Euthanasia should not be a 'quick fix'

Dan Harrison Senior Australian of the year Ian Maddocks has expressed concern that if euthanasia were legalised, death could be seen as a ''quick fix'' to suffering that could be relieved with palliative care.

Buttrose lashes aged care providers

Dan Harrison Australian of the year Ita Buttrose has accused aged care providers of flouting federal rules by tying residents to beds and chairs and using anti-psychotic drugs to deal with behavioural problems.

Buttrose declined offers to run from 'both sides'

Dan Harrison Australian of the year Ita Buttrose has revealed both major parties invited her to join them but she decided she did not want to become a politician.

Air pollution linked to heart disease: study

Dan Harrison Exposure to polluted air increases the risk of heart disease and stroke by speeding up the hardening of the arteries, according to new research.

Bad decision-making biggest threat to health funds: report

Amy Corderoy, Dan Harrison Expensive new technologies and treatments are being adopted by the health system, despite a ''big black hole'' in the knowledge about their long-term cost and efficacy, experts say.

ABC elects staffer Peacock as director

Dan Harrison ABC journalist Matt Peacock has become the first staff-elected director of the public broadcaster since the Gillard government reinstated the position.

Hopes rise for same-sex unions

Dan Harrison Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has given gay marriage supporters new hope by clearing the way for a possible free vote by Coalition MPs after the September election.

Abbott staffer demoted after incident at Sydney party

Dan Harrison Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has demoted a member of his staff for threatening the head of an indigenous education charity.

Rise in hospital admissions for elderly

Dan Harrison The rate at which older Australians are being admitted to hospital is rising rapidly.

South Australia reaches agreement with Canberra on disability scheme

Dan Harrison South Australia has become the second state to reach agreement with the federal government on a full rollout of the national disability insurance scheme, DisabilityCare Australia.

Government commits $777m for indigenous health

Dan Harrison The Federal Government has committed a further $777 million to efforts to close the gap in health outcomes between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

Pressure on MPs to back disability scheme

Dan Harrison Supporters of the National Disability Insurance Scheme will target Labor MPs in marginal seats to place pressure on the Gillard Government to fully fund the scheme in the May budget.

Tweet and sour: MP in spat with Aboriginal woman on colonialism

Dan Harrison Federal Liberal MP Dennis Jensen has told an Aboriginal woman on Twitter to ''get over'' colonialism - and later issued a statement in which he regrets using Twitter, but not the comments.

WA Lib MP concedes 'get over it' tweets 'inappropriate'

Dan Harrison Federal Liberal MP Dennis Jensen has conceded telling an Aboriginal woman on Twitter to ''get over'' colonialism may have been ''inappropriate''.

Study finds early detection of bowel cancer can save lives

Dan Harrison The Cancer Council has called for the rollout of the national bowel cancer screening program to be sped up, after research showed it could save hundreds of lives.

Business dismayed at 'coup capital'

Dan Harrison Business and mining groups concerned about instability and loss of expertise in latest reshuffle.

Rudd ends speculation of another tilt

Jonathan Swan, Dan Harrison Kevin Rudd has scotched any suggestions that he may try again for the Labor leadership, saying there are now ''no circumstances'' under which he would return.

Rudd refuses to run for leadership, PM prevails

Dan Harrison and Daniel Hurst Julia Gillard has declared Labor’s leadership question settled, after she was elected unopposed as Prime Minister at a meeting of the Labor caucus.

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Government withdraws media reform bills

Mark Kenny, Dan Harrison The federal government has withdrawn the remaining four media reform bills from parliament.