PM to work with PNG following hostage release
The government has offered its thanks to Papua New Guinea for securing the release of an Australian professor held hostage by armed criminals.
politics
‘Exhausted’ Lismore marks a year since traumatic floods
Community heroes, survivors and political leaders have gathered in Lismore to mark the first anniversary of the worst flood in Australian history.
Victoria won’t follow Qld on pill-testing site trial
Premier Daniel Andrews has ruled out Victoria embarking on a pill-testing trial after Queensland flagged plans to roll out a site within the next six months.
Ex-minister planned agency split despite service impact
Former coalition minister Stuart Robert planned to split a department into four agencies despite advice about the proposal's negative customer service impact.
Bias and conflict issues found in council recruitment
A local council showed a lack of proper recruitment policy and procedure when employing eight people, Tasmania's Integrity Commission says.
Robodebt made victim ‘feel like a cheat’, inquiry told
A man wrongfully accused of owing the government $11,000 has told a royal commission how the robodebt program made him feel like a criminal and a cheat.
Economic growth softens amid higher interest rates
Official national accounts figures show easing economic growth as nine interest rate hikes start to weigh on household budgets.
Home price slide loses momentum as new listings tighten
The downturn in housing prices appears to be easing but experts say it's too soon to say if it's bottoming out or has further to fall.
Battleground set for changes to superannuation tax
The treasurer says a change to super tax concessions above $3 million is a modest budget repair measure amid opposition attacks over the higher rate.
Plan to ‘future proof’ Sydney with Metro: Perrottet
The premier has defended coalition metro plans for Sydney's west as a poll predicts a majority Labor victory at the looming 'nail-biter' NSW election.
Inland Rail $14.5b project ‘way over budget’, schedule
One of Australia's biggest transport projects is over budget, behind schedule and has been treated like a "vanity project", the federal minister has warned.
Family of professor taken hostage ‘overjoyed’ at return
Professor Bryce Barker's family have expressed their gratitude and thanks to those who helped secure his release after he was taken hostage in Papua New Guinea.
‘Prohibition has failed’: Push to legalise weed in NSW
The Greens want to legalise and regulate cannabis in the next term of NSW parliament in a move they say could help end the war on drugs.
Ex-Liberal minister Stuart Robert faces robodebt inquiry
A former minister accused of dismissing legal advice from the solicitor-general about the unlawfulness of the robodebt scheme will face the royal commission.
Indigenous voice failure ‘unthinkable’, says Liberal MP
A senior Liberal MP says there is scope for co-operation with Labor on a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous voice, but the focus must be on outcomes.
States back plan for report on deadly silica dust ban
States and territories have unanimously backed the commissioning of a report to look at a ban on products containing silica dust.
Public servants afraid to speak out, hearing told
Public servants were afraid to raise problems with former coalition ministers because of the potential consequences for their jobs, an inquiry has heard.
Retail sales bounce back after festive season slide
Retail turnover has improved after a softer-than-expected result in December largely attributed to evolving holiday spending patterns.
US clears Australia to acquire new long-range missiles
Washington has approved the sale of high-tech missiles to Australia, one of the first major arms deals since the introduction of an updated defence strategy.
‘Spiralling’ demand for help as living costs increase
Welfare support organisations are facing huge demand for services as cost of living increases hit low-income households, a parliamentary inquiry has been told.
New national commissioner to oversee cyber security
A new commissioner will be appointed to help oversee cyber security protection as part of an overhaul of the sector in Australia, the government has announced.
Australian professor freed from PNG hostage situation
A professor based in Australia and several other hostages taken captive in the southern highlands of Papua New Guinea have been freed.
Australia risks losing race for carbon competitiveness
Some want emissions safeguards expanded to cover more industrial plants as a step towards an economy-wide carbon limit and price, but others warn of job losses.
Perrottet ‘impeded’ committee’s work in Barilaro report
A parliamentary committee has accused NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet of refusing to help a probe into lucrative overseas trade appointments.
Calls for national body to protect whistleblowers
Australia risks being left behind the rest of the world if it doesn't set up a national body to protect whistleblowers, a parliamentary inquiry has been told.
Business profits rebound but outstrip wages bill
Australian company profits have bounced back after dropping off steeply last quarter, with business inventories returning a softer-than-expected result.
NSW flood buyback could have happened quicker: minister
Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt says a flood buyback scheme for damaged homes in NSW hasn't happened as quickly as hoped.
Labor’s lead narrows a month out from NSW election
With less than a month to go until the NSW election, a new poll shows the gap between Labor and the 12-year-old coalition government is tightening.
Income averaging a longstanding practice, inquiry told
A former ministerial advisor has told the robodebt royal commission that income averaging had been used by "governments of both colours" for a long time.
A year on, Ukraine asks for more Australian ‘mateship’
As Australia reflects on the first year of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the nation's ambassador says a "business as usual" approach won't secure victory.
Corporate profits fuelling inflation, research finds
New analysis challenges the narrative that workers need to accept sluggish wage growth to tame inflation and says business profits are driving higher prices.