Government needs more control of health service: minister

Russell Skelton 10:33am Indigenous Health Minister Warren Snowdon wants the strife-torn Congress Aboriginal Health service based in Alice Springs incorporated under federal law so better standards of governance and accountability can be enforced.

Campaigning to embrace review's recommendations

Caroline Milburn State unions have united to prove they 'give a Gonski'.

The Zone

Hell on Earth

MICHAEL SHORT Judy Courtin says the rape of children by Catholic priests is best dealt with by a royal commission, writes Michael Short.

Comments 266

Nationals' vote on gay marriage is narrowly defeated

Anna Patty NATIONALS delegates yesterday defeated a motion to give federal MPs a conscience vote on gay marriage.

When old goods are put to bed, charity springs into action

BEN CUBBY IF OLD mattresses could talk, we probably wouldn't want to know what they'd reveal.

Carr to toughen sanctions on Syria

Peter Martin AUSTRALIA will impose new and tougher sanctions on Syria in addition to the existing arms embargo and sanctions on individuals and organisations associated with the Assad regime.

Fading hopes of survival hang on the end of a phone line

Debra Jopson, Melanie Kembrey IN NASRIYA, Iraq and in Auburn members of Samir Sabah's family are waiting for him to make the call which will end their fears he is among the 90 asylum seekers lost in the Indian Ocean after their boat capsized five days ago.

Labor to use Nauru centre to win asylum negotiations

PHILLIP COOREY LABOR may have to resort to sending asylum seekers to Nauru without their preferred option of transferring them to Malaysia after appeals by the government for the opposition to meet it halfway on policy fell on deaf ears.

New Syria sanctions aimed at regime

Michelle Grattan Australia will impose new sanctions on Syria, although in practice the sanctions will have minimal if any direct impact.

Hopes dashed for course on religion

Barney Zwartz Hopes are crushed that state schools will include a serious secular course about religion as part of the planned national curriculum, according to religious educators.

Abbott rejects push for asylum-seeker deal

Michelle Grattan Opposition Leader Tony Abbott digs in against pressure from Liberal moderates to seek a deal with the government on fighting the people-smuggling trade.

Comments 114

Greens work to revamp Newstart

Peter Martin The Greens will push for a Senate inquiry into the Newstart unemployment allowance and are quietly confident they will get the numbers.

Comments 9

Marketeers missing the youth mark

Clare Kermond Australia's 16-to-30-year-olds have about $62 billion to spend each year, two-thirds of that on whatever they like.

Assange wants Gillard to guarantee his safety

Philip Dorling JULIAN ASSANGE hopes his bid for political asylum at the Ecuadorean embassy in London will elicit diplomatic guarantees that he will not be prosecuted by the US on espionage and conspiracy charges.

Baby's father charged with murder

Jonathan Swan POLICE have charged a Queensland father with murdering his infant son, whose body was found on a bank of the Logan River, near Beenleigh, south-east of Brisbane.

Goggle box still bigger than Google for Gen Y

Clare Kermond THEY can't live without the internet, love Facebook and the footy, and have plenty of cash to splash.

Lukewarm reception for ride, but a win's a win for world-beater

Karen Kissane, London The British press is having a field day in the aftermath of Black Caviar's close-run win at Ascot on Saturday.

Comments 171

Budget at risk from erratic mining tax

PHILLIP COOREY THE mineral giants that negotiated the mining tax with the Gillard government have warned that it would be folly to try to reliably estimate how much revenue it will make.

Greens grab headlines with media probity plan

PHILLIP COOREY THE Greens will try to gazump the government by releasing their own proposal for a public-interest test governing media ownership before Cabinet finalises its plans.

Home in a fretful finish, heart-stopping Caviar may have raced her last

Karen Kissane THE racing world is coming to terms with a moment of madness that almost cost the super mare Black Caviar victory on her biggest stage, England's Royal Ascot.

Libya's row with Taylor began after Gaddafi visit

Rory Callinan A ROW erupted over the alleged mistreatment of the son of Libya's former dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, following an official visit by the Australian lawyer Melinda Taylor earlier this year, the Herald has learnt.

Surgeons rebel as children miss heart transplants

Julie Robotham LEADING surgeons have defied the state government to insist Sydney needs a children's heart transplant program, amid evidence NSW children have missed out on lifesaving operations.

Home in a fretful finish, heart-stopping Caviar may have raced her last

Karen Kissane London IT WAS the moment Black Caviar's planned coronation as the queen of international racing almost turned to catastrophe.

Thai warrants issued for murder suspects

By Ron Corben Thai police have issued arrest warrants for two suspects in the murder of Perth travel agent Michelle Smith and posted a reward for information leading to their capture.

Jail time 'changed' Lindy, former husband says

Lindy Chamberlain became 'institutionalised' after she was wrongly accused of killing her daughter Azaria and went to jail, Michael Chamberlain says.

Full transcript: Judy Courtin

Michael Short: Judy Courtin, thank you for your time, and welcome to The Zone.