THE rate of suicide among Aboriginal girls is believed to have greatly increased since the Northern Territory emergency intervention was introduced five years ago to combat systemic child abuse and neglect.

THE Queensland experience had them worried.

WITH a momentous decision imminent on whether Australia will become home to the world's biggest telescope, the federal government has stepped up its last-minute lobbying.

THE Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, has pledged to fight government plans to means test the private health insurance rebate ''every step of the way'' but refused to commit to rescinding the measures if elected to government.

MOST junior surfers would quake in their boardies at the prospect of meeting Joel Parkinson or Taj Burrow in a first-round heat.

GREENHOUSE gases are leaking from some US gas drilling sites at up to double the expected amounts, raising questions over the use of gas as a low-emissions fuel, according to researchers from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Attracting the big money can be a high-stakes game, writes Deborah Snow.