Australia

Victorian private schools received $95m in extra Commonwealth funding as public schools remain underfunded

New federal data reveals that 58 Victorian non-government schools and education authorities received a combined $95 million above the nationally agreed funding benchmark in 2025, while public schools continue to battle for their share. Melbourne Grammar School, where median family income is $375,000 – the highest in the state – received $1.18 million more than its entitlement under the School Resource Standard (SRS).

Inside Andrew Tate's War Room: Australian taught classes on 'gaming' the ultra-wealthy, report finds

Multiple Australian newspapers have published investigations into the inner circle of controversial influencer Andrew Tate, with one outlet reporting that an Australian member of Tate's cohort taught secret classes on how to 'game' the mega-rich.

4 Oct 2026· 4 sources

More research urged to get 'full picture' on WA's shark situation

Western Australia's Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas has called for more research into the state's shark situation, arguing beaches 'have to be safe for people to enjoy'. The call comes as debate intensifies over the response to a dead humpback whale that washed ashore at City Beach last week, attracting large numbers of sharks including a 3.7-metre great white that was tagged off Floreat Groyne.

St Kilda record lowest AFLW score as calls grow for Dal Santo's dismissal

St Kilda's AFLW team kicked its lowest ever score on Saturday, managing just a single behind against the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat, a performance that has intensified calls for senior coach Nick Dal Santo to be replaced. Sports reporter Hannah Kennelly, writing for Nine newspapers, argues that Dal Santo's position is now untenable after the Saints' winless start to the season.

Andrew Johns to commentate grand final despite nerves; Fifita's phone recovered in PNG

Newcastle Knights legend Andrew Johns will fulfill his commentary duties for Sunday's NRL grand final despite being offered the option to skip the broadcast and enjoy the club's first title decider in a quarter-century, while South Sydney back-rower David Fifita had his stolen phone recovered during the Prime Minister's XIII trip to Papua New Guinea.

Trade period opens: Saints demand Geelong's first-round pick and player for Marshall

The 2026 AFL trade period officially opened on Monday with a large media pack and recruiting chiefs from multiple clubs gathering at Marvel Stadium. St Kilda have set a steep asking price for contracted ruckman Rowan Marshall, demanding Geelong's first-round draft pick (No. 14) and a player in return, according to sources.

4 Oct 2026· 8 sources

NRL and NRLW Grand Finals 2026: Photographers Capture the Day at Accor Stadium

Photographers for Nine newspapers are documenting the 2026 NRL and NRLW grand finals at Accor Stadium, capturing fans arriving early and the atmosphere around the biggest day on the rugby league calendar.

Roosters bury Broncos 30-6 to win NRLW premiership in record-equalling rout

The Sydney Roosters have won the NRLW premiership, beating the Brisbane Broncos 30-6 in Sunday's grand final to equal the biggest winning margin in the competition's history and avenge last year's agonising decider loss to the same opponents.

Newcastle Knights fans gather for long-awaited grand final amid tragedy

Newcastle Knights supporters began gathering early Sunday morning for the NRL grand final, their team's first appearance in the decider in 25 years, as the city absorbed news that a five-year-old girl struck by a car in a Saturday crash that hospitalised several fans was now in critical but stable condition after emergency surgery.

Man fatally shot by police near Yass after car crash

A man has been shot dead by police in the New South Wales town of Rugby after crashing his car into a tree and allegedly aiming a rifle at officers who tried to help him.

4 Oct 2026· 4 sources

Beaches closed on NSW mid-north coast after whale carcass removal

Beaches along the New South Wales mid-north coast have been closed following the removal of a juvenile humpback whale carcass from the Clarence River, with authorities warning of increased shark activity in the area.

4 Oct 2026· 7 sources

Sunshine Coast residents woken by WWII shell detonation on Wurtulla Beach

Residents of Queensland's Sunshine Coast were jolted awake early Saturday morning when the Australian Defence Force detonated an unexploded World War II-era artillery shell found on Wurtulla Beach.

