One Nation funding linked to delay in electoral reforms
One of the nation's leading public law academics has suggested electoral reforms were delayed to give major parties more time to harvest big donations.
laws
Pushback over ‘Daniel’s Law’ identifying sex offenders
Proposed legislation honouring murdered 13-year old Daniel Morcombe has been flagged for potentially making children less safe.
Pubs to go to the dogs in premier’s pre-election pitch
A decades-old ban on dogs inside pubs would be overturned in one state as an incumbent government seeks to win voters over ahead of an upcoming election.
Gun debate fires up with reload on buyback pushback
A state opposition proposal to halt a buyback scheme and review firearm restrictions has reignited the post-Bondi terror attack gun debate.
Coalition slams ‘Big Brother’ social media reform bill
The opposition is declaring the government's digital duty-of-care laws the "Big Brother bill", doubling down on its stance to block the reforms in parliament.
OpenAI won’t do 2026 IPO, extinction risk unacceptable
OpenAI boss Sam Altman has ruled out the company going public in 2026, saying the ten per cent chance of AI causing human extinction is "unacceptable".
Retailers risk jail for cheap cigarettes under new laws
Selling cheap or concealed cigarettes could be enough to land retailers in hot water under proposed laws aimed at smashing the illegal tobacco trade.
Guns-for-hire, Interpol alerts in state leader’s sights
Overseas crime bosses who hire teenagers to carry out hits on Australian soil are being pursued as authorities fear an escalating "disregard for human life".
Assisted-dying laws now nationwide but gag under fire
Voluntary assisted dying laws are now in place nationwide but a gag clause preventing doctors from raising end-of-life choice is under fire.
WA to ban character references for all criminal cases
Another state will ban the use of good character references at sentencing after three government employees gave references to a workmate jailed for rape.
Assisted dying clause gagging doctors defended
The only Australian jurisdiction yet to legalise end-of-life choice is debating a voluntary assisted dying bill facing multiple proposed amendments.
Facial recognition, cashless play in gaming reforms
A state with a high prevalence of poker machines has unveiled a tranche of gaming reforms, although many say they haven't gone far enough.
‘Disgusted’: coalition rift as gambling changes blasted
Two coalition MPs have crossed the floor in protest against gambling laws which they say don't go far enough to protect vulnerable people.
Gambling reform changes unveiled to beat damning report
Labor is under fire for proposing late changes to its controversial gambling reforms as a damning report on the shake-up exposed gaps in the policy.
Coalition, One Nation revive push on abortion crackdown
Conservative politicians have joined with a Christian lobby group on the lawns of Parliament House to request healthcare for babies born alive via abortions.
Beleaguered gun buyback costly, inaction costlier: PM
A state leader is prepared to fight an election on his decision to sign up to the federal government's beleaguered national gun buyback scheme.
Electric trucks could deliver a billion-dollar payload
Australian laws are keeping heavy-duty electric trucks off the road, a report says, when they could boost productivity by more than $2 billion.
‘Motherhood statements’: fear gag order vow falls short
A state government is pledging to stop convicted rapists using suppression orders following the high-profile cases of Tom Silvagni and Ralph Carr.
Talks leave Labor odds-on to win gambling reform stoush
Contentious gambling reforms are on track to pass parliament with bipartisan support, despite fears from opponents the changes don't go far enough.
Plugged in: watchdogs weigh up laws for uncertain times
Australian consumers are facing 'volatile' conditions, a regulator has warned, and may need stronger protections against harm.
Appeal reverses teen killer’s ‘heartbreaking’ reduction
The widower of a woman murdered by a knife-wielding teen says it will be nice to finally focus on the future after the High Court ended a long legal ordeal.
Rival plan to close Labor’s ‘widow tax’ loophole sooner
Australians who inherit an investment property from their partner won't lose their access to negative gearing, draft laws revealed by the treasurer confirm.
Debate over expanded Daniel’s Law child safety proposal
The parents of a teenager who was murdered by a pedophile want the public to have greater access to information about child sex offenders.
Electric car tax looms for one state unless PM steps in
One state is prepared to charge ahead with a tax on electric vehicle drivers unless the federal government introduces a national scheme.
Contentious hate speech laws face High Court challenge
Pro-Palestine protesters are taking a state's new hate speech laws to the High Court, arguing a ban on two slogans unlawfully criminalises political speech.
Renewable energy projects must power data centre boom
Australia's growing number of large-scale data centres must be powered by renewable energy, groups say, or they risk raising power prices for all users.
Labor backs telehealth for voluntary assisted dying
Labor says legal barriers preventing telehealth use in voluntary assisted dying should be removed, as it also resolves to allow a conscience vote on the issue.
‘Viscerally sick’: child protection reforms under fire
A territory's child protection changes have been heavily criticised amid accusations a five-year-old Aboriginal girl's death has been politicised.
Pianist loses court battle, but fills concert halls
A pianist who lost a court fight against the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is filling concert halls on his own independent tour.
‘Quicksand of crime’: new youth bail law under fire
A state government's latest youth justice reform has come under fire, with critics saying it will ensure kids remain in the "quicksand of crime".
Heat on drug-drive laws as study finds cannabis misuse
Reforms that would allow drivers in NSW to get behind the wheel with small amounts of cannabis in their system are facing strong criticism on safety grounds.