The Sydney Morning Herald National Headlines

The top National headlines from The Sydney Morning Herald. For all the news, visit http://www.smh.com.au.


09/10/2010 06:49 AM
O'Farrell won't commit to ethics classes
NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell says he won't commit to secular ethics classes in state schools if the Coalition wins the next state election
09/10/2010 07:11 AM
Woman survives nail gun to the head
A woman is recovering in hospital after she accidentally shot herself in the head with a nail gun.
09/10/2010 06:14 AM
Pro-euthanasia ads pulled from TV
An ad which calls for a government re-think on euthanasia cannot be shown on Australian television following a "last minute" backflip by a classification body.
09/10/2010 05:44 AM
Man charged with sodomy in Qld
A man will appear before a far north Queensland court charged with a number of offences against children.
09/10/2010 05:29 AM
Spargo hopes Hooper relishes debut
Paul Spargo, the last AFL player to make his debut in a final, hopes Western Bulldogs onballer Andrew Hooper backs himself.
09/10/2010 05:29 AM
Junior gold miners 'provide M&A allure'
Investors seeking exposure to gold should back Australia's junior gold miners, which will be takeover targets for larger producers, say analysts.
09/10/2010 05:24 AM
Chameleon asks for trading resumption
Chameleon Mining has asked for its shares to be returned to trade on the ASX on Monday after the receiver appointed by its litigation funder was retired.
09/10/2010 05:14 AM
Mason questions Henry's coaching
Departing North Queensland forward Willie Mason has questioned whether coach Neil Henry is the man to resurrect the ailing NRL club.
09/10/2010 04:49 AM
Female snails grow penises on heads
Female marine snails living off the Perth coast are growing male sex organs on their heads after exposure to the chemical TBT, according to local researchers.
09/10/2010 04:49 AM
Stakes raised in social media gamble
Three notable slip-ups on Facebook and Twitter this week have led to sackings and loss of sponsorship, showing there is no privacy in social media.
09/10/2010 04:39 AM
Father terrified to be with own kids
A WA father who handled his two-year-old nephew so roughly he died is now scared to be left alone with his own children, a judge says.
09/10/2010 04:39 AM
NT taxi drivers, umpire, cops terrorised
Recent outbreaks of mob violence in Alice Springs have cast a shadow over the entire community, the Northern Territory opposition says.
09/10/2010 04:39 AM
Roosters' dominance a curse: Sheens
West Tigers coach Tim Sheens has declared the Sydney Roosters' three wins over his side this year could make opposite number Brian Smith's job tougher.
09/10/2010 04:19 AM
Rome readied for MacKillop celebrations
Australia's representatives are on standby in Rome for the expected arrival of travelling Aussies for Mary MacKillop's canonisation.
09/10/2010 03:59 AM
Barker to leave Hawks coaching staff
John Barker is stepping down from his assistant coaching role at Hawthorn and has told the AFL club he's keen to pursue other opportunities.
09/10/2010 04:04 AM
Brad Johnson spurring on Bulldogs: Cross
Western Bulldogs midfielder Daniel Cross has no doubt the Western Bulldogs will find an extra edge for retiring skipper Brad Johnson.
09/10/2010 03:59 AM
Man jailed for attack on boy
A former boundary umpire has been jailed for at least a year for child sex offences after an attack on a boy dating back more than 30 years.
09/10/2010 03:44 AM
Palmer denies corrupt dealings
Billionaire mining magnate Clive Palmer says he had no corrupt dealings with WA Nationals leader Brendon Grylls over the dropping of an environmental bond.
09/10/2010 03:34 AM
McCaw 'without peer' as captain: Deans
With Richie McCaw about to break the record for most Test appearances as All Blacks captain, Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says no-one compares.
09/10/2010 03:24 AM
Passenger claims bomb in bag
A man about to board a plane to Taiwan at Sydney Airport allegedly told staff he had a bomb in his luggage.
09/10/2010 03:24 AM
NAPLAN tests not a competition: Crean
The government doesn't want national numeracy and literacy tests to be seen as a competition between states, but that seems to be what's happened.
09/10/2010 03:24 AM
Two more arrested over python theft
Police have arrested two more in the wake of a pet shop burglary where a python and a lizard were stolen.
09/10/2010 03:24 AM
Steffensen backed on Comm Games pullout
Australia's world indoor long jump champion Fabrice Lapierre said he respected the decision of John Steffensen to pull out the Commonwealth Games.
