ABC claims there were âreasonable groundsâ for suspecting Porter of rape
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The ABC did not defame Christian Porter in an online story at the centre of a Federal Court lawsuit because it did not name him and did not assert that he was guilty of raping a young woman in the 1980s, lawyers for the broadcaster have said as it prepares to fight the case in court.
But in a written defence released late on Friday, 27 pages of which have been redacted ahead of a legal fight between the parties, the ABC says it can prove there were âreasonable groundsâ for suspecting him of the crime.
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Australians will be given more help to buy their first homes in a budget boost that offers loan guarantees and more scope for people to use superannuation to save a deposit that helps them enter the booming housing market.
First-home buyers will be able to release $50,000 from special accounts within their super funds as long as they are going to live in the properties they buy with the proceeds.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will announce measures to help first-home buyers get into the market.
Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
The move increases the maximum withdrawal from $30,000 to recognise the rise in house prices since the scheme began four years ago, amid a political row over whether to use super for housing.
Government diverted cash from $31m safer communities grants to ineligible projects
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The federal government redirected cash from a $31 million safety program into a selected group of churches and cultural events after a key minister rejected department advice that ruled the projects ineligible.
Assistant Minister Jason Wood handpicked the projects to receive taxpayer funds for security services and equipment in a decision that cut funding to recipients that scored more highly in the Home Affairs department’s analysis of their merit.
Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs Jason Wood.
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Europe has urged countries such as Australia to support its plan to impose carbon tariffs, arguing the move to phase out fossil fuels will reduce the income of oil-rich authoritarian states and ease geopolitical tensions.
Millions of dollars in new tariffs could be slapped on Australian exports after the European Parliament voted in March to forge ahead with carbon levies on products from countries with weak environmental laws.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says the levies are needed to avoid carbon leakage.
Credit:AP
Federal Trade Minister Dan Tehan has repeatedly labelled the EU proposal a new form of protectionism and instead argues tariffs should be slashed on green products including wind turbines and solar panels.
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The federal government redirected cash from a $31 million safety program into a selected group of churches and cultural events after a key minister rejected department advice that ruled the projects ineligible.
Assistant Minister Jason Wood handpicked the projects to receive taxpayer funds for security services and equipment in a decision that cut funding to recipients that scored more highly in the Home Affairs department’s analysis of their merit.
Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs Jason Wood.
Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
Mr Wood intervened to make sure the grants went to projects including a Catholic parish in south-east Melbourne, a preschool in Gulargambone in NSW and an African music festival.