The impasse has caused great uncertainty for students who have just received university offers for 2015. While their fees are locked in for the current year, students will not know the fee scale for following years of their degrees. So far, only two universities have released fee estimates in the event the legislation passes the Senate.

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Speaking to reporters in Melbourne, Mr Abbott said he stood by the decision but accepted that some people disagreed with the appointment.

"I accept it's been a contentious decision, I absolutely accept that. I absolutely respect people's rights to disagree with my call on this," he said.

US technology giant Apple has reported the biggest quarterly profit ever made by a public company.

Some of Prime Minister Tony Abbott's most senior colleagues are bewildered, angered and dismayed by his decision to award an Australian knighthood to Prince Philip.

Prince Philip and former Defence Force chief Angus Houston were named Australia's newest knights today, under an honours system reinstated by Mr Abbott last year.

It's about 120 years since the birth of a lot of technological advancement in the history of humanity. There had been some mighty science development before this time but it was quite limited in its application. 120 years ago, the invention of the steam engine and that of the combustion engine were supplemented by the broad usage of electricity. 

As well, about 120 years ago, the new science of "climate change" was first being studied with proper mathematical models.

On his show this morning Jones acknowledged he had received the statement of claim.

"Stick with me, Abbott pleads" is the headline of the Sydney Morning Herald on this glorious global warming day of the 23rd of January in the godly graceful year of 2015...

It's barely 8:30 (summer time) in the morning and the temperature is already above long-term MAXIMUM average. With the BoM, and the various news outlet, it's hard to know. The SMH posts 27 on its mast head, with a maximum of 28 — the ABC posts 25.9 with a maximum of 30, while the weather chart of the SMH shows it's 25.3 with a maximum of 29...

Swedenborg ...  went into a little inn in Bishopsgate Street, and was eating his dinner very fast when he thought he saw in the corner of the room a vision of Jesus Christ, who said to him, "Eat slower". This was the beginning of all his visions and mysterious communications. 

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has seized on a comment by the Treasurer that people could soon live until they are 150, describing it as Joe Hockey's "Sarah Palin" moment.

Mr Hockey made the comments earlier today while arguing the case for budget cuts and to explain why Australians should pay more for their health care.

Anthony Albanese has attacked the Coalition’s record on climate change following new data showing 2014 was the hottest year on record.

The Labor frontbencher says Tony Abbott can no longer ignore the evidence on climate change.

The numbers are in. The year 2014 – after shattering temperature records that had stood for hundreds of years across virtually all of Europe, and roasting parts of South America, China and Russia – was the hottest on record, with global temperatures 1.24F (0.69C) higher than the 20th-century average, US government scientists said on Friday.

Tony Abbott faced a backbench revolt on his plan to slash the Medicare rebate for short doctors' visits with former cabinet minister Mal Brough prepared to go public and denounce the idea, prompting the Prime Minister's backdown.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman, who is in the middle of an election campaign, also wanted the issue killed, fearing a repeat of the Victorian election where federal issues dragged down the vote and the state Coalition government was dumped after one term.