Tax cuts put away for rainy day as spending spree ends
After two months of sales-fuelled growth, shoppers have tightened belts as the elevated cost-of-living keeps pressure on family finances.
national news
Artists bypass gallery system at affordable art fair
While the Affordable Art Fair presents more than 60 galleries, it also showcases artists who've left the gallery system behind to succeed on their own.
Businesses to unleash unsupervised AI within 3 years
Generative AI tools are doubling in popularity among executives, research has found, and most are preparing to deploy the technology without oversight.
Trans question won’t make census despite Labor’s U-turn
Trans and intersex people should not be left out of the census, LGBTQI groups say after forcing Labor to backtrack on a plan to scrap a question on sexuality.
Promoters win $2.8m over canned Robbie Williams concert
Cancelling a Robbie Williams concert at the last minute will cost the Australian Grand Prix $2.8m after a judge found it misled promoters on health advice.
Challenge to act on ‘tragedy’ of defence suicides
Federal departments can't be trusted to solve military suicides alone and the government must intervene to stop the "crisis", Royal Commissioners warn.
Developer forced to repay $11m ‘washed’ in tax fraud
The liquidators of Plutus Payroll will recoup over $11 million sent to a blackmailer threatening to expose what is now known as Australia's biggest tax fraud.
Phone messages contradict Higgins’ claims, court told
A defamation trial pitting a senator against Brittany Higgins has received evidence about the ex-staffer's movements before and after her alleged rape.
More gloom ahead as economy plods along in slow lane
Australia's economy has been barely limping along and more weakness is anticipated in upcoming national accounts data.
Home sweet home: the places people never leave
Waterside suburbs and areas with idyllic lifestyles are unsurprisingly among the tightest-held property markets in the country, new data reveals.
Sanctuary burning: sting in the tail for mangrove rays
A particular type of habitat that could serve as a temporary sanctuary for stingrays is set to become too hot to handle.
Bank chiefs don’t rate a quick end to costs crunch
Interest rates might have reached their peak but the head of Westpac says many households are still grappling with tight budgets.
‘Take the lane’: Albanese denies US Pacific police plan
A video of what Anthony Albanese calls a "private conversation" with US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell shows a chummy relationship on Pacific policing.
Budget bliss as Kmart brand helps bag Wesfarmers profit
Australian conglomerate company Wesfarmers has lifted its profit by 3.7 per cent on the previous year as consumers snapped up affordable products at Kmart.
Qantas releases the loyalty parachute as profits fall
Qantas Group says it made $1.25 billion in profit in 2023/24, down 28 per cent from last year, but its on-time performance and customer approval levels rose.
Gran’s ‘highly unusual’ disappearance, death a mystery
Police are looking for a grandmother's car and phone after her skeletal remains were found hundreds of kilometres away from home and where she was last seen.
‘Show courage’: Labor MP rebels on LGBTQI census topics
Josh Burns is the first Labor MP to publicly call on his government to reconsider its decision not to include LGBTQI questions in the next census.
Shadows of US-China contest over Pacific Islands Forum
Attempts by the Solomon Islands to downgrade the membership of Taiwan at the Pacific Islands Forum appear set to fail.
End of state-level push for Lambie after sackings
Senator Jacqui Lambie says her days of trying to get ordinary people into politics at state level are over after she sacked two Tasmanian MPs from her party.
‘Fanciful’ to tie power bill cap to coal-plant deal
The idea that a deal to keep open Australia's largest coal power station until 2027 could include a power price guarantee to help consumers has been dismissed.
Resources bellwether warns of clean energy constraints
Contracting group Monadelphous, a bellwether for energy and mining activity, says labour shortages continue and warns of barriers to decarbonisation.
Crocodiles given tummy aches to stop cane toad feasts
Rangers and scientists have been training crocodiles in Western Australia not to eat cane toads, by giving them a bout of food poisoning.
‘Rotten to the core’: racism claim over fatal diagnosis
The father of an Indigenous man who was fatally misdiagnosed with a drug-related illness says the doctor responsible shouldn't be treating patients.
Pledge to resuscitate pay row talks as ambo chief quits
Weeks after Victoria's paramedics union condemned the state's ambulance board with a vote of no confidence, the chief executive has resigned.
Vicinity seals largest Aussie retail deal for 2024
Retail property group Vicinity Centres has acquired a 50 per cent stake in one of the biggest shopping centres on the west coast.
Water standards in focus as ‘forever chemicals’ found
Traces of cancer-linked chemicals have been detected in drinking water supplies, prompting an investigation and calls for calm.
‘Rarely seen’ pressure applied to Reynolds: Payne
Former federal minister Marise Payne has told a court about her concerns for Linda Reynolds and Brittany Higgins after the latter's alleged rape in parliament.
Fortescue slams ‘cynical distraction’ in IP-theft case
Directors sued for allegedly using Fortescue secrets in their own startup filed a "monumental waste of time" to avoid defending the lawsuit, a judge has heard.
Drug user murdered three vulnerable people, court told
A man accused of three cold case murders was a drug user who killed vulnerable people while searching for valuables to fund his habit, a judge has heard.
One in four Aussies in ‘childcare deserts’ missing out
Australians living in the regions and metropolitan outskirts are missing out on child care as providers preference areas where they can charge the highest fees.
Calls for family violence funding to be election issue
A report card on Australia's progress in ending gender-based violence concludes more funding is needed, especially in crisis areas.