National Breaking News
Friday, 28 February
Palmer to block Qantas ownership amendment
8:11AM QANTAS'S hopes of being unshackled from foreign ownership restrictions appears to have hit a roadblock in the form of billionaire MP Clive Palmer.
Spin speed determines spiral galaxy size
8:11AM THE spinning speed of spiral galaxies determines if they bulge or are flat discs, Perth astronomers say.
Concerns mount over PM's parental scheme
8:11AM PRIME Minister Tony Abbott's signature paid parental leave policy is causing discontent within his own government.
Thursday, 27 February
Bishop spiked rhino program, hearing told
9:53PM THE coalition has scrapped a $3 million Labor commitment to help save the Sumatran rhinoceros, a Senate hearing has heard.
Don't lose interest in Greste: colleague
9:45PM A SMALL crowd has rallied at Sydney's Martin Place in support of three journalists, including Australian Peter Greste, imprisoned in Egypt.
Qantas cuts 5000 jobs, sparks debate
8:17PM THE coalition and Labor are at odds over government steps to help Qantas return to profit, as the airline announces 5000 job cuts.
Sunshine Coast on measles alert
7:14PM QUEENSLAND'S Sunshine Coast is on measles alert, and health authorities are trying to trace people who might have been in contact with the infected person.
Nepotism probe needed: Qld integrity boss
7:06PM QUEENSLAND integrity commissioner Dr David Solomon says safeguards are needed to ensure chief executives and directors-general are hired on merit.
Johnston queries $50b defence budget
7:00PM DEFENCE Minister David Johnston says claims of a $50 billion defence budget in 10 years aren't credible.
Smokey Vic town safe, but no comparison
6:59PM VICTORIAN Premier Denis Napthine has offered his home to people wanting respite from the Morwell smoke, but says the town is safe.
Explosion before body found in fire ground
6:34PM THE WA bomb squad has been called in after reports of a large explosion before a scrub fire in suburban Perth, where human remains were later found.
Abused woman furious system still broken
6:18PM A WOMAN who suffered horrific abuse at a state-run girl's home at Parramatta has told the Royal Commission children in care are still at great risk.
Roxon becomes an adjunct professor
6:07PM AUSTRALIA'S first female attorney-general Nicola Roxon will become an adjunct professor at Victoria University.
Qld town's desperate search for teen
5:43PM THE northwest Queensland family of a 17-year-old boy who has been missing since Saturday are urging anyone who has seen their son to contact police.
O'Farrell broke code of conduct: Labor
5:43PM NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell has broken the ministerial code of conduct after he met a businessmen who was not on the official lobbyist list, Labor says.
Fed govt, NSW sign 'historic' Murray deal
5:31PM A NEW agreement has been secured between NSW and the federal government on the future of the Murray-Darling Basin.
Record slump in firms' investment plans
5:24PM MINING investment is in decline and the non-resource sector is treading water, a worry when the government is preparing a tough budget, says JP Morgan.
Johnston names White Paper panel
5:24PM DEFENCE Min ister David Johnston has named an expert panel to advise on the new Defence White Paper
Vic groups want tobacco price board ban
5:00PM HEALTH groups have called for a Victorian ban on cigarette vending machines and tobacco price boards at retail outlets.
Parental pay needs strong economy: senator
4:58PM NATIONALS senator John Williams says the government's paid parental leave policy shouldn't be introduced until the economy is stronger.
Thursday, 27 February
PM says no blame on Qantas
4:38PM TONY Abbott says Qantas management shouldn't be blamed for the loss of 5000 jobs.
Nothing improper, PM says of Cadbury grant
4:23PM PRIME Minister Tony Abbott says Labor suggestions there was something improper about a $16m grant to Cadbury is "deeply regrettable".
SA Qantas workers angry and shocked
4:21PM QANTAS is offering voluntary redundancies to almost all 250 ground staff at Adelaide Airport, leaving workers shocked and angry, unions say.
Junior officer charged over pepper spray
4:01PM A NSW probationary constable will face court in April accused of importing pepper spray into the country.
Giddings, Hodgman's 'friendly' poll debate
4:01PM TASMANIA'S leaders have clashed in a second election debate, where questioning turned to what they admired about each other.
NSW lockout laws to face first major test
3:52PM NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell admits police will face their "first major test" under the state's anti-violence laws this weekend during the Mardi Gras.
Ugandan anti-gay bill concerns Australia
3:44PM UGANDA has signed into a law tough new penalties for homosexuality, prompting condemnation from Western governments and rights groups.
Ex-rail exec denies favours-for-loans scam
3:44PM A FORMER RailCorp executive has denied doing favours for colleagues who gave him loans to help his gambling-addict daughter.
China rude towards Bishop: DFAT
3:31PM A DFAT official told a Senate hearing China's behaviour towards Foreign Minister Julie Bishop last year was rude, which was quickly changed to "robust".
Ashby wins appeal in Slipper case
3:28PM FORMER staffer James Ashby has won his appeal against a Federal Court decision to throw out his sexual harassment case against Peter Slipper.
Alcohol restrictions to begin in Darwin
3:07PM THE Australian Hotels Association has devised a set of voluntary regulations for bars to sign up to which will limit drinks served in Darwin CBD bars.
No more stopovers for WA, NT pollies
3:03PM THE rules around travel entitlements for politicians crossing the country and family members meeting them have been tightened.
DFAT knows nothing about Short
2:17PM AUSTRALIAN missionary John Short has been detained in North Korea but his current conditions are unknown, even to the federal government.
Horror week continues on WA roads
2:15PM WA'S road toll has risen to five deaths this week, after a man died when his car hit a tree in Perth's outer east.
Perth summer one of the driest and hottest
1:54PM PERTH has had just 2mm this summer, along with some of the hottest temperatures on record.
Qld town in shock after girl shot dead
1:54PM A FAR north Queensland indigenous community is in shock after an eight-year-old girl was accidentally shot dead by her young cousin.
Girl's death prompts tree safety review
1:54PM THE Education Department has ordered all NSW schools to have qualified arborists review the safety condition of trees after a girl was killed last week.
Abbott must explain lobby links: Labor
1:38PM THE federal opposition says the Liberals need to further explain their links with a lobbyist who has now quit as a ministerial chief of staff.
Growth hormone program widened: Dutton
1:35PM OLDER children will benefit from a decision to extend a growth hormone program, Health Minister Peter Dutton says.
Carr urges unis to 'dream big'
1:35PM OPPOSITION spokesman Kim Carr says universities shouldn't assume that keeping quiet would protect them from the government's razor gang.
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