COVID royal commission backer says things have changed
The Albanese government has been forced to defend its decision not to set up a royal commission but rather a three-expert inquiry into the pandemic.
health
PM set to announce COVID-19 inquiry: report
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese could be poised to announce the details of a special commission of inquiry into the handling of COVID-19 pandemic.
Melanoma expert ‘patient zero’ in brain cancer fight
A leading pathologist fighting incurable brain cancer has trialled a personalised vaccine that could become the new frontier in treating the disease.
economy, business and finance
environmental issue
environmental politics
health
natural disasters
weather
Heatwave, bushfires wreak havoc as threat moves north
Bushfires are burning across a number of states as a heatwave is forecast to move into Queensland and the Northern Territory, sparking a wave of warnings.
NSW swelters as spring heatwave warnings issued
The weather bureau has issued heatwave warnings for parts of southern and coastal NSW, as temperatures reach 33C in Sydney and 34C out west.
Chicken blamed for three-state listeria outbreak
A commercial chicken product is the probable cause of nine listeria cases in Queensland, NSW and Victoria, according to health investigators.
Record-breaking heatwave sparks catastrophic fire risk
Unseasonably warm weather and strong winds have left the much of the country sweltering in a heatwave with fire warnings closing dozens of schools.
Heat builds up across NSW as temperature records tumble
Fire authorities are on alert for the risk of increasing winds fanning bushfires as spring heat builds up, with Queensland and NSW set to swelter.
Prenatal program helps Indigenous mums and bubs thrive
A unique prenatal health care program is closing the gap in maternal and infant health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mums and their babies.
Show us the money, as rural health on life support
Rural Australia is the engine room of the national economy, but little profit is returned for crucial services like healthcare, a conference has been told.
Push to flush drug decriminalisation is dead on arrival
The federal Liberals are pushing to overturn ACT drug decriminalisation laws after claiming they would be a Canberra "tourism attraction''.
Healthy respect for ruling on GP payroll tax changes
Paying a general practitioner directly at their service will not qualify for payroll taxes, under an announcement by the Queensland government.
Certainty for temporary health workers in NSW budget
Temporary frontline workers at risk of being let go from their positions will be made permanent under a NSW budget measure to improve hospital staffing levels.
Disability inquiry calls for urgent government response
The head of the disability royal commission has thrown down a challenge for all governments to respond to abuse and neglect exposed by the long-running inquiry.
AI is revolutionising diabetes treatment, inquiry told
Life-changing artificial intelligence technology is being used to treat diabetes patients, although access remains limited, a parliamentary inquiry has heard.
New mums more likely to spot faces in everyday objects
Women who have just had a baby are much more likely than other women to see faces in everyday objects.
Cosmetic cowboys face fines with new surgeon laws
Strict protections over the title "surgeon" have been passed by Queensland's parliament to crack down on doctors falsely advertising qualified cosmetic surgery
Boys’ mistreatment prompts action on disability report
Five recommendations put forward by the disability royal commission will be adopted fully or in principle by the Queensland government.
UN observer slams Australia over toxic threats, climate
Australia has been scolded over contaminated sites, new oil and gas projects and a "reactive" environmental protection framework by a UN investigator.
Major upgrade to ageing hospitals in $3b NSW govt blitz
Western Sydney's stretched health services and hospitals will receive a significant boost as part of a major budget investment by the NSW government.
New regional sleep program targets First Nations people
A newly-funded sleep program is linking western and Indigenous knowledge to treat the medical condition of sleep apnoea in regional First Nations communities.
Top coroner calls for drug testing after MDMA death
A coroner has repeated a plea for drug testing services after a 26-year-old IT worker died following a suspected overdose from a "Blue Punisher" MDMA pill.
Meals on Wheels does more than just deliver food
As Meals on Wheels marks 70 years of serving the community, the organisation is looking back on the hidden value it provides to its elderly and infirm clients.
CWA speaks up for neurodiversity in women and girls
The NSW CWA is raising awareness of neurodiversity after one of its members said a late ADHD diagnosis left her grieving for the person she could have been.
Roundup blamed for cancer pain in landmark class action
A lengthy class action to determine whether a weed killer contains a human carcinogenic has begun in the Federal Court of Australia.
Here’s what new 60-day prescriptions mean for you and your hip pocket
From today, there are significant changes to how some common medicines are prescribed and dispensed in Australia. This means you could walk away from the pharmacy with 60-days’ worth of your usual medicine from a single prescription. Until now, most long-term medicines were only available for 30 days at a time. So the price of these medicines for some patients may effectively halve.
Queensland Speaker returns after mental health break
Curtis Pitt has returned to political duties as Queensland's parliamentary Speaker following mental health leave.
Queensland hospitals vaccine mandate to be scrapped
Consultation will begin to scrap a rule that disallowed unvaccinated health workers from working in Queensland hospitals during the pandemic.
Bush maternity decline a red flag for rural health care
Doctors warn the loss of regional maternity services are often followed by the closure of other critical healthcare facilities and pose a problem for everyone.
Family loses Mount Isa mine lead-poisoning claim
A Queensland court has ruled against a family claiming $5 million from Mount Isa Mines alleging a teenager suffers brain damage as a result of lead poisoning.
Doctor strikes aggravate health care collapse in Sudan
Doctors and nurses in Sudan say they have not been paid for four months, as the government's budget is decimated by the army's war with paramilitary forces.