(AAP) - The Rudd government had been amateurish in its handling of the row over a confidential phone call between Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and US President George Bush, a former diplomat says.

An economic downturn was the last thing on the minds of Australian punters as they splurged more than $150 million on Melbourne Cup bets.

Vic Darchinyan has smashed his way into boxing's million dollar fight club.

Richard Saunders, uncle to rugby league star Johnathan Thurston, was known as "Raindancer" because when he danced it would rain, the hundreds of mourners at his funeral south of Brisbane were told

Test coach Ricky Stuart will turn Emus into Kangaroos this weekend with the peripheral members of Australia's World Cup squad to be given a run against Papua New Guinea on Saturday night.

A majority of Australians believe the world is less safe due to the eight years United States President George W Bush has spent in the White House.

Petrol prices have fallen almost eight cents in the past week, the biggest slide in more than four years.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has backed Zipping for the Melbourne Cup.
Asked at a Brisbane media conference what horse he tipped for the cup, Mr Rudd named seventh-favourite Zipping.

A larger-than-expected fall in house prices in the September quarter suggests that the economy may slow more sharply than originally anticipated, economists say.

(AAP) - Australia has levelled the trans-Tasman netball series with a thrilling 43-41 victory over New Zealand in the fourth Test at the Brisbane Convention Centre.