Right to disconnect laws pass federal parliament
Employees will be able to legally disconnect from work out of hours, after industrial relations changes cleared the House of Representatives.
national news
Carrot for home buyers could deliver stick to investors
A bid to give hopeful homeowners a foot in the door could be in danger unless Labor takes steps to scale back property investor tax breaks.
Stamp duty costs climb as home buyers struggle to save
Market analysis has revealed the rising cost of stamp duty on property purchases - and its impact on people trying to break into the housing market.
Tough terrain for volunteers in search for missing mum
Volunteers continuing a ground search for missing Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy have been warned to take care of their own safety in difficult bush terrain.
Funding boost and police blitz put road safety in focus
Road safety upgrades in Queensland will get a half a billion dollar boost under funding to improve urban, regional and remote streets, footpaths and cycleways.
Property investors won’t lose tax deductions: Treasurer
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says property investors will continue to enjoy their tax breaks, while ruling out the prospect of changes to negative gearing.
Treatment options wider if prostate cancer found early
A prostate cancer patient is warning other men to stop putting off tests as patients with early stage disease have access to greater treatment options.
Silo art paints portrait of pride in tiny country towns
Grain silos have become the canvas for impressive artwork for tiny country towns across Australia, painting a path to pride as well as prosperity.
Key roles for women scientists in invasive pest battle
Women scientists are playing key roles in protecting Australian agriculture against invasive species while changing the face of a male-dominated sector.
arts (general)
arts, culture and entertainment
cinema industry
entertainment award
television industry
Newsreader, Deadloch win big as Margot’s Barbie sizzles
It's still a Barbie world with Margot Robbie and her smash hit movie winning an armful of screen awards as two productions dominated local categories.
Last-standing Liberal government ponders early election
The only Liberal government in Australia is grappling for a way forward in minority as its agreements with defector MPs are put to the test.
Ballarat community rallies to family of missing mother
The prime minister has thanked those searching for missing mum Samantha Murphy as investigators turn to security footage to solve her mysterious disappearance.
Indian Ocean security threats on par with Pacific: Wong
Vast waters to Australia's west present security, climate and conflict threats as serious as those facing the Pacific, the foreign minister told a conference.
Flying doctor spreads its wings to primary health care
Thousands of new patients have flocked to primary healthcare clinics staffed by the Royal Flying Doctor Service in the outback.
Tas minority premier to mull independent ‘crisis’ talks
Tasmania's Liberal minority premier says he will take time to consider discussions with two powerful independents amid his threat of an early election.
Ballarat prays for missing mother’s safe return
The Ballarat community is praying for Samantha Murphy's safe return seven days into the search for the missing 51-year-old mother.
All-electric Benz poised to replace guzzling sibling
Emission-free motoring with a range of more than 500km is on offer from the new Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV.
Event managers told to stay out of nature refuges
Scientists have told event managers to back off and keep their disruptive, showy events out of the nation's wildlife havens.
Coalition wants more protections for airline passengers
The federal opposition is set to introduce laws that would boost consumer protections for airline passengers, following a surge in cancellations.
crime, law and justice
human rights
indigenous people
law enforcement
political campaigns
prisoners and detainees
punishment
NSW bans spit hoods but still some backing in NT
Advocates are calling for all jurisdictions to ban spit hoods, after NSW became the second state to pass legislation prohibiting their use, following SA.
Slain boy’s father hugs prosecutor after guilty verdict
Declan Cutler's father, who missed the judge handing down a guilty verdict for four of his son's killers, hugged the prosecutor who later gave him the news.
EPA backs down on ‘dangerous’ new logging rules in NSW
New logging rules that had experts fearing for the survival of the endangered greater glider will be revisited by the NSW environmental watchdog.
Property investors in focus as tax debate shifts gears
As home ownership becomes increasingly difficult for many, pressure is growing on the major political parties to revisit tax reform.
PwC executives accused of ‘thumbing nose at parliament’
The head of embattled consulting firm PwC has come under fire for not providing details of a key report into the organisation's conduct.
Criminal penalties slip through among workplace reform
Under new laws, bosses could be penalised for making unreasonable contact with staff after hours but the prime minister promises to iron out the issues.
Ballarat still hopeful after days of searching for mum
The Ballarat community is still hopeful of finding missing mother Samantha Murphy six days after she disappeared as the State Emergency Service stands down.
High-rise hopes to fix housing squeeze in the regions
Offering more medium to high density housing in the regions would ease housing shortages and attract essential and other key workers, a summit has heard.
‘I am so sorry’: Hasler’s heartbreak at player’s death
Premiership-winning NRL coach Des Hasler has told an inquest into a rising star's death that there were no "red flags" about the player's physical capability.
RBA says productivity, conflicts cloud inflation path
The job of bringing inflation under control isn't finished, although consumer price growth does not need to be back within target before rate cuts start.
Rugby star Kurtley Beale cleared of raping woman
Kurtley Beale has been found not guilty of raping a woman or sexually touching her in a toilet cubicle after a jury took just hours to clear the rugby star.
Help offered to Indigenous people ripped off by Youpla
Save Sorry Business has welcomed the federal government's $97 million support package for Indigenous people affected by the collapse of dodgy insurer Youpla.