PM seeks to save religious freedom bills
Laws to allow greater freedoms for people to express their religion face a tricky path through federal parliament with moderates and conservatives at odds.
national news
Joyce apologises to MPs over PM texts
As federal parliament starts a new year, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has apologised to his party room over text messages critical of Scott Morrison.
Overseas tourists to return on February 21
Australia's ban on international tourists will end on February 21 after a decision by the federal government, with double vaccination required for entry.
Australia’s bird-rich continent is no more
Researchers have documented the decline of Australia as a once bird-rich continent with as many as 17 threatened species vanishing from some areas.
Qld has 19 virus deaths, ditches check-ins
Queensland has recorded another 19 COVID-19 deaths and 4701 new cases as the state edges closer to 90 per cent double dose vaccination for those over 16.
Magnitude 3.9 quake rumbles far north Qld
Geoscience Australia says a magnitude 3.9 earthquake has stuck the Great Barrier Reef near the far north Queensland city of Cairns.
Qld govt resists calls for integrity probe
Queensland's deputy premier has rejected calls for a probe into government integrity, saying the crime watchdog provides enough oversight.
Deportation for man disabled in detention
Ritesh Naikar says he doesn't know how he'll survive if he's deported to Fiji after a fall in immigration detention left him with a spinal injury.
PM keen to get international borders open
Prime Minister Scott Morrison wants to get international borders open as soon as possible but without impacting Australia's hospital system.
Qld aged deaths show boosters lag: Miles
Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles says the state's COVID-19 death figures are showing that not enough aged care residents have had a booster vaccine.
PM says he couldn’t care less about texts
Scott Morrison says he doesn't care about the leak of text messages about him saying he remains focused on leading the country out of the pandemic.
First guests arrive at Qld quarantine camp
The first guests have settled in to the Queensland government's regional COVID-19 quarantine facility.
Deputy spurns Qld integrity ‘pointscoring’
Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles has rejected reports of integrity concerns from his state government colleagues, saying a "lot of mud is being slung".
Qld reports a record 21 COVID-19 deaths
Another 21 people have died with COVID-19 in Queensland, the most in a 24-hour period for the state which has recorded 8508 new cases.
Integrity debate could hurt Palaszczuk
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will face ongoing questions about the state's simmering integrity issues.
Joyce admits ‘liar’ label damages Morrison
Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has sought to downplay a leaked text message in which he called Prime Minister Scott Morrison "a hypocrite and a liar".
Australia reaches 95pct vaccination target
Some 95 per cent of Australians have been vaccinated against COVID-19, with the country now boasting one of the world's highest jab rates.
Bipartisan backing for faith protections
LGBTIQ+ advocates have hit out at bipartisan conditional support for the federal government's religious discrimination laws.
Qld principal stands aside ‘to reflect’
The principal of a Brisbane school at the centre of a controversy over gender and sexuality clauses in its enrolment contracts has announced he will step away.
Carnival exit hits Aussie cruise industry
International cruise ship line Carnival has cancelled its operations in Australia in another blow to the country's stalled industry.
WA hospital doctor positive for COVID-19
A doctor at a Perth metropolitan hospital is among Western Australia's latest COVID-19 cases, as isolation rules hit mines and schools.
Task force for parliament culture changes
A specialist task force overseeing the implementation of recommendations for improving workplace culture at Parliament House has met for the first time.
Period of plenty ahead at Kimberley haven
Three ecologists are waiting to see what an epic wet season will mean for threatened and other species in one of Australia's biodiversity hotspots.
Labor backs faith protections with caveats
Labor politicians have backed the coalition's religious discrimination bill, albeit with caveats, in two parliamentary inquiries into the contentious laws.
Haval’s H6 marks new era for Chinese cars
Haval's H6 represents the next generation in Chinese imports and suggests there will be plenty more quality vehicles from the Asian superpower.
Fuel pump first for zero-emission hydrogen
Australia's first green hydrogen project has been certified as some governments look to drive alternative fuels and fleets.
Rogerson called to testify in Qld inquest
Detective-turned-convicted murderer Roger Rogerson will be called to testify in the inquest into the 1973 Whiskey Au Go Go firebombing that killed 15 people.
Vic lifts non-urgent elective surgery ban
Victoria's falling COVID-19 hospital figures will allow non-urgent elective surgery to resume, as an extra $1.4 billion is pumped into the health system.
Qld govt rejects third integrity complaint
Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles has dismissed claims a former top public servant's integrity concerns about a recruitment process were ignored.
Outdoor types have nature-loving genes
New research shows that outdoor types might have their genes to thank for that burning desire to spend time in the bush or at the beach.
PM talks up protections for gay students
Two parliamentary committees are due to hand down reports into the Morrison government's bid to boost discrimination protections for religious Australians.