PM defends timing of rapid test orders
A petition of more than 150,000 people has been tabled in parliament calling for free access to rapid antigen tests.
national news
Palmer, McGowan court stoush gets underway
Businessman Clive Palmer is expected to tell a court that statements made by West Australian Premier Mark McGowan had a "real and serious impact" on him.
Minister steers protest anger to states
Federal minister Keith Pitt says while people are entitled to protest, Saturday's march on Parliament House in Canberra was misdirected.
Vic’s COVID rules under review: premier
Victoria has reported another 18 COVID-19 deaths and 7223 infections, as the state government considers easing check in rules and density limits.
Rains mock drought-hit Australian farms
For all the recent rain in parts of Australia, some farmers remain firmly in drought.
Elderly to get a break amid vaccine demos
The federal government is allowing at least one visitor a day in aged care facilities hit by COVID-19 but it remains the target of anti-vaccine protesters' ire.
SA to roll out EV charging network
South Australia will establish a network of more than 500 charging points for electric cars in a bid to encourage more people to switch to EVs.
Doctors launch hospital funding campaign
The Australian Medical Association has launched a campaign calling for more public hospital funding, putting pressure on politicians in an election year.
Regions rock: why artists love the country
Music will be filling the air in country theatres, halls and pubs in coming months, as bands recognise the value of playing in country Australia.
Vaccine protest as doctors launch campaign
The prime minister says he understands the concerns of anti-vaccination protesters, as the AMA launches a campaign for more public hospital funding.
Quad eyes expansion to curb China, Russia
Australia, the United States, India and Japan will investigate how they might collectively open up dialogue to other countries as part of the Quad alliance.
Van from Snowy River gets better with age
Toyota's iconic LandCruiser needs no introduction, but Aussies are having to wait to get acquainted with the all-new 300 Series.
Tas eyes bikes, rowing in Comm Games push
Tasmania's premier has spruiked the island state's mountain biking and rowing assets as part of a bold bid to host or co-host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
WA has 51 new COVID-19 cases, one death
Western Australia has recorded 51 local COVID-19 cases and the COVID-19 death of a man in his 70s who is believed to have been unvaccinated.
East coast restart looms for cruise ships
Cruise ships could return to Australia's east coast over coming months following an agreement between federal, NSW, Victorian and Queensland authorities.
IAG turns H1 profit, cuts dividend
Australia's biggest insurer has used price hikes and taken its NRMA brand to other states to return to first-half profit.
Albanese hits back at China poll claim
Labor leader Anthony Albanese says the head of Australia's counter-espionage agency hasn't raised concerns about any of his party's candidates.
Liberals not shown religion legal advice
The fate of religious discrimination reforms remains in limbo with the bill likely proceeding to another inquiry to determine the effect of passed amendments.
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health and safety at work
labour legislation
politics (general)
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‘Historic day’ as Vic sex work laws pass
Victoria has passed legislation to become the third Australian jurisdiction to decriminalise sex work, ending a decades-long wait for advocates.
Novavax rollout to begin from next week
The protein-based vaccine Novavax will begin its rollout on Monday, one week ahead of schedule.
NSW, Qld, ACT koalas officially endangered
The conservation status of the koalas has been downgraded from vulnerable to endangered across Queensland, NSW and the ACT.
Alleged crook ‘caught on listening device’
A Melbourne man charged over three drive-by-shootings had had extra charges added after conversations were captured on police listening devices.
Mito donation law fails to come to vote
A bill to legalise partial DNA donations to reduce the risk of mitochondrial disease was not voted on despite three days of robust and late night debates.
Another charge for Baluch over drug plot
A man who sparked a manhunt last year has been hit with one more charge months after he was arrested hiding in the back of a truck at the Queensland-NSW border.
New home sales buoyed by end of lockdowns
Sales of new detached houses were buoyant in the three months to January as the end of the Delta lockdowns returned confidence to the market.
Jobs growth resilient in face of Omicron
New figures show the jobs market was slow to pick up in January compared with a year ago, which the Australian Bureau of Statistics partly blames on Omicron.
Federal MP trio say farewell to parliament
Liberal MP John Alexander and Nationals MPs Damian Drum and Ken O'Dowd said goodbye to parliament on Thursday morning in valedictory speeches.
Fate of religion laws before poll in doubt
It is highly unlikely the government's hallmark religious discrimination laws will pass the Senate before the election with only two sitting days left.
COVID pandemic fuels extremists: ASIO
The director-general of intelligence and security has warned of the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of extremist behaviour.
PM seeks details of ‘threatening’ call
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has encouraged Grace Tame to tell his government which agency told her not to say anything "damning" about him.
TAHE inquiry follows ‘scathing’ report
Officials from Treasury and Transport will front a NSW parliamentary inquiry into a controversial state-owned entity following an auditor-general's report.