Slow uptake in GPs prescribing ADHD medication
Barely a trickle of GPs have trained to prescribe ADHD medication despite reforms designed to save patients the expense of seeing a specialist psychiatrist.
national news
Deaf, non-verbal man among ‘inexcusable’ Optus targets
Optus is hoping a court will approve a $100 million fine after it engaged in "unacceptable" sales tactics affecting Indigenous and disabled customers.
‘Immature’ superyacht worker avoids jail for kidnapping
A superyacht worker who abducted his ex-girlfriend in an "extremely terrifying" ordeal has been handed a three-year intensive correction order.
Consumer boom drives surprise jump in economic growth
Australia's economy surpassed expectations in the last financial year, taking some urgency out of the Reserve Bank's plans to cut interest rates.
‘Divisive’ coalition blamed for scapegoating migrants
The major political parties are pointing the finger at each other for fuelling anti-immigration sentiment that drove violent rallies in Australia's capitals.
Wife of accused cop-killer ‘present’ for shooting
Police have revealed the wife of fugitive Dezi Freeman was present when he allegedly executed two officers in cold blood.
ABC blames ‘perfect storm’ for journo’s illegal sacking
The ABC has rallied against a proposed $350,000 penalty for illegally firing a journalist, arguing the decision arose from a "single inadvertent mistake".
Super fund giant open to performance test tweaks
A superannuation giant with millions of Australian members is calling for law changes to enable people to move more easily between work and retirement.
Nature delivers $510b bounty but needs more resources
Australia's environment is delivering much more than the government invests in it and contributes 20 per cent of the nation's economic output, a report finds.
Grieving parents dismayed after driver goes free
The grieving parents of a boy killed when a woman drove through his school fence have called for legislative change to make sure drivers are held accountable.
‘Promise to Jack’: parents warn about fatal knife crime
Hard truths about dabbling with deadly weapons are being delivered by the parents of slain teen Jack Beasley after an escalation in youth stabbings.
Hybrid sales accelerate but diesel utes claim top spots
Hybrid and electric vehicles are closing the gap on their petrol and diesel equivalents in Australia but the race remains slow and steady.
Australia’s deportation deal with Nauru to cost $2.5b
Australia's deal with Nauru to deport ex-immigration detainees will cost taxpayers up to $2.5 billion over three decades, a parliamentary committee was told.
Thin blue line as police force struggles with vacancies
A wage increase and other initiatives to attract more officers are yet to shift the dial at the nation's biggest police force, where 2470 positions are vacant.
Home care help kicks in sooner after political backflip
The rollout of thousands of extra home care spots has been brought forward by the federal government after intense pressure from political rivals.
Disused bowlo in Aboriginal hands after High Court win
An abandoned lawn bowls club will be passed to an Aboriginal land council, with a High Court decision set to ripple across numerous crown land leases.
Police fight to keep neo-Nazi leader locked up
A neo-Nazi leader has faced a bail hearing, where police raised fears of escalating violence after an alleged attack on an Indigenous camp.
Fugitive contact possible as surrender plea reissued
A former hostage negotiator has revealed how surrender plans work as police continue to urge a man accused of shooting dead two officers to hand himself in.
Fight goes on as defence suicide reforms slowly kick in
Advocates for an inquiry into defence and veteran suicide are cautiously optimistic about the direction of reforms almost a year after findings were made.
AI business ‘wake-up call’: teach workers or miss out
Workers need greater training in artificial intelligence technology to tap into future innovations, a study has found, but many are resistant to change.
Tributes flow for ‘vibrant, bright’ school crash victim
A talented student about to hit her teens has been identified as the girl who died in a bus rollover and is being remembered for her infectious personality.
G’day AI: ChatGPT company reveals its Australian move
Australian companies rank among its top subscribers and OpenAI has announced plans to move an arm of its operations to Australia.
Show us your ‘cojones’: cricket star tests PM on Israel
The prime minister has been urged to sanction Israel during a meeting with cricketer Usman Khawaja who says Anthony Albanese has the "cojones" to take action.
Innocence ‘irrelevant’ in calculating Folbigg payment
The man who authorised a widely-criticised grace payment to a woman wrongly jailed for 20 years says there's no point meeting with her.
Collusion allegations aired in reality TV star’s trial
Reality TV star Matt Wright visited an injured pilot in hospital out of concern for his welfare not to ask him to doctor flight records, a jury has heard.
Social housing not just a ‘nice thing to do’
A housing minister says it was a mistake not to promote a major social housing initiative as a significant economic stimulus package.
Two cities lead Australia’s ageing population
Two cities continue to battle it out for the title of Australia's oldest capital, swapping places at the top of the table.
No time to stow the brollies with soggy spring forecast
Spring has not yet sprung but forecasters say a soggy season awaits much of Australia, with parts tipped to receive heavy rainfall and flooding.
Back to the pub for community at centre of manhunt
A small town has been told to stay vigilant as it slowly re-opens after days of lockdown sparked by a search for a fugitive accused of shooting dead two police.
Social cohesion fears with weekend rallies set to clash
Groups and communities will hold their own protests in response to planned anti-immigration rallies whose premise has been flatly rejected by political leaders.
Waves and winds slow determined transpacific rowers
It has been a choppy ride for three Scottish rowing brothers closing in on Australia's east coast after raising $1.5 million for clean water projects.