National News
Boys' carers at Salvation Army home, 'they were cruel bastards'
PAUL BIBBY Some boys knew it as ''the cage'', others ''the lock-up'' - a small cell with iron bars built into the door. And for youngsters at the Salvation Army's Riverview Training Farm in Queensland it was a place of dread.
Nauru passes law to allow deportation of Australian Rod Henshaw
MICHAEL GORDON The Nauru government has moved swiftly to deport a long-term resident after rushing through retrospective legislation to allow the removal of 'prohibited immigrants' without any right of appeal.
Health Minister Peter Dutton pushes overhaul to cut 'waste'
Dan Harrison, Jonathan Swan Health Minister Peter Dutton says new figures showing an escalation in health spending demonstrate why the government must cut ''waste'' in health.
Abbott, Turnbull clash over ABC
Heath Aston, Rick Feneley Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has strongly defended the ABC's editorial independence in the face of Prime Minister Tony Abbott's attack on the national broadcaster, which he says ''instinctively takes everyone's side but Australia's''.
Mick Gatto says he's just a union 'fixer'
Nick Toscano Mick Gatto has loosely outlined his job description as a building union 'fixer', while denying links to dirty deals and industry corruption.
Obama's no 'lame duck', says US Ambassador John Berry
STEPHANIE ANDERSON 3:52pm A strong speech by a man who’s no “lame duck” is how US Ambassador John Berry described President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address on Wednesday.
Distressed asylum seeker children feeling the effects of long-term detention: Senator
ALEISHA ORR 4:19pm Greens senator Sarah Hanson Young has described the situation at Christmas Island detention facilities as "dire" after a recent visit to the island.
DFAT confirms death of Perth man Rodney Chambers in Philippines
12:59pm The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says it's providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian man found dead in the Philippines.
Defence: Allowances to be tightened for soldiers posted abroad
Deborah Snow About 1000 Defence Force members serving abroad face cuts to their overseas allowances, as the government adopts a tighter definition of what it means to be ''in the field''.
Toyota: government backs company's bid to change workers' conditions
Ben Schneiders, James Massola Toyota's bid to cut workforce conditions and costs has won the support of the Abbott government which will join a Federal Court appeal in support of the car maker.
Craig Thomson lied -- he had sex with me often, ex-prostitute says
ADAM COOPER A former prostitute has revealed she regularly provided sexual services to Craig Thomson at the time the former federal MP was accused of illegally using Health Services Union funds, and says his subsequent denials were lies.
Peter Cosgrove: Yarralumla should be a breeze after dealing with conflicts and a cyclone
TONY WRIGHT A man who has won great respect serving Australia in war, peacekeeping and in a time of disaster has stepped up to serve again.
Quentin Bryce's replacement as governor-general likely to march to different drum
MARK KENNY Opinion It is tempting to see the appointment of Peter Cosgrove as a bit disappointing - as just the kind of line and length preferment one might expect from a similarly inclined conservative government.
Tony Abbott says top soldier Peter Cosgrove top pick for leadership
Mark Kenny, Jonathan Swan Tony Abbott says appointing Australia's former top soldier as governor-general was a case of the best person for the job and installing someone who could deliver leadership beyond politics.
Abbott swoops on union graft
James Massola, Judith Ireland Prime Minister Tony Abbott is poised to announce a royal commission with sweeping powers to examine slush funds, corruption and malfeasance in the union movement. The move follows a Fairfax Media investigation that revealed fresh allegations of bribery and misbehaviour in the construction sector.
Peter Cosgrove, the well-known soldier
TONY WRIGHT Opinion New governor-general Peter Cosgrove may be Australia's best-known military man, but he's long veered clear of politically charged bullets, and is not about to change.
Ex-prostitute details sex sessions with Craig Thomson
ADAM COOPER A former prostitute has confirmed she regularly provided sexual services to Craig Thomson at the time the former federal MP was accused of illegally using Health Services Union funds.
Toyota joined by Federal Government in court appeal of work conditions
Ben Schneiders and James Massola Toyota's bid to cut workforce conditions and costs has won the support of the Abbott government, which will join a Federal Court appeal in support of the car maker.
Analysis
CFMEU corruption and bribery allegations play into government's hands
JAMES MASSOLA Opinion Evidence of bribery and links between the powerful construction union, bikies, organised crime and companies seeking work on large private and government building projects could not have come at a better time for the Abbott government.
Threat to kill whistleblower
Nick McKenzie, Richard Baker and James Massola A building union stalwart says he received death threats after trying to stop his union's dealings with a Sydney crime figure, as mounting revelations see Tony Abbott poised to announce a royal commission on union corruption.
PM signals powerful union probe
James Massola, Josh Gordon and Judith Ireland Prime Minister Tony Abbott is poised to announce a royal commission with sweeping powers to examine corruption and other crime in the union movement.
CFMEU veteran received death threats after blowing whistle
Nick McKenzie, Richard Baker A building union stalwart says he received death threats after he tried to stop his union's dealings with a Sydney crime figure.
Union veteran received death threats
Nick McKenzie, Richard Baker and James Massola A building union stalwart says he received death threats after he tried to stop his union's dealings with a Sydney crime figure, as mounting revelations see Prime Minister Tony Abbott poised to announce a royal commission on union corruption.
Rank and file would benefit from open, honest unions
The Herald wants a better deal for union members. There is no reason why the governance of unions should not be as scrupulous as the governance of companies.
Binge drinkers continue practice in pregnancy, study finds
Kate Hagan More than half of women who binge drink continue to do so during pregnancy, an Australian study has found, with fewer than one in five following guidelines to abstain from alcohol.
Salvation Army locked boys in cage, raped and beat them, royal commission hears
PAUL BIBBY Young boys were locked in a cage for days on end as part of a brutal regime of physical and sexual abuse meted out to dozens of youngsters at Salvation Army homes in the 1950s, '60s and '70s, a royal commission into child-sex abuse has heard.
Christmas Island worse than Jordan refugee camp
MICHAEL GORDON Asylum seekers being held in harsh conditions on Christmas Island are more depressed, scared and anxious than those being housed in the world's second-largest refugee camp, says Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young.
Nauru charges $6000 for business visa
DANIEL FLITTON Nauru has raised the cost of business visas from $400 to $6000 as the tiny Pacific island cashes in on an economic boom from hosting Australia's refugee processing centre.
Stroke breakthrough: Oestrogen the key, say researchers
JULIA MEDEW Australian scientists have discovered a drug that may have the potential to reduce, and even stop, the effects of stroke.
Christmas Island detainees vulnerable: Senator Hanson-Young
MICHAEL GORDON Asylum seekers on Christmas Island are more depressed, scared and anxious than those being housed in the world's second-largest refugee camp, says Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young.
