Ketamine abuse hits record high
The abuse of ketamine - the drug that killed Friends actor Matthew Perry - is at record levels in Australia.
crime, law and justice
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.
Men face deportation over $30 million cannabis farm
A group of Vietnamese nationals expect to face deportation over a "sophisticated" $30 million cannabis growing operation found hidden on a Queensland farm.
Gaza man with possible Hamas links loses fight for visa
A painter fleeing from the Gaza Strip whose visitor visa was revoked due to suspected terrorist links has lost a court bid to be with his family in Australia.
‘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.
Optus regrets ‘unacceptable’ conduct alleged by ACCC
Australia's second-largest telco says it failed to meet expectations after the consumer watchdog alleged "unconscionable conduct" against vulnerable customers.
Man jailed over ‘vicious’ attack on e-scooter rider
A man showed "cowardly behaviour in the extreme" when he attacked an e-scooter rider during a robbery and delayed his emergency treatment by assaulting police.
Manhunt under way after home invasion shooting
Police say they are searching for a group of men after a 26-year-old man defending himself with a weapon was shot in a violent Brisbane home invasion.
Husband left stunned as youth acquitted of murder
Lee Lovell, whose wife Emma was stabbed to death in a Boxing Day home invasion, has criticised a judge's verdict after a youth was acquitted of murder.
Police probe killer over location of missing man’s body
A business owner who let his warehouse be used in two killings has been spoken to multiple times by police about a victim whose body has never been found.
Mayor on notice, premier vows to clear council ‘mess’
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has vowed to clean up the "mess" at a council in the state's north, putting a controversial mayor on notice.
Hanson tweet to Muslim senator ‘ultimate racist slur’
A judge has rebuked Pauline Hanson for being loose with the truth, making racist remarks for decades and telling a Greens senator to return to Pakistan.
Trump sues TV network over Kamala Harris interview
Former US president Donald Trump has launched legal action against broadcaster CBS over a "misleading" 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris.
‘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.
Four jailed for gang raping distressed Tinder date
Four men have been hit with a maximum cumulative jail sentence of more than 18 years after they jointly raped a crying, frightened woman in her apartment.
Man who identifies as Indigenous loses deportation spat
A man originally from Tonga, who was twice convicted of assault could still be deported despite claiming he identifies as an Indigenous Australian.
What the US election tells us about deepfake politics
Australian MPs are weighing how to curtail deepfake election advertisements, but a prominent artificial intelligence expert says a ban might be unnecessary.
Corpse disposal claim against Tyrrell foster mum tested
Allegations William Tyrrell's foster mother hid his body after he accidentally died at a coastal property 10 years ago are being examined by a coroner.
Slain rapper ‘kept our family together’, says brother
Community leaders who spoke out following the death of a young rapper have "no insight" into what happened and the death was not gang-related, his brother says.
‘Stop stabbing me mate’: paramedic’s words to killer
Chilling details have been revealed into the stabbing death of paramedic Steven Tougher as his killer pleaded not guilty on grounds of mental illness.
Dozen murder accused plead not guilty to park killing
A dozen men have pleaded not guilty to murdering a teenager and not guilty to injuring 10 other people, including with bats and knives, near a soccer club.
Olympian, brother sentenced over failed $200m drug plot
Olympic silver medallist Nathan Baggaley and his brother have been sentenced after a bungled attempt to import cocaine worth $200 million.
Abuse warning as missing toddler death theory examined
A coroner has issued a stern warning over the abuse of William Tyrrell's foster mum after a theory that she hid the boy's body was outlined to an inquest.
Peg safety ‘failures’ in school jumping castle tragedy
A jumping castle was allegedly insufficiently tethered at the time it was swept up by strong winds, killing six children.
Taxpayer-backed defence for ex-cop on murder charges
A late change in legal representation by former police officer Beaumont Lamarre-Condon has been described as "regrettable" by a magistrate.
Double axe murderer denied bid to overturn parole ban
A man who attacked a couple with an axe while they slept in an "exceptionally violent and brutal" double murder will remain banned from applying for parole.
Santos rejects attack on ‘speculative’ net-zero roadmap
Santos says public statements it could reach net-zero emissions by 2040 were not misleading because its roadmap contained targets and not promises.
Two sex workers killed in 24 hours: man pleads guilty
Prosecutors have accepted manslaughter pleas from a man who killed two sex workers within 24 hours, and then stole cash and designer handbags.
Husband of interest in Indian mum murder as $1m offered
Nearly 10 years on from Prabha Arun Kumar's stabbing death, police have raised the stakes of their investigation with a $1 million reward for information.
‘It was rumours’: boxer denied role in teen’s death
A coroner has heard rumours a boxer was involved in the death of a teenager, whose body was found on train tracks in country NSW more than three decades ago.
Killer wanted to ‘play God’ by setting abduction trap
A man has admitted to setting a trap that later turned into a fatal abduction for a drug dealer who was accused of abusing someone close to his friend.