Walls closing in on Labor’s $10b social housing fund
The Greens and key crossbenchers are not convinced the Albanese government's social housing fund will do enough to ease Australia's worsening housing crisis.
national news
Union lashed over $1bn Vic consultancy costs complaint
The Victorian Labor government has spent close to $1 billion on consultancy agencies since it was first elected in 2014, new union data shows.
Treasurer tips slimmer commodity budget boost in May
The treasurer has outlined eight areas of "heavy lifting" for the budget, including responsible cost of living relief and funding defence priorities.
Thorpe crawls from cops after crashing anti-trans rally
Independent senator Lidia Thorpe has crawled away from federal police after storming the lectern of a protest against transgender rights outside parliament.
Bruce Lehrmann fights to keep defamation actions alive
Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann unreasonably waited to file his defamation cases over reports on rape claims by Brittany Higgins, a judge has heard.
Flood-ravaged Gulf towns call for resilience funding
Queensland towns devastated by flooding have called for $75 million in federal funding for resilience upgrades after enduring months of downpours and isolation.
‘It never leaves you’: New hunt for 1982 sex attackers
Three rapists are being hunted more than 40 years after a woman was abducted and assaulted in Melbourne, with police making a fresh call to turn themselves in.
Premier plans 100 days as Minns smooths path to victory
The NSW premier-turned-cake-salesman has laid out what's on the menu if the coalition is re-elected as his Labor opponent promised to fix roads in the south.
Teary PM reveals voice question, pleads for support
An emotional Anthony Albanese has revealed the wording of a referendum question to change the constitution and enable an Indigenous voice to parliament.
Army triggers Taipan probe after chopper ditches in sea
Ten ADF members, including special forces personnel, are lucky to be alive after the helicopter they were on plunged into waters off the NSW south coast.
PM stares down raucous caucus over nuclear subs deal
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is facing questions from within his party over the government's deal with the US and UK to buy nuclear-powered submarines.
Final verdict in ‘Ben Hur’ tax scheme’s marathon trial
Almost 11 months after the trial began in the NSW Supreme Court, the last remaining person accused of conspiring against the Commonwealth has learned his fate.
All roads lead to Camden as NSW election race rolls on
Dominic Perrottet is campaigning hard to retain Liberal seats while Chris Minns has returned to western Sydney, which is set to decide the election result.
PM readies party room for voice referendum challenge
As the government finalises laws to set up the process of a referendum, the prime minister warns of the coming challenges for a successful vote.
Read all about it: NSW preschoolers are falling behind
A report has shown a big decline in the literacy rates of children under the age of five in NSW, with one in five being ranked developmentally vulnerable.
Disgraced MP Maguire facing $17k hit to defend case
Former NSW MP Daryl Maguire allegedly conspired with a migration agent to breach the Migration Act in a visa scam between January 2013 and August 2015.
Move to dump Victorian Liberal MP resisted
Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto is facing internal resistance over his move to expel MP Moira Deeming, fending off a motion to delay a party room vote.
Why bushfire safety rooms could be next home reno trend
Queensland researchers have taken the torch to a bushfire safety room to see whether it can withstand being completely immersed in flames.
Plastic chemicals doing untold human harm: scientists
Scientists say humans are suffering untold harm from plastics, ranging from cancer and reproductive damage to the loss of intelligence that defines humanity.
Premier on back foot in final NSW election debate
In one of the few statements to draw applause, Labor's Chris Minns has claimed the coalition could again halt health workers' wages in an economic crisis.
Electric car-charging fees rise as energy prices bite
A third electric vehicle charging network is raising the price of recharging cars but experts say there are still ways for savvy drivers to avoid them.
Survivors back coercive control criminalisation
Nine in ten survivors of coercive control believe it should be criminalised but many fear it wouldn't actually improve safety.
Space technology to monitor, forecast quality of water
The CSIRO has launched a new water quality forecasting service using satellites and ground-based sensors in a world-first system.
Planes, trains and transport chaos could shape NSW poll
Voters will have the chance to determine NSW's transport future at Saturday's election, with the major parties promising billions of dollars in investment.
Liberal MP breaks ranks with party on safeguard stance
Liberal MP Bridget Archer has hit out at the coalition for not seeking to negotiate on changes to the government's safeguard mechanism.
NSW appeals $1.5m awarded to former Tyrrell suspect
NSW has appealed a court decision awarding $1.5 million to Bill Spedding who was maliciously prosecuted by police investigating William Tyrrell's disappearance.
Secrecy around waste company that illegally dumped meat
A company trusted by the government to manage biosecurity risks won't be named despite the illegal dumping of hundreds of kilos of imported meat products.
Rules for Indigenous voice referendum take shape
Australians have more details about what will happen in the lead up to the referendum that seeks to constitutionally enshrine an Indigenous voice to parliament.
Dutton demands criminal ban on display of Nazi symbols
The federal opposition has called on the government to ban the display of Nazi symbols by changing existing criminal laws.
NSW election campaign marred by ‘terrifying’ violence
NSW Police stepped in to protect LGBTQ+ activists after they were attacked on a Sydney street ahead of a speech by NSW One Nation leader Mark Latham.
Samoan PM raises concerns over China security precedent
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has hosted his Samoan counterpart Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, with the two agreeing to foster better economic and security ties.