COVID boosters to be required in aged care
Adults who have received a COVID-19 booster are considered "up to date" with their vaccines under new advice from the nation's immunisation advisory group.
politics
ASIO disrupts spy nest and election plot
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation disrupted a foreign intelligence network and plot to influence an election in the past year.
Child safety probe ordered in north Qld
A whistleblower claims the Queensland government is putting children at risk of being physically and sexually abused by sending them back to unsafe homes.
NSW Treasury forecasts ‘late, inaccurate’
An audit of NSW's finances has revealed a "budget mess", according to the chair of a committee investigating a controversial transport entity.
Tame confident of consistent abuse laws
Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame is confident other states and territories will follow the ACT's lead and reform their child sexual abuse offences.
Labor to back coalition religious bill
Labor will back the religious discrimination bill, but will move amendments in four areas to protect Australians from other forms of discrimination.
Qld govt keen to assist aged care centres
The Health Minister says the Queensland government is assisting private aged care amid anger over how a facility has handled a COVID-19 outbreak.
Wages perk up as worker demand grows
There are signs that wages growth is picking up, with economists at the nation's biggest bank predicting an annual rate of three per cent by mid-year.
Federal call for tourism vaccine unity
Federal Tourism Minister Dan Tehan has slammed the possibility of Victoria requiring overseas tourists to have three vaccine doses to enter, rather than two.
Inquiry ordered into Grace Tame’s claims
Claims a taxpayer-funded agency ordered Grace Tame to avoid criticising Scott Morrison at the 2022 Australian of the Year Awards are being investigated.
‘Trust’ Australia will act on Russia
Foreign Minister Marise Payne has called on Russia to de-escalate its military presence alongside the Lithuanian foreign minister who's visiting Canberra.
Vic hardest place to do business in Aust
Victorian businesses pay the highest tax in Australia, a nationwide survey of firms by the Victorian Chamber of Commerce has found.
Qld records deadliest day of pandemic
Queensland has recorded its deadliest 24-hour period of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 24 people succumbing to the virus including 16 in aged care.
Criminal charges are ‘nonsense’: Palmer
Billionaire businessman Clive Palmer has launched a civil lawsuit to have fraud charges against him thrown out of court.
Morrison sorry for assault, harassment
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has apologised for sexual harassment, assault and bullying found to be rife in federal parliament.
Climate wars are yet to be won: Turnbull
Malcolm Turnbull has warned voters are walking away because of federal government dysfunction on climate policy and says Labor's plan is politically sensible.
PM sorry for ‘terrible’ parliament conduct
Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins has received an apology on the floor of federal parliament for her alleged rape in a minister's office.
Protections for trans students rejected
The coalition has agreed to greater protections for gay students, but not transgender children, as part of a contentious religious discrimination package.
Aged care minister bucks calls to resign
Aged Care Services Minister Richard Colbeck has defended the federal government's handling of the COVID-19 response in the sector.
Right royal ruckus for parliament return
Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese return to the parliamentary jousting field on Tuesday ahead of an expected May federal election.
WA slashes quarantine as Omicron spreads
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan insists he has not bowed to industry pressure by agreeing to halve isolation periods for COVID-infected people.
Canberra anti-vaccine protests set to grow
As protesters surround the official residence of the governor-general, police have warned anti-vaccination protests in Canberra will grow in coming days.
PM seeks to save religious freedom bills
Laws to allow greater freedoms for people to express their religion face a tricky path through federal parliament with moderates and conservatives at odds.
Joyce apologises to MPs over PM texts
As federal parliament starts a new year, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has apologised to his party room over text messages critical of Scott Morrison.
Ukraine diplomacy still an option, US says
"Apocalyptic predictions" about a Russian invasion should be ignored, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says, as the US hopes for a diplomatic solution.
Overseas tourists to return on February 21
Australia's ban on international tourists will end on February 21 after a decision by the federal government, with double vaccination required for entry.
Qld has 19 virus deaths, ditches check-ins
Queensland has recorded another 19 COVID-19 deaths and 4701 new cases as the state edges closer to 90 per cent double dose vaccination for those over 16.
PM keen to get international borders open
Prime Minister Scott Morrison wants to get international borders open as soon as possible but without impacting Australia's hospital system.
First guests arrive at Qld quarantine camp
The first guests have settled in to the Queensland government's regional COVID-19 quarantine facility.
Qld reports a record 21 COVID-19 deaths
Another 21 people have died with COVID-19 in Queensland, the most in a 24-hour period for the state which has recorded 8508 new cases.
Bipartisan backing for faith protections
LGBTIQ+ advocates have hit out at bipartisan conditional support for the federal government's religious discrimination laws.