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Australian news: federal and state politics, the economy, courts, weather and the stories that matter across the country.
2058 articles · page 24 of 43
Two men have been charged over a shooting in Western Australia's Mid West that left a Geraldton man in hospital and sparked a manhunt. Five people were arrested after the victim was found with a leg wound in Moonyoonooka early on Wednesday.
Queensland youth detention workers have reached an in-principle pay agreement with the state government after months of dispute that included strikes and workplace bans over dangerous conditions and overcrowding. The Australian Workers' Union announced the deal on Wednesday evening, and Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber confirmed it was struck with three unions.
Australia's ban on credit and debit card surcharges takes effect on Thursday, but some consumers will still encounter surcharges at the checkout, with business groups warning many smaller shops, especially those run by migrants, remain unclear on how the new payment rules work.
A pioneering solar power station in the remote outback town of White Cliffs in north-western New South Wales has been listed on the State Heritage Register, recognising what is believed to be the world's first commercial solar thermal plant.
Queensland's state government has missed the deadline to sign up to the federal government's Thriving Kids program before its rollout began, leaving children with mild to moderate autism or developmental delays in that state outside the new arrangement. The development was one of several items in the day's live coverage, which also reported that one-quarter of large companies pay zero tax and that credit and debit surcharges have been scrapped.
A free Victorian service that helps home owners facing mortgage stress has been forced to temporarily close its books to new clients after the number of calls for assistance doubled between January and August this year. The organisation's chief executive says severe financial stress is now reaching parts of the community that have not sought help before.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions and leading AI researchers have jointly called for a levy on tech giants building data centres in Australia, proposing that companies like OpenAI and Anthropic be required to contribute computing capacity and funds to develop a sovereign Australian artificial intelligence industry.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has described this week's inflation increase as lower than expected, despite figures showing a jump to a four-month high in August, raising the prospect of another interest rate hike. Meanwhile, the Greens have elected David Shoebridge as their new leader, card surcharges have been scrapped from today, and a midair pilot stabbing on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight was prevented by crew and passengers.
Former Wallaby Nathan Charles, who defied cystic fibrosis to play international rugby, has publicly revealed he has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND), describing the news as 'extremely challenging and overwhelming, and at times quite cruel'. Charles, 37, announced the diagnosis in an interview with Stan Sport, saying he had been experiencing symptoms for eight months and now requires mobility aids to get around.
The West Australian coroner will examine the disappearances of four Aboriginal men who went missing across regional WA within two years, in a joint inquest that families say could finally yield answers after years of uncertainty.
After years of testing, Australia's three major telecommunications companies are ready to switch on a system that would give customers access to a rival network if their own goes down during a weather emergency. Known as temporary disaster roaming (TDR), the system will be activated jointly by Telstra, Optus and TPG in regional areas where a mobile service has been disrupted by severe weather.
Hobart Airport has doubled its terminal size as part of a $200 million upgrade project, with improved signage, modernised car rental facilities and a high-end feel that one traveller compared to an international departure lounge.
New figures reveal that more than 98 percent of pothole damage claims lodged by NSW motorists were rejected by the state government last financial year, highlighting the steep legal hurdles drivers face in seeking compensation for road-related vehicle repairs.
Black-market tobacco shops in Victoria are circumventing the state's new shutdown powers by selling illicit cigarettes only outside business hours, when licensing inspectors are not rostered on, as the government's long-delayed crackdown begins to disrupt the country's largest illegal tobacco market.
The two mastheads have released a curated set of 30 egg recipes, covering breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and snacks, highlighting the ingredient's versatility and nutritional value.
Perth home buyers are turning away from beachfront views and searching instead for space, with pools, granny flats, land and workshops emerging as the top property search trends this year, according to Domain's Spring Homebuyer Report released today.
Consumer group Choice has found Australia's cheapest mayonnaise is also the best tasting, with Aldi's Colway Real Mayonnaise tying for first place in a taste test of 29 store-bought products. The $2.79 jar costs 61c per 100g, the lowest price per unit of all products tested.
Interest rates are up again and recession talk is building, but Guardian Australia columnist Greg Jericho argues the Reserve Bank of Australia is ignoring half of its formal mandate. In a column published this week, he says the RBA's enabling legislation requires it to pursue both price stability and full employment, yet in practice the 'full employment' aspect appears to be overlooked.
Private colleges have issued nearly 3,000 last-minute enrolments to a diploma course that is being cancelled after allegedly being misused by non-genuine students, prompting a warning from the assistant minister for international education that providers must not try to game the student visa system.
Victorians are being urged to prepare for potentially deadly thunderstorm asthma as health experts warn of an intense hay fever season following a wet and warm winter. The warning comes on the 10th anniversary of the world's largest thunderstorm asthma event, which killed 10 people and caused breathing issues in thousands of others.
The Australian Taxation Office's 10th corporate tax transparency report reveals that almost 30 per cent of large companies paid no income tax in the 2024-25 financial year, though this represents the lowest proportion since reporting began in 2013-14.
Australian house prices have dropped for the sixth consecutive month, with Cotality's Home Value Index falling 1.1 per cent in September to bring cumulative declines to 5.2 per cent below the March peak. Experts warn the market could see further falls of 10 to 15 per cent as higher interest rates and changes to housing tax breaks weigh on values.
Column 8 readers have welcomed the return of the bogong moth to New South Wales, from leaf-blown flyscreens in the Blue Mountains to jammed pipes at a Bathurst cathedral, while nature sightings and a quiet celebrity encounter round out the week's column.
The Brisbane Times and The Sydney Morning Herald have published their daily "Best of cartoons" gallery for October 1, 2026, featuring a six-image collection of editorial cartoons.
