Australia

Chalmers unveils $6 billion budget improvement as AI liability debate emerges

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is set to reveal a $6 billion improvement to the federal government's forecast deficit, offering a brighter budget outlook ahead of a widely expected Reserve Bank interest rate hike. The announcement comes as the government and opposition stake out positions on regulating artificial intelligence following the recent OpenAI agent hack, with Finance Minister Katy Gallagher pledging legislative guardrails by year-end and Shadow Defence Minister James Paterson urging caution against excessive penalties.

27 Sept·3 min·10 sources

Deepfakes 'harder to spot' as Victorian election approaches, researchers warn

With months until the Victorian state election, AI-generated deepfake videos are already appearing in paid advertising, depicting events that never happened. Researchers warn that these deepfakes are becoming increasingly difficult to detect and could erode public trust in democracy, with approximately one in four people unable to distinguish them from authentic footage.

Ten years on, South Australia's statewide blackout still fuels electricity debate

A decade after a violent spring storm plunged South Australia into darkness, cutting electricity to more than 850,000 properties and about 1.7 million people, the political debate over the state's energy system remains live.

27 Sept·2 min·2 sources

RBA set to deliver fourth rate hike to 4.6% as oil shock, migration and AI reshape inflation outlook

The Reserve Bank board will convene from this afternoon for a two-day meeting that is almost certain to result in a fourth interest rate rise this year, lifting the cash rate to 4.6 per cent. The decision, due at 2:30pm Tuesday, comes as three new external factors — a Middle Eastern oil supply crisis, reduced migration and potential constraints on AI-driven productivity — pull the inflation outlook in conflicting directions.

27 Sept·3 min·6 sources

Rinehart allegedly tried to recruit Liberal MP to One Nation, Four Corners reports

Billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart allegedly tried to recruit Liberal National MP Henry Pike to One Nation during a lunch at her Sunshine Coast holiday home, according to Coalition sources cited by ABC's Four Corners program.

One Nation general manager called candidate David Farley an 'asshole' days before byelection win, texts reveal

One Nation's general manager, Kelvin Morton, referred to David Farley as an 'asshole' in text messages just days before Farley's historic Farrer byelection win in May, documents seen by Guardian Australia reveal.

27 Sept·1 min·2 sources

De Minaur stuns world No.2, Wallabies claim miraculous win over champions

Australian sport enjoyed a double dose of upsets as Alex de Minaur defeated world No.2 Alexander Zverev at the Laver Cup, while an undermanned Wallabies side stunned the reigning rugby world champions with a four-point victory after receiving four cards.

27 Sept·1 min·6 sources

'An absolute hero': Police officer stabbed in neck pursues attacker, just 10 weeks into the job

A police officer with only 10 weeks on the job chased an alleged assailant after being stabbed in the neck, the police union has said, describing the officer as 'an absolute hero' who continued the pursuit while holding his neck to stem the bleeding.

27 Sept·1 min·3 sources

Magnitude-3.9 Earthquake Shakes Victoria's High Country, Strongest in More Than a Decade

A magnitude-3.9 earthquake in Victoria's High Country — the most powerful recorded in the area in over a decade — sent rumbles through the East Gippsland valley on Saturday night, shaking homes and prompting hundreds of reports to Geoscience Australia.

ACT Police Chief Warns of Rising Bikie Presence, Calls for Anti-Consorting Laws

ACT Chief Police Officer Scott Lee has warned that outlaw motorcycle gangs are deepening their presence in Canberra, driven by the territory's growing prosperity. With five gangs now established in the capital, Lee is advocating for the introduction of contentious anti-consorting laws to curb their activities.

AI drones could soon track sharks off NSW coast, winter data shows

Dangerous sharks off the New South Wales coast could soon be detected by artificial intelligence, with new government data showing expanded drone surveillance triggered more than 1,200 detections and 360 interventions over winter.

