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Australian news: federal and state politics, the economy, courts, weather and the stories that matter across the country.
2056 articles · page 40 of 43
Mediation has collapsed in the long-running dispute between former Liberal minister Linda Reynolds and the Australian government over the payment to Brittany Higgins, with Reynolds accusing the government of dragging its heels on resolving the matter.
The Western Australian government has confirmed it will appeal a Federal Court judgment ordering Fortescue Metals Group to pay a record $150.3 million in native title compensation to the Yindjibarndi people, a decision that mining magnate Andrew Forrest called a threat to the state's resources sector.
· 2 sourcesA secret report by Basketball Australia into NBL owner Larry Kestelman has concluded he did not breach governance rules, but it also found he made ‘mistakes’ in his dealings with the sport’s governing body, according to documents released after months of secrecy.
· 3 sourcesThe Western Australian government has lodged an appeal against the May 2026 Federal Court ruling that awarded the Yindjibarndi people approximately $150 million in compensation for cultural loss, arguing the decision requires further legal clarity. The appeal, confirmed on Wednesday, marks the latest chapter in an 18-year legal battle that has become a landmark test of native title compensation laws in Australia.
· 3 sourcesA teenager convicted of a “brazen and violent” carjacking committed after Victoria’s controversial “adult time for violent crime” laws took effect has become the first person sentenced under the new regime — but he will not spend a day in custody, reigniting debate over the effectiveness of the legislation.
· 3 sourcesA man has applied for bail after allegedly striking and killing a pedestrian with his car following a police chase through the streets of Ballarat, Victoria. The incident, which police say was preceded by a car chase and a threat involving a chain, has renewed debate over bail laws and road safety in regional Victoria.
The New South Wales parliamentary inquiry into antisemitism has concluded its public hearings, forcing the state government and other entities to hand over more than 550,000 documents. The inquiry, which was granted a short extension to complete its work, has acknowledged widespread community frustration and offered a rare window into government secrecy surrounding the handling of antisemitic incidents.
Australian inflation slowed to 3.5 percent in the year to July, down from 3.8 percent in June, but the smaller-than-anticipated decline and a steady reading of the Reserve Bank’s preferred underlying measure have left the door open for another interest rate increase, with mortgage holders facing the prospect of further repayment pain.
The Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion concluded its public hearings on Wednesday, with Commissioner Virginia Bell announcing she will delay the final report by four days to avoid clashing with commemorations of the Bondi terror attack. Bell resisted a public push to extend the inquiry's work, emphasising the importance of delivering timely recommendations.
· 2 sourcesSafety investigators have opened probes into two fresh runway incidents at Sydney Airport, raising renewed concerns about the safety of Australia's busiest air hub. The new events, which occurred in recent days, are being examined by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), though details of the nature or severity have not yet been publicly released. The investigations add to a growing list of recent runway incidents at the airport, prompting questions about infrastructure and operational procedures.
· 6 sourcesFormer Australian Test cricketer Will Pucovski has lodged a writ in the Supreme Court of Victoria, detailing a training session incident he alleges cut short his sporting career, with the claim centering on a phrase that he “deserved physical pain”.
· 3 sourcesAs elective egg freezing becomes increasingly popular among young Australian women, experts warn that misleading advertising and conflicting information on social media are creating a landscape of misinformation, prompting Dr Devora Lieberman to separate fact from fiction in a new article published across multiple Australian news outlets.
· 3 sourcesPrime Minister Anthony Albanese is facing renewed scrutiny over a series of private dinners at multimillion-dollar mansions where select guests reportedly paid $10,000 each to dine with him, prompting calls from anti-corruption advocates for full transparency on who is attending and what is being discussed.
· 2 sourcesQueensland Child Safety Minister has defended the government's ongoing reforms to child protection following the alleged rape of a young girl in residential care, describing the incident as 'heinous' and reaffirming the state's commitment to addressing systemic abuse and exploitation of children in out-of-home care.
· 3 sourcesVictoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush has warned that arrests are imminent for individuals who assisted 'alleged paedophile' Dezi Freeman, confirming that the original investigation that led officers to Freeman's remote hideaway in the state's High Country remains active.
