National News

Shark attack fears grow

EXPERTS believe damage on missing swimmer Bryn Martin's bathers are 'consistent with that a white pointer could cause', as hopes of finding him alive fade.

Major supermarkets on notice by ACCC

THE new head of Australia's competition watchdog has the major supermarket chains, airports and the telecommunications sector in his sights.

Jetstar staff to hold industrial action

JETSTAR check-in staff will waive excess baggage fees for 24 hours as part of industrial action against the airline, ASU says.

MP Thomson in fresh card inquiry

LABOR MP Craig Thomson is under investigation for allegedly receiving secret commissions from a union supplier, NSW police have revealed.

Fears horses could have been poisoned

SUSPICIONS of deliberate poisoning are growing after the mysterious deaths of 21 horses in the Gold Coast hinterland.

Labor MP says he'll quit if Gillard dumped

GRAHAM Perrett threatens to walk if ALP leadership changes again, as Labor recovers slightly in latest Newspoll.

Have you seen these teens?

ROBBERY on a train as police release images of  two teenage girls who they believe may be able to assist with their inquiries.

Coalition attempts to defer carbon tax

THE Federal Opposition will attempt to defer the Government's carbon tax by insisting voters have a say on the issue.

Outback mega-mine the largest in the world

NEW $30 billion mine will be 4km long, 3.5km wide and 1km deep and will create 25,000 jobs. But at what cost?

Australia's wealthy losing jobs

RICH suburbs hit hard by unemployment as well-paid professionals chase fewer jobs.

• Socialite: Hit with $186m bill

Film's star faces 90 lashes

AN Iranian actress will be jailed for a year in Tehran and lashed 90 times for her part in a controversial South Australian film production.

• Egypt: Shock at Christian killings
• Poll: Is this punishment barbaric?

Consumers getting burnt on sun lotions

CONSUMERS are wasting money on expensive sunscreens that often perform no better than cheaper versions.

Nervous wait for embattled Craig Thomson

LABOR MP could face years in jail if charged and found guilty of receiving secret commissions.

• Labor: Leadership talk increases

Tragic train girl 'loving, always optimistic'

AUTHORITIES were repeatedly told a level crossing that yesterday claimed the life of Teresa Ho was a death trap.

Rivals fight phoney war over Bali boy

JULIA Gillard and Kevin Rudd locked in a desperate struggle for the political spotlight over the boy arrested in Bali on drugs charges.

Mauboy's father injured in explosion

JESSICA Mauboy's father was seriously injured yesterday during an explosion at an electrical substation in Darwin.

Forget the birdies, just avoid the golf sharks

A BRISBANE golf course has found a novel way for its players to improve their swing  - a lake filled with man-eating bull sharks.

Man-eating sharks in water hazard

MOVE over, Greg Norman - you're not the only shark on the golf course.

Screams failed to stop girl crossing train tracks

Update: TEEN killed by a train may have missed warning screams because of her earphones, police say.

Teen shot stepdad after gran kept silent on abuse

THE grandmother of girl who killed her stepdad suspected she was being abused but didn't speak out, court told.

Teenager jailed for dog-stabbing frenzy

YOUTH stabbed Rottweiler to death during a dispute before threatening the dog's owner.

• Stepdad: Shot after gran's silence

Don't fly Qantas before Christmas - union

THE engineers' union has warned anyone planning to fly with Qantas before Christmas to choose another airline as it escalates its industrial action.

Take a breather for lung health

IT'S not just smokers who need to be concerned about their lungs, according to new research showing one in three people experience at least one sign of poor lung health.

Aussie killed in sleepwalking fall in Thailand

MAN killed after falling from hotel balcony described as a "beautiful" person.

• Killed: Woman hit by trolley

Greens fear creation of carcinogenic mountain

THE expansion of the Olympic Dam uranium and copper project in South Australia will create a "carcinogenic mountain" of radioactive waste, the federal Greens say.

Bottle shock - transsexual wins $15K payout

MAN forced to pay neighbour $15,000 for saying she kept her genitals "in a jar" and threatening to burn her house.

Shopping trolley 'killed woman'

AN elderly woman died after a trolley with faulty brakes fell back onto her and her husband as they used a shopping centre's travelator.

Students repeating not beneficial - study

STUDENTS who repeat a school year are more likely to skip school, lose motivation and suffer from low self-esteem, research shows.

Bullying blue: Minister stands by Kennett

BEYONDBLUE backs chairman Jeff Kennett over complaint made against him by CEO.

• Rolf Harris: Depression revelation

Melanoma research finds genetic variants

SCIENTISTS have discovered two new genetic variants that will help predict who is most at risk of developing melanoma.

Mexico drug cartels infiltrating Australia

VIOLENT Mexican drug cartels, including the powerful Sinaloa Cartel, have infiltrated Australia, a US government official says.

You're just being overly dramatic, GP tells girl

TODDLER'S broken leg was left untreated for three days after GP calls her a drama queen.

• Child in hospital: 7m fall off balcony
• Tourist killed: Sleepwalking tumble

Julia Gillard talks to drug boy in Indonesia

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard has spoken to a 14-year-old NSW boy arrested on drug charges in Indonesia.

'I dodged drug setup' - Tourist's close call

AUSSIE believes he evaded setup on same day 14-year-old boy was jailed for possessing marijuana.

I dodged Bali drug 'setup' - Aussie

AN Australian man holidaying in Bali believes he evaded a potential drug-bust setup on the same day a 14-year-old boy was arrested.

• Aussie teen: Bali boy likely to avoid jail sentence