Australia

South Australian police investigate infant death

South Australian police are investigating the death of an infant. Authorities have confirmed the investigation is underway but have not released further details.

Rooftop solar keeps climbing in Australia, with one Melbourne postcode leading the way

Australia leads the world in per capita rooftop solar generation, and new figures show the boom is still accelerating, with 2026 on track to be a record year and a western Melbourne postcode home to more panels than anywhere else in the country.

10 Oct·2 min

Albanese stakes legacy on universal childcare as families say fees swallow pay rises

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wants universal childcare to be his political legacy, alongside Medicare and the National Disability Insurance Scheme, saying it should be as natural as public school. But the government has yet to settle how the system would be funded or structured, as families report childcare fees swallowing pay rises and the intergenerational report warns deaths will outnumber births in Australia by the 2060s.

10 Oct·3 min·2 sources

International student enrolments plummet, Australian universities warn of financial crisis

Australian universities are filling just two-thirds of their international student places this year, with regional campuses particularly struggling, prompting warnings that financial deficits could force cuts to domestic teaching and research programs.

10 Oct·3 min·2 sources

Hanson keeps door open to Coalition cooperation after CPAC clash with Taylor

Pauline Hanson and Angus Taylor shared a stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Brisbane on Saturday, where the One Nation leader repeatedly criticised the Coalition but signalled she was open to working with the Liberals to defeat Labor. Hanson said any cooperation was 'up to Angus Taylor', as the conference crowd appeared to treat her as the de facto opposition leader.

10 Oct·2 min·2 sources

Marc Fennell goes inside the manosphere for new documentary The State of Man

Walkley Award-winning journalist Marc Fennell has thrown himself into the manosphere for The State of Man, a three-part documentary series that sees him get his testosterone tested, put on boxing gloves, take part in the controversial Enhanced Games and fire a gun with a millionaire influencer. Fennell says he noticed conversations about men and masculinity online had turned darker, with content increasingly focused on money, dominating women and changing standards for male bodies.

Kipchoge ends three-year drought, calls Melbourne Marathon track the 'best ever'

Eliud Kipchoge, the dual Olympic gold medallist and two-time world record holder, ended a three-year win drought at the Melbourne Marathon on Sunday, finishing in a race-record time of 2:09.08. The 42-year-old Kenyan icon promptly declared the new course the 'best ever' and celebrated a first win after a long stretch without a victory.

10 Oct·2 min·11 sources

Songlines and small steps: Alice Springs men seek hope on Country

After days of rain and a period of Sorry Business following the funeral of Kumanjayi Little Baby, a mentoring group has taken men from Alice Springs into the East MacDonnell ranges to walk songlines and ceremony on Country, in a community push to address the complex causes behind extreme rates of domestic, family and sexual violence in the central desert town.

10 Oct·2 min·4 sources

WA Ombudsman Bevan Warner says focus is squarely on the state after predecessor's travel scandal

Bevan Warner, who replaced Chris Field as Western Australia's Ombudsman in May 2025, says his focus is squarely on Western Australia as the office rebuilds from a corruption scandal that saw his predecessor resign. Warner has visited 16 regions in his first 12 months, and says he has no plans to travel overseas without the premier's approval.

Perth man charged with murder of twin brother found dead in backyard

A 29-year-old Perth man has been charged with the murder of his twin brother, who was found dead in the backyard of their Orelia home.

Wallabies bomb under high-ball blitz as Eden Park drought hits 40 years

The Wallabies have extended their winless run at Auckland's Eden Park to 40 years, squandering a dominant opening in a Bledisloe Cup Test before bombing under a high-ball blitz, according to columnist Peter FitzSimons.

Drones, dogs and divers search Swan River for missing woman Alice Jane Bowden

WA Police are searching a section of the Swan River at Attadale for missing 38-year-old Alice Jane Bowden, after her car was found abandoned on Burke Drive on Saturday morning.

Gardener at elite Sydney school charged with child abuse material offences

A landscaper employed at Cranbrook School in Sydney's eastern suburbs has been charged with possessing child abuse material following an Australian Federal Police investigation prompted by two reports from the US National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children.

