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.
national news
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.
Proposed coal mines a climate disaster, experts warn
Experts warn that approving proposed coal mines across the country would cause almost 18 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas pollution to be emitted.
Disasters worsen mental health struggles among farmers
Natural disasters have worsened mental health among Australian farmers with the agriculture industry concerned about the availability of support in the regions.
Minns flags health overhaul and fish kill review
NSW Premier Chris Minns visited the town of Menindee to see the impact of a major fish kill and flagged an overhaul of the state's stretched health system.
People showing Nazi symbols in Qld, Tasmania face jail
Queensland and Tasmania are set to follow Victoria and NSW in banning Nazi symbols amid strong concerns about a recent neo-Nazi protest in Melbourne.
Aussies asked whether electric cars should make noise
Electric cars could be forced to play sounds at low speeds to protect pedestrians and cyclists in a move supported by the blind community.
PM brushes off voice legal fears as ‘scare campaign’
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese claims a scare campaign on the voice is similar to what occurred before the apology to the Stolen Generations.
Australians underestimate domestic violence: survey
While a majority of Australians know domestic violence is a problem, advocates say victim-blaming attitudes and rape myths are still rife within the country.
Inflation slows ahead of crunch interest rates decision
Inflation has moderated again and released some pressure from the valve underpinning more interest rises from the Reserve Bank.
War crimes investigator to head new integrity body
NSW judge Paul Brereton will be the inaugural head of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, which is expected to start its work this year.
The long and winding road to banking in rural Australia
The Senate inquiry into regional bank closures has heard from more than 150 rural Australians about the devastating effects of losing essential services.
Loss of key evidence in gay man’s murder ‘unacceptable’
Police should not have lost evidence that could have helped identify the killer of a gay Sydney man in 1981, an inquiry into LGBTQI hate crimes has heard.