National Breaking news

WA Premier Colin Barnett says there will be "winners and losers" under the federal government's disability insurance scheme.    

THERE was a 33 per cent spike in complaints about Queensland's health system last year.    

POLICE are investigating whether drugs were the motive for the shooting of an amateur rugby league player in south Sydney.    

OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott says he has no plans to increase the dole because he doesn't want to encourage people to stay on welfare.    

HOSPITALITY Minister George Souris has introduced a bill to impose a levy on Sydney's Star casino to help cover the cost of regulating its operations.    

A SERIES of rallies are being planned around the country to push for the states to sign deals with the Gillard government on school funding.    

THREE men have been injured in a collision between two vehicles at a Victorian army base.    

THE Australian Electoral Commission has invited comments on the possible registration of the WikiLeaks Party, ahead of the federal election.    

OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott says his criticisms have always been directed at the federal government and not the Treasury department.    

INDEPENDENT federal MP Craig Thomson is facing 19 new charges, including four that he misused a credit card to pay for pornographic movies.    

WA Premier Colin Barnett has denied he has broken any election promises and has defended pay rises for some of his staff.    

NSW Minister for the Arts George Souris announces a long-term lease for the Sydney Theatre Company at its harbourside homes in Walsh Bay.    

LEADING Age Services Australia says the over-65 population is set to double to six million and more funding is needed.    

A UNION says BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance is ignoring local workers by flying in staff from major cities to work at two new Queensland coal mines.    

AUSTRALIA should boost its ties with Brazil as the South American nations continues its transformation into a global power, an ANU expert says.    

HODDLE Street mass murderer Julian Knight has listed legal and educational reasons for his bid to get a computer in his prison cell.    

THE federal coalition would not allow the privatisation of the ABC or SBS, says Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.    

NSW Treasurer Mike Baird has warned the government will need to take action to put the state budget in a strong and sustainable position.    

OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott insists that a coalition government would not head into a tax review with the aim of changing the GST.    

THE naked body of a young woman has been found in a front yard in Logan and Queensland police are treating her death as a murder.