NT alcohol ban report to be released next week
A report handed to the federal and Northern Territory governments has recommended alcohol bans while management plans are put in place, media reports suggest.
national news
Ambulance call answer times stretch out in Victoria
More than one in three calls for an ambulance in Victoria last financial year were not answered within 10 seconds, new Australia-wide data shows.
Professional misconduct complaint over Lehrmann trial
Bruce Lehrmann has made a formal complaint about the conduct of the ACT director of public prosecutions over the handling of his sexual assault trial.
Liberals commit to further meetings on Indigenous voice
Australians are being called to support a referendum on an Indigenous voice to parliament whether or not it is backed by all sides of politics.
Pell ‘most influential churchman in nation’s history’
George Pell has been remembered as the son of a publican who spent 56 years as a priest and rose to become the third most powerful man in the Catholic Church.
Electric car charging gets a jolt but more spark needed
One of Australia's biggest electric vehicle fast-charging networks will expand into another state after signing a deal with a local council.
Dangerous radioactive capsule found in remote WA
Search crews have found a tiny radioactive capsule which fell off the back of a truck while being transported from a mine in remote Western Australia.
Electric and hybrid vehicles win new on-road discounts
Drivers who register electric or hybrid vehicles in the ACT will save hundreds of dollars each year in a scheme experts say should set the example.
Police bid to block Pell protest dropped, route changed
Organisers have agreed to change the route for a protest of George Pell's funeral so they don't enter the street outside the cathedral where he lies in state.
Adversarial neighbour protests innocence at burnt club
A resident who lives near a controversial nightclub admitted he previously threatened to burn it down as the heartbroken owner vowed to rebuild.
Union call to widen scope of probe into Lehrmann case
Former Queensland solicitor-general Walter Sofronoff will lead an inquiry into the handling of rape allegations against former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann.
Australia calls for peace after China war warning
Australia will try to avoid war with China through diplomacy but will continue to build up an arsenal for deterrence, Defence Minister Richard Marles says.
PM eyes immediate response to Alice Springs crisis
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wants to act as quickly as possible on the recommendations of a report into alcohol-fuelled crime in Alice Springs.
Rise in ‘dark money’ as 10 dominate political donations
Political parties' and donors' financial returns for 2021/22 have been made public, with Clive Palmer giving his United Australia Party a record $117 million.
‘Buffer zone’ in place for Cardinal Pell’s funeral
A buffer zone will help mitigate the risk of clashes between mourners and protesters outside Cardinal George Pell's funeral on Thursday.
Home values slide further but regions prove resilient
The property downturn is hitting capital cities harder than regions, suggesting higher demand has become permanent for regional markets.
Price pressures may ease but mortgage cliff looms
Inflation is likely to start easing but many mortgage holders face higher repayments once their fixed-rate terms expire, a living costs committee has been told.
EV boom! Electric car sales tipped to be led by Baby Boomer generation
Australians from older generations are most likely to buy new generation electric vehicles, according to a new study, that also found car costs are rising.
Shoppers urged to swoop on glut of premature pineapples
Pineapple farmers are struggling to keep up with a prematurely ripened crop and fear millions of tonnes of Australian fruit will be left to rot in fields.
Fireworks deliver long-term hit for wildlife: study
Fireworks can cause breeding and other long-term problems for wildlife and it's time to move to lower-impact spectacles, a new study says.
MacGill denies intimidating, swearing at mate’s ex
Former Test cricketer Stuart MacGill has told a Sydney court he was worried for his friend's mental health on the day he's accused of abusing their ex-fiance.
Indigenous voice has migrant community backing: PM
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has rejected claims that ethnic groups are gearing up to campaign against a narrowly focused Indigenous voice.
ClubsNSW boss sacked over ‘offensive’ Catholic jibe
The head of the powerful NSW clubs industry body has been sacked after linking Premier Dominic Perrottet's Catholic faith to gaming policy.
Nuclear submarine plan motors on as US repairs docks
Australia is charging ahead with plans to acquire nuclear-powered submarines despite concerns about repair docks being taken offline in the United States.
Paid domestic violence leave set to start
Full-time, part-time and casual workers will be entitled to 10 days of paid domestic violence leave at their full-pay rate under new laws to start within days.
‘Historic’ plans to combat child abuse and neglect
Two 10-year national action plans aim to reduce the number of children needing child protection services, improve responses to abuse and help close the gap.
Grants to turbo charge electric car fleets
Funding for more than 1000 new electric vehicles has been announced in NSW, with ride-share and rental services set to upgrade their fleets.
Towns putting up a fight as banks close
Regional communities are continuing to fight back against bank branch closures which could force some locals to travel hundreds of kilometres for service.
Retail trade sinks 3.9 per cent over festive season
Budget-conscious shoppers made the most of Black Friday sales, with retail sales then falling sharply weeks out from Christmas.
Premier flags sweeping justice reforms for Victoria
There will be a greater distinction between violent and non-violent offenders in bail reforms to be introduced in Victoria in the first half of 2023.
Cancer research funds rise but more needed
Investment in cancer research has tripled over the past two decades but more is needed to tackle Australia's leading cause of death, Cancer Australia says.