Liberals look for answers after Labor by-election win
Peter Dutton's Liberal leadership doesn't appear under threat after a historic by-election loss, with one backbencher saying he needs to be better promoted.
national news
Migration, high rents put brakes on sliding home prices
Home prices nationally have ticked up in March after tracking lower for 10 straight months, with high rents and migration both helping to arrest the slide.
Police heads look down sights for national gun register
The federal attorney-general and state and territory police ministers will meet to discuss how to create and roll out a national gun register.
Giant of the nation, Indigenous leader Yunupingu dies
Indigenous leader Yunupingu has died, having met with every prime minister since Gough Whitlam, in his work as a land rights pioneer.
Liberal Party facing ‘electoral catastrophe’: Turnbull
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull says the Liberal Party must change course from its increasingly right-wing agenda driving voters away.
Refinery to make greener aviation fuel from farm waste
A refinery turning agricultural by-products such as sugarcane into eco-friendly aviation fuel could open in Queensland next year with a new funding deal struck.
Government appoints union figures to industrial umpire
Union-linked appointments have been made to the Fair Work Commission in a bid to restore balance, the Albanese government says.
Fewer kids in detention but more support needed
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare youth justice report shows the number of kids in contact with the criminal justice system is falling.
Labor tells umpire to get low-paid ‘back on the bus’
The Albanese government is calling for a wage lift that stops low-paid workers going backwards as business groups worry about higher wage bills.
Expert warns of growing tax burden ahead of budget
Former Treasury boss Ken Henry warns inadequate tax settings are worsening intergenerational inequality as the treasurer prepares for his second budget.
Bosses can’t force staff to work on public holidays
Workers cannot be forced to work on public holidays even if they're rostered on, a court has found, potentially paving the way for more rights for employees.
Liberals expected to retain Aston seat at by-election
Labor and coalition camps expect the Liberal Party to retain the Melbourne seat of Aston after Alan Tudge's retirement triggered a by-election.
Premier slams ‘vile, shameful’ homophobic Latham tweet
NSW Premier Chris Minns has strongly condemned a tweet from One Nation leader Mark Latham, saying it has unmasked him as a bigot.
Housing hammered as big building companies down tools
Building works will stop immediately on more than 1700 properties in Victoria and Queensland as a result of the collapse of Porter Davis.
Renowned human rights judge to lead Federal Court
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has announced Justice Debra Mortimer will be the first woman to become chief justice of the Federal Court of Australia.
‘Monster’ jailed for killing, wounding girls in hotel
A sentencing judge did not accept Kristian Kovaleff showed any remorse after stabbing two girls, killing one, then pretending to be mentally ill.
Lenders cut fixed rates as Reserve Bank decision looms
Lenders are cutting their fixed rates but borrowers are being urged to take caution as the Reserve Bank gets closer to the end of its rate hiking cycle.
Fresh waves of COVID on the way, top doctor warns
As the government ramps up booster rate efforts, the chief medical officer has warned new COVID waves are coming ahead of winter.
Australia’s love for utes and SUVs driving emissions
Australia is one of the world's biggest petrol consumers but could save $13 billion in petrol costs each year by adopting moderate changes, a new report says.
Gold Coast pair charged after cocaine discovered in stone benchtop
A man and a woman are accused of being part of criminal syndicate that attempted to import $12 million of drugs hidden inside machinery and a stone benchtop.
Warning of ‘hindsight bias’ as Teo hearing wraps up
As a disciplinary hearing wraps up for star neurosurgeon Charlie Teo, his lawyers have warned against applying "hindsight bias" to two catastrophic surgeries.
Hotel and apartment giant Meriton hit by cyber attack
A cyber attack on property giant Meriton has potentially exposed the personal details of up to 2000 people, including guests and staff.
Measles alert on Sunshine Coast
Health authorities in NSW and Queensland have issued measles alerts after the emergence of three cases of the highly contagious infection.
Global shares rise as bank support emboldens investors
Safe havens have taken a battering as investors relax about the stability of the financial sector, with banks helping to lift global share markets.
Pollution crackdown hits biggest emitters as laws pass
Changes to the safeguard mechanism putting a hard cap on pollution from big emitters have passed the parliament.
History made as voice referendum proposal presented
Australians will vote on enshrining an Indigenous voice by the end of the year as federal parliament sets the formal wheels in motion for a referendum.
Deep ocean in deep trouble as Antarctic ice melts
A life-sustaining circulatory system for the deep ocean will quickly slow and may collapse entirely without emissions cuts this decade, Australian experts say.
Call to unplug electricity networks’ super profits
With households facing soaring bills, state and federal governments have been urged to crack down on power networks accused of making "supernormal profits".
Peak union wants wage boost for lowest-paid workers
More than two million workers on minimum and award wages should get a seven per cent pay rise to keep up with the rising cost of living, the ACTU argues.
Hundreds more electric vehicles to join rental fleets
Your next hire car could be an electric model after one of Australia's leading rental firms revealed plans to add 500 BYD cars to its fleet this year.
Nearly half of gig workers make less than minimum wage
A survey of more than 1000 Australian gig workers has revealed almost half earn less than the minimum wage and three in four work long hours.