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.
politics
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.
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".