For all of the self-congratulatory stories we tell ourselves about moral progress and human betterment, sometimes we in the post-Christian West end up advocating some truly barbaric, inhumane positions.

Shadow Treasurer Michael Daley said New South Wales should be concerned by the Government's plan.

Case Study 28 deals with the response of the Christian Brothers in Victoria to allegations of child sexual abuse involving six brothers - all of whom spent time working at schools in the Diocese of Ballarat.

When asked if he had been approached by students with complaints of inappropriate touching by teachers or principles, Cardinal Pell said he could not recall any examples.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has sought advice from John Howard as he tries to craft his long-awaited tax reform package.

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Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has called on Malcolm Turnbull to "do something about his backbench", saying Tony Abbott is acting like both the prime minister and foreign minister.

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Some 30 percent of US Republican primary voters and 19 percent of Democrats who said they would support bombing Agrabah, a fictional nation in Disney's Aladdin animation feature, are sent up on social media for their ignorance.

On Seven's Sunrise program on Wednesday, Ms O'Dwyer said Labor's proposal to limit negative gearing to new properties was irresponsible and would drive up house prices.

"They have got a policy that will increase the cost of housing for all Australians, for those people who own a home and for those people who would like to get into the housing market through their negative gearing policy," she said.

The claim house prices would rise was in stark contrast to Mr Turnbull's argument that the policy would "smash" house prices, driving them down and making people poorer.