Freed Assange wings his way toward home turf
Julian Assange will touch down under the cover of darkness in Canberra after pleading guilty to espionage and being freed after 15 years evading authorities.
Economy, Business and Finance
Assange seeks privacy to adjust to new-found freedom
After more than a decade in some form of custody overseas, WikiLeaks leader Julian Assange is back in Australia and will take time to adjust to his new freedom.
‘Painful squeeze’: inflation spike renews heat on rates
Surprisingly strong inflation has resurrected the possibility of another interest rate hike in an unsettling development for squeezed borrowers.
coal
consumers
economy, business and finance
electricity production and distribution
energy
energy and resource
environmental issue
natural gas
nuclear power
politics
Aussies cooking with gas not nuclear under network plan
Renewable energy and more gas is the cheapest way to power a net-zero economy, with electricity demand tipped to double by 2050 as homes and cars go electric.
Nuclear push would drag out energy transition, PM warns
Anthony Albanese will use a major economic speech to hit out at opposition nuclear plans, saying they risk stalling progress on meeting net-zero targets.
Digital systems dethrone cash as dominant payment type
Online payments have surged in the past year to overtake the rate of cash withdrawals at ATMs, research shows.
Cash still king as big business bails out Armaguard
Some of Australia's biggest companies have put their money where their mouth is by stepping in to save cash carrier Armaguard in a $50 million deal.
Considering how to ‘force’ Meta to pay for news
Laws that would force Facebook to show and pay for Australian news, as well as tax changes, are being considered by the government, an inquiry has revealed.
Hundreds of high-end EVs recalled over battery fault
More than 1400 luxury electric vehicles have been recalled in Australia over a fault that the regulator warns could cause serious accidents.
‘Catastrophic’ power plant explosion avoidable: report
An explosion at a Queensland coal-fired power plant could have been avoided if safety measures were implemented at the station, a draft independent report says.
Living cost relief, housing top ACT’s budget priorities
Cost-of-living help has been handed to struggling to households in an ACT budget that also vies to tackle the housing crisis and other slower-burn challenges.
Premier pushes back on city transport underfunding
Australia's largest local government says public transport funding in Brisbane is waning as negotiations continue on an ongoing deal.
Nuclear ‘fantasy’ comes under scrutiny in parliament
An opposition proposal to build nuclear reactors has dominated parliamentary debate as politicians return to Canberra, with the plan labelled a "fantasy".
Supermarkets to face millions in fines under new code
Supermarkets could be hit with millions in fines in a government bid to make prices fairer for farmers and shoppers.
economic policy
economy, business and finance
election
political campaigns
politics
politics (general)
Dutton promises back-to-basics economic election plan
Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has pledged to rein in unnecessary spending and get the budget back on track if the coalition wins the next election.
Tax cuts to see families pocket an extra $60 a week
The latest tax cuts will see families with children pocket more than $60 a week on average, Treasury analysis shows.
Nuclear showdown set to atomise federal parliament
Heated debates over nuclear reactors, energy bills and the cost of living will ignite Parliament House as both houses return for the sitting week.
Chilly residents wonder why Australian homes so cold
As more residents take to social media complaining about cold homes, experts warn chilly interiors can impact people's health and wellbeing even if they rug up.
Publisher warns of Meta ‘blackmail’ on news media code
Major news outlets accuse Facebook's parent company of daring the government to take action against it, and warn newspapers could close if it fails to act.
Nuclear conflict brews in coalition over renewables
Australians are being asked to choose between two options for the nation's energy future, but the coalition is already arguing internally over renewables.
agriculture
animal
breaking_news
exports
international (foreign) trade
laws
livestock farming
politics
trade agreements
Abandon sheep: report backs future ban on live exports
A parliamentary committee has thrown its weight behind laws to ban live sheep exports, with its chair saying the "time has come" to bring an end to the trade.
Menopause leave bad for women at work: Liberal senator
The number of different types of leave available to workers is becoming "ridiculous", a Liberal senator has told a parliamentary inquiry.
Regional radiology chains agree to $857m merger
Integral Diagnostics and Capitol Health have agreed to join forces and create a 155-clinic diagnostic imaging company.
‘Encouraging signs’: PM lauds improving ties with China
China's premier has wrapped a four-day Australian visit with talks on economic ties and mineral exports as Anthony Albanese hails signs of more stable ties.
Rates on hold yet inflation risks remain on RBA’s radar
The threat of inflation has not been neutralised and the Reserve Bank is still prepared to pull the trigger on another interest rate hike if needed.
Inflation-wary Reserve Bank spells long wait for cuts
Stalling progress on inflation has the central bank on high alert as political sparring continues over the impact of state and federal budgets on prices.
Following the money, not hot air, for more wind farms
Australia's green bank and international firms are generating more renewable energy projects, even as the political stoush over the nation's future warms up.
String of house fires sparks warning from authorities
Residents in the Sunshine State have been warned to remain vigilant during winter following five separate house fires in the space of a week.
Self-driving cars are safer, just not at dawn or dusk
Autonomous vehicles cause fewer accidents than cars driven by humans, an analysis shows, but they are more likely to crash in some conditions.
alternative energy
business (general)
energy
energy (general)
energy and resource
energy resources
environmental issue
environmental politics
environmental pollution
renewable energy
Challenge worth $100m aims to lower solar energy cost
Australia will host a $100 million competition for innovators around the world to create ways to lower the cost of large-scale renewable energy.
Rural Australians push back on coalition’s nuclear plan
The coalition has a vision to build nuclear plants across regional Australia, but many communities already dealing with the energy transition are not on board.