Liberal MP to cross floor in support of gay equality

Dan Harrison Retiring Liberal Senator Sue Boyce will cross the floor to vote for a change that would make it illegal for faith-based aged care providers to discriminate against people on the basis of their...

Senators attack PM over Crossin's dumping

Dan Harrison and Judith Ireland Labor senators have defended Senator Trish Crossin and launched a broadside at the Prime Minister over her treatment of the outgoing senator.

Gillard's 'captain's pick' not the Labor way: Crossin

Judith Ireland, Dan Harrison Former Labor minister Nicola Roxon and outgoing Labor Senator Trish Crossin have reminded Parliament of which leader they back in their farewell speeches.

Mental health campaign targets men

Dan Harrison New campaign plans to use humour to convince blokes that real men look after their mental health.

DisabilityCare's name 'close to being hated'

Dan Harrison The Coalition has called for a rethink of DisabilityCare Australia's name before the launch of a $22 million advertising campaign for the scheme, saying many people with a disability find the name...

DisabilityCare name 'patronising': Coalition

Dan Harrison The Coalition has called for a rethink of the name DisabilityCare before launching a $22 million advertising campaign for the scheme, saying many people with a disability find the name patronising.

'Pathetic', 'stunt': independents slam latest no-confidence move

Dan Harrison Key independents MPs have called the Coalition's latest move on a no-confidence motion "pathetic" and a "stunt" after a letter from Coalition strategist Christopher Pyne seeking their support was...

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Parties experiencing own budget emergencies

Dan Harrison Australia's political parties are experiencing their own budget emergencies, with donations dwindling as the costs of campaigning climb ever higher.

Call for inquiry into terrorist asylum seeker

Dan Harrison, David Wroe and Bianca Hall The Coalition has demanded the government set up an independent inquiry into how an Egyptian terrorist who came to Australia as an asylum seeker was mistakenly cleared to be released into the...

NT plan to lock up drunks 'targets aborigines'

Dan Harrison A Northern Territory government plan to lock up problem drunks and force them to undergo rehabilitation could criminalise a health problem, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice...

Coalition backflip on health rebate

Dan Harrison and Madeleine Heffernan Coalition will not oppose change that would cut $700 million from the private health insurance rebate, saying the 'dire fiscal situation' had caused its change of heart.

Coalition confirms support for baby bonus axing

Judith Ireland, Dan Harrison Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has confirmed that the Coalition will support the abolition of the baby bonus, and one of two government amendments to the private health insurance rebate.

Call for tougher restrictions on junk food

Dan Harrison Children are more likely to choose unhealthy foods over healthier products if they carry nutritional claims or endorsements from sporting stars, according to research.

Coalition would review Medicare Locals

Dan Harrison A Coalition government would review Medicare Locals, the 61 organisations set up by Labor to co-ordinate primary care across Australia.

Hospitals fail infection benchmark: report

Dan Harrison Two Victorian hospitals have failed to meet a national infection control benchmark, according to data to be released on Thursday.

Leaders hail indigenous strategy

Dan Harrison Aboriginal leaders say a new national strategy to strengthen communities will be a watershed in the battle to reduce indigenous suicide rates that, in some age groups, are several times higher than...

Vitamin link to combatting Alzheimer's

Dan Harrison B-vitamins could prevent Alzheimer's disease by reducing the loss of grey matter in vulnerable regions of the brain, researchers have found.

Patients missing out on medication, say drug companies

Dan Harrison Drug companies have accused the Gillard government of denying patients the latest medicines, with the number of new medicines being added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme at a 20-year low.

Health insurance uptake highest in 25 years

Dan Harrison Australians are taking out private health insurance at the highest rate in 25 years, despite the means testing of the private health insurance rebate.

Private health rates continue to rise

Dan Harrison Australians are taking out private health insurance at the highest rate in 25 years, despite the means testing of the private health insurance rebate.