· 3 sourcesFresh inflation data showing Australian consumer prices rose 3.5% annually in July has reignited fears that the Reserve Bank will impose a fourth interest rate hike this year, with economists describing the figures as an 'unfortunate kick in the guts' for mortgage holders. The annual headline Consumer Price Index slowed from 3.8% in June but fell well short of the 3.2% forecast, casting doubt on hopes the central bank could avoid further tightening and stay on track to hit its 2.5 per cent target.
· 5 sourcesThe Queensland Liberal National Party has moved to support a ban on parliamentary questions that refer to a 'high-profile man', a move that drew late-night debate on Tuesday into matters of police legal costs in a Cairns extortion case and the associated court gag order. Parliament is set to resume from early Wednesday afternoon.
· 3 sourcesCollingwood coach Craig McRae has revealed that the future of club great Scott Pendlebury remains uncertain, describing the chances of the veteran staying on as 'just 50-50', while also addressing the disappointment of missing out on Port Adelaide star Zak Butters who reportedly rejected the Magpies' advances.
· 3 sourcesTesting of more than 130 lighting products sold on online marketplaces has found that the vast majority fail to meet Australian safety standards, raising serious concerns about consumer protection in the rapidly growing e-commerce sector.
· 2 sourcesThe Queensland Land Court has ruled that the owner of Brampton Island resort is in breach of lease conditions, describing the state of the tropical island's facilities as 'dilapidated to the point of falling down'. The decision paves the way for the lease to be stripped despite the owner's plans to build new amenities.
· 2 sourcesThe Productivity Commission has declared that Western Australian Premier Roger Cook crossed a line when he labelled its commissioners 'east coast clowns' in response to a damning report that described the state's Morrison-era GST floor deal as a $23 billion mistake. Commissioner Angela Jackson has condemned the personal attacks as 'unacceptable' while also expressing disappointment that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has ruled out any changes to the arrangement.
· 3 sourcesAustralia's inflation rate for the July quarter came in higher than expected, data released on Wednesday showed, validating the Reserve Bank's prior caution about upside risks and putting an interest rate increase back on the table for the upcoming monetary policy meeting.
Fresh inflation data released on Wednesday has come in higher than economists anticipated, delivering a potential blow to Australian borrowers already under pressure from elevated interest rates and stoking fresh uncertainty over the Reserve Bank's next move.
· 3 sourcesFederal Labor MP Luke Gosling has stepped aside from an envoy role after facing assault and bail charges, according to reports. The move comes as pressure had been mounting on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to have the Darwin-based MP stand aside, multiple outlets reported on Wednesday.
· 3 sourcesA Coalition tobacco taskforce has recommended cutting Australia's tobacco excise by as much as 80 per cent, arguing that soaring prices have fuelled an illicit cigarette black market now run by entrenched criminal networks, posing a threat to national security.
· 3 sourcesFormer union administrator Mark Irving has defended his decision to retain the controversial ‘Youth Crew’ within the CFMEU, telling a parliamentary inquiry that young activists can serve as a “vehicle for change.” However, Irving also stated that former union figure Jade Ingham would have no future role in the organisation.
· 3 sourcesAnita Perrottet, the sister-in-law of former New South Wales premier Dominic Perrottet, has told the state's corruption watchdog she has little recollection of her husband's political work and is not sure she has ever been a member of the Liberal Party.
· 3 sourcesThe commissioner of the Australian antisemitism royal commission, former High Court judge Virginia Bell, has requested an extension for the delivery of her report on the Bondi component of the inquiry, while directly addressing frustration from the Jewish community over the pace and scope of the probe. On the final day of hearings, the commission will call the father-in-law of a Bondi attack victim as its last witness.
· 3 sourcesNew figures released today show Australia’s inflation rate eased in July, but the decline was smaller than the Reserve Bank had hoped for, reigniting speculation that the central bank may be forced to deliver another interest rate rise. The monthly consumer price index indicator, released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, fell to 3.8 per cent from 4.1 per cent in June, still well above the RBA’s 2–3 per cent target band.
· 3 sourcesThe devastating Black Summer bushfires of 2019-2020, which scorched 24 million hectares, killed at least 33 people and destroyed 3000 homes, did not significantly alter the opinions of climate sceptics in Australia, according to an analysis by Nick O'Malley published in Sydney Morning Herald, Brisbane Times and The Age.
· 3 sourcesPerth is bracing for a severe storm with heavy rains expected to hit the region, prompting warnings from authorities for residents to take precautions against potential flooding and power outages.
