Wages and worker rights ‘on the line’ at next election
Unions say industrial relations changes have got wages moving again but employer groups want them axed, arguing they constrain businesses and productivity.
national news
Health portfolio quartet join nation’s newest ministry
A third-time elected state government has backed splitting its health portfolio four ways as the ink dried at its swearing-in ceremony.
Baby killer helped put prison predator behind bars
A convicted baby killer is no closer to release despite being identified as having helped jail a notorious prison guard who sexually assaulted inmates.
PM poll pledge to slash cost of hundreds of medicines
The maximum price of many prescription medicines will be reduced to $25 as part of Labor's re-election plan to bring down healthcare costs.
Social media push to foster respectful relationships
A social media campaign aims to help young men call out disrespect against women after research found many did not know how to do so.
Echidna digs in to help island wildlife back from blaze
Rangers are over the moon after an echidna was spotted on an island where wildlife was mostly destroyed by a devastating bushfire more than a decade ago.
Indigenous medicos nursing First Peoples back to health
Generations of Indigenous health workers are leading the way in improving outcomes for First Nations patients and helping greatly to close the gap.
Environment in better shape overall but threats linger
Australia's environment experienced above-average conditions in 2024 yet temperature extremes and more threatened species suggest there's more to the story.
Chronic patients get most relief in medicine cost cut
Patients could save almost $7 on each prescription as the government promises to make medicines cheaper in a move supported by the coalition.
Why shock drop in jobs won’t shift RBA rate cut bets
Fewer older Australians returned to work in February, driving a surprise fall in jobs and workforce participation but the labour market remains tight overall.
Angry cyclone victims beat a path to parliament’s door
Residents of a community battered by a tropical cyclone are blaming climate change for the extreme event as another region braces for the next big wet.
Tougher bail key to stopping crime surge, says top cop
With crime surging to record levels, one of Australia's largest police forces is pleading for government to fast-track tougher bail laws.
Climate protesters crash Dutton keystone policy speech
A Donald Trump meeting would top the agenda if the coalition wins government, says Peter Dutton as anti-nuclear protesters crash his foreign policy speech.
Teach sons respect, warns mother of murdered woman
A coroner has thanked the family of a young murdered woman for their powerful presence throughout her inquest and says their participation will save lives.
Socceroo acquitted of rape speaks of ‘pain, suffering’
A jury has cleared a former Socceroo of raping a woman in his Sydney home after hearing what she texted her sister moments after the alleged assault.
Pauline Hanson eyes cuts on grog tax, climate spending
Pauline Hanson is taking aim at climate change spending, public servants and First Nations agencies in a bid to address the cost of living.
Ripple effect fear in US crackdown on research funding
Leading Australian institutions say a US clampdown on research funding risks projects that could yield global benefits in the future.
Safety over politics: motoring groups call for change
Australia's peak motoring body will encourage its 9.5 million members to challenge federal election candidates on road safety, amid calls for more transparency.
Watchdog unveils plan to end supermarket shrinkflation
The competition watchdog has resisted calls for powers to break up major supermarkets in a report, while calling for more transparency to tackle price-gouging.
Coles, Woolies guilty of increasing margins: watchdog
Treasurer Jim Chalmers promised a crackdown on major supermarkets following a consumer watchdog report, but warned breaking them up would be counterproductive.
Tougher bail regime to harden young crims, critics warn
Tough bail laws will entrench criminal offending and lock away more children, say critics as retailers plead for action following a spike in violent crime.
Cross-party nod for probe into ‘rogue’ childcare firms
Shocking claims of rampant child mistreatment in privately operated centres have triggered a government-backed inquiry into the early education sector.
Terror police investigate accused teen’s foreign links
A 17-year-old boy may have communicated with foreigners before allegedly carrying a gun onto a plane at one of Australia's major regional airports.
Koalas ‘closer to extinction’ with new disease outbreak
A potentially devastating disease has been found in one state's last healthy koala population, further endangering the species.
‘Not human’: kids confront father over mother’s murder
Emil Petrov's two children he shared with Cindy Crossthwaite have confronted him at a pre-sentence hearing for killing his wife nearly 18 years ago.
Aussie invention may cut the cost of self-driving cars
A single camera powered by artificial intelligence software could help drive future autonomous cars, slashing thousands of dollars from their production cost.
‘Naive’ science fan faces jail for plutonium import
A fast-food worker and collector is set to learn his fate after shipping nuclear material to his parent's suburban unit, sparking a major hazmat incident.
Authors fume over claims stolen books used to fuel AI
Writers want legal changes and compensation after a tech giant allegedly used pirated books to train its artificial intelligence model.
Australia-Bali flights resume after volcano eruption
Flights to Bali have resumed after the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano spewed a column of ash thousands of metres into the air, disrupting travel.
Suburbs turn back on coalition over work-from-home ban
Mortgage-belt electorates have shifted towards Labor after the coalition pledged to force public servants back to the office.
Plans to help more into ‘disaster’ housing market
Aspiring homeowners could secure a cheaper mortgage and lower deposit by letting the government take a stake, but Peter Dutton questions whether they want to.