Youth justice experts decry kids’ medieval punishments
The state of youth justice has been laid bare to a Senate inquiry, with allegations of human rights violations and Middle Ages-style approaches.
politics
PM ‘not against’ a punt as he defends gambling reforms
Proposed gambling ad reforms go beyond some recommendations made in a Labor-led report that urged a total ban, the prime minister says.
Lifeline for Liberal MP as decision on future postponed
A state Liberal MP will stay in the party for at least two weeks after the party agreed not to immediately disendorse her over an unsubstantiated assault claim.
Hopes for national gun buyback fade as deadline expires
National firearms reforms are drifting off target after a deadline for states and territories to sign up for an Australia-wide buyback lapsed.
Struggling Liberals seek reboot in winter of discontent
Down in the polls, Liberal leader Angus Taylor will look to reconnect with voters through a blitz of marginal seats as parliament rises for its winter break.
Trump policies blamed for online ‘fermentation of hate’
Australia's eSafety commissioner has blamed the Trump administration in part for fermenting "caustic" online hate speech which is hard to police.
Housing costs crisis needs ‘decades’ of falling prices
Recent falling house prices have barely eroded an affordability gap that has built up over years of rising values, as experts warn much more time is needed.
AI companies urged to pay up or stay out of Australia
Australian news outlets are under threat from a growing number of hungry tech companies, including artificial intelligence firms which do not pay for content.
US Supreme Court rejects birthright citizenship curbs
The US Supreme Court has upheld birthright citizenship, rejecting Donald Trump's order that children born to parents in the US illegally are not citizens.
UN agency for Palestinian refugees near breaking point
The UN is facing a funding crisis as it struggles to provide aid, schooling, healthcare, social services and shelter to millions of Palestinian refugees.
Number’s up for crisis-hit accounting firms in shake-up
Treasury is proposing splitting auditing and consulting functions under reforms to the industry following scandals involving the major firms.
Trump reports more than $2 billion income from crypto
Donald Trump's financial disclosures for 2025 provide new insights into the scale of the president's profits from his family's foray into cryptocurrencies.
Social media giants slammed for letting hate speech fly
Anti-Semitic content is routinely allowed to remain on social media platforms, some of which remove less than a quarter of the posts, an expert says.
‘Watching like a hawk’: servos on notice as fuel rises
Winding back discounts to the fuel excise are hitting motorists in the hip pocket, with service stations and suppliers monitored for exorbitant price rises.
Billions in Defence blowouts ‘the tip of the iceberg’
Tens of billions of dollars has been wasted on Defence contract blowouts, as critics say plans to overhaul the system will fail to impose accountability.
Search for ‘Scorpio’ as political violence fears rise
Police are investigating more than 100 menacing letters from someone calling themself "Scorpio" as an expert warns of the rising risk of political violence.
Fuel pinch arrives sooner for some as discount halved
Motorists feeling the cost crunch are encouraged to fill up tanks before the fuel excise discount is halved, with one cohort likely to feel its impact first.
Jewish Australians threatened with firebombing, gassing
Prominent Australian Jews have detailed how their involvement with a royal commission has led to online threats referencing gas chambers and firebombing.
‘Political disturbance’: grandma on hate speech charge
A Gaza flotilla member has been charged with using a banned phrase after protesters gathered outside a court to support pro-Palestine activists.
Crims on notice as money-laundering laws take effect
Workers will receive more tax cuts, small businesses are getting a leg up and laws targeting financial criminals take effect in the new financial year.
‘Fear for the future’: rushed laws risk corruption
As reports of ongoing CFMEU corruption in Victoria continue to surface, business groups warn new federal laws could spread cronyism across the nation.
Corruption claims mount as premier rejects inquiry call
A state premier is facing mounting pressure to call a royal commission into claims of corruption, nepotism and organised crime links on government projects.
Liberal MP ‘misunderstood’ headlock meaning, not sorry
A state Liberal MP says she misunderstood the meaning of a headlock when she complained to police that a colleague had assaulted her.
Foreign bases ruled out as Vanuatu signs security deal
A security deal struck between Australia and Vanuatu after fragmented negotiations has ramifications for China's interests in the Pacific.
Iran and US agree to halt attacks and renew talks
The US and Iran have agreed to stop tit-for-tat strikes against each other, amid plans for a meeting to resolve their dispute over the Strait of Hormuz.
Prominent Jewish family hit by 1500 threats a month
Australian Jewish families have documented threats to their daughters from other children, leaving them scared to go to school or public places.
Hanson slides in the polls after voter ‘reality check’
Latest polls showing a drop in support for One Nation and leader Pauline Hanson has been attributed to a change in mood among voters.
AI drones pegged to help protect beachgoers from sharks
Shark monitoring drones will fly up and down the coast year-round as one state looks to artificial intelligence to help protect swimmers from attacks.
Home price data another window into tax change fallout
Property market data will soon be released after the Reserve Bank unveils a readout from its latest interest rate-setting board meeting.
‘Big tech wants this to fail’: beef-up for social ban
Tougher laws will be introduced to address widespread non-compliance with Australia's world-first social media age restrictions.
Heat on drug-drive laws as study finds cannabis misuse
Reforms that would allow drivers in NSW to get behind the wheel with small amounts of cannabis in their system are facing strong criticism on safety grounds.