27 Sept·1 min·6 sources

Brisbane Lions defeat Fremantle in 2026 AFL grand final; Ryan Lester's crucial tackle leaves him with no memory

The Brisbane Lions have won the 2026 AFL grand final, defeating the Fremantle Dockers. With less than seven minutes remaining in the final quarter, Lions player Ryan Lester made a decisive tackle on Fremantle's Josh Treacy, preventing what looked certain to be a Fremantle goal. Lester reportedly has little memory of the tackle that helped his team secure the premiership. The Lions are celebrating on Sunday after Saturday's victory.

27 Sept·1 min·6 sources

One Nation accused of 'cash grab' over demand for up to $630,000 from Victorian election candidates

One Nation could collect as much as $633,000 from people who applied to run in the Victorian state election, with rejected candidates accusing the party of running a 'cash grab' through a 'pay-to-play' application process.

27 Sept·1 min·2 sources

Canberrans face cost-of-living squeeze as RBA rate hike looms, business sentiment at worst levels

The Reserve Bank is expected to raise interest rates for the third time this year, adding to cost-of-living pressures in Canberra where business sentiment is at its lowest point and fuel prices are the highest of any Australian capital city.

27 Sept·2 min·2 sources

Gawara Baya wind farm: north Queensland community divided as nation's largest project in two years nears construction

Construction is set to begin imminently on the Gawara Baya wind farm near Mount Fox in north Queensland — the largest wind farm to be built in Australia in two years — but about half the tiny community of 84 residents has formed a group to oppose the development, arguing the push for net zero is destroying their way of life.

27 Sept·2 min·2 sources

Private colleges offer last-minute discounts as federal government moves to cancel diploma

Private colleges across Australia are offering discounts to rush students into the Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning) before the federal government deregisters it in October over fears the course was being used by non-genuine students to remain in the country.

Victoria considers emergency extraction of threatened birds as H5N1 bird flu spreads

The Victorian government is considering emergency extractions of threatened bird species from the wild to protect them from the H5N1 strain of avian influenza, which is spreading through wild bird populations in the state's northern wetlands.

26 Sept·2 min

NSW patient safety agency bans eco-friendly medical supplies used in other states

New South Wales' patient safety agency has prohibited hospitals from using environmentally friendly medical supplies that are standard in every other Australian state and territory, mandating instead single-use products that contribute to landfill and cost taxpayers millions annually.

Former Shire of Coorow deputy accused of continued offending after fraud arrest

Sam Curulli, the former deputy CEO of the Shire of Coorow, has been accused by police of continuing to offend after his arrest in March on charges of attempting to gain benefit by fraud, corruption and stealing.

Grand final hero Logan Morris reveals he played through fractured back in Lions' three-peat

Grand final hero Logan Morris has revealed he played through a stress fracture in his back and barely trained in recent months as Brisbane stunned Fremantle to win their third straight AFL premiership — making him the first AFL footballer to win a flag in each of his first three seasons.

26 Sept·1 min·9 sources

'We need to sit in the grief': Fremantle begin healing after grand final collapse as Brisbane secure three-peat

Fremantle's devastated players have begun the long road to recovery after their inexplicable grand final collapse, with coach Justin Longmuir urging his team to 'sit in the grief' following Brisbane's extraordinary four-minute heist that secured the Lions' third consecutive premiership. The Dockers led by 17 points with just over four minutes remaining before the Lions staged a remarkable comeback at the MCG in front of 100,023 fans.

26 Sept·3 min·8 sources

Three shots, a shopping trip and 14,000 hours of CCTV: The case against Beau Lamarre-Condon

A jury has been shown 14,000 hours of CCTV footage, heard testimony about a shopping trip and three gunshots in the trial of former New South Wales police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon, who is accused of murdering Sydney couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies.

Kylie Minogue Delivers Rain-Defying Spectacle at AFL Grand Final

Kylie Minogue took to the MCG stage for the AFL Grand Final pre-game entertainment on Saturday, delivering a 20-minute set of career-spanning hits while braving rainy conditions in front of more than 100,000 fans.

26 Sept·1 min

Queensland child deaths: 91 children known to child safety die in 2025–26, a 60% increase

The number of Queensland children known to the child protection system who died has surged nearly 60 per cent year-on-year, with 91 deaths recorded in the 2025–26 financial year – the highest figure in five years, according to the Queensland Family and Child Commission's annual report released Friday.

