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Australian news and politics
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Queensland is set to introduce sweeping hate speech laws that will ban specific slogans including "from the river to the sea" and "globalise the intifada," as well as offensive symbols. The laws will be introduced in parliament this week as part of the government's response to rising antisemitism.
The Australian Coalition is on the brink of reunion after Opposition Leader Sussan Ley brokered a deal with Nationals Leader David Littleproud to bring the Liberal and National parties back together. The agreement, expected to be announced Sunday, comes less than three weeks after the parties split for the second time in eight months over Labor's hate speech laws.
Fraudsters who previously exploited people with disabilities through the NDIS are now targeting veterans, prompting the federal government to announce a $200 million crackdown on the emerging scheme.
Northern Australia faces dual weather emergencies as Tropical Cyclone Mitchell intensifies toward category three strength off Western Australia Pilbara coast, while in the Northern Territory, the Daly River is expected to reach major flood level Sunday with significant damage to homes anticipated.
NSW Police have fined American social media personality Sur Ronster and issued two traffic infringement notices for negligent driving after he led a swarm of approximately 40 e-bike and motorcycle riders across the Sydney Harbour Bridge's main deck during peak-hour traffic on Tuesday.
The NSW government has invoked special police powers ahead of Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit next week, with Premier Chris Minns warning would-be protesters that police will not allow "conflict on Sydney streets." The move comes as 13 state and federal MPs appeal to the police commissioner to facilitate a planned march from Town Hall to Parliament.
Australian horror film Bring Her Back has dominated the 2026 AACTA Awards, with directors Danny and Michael Philippou taking home 10 statues including Best Film and Best Direction for their follow-up to the global hit Talk To Me.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has signed the Treaty of Jakarta, a landmark defence agreement that will allow Australian military infrastructure on Indonesian soil and enable deeper cooperation between the two nations security forces.
Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock has declined to attribute rising inflation to the Albanese government policies, as political tensions escalate following the RBA surprise interest rate increase this week.
South Australian police and emergency services are responding to a light aircraft crash in waters off Goolwa South on the state south coast.
Australia has suffered a significant setback ahead of the T20 World Cup with confirmation that star fast bowler Josh Hazlewood will not be available for the tournament due to ongoing injury concerns.
The coronial inquest into the Bondi Junction stabbing attack has continued with families of victims pushing for meaningful action, after a coroner made more than 20 recommendations around mental health services and responses to mass casualty events.
A 23-year-old man is behind bars after allegedly pretending to shoot at people on the footbridge where the Bondi terror attack unfolded. The man was refused bail following his arrest for the disturbing incident that retraumatized survivors and witnesses.
A suspect with close ties to the Lamont household has been identified in the disappearance of four-year-old Gus Lamont, with police declaring the case a major crime. The development marks a significant shift in an investigation that has gripped the nation.
The Prime Minister and Opposition Leader have both condemned an alleged attempted bombing of an Invasion Day rally more than a week ago, after police revealed it is being prosecuted as a terror incident. Anthony Albanese said the attack was allegedly driven by racism and hatred.
A Queensland man has been charged with nearly 600 offences after police alleged he used social media and gaming platforms to target hundreds of children across more than a dozen countries. The 23-year-old faces charges including abuse of 459 children, with most alleged victims being boys aged between five and 15 years old.
Parts of South Australia remain without power as SA Power Networks warns that summer blackouts are likely to continue due to dust pollution from prolonged dry conditions degrading electrical infrastructure.
A cardiothoracic surgeon who was previously restricted from performing major heart and lung surgery by the New South Wales medical regulator has been appointed to a senior clinical safety position within the Queensland government.
An Australian man has died after disappearing near a Japanese ski resort on Tuesday, marking the second Australian fatality on Japanese slopes within days. The death follows a Queensland snowboarder who was killed in a ski lift accident at a separate resort.
The Indian government has formally condemned the theft of a bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi from a community centre in Melbourne's south-east, calling on Australian authorities to hold the culprits accountable and recover the statue immediately.
Australian mining billionaire Clive Palmer has denied that former Trump strategist Steve Bannon helped direct his controversial advertising campaign during the 2019 federal election, claiming texts published in the Jeffrey Epstein files were Bannon attempting to inflate his own influence.
The Albanese government has identified 67 defence sites for potential sale in what could unlock up to $1.8 billion, as part of a sweeping pivot to strengthen Australia''s northern military infrastructure and support the AUKUS nuclear submarine program. High-profile properties including Victoria Barracks in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne are among those earmarked for divestment.
Dame Marie Bashir, the 37th governor of NSW and the first woman and first person of Lebanese descent to hold the office, has been farewelled at a state funeral at St James'' Church in Sydney. Former prime ministers, premiers, and dignitaries gathered to honour the psychiatrist and public servant, who died on January 20 aged 95.
Australia appears to have passed the peak of residential solar uptake, but demand for home batteries is seemingly headed into orbit, with subsidies fueling unprecedented growth in energy storage.
