New Zealand presses ahead with media content pay law
New Zealand's proposed changes to the digital bargaining law will align it more closely with Australia's, Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
laws
‘Pressure-relief valve’: curfew hits Alice Springs
A three-night curfew has been declared to defuse tensions in Alice Springs after a weekend of violent crimes, including a brawl involving 80 people.
Ecstasy and agony as pill testing gets another backer
Victoria has become the third Australian jurisdiction to legalise pill testing following a spate of drug overdoses and deaths at music festivals.
Pharmacy lobby blasts plan for chemists to sell vapes
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has slammed a new plan that would allow smokers to buy vapes at pharmacies without the need for a doctor's prescription.
agriculture
animal
breaking_news
exports
international (foreign) trade
laws
livestock farming
politics
trade agreements
Abandon sheep: report backs future ban on live exports
A parliamentary committee has thrown its weight behind laws to ban live sheep exports, with its chair saying the "time has come" to bring an end to the trade.
Direction 110 doesn’t add up for immigration experts
Community safety will be prioritised in changes to a contentious immigration direction, following weeks of political pressure on the minister in charge.
‘Wanding’ knife laws green light boosts police powers
A second state has passed laws allowing police officers to use hand-held metal detectors on suspects without warrants in certain locations.
Actors, writers, voice artists call for urgent AI laws
Almost three in four workers in Australia's creative industries are calling on the government to restrict the use of AI, with many fearing for their jobs.
Calls for federal carbon capture ban after Qld decision
Queensland's decision to ban carbon capture and storage projects in the Great Artesian Basin has sparked calls for the federal government to follow suit.
Corruption reports might be brought to light by reforms
Every recommendation of a corruption watchdog review will be adopted by the Queensland government, including the release of reports retrospectively.
Narrators call for laws to prevent losing their voice
Australian voice actors are already losing animation, audiobook and ad voiceovers to AI creations and they're calling for regulations to protect the industry.
Coal super tax to be legislated, ‘protecting’ royalties
Deputy Premier Cameron Dick has ensured future modifications to a Queensland super tax on coal royalties will require legislative changes.
Childrens Court media access, detention scrutinised
A parliamentary hearing has heard a history of inaccurate reporting should disallow some media organisations access to Queensland Childrens Court cases.
Croc hunting on the cards in big game tourism plan
In a move toward big game tourism, crocodile hunting is among a number of reforms proposed under a shake-up of Queensland's management of the reptiles.
Reforms target scrutiny of fertility clinic services
Proposed laws in Queensland will bring greater scrutiny to IVF and fertility services, as well as the introduction of a donor conception register.
Revamped emergency services to improve response times
Queensland emergency services will fall under new departments after state parliament passed laws to better align diaster management responses.
State parliament votes to make sex work legal and safe
A fourth Australian jurisdiction has voted to fully decriminalise sex work in a bid to prevent discrimination and ensure safety.
Bob Carr to sue Winston Peters over China claim
New Zealand opposition leader Chris Hipkins has called on Winston Peters to be stood down as foreign minister after a potentially defamatory swipe at Bob Carr.
Concerns raised over police stop and search powers
The Queensland government's decision to expand police stop and search powers after a spate of NSW knife attacks has raised concerns.
Weapon search laws extended in $1.2b safety pledge
Shoppers and pub patrons could be searched for weapons by police under a proposed expansion of "wanding" laws that have attracted interstate attention.
Tougher laws call to tackle organised crime profits
Measures to stamp down on the profits of organised crime in a digital world have been recommended in a Crime and Corruption Commission report.
animal
construction and property
environmental issue
environmental politics
government
laws
politics
Minister flags faster environmental decisions
Unacceptable projects that have clear environmental impacts would be ruled out from the outset under changes to environmental protection reforms.
Energy retailer fined for tardy payments to customers
An energy retailer has been forced to pay more than $400,000 in penalties for breaching the rules for payments after failing to meet guaranteed service levels.
More kids to be jailed in ‘draconian’ crime crackdown
Law reform to crack down on youth crime rates has been slammed as heavy-handed as the government rolls out bail and other changes.
Greener grass if weed is legal but doctors more blunt
Legalising weed has been touted as a solution to reducing the stigma of users and increasing health benefits as senators hash out the effect of proposed laws.
Stabbing leads to calls for tougher youth crime laws
A Queensland council is calling on the government to introduce more significant sentences to violent youth offenders after a grandmother's fatal stabbing.
Cheap, damaged e-scooters may be banned in apartments
Apartment managers will be encouraged to restrict the use of e-scooter "cheap imports" in by-laws and educate residents about using technology safely.
High-risk AI use could be banned by new task force
Using artificial intelligence technology in risky tasks such as social scoring and biometric identification could be banned in Australia by a new group.
Qld premier commits to expanding CCC’s reporting powers
The Queensland government will expand the reporting powers of the Crime and Corruption Commission after a commitment from Premier Steven Miles.
Laws stripping terrorists’ citizenship pass lower house
New laws stripping Australian citizenship from dual nationals convicted of terror offences have passed the House of Representatives.
Hefty fines for dodgy builders as ‘loophole’ closes
Builders who don't take out insurance on behalf of paid-up customers will face new offences under a legislative crackdown by the Victorian government.