09/10/2010 03:19 AM
Kookaburras fear the worst at Comm Games
Australia men's hockey coach Ric Charlesworth admits he is concerned about his side's chances at next month's Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
09/10/2010 03:19 AM
Panthers determined to bust Raiders myth
Penrith are determined to bust the myth that Canberra have the biggest and most destructive forward pack in the NRL.
09/10/2010 03:09 AM
Spotlight on NAB's next move over AXA
AXA's French parent has yet to give up on NAB's bid, but analysts hope the bank will heed shareholders' message to stop its pursuit of the wealth manager.
09/10/2010 03:04 AM
Charges dropped for two asylum seekers
Charges against two Tamil asylum seekers who were accused of rioting at the Christmas Island detention centre have been dropped.
09/10/2010 02:59 AM
Bonds close weaker after US sell-off
The Australian debt market closed weaker after it was unable to claw back overnight losses from the release of firm US jobs data.
09/10/2010 02:59 AM
Bonds close weaker after US sell-off
The Australian debt market closed weaker after it was unable to claw back overnight losses from the release of firm US jobs data.
09/10/2010 02:54 AM
Perth Glory wary of rested Gold Coast
Glory coach Dave Mitchell says Gold Coast shouldn't be taken lightly despite their slow start to the A-League season.
09/10/2010 02:54 AM
Hayne hoping Quade may move to NRL later
Parramatta Eels flyer Jarryd Hayne thinks there is still a chance Wallabies key playmaker Quade Cooper could switch to the NRL.
09/10/2010 02:54 AM
Sydney FC's Carle out for three weeks
Sydney FC have had more injury trouble, with Nick Carle's toe injury worse than first thought and the playmaker sidelined.
09/10/2010 02:44 AM
Bail report ordered for murder accused
A court has ordered a report on whether a man charged with killing his wife in a house fire should be released on bail.
09/10/2010 02:54 AM
Mining stocks drag market lower
Falls to mining and energy stocks have led the Australian share market to close about half a per cent lower.
09/10/2010 02:34 AM
Man charged over stabbing death
Two men have been charged in relation to a group stabbing incident in an Aboriginal camp, in which one man sustained a fatal stab wound to his leg.
09/10/2010 04:34 AM
Fresh sex claims levelled at ex-DJs boss
The number of sexual harassment claims against Mark McInnes has climbed, with the former David Jones boss rejecting the 'intolerable' allegations.
09/10/2010 02:09 AM
Perth man jailed for child porn
A 31-year-old Perth man who lost his job as a schoolteacher after police found child pornography on his computer has been sent to jail.
09/10/2010 02:04 AM
Locusts could harm area 'size of Spain'
Farmers are bracing for huge swarms of locusts following a wet, warm winter which provided ideal conditions for the survival of eggs.
09/10/2010 01:59 AM
Theo stands in old side's way
Former Victory goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos will carry mixed emotions as he puts Brisbane Roar's A-League clean sheet to the test.
09/10/2010 03:29 AM
Strong winds to hit Sydney
Residents of Sydney and surrounding regions are being urged to stay indoors on Friday afternoon as wind gusts of up to 100km/h are expected.
09/10/2010 01:54 AM
Walker quits Hockeyroos
Tasmanian defender Kim Walker will retire from international hockey after the Hockeyroos' World Cup campaign.
09/10/2010 01:54 AM
Raiders, Panthers sign rising stars
Canberra have re-signed rising star Joel Thompson on the eve of their NRL qualifying final.
09/10/2010 01:49 AM
Enviros back Gunns native forestry exit
Environmentalists have welcomed a move from Gunns to stop logging native forests in Tasmania.
09/10/2010 04:14 AM
NT bush students below standard
A report has shown NT students, particularly those in schools outside Darwin, have the worst levels of literacy and numeracy in the country.
09/10/2010 01:44 AM
$10bn 'not enough' for people to go bush
It'll take more than $10 billion in government spending to attract people to the bush, economists say.
09/10/2010 01:39 AM
Teenagers film rape of girl, police say
Four teenage boys have been charged after a mobile phone camera was allegedly used to film the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl in Western Australia.
09/10/2010 02:14 AM
Kiwi driver scores fastest V8 time
Young New Zealander Shane Van Gisbergen has trumped the stars ahead of Sunday's Phillip Island V8 Supercar classic.
09/10/2010 01:49 AM
Fairfax to charge for mobile content
Fairfax Media will begin charging for some online news content within a matter of weeks when it launches its first subscription-based smartphone applications.
09/10/2010 01:24 AM
Moment in sun for regional tourism
The structure of the new Gillard government could be a boon to Australia's tourism industry, according to the peak body.
