These range from help for Inner Regional Australian students and changes in relocation scholarships for regional students, to changes to the Age of Independence for Youth Allowance and Abstudy.

Department of Human Services General Manager Hank Jongen is in Perth and joined Caitlin to discuss the changes, and what they will mean for thousands of Australians.

It indicates that Aboriginal communities suffer from a lack of services and infrastructure, including education.

As a result, the Federal Government’s considering extending the Northern Territory Intervention for a further ten years.

The proposed Stronger Futures legislation goes against the wishes and concerns of Aboriginal people across the Territory who say it will lead to a further ten years of disempowerment and despair in the communities.

ANTaR National Director Jackie Phillips joined Ben on Morning Mag to explain more.

Opening the ALP national conference in Sydney, the Prime Minister said Labor was the party of jobs, growth and fairness, and those values would shape her government into the future.

State Labor Leader Eric Ripper was there and joined Joe Cassidy on Morning Magazine to look back and forward.

And there may be big changes on the horizon…

At the moment, Federal Labor doesn’t support marriage equality for same-sex couples. The Prime Minister is supporting a conscious vote on the issue.

But if MP Andrew Barr and Rainbow Labor can get the numbers, it may become policy.

And the numbers aren’t bad either; Andrew, other Labor MPs, Union Secretaries and conference delegates received a petition with over one hundred and forty thousand signatures on it this morning.

Bren McGurk spoke to Australian Marriage Equality Convenor Alex Greenwich and Labor MP Louise Pratt on the first day of the ALP National Conference.

While the Opposition has greeted the vote with expected dismay, the Government and the Greens are understandably very happy with the result.

The Prime Minister is very happy – she’s called it ‘a win for Australia’s children’.

Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert joined Ben Ainslie on Morning Magazine.

But the people at Australian Marriage Equality haven’t forgotten.

They’ve attended a dinner at Parliament house, and on the menu was four independent federal MPs and a sprinkle of Marriage Equality supporters from the independents’ electorates.

Australian Marriage Equality National Convener Alex Greenwich joined Ben Ainslie to have a bit of an eavesdrop about what went on at the dinner.

A big gang of local people have had plenty of time to do that they’ve been walking away from Uranium mining, leaving footprints for peace, from Wiluna to Perth.

Nuclear Free Future Campaign Coordinator Marcus Atkinson joined Peter Barr for Breakfast.

Co-facilitator Danny Ford joined Meri Fatin

It’s supposed to bring about a stronger, fairer and simpler tax system by increasing productivity and giving us better incentives to work.

The forum aims to identify reforms to make the most of opportunities and challenges such as the aging population, the global economy and the transition to a clean energy future.

Today’s the last day as representatives from the community, business, government and tax experts attend the forum in Canberra.

To get a better idea of the ins and outs of tax reform, Ben Ainslie was joined by Senior Lecturer of Law from the University of Canberra, Mr John Passant….

But sometimes, there’s only so much a pollie can do, and they need a gentle tap on the back from the people who might not usually be on the agenda.

The Politician Adoption Scheme is one that links local politicians to people with a disability.

Taryn Harvey is the CEO of the Developmental Disability Council of WA – the group who run the program.

She’s also on the State Committee for the campaign to introduce a National Disability Insurance Scheme, and joined Hilary Smale on Morning Magazine.

But a new national survey has found that half of Australia’s principals don’t feel ready to implement it.

State, Catholic and independent school principals did the survey, and less than half agreed with the Federal Government’s reform agenda.

Robert Nairn is the President of the the WA Secondary School Executives Association, and he joined Hilary Smale on Morning Magazine.

Not so much the classes themselves – but the lifestyle they had, the fact that they lived fairly comfortably, working over the summer for extra cash.

As you’d know, it’s a pretty different picture now.

But, there’s a chance the model could be changed – with universities calling for some funding to go straight to the students – so they can decide where to use it for their higher education.

Glenn Withers is the Chief Executive of Universities Australia, and he joined Hilary Smale on Morning Magazine.

That said, Prime Minister Julia Gillard signed has signed off on a deal worth almost 300 million dollars, to protect at least 430,000 hectares of high-conservation-value forests.

The deal’s gathered voices of discontent – the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Forest Industries Association of Tasmania aren’t happy.

But conservationists have applauded the deal – the Australian Conservation Foundation says its provided a strong step towards the protection of the forests.

ACF Healthy Ecosystems Program Manager Dr Paul Sinclair’s been in the thick of negotiations, he joined Meri Fatin on Morning Magazine.

The footage was aired by the ABC’s Four Corners program and led to the suspension of Australia’s live cattle trade with Indonesia.

Animals Australia’s Executive Director Glenys Oogjes denies the allegations and joined Caitlin Nienabar on Morning Magazine.

And out of that 19, only five were accompanied by parents.

The UN Children’s Agency has already spoken out, saying they shouldn’t be sent to Malaysia without guardians.

However Prime Minister Julia Gillard remains steadfast, saying there will be no blanket exceptions for children under the Malaysian Swap deal.

Except for late on the weekend, when the High Court stopped the process, albeit temporarily.

Curtin University’s Chair of Human Rights Education Professor Linda Briskman has been watching events over the weekend and joined Meri Fatin on Morning Magazine.

Hanan Anwan was handed a red card and a 3-match suspension following her reaction to the incident while the opposition player received no penalty.

So what is the importance of the hijab, and what does it mean to have it removed?

Director of the Centre for Muslim States and Societies Professor Samina Yasmeen joined Stacy Gougoulis on Morning Magazine.

Now a national conference of forensic psychologists is tackling the issue, meeting to look at how psychological research can enhance and improve our justice system.

Deputy Commissioner of Custodial Operations Marlene Morrison spoke to us on the line from the conference in Queensland, while Greens MP Alison Xamon joined Hilary Smale live in the studio to talk about the expected outcomes from the conference.

The Australian Red Cross has been instrumental in providing on-the-ground assistance to the many people affected by the tragedies.

They have now formed a new group, The National Recovery Team- who will be prepared to deal with future natural disasters.

National Recovery Team Coordinator Kate Brady joined Hilary Smale to discuss their ideas for the future.

It can happen to anyone at anytime, but there’s no logical system in place to deal with it when it does.

It’s a tough road for people with a disability and their families, but a new scheme is aiming to make it a little smoother.

Peter Darch is a guy from Mandurah who became a quadriplegic nine years ago during a swimming accident.

He’s since become WA’s Young Person of the Year, works as a youth worker and counselor, and is an advocate for a campaign called Every Australian Counts.

Hilary Smale caught up with him yesterday…