· 3 sourcesThe Victorian government has opened a competitive auction for offshore wind projects it says could power the equivalent of 1.5 million homes, describing the process as a major step toward establishing a local offshore wind industry as the state prepares for the closure of its coal-fired power stations.
· 2 sourcesOne of Western Australia's highest-ranked real estate agents has been disqualified from this year's industry awards after discrepancies emerged in his reported sales data, raising questions about self-reporting practices in the sector.
· 2 sourcesDarron Levin, 47, was arrested at his Potts Point apartment on Tuesday after allegedly impersonating a lawyer and financial institutions to defraud six people out of approximately $650,000. Police seized luxury watches and jewellery worth millions of dollars during the raid.
· 3 sourcesThe Antisemitism Royal Commission, chaired by former High Court Justice Virginia Bell, holds its final day of hearings today, marking the culmination of a sweeping investigation into the rise of antisemitic incidents across Australia. The commission has heard from community leaders, victims, academics, and policymakers over a series of hearings that began earlier this year.
A major Gulf freight company has been grounded due to compliance and safety issues, putting more than 70 jobs at risk and threatening to drive up grocery prices in remote communities that depend on its services for essential supplies.
· 2 sourcesMichael Walls, a resident of a remote regional area, has been told his prepaid packages have been taken to a freight company's depot — a four-hour round trip from his home — leaving him and many other regional residents furious over a delivery system they say is failing them.
· 2 sourcesA string of four close calls at Sydney Airport in as many weeks has highlighted growing concerns over runway safety, with new analysis of Australian Transport Safety Bureau data from 2003 to 2025 showing a statistically significant increase in taxiing collisions and near-collisions that cannot be attributed solely to growth in aviation activity.
Wallabies back-rower Tom Hooper has barely had a break from rugby in 18 months, but the 25-year-old insists he is ready to keep juggling his commitments for both club and country as the Wallabies prepare for a busy international season.
· 3 sourcesAustralia's national news live blog reports that Australia, the UK and Canada are being urged to consider a formal probe into the killing of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom, while tributes continue to pour in for country music legend Dolly Parton. The updates, published across Sydney Morning Herald, Brisbane Times and The Age, highlight two distinct stories drawing public attention.
· 3 sourcesOne year after two Victorian police officers were fatally shot by Dezi Freeman, memorials and commemorative services are being held across the state to honour their service and sacrifice, with family, colleagues and the broader community paying tribute.
· 3 sourcesA growing wave of ‘situational sellers’ is emerging in Australia’s housing downturn, with some home owners forced to put their properties on the market because of divorce, death, job loss or ill health, even as economists predict double-digit price falls. The trend, reported by Alice Uribe in the Sydney Morning Herald, the Age and the Brisbane Times, underscores how the property slump is creating hardship for those least able to absorb it.
· 3 sourcesA coastal town long known for its laid-back, unpretentious character is finally being recognised as the perfect beach getaway, according to a new report that charts its transformation from a 'daggy' hideaway to a sought-after destination.
· 3 sourcesThe Melburnian credited with creating the world’s first robotaxi has predicted that Australian capital cities will see widespread driverless vehicle adoption within a decade, but cautioned that a fierce commercial competition — which he described as a ‘commercial battle royale’ — must first play out among global tech giants and automakers vying for dominance in the autonomous mobility market.
· 3 sourcesAs the 2026 AFL home-and-away season ends, club officials are finalising list decisions that will shape next year's competition, with several high-profile delistings and ambitious trade targets expected to dominate the off-season, according to industry analyst Marc McGowan. The deadline for player contract options and trade requests triggers a period of intense negotiations, as clubs balance salary cap pressures with the need to rebuild or contend immediately.
· 3 sourcesCollingwood forward Dan McStay has opened up about the pivotal, honest conversations with coach Craig McRae at the start of the year that prevented him from being dropped and helped the Magpies embrace a season-defining change in culture and performance.
· 3 sourcesMolly Picklum, the reigning world surfing champion, has admitted she is ‘a bit surprised’ her title defence remains alive after going nearly a full year without an event win. The 23-year-old Australian has not claimed a victory since her iconic world title triumph 358 days ago, yet she remains mathematically in contention for back-to-back crowns.
· 3 sourcesA combination of cheap fares and revised timetables has pushed bus patronage to a record 13.5 million trips, according to figures released on Wednesday. The top 20 busiest routes have been identified, but the government insists the network still has ample room to accommodate further growth.
· 3 sources