Leaders eyeball each other as campaign kicks off
The election campaign is finally official - and Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are wasting no time telling voters why they should vote for their parties.
politics
Australians to cast federal election vote on May 3
Australians will cast their ballot on May 3, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ending months of speculation about the timing of the next federal election.
Election call coming with Labor to distract from Dutton
The prime minister will set the election date "pretty imminently" as parliament wraps up for the last time before voters cast their ballots.
Former state Liberal leader admits supplying drugs
Former South Australian Liberal leader David Speirs has admitted supplying drugs to two people, pleading guilty to charges in court.
Labor gets tick on tax cut, Liberal fuel plan sputters
Labor's election tax cuts will provide a "meaningful" boost to the economy, while the coalition's fuel excise cuts have been labelled economically "silly".
Hospital partnership ban a legacy of toddler’s death
Private operators will be banned from getting involved in acute care in one state after a toddler's tragic death at a controversial hospital.
‘Shocking’: dozens of weapons seized in knife sweep
Almost 100 weapons have been seized in an operation aimed at stamping out knife-related crime after several shocking attacks.
Premier vows: we won’t leave house till bail laws pass
Parliament will sit late into the week in Australia's second most populous state to pass controversial new bail laws opposition MPs say they won't oppose.
Hate laws to stay despite caravan terror plot hoax
A state premier is staring down calls to repeal hate crime laws, amid revelations parliament may have been "misinformed" before they were urgently passed.
‘The King is King of Australia’: Backlash over $5 note
Monarchists have slammed the central bank's decision not to include the King's portrait on the $5 note, saying the government is pushing to become a republic.
Australia calls to protect civilians after Gaza strikes
Fresh Israeli strikes reportedly killing hundreds of Palestinians have sparked a call by Australia's foreign minister to cease fire and protect civilians.
Playing for time: Putin declines full Ukraine ceasefire
Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed for Russia and Ukraine to stop hitting each other's energy infrastructure for 30 days, the Kremlin says.
Government kicks can down the road on climate target
Labor has refused to reveal Australia's 2035 emissions reduction target before the election, despite it being the subject of cabinet debate for over a year.
Ukraine deal can’t reward Putin for actions: minister
Defence Minister Richard Marles says Russia's president can't get off lightly in any peace deal with Ukraine after its invasion.
Premier attacks as ex-top cop takes ousting to watchdog
A premier has lashed out at a former police deputy commissioner who has referred his axing to the state's anti-corruption watchdog.
Trump publicly releases JFK assassination documents
Experts doubt newly-released documents will change the facts of JFK's assassination, though nephew Robert F Kennedy Jr alleges CIA involvement in the death.
Multi-billion dollar radar buy to boost Canada ties: PM
The purchase by Canada of 'world-leading' radar technology with strengthen the relationship with Australia, according to the prime minister.
PM waves off Dutton gas pledge as ‘bubble bath’ policy
Peter Dutton is seeking a mandate to fast-track a 50-year gas expansion but Prime Minister Anthony Albanese insists the idea is but a thought bubble.
Prime minister keen to pop coalition ‘thought bubbles’
Unofficial campaigning has sparked backed up with the PM cradling babies on one side of the country and opposition leader talking gardens on the other.
Wages and worker rights ‘on the line’ at next election
Unions say industrial relations changes have got wages moving again but employer groups want them axed, arguing they constrain businesses and productivity.
Health portfolio quartet join nation’s newest ministry
A third-time elected state government has backed splitting its health portfolio four ways as the ink dried at its swearing-in ceremony.
Baby killer helped put prison predator behind bars
A convicted baby killer is no closer to release despite being identified as having helped jail a notorious prison guard who sexually assaulted inmates.
Turkey opposition slams arrest of Erdogan’s main rival
Turkish authorities have detained President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's key rival in what the main opposition party condemned as a coup attempt.
PM poll pledge to slash cost of hundreds of medicines
The maximum price of many prescription medicines will be reduced to $25 as part of Labor's re-election plan to bring down healthcare costs.
Indigenous medicos nursing First Peoples back to health
Generations of Indigenous health workers are leading the way in improving outcomes for First Nations patients and helping greatly to close the gap.
Chronic patients get most relief in medicine cost cut
Patients could save almost $7 on each prescription as the government promises to make medicines cheaper in a move supported by the coalition.
Angry cyclone victims beat a path to parliament’s door
Residents of a community battered by a tropical cyclone are blaming climate change for the extreme event as another region braces for the next big wet.
Tougher bail key to stopping crime surge, says top cop
With crime surging to record levels, one of Australia's largest police forces is pleading for government to fast-track tougher bail laws.
Climate protesters crash Dutton keystone policy speech
A Donald Trump meeting would top the agenda if the coalition wins government, says Peter Dutton as anti-nuclear protesters crash his foreign policy speech.
RSPCA pulls approval for salmon farm after mass deaths
A salmon farm where workers were filmed sealing live fish in boxes has had its RSPCA tick of approval removed following an investigation.
Pauline Hanson eyes cuts on grog tax, climate spending
Pauline Hanson is taking aim at climate change spending, public servants and First Nations agencies in a bid to address the cost of living.