HSC mathematics extension 2 enrolments near record levels, boys driving surge

The number of students taking the most difficult Higher School Certificate mathematics course remains near record levels, with boys accounting for 90 per cent of the additional 500 enrolments compared to a decade ago.

Hilary McPhee, influential publisher who launched Garner and Winton, dies at 85

Hilary McPhee, the legendary Australian publisher who co-founded McPhee Gribble and nurtured the careers of writers including Helen Garner and Tim Winton, died on Thursday at age 85.

Rare tornado whips through Ulladulla, causing damage

On 3 October, a rare tornado swept through the New South Wales coastal town of Ulladulla, damaging properties and knocking over trees. Several people filmed the event. The Bureau of Meteorology attributed the tornado to severe thunderstorms and said it is very uncommon to see one in such a populated area.

Wallabies face strategic dilemma ahead of opening Bledisloe Test at Eden Park

As the Wallabies prepare for the opening Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks at Eden Park, a strategic debate has emerged over whether to rush star centre Len Ikitau back from an ankle injury or hold him out until the return match in Sydney a fortnight later. Writing across Nine newspapers, rugby columnist Paul Cully argues that a loss in Auckland would not be disastrous if the Wallabies can reverse the result in Sydney, and that a drawn series would fuel the momentum building under coach Les Kiss.

AFL Trade Period Opens Monday as Clubs Pursue Key Targets

The AFL trade period officially opens on Monday when list managers from all clubs gather at Marvel Stadium to negotiate deals that will shape their teams for 2027. The big questions centre on whether Essendon's Zach Merrett will finally join Hawthorn, whether Gold Coast will match the Hawks' free agency offer for Ben King, and where Melbourne's Jack Viney will land.

Nathan Buckley withdraws from North Melbourne senior coach race

Nathan Buckley has withdrawn from the race to become North Melbourne's next senior coach, delivering a major twist in the Kangaroos' search for Alastair Clarkson's replacement. Two industry sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity confirmed that Buckley informed those involved in the process late last week that he would not pursue the vacant position, ruling himself out of a return to senior coaching at Arden Street. He had been due to formally present to the coaching panel on Saturday.

RSPCA inspector launches pet crisis accommodation after seeing link between animal abuse and domestic violence

Dr Lauren Roberts, an RSPCA animal welfare inspector, has started a program to provide crisis accommodation for pets after witnessing how perpetrators of family violence use animals to control their victims. The initiative was sparked by a case in which a woman's dog was deliberately stabbed by her intimate partner, an injury that police later treated as animal cruelty.

Regional audiences to lose Network 10 as WIN Network pulls channels over costs

Viewers in parts of regional South Australia and the Riverina in New South Wales will lose access to Network 10, 10 Drama and 10 Comedy after the network and its regional affiliate, WIN Network, failed to reach an agreement, with WIN citing high transmission costs and declining advertising revenue.

4 Oct 2026· 2 sources

Chalmers warns of budget cuts as global turmoil intensifies, rules out recession

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has warned of ‘very substantial and intensifying’ economic pressures on the federal budget, but insists Australia is not heading for a recession, as he prepares to identify further spending cuts ahead of the mid-year economic update in December.

4 Oct 2026· 2 sources

A Doctor Said Tim Was Incapable of Love. His Mother Knew Otherwise

When a specialist told Judy Sharp that her three-year-old son Tim would be 'unfeeling and incapable of love' due to his autism diagnosis, she refused to accept those limitations. Through drawings, Tim expressed his feelings, sense of humour and love for his mother, proving them wrong.

MSWA to end home care for 75 clients, citing aged care reform costs

A Western Australian non-profit is ending its Commonwealth-funded home care services for 75 clients, including people with multiple sclerosis, saying federal aged care changes made the program financially unsustainable. Affected clients now face finding new providers at roughly double the hourly rate.

Chalmers flags 'pretty tight ship' in mid-year budget as bond yields rise

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has signalled the government will run a constrained mid-year budget update, warning that a spike in bond yields and last week's interest rate rise will add billions to the federal budget and likely preclude major new cost-of-living relief.

