PM to visit US for formal state dinner with President Trump 15/7/2019 (Translation appears in Arabic section) Canberra- M E Times nt'l: Prime Minister Scott Morrison will visit the United States for a formal state dinner with President Donald Trump, the Australian reports. The visit will take place in mid-September and is the first event of its kind for an Australian Prime Minister since John Howard. 
The dinner will be seen as a strategic show of support from the President for the US-Australian alliance as China's strength in the Indo-Pacific region grows. 
Morrison makes Suicide Prevention a National Priority Canberra: Prime Minister Scott Morrison MP has assured of Providing greater support for all Australians needing mental health and suicide prevention services is a key priority of my Government. Suicide takes far too many Australians, devastating families and local communities. One life lost to suicide is one too many, which is why my Government is working towards a zero suicide goal. I am therefore pleased to announce the appointment of Christine Morgan as our new National Suicide Prevention Adviser to support this priority. 
Minister wants 'positive spin' on homeless Canberra: Assistant Housing Minister Luke Howarth insists he wants to put a "positive spin" on homelessness figures, despite lord mayors demanding more action to tackle the issue in capital cities. Mr Howarth, who was recently promoted to the role, said the more than 116,000 homeless people made up just 0.5 per cent of Australia's population. 
"I want to put a positive spin on it as well and not just say Australia's in a housing crisis when it affects a very, very small percentage of the population," he told ABC Radio National on Tuesday. Shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers branded the comments an "absolute disgrace", saying he had set a new low in the way homeless people were talked about. "This guy is not the minister for homelessness, he's the minister for hopelessness," he told reporters in Brisbane. 
Call to recognise First Australians in constitution Canberra: A proposal to recognise Indigenous Australians in the constitution will soon be put to a referendum. In his first address to the National Press Club as the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt will pledge to ‘bring forward a consensus option’ recognising Indigenous Australians as the nation's First Peoples in the constitution within the next three years. Mr Wyatt is treading carefully, saying ‘whatever words you insert into the constitution, they can have significant implications way beyond the simple wording’. Mr Wyatt is the first Indigenous Australian to hold a cabinet position since federation. 
Business loans dip as property slides: CFR Sydney: Slipping property values may have contributed to the recent fall in loans to small businesses, the country's four main financial regulatory agencies say. "Demand for housing credit has been subdued, though there has also been some tightening in credit supply," the Council of Financial Regulators said in a statement summarising their meeting on July 5. The CFR - comprising the Reserve Bank of Australia, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and the Australian Treasury - said loans to small businesses had declined during the past year. 
$35 Million in New Land Conservation Agreements Sydney: The NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT) is entering 38 new conservation agreements with landholders in NSW to protect more than 9,300 hectares of environmentally significant land, including koala habitat. Environment Minister Matt Kean said the BCT is setting aside $35.9 million to support landholders in the Northern Tablelands, North West Plains, Murray, South West Slopes, Lachlan River and Lismore-Ballina. “These 38 new BCT agreements will help landowners protect new conservation areas, threatened species, and pristine landscapes,” Mr Kean said. 
New brain tumour treatment for SA Adelaide: A high-precision radiation therapy for patients with secondary brain tumours has become available in Adelaide. The image-guided radiation system will be used as a non-invasive form of intracranial radiation to deliver precisely targeted radiation in fewer, high-dose, treatments than traditional therapy. The technology features a state-of-the-art imaging system that provides for highly accurate patient positioning and brain tumour targeting. It gives the clinician the ability to see and monitor a patient's position in real-time so they can instantly detect any unintended movement that would impact treatment precision. Oncologist Andrew Potter said the system heralded a new era for radiation therapy in South 
Indonesia to return Australian waste Indonesia: Indonesia is shipping a further eight containers of toxic waste back to Brisbane following last week's decision to return contaminated recycling materials. The country's customs agency has seized more than 200 tonnes of Australian rubbish at a major port. The haul is supposed to contain paper for recycling, but officials say dirty nappies, water bottles and plastic sheets are clearly mixed in. Indonesia has declared the shipment is toxic and is preparing to export it back to Brisbane. 
Australian government to preserve late PM Bob Hawke's home Sydney: The Australian Government will provide $750,000 to purchase and renovate the childhood home of former Prime Minister Bob Hawke, to protect its heritage value and commemorate his life and achievements. Robert James Lee Hawke was born in 1929 at Hawke House in Bordertown, South Australia. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the conservation of Hawke House was important for Australia’s heritage and democratic history. “Bob Hawke made an extraordinary contribution to Australian life and holds a special place in the hearts of Australians,” the Prime Minister said. |
