PM downplays personal poll lift as Labor maintains lead
Anthony Albanese has improved his standing among voters, drawing level with Peter Dutton for satisfaction in polling for the first time in a year.
national news
Super housing scheme could shave years off home wait
Australians raiding their super balances for housing could boost home ownership but may result in a jump in prices, economists say.
Post-pandemic property price roller-coaster to flatten
There are signs the housing market in normalising five years after the COVID-19 pandemic sent home values soaring across Australia.
Metal makers reinforced as new US tariff threat emerges
The government assures a key export sector of support as a new tariff threat emerges while fresh funding reinforces metal manufacturing against US levies.
Poll party on hold as triumphant premier waits on count
The final makeup of state parliament is still taking shape after Labor's barnstorming third-term victory, delaying the returning premier's official victory lap.
Scapegoating Muslims fuels spike in attacks on women
Women are copping the brunt of a spike in attacks and abuse against Muslims as the Israel-Hamas conflict and other incidents raise local community tensions.
Palmer pledges big biscuits for Patriots election blitz
Billionaire Clive Palmer has munched on a favourite Australian snack while expounding on his new party's Trump-style policies and promising to spend big on ads.
assault (general)
court administration
crime, law and justice
justice and rights
juvenile delinquency
laws
politics
punishment
social issue
Aust-first machete ban more ‘political optics’ than fix
A state government has promised to rapidly roll out an Australian-first machete ban but is copping criticism for its past opposition.
democracy
election
espionage and intelligence
national elections
online
political campaigns
political systems
politics
Deepfakes harder to detect spurring election concerns
Hyper-realistic digitally altered or created images are becoming harder to detect and platforms designed to detect them are failing to do so, research shows.
Three-year payout row: flood victim’s insurance warning
A flood victim who waited three years for her insurance payout warns the thousands of people making claims over ex-tropical cyclone Alfred to brace for a fight.
Worsening Closing the Gap outcomes ‘failing’ kids
With Closing the Gap targets focusing on incarceration, and child protection worsening, advocates say Australia is failing Aboriginal kids.
Falling fuel costs end run of transport price rises
High transport costs have been hurting household budgets, but there are signs of relief after months of rising prices.
Tariff defiance begins with call to buy Australian made
Shoppers have been urged to buy locally made goods with extra funding for Australian-made campaigning as US tariffs hit steel and aluminium exports.
breaking_news
consumer goods
economic policy
economy (general)
energy
energy (general)
energy and resource
energy resources
environmental issue
environmental politics
politics (general)
renewable energy
Energy bill jolt: price rises power up living cost pain
The threat of further energy bill increases of up to $200 annually following a regulator's decision has put the spotlight back on federal energy policy.
Healer admits mushroom trafficking before woman’s death
A spiritual healer who served magic mushrooms at a retreat where a woman died has escaped conviction and been fined $3000 for drug trafficking.
Trump tumble sends Australian shares to seven-month low
Global growth fears and trade war uncertainty continue to drive markets lower, with the local bourse losing a tenth of its value in less than four weeks.
court administration
crime, law and justice
justice and rights
juvenile delinquency
laws
politics
punishment
social issue
State doomed to ‘repeat’ deaths with harsher bail laws
Laws to tighten the granting of bail for children and repeat serious offenders have been criticised as knee-jerk by some legal and Aboriginal groups.
Hope for Australia even as tariffs strain US friendship
The worst consequences of Donald Trump's tariffs won't be borne by Australia's economy, but by its relationship with the US, an expert has warned.
Climate 200-backed candidates edging out incumbents
Momentum is building for Climate 200-backed independents as they claw away at major party margins and have a strong chance of being elected at the federal poll.
Native title ruling paves way for $700m in compensation
The High Court has dismissed a commonwealth appeal over a landmark native title decision, paving the way for millions in compensation for traditional owners.
breaking_news
crime, law and justice
culture (general)
police
politics
religion and belief
social issue
PM accused of leaving Jews guessing on bomb terror hoax
The prime minister and opposition leader have traded barbs over when they knew an explosives-laden caravan was a hoax and not an anti-Semitic terror plot.
Liquid energy find could power future fuels, batteries
Creating an electrical charge using water could be the secret to delivering safer fuels and boosting batteries following an Australian lab discovery.
Labor edges ahead of coalition in Roy Morgan poll
Support for federal Labor has risen in four states and helped it edge ahead of the coalition, a Roy Morgan poll indicates.
Murder trial told teen hit with shopping trolley pole
A man accused of murdering Indigenous teen Cassius Turvey told his girlfriend's mother he struck a boy with a pole, a court has heard.
Nazi charge dropped, police to pay man’s legal costs
Police have dropped charges against a man arrested during a neo-Nazi march on Australia Day and agreed to pay his legal costs.
UK rapper Young Filly to stand trial for rape, assault
British YouTuber Yung Filly, whose real name is Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos, will fight allegations that he raped and choked a woman in a Perth hotel.
Prado sheds sidekick act with designs on starring role
The Prado has been a trusty wingman for the big LandCruiser for more than 40 years, but that's changed after a stunning redesign - not that everybody is happy.
‘Anti-Jones crusade’ claim as abuse charge rejected
An award-winning journalist has been thrust into the spotlight of retired shock jock Alan Jones's abuse case as his lawyer questioned police integrity.
Star reveals mystery lender behind $940m debt rescue
Embattled casino group Star Entertainment has confirmed the lender behind a $940 million refinancing deal, as it mulls multiple pathways for survival
Director faults firefighters over toxic recycling blaze
A former company director once responsible for processing 60 per cent of Victoria's recyclable waste has partly blamed firefighters for a major toxic blaze.
Consumer confidence surges on back of interest rate cut
Australia's economic outlook is looking rosier as inflation continues to fall and following the first decline in interest rates in more than four years.