Stabbing spree accused refuses to come to court
A Melbourne man accused of stabbing five people in a random series of attacks over the weekend has refused to speak to his lawyer or leave his jail cell.
national news
Drug batch fears after suspected overdoses at festival
Multiple revellers have suffered suspected overdoses at a festival, with eight people rushed to hospital in a critical condition and placed in an induced coma.
Climate warriors inspire choreographer’s new work
Sea level rises forced a group of Torres Strait Islanders to mount a legal challenge to Australia and their story has sparked a new dance work.
Man found with bag of knives after ‘cowardly’ stabbings
A man will face court on more than a dozen assault charges after allegedly going on a stabbing spree, seriously injuring a woman and hospitalising four others.
Black Friday splurge shifting numbers in retail readout
Retail data is likely to reveal shopper enthusiasm for Black Friday discounts ahead of fresh stats on Australian consumer prices, housing and jobs.
‘Taking them for a ride’: calls for supermarket probe
Nationals leader David Littleproud has called for the consumer watchdog to inquire into the cost of fruit and vegetables at major supermarkets.
Weather bureau doing its best amid ‘chaos’, expert says
The Bureau of Meteorology has been a punching bag for frustrated Aussies during recent wild weather events but an expert has come to its defence.
Victoria, SA and southern NSW prepare for flooding rain
People in Victoria, South Australia and NSW are being urged to prepare for storms, with rainfall totals of up to 200mm and flooding forecast for some areas.
Victorians warned to bunker down for more summer storms
Thunderstorms influenced by tropical humidity could dump as much as 200mm of rain on parts of Victoria as the state braces for widespread flooding.
Great Aussie toad bust takes aim at deadly invader
The nation's biggest cane toad bust is about to begin and Aussies are being urged to do their bit for native species and get onboard.
School meals on the menu to boost children’s health
A parliamentary committee wants the government to put school meals on the menu across Australia in a bid to improve the health of the nation's school children.
Gender pay gaps to be exposed at Australian companies
Employers with 100 or more staff will be forced to publish their gender pay gaps as part of a government push for improved transparency and workplace equality.
Lehrmann lawyers accept judge may make adverse findings
A 136-page final written submission from Bruce Lehrmann's legal team to the judge overseeing his defamation case has been filed in the Federal Court.
Attacks over Joyce meeting an ‘absurdity’: Albanese
Anthony Albanese has hit back at criticism over a meeting with former Qantas boss Alan Joyce at Parliament House.
Government quiet on dead Aussie’s Hezbollah ‘links’
Whether an Australian had illegally joined a designated terrorist group overseas could not be confirmed due to privacy reasons, the Australian government says.
Nursing home resident fights off violent sex attacker
A 76-year-old woman has allegedly been sexually assaulted by an intruder, the second such attack in a NSW nursing home in recent months.
Foreign soldiers ‘an option’ to boost defence numbers
Soldiers from overseas could join Australia's defence forces under an option being considered to grow the military amid issues with recruitment and retention.
Cost of wild weather hits $2 billion and counting
The disaster bill has already reached $2 billion in Queensland but the deputy premier expects that figure to rise after weeks of damaging weather.
Cast your votes, close elections on the cards in 2024
Voters in Qld, the ACT and the NT will head to the polls in 2024, with a tight by-election contest in a federal Victorian seat also taking place.
Independent puts Tas Liberal government on notice
Tasmania's minority Liberal government is on thin ice after an independent MP who quit the party threatened to pull his support.
Cost of living no roadblock as car sales smash record
Australians bought a record number of new cars in 2023 as the COVID comeback continued but cost-of-living pressures have auto makers preparing for a slowdown.
Australia urged to support genocide case against Israel
Palestininian Australians want the federal government to support a genocide case filed by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Australian shares plunge after weeks of strong gains
After its near-record start to 2024, the local share market has finished down 1.4 per cent, its worst one-day drop since July, with losses across every sector.
Storms continue after sparking power outages, rescues
Thousands of Queensland and Victorian homes remain without power as thunderstorms and flooding continue to wreak havoc in parts of eastern Australia.
Australia, US, UK issue warning over Red Sea attacks
In a multi-national statement, Australia has condemned Yemeni rebels' attacks on ships in the Red Sea as violence in Gaza stretches toward its fourth month.
Storm-hit residents warned recovery may take months
Authorities have warned it could take months for one of Queensland's worst-hit regions to recover from damaging storms.
Director hopes city goes bananas for Bananaland comedy
The new musical Bananaland starring Max McKenna is starting its run at the Sydney Festival - and director Simon Phillips hopes the jokes will translate.
Cost of living relief on table but cash handouts vetoed
Finely-tuned government assistance could be on its way for households struggling under cost of living pressures, the prime minister says.
Bikie links suspected in couple’s cold case murders
A trickle of information has sparked hopes that the 2008 murder of a NSW couple can finally be solved.
Asian toad pest found in Victoria a ‘serious threat’
Melburnians have been urged to look out for the deadly Asian black-spined toad after a resident found one while taking an afternoon walk on Boxing Day.
No let up as rain, storms spark floods, power outages
The first week of January continues to be a wild start to 2024, with storms lashing Australia's east coast, leading to floods, rescues and loss of power.