Emergency services fear homes have been lost in an erratic and fast-moving bushfire burning out of control on South Australia Fleurieu Peninsula. The blaze caught residents off guard with its rapid spread.
Labor's controversial political donation regime in Victoria is being tested in the High Court of Australia as former independent candidates argue the laws unfairly advantage major parties.
The Palestine Action Group plans to march against Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit to Sydney next week despite NSW police extending restrictions on protests, calling on authorities to "exercise their discretion" and facilitate a peaceful rally.
Australia's disability discrimination commissioner has condemned "dangerous narratives" surrounding the deaths of teenage brothers Leon and Otis Clune in Mosman Park, saying the burden of disability should never be used as justification for family violence.
Breaches of Australia's northern border continue to escalate, with an alleged illegal fishing boat photographed deep inside a creek in Far North Queensland, marking a concerning penetration of the mainland.
A-League leading goal scorer Annalise Rasmussen has signed with Italian powerhouse Juventus, departing the Central Coast Mariners with immediate effect in a significant move for Australian women's football.
Victoria is set to revolutionise access to ADHD diagnosis and treatment by training select general practitioners to diagnose the condition and prescribe medication, potentially ending long wait times and high costs that have plagued patients seeking help.
Crisis talks between Liberal deputy leader Sussan Ley and Nationals leader David Littleproud have failed to resurrect the Coalition partnership, despite the Liberals floating an olive branch offer for a potential party reunion.
A Western Australian teenager has been hailed a hero after swimming four kilometres through rough seas to get help when his family was swept out to sea in Geographe Bay. His mother described the decision to ask her son to make the gruelling swim as one of the hardest she has ever made.
The Reserve Bank of Australia has raised the official cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.85 per cent at its first meeting of 2026, marking the first rate increase since November 2023 and delivering unwelcome news to mortgage holders across the country.
Rural landowners in central western New South Wales have launched an environmental class action against one of the world's largest goldmines, alleging contamination has affected more than 2,000 properties in the region.
Former federal opposition leader Bill Shorten says he wants to know what forces were at play during the 2019 federal election, after texts suggest Steve Bannon claimed credit for influencing Clive Palmers 60 million dollar advertising blitz against Labor.
Firefighters are battling three separate emergency-level bushfires burning across the Perth metropolitan area, with crews stretched thin as dangerous conditions persist across Western Australia.
Former federal Liberal senator Cory Bernardi will lead One Nations ticket for the Legislative Council at the upcoming South Australian state election in March, as Pauline Hanson attempts to translate strong polling into parliamentary seats.
Sarah Court will take over as head of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission in what industry observers see as a signal that more action will be taken against misbehaving businesses. Court brings a reputation as a tough enforcer who has overseen major corporate prosecutions.
A teenager has been hailed as a hero after swimming four kilometres to shore to raise the alarm for his family who were stranded in the ocean off Dunsborough in Western Australia. The family had been kayaking and paddleboarding in Geographe Bay when rough conditions swept them out to sea.
Victorian opposition leader Jess Wilson has withdrawn from an event headlined by former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce, citing an unavoidable scheduling conflict. The decision came after Premier Jacinta Allan accused Wilson of cosying up to One Nation by attending the Across Victoria Alliance conference.
Federal Liberal leader Sussan Ley and Nationals leader David Littleproud held eleventh-hour crisis talks on Sunday as speculation swirls about whether the Coalition partnership will survive the lead-up to the federal election. The leaders described the discussions as civil but failed to announce any agreement on reunification terms.
An Australian woman has been killed in a ski lift accident at a popular Japanese resort near Hakuba, with authorities investigating the circumstances of the tragedy.
The sister of constable Neal Thompson, one of the police officers shot dead in Victoria high country last year, has told the ABC that death would be too good an outcome for the accused gunman Dezi Freeman.
Australian middle-distance runner Cam Myers has made history by becoming the youngest ever winner of the prestigious Wanamaker Mile, with the 19-year-old powering to victory at the Millrose Games in New York.
Australian political parties have received more than 138 million dollars in donations from undisclosed sources, according to newly released electoral commission data, as the era of dark money in politics enters its final stretch before tougher transparency rules begin.
Accused triple murderer Julian Ingram remains on the run nearly two weeks after the Lake Cargelligo shootings, as questions mount over how he was granted bail despite facing serious domestic violence charges and warnings about potential danger to victims and the community.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has positioned herself as an agent of change in a speech to Labor MPs, seeking to rebrand ahead of a state election that could deliver the party a historic fourth consecutive term in government.
The ACT government will introduce new laws this week restricting gun licence holders to a maximum of five firearms, in a direct response to the Bondi terror attack. The legislation represents the most significant tightening of firearms regulations in the territory in decades.
Australia suffered a comprehensive 90-run defeat to Pakistan in Lahore, surrendering the T20 World Cup warmup series 2-0 with a meek batting performance that will concern selectors ahead of the tournament.