Independents up in arms over ‘rigged’ donations reforms
The major political parties have been slammed for "rigging" the system to boost their chances of winning, after agreeing on a political donations reform bills.
Crime Law and Justice
Alan Jones hit with more charges as his friends respond
Prominent Australians have responded to the dramatic arrest of Alan Jones as police hit the once-powerful broadcaster with more indecent assault allegations.
Cop ‘not the type of person’ to taser 95yo unlawfully
A police officer on trial over the tasering death of an aged-care resident swore an oath to God to be truthful about why he fired his weapon, a jury has heard.
Discount class action fresh headache for grocery giants
Australia's two major supermarket chains say they will defend against class action lawsuits brought over allegations of misleading promotional price practices.
Cop who tasered elderly woman should have ‘evaluated’
Police should aim to use the least amount of force necessary when conducting their duties, a trial over the tasering death of an elderly woman has been told.
‘I needed to’: cop defends tasering aged-care resident
A police officer told a colleague he had to taser a 95-year-old woman armed with a steak knife to prevent violence in an aged-care home, a jury has heard.
Ex-boyfriend ‘lied’ to police about missing backpacker
Efforts to reignite the cold case of German backpacker Simone Strobel, whose body was found in 2005, have again mainly focused on her former partner.
‘Got her’: cop yells after tasering great-grandmother
An aged-care resident armed with a steak knife was told she was "going to get tased" before a police officer fired his weapon on her.
Month-long inquest to probe Westfield stabbing rampage
An inquest will examine how and why six people were stabbed to death during a brutal knife rampage at a shopping centre involving a mentally ill man.
Judge to quit after ex-partner assault guilty ruling
A Supreme Court judge will resign after being found guilty of assaulting and emotionally abusing his then-partner and breaching a family violence order.
Backpacker’s boyfriend most probable killer: detective
A detective tasked with solving Simone Strobel's death says her boyfriend was most likely to blame, despite a murder charge against him being dropped.
Nurse’s alarm as cop tasered 95-year-old great-gran
A nurse's curiosity when a police officer pulled out his Taser turned to concern when he used it on an elderly woman holding a knife, a court has been told.
Backpacker’s body found in ‘dangerous’ area: lawyer
The area where backpacker Simone Strobel's body was found had a history of sexual attacks on young women, a coroner has heard.
Family calls for change after woman murdered by partner
The family of a murdered woman have welcomed a coroner's recommendations, saying those changes could protect other women from their violent partners.
Judge who assaulted ex-partner avoids jail sentence
A Tasmanian judge has been ordered to serve 100 hours of community service after being found guilty of assaulting and emotionally abusing a woman.
Murder trial awaits Samantha Murphy’s accused killer
The 23-year-old son of an ex-AFL player will stand trial charged with the murder of missing Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy.
‘You make me sick’: paramedic’s family slams killer
The "vicious" stabbing of paramedic Steven Tougher left his mother haunted by the terror of his final moments, a court has heard as she confronted his killer.
Court approves travel for ex-Lib leader on drug charges
Former South Australian opposition leader David Speirs, who quit parliament after being charged with supplying drugs, has faced court for the first time.
Ankle bracelet, curfew bypass ‘vulnerable to attack’
The immigration minister has swiftly imposed freedom restrictions on former detainees but there are concerns about whether they'll withstand a court challenge.
Social media ban ‘unenforceable’, experts say
Keeping Australian children under 16 off social media will be unenforceable and tech giants should not be tasked with age verification, experts say.
Sentence for killing two sex workers ‘unjust’: advocate
The life of a migrant sex worker is treated as less valuable than others, advocates say, as a man was jailed for at least nine years for killing two women.
Nuclear waste could add billions to energy supply costs
The time needed to build nuclear reactors and the cost of safely storing radioactive waste remain big questions for Australia, an inquiry has been told.
Peg supplies questioned at fatal jumping castle hearing
The families of children who died after a jumping castle became airborne have watched in court as photos of the blood-stained equipment were shown.
Truckie offers no leads on missing toddler’s location
A truckie has told a court about the cars he saw when William Tyrrell disappeared, but his evidence doesn't support a police theory about the child's body.
Foster mum would have ‘owned up’ to dumping 3yo’s body
William Tyrrell's foster mum told a friend that if she disposed of the three-year-old's body, she would have come forward and taken responsibility.
Ketamine abuse hits record high
The abuse of ketamine - the drug that killed Friends actor Matthew Perry - is at record levels in Australia.
Storage facility find yields 40,000 stolen Bluey coins
A stack of limited-edition coins paying tribute to Australia's favourite cartoon blue heeler have been recovered by police.
PM: I never called ex-Qantas boss for flight perks
The prime minister has emphatically denied calling Qantas's former chief executive for flight upgrades, pouring cold water on an incendiary political dogfight.
‘Long way to go’ as record number of scams reported
Complaints about scams and financial hardship have grown in one of the most worrying trends of the past year, according to the peak financial complaints body.
Drug stigma laid bare in frank talk behind closed doors
Frank discussions about drugs have taken place behind closed doors with advocates telling police and politicians a different response is urgently needed.
‘A life for a life’: family anguish as killer sentenced
Ricardo Barbaro could be released from custody in 17 years for what a judge called the "vicious and entirely merciless" murder of Melbourne mother Ellie Price.