Opposition labels referendum a ‘vanity project’ for PM
The voice to parliament is a "re-election vanity project" for the prime minister who won't detail how the body will work, the deputy opposition leader says.
politics
Ministers agree to public hospital funding review
A meeting of health ministers has agreed on a review of the national agreement dealing with public hospitals, due to report by the end of the year.
Queensland the first state to roll out pill testing
The clinical lead behind Canberra's community drug-checking site has lauded Queensland for introducing pill testing to reduce harm.
NSW election heats up over energy, teacher shortages
The coalition and Labor have traded barbs over energy and education policy as the election campaign steams into its final four weeks.
Queensland urges states to follow its pill-testing lead
Queensland partygoers will be able to legally test illicit drugs by the end of the year after successful trials in the ACT.
Change my mind: Mundine’s challenge to ‘yes’ campaign
Warren Mundine, one of the loudest voices in the campaign against an Indigenous voice to parliament, wants to be convinced to switch sides.
Perrottet pledges to overhaul ‘terrible’ stamp duty
The Perrottet government will expand its stamp duty reform if successful at the upcoming election while the opposition labels the changes a "forever tax".
Treasurer says super caps a ‘tweak’, not major reform
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the fundamentals of super will remain untouched and his floated changes to tax breaks on large balances are not controversial.
NSW flood buyback could have happened quicker: senator
Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt says a flood buyback scheme for damaged homes in NSW hasn't happened as quickly as hoped.
Tudge advisers to front robodebt inquiry
The royal commission into the unlawful robodebt scheme continues as advisers to former human services minister Alan Tudge are called to appear.
NSW Labor to ban dangerous benchtops if it wins poll
As the NSW coalition government spruiks its plan for a supply chain commissioner, Labor has promised to ban manufactured stone with high silica concentrations.
Spy hive busted by ASIO reportedly linked to Russia
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is unsurprised by reports a spy ring broken up by ASIO was working out of multiple locations, including the Russian embassy.
Early parliament shutdown claims false: Perrottet
Claims the NSW parliament would be closed early have been hosed down by the office of Premier Dominic Perrottet as "utterly incorrect".
Woman who brought down robodebt tells of debt terror
Deanna Amato was issued with a $2500 debt during the robodebt scheme and her case was the basis for the program being ruled unlawful.
Australia announces new drones for Ukraine defence
The one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine is being marked by Australia with the donation of new drones to aid Kyiv's defences.
Queensland backs criminal age rise, youth crackdown
National support for a proposal to raise the criminal age from 10 to 12 is still supported by Queensland as the state rushes through tough new youth crime laws.
Super objective Labor’s top priority, not tax breaks
The federal government says it has made no decisions about major superannuation tax changes as the opposition continues its attack on the hinted proposals.
No medical info sharing opt-out as Vic govt stands firm
The Victorian government is refusing to budge on adding an opt-out clause to proposed medical information sharing laws in the face of mounting criticism.
Perrottet promises grocery bill relief with new office
Cutting freight costs to push supermarket bills down will be a focus of a re-elected Perrottet government but Labor says the focus should be on tolls.
Queensland lays groundwork to outlaw coercive control
Queensland has changed the definition of domestic violence to include patterns of behaviour over time ahead of plans to criminalise coercive control.
PM’s ‘heart goes out’ to plane crash victims
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australian officials are providing support to the families of two Adelaide men killed in a plane crash in the Philippines.
New laws prep Queensland for coercive control offence
The Queensland government is preparing to introduce a standalone coercive control criminal offence as updated domestic and family violence laws pass parliament.
Morrison ‘looking for problems’ to justify welfare cuts
An ex-deputy secretary says former prime minister Scott Morrison showed little empathy for people on welfare and looked for problems to justify budget cuts.
Disadvantaged students ‘set up to fail’ without support
Liberal senator Sarah Henderson warns university students from disadvantaged backgrounds will be doomed to fail without more targeted support.
‘No mandate’ for changes to superannuation tax breaks
The federal opposition will not support changes to superannuation tax breaks flagged by the treasurer as he looks for opportunities to repair the budget.
Yes campaign for voice launches with $5m donation
The "yes" campaign backing the Indigenous voice to parliament has received $5 million in philanthropic funding ahead of the referendum later this year.
Leader warns of risks in early release of voice model
Co-chair of the Uluru Dialogue says the referendum is a vote on the principle of the voice to parliament, with finer details to be worked out by parliament.
Labor commits $103m to amp up downbeat NSW music scene
Labor is promising a NSW music office to fix the vibe in the muted music scene, after a decade of venue closures left the industry in the doldrums.
Prescribing trials expand as health pressure bites
Patient safety and pain relief is in the spotlight as more states allow pharmacists to prescribe medication, with doctors and pharmacists bitterly divided.
Health bodies praise proposed Qld drug diversion change
Queensland health organisations have welcomed the expansion of a drug diversion program as a positive step towards a health-based approach to drug use.
Warning on espionage interference raises red flags
Australia's national security chief has faced pressure to stop operations to avoid upsetting foreign regimes, which the treasurer says is concerning.