4 Oct 2026· 4 sources

Brad Fittler recalls Kerry Packer's grand final question 30 years on

NRL great Brad Fittler has recalled his first meeting with Kerry Packer in 1995, during the height of the Super League war, when the media mogul asked him how he thought you win a grand final. Fittler draws on his experience winning the 1991 premiership with Penrith as evidence that a title cannot simply be bought.

El Nino to cost Australian economy $13.4 billion, CBA analysis warns

Australia's economy faces a $13.4 billion hit over two years as a strengthening El Nino dries out farmland, threatens crops and pushes up food prices, according to Commonwealth Bank analysis. The forecast estimates gross domestic product will be about 0.45 percentage points lower than it would otherwise be.

Sydney’s most profitable pokie venues tap millions in discounts under Labor’s nightlife reforms

Hundreds of Sydney’s pokie clubs, hotels and pubs are claiming millions in liquor licensing discounts and extra trading hours by offering live music under the Minns government’s $150 million ‘vibrancy reforms’, sparking accusations that the policy bolsters powerful gaming venues at the expense of the cultural sector.

Two teens in hospital after separate Lime bike crashes in Sydney

Two teenagers have been hospitalised after separate Lime bike crashes at Sydney intersections overnight. An 18-year-old man was seriously injured when struck by a car in Surry Hills, while the circumstances of the second incident are yet to be detailed by police.

Australian Antarctic Program opens recruitment for 200+ roles for 2027-28 season

The Australian Antarctic Program has opened recruitment for more than 200 positions for the 2027-2028 season, seeking tradespeople and specialists to staff research stations in the far south.

Phar Lap's legend gallops on as champion racehorse celebrated on 100th birthday

A hundred years after his birth, the legendary racehorse Phar Lap was honoured with a birthday celebration at the Melbourne Museum, where his taxidermied remains continue to draw admirers who remember him as a symbol of hope during the Great Depression.

Adelaide family demands answers after autistic boy removed from China Southern flight

An Adelaide mother is demanding answers from China Southern Airlines after her autistic 10-year-old son was removed from a flight minutes before takeoff, following complaints from other passengers about his excited noises. The family was on its way to Pakistan to visit relatives and celebrate her daughter's 14th birthday.

Tornado Leaves Two Homes Uninhabitable in Ulladulla on NSW South Coast

Two homes have been deemed uninhabitable after a rare tornado tore through the NSW South Coast town of Ulladulla on Saturday, with wind gusts reaching 98 kilometres per hour and causing significant damage to properties in and around the town centre. The State Emergency Service said volunteers responded to 34 jobs, many of them significant, as severe storms continued to lash the region.

3 Oct 2026· 6 sources

When Bushfire Strikes and the Phones Go Dead: A Castlemaine Resident's Ordeal Reveals Critical Communication Gaps

During catastrophic bushfire conditions in central Victoria on January 9, 2026, Castlemaine resident Fiannuala Morgan experienced a cascading failure of the communication systems relied on for emergency warnings: her mobile phone lost service, the emergency app froze, she could not call or text her parents, the NBN failed with the power blackout, and the ABC broadcast tower at Mount Alexander burned down. A grassfire that eventually destroyed 66 dwellings in nearby Harcourt and threatened Castlemaine underscored what happens when the digital safety net collapses in a disaster, as detailed in a new report by Rhiannon Stevens and Kylie Silvester.

3 Oct 2026· 2 sources

Australia breaks record in PNG with dominant rugby league performance

Australia has broken its previous points margin in a rugby league test match in Papua New Guinea on Saturday, with a second-half blitz capped by Rory Owen scoring the final try. The win featured standout performances from Jada Taylor and Taneka Todhunter, each scoring a hat-trick for the Jillaroos.

Perth Zoo to build black cockatoo hospital as H5 bird flu threat looms

Perth Zoo will spend at least half a million dollars to build a dedicated triage and care facility for black cockatoos at its South Perth site, as the H5 avian influenza strain spreads across Australia. The zoo last week awarded a $450,000 tender to Instant Transportables to supply and install four transportable buildings for the facility.

