Latest National news
The frightening epidemic affecting one in three Australians
Julia Medew 12:31 PM For years, John Hatty was a senior businessman travelling the world. The former scientist's job with a mining company took him to many fine restaurants where he would consume what he now calls his 'three enemies' - sugar, salt and fat.
NCA expects Parliament expansion sooner rather than later
Tom McIlroy 12:15 AM Overcrowding and demand for parking at Parliament House will see the building expanded much earlier than planned.
NT embraces Chinese chief as 'honorary Territorian'
Philip Wen 7:23 PM The rest of Australia and even the US might not feel the same way about selling out a strategically crucial port to the Chinese, but the Northern Territory's Chief Minister is lauding the Landbridge Group's leadership as "a good friend, a brother and a good partner".
Former South Australian Premier John Bannon dies
6:34 PM Former South Australian Premier John Bannon has died, aged 72.
Senate urged to probe hospital food for people with allergies
Julia Medew 6:19 PM The death of a 13-year-old boy with food allergies at a Melbourne hospital has caught the attention of Health Minister Sussan Ley who has backed calls for a Senate inquiry into how safely hospitals prepare food.
Why you're not going to die of a broken heart
Harriet Alexander 3:37 PM Research investigated the conventional wisdom that happier people lived longer, and found there was much more to the story.
'This will be the death of innovation in Australia'
Clare Sibthorpe 12:15 AM Entrepeneur says the private training industry will "go to war" with the federal government over new laws.
From obscurity to 'life' as an avatar
John Elder There are not enough Indigenous people as elders taking up the role as educators.
Education news in brief
6:00 PM Online tool assesses students' collaborative skills; scholarships available for rural and regional students; a political simulation game engages students; dementia research funds boosted; art historian honoured and young Victorians receive Duke of Edinburgh awards.
Hundreds of flowers to shine on Martin Place in permanent memorial to siege
Kirsty Needham Hundreds of flowers will forever illuminate Martin Place, the site of Sydney's worst terrorist attack, in a permanent memorial focused on how a city healed itself and defied fear.
Qantas acts on greyhounds
Julie Power Airline's decision hailed as "a win for gentle dogs facing certain death".
Call for death penalty to be reinstated for convicted terrorists
Natalie O'Brien An Islamic scholar has called for the reintroduction of the death penalty in Australia for anyone who is convicted of committing an act of murder or terrorism that causes the loss of human life.
Would you spend $140 to cure your hangover?
Eamonn Duff Australia's first IV hydration "Hangover Clinic" has opened in Sydney.
Branson's plea to Australia: Decriminalise drugs
Eamonn Duff Exclusive: Billionaire Richard Branson's submission to the National Ice Taskforce calls on Malcolm Turnbull to decriminalise drugs in Australia.
Missing from classroom and in court
Henrietta Cook, education reporter Many Victorian children charged with criminal offences don't attend school, according to a new report.
How 50 days in rehab saved my life
Eamonn Duff Exclusive: From ruin to recovery: How 50 days in ice rehab saved Sarah's life.
MLC: Parents at principal's former school speak out
Eryk Bagshaw The principal of private Sydney girls school MLC had experienced criticism previously.
The SPF 50+ sunscreens on shelves that failed tests
Esther Han The weather is hot, the beach is beckoning, and thoughts are turning to sun protection. But tests have found popular sunscreens are failing to live up to their SPF claims.
'You never knew when he was going to cry'
Emma Partridge When her father called himself a "weak man," Pru Goward felt overwhelmed.
Rock 'n' roll's unsung heroes finally in the limelight
Tim Elliott Rock 'n' roll roadies suicide at a rate 20 times the national average. The Australian Road Crew Association is trying to change that.
Labor loses legal bid to silence whistleblower
Ben Schneiders and Royce Millar The Victorian ALP has failed in its dramatic legal bid to silence branch-stacking whistleblower
Free kick to alcohol and gambling as sport loophole puts kids at risk
Jill Stark The federal government's media watchdog has been accused of failing to protect children after it refused to close a loophole that allows alcohol and gambling companies to advertise in peak children's viewing hours during sporting events.
Spectacular shooting-stars show to light up moonless night sky
Peter Spinks 1:00 AM This year's Geminid space-rock showers are best watched after midnight, peaking sometime between 2am and 4am on Tuesday morning.
Kurdish fighter Ashley Dyball tried to join the Australian Army
Rory Callinan Australian deported home after joining Kurdish forces against Islamic State is under investigation by the AFP.
Improving the climate for women
Julia May Nearly 11 years ago, on Boxing Day, 2004, a deep-sea earthquake triggered a giant wave that rose from the Indian Ocean and smashed across 13 countries – Thailand, Sri Lanka and Indonesia among them. Travelling at up to 800 km/h, the tsunami tossed tankers about like toys, tore strips off mountains and wiped out communities. More than a quarter of a million people died, an estimated three-quarters of them women.
Dubious honour for enterprise agreement
Phillip Thomson IP Australia offer bites the dust (again), as Agriculture opens up agreement to ballot.
Union urges politicians to reject latest pay rise
Markus Mannheim Independent tribunal says an increase is needed to attract high-calibre people to public office.
Extra nine minutes a day looms
Phillip Thomson Agency may soon lose best working hours in Australian public service.
Santa isn't the only busy one: families outsource decorating of the tree
Suzanne Carbone For some families, decorating a Christmas tree is a tradition done while bopping to Jingle Bell Rock and wearing a Santa hat. And maybe there's a punchbowl of eggnog to pretend it's snowing outside.
The faster, cheaper way of sending money overseas
Esther Han Australians are wasting millions of dollars by sending money overseas via the big four banks instead of the booming number of nimble, specialist players, experts warn.
