澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2010-10-08（在线收听）

Farmers are warning that proposal to slash water allocations along the Murray-Darling would cause job losses and push up food prices. The proposal is expected to recommend deep cuts to irrigators' water entitlements. The plan will be released tomorrow and will apply equally across the basin states of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

The Aussie dollar is edging closer towards parity with the greenback, hitting its highest level in 27 years. It climbed to 99 US cents today. Analysts say the latest surge has added to the case for an interest rate rise.

The Victorian government has lost two senior ministers just seven weeks from the state election. Police Minister Bob Cameron is stepping down for family reasons and the Energy Minister Peter Batchelor is retiring after 20 years in politics. Mr Batchelor said his decision to leave was prompted in part by a recent health scare.

And there're renewed calls for abortion to be decriminalized  in Queensland. Healthcare Company  Marie Stopes International is leading the charge, arguing that most people believe abortion is a right, not a crime. The company surveyed 1000 people and found the vast majority want abortion to be removed from the criminal code.

Those are the latest headlines. Later on, business is next.