‘Two precious souls’: tributes grow for slain boys
A mother of two boys found dead in the Blue Mountains remains under police guard, as the community mourns the loss by laying tributes at the family home.
Social Issue
‘Trump-style’ Latham defamed MP with explicit tweet
A tweet by controversial politician Mark Latham suggesting a political rival engages in "disgusting" sex acts has been deemed defamatory by the Federal Court.
Aged care reforms home in on freedom for older Aussies
Aged and home care systems will receive billions of dollars in funding in a bid to improve living conditions for older Australians.
‘Getting worse’: unsafe water plagues remote residents
Remote communities are excluded from data about Australia's water quality, which experts warn could be contributing to serious health issues.
Census to include sexual orientation, gender topics
The 2026 census will include questions on sexual orientation and gender identity, following backlash against the federal government by the LGBTIQ+ community.
Home-alone probe as kids in house fire fight for life
Three children, aged from one to five, are in a critical condition as police investigate the cause of a house fire and whether they were home alone.
Independent housing advisor lashes overseas student cap
A proposed cap on international university students has been torn apart by a federal government advisor, who says it will make no difference to housing supply.
ASIO boss argues comments on Gaza visas ‘distorted’
The ASIO director-general says his comments on the vetting process for people fleeing Gaza have been distorted, triggering a fresh round of political fighting.
Gran’s ‘highly unusual’ disappearance, death a mystery
Police are looking for a grandmother's car and phone after her skeletal remains were found hundreds of kilometres away from home and where she was last seen.
MPs behaving badly face fines under code of conduct
Federal MPs have been urged to lift behavioural standards, as laws are introduced to enforce a code of conduct for elected officials.
‘Blood on his hands’: advocates slam NDIS reforms
Access and funding levels are set to change for people on disability support services after the government struck a controversial deal to revamp the NDIS.
Super on parental leave to reduce ‘motherhood penalty’
Parents will get an extra $3000 in their super balance while on government-funded paid parental leave under laws introduced to federal parliament.
‘Kept my child secret’: gay teacher calls for change
A Catholic school teacher who felt forced to quit because of a same-sex relationship is sharing her experience to try and secure stronger legal protections.
Women are terrorised but ministers avoid the T word
Youth Minister Anne Aly came the closest among federal ministers to compare treating family violence offenders like terrorism suspects.
Closure for patients as Monash IVF settles for $56m
Monash IVF has agreed to a $56 million settlement over a landmark class action regarding the destruction of embryos during non-invasive genetic screening.
Calls for gambling ads ban to prevent gendered violence
A panel of experts tasked with urgently investigating Australia's gender-based violence crisis has recommended gambling advertising and alcohol restrictions.
Why more Aussies are letting AI organise their divorce
An AI-powered legal service is helping former couples divide marital assets and, while it will not suit everyone, organisers say it is saving users money.
Tax breaks fuelling widening wealth gap: report
Anglicare Australia's latest report shows tax breaks on superannuation and housing investments are widening the wealth gap.
Treasurer breaks ranks, slams ‘destructive’ student cap
Federal government plans to cap the number of international students at university have been labelled 'destructive' by Victoria's treasurer.
‘They are everyday people’: Gaza statements condemned
Portraying Palestinians as Hamas supporters is misleading and inflammatory and Australia must offer help to those asylum seekers, a human rights expert says.
‘Unresolved justice’ for families of murdered women
A landmark report into missing and murdered First Nations women and children is merely "tinkering at the edges" and won't deliver justice, an expert has warned.
How a call helped an Aboriginal mum find connection
A Wiradjuri mother is sharing her experience with perinatal anxiety, as a national helpline reports increasing calls from Indigenous people.
Unlikely allies gather to call full-time on betting ads
A Labor minister and a Liberal backbencher have called for a complete ban on gambling advertising as the government remains tight-lipped on its policy.
Murdered Indigenous women, kids ‘got little justice’
An inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and children wants a review into policing practices across the nation, after handing down a final report.
Murdered Indigenous women, kids report ‘demands action’
Parliament is being urged to "put some teeth" into action recommended by an inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and children.
Demand for assisted dying grows, but barriers remain
A growing number of terminally ill Australians are choosing voluntary assisted dying, but legal hurdles have made access difficult.
If all bet ads are off, give us a break: Free TV
Commercial television networks struggling with revenue will face further financial pain if all gambling advertising is banned, free-to-air channels say.
Cost of living, union corruption in focus as MPs return
Labor wants to shift the focus to cost-of-living relief and social action as the coalition heaps pressure on its handling of inflation and national security.
Build-to-rent incentives ‘may open door for predators’
Incentives to build more rental properties in the midst of a housing crisis may not improve the landscape unless protections are built in, experts warn.
Mood-altering drug use a ‘human right’: top prosecutor
Australia's longest-serving public prosecutor is pushing for a Portuguese-style cannabis model that decriminalises drugs and brings users before experts.
Telcos to proceed with 3G closure despite inquiry fears
Threats to safety from the 3G mobile network shutdown are "too great to ignore", an inquiry warns, but Telstra and Optus are pressing ahead with their plans.