澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2010-09-03（在线收听）

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie has described the Coalition's billion-dollar offer for Hobart hospital as reckless. Mr Wilkie yesterday announced that he'd support Prime Minister Julia Gillard's attempt to form government. And it means Labor is now just two seats away from forming government.

The Prime Minister has come under attack from the clubs industry for not consulting them properly over plans to put betting limits on poker machines. Ms Gillard won Andrew Wilkie's support yesterday on the condition she would implement new gambling prevention measures. Clubs Australia says the loss of revenue and the cost of installing the new system hasn't been researched.

The United States envoy to the Middle East has described direct peace talks between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders as productive. George Mitchell says the meetings with Benjamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas reflect good faith and the seriousness of the purpose. The two have agreed to direct talks every two weeks.

The British Foreign Secretary William Hague has received the full support of his Prime Minister, following speculation about his private life. Mr Hague said he should have realized there might have been speculation about he and the male aide occasionally sharing a hotel room during the election campaign. Mr Hague declared rumors over improper relationships as utterly false.

An explosion has ripped through an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. The rig is on fire and the two-kilometre-long oil sheen has spread from the site. The explosion threw 13 people into the water, but all have been rescued.