10 Oct·1 min·4 sources

Jury awards $2.2 million to abuse survivor after Marist Brothers legal team attacked his credibility

A Supreme Court jury has awarded more than $2.2 million to Greg Barclay, a survivor of historical clerical abuse at the former St Colman's College in Shepparton, rejecting aggressive claims by the Marist Brothers' legal team that he was a 'money-grubber' whose testimony had the 'credibility of a $3 note'.

10 Oct·2 min·4 sources

Attrition wins $2 million Hill Stakes, giving Jamie Mott first Sydney victory

Jamie Mott rode Attrition to a half-neck victory in the $2 million Hill Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday, securing his first career win in Sydney. Mott was vindicated after backing the Mitch Freedman-trained seven-year-old to beat race favourite Lindermann.

Rachel King emerges as first serious female contender for Cox Plate after historic Caulfield Guineas win

Rachel King has emerged as a serious contender to win this year's Cox Plate, a feat that would make her the first woman to take Australia's weight-for-age championship. The 36-year-old Sydney jockey became the first woman to win the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas on Saturday, riding favourite Warwoven for trainer Bjorn Baker.

Renshaw's 190 powers Australia's 390 on day two in Durban Test

Matt Renshaw's masterful 190 guided Australia to 390 all out on day two of the Durban Test against South Africa, with the Proteas resuming day three at 1-27. The innings came amid ongoing pressure on veteran Marnus Labuschagne, who fell for 37, and against a backdrop of civil unrest kilometres from the ground.

10 Oct·2 min·5 sources

Will Brown surges to Bathurst 1000 lead after first pit stops as rookie Bates fades

Triple Eight Race Engineering holds the lead at the Bathurst 1000 after Will Brown stormed from fifth to first during the opening round of pit stops, overhauling pole-sitter Zach Bates and early leader Aaron Seton. The move reshuffled the front of the field on lap 25, with Brown's co-driver Scott Pye now in position to chase the Peter Brock Trophy.

10 Oct·2 min·14 sources

Archbishop concedes eight-year delay as former Broome bishop convicted of 13 sex offences

Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, president of the Australian Bishops Conference, has acknowledged an eight-year delay in bringing former Broome bishop Christopher Alan Saunders to justice over allegations he sexually abused two young Indigenous men, while defending the church's decision to let police take the lead.

10 Oct·2 min

Woman's dog killed by partner as revenge after she ended 'on-and-off' relationship

A 28-year-old woman has spoken out about the horrific aftermath of a brief relationship: her adored Staffordshire cross, Indie, was killed by a man she had dated for less than a year, as revenge for her ending the relationship.

10 Oct·1 min·4 sources

V'landys backs Meninga as Perth Bears search for new CEO

Australian Rugby Commission executive chairman Peter V'landys has thrown his support behind Perth Bears coach Mal Meninga and assistant Ben Gardiner, saying he is confident they will work well together when the NRL expansion club begins its inaugural pre-season next month. The show of confidence comes after chief executive Anthony De Ceglie resigned on Friday night after losing the support of the club's board.

10 Oct·2 min·4 sources

NRL free agency countdown: Nathan Cleary and Sam Walker headline November 1 market

NRL clubs are gearing up for the November 1 free-agency period, with the new PNG Chiefs franchise entering the market armed with tax-free dollars and some of the game's biggest names potentially available. Penrith star Nathan Cleary is the most sought-after signature, while Sydney Roosters half Sam Walker has indicated he wants to stay put but remains a target if negotiations stall.

Albanese returns to comedy sketch after podcast gaffe, this time with a script

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has waded back into alternative media, appearing in a scripted comedy sketch with the duo Swag on the Beat, after his earlier appearance on the satirical Bush Deep podcast provoked a backlash over a crude remark about Kylie Minogue.

