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You need to talk us up, not help Libs, Gillard tells MPs
JULIA Gillard has laid down the law to a restive Labor caucus, urging it to maintain discipline or risk helping the Liberal Party.
In a special meeting of MPs called at the start of the parliamentary year, the Prime Minister told her backbenchers to focus on selling the government's achievements in 2012 as she set out a path to victory at next year's election.
Ongoing speculation about Ms Gillard's leadership and the intentions of Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd were not discussed by the 80 MPs at yesterday's meeting, though several raised the issue of the government's difficulty in marketing its message to voters.
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Facing the flood
AS residents in the communities devastated by floods in Queensland and northern NSW return home, downstream towns are bracing for the water onslaught.
Forecasters have already issued flood warnings for towns along several rivers in the Darling basin into late March, as the slow moving but potentially deadly body of water leaves a trail of destruction in its wake.
About 2000 residents in North Moree were given the all clear to return home after the Mehi river receded yesterday, allowing roads to re-open and the massive clean-up to begin.
But some 6500 people in Wee Waa, Goodooga and Gravesend remain isolated with the floodwater expected to peak later today.
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All Stars injury toll drives calls to stage game in grand final week
MOVING the NRL-Indigenous All Stars match to grand final week could be one way of lessening the chance of serious injury to the game's high profile players, according to Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin.
It follows the injuries to Brent Tate (knee) and Greg Inglis (ankle) after the NRL All Stars won an 11-try thriller at Skilled Park 36-28. Two years ago Kurt Gidley (hamstring tendon) and Darren Lockyer (bicep) were injured -- Gidley was out for eight weeks.
Griffin's Broncos had four players involved in Saturday night's exhibition match on the Gold Coast. North Queensland had the greatest number from the 16 clubs with five players involved.
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No help from on high as nerves bring Ryu undone
THIS time, God fell short. When Novak Djokovic won the mother of all Australian Open tennis finals last weekend, he crossed himself, looked to the heavens, kissed the wooden cross hanging from his neck, said a prayer and cast a glance at the priest sitting in his courtside box.
When Korea's US Open champion So Yeon Ryu was fighting her swing and mental demons yesterday afternoon in the final round of the Australian Ladies Masters, she called for some Djokovic-style divine intervention of her own -- only to be beaten by Dutchwoman Christel Boeljon by one stroke in a grandstand finish at Royal Pines.
``I'm a Christian,'' Ryu said when asked in a television interview during the tournament how she maintained her calm on the course. ``I pray for Jesus and God.''
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Water views for Mel B
MEL B and husband Stephen Belafonte snuck into Sydney on Wednesday morning and immediately moved into a palatial $11 million mansion in Sydney's east, paying $5000 a week in rent.
Neighbours who spotted the family said they arrived at the Vaucluse harbourfront mansion with their entourage and real estate agents in the middle of an early morning downpour, while their luggage followed in separate vans.
The former Spice Girl, 36, has expanded her duties on Seven, co-hosting Dancing With The Stars alongside Daniel MacPherson while also reprising her judging duties on The X Factor.
Ms B has enjoyed Australia so much she's moved her whole family here and is looking to buy a house in Sydney's eastern suburbs, and has placed her Los Angeles mansion on the market.
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Taylor made for home
SHE may be an international star but actor Rachael Taylor's heart is always in Melbourne.
Taylor is coming to the end of a blissful two months in her home city, and admitted she was ``pretty grumpy'' about heading back to Los Angeles. ``I've got to get a job,'' she laughed.
``I've watched TV and the tennis, caught up with my girlfriends, gone shopping and for walks along the Yarra and I've just loved it.''
At Crown last night for her latest film Any Questions for Ben, Taylor said she was keen to work with co-star turned real-life beau Josh Lawson again.
``I'd work with Josh a million times over and I'm so proud of the film we've made. I think Melburnians are going to totally embrace it.''
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Why Collette's back in fashion
When your designs are red carpet favourites again, chances are more than one celebrity will want to wear
your gown. For Collette Dinnigan, who is back with a vengeance as Australia's top designer to the stars, that became a reality last month when both Nicole Kidman and Rachel McAdams wore the same applique lace dress (pictured on McAdams above), worth $1590, to events.
``It's unfortunate because we don't want that to happen,'' Dinnigan, 46, tells Insider.
``Nicole requested it two days after the show (2012 spring/summer) and hung on to it for months. Had I known she was going to wear it, I would have told her Rachel wore it the week before.''
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FM fatale
How does a mother who has been up since 4am sound chirpy on the radio. The Herald Sun meets five female stars of the airwaves and finds that life behind the mike is surprisingly family friendly. According to Jo Stanley from Fox Fm: RADIO is a hungry beast that you can never say no to. The relentless need for material is stressful. I can't rock in and say, ``I've got a cold, (three-year-old daughter) Willow's been up all night vomiting and I've had a fight with my husband -- I've got nothing, sorry. Can you just play ads and music?'' I can't do that. You have to fake it 'til you feel it, and pull something out.
Some days there's just not much in your life that's interesting or funny. When my back's to the wall, the internet's amazing. I spend about three hours a day on there, trawling. Twitter and Facebook's also good to get a feel for what people are talking about.
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Clawed Monet makes an impression
MEET the Meow-angelos of the animal world.
Once on skid row, these playful felines are now in a loving home, all paid for with paintings that would make Picatso proud.
Louise Clayton and daughter Tegan Ellis, 21, from Wagga Wagga, allow their cats to express themselves with paint, creating Rescue Cat Art to help pay vet bills for the many animals they have saved. They have already rescued 12 cats, three dogs and seven birds.
``When we see advertised free to good home cats and kittens we pick them up. We intend on finding them homes but we end up keeping them,'' Ms Ellis said.
With the help of the kittens, they have created six Rescue Cat Art works since coming up with the idea last Wednesday.
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Kate's a self-starter
NO ONE needs to tell new Australian Grand Prix ambassador Kate Peck to start her engine.
The Melbourne girl, who gets around town on her Suzuki, says she is a perfect fit for the Formula One race.
``I am so into all motor sports, motorcycles and cars . . . it's a dream gig,'' Peck said. ``My dad rides motorcycles, so he invited me to Africa and said, `I'll buy you a motorbike if you come to travel around Africa with me' and I said, `Yes I'm coming'. ''
Peck has never been to the grand prix. ``To come to the grand prix for the first time as an ambassador is such an incredible experience,'' she said.
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The grandest of grand slams
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