Senator delivers spray at transport stonewall on Qatar
An inquiry examining the blocking of additional Qatar Airways flights has had limited luck getting vital information from Transport Department officials.
politics
Soldier King in US custody after North Korea expels him
Private Travis King has been transferred to United States custody after being expelled from North Korea, US officials say.
Better privacy protections for Australians on the cards
Australians using more online technologies rightly expect that their data be protected, the attorney-general says, as he flags changes to privacy laws.
Troops head north as army braces for regional conflict
Specialised combat brigades will be positioned in Australia's north in a major restructure to better prepare the army for conflict in the region.
Lockdowns, border closures exempt in pandemic inquiry
Experts will look into Australia's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but decisions taken by the states on lockdowns or border closures will be exempt.
Watchdog puts a roadblock on Transurban bid for rival
The competition watchdog has put the brakes on a move by private toll operator Transurban to take a majority share in the company that operates EastLink.
Indigenous voting roll hits record ahead of referendum
Ahead of the start of remote voting in the Indigenous voice referendum, the electoral umpire says enrolments and other plans are well in train.
Frydenberg puts political return on hold for boardroom
A parliamentary comeback at the next election is off the table for Josh Frydenberg as he takes on the role of Goldman Sachs Australia and New Zealand chairman.
Premier dismisses public housing towers plan criticism
A plan to demolish and redevelop all of Melbourne's 44 public housing towers has been condemned for only providing homes for an extra 1000-odd public tenants.
Rights chief pans delay in releasing UN report on jails
A confidential UN report on conditions inside Australian jails and detention centres must be released by the government, the human rights commissioner says.
Calls to cut flight caps to lower prices, boost tourism
Removing a cap on the number of international flights coming into major airports would lower ticket prices and increase quality, an inquiry has heard.
Cooler weather brings relief as firies battle blazes
Firefighters are looking to take advantage of cooler conditions as they battle to control several blazes and carry out vital hazard-reduction burns.
Qantas CEO apologises as inquiry hears damning evidence
The new chief of Qantas has apologised to Australians for poor service as a Senate inquiry was told the airline had acted like it was "above the law".
COVID royal commission backer says things have changed
The Albanese government has been forced to defend its decision not to set up a royal commission but rather a three-expert inquiry into the pandemic.
Cool change gives small relief to fire crews across NSW
NSW communities near the Queensland border and on Sydney's western fringe have been told to prepare to take action as multiple bushfires burn across the state.
Senator won’t stop at ‘no’ in bid for ‘X’ vote to count
Votes marked 'X' will remain informal at the upcoming voice referendum after the Federal Court dismissed a bid to have them regarded as 'no'.
Ads reveal pathway to success for ‘yes’, ‘no’ campaigns
Facebook ads targeting different states and a variety of age groups have shone a light on how the 'yes' and 'no' campaigns plan on winning the voice referendum.
PM set to announce COVID-19 inquiry: report
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese could be poised to announce the details of a special commission of inquiry into the handling of COVID-19 pandemic.
Cooler conditions bring some relief for firefighters
Firefighting crews are hoping conditions will help ease the fire risks across NSW as temperatures drop to the low 20s following a spring heatwave.
WA electoral reform lifts lid on political donations
Political parties in WA will be forced to disclose donations daily during elections, as the Cook government toughens campaign finance laws.
Millions of Australians receive welfare payment boost
The social services sector is warning small boosts to welfare will not address inequality, with the payments still keeping people well below the poverty line.
Recipe for change as dry spell may eat into food prices
The declaration of an El Nino event alongside a second driver of dry weather could prove to be another spanner in the works in the fight against inflation.
Short-stay levy draws flak as housing vision unveiled
An Australian-first levy on short-term accommodation headlines a generational shake-up to Victoria's housing and planning sectors.
Public sector reforms may spell budget blues for NSW
NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey's budget figures could be in jeopardy, with interest rate rises impacting inflation in the year ahead.
Labor driving towards secure future with jobs roadmap
Treasurer Jim Chalmers is set to release the Employment White Paper setting out policies to put secure jobs in reach of more Australians.
New cybersecurity standards to keep Aussies safe online
A set of standards for businesses and developers to ensure digital products have built-in cyber protections will be developed by the federal government.
Energy debate explodes over nuclear transition costs
Energy Minister Chris Bowen has seized on modelling to attack the coalition's commitment to nuclear energy, saying it'd cost hundreds of billions of dollars.
NSW budget targets pre-school ‘drought’ in funding lift
Spending on public pre-schools, increased sexual assault services and major transport projects will be unveiled in the NSW budget.
Kim heads home after final stop in Russia’s Vladivostok
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is on his way back home after a six-day trip to Russia.
Concerns over voice misinformation as voter roll closes
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged Australians to cut through misinformation, as the voting roll is set to close ahead of the referendum.
Dating apps told to take action to protect users
The federal government has told online dating platforms to create a voluntary code to better protect Australians or face the consequences.