Hanson overshadows Taylor at CPAC, offers to govern with Coalition

Pauline Hanson commanded the stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Brisbane on Saturday, drawing the warmest response from the crowd as she offered to set aside past grievances with the Coalition to form government after the next election. Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, the billed keynote speaker, struggled to win over the audience with a mea culpa for past Coalition 'mistakes'.

10 Oct·3 min·9 sources

Butters joins Western Bulldogs on record nine-year deal worth up to $17.5 million

Zak Butters, 26, is officially a Western Bulldog after the AFL on Friday approved a trade involving five clubs. His record nine-year contract, worth between $17 million and $17.5 million, is the biggest in AFL history in total value. Butters said the move fulfilled a childhood dream and described the Bulldogs as on the cusp of "something special".

Teenager dies in head-on crash on Picton Road, south-west of Sydney

A teenage driver has died after a head-on collision on Picton Road at Wilton in Sydney's far south-west early on Saturday morning, with police calling for dashcam footage as they investigate the crash.

10 Oct·2 min·6 sources

Advocates urge taxpayer-funded weight-loss drugs for women with PMOS

Australian advocates are calling for GLP-1 weight-loss medications to be subsidised on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for women living with PMOS, a chronic hormonal condition formerly known as polycystic ovarian syndrome that affects one in eight women.

10 Oct·2 min·2 sources

Wishart stabbing victim dies, murder charge upgraded

A 32-year-old man has died after being stabbed at a home in Wishart, leading police to upgrade the charge against the accused from grievous bodily harm to murder. The accused, also 32, is scheduled to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday.

10 Oct·1 min·8 sources

Top cop defends decision not to alert public to attempted abduction

A senior police officer has defended a decision not to issue a public alert following an attempted abduction, according to reports published on 9 October 2026.

Farnham musical to tell Eureka Stockade story, not the singer's life, Cassel reveals

A musical built around John Farnham's songs has been taking shape for more than a decade, with producer Michael Cassel revealing the show will use an original story set around the 1854 Eureka Stockade rather than a biography of the singer. Gaynor Wheatley, who took over as Farnham's manager, is helping bring the project to the stage, according to a Good Weekend feature.

CFMEU insider questions construction probes' effectiveness as Queensland inquiry nears interim report

A Victorian CFMEU insider and former industrial lawyer has made a rare public intervention, questioning whether Queensland's powerful probe into the union and construction sector and its looming Victorian counterpart will deliver on their promised actions, as the Queensland inquiry prepares to release an interim report this month.

Matildas Trailing 2-1 to Germany Despite Kerr Goal

Australia's Matildas trail world No.3 Germany 2-1 at the 64-minute mark, having seen captain Sam Kerr score the team's goal but later leave the pitch with an apparent injury. The visitors took the lead before half-time and extended it early in the second half, despite a rare quadruple substitution by coach Joe Montemurro.

Alzheimer's Gene Test Brings Certainty and Raises Hope for Change

At 9.30 am on June 16, 2022, Megan, a 55-year-old former nurse from rural Victoria, logged onto a Zoom call that would confirm she carries the gene mutation for early-onset Alzheimer's disease. The result was expected: her mother died at 65 after 15 years with the disease, and multiple other relatives also succumbed. Yet the diagnosis—a 100 per cent guarantee she will develop the condition—brings a new urgency to the question posed by the feature article: are treatments for dementia finally changing?

Northbridge venue owners warn proposed noise caps will 'silence' entertainment precinct

Nightclub owners in Perth's Northbridge entertainment precinct say the state government's proposed noise caps are so restrictive that no venue will voluntarily comply, warning the new regulations would effectively silence the area's nightlife.

NT government rejects $6.5m funding as 120 First Nations residents face Sunday eviction in Darwin

More than 120 First Nations people, including Yolngu woman Fiona Dhawunymurruwuy, will be evicted from an emergency housing facility in Darwin on Sunday after the Northern Territory government declined $6.5m to keep it open, a decision it called a waste of taxpayers' money.

