Health spending boost as SA budget slides into the red
South Australia's finances have taken a hit but the government has pressed on with extra health spending ahead of Thursday's state budget.
national news
‘Well and truly time’ to make symbols of hate a crime
People who display Nazi insignia or the Islamic State flag could face prison time as part of proposed reforms to Australia's criminal code.
Former AFL stars may merge concussion damage lawsuits
Former AFL players, including Ty Zantuck, Liam Picken and Max Rooke, may have their concussion damage lawsuits against the league and clubs brought together.
Boyfriend’s charges dropped over backpacker murder
Tobias Moran has had charges dropped after he was accused of murdering his girlfriend, German backpacker Simone Strobel, in 2005 in northern NSW.
More rideshare drivers to go electric after $20m grant
Another 500 electric vehicles will be offered on subscription to rideshare drivers in Australia as part of an investment in replacing petrol cars.
GP shortage facing Australia after ‘decades of neglect’
Australia is being warned it may face a GP shortage of 10,000 doctors after years of neglect by successive governments, the nation's peak medical body says.
Australian cave researchers dig up quite a big skink
A newly confirmed giant prehistoric skink dubbed Mega Chonk could "break the internet" with its bulky bod and seriously spiky armour, researchers say.
MPs accused of harming women over Higgins discourse
Peter Dutton has been asked to explain why his party is attacking Labor over the Brittany Higgins rape allegations despite the hurt it may be causing.
Communities rally for victims of horror bus crash
Locals are reaching out to the families and injured victims of the NSW Hunter Valley bus crash, offering meals and accommodation as the site opens to mourners.
Voice shouldn’t be treated as political issue: senator
Moderate Liberal Andrew Bragg has hit out at opponents of the voice for saying it would bring race into the constitution.
Bus driver out of custody as community mourns dead
A bus driver blamed for one of Australia's deadliest crashes has been released on bail as the country wraps its arms around a grieving local community.
AFP to investigate leaked Higgins messages, recordings
The attorney-general has confirmed text messages and recordings of Brittany Higgins leaked to the media have been referred to the Australian Federal Police.
‘Praying helps’ make a phone call in regional Australia
Regional and rural Australians continue to endure unreliable mobile and internet reception, but satellites and AI could help address the problem.
Greens hammer demands as Labor pitches housing shift
The government is proposing changes to its $10 billion housing fund but the Greens say Labor is still not moving on its two key needs.
PM’s vision for a renewable energy superpower nation
Australia must break new ground and grab opportunities with both hands, the prime minister has declared in a major speech, stressing renewable energy uptake.
Nationals call for a pause in power lines project
The Nationals and Victorian farmers have called for a pause in the construction of transmission lines through farms, citing a lack of consultation.
Seatbelt laws back in spotlight after deadly bus crash
The deadly NSW bus crash has rekindled debate about seatbelt laws and a national approach to compliance.
Judge weighs timing of Dawson’s sex with teen student
Convicted wife-killer Chris Dawson's trial for alleged sexual activity with one of his students has closed as a judge considers when the activity first began.
Eco group wants shareholders to prod Toyota on electric
Shareholders could force Australia's most popular car brand to reveal details about its lobbying and speed up electric car development under new proposals.
How climate change became local councils’ core business
The federal minister for local government says councils are being helped to build climate resilience and mitigate the effects of natural disasters.
Fatal bus crash driver stays silent as he walks on bail
A bus driver told passengers to fasten their seatbelts moments before the fast-moving vehicle crashed on a bend, killing 10 people, a magistrate has heard.
‘Dark day’ as families grieve victims lost in bus crash
Communities in the Hunter Valley of NSW are reeling as the identities of the 10 wedding guests killed in one of Australia's worst bus crashes are revealed.
Minister Gallagher rejects claims she misled parliament
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher says she did not reveal private information about Brittany Higgins' rape allegations as she denies misleading parliament.
Tiny trackers give up gliders’ secrets after bushfires
Ecologists have made death-defying tree climbs to catch greater gliders and fit them with trackers to understand how bushfires affect the endangered species.
Call for justice after damning Vic mental health report
The Victorian government has refused to say whether it will accept recommendations from a damning report into the state's flawed mental health system.
Support for Indigenous voice slips to losing position
People in favour of enshrining an Indigenous voice in the constitution are in the minority for the first time, according to one survey.
Insurance issue flagged before Porter Davis collapse
A Victorian working group identified a number of short-term measures to fix the construction industry months before Porter Davis went into liquidation.
AFL player Marlion Pickett bailed on burglary charges
Richmond Football Club player Marlion Pickett has been granted bail after facing a Perth court on allegations he was involved in several commercial burglaries.
Greens refine demands on $10 billion housing fund
Negotiations continue over the federal housing fund with the Greens urging Labor to meet them halfway to secure the party's support.
Murder charge looms after young constable dies on duty
Police expect to lay a murder charge against the Perth driver accused of running over Constable Anthony Woods, who succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
Driver charged over 10 deaths in wedding bus tragedy
A 58-year-old bus driver has been charged with 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death over a bus crash after a wedding.