Small Halls folk tour nears its destination
A roaming folk festival is nearing its end after lighting up small town halls across Victoria, taking a breath before the tour turns to Western Australia.
Economy, Business and Finance
Near-finished Porter Davis homes will be completed
Porter Davis liquidators have been working to find solutions for staff and clients since the home building company collapsed a week ago.
Premier backs call to not bail out beleaguered builder
Authorities are probing whether one of Australia's largest home builders illegally took deposits from customers before securing their insurance policies.
Robots and drones could replace humans in emergencies
New technology developed in Australia could see more drones and robots deployed into emergency situations to save lives.
Inland Rail project build blows out to $31.4 billion
An independent review into the Inland Rail project has revealed it faces serious problems, but the Albanese government is pushing ahead.
Pilot killed in rural Queensland helicopter crash
The death of a 65-year-old pilot west of Rockhampton comes two days after a couple and their unborn child were killed in a light plane crash near Proserpine.
Rate-hike pause bolsters Australian share market
Australian shares are near all-time highs following the Reserve Bank's decision to keep interest rates unchanged after 10 consecutive hikes.
Aussie ute drivers could save money and cut emissions
A new report into Australians' love for utes has found drivers could save $42 million on fuel in a year by choosing the most efficient vehicles.
Union boss’ estranged wife in court on kill plot charge
The estranged wife of construction union boss John Sekta has faced court over allegations she conspired to murder him.
Relief on rates but don’t bank on an end to rises
The Reserve Bank of Australia has delivered welcome interest rate relief to mortgage holders and kept the cash rate on hold.
Heartbreak after young couple lost in Qld plane crash
A fundraising campaign has been launched after a married couple and their unborn child were killed when their plane went down in bad weather.
South Australian coal-based steel to go green
Liberty Steel is set to dump coal-based steelmaking at Whyalla in South Australia with a major investment in electrical and hydrogen-powered alternatives.
Mortgage holder confidence cools ahead of RBA decision
Confidence among those paying off a home loan has taken another hit in the lead-up to another cash rate call that could add more to their monthly repayments.
Australia, China ramp up talks over easing trade bans
A round of trade talks is being held between Australian and Chinese officials as Canberra works to ease diplomatic tensions with Beijing.
Deposits lost as Porter Davis liquidators urge patience
Porter Davis customers have been told they will lose their deposits as talks to secure access to their home building plans continue.
Population, rate rises magnify housing supply crunch
Housing demand is expected to keep outstripping supply as migration levels pick up and high interest rates weigh on new construction.
New houses drive uptick in dwelling approvals
Sign-off on private sector dwellings has lifted modestly and home prices appear to have found a floor - at least for the moment.
Albanese makes budget promise ahead of rates decision
Australian borrowers are bracing for another possible interest rate hike, as the government seeks to ensure the upcoming budget does not push up inflation.
Star Sydney boss quits less than a year into role
The boss of Sydney's Star casino, Scott Wharton, will depart at the end of April for a lucrative new position as CEO of Smartgroup Corporation.
Australians bracing for health insurance price hikes
More than a million Australians are set to face increased health insurance premiums, with HBF among the providers upping prices.
Migration, high rents put brakes on sliding home prices
Home prices nationally have ticked up in March after tracking lower for 10 straight months, with high rents and migration both helping to arrest the slide.
Refinery to make greener aviation fuel from farm waste
A refinery turning agricultural by-products such as sugarcane into eco-friendly aviation fuel could open in Queensland next year with a new funding deal struck.
Bosses can’t force staff to work on public holidays
Workers cannot be forced to work on public holidays even if they're rostered on, a court has found, potentially paving the way for more rights for employees.
Housing hammered as big building companies down tools
Building works will stop immediately on more than 1700 properties in Victoria and Queensland as a result of the collapse of Porter Davis.
Australia’s love for utes and SUVs driving emissions
Australia is one of the world's biggest petrol consumers but could save $13 billion in petrol costs each year by adopting moderate changes, a new report says.
Global shares rise as bank support emboldens investors
Safe havens have taken a battering as investors relax about the stability of the financial sector, with banks helping to lift global share markets.
Peak union wants wage boost for lowest-paid workers
More than two million workers on minimum and award wages should get a seven per cent pay rise to keep up with the rising cost of living, the ACTU argues.
Hundreds more electric vehicles to join rental fleets
Your next hire car could be an electric model after one of Australia's leading rental firms revealed plans to add 500 BYD cars to its fleet this year.
Proposed coal mines a climate disaster, experts warn
Experts warn that approving proposed coal mines across the country would cause almost 18 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas pollution to be emitted.
Aussies asked whether electric cars should make noise
Electric cars could be forced to play sounds at low speeds to protect pedestrians and cyclists in a move supported by the blind community.
Inflation slows ahead of crunch interest rates decision
Inflation has moderated again and released some pressure from the valve underpinning more interest rises from the Reserve Bank.