26 Sept·2 min

Victoria’s crime rate drops 3.8 per cent but safety perception remains election flashpoint

New data shows Victoria's crime rate fell 3.8 per cent in the year to June, the first sign of a sustained plateau after years of rising offences, but the political crisis over community safety shows little sign of easing as a state election looms.

Firmus Technologies accused of illegal excavation at proposed Tasmanian AI data centre site

AI infrastructure company Firmus Technologies appears to have conducted illegal excavation work at its proposed 52-megawatt data centre site in Wesley Vale, Tasmania, without necessary permits, according to Latrobe Council. The council says the work may go beyond an approved forest practices plan, and the company has agreed to cease operations while assessments are carried out.

25 Sept·2 min·2 sources

Decades of restoration work proves Mary River can be revived, community group says

The Mary River in south-east Queensland, described as one of the most degraded rivers on Australia's east coast, is showing signs of recovery thanks to decades of restoration work by landholders and the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee (MRCCC), which has completed more than 850 projects to improve water quality and reduce erosion.

25 Sept·2 min·2 sources

Bruce Pascoe braces for fresh culture war over new book targeting Christianity, capitalism and colonialism

Bruce Pascoe, the author of the landmark and controversial book Dark Emu, is bracing for another round of heated debate with the release of his new work, The European Mind: Colonialism, Capitalism, Christianity and How to Recover, in which he blames Western institutions for racism and dispossession. Pascoe has expressed hope that the discussion will be marked by 'decency and intellectual curiosity' rather than the bitter storm that followed his earlier book.

NSW government's anti-AI rental listing crackdown backfires after genuine mural photo mistaken for manipulation

The New South Wales government's crackdown on 'AI-doctored' rental listings has suffered an embarrassing setback after a property advertisement it flagged as a deceptive, AI-manipulated image turned out to be a genuine photograph of a $5,000 courtyard mural.

25 Sept·1 min·2 sources

Former NSW Police Officer Pleads Not Guilty to Murders of Sydney Couple

The long-awaited trial of former New South Wales police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon began Monday in Sydney, with the accused pleading not guilty to the murders of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies. The court heard that Lamarre-Condon entered Baird's Paddington home disguised as an UberEats driver before firing three shots from his service weapon.

25 Sept·1 min

NRL Finals 2026: Week 2 and Week 3 Matchups Confirmed

The 2026 NRL Premiership finals continue with two Week 2 fixtures this weekend, followed by a Week 3 showdown in Brisbane next week, as confirmed by published match schedules.

25 Sept·1 min·8 sources

Man charged with 22 domestic violence offences denies trying to 'prostitute' ex-wife

Kirk Osborne, facing 22 domestic violence charges, has told a court he never intended to 'prostitute' his ex-wife out after posting her dating profile online with the caption 'have a crack'.

25 Sept·1 min·3 sources

Sydney man becomes first jailed under Nazi salute laws

A Sydney man has become the first person jailed under Australia's new mandatory minimum sentencing laws for performing a Nazi salute, after he was sentenced to three years' imprisonment on Friday. Nathan Ballesty, 36, pleaded guilty to the salute charge along with six counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend, and one count of contravening a police order.

AFL grand final bets off as WA and Queensland premiers too busy

The traditional friendly wager between the premiers of Western Australia and Queensland ahead of Saturday's AFL grand final appears to have been called off, with both leaders reportedly too busy to place a bet.

25 Sept·1 min·3 sources

Father Rejects Coroner's Findings on Son's Death at Mackay Base Hospital

The grieving father of a five-day-old boy who died in 2023 has rejected a Queensland coronial inquest's conclusion that the death was not preventable, vowing to apply to have the findings set aside and calling for greater transparency in maternity care.

Former foster carers say system failed baby girl who died days after being returned to biological parents

The former foster carers of an eight-month-old Ballarat baby who died just days after being returned to her biological parents say the child protection system failed her. The baby, identified only as Mia, had been in foster care since three weeks old after presenting with signs of traumatic injury including bruising. She was returned to her biological parents following a court-ordered parenting assessment, but died three days later.

