A positive step towards finding a solution in East Timor was made today with the announcement that Ramos Horta would take the very recently made available position of Defence Minister within the Government. While remaining cautious over whether Prime Minister Alkatiri should step down, his moves to hold talks with rebel leader Reinado could be the key to the security situation improving. Frances Sonny, a freelance filmmaker in Dili spoke about Ramos Horta's appointment and what that would mean for the ailing image of Alkatiri.

The government is currently defending its last minute decision not to sell off the Snowy Hydro scheme – apparently swayed by a sudden rush of sentiment and voter opposition. Peter Andren is Independent Member for Calara in the country’s south east corner has be a vocal opponent of the plan from the beginning. He says he'll now push for legislation to put the Snowy Hydro firmly in federal government hands. The financial world though is taken aback by the decision. Financial analyst Peter Strachan says it is an emotional decision driven by baby boomers and will threaten foreign investment, as well as leaving taxpayers with the bill for the considerable promotion of the float which has already occurred.

Wiradjuri man STEVEN COE talks about his childhood playground which is now in the sights of Barrick Gold. The mining company has just been given access to Lake Cowal in central west New South Wales to start looking for gold. As well as trespassing on sacred wetlands, the Lake Cowal Gold Project will mean an environmental risk of cyanide poisoning. Activitists gathered outside the mining company’s headquarters in Perth on Wednesday this week to protest against the project going ahead and one of the protestors, MIA PEPPER of the Lake Cowal Action Group, spoke to JOSHUA FANNING

A real weapons inspector is both a scientist and a detective. Australian Rod Barton spent much of his career working at the highest levels on some of the most publicised inspection missions, in Iraq before and after the Gulf War and later as advisor to Hans Blix in the leadup to the 2003 Iraq invasion. He eventually grew tired of political interference in his findings – he became a whistleblower and now reveals the real inside story of the weapons inspection game in his newly released book “The Weapons Detective”. He first came up against political mind games in his work when he was asked in the early 1980s to investigate the phenomenon of Yellow Rain .The Hmong tribespeople in the hills of Laos and Cambodia were complaining of planes dropping a mysterious yellow liquid which they claimed was causing illness and death. The US was convinced that the yellow spots were a biological weapon manufactured by the Soviet union…but Rod Barton went in to investigate immediately had his doubts about the story….and was then surprised to find that the US wasn't at all interested in his findings.

A newly formed inner city Brisbane Men's Business group, Numbarlie Marlu meaning 'Us Men Together' are taking a stand against issues of violence and alcohol, which are contributing to the devestation of many indigenous communites. Sam Watson who is a part of the talking mens circle is calling on all Aboriginal men accross the nation to join them in a silent march in Brisbane on Friday 7th July with a mission to walk in solidarity and reinforce their role as men in support of their communities.