09/10/2010 01:19 AM
Senate wonders if patience is waiting
The Senate is still waiting for answers to more than 2000 questions first asked in May and June.
09/10/2010 01:19 AM
Reds boss surprised by turnaround
Adelaide United coach Rini Coolen says he's surprised by his side's stunning start to the A-League season.
09/10/2010 07:59 AM
Titans too strong for Warriors
The Gold Coast Titans have gone some way to easing their 2009 finals disappointment by slaying the New Zealand Warriors at Skilled Park on Friday night.
09/10/2010 01:14 AM
Elsom predicting different encounter
Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom is anticipating a much different encounter from his team's two previous outings when they play the All Blacks in Sydney.
09/10/2010 01:09 AM
Moffatt eyes back-to-back world titles
Australian Emma Moffatt aims to become only the fifth triathlete to successfully defend their Olympic-distance world title.
09/10/2010 01:04 AM
Nats push for more prominence
The Nationals are jostling for another spot on the opposition frontbench after increasing their parliamentary representation at the federal election.
09/10/2010 01:44 AM
Lacey brothers get extra jail time
Two Gold Coast brothers have been given six extra years in jail over the torture and shooting of a man.
09/10/2010 12:44 AM
More work for SA students after tests
The state government says more work needs to be done to raise the literacy and numeracy levels in South Australia following the latest round of testing.
09/10/2010 12:44 AM
Thousands expected at ACT's Floriade
Visitors in their thousands are expected to flock to this year's Floriade in Canberra - Australia's largest flower festival.
09/10/2010 12:39 AM
Libs battling to stay relevant: Barnett
Outgoing Tasmanian Liberal Senator Guy Barnett says the party is battling to stay relevant in the state after a 'dismal' result at the federal election.
09/10/2010 12:34 AM
Media create lenience perception: court
Selective media reporting of Victorian court cases has created a public misconception that sentences are too light, an appeal court has found.
09/10/2010 12:34 AM
Who is this Koran burner? Muslims ask
Sydney-based Muslim cleric Sheik Taj Al Hilaly has a message for the pastor at a tiny Florida church who has threatened to burn copies of the Koran.
09/10/2010 12:29 AM
Eucalyptus tree disease fears spread
A plant disease that threatens Australia's iconic eucalypts has spread, and authorities fear they have lost the battle to eradicate it.
09/10/2010 12:24 AM
Man charged over rape in Townsville
Police have charged a man over the rape of a 19-year-old woman in Townsville.
09/10/2010 12:19 AM
Allied increases Simberi gold reserves
Allied Gold Ltd has substantially increased the gold reserves at its Simberi project in Papua New Guinea.
09/10/2010 12:29 AM
Crean happy to play any role in govt
Federal Education Minister Simon Crean says he's ready to play any role in the new Gillard minority government.
09/10/2010 12:09 AM
Ram jumps as Greenland warms to uranium
Shares in Greenland-focused Ram Resources jumped on news the chilly nation had lifted its decades-old ban on uranium exploration.
09/10/2010 12:04 AM
Over-demand for Newcrest hits investors
Investors in Lihir Gold Ltd who sought the maximum share allocation from Newcrest Mining Ltd's takeover bid will have their share consideration scaled back.
09/10/2010 12:14 AM
Vic opposition outbids govt on hospital
The Victorian coalition has outbid Labor on a new Bendigo Hospital, pledging to spend $100 million more than the government if elected.
09/10/2010 04:19 AM
Group produces GM rice
A team of Australian scientists has genetically modified rice to make it more tolerant to salt, raising hopes of increased global production.
09/09/2010 11:59 PM
Taxis drivers terrorised by youths
Four taxis were set upon by youths wielding bottles and sticks in Alice Springs on Thursday night.
09/09/2010 11:54 PM
Malicious worm wreaking software havoc
A new malicious email worm that disables anti-virus software is threatening in-boxes around the globe.
09/10/2010 05:29 AM
Police hunt man over sex attack
Police have released an image of a man they are hunting over the sexual assault of a 99-year-old woman in Melbourne.
09/09/2010 11:44 PM
Fevola's spectre hangs over Lions
The Brisbane Lions need to conjure up a Harry Potter-like spell to cast away demons which have plagued the once-mighty AFL club.
09/10/2010 04:44 AM
Baby elephant arrives at Melbourne Zoo
Melbourne Zoo is celebrating the birth of its first male Asian elephant.
09/10/2010 04:39 AM
Quade Cooper commits to rugby
Wallabies playmaker Quade Cooper has re-signed with the Australian Rugby Union, ending speculation over his future and the possibility of a switch to league.