25 Sept·3 min

Toplace lawyer warned of 'huge' defects in campaign to discredit building commissioner, ICAC hears

The NSW corruption watchdog has heard that a Toplace employee warned fugitive developer Jean Nassif that serious building defects could "f***" the company, as the inquiry continues to examine efforts to target former building commissioner David Chandler. The lawyer for Nassif, Sharangan Maheswaran, is accused of orchestrating a campaign to damage Chandler's career, including by sending damaging material to political contacts.

Former Catholic priest Robert Hickman jailed for sexually abusing foster girls

Former Catholic priest Robert James Hickman, 81, has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison for sexually abusing two young girls in foster care during a visit to Perth 36 years ago, with a WA judge describing his actions as a 'breach of trust'.

Dom Dolla makes history with 60,000-strong EDM show at Marvel Stadium

Dom Dolla has played to 60,000 fans at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium, setting a new record for the biggest electronic dance music concert by a solo artist in Australia's history, according to a report in The Guardian.

25 Sept·1 min

Viral T-shirt and memes helped ex-Bomber Draper through 'darkest moments,' report reveals

A new report from the Herald and The Age details how Izzy Burgess supported former Bombers player Draper through arduous months of rehabilitation, keeping things light with satirical memes and a viral T-shirt during what he called "the darkest moments of my life."

25 Sept·1 min·3 sources

Flu season peaks late in Australia as cases surge, experts urge vaccination

Australia’s flu season is peaking later than usual, with infectious diseases experts urging the public to still get vaccinated despite the late timing. In the two weeks to September 6, the Australian Respiratory Surveillance report recorded more than 31,000 influenza cases, a 27.2 per cent increase from the previous period, bringing the year-to-date total to 171,440 laboratory-confirmed cases.

Fremantle Dockers Poised for First AFL Premiership After Years of Struggle

Fremantle are on the cusp of claiming their first AFL premiership, driven by a resilient squad built from overlooked players and a rock-solid defensive foundation, as they prepare to face the Brisbane Lions in Saturday's grand final.

Thousands of Queensland child safety workers to walk off job over stalled pay talks

Thousands of Queensland child safety workers will walk off the job for two-and-a-half hours this afternoon, escalating protected industrial action amid stalled negotiations with the state government over pay and conditions. The Together Union says members have been left with no choice as the government fails to address chronic understaffing and excessive caseloads.

25 Sept·3 min

One Nation defends $56k shed on Ashby property as 'unconventional' fundraiser

One Nation's general manager has defended the party's use of $56,000 in party funds to build a shed on James Ashby's private property, describing the micro-distillery project as an 'unconventional' fundraising move. The defence comes after the party admitted the expense in an email to members, where it said the money had been lent to a party-linked company.

25 Sept·1 min·6 sources

Four charged over shooting of man in suburban Perth

Four people have been charged with attempted unlawful killing after a 37-year-old man was shot in the stomach while walking near bushland in Perth’s southern suburb of Hamilton Hill earlier this month.

25 Sept·1 min·4 sources

Ex-West Coast Eagle Mark Hutchings' partner dies after childbirth

Former West Coast Eagles premiership player Mark Hutchings has announced the sudden death of his partner Hannah, who died two days after giving birth to their daughter Sofia. In a social media post, Hutchings said he was 'shattered' by the loss and expressed that Hannah had been looking forward to motherhood.

Delvene Delaney returns to Kakadu, 40 years after Crocodile Dundee

Australian actress and producer Delvene Delaney has returned to Kakadu National Park, four decades after the release of the blockbuster film Crocodile Dundee, where she reunited with the restored safari truck from the original movie and reflected on memories of her late husband, John Cornell.

Tasmanian Liberals to Grant Conscience Vote on Conversion Practices Ban, Minister to Vote No

Tasmanian Liberal MPs will be allowed a conscience vote on a Greens bill to ban conversion practices, Police Minister Felix Ellis has announced, confirming he will vote against the legislation. The bill, which would make it illegal to attempt to suppress or change a person's sexual or gender identity, is expected to be debated in state parliament this year.