Higgins’ claim not workplace sexual harassment: lawyer
Linda Reynolds' lawyer has told a defamation trial Brittany Higgins' alleged rape in parliament house wasn't workplace sexual harassment.
national news
Early childhood education faces ‘workforce crisis’
Demand for early childhood education is soaring as the population grows but the sector is bleeding workers.
CFMEU launches High Court challenge over administration
The CFMEU has launched legal proceedings in the High Court against the commonwealth after its construction arm was placed into administration.
Extremely lucky yacht duo ‘glad to be back’ on dry land
Rescuers battled massive seas to pluck two "extremely lucky" crew members to safety from a yacht stricken off the NSW south coast.
PM criticised for walking back from environment pledge
Environment groups are dismayed after the prime minister indicated he was open to stripping decision-making powers from Australia's new watchdog for nature.
End of the road for Qld’s electric car rebate scheme
In a move advocates say is premature Australia's most generous electric vehicle rebate scheme will end almost one year early.
Jury mulls $13m tax fraud after crime proceeds verdicts
A jury is still grappling with conspiracy charges in a $13 million tax fraud despite finding a construction boss and others guilty of dealing with dirty money.
Most Aussies back drug injecting rooms, research shows
Negative media reporting about medically supervised drug injecting rooms does not reflect community views, new research suggests.
Snow alert warning amid wild weather clean-up
Melting snow could flow into bulging rivers in Tasmania, while tens of thousands of Victorians are still without power after days of wild weather.
Rising livestock prices behind agricultural growth
Rising red meat prices and strong seasonal conditions are driving growth, with agricultural production expected to hit $86 billion this financial year.
Energy investment off track for 2030 renewables target
A peak industry body has sounded the alarm over the pace of investment in renewable energy generation and storage, with Australia set to miss the 2030 target.
Warning for national housing target after approval data
Peak construction bodies have warned that a boost in building approvals in July was not enough to hit the national target of 1.2 million new homes by 2029.
How electric cars could drive renewable energy change
Motorists could support Australia's national electricity grid by using their cars as batteries, a report says, but policies and standards need to change.
ASIO boss argues comments on Gaza visas ‘distorted’
The ASIO director-general says his comments on the vetting process for people fleeing Gaza have been distorted, triggering a fresh round of political fighting.
Teen’s custody death triggers call for justice overhaul
The death of a second Indigenous teenager in custody in less than a year has prompted calls for an overhaul of the youth justice system.
Rare winds bring damage as winter heat sets records
As Queensland swelters through the last day of an unseasonably warm winter, severe winds and flooding are causing headaches in southeast Australia.
Tassie floods as wild weather slams nation’s southeast
Residents in the nation's southeast are bracing for more severe weather as thousands of Tasmanians prepare to evacuate their properties due to flooding.
Indigenous languages celebrated in bilingual books
Two young friends who penned a story about connecting to the land and each other are among the authors set to launch works on Indigenous Literacy Day.
Funding block flagged for states failing to build homes
Leveraging Commonwealth payments to states if they fail to tackle housing supply is under consideration.
Economy yet to turn a corner as higher rates bite
Australia is expected to post its slowest annual economic growth rate outside of the pandemic lockdowns since the 1990s as inflation persists.
Wooing the west: Nationals look to hoodwink Bullwinkel
Both sides of politics are working to shore up support in Western Australia after it was seen as a crucial factor in Labor winning a majority government.
Families given a voice to escalate concerns in hospital
A new hospital hotline will be rolled out in Victoria allowing concerned families to escalate care if a patient's health worsens while in hospital.
Albanese’s approval rating slides in Newspoll
Newspoll puts Labor and the coalition neck-and-neck on a two-party-preferred basis while the prime minister's personal approval rating has slipped.
Flood evacuations, walkers stranded in wild weather
Flood warnings have been issued in Tasmania and dozens of flights cancelled at Sydney Airport as wild weather continues to wreak havoc in three states.
Economy ‘nowhere near recessionary’ despite predictions
Australia's economic forecasts might not be as positive as hoped but there are still signs of strength in the economy, an expert says.
‘Disillusioned’: Muslim group warning ahead of election
A grassroots political movement is aiming to swing votes away from the government at the federal election over its response to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Star takes another hit as shares suspended from trading
Star Entertainment has suffered another blow with its shares temporarily suspended from trading after the casino operator failed to file its earnings report.
Housing approvals bounce back but market still subdued
Housing approvals have risen 10 per cent off the back of a surge in new apartments as opposition parties release policies to tackle the housing crisis
Mazda’s big, burly family flagship justifies price tag
It's the biggest, most powerful and expensive model in the Mazda range, but the CX90 hasn't lost touch with the brand's values.
Plague of our time: banks devoting more to scam fight
Australia's big four banks say they're setting aside more resources to prevent customers being scammed out of their money.
Premier talks up Peter Dutton despite non-attendance
Tasmania's Liberal premier has declared a "blue wave" at upcoming state and federal elections following the recent ending of Labor rule in the NT.