Inflation shows why households are hurting

AUSTRALIAN households are suffering as the rising cost of living gobbles up income gains, leaving many Sydney families treading water. more (Sydney Morning Herald — 24 July, 2008)

• Rate relief hopes dashed (Sydney Morning Herald)
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Two children taken to hospital after bus crash

Two children have been taken to Southport Hospital for precautionary treatment after their school bus skidded from a road at Gaven, near the Gold Coast this afternoon. - Brisbane Times more (The Brisbane Times — 5 hours ago)

Petrol pain eases a little

SYDNEY motorists were treated yesterday to the cheapest petrol in six weeks but are still to see the full effect of the recent drop in international oil prices. more (Sydney Morning Herald — 24 July, 2008)

Four-leg drive the way to go

NICOLE SWIFT, of Yarramundi, on the Hawkesbury, has no difficulty with the idea that one day Australia's horses - so brusquely brushed aside by the motor car a century ago - may come back into their own as a source of transport and power. more (Sydney Morning Herald — 24 July, 2008)

Gold Coast construction audit finds 80 breaches

Safety lacking - Brisbane Times more (The Brisbane Times — 6 hours ago)

Half-price rail fares

COMMUTERS from western Sydney will be offered a 50 per cent discount on their train tickets to the city if they travel outside the morning and afternoon peaks in an attempt to ease chronic overcrowding on the CityRail network. more (Sydney Morning Herald — 24 July, 2008)

• Cheaper train tickets for off-peak travel (Sydney Morning Herald)
• Hungry Mile tipping point for Wynyard (Sydney Morning Herald)

Firepower chief lived in luxury

TIM JOHNSTON, the head of the fuel pill company Firepower, is believed to have spent a fortune on expensive furnishings and antiques, and he regularly flew a prominent Sydney antique dealer to Russia to advise on purchases. more (Sydney Morning Herald — 24 July, 2008)

Police probe armed robbery link

Police believe two men who robbed the Salisbury Hotel overnight may also be responsible for a string of other armed robberies around Brisbane. - Brisbane Times more (The Brisbane Times — 7 hours ago)

McArdle slams Brough's merger delay tactic

Queensland Liberal leader reacts angrily to last-ditch effort by state president Mal Brough to delay merger with Nationals. - Brisbane Times more (The Brisbane Times — 7 hours ago)

• Brough seeks to delay merger (The Brisbane Times)
• 'Termites' attacking merger bid (The Brisbane Times)
• Liberal says parties suffer 'white line fever' (The Brisbane Times)
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Magnets could repel sharks: researchers

Researchers in north Queensland have discovered that an effective shark repellent could be as simple as a magnet. - Brisbane Times more (The Brisbane Times — 6 hours ago)