Cheaper child care to ease pressures on working parents
More than 120,000 Australian children will have access to early childhood education under a change guaranteeing subsidised care three days a week.
national news
Venezuelans in Australia grapple with uncertain future
Venezuelans in exile are pleading for understanding from Australians as they worry about what comes next following a dramatic US intervention.
Global minimum tax deal update backed by 145 countries
A 15 per cent global minimum tax framework has been kept as countries approved an update that allows carve-outs for some US companies.
Novel car brands tipped to accelerate Aussie market
From Forthing to Farizon, consumers can expect plenty of fresh brand names in the local automotive market, with growth expected to almost double in a decade.
PM softens stance as pleas mount for royal commission
The prime minister has opened the door to a royal commission into a deadly terror attack as calls for an inquiry rise from within his party.
Australians feel the heat as bushfire threat flares up
Authorities are warning people to be on high alert as several states prepare for intense heatwave conditions not seen since the Black Summer bushfires.
Lehrmann escalates ‘compromised’ rape finding fight
A finding Bruce Lehrmann raped Brittany Higgins in Parliament House was infected by a judge doing his own research, the nation's highest court has been told.
Aussie steelmaker tipped to rebuff fresh $13b takeover
Shares in Australia's biggest steelmaker soared to a 17-year high on a takeover bid but analysts suggest Kerry Stokes and his US partner need to up their offer.
‘Game on’: coalition aims to win back state in 2027
Thrust into the national spotlight after the Bondi attacks, the NSW opposition leader says her party is ready to govern the state ahead of the 2027 election.
Hybrids, SUVs and utes race away with 2025 car sales
Australian motorists are increasingly choosing fuel-efficient vehicles but that does not mean a move away from SUVs or utes.
Nationals great Ron Boswell, more effective than pretty
Ron Boswell was a deal-maker and implacable opponent of extremists during his 31 years as a Queensland senator.
Tributes flow for ‘giant’ of Queensland politics
Former Nationals senator Ron Boswell has died aged 85, and is being honoured for his more than three decades in federal politics.
Fears more sinkholes could appear near tunnel project
A large, gaping crater has opened at a suburban sports oval near major tunnel-boring works, sparking safety fears about whether another could emerge.
Hopes fade as searches called off for missing swimmers
Authorities have suspended their searches for a 14-year-old boy and two men who went missing in separate incidents while at sea, following a spate of drownings.
Gardens glory as four corpses bloom in one week
Visitors to a tropical botanic gardens are being enthralled by a collection of plants that produce a rancid odour likened to rotting flesh, and worse.
‘Not a one-off’: calls grow for Bondi royal commission
Political leaders have been accused of "sitting on their hands" when it comes to addressing anti-Semitism in Australia.
Space weather a growing risk for air traffic
Space weather is increasingly impacting aircraft electronics, and that means the recent grounding of dozens of flights may not be a one-off, researchers warn.
Aussie dollar set for lift but Trump coin toss remains
Global tailwinds and relative interest rates are supporting the Australian dollar but trade uncertainty means a cheap overseas holiday is anything but certain.
Australia’s US alignment queried after Venezuela attack
The US attack on Venezuela could change Australia's stance on the Latin American country, as the country's diaspora wrangles with complex emotions.
Early lung cancer checks reach 50,000 Australians
Figures have been released six months after a free lung cancer screening program was introduced, with 10 per cent of participants detected with the disease.
Australia urges calm after US intervention in Venezuela
Venezuelans in Australia are concerned by the US military intervention in the oil-rich nation, as the Albanese government closely monitors the situation.
National home price hit a new record high in 2025
Home prices around the nation increased slightly in December to a new record high of $880,000 as Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth led the charge.
Minns won’t lobby PM for national royal commission
The NSW premier will stay in his lane as calls continue to mount on the prime minister for a national royal commission into the Bondi terror attack.
Ill-fated cruise ship refloated off Papua New Guinea
Safety agencies are assessing if a cruise ship that ran aground off PNG is seaworthy after it was refloated and its 80 passengers flown back to Australia.
Admin failures blamed for woman’s unlawful detention
Documents show the Howard government accepted a scathing report that highlighted failures in immigration after a citizen was unlawfully detained for 10 months.
Matriarchy in motion: dancers bring Country to stage
An all-female dance clan is taking its love song to Country, culture and matriarchy to one of Australia's most iconic stages.
Millions party safely as vigilant police deter trouble
Respectful revellers have welcomed the new year at largely trouble-free celebrations across the nation, as a highly visible police presence deterred violence.
Rescue missions after tragedy strikes on New Year’s Day
Authorities are searching for a missing swimmer near where a woman died after being swept out to sea in hazardous beach conditions.
Teen’s firecracker stunt sparks bushfire emergency
A bushfire sparked by a firecracker tossed into bushland has threatened lives and homes and landed a teenager in police custody.
Blow to Australian beef producers as China hikes tariff
Australia stands to lose more than $1 billion in exports despite a free trade agreement after China upped its tariff on beef imports from all nations.
Weaker housing market tipped as rate hike fears mount
House prices recorded strong gains in 2025 but fears of rate hikes look set to cool Australia's housing market in early 2026.