Nationals angle for regional voter support
The Nationals are embarking on a regional listening tour to understand how to win back voter support after the dismal coalition federal election result.
national news
Widespread rainfall forecast for Australia
Much of Australia is in for a drenching this week, with heavy rain forecast from the far north through to Tasmania.
RBA lifts cash rate by 25 basis points
The Reserve Bank of Australia has finally taken its foot off the accelerator and slowed the pace of tightening after a series of jumbo rate hikes.
Open minds urged in Bruce Lehrmann’s trial
Brittany Higgins said "no" half a dozen times after waking up to find accused rapist Bruce Lehrmann having sex with her, his sexual assault trial has been told.
Driver in five-deaths crash granted bail
An 18-year-old driver charged over a crash in which five high school pupils died has been granted bail by a NSW Supreme Court judge.
Noah’s arks plan too narrow for ecologists
Conservationists and ecologists have welcomed a government plan to prevent the loss of any more species but say it's too narrow and won't be enough on its own.
La Nina rains on blueberry growers’ parade
Blueberry farmers are waiting to see how a third La Nina season will impact production - and whether it will lead to price rices for consumers.
Monash hospital to undergo $560m expansion
The Victorian government will spend up to $560 million to upgrade Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne's southeast as the healthcare system struggles with demand.
Optus hack response ‘not going to cut it’
The federal government is waiting for a response from Optus after calling on the telco to work with it in protecting Australians caught up in the data breach.
Indonesia soccer death toll revised to 125
The death toll from the Indonesian soccer stadium disaster has been revised down to 125, after local officials had earlier put it at 174, with 323 injured.
Home values fall for fifth straight month
Home values have dropped in nearly all Australian capital cities as interest rate rises weigh on property prices.
Citizen scientists spot elusive platypuses
From the Australian tropics down to Kangaroo Island, citizen scientists are looking for platypuses in suburban creeks, farm dams, and bush waterways.
Father welcomes Syria repatriation plan
A rescue plan to bring dozens of Australian women and children back from detention camps in Syria is set to be implemented by the federal government.
Optus reveals extent of data hack breach
Optus has started advising affected customers what ID documents have been exposed following a significant cyber attack, and the number of people impacted.
Soccer stampede child death toll at 32
An Indonesian goverment official says 32 children were among those killed in a soccer stampede in East Java at the weekend.
More grunt than gadgets on Patrol
There mightn't be many mod cons on the latest Nissan Patrol but there are other reasons for its rusted on base of loyal buyers.
Optus ‘deeply sorry’ for data breach
Telecommunications giant Optus has taken out full-page ads to apologise to millions of customers affected by a massive data breach.
Longer, warmer days during daylight saving
Longer and warmer days are on the horizon as daylight saving begins in most jurisdictions around Australia.
Health warnings after isolation scrapped
The decision by federal, state and territory leaders to scrap mandatory COVID-19 isolation periods for most Australians has been criticised by health experts.
Dollymine comes to life in country NSW
Dolly Parton fans are dancing in the streets of Narromine at Australia's first festival dedicated to the country icon.
NSW park name ditches blackbirding legacy
NSW has renamed a national park in the state's south to Beowa, replacing its controversial settler namesake with a local Indigenous term for the killer whale.
Alleged wife-killer said she was hiding
A man accused of murdering his wife in 1982 drank beer and didn't seem to be worried on the night of her disappearance, a NSW jury has been told.
SA lets the fruit fly dogs out
South Australia has deployed the nation's first fruit fly detector dogs in a bid to quickly contain outbreaks.
Parks in the clear over sacred Kakadu site
Parks Australia is immune from prosecution in the Northern Territory after it allegedly illegally disturbed a Kakadu Aboriginal sacred site, a court has found.
Hidden surgery waiting lists a ‘scandal’
Hidden wait times for elective surgery mean it's impossible for patients to make an informed decision about whether to go public or private, the AMA says.
Police pay tribute to fallen colleagues
Australian police have paused to pay their respects to colleagues killed in the line of duty at remembrance services across the country.
NSW Serco prison officers walk off the job
Prison officers at Clarence Correctional Centre have gone on strike to protest low wages and staffing, but the operator is trying to increase staff.
Sustainability high in Aust minds: Woolies
Australian consumers 'give a damn' about sustainability and even more so than two years ago, a major retailer has warned business leaders.
Caddick’s husband accepts wife a fraudster
Melissa Caddick's husband has told her inquest he believed his wife was a straight shooter but now understands she was a fraudster.
Mandatory COVID isolation rules scrapped
National cabinet has agreed to end mandatory five-day isolation periods for people with COVID-19 - unless they work in hospitals or aged care.
Broke farmer turns to ‘rubbish’ technique
Australian farmers say a sustainable growing method from overseas has changed their lives, but not everyone is convinced by the system.