Obama trip could hit a health problem

Barack Obama's trip to Australia this month might be in jeopardy as the US President pushes to clinch historic healthcare reform in America.

Mr Obama and his family are planned to arrive in Canberra on March 22 after visiting Guam and Indonesia.

But some fellow Democrats have expressed concern that the President's absence will come during the final act of his momentous revamp of the healthcare system, which is predictable to extend health insurance coverage to an extra 30 million Americans.

The Australian government yesterday confirmed Mr Obama could address a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament on Tuesday, March 23.

It also announced that Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would address a combined sitting next Wednesday at 2pm.