9 Oct·1 min

Nationals face One Nation threat in regional Victoria as voters grow frustrated

The Victorian Nationals are defending their seats against a surging One Nation, with polls showing the far-right party’s support hovering around 20 per cent statewide and even higher in regional areas. Internal Labor polling leaked in June suggested the Nationals could face a wipeout at November's state election, and another poll commissioned by Trades Hall projected the party losing at least three seats to Pauline Hanson's party.

9 Oct·3 min

Australia Asked Too Much of Nic Maddinson on Durban Return

Nic Maddinson, returning to Test cricket after a decade and recovery from testicular cancer, managed only a 33-ball duck on day one of the first Test against South Africa in Durban, the third longest such start by an opener in Test history. The performance underscored ongoing concerns about Australia's batting stability, as the tourists continued a pattern of first-innings vulnerabilities.

Ponga to make Kiwi debut after eligibility rule change

Kalyn Ponga will pull on the New Zealand jersey for the first time in Thursday's Rugby League World Cup opener against Australia, after a change to State of Origin eligibility rules allowed the Newcastle Knights star to represent the country of his heritage.

Friend of Snowtown killer James Vlassakis gives rare insight into post-prison plans

A friend of convicted Snowtown killer James Vlassakis has offered a rare insight into his plans for a new life, after Vlassakis took his first steps back into the community.

Sam Wood denied bail and moved to high-security Brisbane prison on domestic violence charges

Lifestyle and fitness entrepreneur Sam Wood has been refused bail on domestic violence charges and moved to a high-security prison in Brisbane, after his step-daughter contacted Queensland police alleging he strangled his wife.

Wallabies face All Blacks at Eden Park with confidence under new coach Les Kiss

The Wallabies enter Saturday's Test against the All Blacks at Eden Park with growing confidence after an unbeaten series in Argentina and a victory over the Springboks, according to a ratings preview by Paul Cully. The match represents another opportunity for Australia to break their losing record at the Auckland venue.

AIS job cuts raise fears for Australia's 2032 Olympic preparations

The Australian Sports Commission is cutting 40 to 50 roles across its high-performance arm, the Australian Institute of Sport, prompting warnings that Australia's preparations for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics could stall. The reduction of about 10 per cent of the commission's almost 550-strong workforce is being made to account for a $15 million funding shortfall, and comes as Cathy Freeman helps promote the Brisbane Games.

Victims identified in Tinana dam crash: 10-year-old Arliyah and stepmother Lisa

The woman and child killed when their car crashed into a dam near Maryborough have been identified as 10-year-old Arliyah and her stepmother Lisa, 36. The pair died on Thursday afternoon after their blue Subaru Tribeca left McDonald Road at Tinana South, crashed through a fence and became submerged upside down in a dam on a neighbouring property.

9 Oct·1 min·4 sources

Melbourne teacher accused of filming hundreds of children in school toilets

A primary school teacher has been accused of secretly filming young children using school toilets on more than 357 occasions over six months at Kingswood Primary School in Melbourne's southeast. Timothy Blamires, 33, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday, where charge sheets revealed the alleged use of hidden spy cameras installed inside fragrance dispensers.

9 Oct·2 min

Teen driver Alice Buckley targets Supercars drought after shock Bathurst qualifying

Nineteen-year-old Alice Buckley is chasing a place in Supercars history this weekend at Mount Panorama, where the only female driver in the Super2 feeder series stunned in qualifying and hopes one day soon to become the first full-time woman in the main championship since 2019.

North board approved mammoth Blakey offer amid police investigation

North Melbourne's board has approved an eight-year, $12 million offer to recruit Sydney Swans defender Nick Blakey, who nominated the Kangaroos as his preferred destination on Friday while a Victoria Police investigation continues into allegations arising from the Sydney Swans' Pullman hotel incident.

WA Premier says new Ombudsman information could open door for coronial inquest into Hawke children deaths

Western Australian Premier Roger Cook says new information released by the state Ombudsman on the deaths of three children in the Pilbara could provide grounds for a coronial inquest, though he stopped short of ordering one. The children – aged ten, seven and four months – were murdered by their mother Margaret Hawke in South Hedland in 2022.

9 Oct·2 min