George Brandis reveals new direction for human rights commission

Deborah Snow Alone among the seven commissioners of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Tim Wilson never had to apply for the job.

The free-range ham sham

Alana Schetzer Christmas meat producers may be telling porkies about the cost of goods, after a consumer group found there is no way to ensure that their free-range goods were raised in those conditions.

Heavy justice

Ninio Bucci and Jane Lee When the punching stopped, Sam had pummeled the man unconscious. It was December 2010 and Sam was drunk, standing between a pub and a kebab shop in a country town, about to have his first run-in with...

A princely sum for the Red Cross

Nick Miller Prince Charles has made a donation to the Australian Red Cross, to help support people affected by the NSW bushfires.

Aboriginal singer Kutcha Edwards and his siblings welcomed to country

John Elder They started out in rain 10 days ago from the place they'd been taken to as children, Melbourne. They drove the day in a convoy to Swan Hill, grabbed some lunch for the babies and drove on, across...

Gamble pays off but threat remains

Nick Ralston, Sarah Whyte and Peter Hannam A gamble by firefighters has paid off as New South Wales has escaped one of its most threatening bushfire days on record largely unscathed.

Army sacks six members of 'Jedi Council'

David Wroe The Army has sacked six soldiers at the centre of the notorious "Jedi Council", whose members swapped grossly demeaning emails about women they'd slept with.

Rise in house prices blamed for boosting financial stress levels

John Collett After dipping over the first half of this year, financial stress levels are on the rise.

Government announces anti-bikie taskforce

Rania Spooner Federal authorities have fast-tracked a crackdown on bikies with the launch of a six-man Victorian strike team to bolster national disruption efforts.

Sexual harassment levels 'alarming' in rural Australia

Clay Lucas A 'cultural epidemic' of sexual harassment is taking place in rural Australian workplaces, but little is being done to tackle the issue, according to new research to be presented at Melbourne...

Just a spoonful of sugar helps the aggressiveness go down

Nicky Phillips People prone to aggressive behaviour can reduce their outbursts and control their impulse to fight by using their non-dominant hand or consuming a little sugar, new research has found.

Employers warn on misuse of anti-bully laws

Clay Lucas Employees who face the sack could exploit new laws to stop bullying by taking their manager to the national workplace umpire, employer law firms and business groups have warned.

Minnows threaten Senate havoc

Heath Aston Clive Palmer and micro-parties threatening to play havoc with PM's legislative agenda.

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Pilot killed in light plane crash near Mount Hotham

Mex Cooper Peter Brereton had recently retired after 40 years with the CFA but when help was needed to battle NSW bushfires, he took to the skies.

Troubled waters

Once a popular tax haven and tourist spot, Norfolk Island is now broke - and wracked by dark tales of social breakdown. Kathy Marks reports.

Behind the veil

Malcolm Knox Kerry Stokes has gone from rags to riches. But as Malcolm Knox reports, truth and closure are elusive in the story of the media mogul who is a master of reinvention.

Residents still failing to heed bushfire advice

Michael Hopkin Many people in fire-prone areas are still not facing up to the need to decide on a bushfire strategy in advance, a survey has shown.

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The Zone transcript: Dr Aron Ping D'Souza

Michael Short Michael Short: Dr Aron Ping D'Souza, welcome to The Zone.

Attenborough's own discovery Down Under

Nicky Phillips The world-famous naturalist and wildlife broadcaster David Attenborough has described a collection of Australian fossils, rejected by New South Wales' natural history museum, as 'world class'.