The federal Liberal Party has surprised the nation by electing Tony Abbott as its leader. He won by just one vote in a party room spill this morning. Mr Abbott has vowed to prevent the passage of Labour’s Emissions Trading Scheme. Observers say his election represents a broader shift to the right for the Liberal Party. Featured in this story: Greg Barns, former Liberal candidate and author of 'What's Wrong with the Liberal Party?' ; Professor Carol Johnson, lecturer in politics at the University of Adelaide.

Are the environmentalists and Tony Abbott about to become strange bedfellows once again? With Abbott leading opposition to the ETS in the Senate, will the much-criticised scheme be defeated, and a better one forged for the environment? Featured in story: Damien Lawson, climate justice co-coordinator for Friends of the Earth Australia.

This morning a red, white and blue flag was raised in the Sydney suburb of Petersham, with several West Papuans and local councillors looking on. There's a good chance that the same flag is also being flown somewhere in West Papua today, but there, the consequences may be deadly. On the first of December West Papuans celebrate the anniversary of the first time their flag of independence was flown in 1961, but the province remains firmly under the control of Indonesia, with not even the red cross allowed in to monitor the tense situation. I went along to the very peaceful flag raising ceremony in Petersham this morning. In this story- Greens councillor in Marrickville, Max Philliops, members of the West Papuan National Coalition for Liberation, John Odawame and Rex Rumakiek, and Convenor of the West Papua project in the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, Peter King.

Dr John Rule, Deputy Director of the National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS, says that those with the virus suffer not just social but legal discrumination, and a national approach is needed to combat it.

Jock Palfreeman has always maintained that he acted in self defence in 2007 when he stabbed a Bulgarian student, killing him. After several postponements, and two years in a Bulgarian jail he will finally get his day in court on December 2. But how likely is it that he will get a fair trial? Featured in story: Belinda Hawkins- ABC journalist, Spencer Palfreeman, Leslie Holmes- specialist on Central and East European Corruption at Melbourne University and John Dowd, President of the International Commission of Jurists.