some advice on the Australian economy's likely fall

Fears that global hedge funds would target local financial stocks prompted the
corporate watchdog to extend its ban on covered short selling of financial

The Northern Territory government has promised to make buying and renting housing
more affordable under a new plan to help Territorians.

Concerns over Todd Carney working at a hotel threaten to derail the sacked NRL
star's bid to revive his rugby league career.

A $40 million program aimed at enticing almost 9,000 nurses back into the workforce
by mid-2012 is way behind target.

More than two million condoms paid for with Australian aid money have been left to
expire in AIDS-ravaged Papua New Guinea.

Australia coach Pim Verbeek admits it was a "little bit rude" to label Archie
Thompson's last Socceroos performance as "absolutely hopeless", but says the striker