Price hike for Aussie farmland with Tasmania a standout
Agricultural land has risen for a ninth year, with Tasmania experiencing the strongest growth in the past 12 months while Queensland had the most land sold.
national news
Lehrmann lawyer says prosecutor ‘aligned with Higgins’
Bruce Lehrmann's defence lawyer wanted a decision about a possible retrial to be made by someone other than the ACT's director of public prosecutions.
BHP worker guilty of raping colleague at mining camp
A jury has found a Pilbara fly-in fly-out mine worker guilty of sexually assaulting a colleague after she passed out drunk at a Western Australian mining camp.
‘Frustrated and forgotten’: Fish kill failures revealed
A scientific inquiry into a massive fish kill in western NSW will try to prevent the next one but faces a challenging lack of data, the chief scientist says.
Labor accused of failing rethink of cashless card
The government has launched an inquiry into draft laws seeking to quarantine parts of welfare payments in a bid to reduce violence in vulnerable communities.
Son speaks of family grief after fatal garden hose row
The son of one of two men shot dead by a neighbour angry they had turned off a garden hose says his family still struggles with grief.
Updated fare system to bring Victoria into 21st century
Victoria's outdated public transport ticketing scheme will be overhauled in coming years to allow commuters to use their iPhones and credit cards.
Borrowers to be squeezed as latest rate hikes land
Borrowers will have little cash to spare once the latest interest rate increases take effect, with further hikes not ruled out.
Australia’s road toll is rising, missing safety targets
More people have been killed on Australian roads than last year and every state and territory but one has missed its road safety target.
Greens ‘failing the public’ on housing fund: Albanese
The prime minister has accused the Greens of hypocrisy as negotiations continue on the $10 billion housing future fund.
Threatened species dudded by planting scheme: study
Simplistic concerns about cost trumped outcomes for imperilled species under a high-profile program to plant 20 million trees across Australia, researchers say.
Mixed reaction greets PFAS contamination payout
Landowners whose properties were contaminated by firefighting foam used on RAAF bases have reached a $132.7 million settlement, while others face further talks.
Death in custody a familiar story at Indigenous inquiry
The most recent death of an Indigenous person in Victorian custody has been revealed by the state's corrections minister at the Yoorrook inquiry.
PM backs China trade row breakthrough as talks stall
Talks between the trade ministers of Australia and China in Beijing are a significant step for both nations, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says.
Text-for-help satellite service to launch in Australia
Injured or lost hikers will be able to contact emergency services and their loved ones even when off the grid using a new satellite service.
Flood warning network launches in disaster-prone Qld
The federal government will spend $236 million in the next decade to set up a national network of flood gauges to protect at-risk communities.
Industry maps ‘net-zero’ future for gas supply, exports
Nine industrial zones to "carpool" emissions and give gas a long-term role in the economy have been mapped by the industry with help from CSIRO scientists.
Bruce Lehrmann ‘convicted in the media’, inquiry hears
The defence lawyer for the man accused of raping Brittany Higgins has criticised the increasing references to sexual assault complainants as "victims".
Energy savers centre stage in Chalmers budget roadshow
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says low-cost loans for clean energy upgrades are at the heart of his government's cost of living support for middle Australia.
WA premier stands firm on juvenile detainee ‘terrorism’
Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan says there is no need for an inquiry into the troubled Banksia Hill detention centre despite a riot at the facility.
Chalmers willing for talks with states on housing fund
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says he is open to negotiating with state and territory government on possible extensions of funding for housing.
Missing Qld woman found in SA after week-long search
Police have found a Queensland woman who went missing a week ago on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula.
Dutton ‘scratching around’ for ideas with welfare plan
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says Labor is already looking at ways to get people into jobs as the opposition calls for people on welfare to be able to do more work.
Fire returns to the Kimberley on heels of epic flood
Fire has struck Western Australia's Kimberley region a few short months after record floods, but careful management should give nature a leg up.
Dogs ‘dragged, unable to stand’ in NSW country pound
A NSW council denies allegations of animal cruelty at one of its pounds after volunteers lodged a complaint with animal welfare investigators.
Queensland speaker to take mental health break
Queensland speaker of the house Curtis Pitt will take a break from his role to address mental health issues.
Thousands rally to denounce $715m Hobart AFL stadium
The under-fire Tasmanian premier has been told to stick plans for a AFL stadium up his rear end as thousands voiced opposition to the controversial project.
Two arrested at neo-Nazi protest over migration
Police have arrested two men after an anti-immigration rally escalated into violence in Melbourne.
Hundreds of nurses join NSW public health system
More than 500 nursing and midwifery graduates are joining the NSW health system as the government works towards its goal of hiring more than 1000 new nurses.
Federal opposition calls for boost in welfare threshold
The opposition have called for the limit to how on how much welfare recipients can work before their payments are reduced by the government.
Australian, China trade ministers hold ‘candid’ talks
Trade Minister Don Farrell has been hosted by his Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao in Beijing as the two seek to pave a path towards ending punitive tariffs.