Australia’s first parliament marks 200th anniversary
August 25 marks exactly 200 years since the inaugural meeting of NSW Parliament's Upper House, making it Australia's first parliament.
politics
Renegade senator quits LNP to start his own party
Queensland LNP Senator Gerard Rennick says he is creating his own political party to bring "bread and butter" issues into Senate debates.
Renegade senator to ‘stir the pot’ after LNP defection
Former LNP senator Gerard Rennick wants to use his independence to push for tax reform, making super voluntary and scrapping a generous defined benefits scheme.
Frustrated flyers face long wait for fairer aviation
Passengers could be reimbursed for cancelled or delayed flights under a charter of rights for airline travellers, but the measures are some way in the distance.
Labor to examine NT fallout ahead of federal poll: PM
Anthony Albanese says the federal government will examine the implications of NT Labor's loss in the territory election, ahead of next year's national vote.
Construction workers plan protests over takeover move
Unions are set to hold protests as a legal battle looms over the government placing the CFMEU's construction arm and associated branches into administration.
Amazon, Bunnings to face new questions over customers
Executives from major household brands will front an inquiry into competition practices as the nation's leaders aim to make products cheaper for Australians.
Earthquake rattles opening day of PIF summit in Tonga
Tonga has been backed to host a successful Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting despite the summit ballooning in size and scale.
Employers urged to dob in workers who stopped for CFMEU
Australia's employers are being urged to dob in any workers who downed tools and took unprotected industrial action for the powerful construction union.
Diplomatic ruptures on display at Pacific Islands Forum
France's handling of unrest in New Caledonia has drawn criticism from Pacific leaders in Tonga this week.
Competition key to getting lift off for flight refunds
Providing travellers with refunds is a step forward, but more could be done to prevent delays and cancellations in the first place, a peak travel body says.
Harris, Trump squabble over mics at upcoming debate
US presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris and their campaigns have argued over the rules for their first TV debate.
Tax breaks fuelling widening wealth gap: report
Anglicare Australia's latest report shows tax breaks on superannuation and housing investments are widening the wealth gap.
UN issues rallying cry on climate for Pacific
The UN secretary-general has used the Pacific Islands Forum to call for developed nations to quit fossil fuels and fund developing countries to adapt.
Tens of thousands rally at CFMEU protests across nation
Thousands of CFMEU members across Australia have walked off job sites in unprotected industrial action to protest the union's administrative takeover.
PM lays down budget challenge on coalition cuts
After reports the coalition has identified up to $100 billion in budget savings, Anthony Albanese has urged Peter Dutton to explain where they would be made.
Warnings student cap could hurt economy and research
Plans to cap international student numbers will "apply a handbrake" to one of the nation's biggest exports, the peak university body warns.
Common drugs being laced with deadly potent synthetics
Extremely potent synthetics drugs that have already caused dozens of overdose deaths in 2024 are being found in vaping liquid, ecstasy and depressants.
The great divide: treasurer’s Dutton spray sparks row
Peter Dutton has hit back at comments by the treasurer labelling him as the most divisive leader in Australia's political history.
‘Groundbreaking’ Australia-Tuvalu pact signed at summit
A year after signing the Falepili Union, the leaders of Australia and Tuvalu have held a ceremony to mark the realisation of the groundbreaking pact.
Funding boost to help protect Aussies from disasters
Almost $400 million will be spent on projects to better protect Australians from natural disasters including key cyclone and flood protection upgrades.
CFMEU legal luck questioned as blue-collar anger boils
More than 50,000 angry protesters rallied against the construction union being put into administration but its chance of winning a legal fight is questionable.
Treasurer breaks ranks, slams ‘destructive’ student cap
Federal government plans to cap the number of international students at university have been labelled 'destructive' by Victoria's treasurer.
Pacific backs Australia’s regional police initiative
Anthony Albanese has wasted no time getting to work at the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga, announcing support for his Pacific Policing Initiative.
‘Get off their high horses’: call to end jumps racing
Former Victorian racing minister Rob Hulls is turning up the heat on the Labor government to become the last Australian state to ban jumps racing.
Jailed kids locked in cells with no toilet, bed: report
An investigation into a youth detention centre has found children being locked in bare cells without running water, a toilet or even a bed - sometimes for days.
‘They are everyday people’: Gaza statements condemned
Portraying Palestinians as Hamas supporters is misleading and inflammatory and Australia must offer help to those asylum seekers, a human rights expert says.
Budget blow as state’s child sexual abuse payouts soar
Tasmania's budget deficit for 2023/24 is set to grow fourfold, mainly because of a $571 million increase in payouts to child sexual abuse survivors.
Former PM’s daughter becomes youngest-ever Thai leader
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of divisive former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, has won the backing of parliament to become Thailand's youngest prime minister.
Senator recalls Labor’s ‘heartless’ attacks on Reynolds
A senator has told a court how party colleague Linda Reynolds was aggressively targeted in parliament during "heartless attacks".
New posting for former Qld premier Palaszczuk
Annastacia Palaszczuk has been appointed to the Australia Post board as a non-executive director, eight months after her resignation as Queensland premier.