澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2010-08-12（在线收听）

An audience of undecided voters has declared Tony Abbott the winner over Julia Gillard at a public forum in western Sydney last night. The Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader field questions from about 200 voters at the Rooty Hill RSL Club. Julia Gillard was asked a number of questions about the ousting of Kevin Rudd and the general issue of trust, while Mr Abbott was grilled on his broadband plan.

The United Nations has launched an appeal for half a billion dollars to help victims of Pakistan's flood disaster. More than 14 million people have been affected by the floods and more than 1,100 have died.

The official death toll from mudslides in China has risen above 1,100. In western Gansu province, 700 more are missing, buried in debris caused by the mudslides. Ten thousand rescue workers are now searching for survivors.

The first person to be extradited from Indonesia to Australia to face people smuggling charges, has been found guilty by a Perth court. Thirty-five-year-old Hadi Ahmadi was found guilty of helping two boats travel from Indonesia to Christmas Island in 2001. The boats were carrying 550 asylum seekers.

And the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare says the nation is spending an increasing amount to help people with mental health concerns. A report from the Institute shows national spending on mental health services between 2007 to 2008 was nearly six billion dollars. Governments bear 96 per cent of the cost, with private health funds paying the rest.