Cyclone-hit coastal town blows away house value gains
The housing market strongly rebounded in 2025 as interest rate cuts, easing inflation and limited supply fired up competition, the latest property data shows.
national news
Push to ramp-up fire ant battle as new nest found
Fire ants are hampering agriculture, tourism and even kids' sport, with calls for more federal funding to control the spread of one of the world's worst pests.
Battling casino group hopeful chips will fall its way
Star Entertainment Group has made progress toward resolving its myriad of issues but executives acknowledge the gaming behemoth isn't out of the woods yet.
‘World-first’ deal to give delivery drivers better pay
The nation's biggest food delivery companies have struck a deal with a union to improve the pay and working conditions of the "silent heroes" of the economy.
Australia needs a ‘wind farm every month’ to meet goals
Australia needs to build the equivalent of one large wind farm every month to meet its 2030 climate target, an expert warns.
Four more arrested in Louvre heist probe: prosecutor
The Paris prosecutor has announced four more arrests in connection with a heist at the Louvre Museum in October.
The ‘obvious and easy way’ to help boost housing supply
More than 80,000 sorely needed homes are unable to be built due to a lack of investment in power, roads and sewers, councils say.
Inflation surges as energy rebates run out of gas
Lower energy rebates and higher housing costs than a year ago have propelled the headline inflation rate to its highest level in 16 months.
Study reveals why Peter Dutton lost the last election
A study has revealed Labor had inched ahead of the coalition on a key measure which handed Anthony Albanese a historic majority in federal parliament.
Strong lift off for seaweed firm with unique business
A local climate technology company tackling a potent greenhouse gas with seaweed has soared in value after listing on the Australian Securities Exchange.
Worst bushfire risk in years prompts calls for caution
Thousands of people are facing the most severe bushfire danger conditions since 2023 as high temperatures and howling winds spark fears of major blazes.
Optus resolves fresh outage after vandals cut cables
Another Optus service outage that affected thousands of customers has been resolved after vandals cut cables while attempting to steal copper.
Minister stares down challenge to social media ban
The minister tasked with spearheading Australia's social media lockout for under-16s says she is not intimidated by a legal challenge against the ban.
Overpowered: battery rebate could be drained in a year
Australian households are installing more than 1000 solar batteries every day, but their popularity could accelerate the end of the government's rebate scheme.
Mystery deepens after no trace found of missing boy
A new search has failed to find a missing boy on his family's remote outback farmhouse, almost two months after the four-year-old disappeared.
Easey Street accused to face double murder trial
A magistrate has tossed out a rape charge as he committed a man to stand trial over the cold case double murder of two women nearly half a century ago.
Retail supremo dangles ‘game-changing’ mystery tech
Harvey Norman chair Gerry Harvey has hinted he might be selling robots in the next 18 months alongside a 'secret' technology, after dissing his rivals.
Environment reforms to pass after Labor-Greens deal
The first major changes in decades to Australia's long-criticised environment laws aim to better protect natural sites and speed up project approvals.
Heartbreaking plea from parents of slain sports coach
The parents of a water polo coach brutally murdered by her ex-boyfriend have pleaded with the community to start tough conversations about abuse against women.
‘Very positive news’: ray of light post inflation shock
Equipment investment in Australia's IT sector almost doubled in three months amid a surge in data centre projects, which could help revive productivity growth.
‘Invisible’ cancer patients finally brought into focus
World-first data shows almost 21,000 Australians are living with incurable breast cancer, with advocates saying health services for the population fall short.
Not up to code: security flaws, bias in foreign AI tool
Companies should scrutinise the artificial intelligence technology they deploy, researchers have warned, after vulnerabilities were found in a Chinese tool.
More severe storms packing giant hail forecast
More severe thunderstorms, potentially packing dangerous giant hail, are forecast for communities in two states, as a clean-up for the last storm continues.
Woman dead but man heroically saved after shark attack
A shark has mauled Swiss tourists at a national park beach, leaving a woman dead, but quick thinking from a passer-by helpead a man to fight on in hospital.
Uni debts slashed for more than one million Australians
University debt levels are set to be cut by more than $5000 on average for people with student loans as a one-off reduction comes into effect.
Australian shares ride Wall Street’s coat-tails higher
Global tailwinds have swept up the local bourse, despite worries Australia's economic soft landing will lead to interest rate hikes in 2026.
‘Grandiose fantasies’ consumed killer taekwondo teacher
A taekwondo instructor taken by "grandiose fantasies" before murdering a family of three has been forced to confront the pain of his victim's loved ones.
Barnaby waves bye to Nats as he exits stage far-right
Former deputy prime minister and Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has quit the rural party, but his future remains unclear as he considers joining One Nation.
Australia needs faster cuts to hit key climate goals
The pace of emissions reductions must double to meet Australia's climate emissions targets, with a rapid and unhindered clean energy transition key to success.
Kids targeted by racism feel it ‘deep in their soul’
Indigenous students are being increasingly targeted by racism, with concerns raised about how schools are handling complaints of discrimination.
‘It’s disastrous’: state scathing of nature reforms
A ground-breaking overhaul of Australia's environment laws has been labelled a disaster that could devastate economic growth.