Election 2016: Government spruiks renewables rebound but dirty coal power still poses threat and other top stories.

• Election 2016: Government spruiks renewables rebound but dirty coal power still poses threat

  Video will begin in 5 seconds. Election 2016: Environment face-off Greg Hunt and Mark Butler have butted heads over their respective party's plans to cut emissions. Courtesy ABC News 24. PT1M40S 620 349 Australia is on track to meet official clean energy targets, says Environment Minister Greg Hunt.The rise of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has buoyed investors, Mr Hunt says, as new figures show 18 large-scale wind, solar and biogas projects worth at least $2.2 billion are s..

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• Retail sales point to more consumer softness

  

  Retail sales growth appears to be softening again. Photo: louise kennerley The value of retail sales across Australia rose just 0.2 per cent in April, seasonally-adjusted, as soft consumer demand, a warm autumn and aggressive discounting took their toll after a relatively strong March.The growth rate compares with a 0.4 per cent increase for March, and fell short of economists' forecasts of 0.3 per cent this time.The Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Th..

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• Japan suspends live cattle imports from Australia

  

  Japan suspends live cattle imports from Australia after positive Bovine Johne's disease test Updated June 02, 2016 20:18:44 Japan has temporarily suspended live cattle imports from Australia, after a consignment from Melbourne tested positive for Bovine Johne's disease.A spokesman for Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said 300 dairy heffers were sent to Japan last month, but it was not known how many of them tested positive for the muscle wasting disease.The Japanese ..

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• ASX hits one-month low as mood sours

  

  China's securities regulator on Thursday night suspended its new stock circuit-breaker that caused the sharemarket halts this week. Photo: Getty Images A three-day sell-off has taken the Australian sharemarket back to levels last seen in early May, as falling commodity prices and upcoming events such as a US interest rate decision and the 'Brexit' vote take their toll on investor confidence.The local bourse closed near the session's lows on Thursday with the ..

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SA Health staff fired for inappropriately accessing patient records .	Your weekend in #Ballarat | photos .
'They are nasty': Ballarat police force dogged by a bad reputation .	Accurate tsunami warning made possible by new algorithm; Australian scientists develop the Time Reverse Imaging ... .