Brisbane Times and The Sydney Morning Herald have published their latest "Cartoons of the week" gallery, a 14-image collection of editorial cartoons covering the past week in Australian federal politics. The collection, published on September 30, 2026, includes work credited to cartoonist Dionne Gain.
The first phase of the federal government's Thriving Kids program, an early intervention system for autistic children under nine with low-to-moderate support needs, has launched this week. Queensland remains the only state or territory refusing to participate, leaving families uncertain about their children's support pathway.
A new roundup of luxury homes for sale showcases five coastal properties across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, each promising open-plan living, ocean proximity and high-end finishes. The list includes a Sorrento home with natural stone and French oak, a Stanwell Park property with panoramic Pacific views, a second Sorrento residence with a pizza oven and heated pool, a new-build in Byron Bay with solar panels, and a Benowa Waters waterfront designed by Stuart Osman.
Olufemi Komolafe has been stripped of this year’s Stawell Gift title and his $40,000 prizemoney after testing positive for a banned substance. The sprinter has apologised, saying the breach was inadvertent and stemmed from ADHD medication. Sport Integrity Australia cut his suspension from four years to 12 months following his full cooperation. Runner-up Jake Ireland will be retrospectively awarded the title.
In a personal essay published on September 30, 2026, writer Emma Babbington reflects on how growing up as an only child shaped her approach to friendship, saying it made her 'greedy for more friends' and pushed back against stereotypes about only children.
Greater Western Sydney has opened the door to trading contracted defender Lachie Whitfield, requesting a first-round draft pick as Carlton and Melbourne express interest in the 32-year-old running defender.
Specialist crews using heavy machinery, including an excavator and a truck, moved in on Wednesday afternoon to begin removing a 31-tonne humpback whale carcass that has been beached at South City Beach since Monday.
Queensland Treasurer David Janetzki has shifted blame for the Reserve Bank's interest rate rise onto the federal government, rejecting claims that the state's own spending is contributing to inflation. His comments came as the RBA lifted the cash rate to a 15-year high of 4.6 per cent and warned of further increases.
A psychologist with more than 45 years' experience has described the difficulty of raising voluntary assisted dying with close friends who have progressive illnesses, saying he worries such conversations may be perceived as pressure.
In an opinion column published in Brisbane Times and The Sydney Morning Herald, Kayla Olaya recounts an encounter at a fitness camp in Thailand where a 24-year-old Polish coder told her he wanted a 'trad wife' to stay home and look after the family. When she said she would hate relying on someone financially, he responded resolutely. The piece has sparked discussion about generational expectations around gender roles.
Benjamin Clementine, the 37-year-old British-born musician, composer and actor, will tour Australia for the first time in October, bringing a career shaped by a childhood in which instruments were forbidden to audiences here.
David Shoebridge has been elected federal leader of the Greens, vowing to lead a “red hot fight” against One Nation and the “top 1%” as he seeks to revive a party that has stalled in the polls despite a favourable political climate.
The Sydney Roosters enter Sunday’s NRLW grand final against Brisbane with an undefeated season, having trailed for only 70 of 840 minutes of football, a run players attribute to an intuitive on-field connection.
A near-collision between two aircraft at Sydney Airport in July was one of the most severe runway conflicts since record-keeping began more than 20 years ago, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau has found, with fatigue flagged as a risk factor for air traffic controllers.
Western Australia's Corrective Services Commissioner Brad Royce has confirmed he remains interested in converting the Bullsbrook quarantine centre into a prison, telling reporters on Wednesday that 'nothing's off the cards' when it comes to finding extra space for the state's growing inmate population.
The NSW Early Learning Commission has ordered the permanent closure of a Bathurst childcare centre after recording 126 breaches over a 12-year period, citing ongoing non-compliance and safety risks.
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) cut more than $2.8 billion from participant plans between July 2024 and March 2026, according to documents released under freedom of information laws, with quarterly plan reductions hitting a new high and increases falling to their lowest level.
Police have accused a man of murdering a 79-year-old neighbour and then, two weeks later, killing a 59-year-old relative who arrived at the same property to settle the estate. The accused, Nicholas Scott, has faced court.
Wallabies coach Les Kiss could be forced to field an untested centre pairing in October's Bledisloe Cup series after Hunter Paisami received a four-match suspension for his high tackle against South Africa last Sunday. The Reds centre will appeal the decision at a SANZAAR Disciplinary Committee hearing on Wednesday night.
Pat Cummins has suggested Mitchell Marsh could return to Test cricket as soon as the South Africa series, a move the Test captain described as a "scary proposition". Marsh, 34, last played a Test in December 2024 and retired from first-class state cricket last summer, but has not retired from the Test arena. His strong ODI form on the current tour has intensified the debate over whether Australia should prioritise youth or stick with experienced performers.
From October 1, Victorian real estate agents must disclose property sale prices within seven days and make the information publicly available for at least 18 months, under new laws aimed at improving transparency. However, home buyers and sellers remain uncertain about where to access this data, particularly for off-market sales, and the reporting requirement to Consumer Affairs Victoria will not begin until December 2027.
Australia's big four banks are expected to follow Macquarie and pass on the Reserve Bank's quarter-percentage-point rate rise to homeowners, adding $122 in monthly repayments on a standard $800,000 mortgage. The increase, which takes the cash rate to 4.6 per cent, adds to borrowers' pain following three rate rises earlier this year.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating whether staffing gaps at Sydney airport contributed to a series of safety incidents, after a review found runway incursions and near misses were 20 percent above national averages.
A New South Wales man has been sentenced to five years in prison for aggravated dangerous driving causing the death of his ex-partner, Justine Hammond, in a crash near Orange on February 9, 2025. The non-parole period of three years and seven months will expire on May 12, 2029.