Government eyes energy crisis quick fixes
Albanese government ministers will discuss possible regulatory interventions to ease energy prices in a cabinet meeting next week.
politics
Independent inquiry into Medicare fraud
Health Minister Mark Butler has launched an independent inquiry into fraud, inappropriate billing and over-servicing within the Medicare system.
Daniel Andrews blasts ‘smear and innuendo’
The Victorian premier has issued a blistering statement about "smear and innuendo" surrounding an investigation by the state's anti-corruption watchdog.
Aged care unions welcome interim wage bump
Unions have welcomed a 15 per cent pay rise for some aged care workers but say the wage increases should be bigger and broader.
Gas takes top bill in politics of power
As power and gas bills rise, so does the pressure on federal and state politicians to take action to solve the energy and climate crisis.
Qld power plant fail ‘unfortunate’: govt
Queensland Energy Minister Mick de Brenni has assured residents the state's power supply is solid heading into energy-intensive summer months.
COP27 puts climate compensation on agenda
Delegates from more than 190 countries have kicked off the United Nations climate summit in Egypt with a deal to discuss compensating poor countries.
Ship with COVID passengers to dock in Tas
At least 2000 passengers will arrive in Tasmania on the Coral Princess following a COVID-19 outbreak aboard the cruise ship.
PM slams campaign against IR bill
The prime minister has defended the multi-employer component of the workplace relations bill and raised questions about the companies gearing up to fight it.
PM promises action on power price relief
The prime minister is promising to take action against energy companies that don't pass on massive profits to Australian households in the form of savings.
RBA outlines gloomier outlook for economy
The Reserve Bank of Australia sees inflation peaking higher, slower growth and a higher jobless rate as economic challenges intensify.
Robodebt scheme told to ‘cease and desist’
A royal commission into the illegal robodebt scheme was told the Australian Tax Office ordered the Department of Human Services to stop using taxpayer data.
Former Pakistan PM Khan hurt in shooting
Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan has been shot in the leg when his protest convoy came under gunfire in the province of Punjab, his aides say.
Legal advice on robodebt not passed on
A royal commission has been told a government department had failed to relay information about the unlawfulness of the robodebt income averaging calculation.
‘Mission critical’ time for mining players
Pressure is building for Australia to use global standards for more sustainable minerals as the surge in clean energy demand brings risks of dodgy dealings.
Budget pressures piling up: Treasury boss
The federal budget faces many challenges - such as climate change - that need to be handled skilfully or risk degrading quality of life, the Treasury boss says.
Funding to assist more violence survivors
The government has announced additional funding for safe places for women and children leaving violent situations, but the Greens say it is not close to enough.
Tourism campaign spruiks regional NSW
NSW is spruiking its 890 national parks as premium travel destinations in a bid to help regional communities affected by bushfires, floods and the pandemic.
Qld rejects tourist levy, mulls park fees
The Queensland government is considering changing fees for national parks as part of its tourism plan ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games.
Climate group calls for donations overhaul
Climate 200, the group which helped with the election of teal independents, has called for changes to political donation laws.
Coal and gas ‘natural ally’ of renewables
Australia's resources minister has described coal and gas as a "natural ally" of renewable energy and essential to powering mining and economic change.
Aussies want cheaper electric cars, bikes
Most Australians want changes to accelerate the switch to electric vehicles, according to a new study, and support a ban on new petrol car sales by 2035.
Ethiopia and TPLF rebels agree to end war
The African Union says Ethiopia's warring sides have formally agreed to a cessation of hostilities in a two-year conflict.
Corporate tax soars but many paid nothing
The COVID-19 recovery and commodity prices delivered a record year for corporate taxes, however hundreds of big businesses did not pay a cent.
Calls for calm over US bomber postings
Richard Marles has called for calm over the housing of US bombers in the Northern Territory as the defence department reviews its ability to defend the nation.
Reform needed to get through downturn: PM
Anthony Albanese has used a speech to argue the country will need to reform its way through the economic crisis, defending the government's first budget.
Netanyahu on brink of ‘big’ election win
Benjamin Netanyahu is poised for a political comeback as exit polls suggest the former Israeli PM's right-wing bloc is "on the brink of a very big victory".
Brazil’s Bolsonaro avoids conceding defeat
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has not conceded defeat in his first speech since the election, but has approved the transition to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Commissioner appalled by robodebt evidence
The robodebt royal commission is trying to determine how the scheme was initiated despite early legal advice raising significant problems with the proposal.
Housing lending plummets and worse to come
New home lending activity is drying up as rising interest rates shrink the amount banks are willing to lend.
Robodebt legality flagged with department
A senior public servant who worked for a department overseeing the botched robodebt scheme did not raise questions about its legality with his superiors.