08:00:00 17/03/2015
The controversial bill to force communications companies to retain metadata for two years is set to pass through Parliament by the end of next week. The Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull will introduce the bill to the Lower House today. Labor and the Government have all but finalised a deal on the bill but there are still major concerns being expressed about the privacy implications.
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- Michael Brissenden
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08:03:00 17/03/2015
The Government bill forcing communications companies to retain metadata for two years will be amended to require warrants in order to protect journalists' sources. The Attorney-General George Brandis says the status quo remains as companies have always been required to retain this information, but the new laws include greater provisions for privacy. Mr Brandis says the laws have 'never been about journalists' but he doesn't think 'journalists should be above the law'.
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08:11:00 17/03/2015
The Government's hardline approach to terrorism risks alienating a generation of young Muslims and leaving them vulnerable to radicalisation. That was the message from Muslim community leaders at a forum in Sydney last night. One prominent Muslim lawyer accused the government of bullying Muslims and driving a wedge between them and the rest of the community.
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08:14:00 17/03/2015
More information is trickling in about the damage done to Vanuatu by Cyclone Pam. Aerial assessments of Tanna Island in the country's south and Shefa province, which includes the capital Port Vila, have reveal widespread destruction. Five more deaths have been confirmed, bringing the total fatalities to 11, and an estimated 70 per cent of the population has been displaced.
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08:17:00 17/03/2015
Documents obtained by the ABC reveal allegations that mining company Linc Energy concealed a series of dangerous incidents at its coal gasification plant in southern Queensland, with claims that workers suffered from health problems such as headaches, blurred vision and respiratory ailments. Some of the incidents include allegations of leaks of toxic gas into the air and groundwater, and an underground fire, with staff gagged by the company from blowing the whistle.
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08:21:00 17/03/2015
Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, says there will be no Palestinian state if he wins the election to be held later today. While his right-wing Likud Party started the campaign ahead in the polls, it is trailing the main centre-left challenger and he's looking to shore up his base.
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08:24:00 17/03/2015
In the US, an extraordinary admission off camera but caught on microphone has resulted in a former three-time murder suspect being charged again. Multimillionaire real estate heir Robert Durst was the subject of a six-part documentary which looked at the deaths of his wife, a friend and a neighbour over the past three decades. In the final episode broadcast on US TV Durst was recorded saying, 'What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course'.
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08:27:00 17/03/2015
The chief executive of the National Australia Bank has conceded that better processes are needed to protect customers from receiving bad financial advice. But Andrew Thorburn says it's up to the bank's senior leaders to counter bad and unlawful behaviour that has seen the NAB embroiled in a scandal over its financial planning arm.
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