Gina Rinehart has drawn fire over a video message for the second time in a year, warning Australia’s economy is headed for a Euro-style collapse.

A postcard from two youths with disabilities has brought Prime Minister Julia Gillard to tears as she introduced disability care legislation.

The federal budget will chart a path back to surplus while delivering extra spending for schools and disability care, Treasurer Wayne Swan says.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard was met with a rowdy reception at Marsden High School in Logan, Queensland yesterday, when students mobbed the Australian leader as she arrived to participate in Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea. Although most students clamoured to take photos on their I-phone, Ms Gillard was also met with some verbal abuse – and a flying Vegemite sandwich.

United Australia Party leader Clive Palmer has outlined the UAP’s gay rights policy and thrown his support behind a conscience vote in federal parliament in order to determine the controversial issue of same-sex marriage.

The Medicare levy will be raised by half a per cent to two per cent to cover part of the cost of the national disability insurance scheme.

A former soldier from New Zealand, Duncan Sandilands, has teamed up with a Brisbane-based barrister Mark Plunkett to launch a campaign to close a loophole in Australia’s immigration legislation which seems to bar citizens of New Zealand from joining the Australian Defence Force.

Mining magnate Clive Palmer has declared his intentions to challenge Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott for the position of Australian Prime Minister, with the billionaire launching his campaign for federal parliament earlier today with the launch of the newly formed United Australia Party.

“If you want to understand Australians, watch us on Anzac Day,” says prime minister.

Feminist icon Ita Buttrose says it’s unfair Prime Minister Julia Gillard cops flak for her clothes, empty fruit bowl and her hair. Ms Buttrose also called for the introduction of quotas to address the minority representation of women in boardrooms.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has written to Prime Minister Julia Gillard warning her against naming a new governor-general before this year’s federal election. Government insiders are speculating Abbott intends to nominate former mentor John Howard to the position if the Coalition is elected in the September poll.

Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart, 59, who believes “beauty is an iron mine”, is included in Time Magazine’s List of the 100 most influential people. She is listed alongside Barack and Michelle Obama, Steven Spielberg, Kate Middleton, Jay Z and Beyonce.

The Gillard government will go head-to-head with Queensland law-makers over changes to the royal succession, with the Newman government refusing to surrender their decision-making powers to the federal government at a Council of Australian Governments meeting later this week.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s push for an overhaul of schools funding has been boosted after key independents Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott backed the changes, despite ongoing opposition from Western Australia.

Australia has boosted 40 years of diplomatic relations with China to a new high through an agreement for an annual “strategic dialogue.”

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says Margaret Thatcher led her nation with strong conviction follow the former UK leader’s death at the age of 87.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has reassured China that Australia is open to foreign investment ahead of signing an historic “strategic partnership” deal with Premier Li Keqiang involving annual summit talks between the two countries’ leaders.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has flagged an historic currency agreement with China and told local business leaders Australia welcomes foreign investment.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard spoke to reporters at a Foreign Correspondents’ Association lunch in Australia about misogyny, forward progress in Australian society and the path to acceptance of a female leader.