Landmark sexuality census question to be trialled
The 2026 census is on track to be the first national count to ask people about their sexuality but there are calls to include more of the LGBTQI community.
national news
Privilege and lies: the wasted life of girl’s killer
After being raised among Sydney's elite, Charlise Mutten's killer lived a life of drug use and crime before receiving a life sentence for her murder.
Why you can expect to see more Aussie doctors using AI
Australia doctors are increasingly using AI tools in their clinics but medical groups insist patients will not be diagnosed by technology.
Wife killer faces life in jail for bloody axe murder
A husband who hacked and stabbed his estranged wife to death with a knife and axe faces the prospect of life in jail after being found guilty of her murder.
‘Horrible, horrible’: Indigenous teen dies in detention
An Indigenous teenager was checked 10 times by youth detention staff before he was found dead inside a cell at a centre.
NSW Liberal MP quits seat, denies child-sex charges
NSW Liberal MP Rory Amon will resign from parliament after being charged with 10 separate child-sex offences relating to an alleged assault in 2017.
Landowners lock the gate on mandatory fire ant baiting
A national program designed to stop the march of a deadly and destructive super pest is facing rising community resistance to mandatory baiting.
Workers fearful over ‘rotten culture’ on building sites
Construction workers are reluctant to make complaints about bad behaviour on building sites, fearing reprisals and lacking confidence any action will be taken.
Opera artistic director quits, nine months into the job
Opera Australia artistic director Jo Davies has quit, effective immediately, midway through her inaugural season with the national company.
Star unsuitable for casino after damning second probe
Star Entertainment is battling financial woes and uncertainty over the future of its Sydney licence after a fresh inquiry highlighted a litany of failures.
France clears PIF troika mission to New Caledonia
After blocking a fact-finding mission to crisis-hit New Caledonia, France has relented and will allow Pacific observers to Noumea next month.
Coroner raps police over search for missing trans woman
Family and friends have cried in court as a coroner released her findings into the deaths of five transgender and gender diverse people.
Land council ‘put on notice’ after independent review
The minister for Indigenous Australians has put a land council's board and management on notice over governance, operations and decision-making issues.
‘Pure insanity’: tobacco tax hike fuelling black market
Increases to federal tobacco tax duties are fuelling Victoria's rampant black market and states and territories should get a cut to police it, an inquiry says.
No cost to taxpayers from bond scandal: ANZ head
There will be consequences across ANZ following the misconduct of employees over bonds, the company's head says.
Tax cuts put away for rainy day as spending spree ends
After two months of sales-fuelled growth, shoppers have tightened belts as the elevated cost-of-living keeps pressure on family finances.
Artists bypass gallery system at affordable art fair
While the Affordable Art Fair presents more than 60 galleries, it also showcases artists who've left the gallery system behind to succeed on their own.
Businesses to unleash unsupervised AI within 3 years
Generative AI tools are doubling in popularity among executives, research has found, and most are preparing to deploy the technology without oversight.
Trans question won’t make census despite Labor’s U-turn
Trans and intersex people should not be left out of the census, LGBTQI groups say after forcing Labor to backtrack on a plan to scrap a question on sexuality.
Promoters win $2.8m over canned Robbie Williams concert
Cancelling a Robbie Williams concert at the last minute will cost the Australian Grand Prix $2.8m after a judge found it misled promoters on health advice.
Challenge to act on ‘tragedy’ of defence suicides
Federal departments can't be trusted to solve military suicides alone and the government must intervene to stop the "crisis", Royal Commissioners warn.
Developer forced to repay $11m ‘washed’ in tax fraud
The liquidators of Plutus Payroll will recoup over $11 million sent to a blackmailer threatening to expose what is now known as Australia's biggest tax fraud.
Phone messages contradict Higgins’ claims, court told
A defamation trial pitting a senator against Brittany Higgins has received evidence about the ex-staffer's movements before and after her alleged rape.
More gloom ahead as economy plods along in slow lane
Australia's economy has been barely limping along and more weakness is anticipated in upcoming national accounts data.
Home sweet home: the places people never leave
Waterside suburbs and areas with idyllic lifestyles are unsurprisingly among the tightest-held property markets in the country, new data reveals.
Sanctuary burning: sting in the tail for mangrove rays
A particular type of habitat that could serve as a temporary sanctuary for stingrays is set to become too hot to handle.
Bank chiefs don’t rate a quick end to costs crunch
Interest rates might have reached their peak but the head of Westpac says many households are still grappling with tight budgets.
‘Take the lane’: Albanese denies US Pacific police plan
A video of what Anthony Albanese calls a "private conversation" with US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell shows a chummy relationship on Pacific policing.
Budget bliss as Kmart brand helps bag Wesfarmers profit
Australian conglomerate company Wesfarmers has lifted its profit by 3.7 per cent on the previous year as consumers snapped up affordable products at Kmart.
Qantas releases the loyalty parachute as profits fall
Qantas Group says it made $1.25 billion in profit in 2023/24, down 28 per cent from last year, but its on-time performance and customer approval levels rose.
Gran’s ‘highly unusual’ disappearance, death a mystery
Police are looking for a grandmother's car and phone after her skeletal remains were found hundreds of kilometres away from home and where she was last seen.