Tony Abbott 'headbutted' by man wearing 'Vote Yes' badge 21Sep 2017 (Translation of this article appears in Arabic section) Tasmania: Former prime minister Tony Abbott says he was attacked by a same-sex marriage campaigner in Hobart, who headbutted him and said "you deserve it" before running away. Mr Abbott, who has been campaigning for the No vote in the same-sex marriage postal survey, was in Tasmania to attend a Young Liberal cocktail party on Thursday evening when the alleged incident occurred. He told Macquarie Radio he was headbutted by a campaigner wearing a "Vote Yes" badge after the man approached him and asked to shake his hand. Mr Abbott said his injuries were minor, and that he had a "very slightly swollen lip". 
Temperatures set to top 40C as a weekend of ‘extreme heat’ beckons 21Sep 2017 Sydney: “IT’S looking ugly,” forecasters have warned with record highs of as high as 40C in some parts and above average temps elsewhere. Australians are being warned to get ready for a bout of “extreme heat” as temperatures bubble up to boiling point by the weekend. NSW could record its first ever September 40C day.  Nationals MPs Trevor Khan makes emotional plea on assisted dying bill 21Sep 2017 Sydney: Nationals MP Trevor Khan has made an emotional plea to the New South Wales Parliament on the introduction of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill, revealing his terminally ill father asked to die. Mr Khan said his father suffered a debilitating stroke which left him incapacitated and bedridden in a nursing home for three and a half years.  Australia boycotts nuclear ban treaty 21Sep 2017 Canberra: Dozens of countries have signed a treaty to ban nuclear weapons amid tensions over North Korea's nuclear and missile tests. The US, Britain, France and others, including Australia, boycotted the event at the annual United Nations gathering of world leaders. The treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons will enter into force 90 days after 50 countries have ratified it.  NZ protester sets himself alight 21Sep 2017 NZ: A man has been rushed to hospital in with critical burns after setting himself on fire on the grounds of the New Zealand Parliament. Witnesses said placards were on the ground around the man as ambulance staff treated him just before 4pm on Thursday.  RBA warns higher rates may hit spending 21Sep 2017 Sydney: A rise in global interest rates could have implications for debt-laden Australian households and the wider economy, Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe has warned. Dr Lowe says an expected lift in interest rates would flow through to Australia over time and the high levels of household debt mean that household spending could be quite sensitive to such increases.  Abbott threatens to cross the floor on energy 20 Sep 2017 Canberra: Former prime minister Tony Abbott has said he will cross the floor of parliament and vote against any attempt by the government to legislate a clean energy target - threatening the Coalition's one seat majority. 'It would be unconscionable, I underline that word unconscionable, for a government that was originally elected promising to abolish the carbon tax and to end Labor's climate change obsessions to go further down this renewable path.' he said. |
