New apartments trigger jump in building approvals
A glut of new apartment projects lifted building approvals in December but new house approvals remain subdued, new data shows.
national news
Bid to cut rising insurance costs in disaster-hit areas
Insurers have met the federal government to come up with a plan to help households with rising premiums and better prepare communities for natural disasters.
Building resilient kids could start with a bubble
A new toolkit developed by trauma and pediatric experts will help parents manage emotional harm and build resilience in their children after natural disasters.
Paid domestic violence leave set to start
Full-time, part-time and casual workers will be entitled to 10 days of paid domestic violence leave at their full-pay rate under new laws to start within days.
Nuclear submarine plan motors on as US repairs docks
Australia is charging ahead with plans to acquire nuclear-powered submarines despite concerns about repair docks being taken offline in the United States.
ClubsNSW boss sacked over ‘offensive’ Catholic jibe
The head of the powerful NSW clubs industry body has been sacked after linking Premier Dominic Perrottet's Catholic faith to gaming policy.
Indigenous voice has migrant community backing: PM
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has rejected claims that ethnic groups are gearing up to campaign against a narrowly focused Indigenous voice.
MacGill denies intimidating, swearing at mate’s ex
Former Test cricketer Stuart MacGill has told a Sydney court he was worried for his friend's mental health on the day he's accused of abusing their ex-fiance.
Fireworks deliver long-term hit for wildlife: study
Fireworks can cause breeding and other long-term problems for wildlife and it's time to move to lower-impact spectacles, a new study says.
Shoppers urged to swoop on glut of premature pineapples
Pineapple farmers are struggling to keep up with a prematurely ripened crop and fear millions of tonnes of Australian fruit will be left to rot in fields.
Dutton to meet with Indigenous voice group
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has accepted an invitation to meet with the working group behind the push to enshrine an Indigenous voice in the constitution.
Culture policy overhauls Australia Council
The government has unveiled its new cultural policy to revive the arts sector after the pandemic and spotlight Indigenous artists and artwork.
Prosecution referral over death in custody
A coroner has declared Veronica Nelson's death preventable, called for bail law reform and found corrections had failed to provide her with adequate healthcare.
MacGill not told to leave pub: bartender
Former Test cricketer Stuart MacGill has been accused of intimidation at a Sydney pub, threatening to call the police on a woman before she was told to leave.
Australia’s AAA rating affirmed
Strong demand for Australia's energy exports and the strong labour market have kept upwards pressure on the country's sovereign credit rating.
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Radioactive capsule hunt a tough gig
A high-stakes hunt for a capsule of radioactive material won't be easy or quick, experts say.
Cancer research funds rise but more needed
Investment in cancer research has tripled over the past two decades but more is needed to tackle Australia's leading cause of death, Cancer Australia says.
Premier flags sweeping justice reforms for Victoria
There will be a greater distinction between violent and non-violent offenders in bail reforms to be introduced in Victoria in the first half of 2023.
Retail trade sinks 3.9 per cent over festive season
Budget-conscious shoppers made the most of Black Friday sales, with retail sales then falling sharply weeks out from Christmas.
Grants to turbo charge electric car fleets
Funding for more than 1000 new electric vehicles has been announced in NSW, with ride-share and rental services set to upgrade their fleets.
Towns putting up a fight as banks close
Regional communities are continuing to fight back against bank branch closures which could force some locals to travel hundreds of kilometres for service.
‘Historic’ plans to combat child abuse and neglect
Two 10-year national action plans aim to reduce the number of children needing child protection services, improve responses to abuse and help close the gap.
NT senator warns against ADF intervention
NT senator Malarndirri McCarthy says a federal intervention in the region by the ADF would reignite trauma for those in Aboriginal communities.
Specialised DV court system on way for NSW
NSW won't yet replicate the specialised family violence courts in Queensland or Victoria, saying it needs a study to see how it would fit into its system.
Torture charge over bathroom barricade
A man has been charged with torture and other offences after he was allegedly barricaded inside a bathroom with a woman for more than four hours.
Millions of RATs due to expire
Millions of RATs are due to expire in coming months, prompting debate about what to do with the excess tests.
Outback hunt for lost radioactive capsule
An urgent health warning has been issued in Western Australia after a radioactive capsule went missing on a 1400km journey from a mine to Perth.
Greens threaten to derail emissions clamp
Labor's plan to reduce the ceiling on carbon emissions for some big companies doesn't go far enough, the Greens say.
Search for radioactive capsule continues
Authorities continue to search for a tiny but dangerous radioactive capsule from a Rio Tinto mine after it disappeared on a 1400km journey across the outback.
Leadership challenge on for WA Liberals
The decision by Mia Davies to step down as WA's opposition leader has prompted a challenge for the leadership of the state's Liberals.
NSW parties vow domestic violence support
The major parties are proposing different policies to help domestic violence victim-survivors in NSW ahead of the March state election.