Downer raises Hicks case with US

from the ABC …..

Howard, Rudd attack Greens' coal policy

from our ABC …..

No anti-siphoning breach in AFL deal, says Howard

from our ABC …..

Andrews says Rudd threatens capitalism

from the SMH ……

Bishop shows hand on teachers' pay .....

Mark Davis Political Correspondent

from Buzzflash …..

from the ABC …..

Meanwhile, Attorney-General Philip Ruddock says it is best that people do not comment publicly on the case.

"We would expect that in Australia, we don't expect that people would be out there arguing in relation to a person who has been charged with offences about the appropriateness of it," he said.

Qantas consortium won't guarantee jobs …..

The director of the consortium bidding to take over Qantas says he cannot give a concrete guarantee about jobs.

The consortium made up of Australian and foreign companies has voluntarily agreed to submit the deal to the Foreign Investment Review Board, despite saying for some weeks it did not need to.

PM says carbon trading part of climate change solution …..

Prime Minister John Howard has signalled that Australia is likely to be involved in a carbon trading scheme as part of tackling climate change.

Mr Howard has promised Australian workers and industries will not be unfairly disadvantaged if there is a price on carbon.

from the Sydney Morning Herald …..

‘John Howard’s plan to take control of the Murray-Darling Basin threatens to put him on a collision course with the mining giant BHP Billiton, which uses millions of litres of water a day without paying for it.

His plan for the Commonwealth to take control of the river system includes cracking down on the unsustainable extraction of water from the Great Artesian Basin.

‘I don't think it's a question of using the corporations power, but the best and cleanest way of fixing this problem is for the states to refer their powers.

But I made it very clear last Thursday that our plan, and the payment of the money, was conditional on the power referral and I am writing to the states this week outlining in more detail what is involved in the power referral.

from the ABC …..

Education Minister dismisses Labor's degree plan

The Federal Government has dismissed as a waste of money a Labor proposal for HECS incentives to attract students to maths and science courses.

Howard rules out independent Murray-Darling panel

Prime Minister John Howard has ruled out creating an independent body to manage the Murray-Darling Basin.

South Australian Premier Mike Rann has called for an independent panel, free from political interests.

But Mr Howard says he will not agree to it. "It's basically surrendering the responsibility that I was given by the Australian people," he said. "I was elected to try and solve the nation's problems, I'm trying to solve one of the nation's problems with this proposal."

Mr Howard says he does not think relations between the Federal Government and the states have broken down. Mr Rann and the federal Minister for Water, Malcolm Turnbull, have been exchanging verbal blows this week over who should have control over water resources. Mr Howard has called for all parties to work together. "I regret that Mr Rann made a rather personal attack on Mr Turnbull," he said. "Let's put all of that aside, let's address the substance of the issue and let's put the national interest ahead of any local interests, although in this case, the national interest promotes the local interest." But New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma says the Commonwealth should not rule out considering Mr Rann's call for an independent board to control the system.

from our ABC …..

Bush warns Iran over Iraq 'interference'

By Washington correspondent Kim Landers

US president George W Bush is warning Iran that America will "respond firmly" if the country increases what he calls its "interference" in Iraq.