Export tax push runs out of gas as budget hopes dashed
Furious lobbying for a 25 per cent tax on gas exports is failing to sway the federal government, which is ruling out the measure for the upcoming budget.
national news
United Arab Emirates quits OPEC in blow to oil cartel
The United Arab Emirates says it is withdrawing from OPEC, stripping the oil cartel of one of its largest producers.
Turning wine into fuel could bolster local supplies
More than 350 million bottles of wine are gathering dust in Australian storage, and industry figures have an ingenious plan to stop them heading for the bin.
Grain belt hit by worst mouse plague in years
Mouse numbers have exploded to plague proportions across a state's grain belt, with thousands per hectare threatening crops and straining bait supply
Gasps as ex-charity worker avoids jail over abuse book
An author will be placed on the sex offenders register after penning a novel found to describe the sexual abuse of a child through explicit toddler role-play.
Children’s commissioner ignored on laws targeting kids
Legal and policy reforms since a damning royal commission report have continued to breach children's rights, a youth justice inquiry has been told.
Survivors leave hospital after inferno killed children
The surviving family members of a house fire that killed two children and hospitalised four siblings and a parent have been discharged from hospital.
Tech platforms reject push to pay for news content
Social media platforms will have to strike deals with media organisations or pay more under a proposal which has been poorly received by the tech giants.
Union clean-up hit as ailing corruption fighter quits
The resignation of the administrator hand-picked to stamp out corruption in a construction union shows government efforts are failing, the opposition says.
Brat summoned: tariff champion to serve as ambassador
A former Virginia congressman who made headlines for ousting a party leader in a primary has been chosen by Donald Trump to be the next ambassador to Australia.
Tech ‘perfect storm’ needs ambitious online safety plan
Online safety advocates say a global push from governments is required to ensure tech companies design their products with the safety of citizens in mind.
‘The worst’: Rebel claim over star’s alleged complaint
Hollywood star Rebel Wilson has labelled a sexual harassment complaint from a lead actor in her directorial debut as the 'worst thing' that could have happened.
‘Love over evil’: Port Arthur remembered 30 years on
Survivors of the Port Arthur massacre have shared their desire for strong gun control on the 30th anniversary of the horrific shooting.
Still alive: police hold on to hope girl will be found
A desperate search for a missing girl and her suspected abductor has gained national attention, with the prime minister hoping it becomes a "good news story".
Coalition fuel fix misfires over start-up funding doubt
Confusion reigns over who would pay for a coalition plan to add one billion litres to Australia's emergency fuel stocks - and if the supply figures add up.
‘Brand damage’ risk as Liberals preference One Nation
An ex-Liberal prime minister has slammed the party's decision to preference One Nation in the Farrer by-election as a pollster warns of possible brand damage.
‘Ugly nonsense’: more police call after Anzac Day boos
A leading Indigenous activist is calling for a larger police presence at future dawn services after Anzac Day acknowledgements were heckled and booed.
Family’s ‘life sentence’ after carer murdered by friend
The family of a much-loved carer who was murdered by his friend and patient say they have been handed a life sentence following his brutal death.
Coast clear as response to toxic algal bloom eased
Improved water quality has triggered the scaling back of a state's multi-million-dollar response to a toxic algal bloom but fishing closures remain in place.
Outback manhunt as abduction fears rise for little girl
A recently released prisoner is the focus of a manhunt after a five-year-old girl went missing at an outback community in a suspected abduction.
Heartbreak, outpouring of support as inferno kills kids
A community is rallying around a local family after a house fire killed two children and hospitalised four siblings and their father.
Security vs welfare: Australia’s ‘ISIS brides’ dilemma
A group of Islamic State-linked women and children are again attempting to return to Australia, sparking fresh debate over how to manage the associated risks.
Calls for plane crash-style probes as road deaths rise
More people are dying on Australia's roads every year, but the peak motoring body says plane crash-style investigations could lead to change.
‘Manosphere’ rise requires new gender equality approach
Gender equality activists have gathered for a landmark conference aimed at charting a new way forward as anti-rights movements gain traction.
Aussie manufacturing boost in $1.2b fleet upgrade
Australia is selling one of its most prized military vehicles to the Netherlands as the government also moves to shore up its own defence force.
Right-wing leaders tout migrant crackdowns before poll
Pauline Hanson and Matt Canavan have addressed an anti-immigration rally in Canberra, focusing on migration levels ahead of the Farrer by-election.
Impact on inflation from fuel price hike to be revealed
The first inflation figures since the Iran war started, causing petrol prices to skyrocket, will give clues on its cost - with home-buyers watching closely.
NDIS cuts not just about kicking people off: minister
The minister in charge of the NDIS has defended looming changes to the scheme that will require people with disabilities to be reassessed.
Traditional owners want say in managing totem species
Dingoes, emus and other iconic species are culturally significant for Indigenous Australians. They want more say in managing and protecting them.
Rego rebate to ease pain at the pump for motorists
Motorists in one state will receive a one-off rebate on car registration to ease cost-of-living pressure as fuel prices soar across the country.
Right-wing activists ejected for Anzac ceremony heckles
The booing of Indigenous-led ceremonies on Anzac Day has been widely condemned, but the opposition leader says the acknowledgements of Country are overused.