Socceroo acquitted of rape speaks of ‘pain, suffering’
A jury has cleared a former Socceroo of raping a woman in his Sydney home after hearing what she texted her sister moments after the alleged assault.
national news
Pauline Hanson eyes cuts on grog tax, climate spending
Pauline Hanson is taking aim at climate change spending, public servants and First Nations agencies in a bid to address the cost of living.
Ripple effect fear in US crackdown on research funding
Leading Australian institutions say a US clampdown on research funding risks projects that could yield global benefits in the future.
Safety over politics: motoring groups call for change
Australia's peak motoring body will encourage its 9.5 million members to challenge federal election candidates on road safety, amid calls for more transparency.
Watchdog unveils plan to end supermarket shrinkflation
The competition watchdog has resisted calls for powers to break up major supermarkets in a report, while calling for more transparency to tackle price-gouging.
Coles, Woolies guilty of increasing margins: watchdog
Treasurer Jim Chalmers promised a crackdown on major supermarkets following a consumer watchdog report, but warned breaking them up would be counterproductive.
Tougher bail regime to harden young crims, critics warn
Tough bail laws will entrench criminal offending and lock away more children, say critics as retailers plead for action following a spike in violent crime.
Cross-party nod for probe into ‘rogue’ childcare firms
Shocking claims of rampant child mistreatment in privately operated centres have triggered a government-backed inquiry into the early education sector.
Terror police investigate accused teen’s foreign links
A 17-year-old boy may have communicated with foreigners before allegedly carrying a gun onto a plane at one of Australia's major regional airports.
Koalas ‘closer to extinction’ with new disease outbreak
A potentially devastating disease has been found in one state's last healthy koala population, further endangering the species.
‘Not human’: kids confront father over mother’s murder
Emil Petrov's two children he shared with Cindy Crossthwaite have confronted him at a pre-sentence hearing for killing his wife nearly 18 years ago.
Aussie invention may cut the cost of self-driving cars
A single camera powered by artificial intelligence software could help drive future autonomous cars, slashing thousands of dollars from their production cost.
‘Naive’ science fan faces jail for plutonium import
A fast-food worker and collector is set to learn his fate after shipping nuclear material to his parent's suburban unit, sparking a major hazmat incident.
Authors fume over claims stolen books used to fuel AI
Writers want legal changes and compensation after a tech giant allegedly used pirated books to train its artificial intelligence model.
Australia-Bali flights resume after volcano eruption
Flights to Bali have resumed after the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano spewed a column of ash thousands of metres into the air, disrupting travel.
Suburbs turn back on coalition over work-from-home ban
Mortgage-belt electorates have shifted towards Labor after the coalition pledged to force public servants back to the office.
Plans to help more into ‘disaster’ housing market
Aspiring homeowners could secure a cheaper mortgage and lower deposit by letting the government take a stake, but Peter Dutton questions whether they want to.
‘Hip pocket help’ on its way in pre-election sweetener
Australians will receive more energy bill relief in the federal budget but the Liberals argue it's only needed because Labor has allowed costs to blow out.
‘Mundane’ objects reveal confronting legacy of violence
Kamilaroi artist Warraba Weatherall's latest exhibition uses seemingly benign objects to highlight the lasting impacts of violence against Indigenous people.
Climate fight here and now, and linked to living costs
Fighting misinformation and communicating the link between cost of living and back-to-back weather disasters are key priorities for climate advocates.
Public service jobs on line as poll battlelines form
The coalition has doubled down on plans to axe public service jobs if elected as the prime minister goes into bat for Australians working from home.
Budget week to bring inflation, cost-of-living news
The Albanese government will look to further ease cost-of-living pressures without adding to inflation when it delivers its fourth budget.
Consultants in firing line amid public servant stoush
The coalition wants to slash public servant numbers but Labor says the alternative is costly consultants, as both sides lavish voters with cost-of-living help.
Labor ‘unashamed’ in pitch for cost of living vote
The federal budget will deliver help for working people, Anthony Albanese declares, as Labor tries to draw the opposition into revealing its hand.
‘Nation-building’ deal as public schools fully funded
Every Australian student will receive a fully funded public education after the Commonwealth brokered a deal with a final holdout state.
Nightclub flirting led to rape, footballer’s trial told
Central Coast Mariners' star striker Angel Torres took a young woman home after meeting in a nightclub and raped her after being told to stop, a jury has heard.
Family fights for change ahead of prison death inquest
The family of a Gunditjmara and Wiradjuri man hopes an inquest into his death in custody in 2022, will bring about "meaningful and significant" change.
Dental body sinks teeth into private health policies
Australia's peak dental body is calling for greater transparency around private health insurance to provide more clarity and protection for policy holders.
‘Up against the clock’: time ticking for Brisbane 2032
The flag has dropped on the race to the 2032 Games with a venue plan unveiled but organisers are "up against the clock" to finish construction, an expert says.
‘Optimism’ in budget as Australia seen turning a corner
The cost of living will be centre stage in the government's budget as many continue to do it tough, but a cabinet minister says there is reason to have hope.
Budging Labor incumbents huge task even for Muslim Vote
Support of Muslim political groups won't be enough to get independents over the line against entrenched senior Labor figures without a Liberal preference deal.