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.
politics
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.
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.
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.