09/10/2010 03:29 AM
Flu vaccine not ruled out in 2yo's death
A flu vaccine may have played a part in the death of a toddler found in her cot after receiving the jab, the Queensland coroner says.
09/09/2010 11:09 PM
Johnson reveals truth behind 'The Rock'
Dick Johnson has revealed the truth behind the famous 1980 rock incident at Mt Panorama.
09/10/2010 05:24 AM
Seven Australians take their lives daily
Leading advocates in suicide prevention say the community, as well as emergency services, can do more to reduce the unnecessary deaths.
09/09/2010 11:04 PM
Bandt officially declared an MP
Three weeks after ousting Labor from a stronghold seat, the first Greens general-elect lower house representative Adam Bandt has been officially declared an MP.
09/10/2010 03:09 AM
Minister praises NAPLAN results for NSW
NSW Education Minister Verity Firth has praised the performance of the state's students in new national numeracy and literacy results.
09/09/2010 10:54 PM
Roosters duo pay price for feral acts
Toyota Cup players Sam Brunton and Anthony Gelling have been dumped by the Roosters after being accused of defecating in their hotel rooms.
09/09/2010 10:49 PM
Man charged after weapons, drugs found
Police seized an SKS rifle, nunchucks, bullets and a small quantity of cannabis at a home in Sydney's west.
09/10/2010 12:14 AM
Victoria records weaker school results
Victorian students have outperformed most other Australian children in national literacy and numeracy tests but have recorded weaker results than last year.
09/09/2010 10:44 PM
LNP rejects electoral changes
The Liberal National Party says it will oppose any changes to Queensland's electoral system.
09/09/2010 10:54 PM
Force appoint new conditioning coach
Charlie Higgins has been appointed the Force's new strength and conditioning coach.
09/09/2010 10:24 PM
Fears for missing teenager
Police say they are concerned for the welfare of Tasmanian teenager Jackson Shoemark-Horn, who has been missing since Tuesday.
09/10/2010 02:09 AM
Drowned mum affected by drink and drugs
Confusion on a police dispatch system led police to believe that a woman screaming for help in floodwaters had already been rescued, a coroner has found.
09/10/2010 04:39 AM
Public sick of street violence: judge
A judge has jailed a 21-year-old for the 'cruel' bashing of a good Samaritan, saying the community is sick of public violence.
09/09/2010 10:14 PM
Judy Moran bail bid adjourned
Gangland widow Judy Moran has delayed her bid for bail until next month on a charge she allegedly murdered her brother-in-law Des Moran.
09/09/2010 10:24 PM
London asks for Aussie help on Olympics
London has appealed for Australia's help in recreating one spectacularly successful facet of Sydney's 2000 Olympics - its army of volunteers.
09/09/2010 10:14 PM
Greenland green lights uranium search
Shares in Greenland Minerals and Energy skyrocketed after Greenland's government changed its exploration licence rules to include radioactive elements.
09/10/2010 12:59 AM
NSW Opposition won't support burqa ban
NSW Opposition leader Barry O'Farrell says the coalition won't support a bill to ban the wearing of face veils in public.
09/09/2010 09:54 PM
Editor sacked for comments on shot cop
The editor of a regional newspaper has been stood down after allegedly posting insensitive comments about the killing of a young policeman on Facebook.
09/09/2010 09:49 PM
AOFM sells $1.2b of October, 2014 bonds
The Australian Office of Financial Management (AOFM) has sold $1.2 billion of Treasury bonds that mature on October 21, 2014
09/09/2010 09:39 PM
Cockatoo may sell some assets to Mitsui
Cockatoo Coal Ltd says it may sell some or all of its Surat Basin assets to Mitsui & Co. Ltd.
09/09/2010 09:44 PM
India considers armed vehicles for Games
Unmanned military aircraft and armed vehicles are just two additional security options planned to protect athletes during the Commonwealth Games.
09/10/2010 03:04 AM
Oakeshott rejects offer of ministry
Federal Independent MP Rob Oakeshott has rejected an offer to be a minister in a Labor minority government.
09/10/2010 04:09 AM
NSW govt 'hiding waiting-list data'
The NSW government has removed waiting-list figures from the hospital performance report to hide waiting times, the opposition says.
09/09/2010 09:34 PM
Brothel man jailed over killing of rival
A brothel owner has been jailed for at least nine years for his role in the violent killing of a former "father figure" who became a rival.
09/09/2010 09:29 PM
Canberra's pain is NRL's gain
The Canberra Raiders' decision in 2008 to sack Todd Carney was the motivating factors behind the former wild child's Lazarus-like return to the NRL.