POLITICS & POLICY

Iran could have nuclear weapon by 2012: Britain

Western powers should work on the assumption that Iran could have a nuclear weapon by next year and an Israeli intelligence assessment of 2015 could be over-optimistic, British Defense Secretary Liam Fox said on Monday.

Commonwealth Bank Group allocates $57 million for flood affected customers

The Premier of Queensland, Ms Anna Bligh and the Commonwealth Bank Group's Chief Executive Officer have announced a comprehensive flood assistance initiatives totalling over $57 million to help the Group's customers and communities affected by the recent floods that have occurred in Queensland, Victoria and other affected States.

Sydney’s business district grows fresh crops

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore on Monday announced that the city's central business district (CBD) is starting to produce fresh crops as vegetable patches throughout the CBD has transformed the city as part of the 'Live Green' summer planting program.
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Gillard: Delaying NBN roll out is unwise

Even a tightening budget due to upcoming flood rehabilitation programs on areas ravaged by the disaster would not convince the federal government to at least delay its $37 billion national broadband network project.

Costello: Flood levy unnecessary, funds for recovery enough

Former federal treasurer Peter Costello believes that the government has enough revenue bases and in-place taxes to fund its rehabilitation program for areas heavily damaged by the recent flooding, that imposing a flood levy may prove to be an overkill.

Australian accents to be preserved for posterity

A group of Australians on Wednesday called for the preservation of Australian English accents to safeguard the nation's identity despite the influx of electronic media and cultural icons from overseas. However, just as society changes, so too does accent as it constantly evolves to meet the changing needs of its users.

Flood disaster unmasks flaws in Australian insurance policies

Amidst calls by Prime Minister Julia Gillard that insurance companies should exercise extra leniency in dealing with flood-related damage claims, reinsurers appear ready to be more accommodating but the industry insisted that those who do not have flood coverage are beyond their capacity to help.

Manufacturing sector in Australia declines in 2010

Australia's manufacturing sector declined in December as the PwC Australian Performance Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) fell 1.3 points to 46.3 to remain below the 50 point level separating expansion from contraction. According to the Australian Industry Group which releases the index, the local manufacturing sector underperformed in December and there were few signs activity would pick up in the near term.

Feds float possible lift on Medicare levy to fund its rehab efforts

Finding itself hard-up on scouring for resources to finance the gargantuan task of rehabilitating the regions devastated by the recent flooding is Australia, the federal government looks to a possible lift on Medicare levy surcharge so it could fund the massive cost of recovery efforts.

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