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Morning Edition. Fri 21 Jan 2011
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Top Stories	More Top Stories >
PM flags levy to pay for flood recovery The Prime Minister has for the first time raised the prospect of imposing a special one-off flood levy on taxpayers to help fund the rebuilding of Queensland and keep Labor's pledge to produce a budget surplus. SAS soldier earns VC for fearless charge Australia's highest military honour, the Victoria Cross, will be awarded to a SAS soldier for his actions in Afghanistan. Thousands isolated as flood crisis endures As floodwaters isolate thousands of Victorians, small towns in the state's mid-west are anxiously waiting for waters to peak. Draft report recommends aged care overhaul The Productivity Commission is urging the Federal Government to radically overhaul the aged care sector by removing caps on residential bed numbers and charging wealthy residents more. King tide looms for flood-weary Brisbane Residents in low-lying areas of Brisbane are once again nervous about flooding ahead of today's king tide.
The Drum	More from The Drum >
Accounting for the real costs of population ageing In the third of a series on public policy in Australia Ben spies-Butcher argues that current policies to deal with population ageing actually increase costs. We can save billions and enjoy a more relaxed, longer life if only we start to do our numbers properly. Rebuilding Australia's retail industry At some point, the form of retail that we have become used to will become unviable. The huge, sprawling complexes of fluorescent lighting, glossy surfaces and multi-storey car parks will become creatures of a former era, or will evolve into something very different. The real unknowns are when this will occur and what will replace them. And herein lies a fascinating opportunity for communities and policy-makers to recapture our public spaces. Why Obama should not seek a second term Despite making many avoidable mistakes in his first two years, Obama has made history and should bow out on top. If he is to continue implementing a liberal agenda over the remainder of his term, there can be little doubt that its impact will be felt at the next election. A decision to run again could leave Obama with a legacy he may come to regret. Lying to Australians for the Israeli government We now have even more proof, yet another smoking gun: Israel is deliberately starving the population of Gaza. WikiLeaks reveals that "Israel told US officials in 2008 it would keep Gaza's economy 'on the brink of collapse' while avoiding a humanitarian crisis". What has not yet been as fully documented is Australia's complicity in the blockade. Nationalism and identity in a disaster In the wake of the floods that have hit Brisbane, people are homeless. They are living in shelters, or sleeping at relatives' houses, travelling back to their sodden homes to clean out the mud and reclaim precious keepsakes. But there is also still spirit, friendship, compassion and love, qualities which are being demonstrated on a daily basis by volunteers answering the call of need. Of course, these qualities are not unique to Queenslanders or Australians: these are human traits, exhibited by people realising their common humanity and recognising a shared community.
World	More World Stories >
SAS soldier earns VC for fearless charge Australia's highest military honour, the Victoria Cross, will be awarded to a SAS soldier for his actions in Afghanistan. Brazil flood zone struggles to recover More than a week after deadly floods and mudslides that killed at least 744 people, surviving residents in the Serrana mountain region near Rio de Janeiro are wondering how they can ever return to normal lives. FBI pummels NY mafia in mass arrests US federal authorities have arrested more than 100 people in what is being called one of the largest mob round-ups in FBI history.
Science & Technology	More Science & Technology Stories >
Police Segways fall foul of NZ law Police in a New Zealand town have been forced to resume foot patrols after their futuristic Segway scooters were deemed illegal, local media reports. Counselling services inundated with calls Lifeline says it has had a large increase in calls for counselling since the Queensland flood emergency began. Residents get rare glimpse of slithering visitors A large number of mice and heavy rain are attracting unusual snakes to Alice Springs.
Environment	More Environment Stories >
Outback punt goes into mothballs again Easing floodwaters in outback South Australia have prompted a closure of the Cooper Creek punt on the Birdsville Track. Wind farm plan loses Government backing Major project status has been revoked for a proposed wind farm at Sellicks Hill, just south of Adelaide. Hunter group lodges appeal over mine expansion A Hunter Valley community group is appealing against the New South Wales government's approval of an $880 million expansion of the Ulan Coal Mine near Mudgee.
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