Chalmers takes Australia’s pitch to Tokyo, selling stability and superannuation

Treasurer Jim Chalmers will hold a series of high-level meetings with Japanese investors and business leaders in Tokyo this week, as the government attempts to sell Australia as a safe harbour for middle-power investment amid an increasingly uncertain global economy.

Apprentice Siena Grima wins Epsom Handicap on God's Window, first in 45 years

Apprentice jockey Siena Grima made history at Randwick on Saturday, becoming the first apprentice in 45 years to win the Epsom Handicap, scoring on the Chris Waller-trained God's Window with her first group 1 ride.

Sargent, Gibbons end group 1 drought with Global Goal victory in Flight Stakes

Trainer John Sargent and jockey Dylan Gibbons ended long group 1 droughts when Global Goal won the Flight Stakes (1600m) for three-year-old fillies at Randwick on Saturday. It was Sargent's first group 1 victory since Gust Of Wind claimed the 2015 ATC Oaks, and Gibbons' maiden win at the top level since graduating from his apprenticeship.

Teen driver charged after car ploughed into Newcastle Knights fans, leaving 10 injured

The 18-year-old driver of the car that crashed into a crowd of Newcastle Knights supporters on Saturday morning has been charged with multiple driving offences, as one victim described from his hospital bed how he thought he was about to die. Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe faces three charges of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, three of negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, and three of causing bodily harm by misconduct. His P1 provisional licence has been suspended and the vehicle has been seized.

3 Oct 2026· 11 sources

Tornado tears through Ulladulla as severe thunderstorms lash NSW

A small tornado swept through the NSW South Coast town of Ulladulla on Saturday afternoon, knocking down trees, damaging buildings and leaving residents shaken as severe thunderstorms descended on the state.

3 Oct 2026· 5 sources

One Nation candidate vows to jail ex-premiers 'by Christmas' at Victorian campaign launch

A prominent One Nation candidate in Victoria has threatened to jail former premiers Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan 'by Christmas' if the party wins the November state election, drawing cheers from about 750 supporters at the party's campaign launch in Melbourne.

3 Oct 2026· 4 sources

Roosters' Tarryn Aiken determined to cap unbeaten season with grand final win after ACL heartbreak

Tarryn Aiken, who missed last year's NRLW grand final with an ACL injury, will lead the undefeated Sydney Roosters into their third consecutive premiership decider on Sunday. The star halfback has been instrumental in a season where the Roosters have trailed for just over 70 minutes combined and enter the match as runaway favourites.

Western Bulldogs land Jordon Butts in free agency to shore up defence

The Western Bulldogs have strengthened their defensive stocks by signing unrestricted free agent Jordon Butts from Adelaide on a five-year contract, a move that bolsters their hopes of becoming a serious premiership contender in 2027.

Knights appoint Justin Holbrook as head coach after five-man search

The Newcastle Knights have appointed Justin Holbrook as their new head coach, selecting him from a five-man shortlist that included internal candidates Blake Green and Brian McDermott, former Dragons coach Dean Young, and former Parramatta coach Brad Arthur. The decision was driven by Holbrook's clear vision for how the team should attack, according to the club's selection panel.

Greens elect new deputy leader Steph Hodgins-May in narrow party room vote

The Australian Greens have elected Victorian senator Steph Hodgins-May as their new deputy leader, replacing Larissa Waters who stepped down because of worsening kidney disease. Hodgins-May defeated Tasmanian senator Vanessa Bleyer by a six-to-five vote in a party room meeting in Sydney.

Roosters win NRL grand final by one point as concussion controversy overshadows Watson's absence

The Sydney Roosters have won the NRL grand final, defeating the Newcastle Knights 19-18 at Accor Stadium on Sunday, with a Daly Cherry-Evans field goal proving the difference. The victory comes amid debate over player welfare after Roosters utility Connor Watson was ruled out of the match due to the NRL's 11-day concussion protocols, becoming the first player to miss a grand final under the rules.

3 Oct 2026· 9 sources

Labor's working holiday visa cut threatens regional seats, experts warn

The federal government's decision to sharply reduce working holiday visa spots has left backpackers in regional Australia uncertain about their future and could cost Labor seats at the next election, political analysts say.