Economic growth softens amid higher interest rates
Official national accounts figures show easing economic growth as nine interest rate hikes start to weigh on household budgets.
politics
Robodebt made victim ‘feel like a cheat’, inquiry told
A man wrongfully accused of owing the government $11,000 has told a royal commission how the robodebt program made him feel like a criminal and a cheat.
Bias and conflict issues found in council recruitment
A local council showed a lack of proper recruitment policy and procedure when employing eight people, Tasmania's Integrity Commission says.
Ex-minister planned agency split despite service impact
Former coalition minister Stuart Robert planned to split a department into four agencies despite advice about the proposal's negative customer service impact.
Victoria won’t follow Qld on pill-testing site trial
Premier Daniel Andrews has ruled out Victoria embarking on a pill-testing trial after Queensland flagged plans to roll out a site within the next six months.
‘Exhausted’ Lismore marks a year since traumatic floods
Community heroes, survivors and political leaders have gathered in Lismore to mark the first anniversary of the worst flood in Australian history.
PM to work with PNG following hostage release
The government has offered its thanks to Papua New Guinea for securing the release of an Australian professor held hostage by armed criminals.
Leaders rule out new taxes, privatisation in NSW
Both major parties in NSW have committed to no new taxes and no privatisation, before pausing the election campaign to mark a year since Lismore's floods.
Higher taxes to hit multimillion-dollar super balances
Australians with more than $3 million in their superannuation accounts will receive less generous tax breaks under changes due to come into force in 2025.
Crossbenchers call for more detail on climate policy
Carbon credits are no free ride and billions are being spent electrifying mine sites, industry figures have told a hearing on the government's climate policy.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
‘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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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".
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.
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.