One of India's largest IT companies has been accused of misusing 457 visas to bring foreign workers into Australia. Tata Consultancy Services has IT contracts with some of the nation's largest companies, including Qantas, Woolworths, Telstra and AGL. Current and former employees of TCS say the company relies on foreign workers, even in areas where there are no skills shortages. 730 understands that most of the TCS staff working at Qantas are in Australia on 457 visas.

Several asylum seeker families have been moved off Manus Island in what the ABC understands signals the end of family groups being detained there. A group of 70 people, including some single men, have been flown to Christmas Island. The ABC understands the Government has decided it is inappropriate to keep families on Manus Island. The single men being removed will be replaced by others under a new rotation policy aimed at sending more people to Manus Island in line with the Government's no advantage principle.

Labor frontbencher Craig Emerson says he is confident Julia Gillard will still be Prime Minister by the time she travels to Indonesia for talks with president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono next month. Last night Ms Gillard announced she would be travelling to Jakarta for annual talks with Mr Yudhoyono, who is due to step down next year. However, her plan to travel overseas follows weeks of intense speculation over the leadership and whether Kevin Rudd could take over as prime minister before the September 14 election. Last night both Ms Gillard and Mr Rudd were in attendance as politicians and media turned out in force for Canberra's annual charity Midwinter Ball.

Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor has rejected claims that refugees from Somalia are not being accepted by Australia.

Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor has rejected claims that refugees from Somalia are not being accepted by Australia.

Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor has rejected claims that refugees from Somalia are not being accepted by Australia.

Indonesia's vice president Boediono says mutual understanding and trust between Indonesia and Australia remain key to the countries' relationship.

The elderly captain of an alleged people-smuggling vessel has pleaded not guilty during a hearing in the ACT Supreme Court.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has brushed aside questions about his policy to turn back asylum seeker boats after his frontbencher Malcolm Turnbull said it may be unsafe to do so.

The Federal Government has been criticised for refusing to divert ships and aircraft to search for the bodies of dozens of asylum seekers believed to have drowned off Christmas Island.

The Federal Government is running an ad campaign on prime time television in Afghanistan in a bid to stem the flow of ethnic Hazaras who board people smuggling boats bound for Australia.