Jailing is failing: youth prison numbers under scrutiny
Tough on crime approaches are failing to make communities safer, instead undermining the rights of children and increasing incarceration rates, advocates say.
national news
Trump may help Australia sail ahead in green shipping
Australia has a unique opportunity to cut emissions from international shipping but it could be boosted by a carbon price and policy changes in the US.
Reward to help crack outback killer’s body secret
The killer of British backpacker Peter Falconio has long refused to reveal where he hid the body, but police hope a $500,000 reward will help solve the mystery.
MAFS ‘adventure’ sours as screen couple face court
A Married At First Sight groom has lamented how the program wasn't the "adventure I had planned" after taking out protective orders against his on-screen bride.
Surplus in sight but few sweeteners in ‘careful’ budget
A nation-first approach to back up housing projects headlines Australia's largest state budget as critics attack surplus projections and support for services.
Orderly, coherent or flat-footed: PM rejects criticism
Anthony Albanese has dismissed suggestions he was "flat-footed" after US bombing raids on Iran, as he called for a ceasefire to hold between Iran and Israel.
‘Not a court of morals’: judge to mushroom cook jury
A judge has urged the jurors who will decide the fate of accused triple murderer Erin Patterson not to let prejudice or sympathy impact their verdict.
Health levy a bitter pill to mend sick territory budget
Ratepayers will cop a $250 levy to help plug a health funding shortfall in the ACT budget, which also included investment in housing and cost-of-living relief.
Australia urges de-escalation as US strikes Iran
The US president's decision to enter the conflict in the Middle East has sparked calls for de-escalation from Australian politicians.
Spotlight on inflation as state treasurers come clean
Monthly inflation data and state budget updates are set to dominate the economic agenda and shape the Reserve Bank's next cash rate call.
Major boost for tradie students to solve housing crisis
Tradies will be able to complete their apprenticeships for free as a state government tries to ease the housing crisis.
Renters fearful of speaking up about essential repairs
Half of Australia's private housing tenants are living in homes in need of repair but are too scared to ask their landlord about it, according to a study.
PM breaks silence to back US military strikes on Iran
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has backed the US in its attack on three Iranian nuclear sites, while again calling for "dialogue and diplomacy" not war.
ACT budget on life support amid health funding woes
As he readies his first budget, ACT Treasurer Chris Steel warns the territory's finances are unsustainable without a health funding boost from the Commonwealth.
Animal cruelty action dogged by tight leash on funds
Advocates say animals will suffer after a cruelty investigator had to cut its operations, but a state government says there's no "endless supply" of funds.
Aussies want solar batteries but many feel overwhelmed
The cost and complexity of installing a solar battery is keeping some Australians from taking the plunge despite incentives, a study has revealed.
AC/DC fans in High Voltage frenzy ahead of Aussie tour
AC/DC are coming home to tour for the first time in a decade, with Aussie fans eager to see the legends after waiting a long time to rock and roll again.
Fracking company hits out at ‘failed’ legal challenge
A bid to stop a key fracking project has been dismissed as another "failed" attempt to deny economic and social benefits to a long-overlooked community.
‘Spectacular fall from grace’: elder jailed for abuse
A former Senior Victorian of the Year award-winner has mouthed "I'm alright" to his supporters in court as he was jailed for child sex abuse.
‘Backbone of health’: new plan for rural maternity care
Health groups have backed a rural maternity plan after public inquiries revealed some women are travelling hours to have babies as local birth units shut down.
Call for laws to stop harm to consumers, firms online
Australian consumers and businesses are being harmed by the behaviour of tech giants in ways that cannot be addressed with current laws, a report has found.
‘Don’t you dare’: driver warned before police shooting
A coroner has heard second-by-second details of a dramatic and deadly confrontation between a police officer and a driver.
Regional students to capture the sun in science program
Regional students will be challenged to experiment with renewable energy science kits in a bid to encourage them to consider roles in the energy transition.
Excel at spreadsheets. There’s a competition for that?
An Australian documentary follows six teenagers from across the globe as they compete to become the world champion of Excel 'spreadsheeting'.
Indigenous art fair weaves legacy through every fibre
An Indigenous art fair that began with a small marketplace and a dream now attracts almost 100 artists from across Australia annually.
Vulnerable pregnant women among adrift migrant workers
Pregnant migrants are increasingly seeking help in rural areas, while other temporary workers are in hiding after escaping modern slavery conditions.
Scientists turn to AI to crack the green ammonia riddle
Faced with testing 8000 substances to work out how to cut pollution from a key agricultural product, Aussie scientists turned to artificial intelligence.
Protester confident in fight against new police powers
A prominent activist says he is "very confident" after taking a state government to court over controversial anti-protest laws which expanded police powers.
International students take notice as uni ranks tumble
Many Australian universities have taken a hit in their global rankings and a number are struggling with their reputations in the eyes of employers.
Caring for Country with ancient knowledge and science
Environmental DNA technology is being combined with Indigenous knowledge to care for Country in one of the world's oldest aquaculture systems.
Cost-of-living crisis blamed for soaring crime rates
Youth offending is at a record high in one state, latest figures reveal, as police attribute cost-of-living pressures to a jump in property crimes.