Dodgy developer payments, donations sent to prosecutors
Victoria's corruption watchdog will send evidence from a developer payments scandal to prosecutors as it pushes for planning and political donation reforms.
government
Refugee hotel detention found lawful, lacks humanity
Australia's use of hotels as makeshift detention centres for asylum seekers and refugees awaiting medical treatment is lawful but lacks humanity, a court finds.
Tasmania trashed as ‘Australia’s most secretive state’
Tasmania has the highest rate of freedom of information refusals in the nation and average review request wait times have tripled in five years, analysis shows.
‘No involvement’: Liberal MP responds to wife’s funding
Federal Liberal MP Warren Entsch has rebuffed questions around the awarding of an Indigenous teaching grant to his wife, saying he had nothing to do with it.
How climate change became local councils’ core business
The federal minister for local government says councils are being helped to build climate resilience and mitigate the effects of natural disasters.
New Zealand spends up, posting billion-dollar deficit
New Zealand Finance Minister Grant Robertson has splashed money on infrastructure, childcare, public transport and housing in the 2023 budget.
Push to turn COVID facility into homeless shelter
Brisbane's Lord Mayor has pledged $1 million to turn a former COVID-19 quarantine facility into emergency housing.
PNG foreign minister stands aside over coronation trip
The fallout over the cost of travel to the King's coronation for a delegation from PNG has prompted Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko to stand aside.
No cyclone tax in ‘no frills’ New Zealand budget
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, who has promised a "bread and butter" focused government, is pledging a "no frills" New Zealand budget next month.
Porter Davis owners stuck in never ending nightmare
Families impacted by the collapse of builder Porter Davis have staged a protest calling for state and federal governments to intervene to help them.
Builders and energy groups clash over construction code
The Housing Industry Association is pushing for new energy efficiency requirements for builders to be deferred, triggering fierce backlash from some experts.
Easter a celebration of faith, hope and renewal: PM
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has led Easter well-wishes, marking Easter Sunday as a celebration of faith, hope and renewal.
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.
Labor family cheer as Minns ministry takes reins in NSW
NSW's 47th premier has welcomed the state's first gender-balanced cabinet at an emotional ceremony in the ballroom of Government House.
Water licence win reignites hotly disputed coal mine
A controversial Queensland coal mine expansion will be fast-tracked after the decision to grant a water licence was endorsed by internal review.
Perrottet calls Minns to concede in NSW election
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has called Labor leader Chris Minns to concede defeat as Labor is poised to form a majority government.
Perrottet urges NSW to get behind Labor premier
Outgoing NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has urged people to get behind Chris Minns as premier regardless of their political persuasion.
Perrottet offers endorsement to new premier Minns
Outgoing NSW premier Dominic Perrottet has gifted a rare endorsement to his political opponent, telling people to get behind his Labor successor Chris Minns.
Victorians facing energy price hikes of 30 per cent
Victoria's Essential Services Commission has proposed annual power bill increases of $426 a year for residential electricity customers on default offers.
Minns to put brakes on kids fund as campaign rolls on
Labor won't adopt the Liberal Party plan to create a future fund for NSW children, saying funding education properly now is best for the next generation.
Albanese sidesteps Plibersek Labor leadership claims
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has sidestepped claims by Tanya Plibersek that she would have become Labor leader in 2019 had she run for the job.
Parking loophole closed to stop ‘predatory companies’
The Queensland government will close a loophole allowing the release of vehicle registration information to private parking operators.
Australia may return Norfolk Island to self-governance
Almost 2200 people living on Norfolk Island could have self-rule returned more than seven years after the federal government took over the remote island.
Councils take reins on holiday rental regulation
A Victorian council has introduced an annual fee for short-term rental operators and says the sector is not a priority for state and federal government.
Morrison’s offshore drilling veto could be overturned
The Federal Court could overturn a controversial call by former prime minister Scott Morrison to veto a gas drilling project off the NSW coast.
Will government arts sector cash injection be enough?
It's hard to say if the government's increased arts funding will be enough to restore underfunded parts of the sector, the Australia Council chief says.
Hopes music body could take fans from Beyoncé to Briggs
Music Australia should be able to work out how to get Spotify and Apple Music to feature more Australian tunes, the national arts funding body chief says.
Cancer research funds rise but more needed
Investment in cancer research has tripled over the past two decades but more is needed to tackle Australia's leading cause of death, Cancer Australia says.
Drunken arrests decision sparks division
The Victorian government will press ahead with decriminalising public drunkenness without giving police new powers in a decision that has divided organisations.
Paper shortage pressures school stationery
Paper companies are scrambling to source foreign white paper after a lack of domestic timber supply dented production at Australia's only white paper mill.