Spending rebound staggers as Aussies kick booze, smokes
Strong growth in household spending earlier this year is unlikely to be matched, which could ease Reserve Bank fears of a return of inflation pressures.
national news
How AI will be used to help neighbours find lost dogs
Internet-connected doorbell cameras will be loaded with artificial intelligence software and used to identify lost pets, with the owners' permission.
Illicit drug testing rising despite patchy availability
New insight into the demand for drug checking shows growing safety awareness among users, despite varied approaches to pill testing around Australia.
Aussie pharma giant sees no pain from big Trump tariffs
The Australian government and pharmaceutical exporters are scrambling to determine whether they will be impacted by Donald Trump's latest tariff bombshell.
Bloodied murderer leaves in ambulance, not prison van
After being found guilty of murder, a bloodied and groaning man has left court on a stretcher with a self-inflicted wound.
Kisses with pupil ‘cultural’, sex-offender teacher says
A teacher who kissed a 17-year-old student on the lips has denied seeking sexual gratification, telling a court he was forming a bond during a time of tragedy.
‘Love for all’: persecuted Muslim sect preaches unity
A majority South Asian Muslim sect is inviting Australians from all walks of life to its annual gathering of thousands for moral clarity in bleak times.
‘Strong message’: deepfake porn creator cops huge fine
The Federal Court has ordered a Gold Coast man to pay more than $340,000 for posting deepfake images of several high-profile Australian women.
UK court tosses terror charge against Kneecap member
The terrorism case against a rapper from the trio Kneecap has been thrown out by a London magistrate due to a technical error in the way the charge was brought.
PM flies into friendlier territory with like minds
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has swapped the US for the UK, landing in London for a conference of global progressive leaders.
Right royal welcome for PM Albanese on British visit
Australia's prime minister has continued to talk up the future of the AUKUS submarine pact, before meeting with King Charles in Scotland.
Australia to cop deeper impact from new US meds tariffs
The US plan to slap new tariffs on pharmaceutical drugs will likely have a chilling effect on Australia's pharmaceutical export sector, a think tank says.
Can’t believe your eyes? When fakes flood the internet
From burning icons to fabricated crowds, viral AI images and videos are spreading fast and showing how easily reality can be distorted in the digital age.
Trump announces another round of steep US tariffs
Donald Trump's announcement of new steep duties that go into effect next week have shattered a relative lull in his tariff assault on global trading partners.
Court says Clive not a foreign investor and must pay up
Australian mining magnate Clive Palmer has been ordered to pay more than $13 million after an international tribunal dismissed claims he was a foreign investor.
Not on my watch: PM rules out republic referendum
Anthony Albanese has promised no more referendums will be held while he is prime minister, putting on ice any plans for Australia to become a republic.
PM hopeful of reciprocal respect in Trump talks
The relationship between the US and Australia remains strong, the prime minister says, after finally locking in a meeting with Donald Trump in Washington DC.
Interest rate decision to dominate economic agenda
Mortgage holders are unlikely to get a leg up from the Reserve Bank this week, with markets and analysts predicting the cash rate to remain on hold on Tuesday.
Dodging popular UK firebrand may not be PM’s best step
Australia's prime minister may have been better meeting a former Brexiteer who leads opinion polls, a leading political analyst says on his UK visit.
Australia’s luck running out despite budget bright spot
Australia's budget deficit for last financial year ended up being narrower than expected but younger workers will still be on the hook for a decade of red ink.
Financial sector urged to shoot higher on climate risk
The global financial sector has been urged to prevent further backsliding on climate and to stop funnelling money into new fossil fuels in an open letter.
‘Unacceptable’: second triple-zero Optus outage slammed
A second Optus triple-zero outage in as many weeks has raised the ire of a premier as calls mount for the government to empower regulators rather than telcos.
Grief still raw as brave slain police officers honoured
Three officers killed at work were top of mind at National Police Remembrance Day services around Australia, as their loved ones laid floral tributes.
Mum’s tears after daughter’s 13-year mystery resolved
The mother of a woman who vanished without a trace 13 years ago was overcome with emotion after being told her daughter was killed by her controlling partner.
Top cop’s update on major search for notorious fugitive
Hundreds of officers have been taken off the search for Australia's most wanted man, five weeks after he allegedly gunned down two officers.
Winning author reveals perils of robodebt rabbit warren
An author has revealed how his three years working on a prize-winning robodebt expose left him feeling at times unwell and "in this kind of rabbit warren".
Rate cut run may be over as inflation raises concerns
Hopes for more rate cuts are fading after the Reserve Bank of Australia took a hawkish turn as it held interest rates steady in a widely-expected move.
‘Scapegoating’ Optus blames tech, staff for outages
Optus has blamed technical equipment and human error for two emergency call outages as the prime minister pans the telco for its "unacceptable" failures.
‘Hands off’: cops get message in strip-search compo win
Police could face a massive compensation payout as a festival-goer subjected to a humiliating strip search says others copped "inhumane treatment".
Appliance reliance: consumers want repairability labels
Most Australians want to know how long they can expect expensive appliances to work and whether they can be repaired easily, a study shows.
Health body leading by example with Indigenous voice
A First Nations public health voice will put Indigenous perspectives "front and centre" two years after the failure of a national voice to parliament.