Qld records two COVID deaths, 4265 cases
Another two people have died with COVID-19 in Queensland with the state recording 4265 new cases but student infections are continuing to decline.
politics
Tourists coming back as borders open: PM
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is urging international tourists to return to Australia with the nation's borders due to open on Monday.
Australia won’t sent troops to Ukraine: PM
Australia will not be sending troops to Ukraine in the event of an "regrettably inevitable" invasion by Russia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says.
Putin to oversee Russian nuclear drills
Russian president Vladimir Putin will oversee nuclear drills involving the launch of ballistic and cruise missiles, in what analysts say is a show of strength.
WA to finally reopen borders from March 3
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has announced the state will reopen its borders from March 3, having limited movement for much of the past two years.
Ditch ‘reds under the bed’ scare: Forrest
Billionaire businessman Andrew Forrest says strong rhetoric over conflict with China was a "reds under the bed" scare and urged politicians to calm down.
Morrison warns Ukraine invasion ‘imminent’
Prime Minister Scott Morrison hopes conflict between Russia and Ukraine will not occur, but says "what we are seeing leads us to fear the worst".
COVID-19 restrictions ease in Victoria
Victoria has recorded 6935 new COVID-19 cases and another 14 deaths, as the state eases some restrictions.
Industry calls for unified COVID-19 rules
As jurisdictions ease their COVID measures, leading industry groups have called for states and territories to be on the same page when it comes to restrictions.
Russia prepared to invade Ukraine: Biden
President Joe Biden has accused Russia of readying a false-flag operation in Ukraine's east as renewed shelling prompted renewed fears of an imminent invasion.
Audit finds department advertising issues
An audit of a departmental advertising campaign has found it was not always objective and at times inaccurately reflected government involvement in projects.
NSW easing raft of COVID-19 restrictions
Singing and dancing will be allowed at all NSW venues from Friday, except music festivals, as COVID-19 restrictions are eased in over a week.
Qld govt stays mum on Wellcamp lease cost
The Queensland government says the cost of leasing the Wellcamp quarantine facility is confidential, as the Liberal National Party calls for a probe.
Govt anger at NSW power station closure
Closing the country's biggest coal-fired power station seven years early could cause job losses and a spike in electricity prices, the NSW energy minister says.
Queensland’s deadliest day of the pandemic, with 39 COVID fatalities
Queensland has reported a record 39 COVID-19 deaths, but authorities say 27 of those fatalities occurred as far back as mid-January.
Morrison holds talks with UK PM Johnson
Scott Morrison and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson met virtually on Thursday morning, discussing defence agreements and tensions in Ukraine.
Origin accused of ‘folly’ amid coal exit
Origin Energy will shutter Australia's largest coal-fired power plant much earlier than expected, annoying the federal government and environmentalists.
Morrison doubles down on China attacks
Despite calls from the head of ASIO politicising national security was 'unhelpful', Scott Morrison has continued attacks on Labor about China.
Jobs market proves resilient to Omicron
The unemployment rate held steady at 4.2 per cent in January, but there was a sharp drop in hours worked due to the impact of the Omicron variant.
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine approved for kids
Provisional regulatory approval has been granted for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to be used by children aged six years and over.
Burkina Faso junta leader inaugurated
Newly inaugurated Burkina Faso president says his military-led government will offer "opportunity to get to better horizons".
Frydenberg preferred Liberal leader: poll
Treasurer and Liberal deputy leader Josh Frydenberg is preferred over Scott Morrison for the Liberal leadership, a new Roy Morgan poll says.
Red Cross expanding bushfire recovery work
The Red Cross is expanding its bushfire recovery work into new areas across NSW, QLD, Victoria and SA, focusing on bringing communities together to heal.
Qld child cases rise, concern for parents
Queensland has recorded another 12 virus deaths and 6596 cases with a rise in COVID-19 infections among children.
Colbeck defends aged care COVID death toll
More people have died in aged care so far this year from COVID-19 than in all of 2020, but Richard Colbeck has rebuffed calls to resign from his ministry.
Vic a step closer to hosting 2026 games
The Victorian government has made an exclusive bid to host the Commonwealth Games in four years' time.
Budget cuts could risk recovery: Treasury
Treasury secretary Steven Kennedy says the Australian economy has proved resilient in the face of disruptions caused by the COVID-19 Omicron variant.
Russian pullback reports unconvincing: PM
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says ongoing cyber attacks show that reports of a Russian pullback from Ukraine are "unconvincing".
China seeking to ‘exploit social division’
China is seeking to exploit social division, a Senate committee has been told, amid a tit-for-tat between the coalition and Labor over national security.
MP calls for NDIS age limit strike out
Centre Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie is calling on the government to strike out an age threshold in the national disability scheme currently set at 65.
Rapid test shortage is over: officials
Leading health officials have told a Senate estimates hearing supplies of rapid antigen tests are now plentiful, after widespread shortages during summer.