Bait shortage white-ants bid to end spread of tiny pest
A shortage of baits is frustrating efforts to stop the spread of fire ants, which pose a huge threat to the Australian economy and the environment.
national news
Nauru walkout stuns Pacific summit before landmark deal
Nauru President David Adeang says he isn't pulling his country from the Pacific Islands Forum, while Australia will offer resettlement to Tuvalu residents.
Record low vacancy rates hit would-be renters hard
It's never been more difficult to find a rental in Australia as a report confirms rental vacancy rates have hit record lows in some capital cities.
Anger as Optus data handout offer rings hollow
Optus is being slammed for "inadequate" compensation offered to customers after an outage affected millions of people and small businesses.
auto trends
business (general)
environmental issue
environmental pollution
renewable energy
road transport
transport
Businesses still in the slow lane for electric vehicles
Almost one in three businesses have yet to add an electric car to their fleet and half say they will not make a full move until after 2030, a new study finds.
‘We’ve got to do better’: farmers tackle mental health
Farmers are hitting the road for a series of workshops across Queensland and NSW to help other producers prepare mentally for the tough times ahead.
Decade in jail for cop impersonator’s bloody burglary
Seven years after dressing up as a cop and beating two men with hammers, leaving them in a pool of blood, a man has been jailed for a decade for the crime.
Banks pass on rate hikes to thrifty home loan customers
Some mortgage holders are already trimming their spending and working extra hours, with the latest rise to put more pressure on households and the economy.
Renewed searches in missing bushwalker case
Police are conducting fresh bushland searches in southern Tasmania as part of investigations into a 2017 missing person case.
Sydney mayor suspended after corruption finding
City of Canada Bay mayor Angelo Tsirekas has been suspended by the local government minister after an integrity commission found he engaged in corrupt conduct.
Legal system ‘earthquake’ as AFL club to pay out $6m
A jury has awarded a child abuse survivor almost $6 million, finding the AFL's Western Bulldogs were negligent in giving a pedophile special access to the boy.
‘A wonderful symbol’: tree marks paramedic’s sacrifice
The family of slain paramedic Steven Tougher have planted a fig in his memory in an emotional ceremony in Sydney.
Star CEO says no ‘quick fix’ to regain lost trust
Star Entertainment Group has avoided a possible board spill at its annual general meeting as its new CEO has described working 18-hour days on its turnaround.
Airbnb owners offered $10,000 to rent homes long-term
Short-term accommodation owners in Western Australia will be offered a $10,000 sweetener to rent their properties to long-term tenants to boost housing supply.
Trucking boss to avoid jail despite officers’ deaths
The deaths of four police officers in Victoria were avoidable if not for serious safety breaches at a trucking firm, a court has heard.
Daytime search for nocturnal glider sparks new rules
NSW's environmental watchdog is rewriting search rules after the Forestry Corporation looked for an endangered nocturnal glider during the day.
Hundreds of big firms paid no tax in 2021-22
Corporate tax payments broke a record in 2021-22 but the federal government is worried some large multinationals are still not paying their fair share.
Easier PTSD compensation, worker protection step closer
First responders with post-traumatic stress disorder and workers facing domestic violence may soon have greater protections, with laws closer to passing.
Urgent steps needed as infinite detention ruled illegal
A High Court decision ruling indefinite detention illegal has led to calls for an urgent review of the cases of stateless people held in detention.
NAB customers cut spending, interest rate peak in sight
National Australia Bank has been looking at how its business and personal customers are dealing with rising interest rates, and the news isn't too bad.
Optus services restored after ‘costly’ nine-hour outage
Services to Optus customers have been restored after a nationwide outage left customers and infrastructure in the dark for more than nine hours.
Westpac axes PwC as embattled firm announces job cuts
Westpac has ended its relationship with external auditor PwC as the under-fire firm continues to face setbacks after a leaking scandal.
High-tech magic show leaves nothing up its sleeve
Audiences use their phones during the performance at an interactive magic show that encourages people to participate in a game-like experience.
‘Buddy system’ in place at JBS before worker trapped
The world's largest meat processor's local subsidiary has been fined $300,000 after a worker was struck by falling hay bales.
Folbigg poised for review of child-killing convictions
Kathleen Folbigg could have her convictions for killing her four children officially overturned after earlier receiving an unconditional pardon.
Australian family flees Gaza war-zone to safety
An Australian family of three has fled the violence-stricken Gaza Strip through the Rafah border into Egypt, but another 76 Australians remain in the war-zone.
Mental health spiral behind ‘hare-brained’ $395m fraud
Demetrios Charisiou has admitted a $395 million investment fraud involving NDIS-supported housing, claiming he was in a manic state during the offending.
Police back down over tasering footage after criticism
Police have released CCTV footage from an incident in which a man was tasered outside a care facility after criticism from human rights advocates.
State stonewalls silica ban as national talks drag on
Pressure is mounting for a national ban on the use of engineered stone as one state sets a deadline on talks and threatens to go it alone.
Indefinite immigrant detention ruled unlawful
In a historic decision, the High Court has upended a 20-year-old determination and ruled indefinite detention of immigrants with nowhere else to go is unlawful.
Pacific dancing to Australia’s tune on climate, says PM
Anthony Albanese has stepped quickly into stride on the Cook Islands as he prepares for crunch talks with Pacific Islands Forum leaders.