Latest National news

Rudd's my candidate for UN chief: Nobel Prize winner

Daniel Flitton 11:15 PM   Jose Ramos Horta - Nobel prize winner and global face of East Timor's long struggle for independence - is backing former prime minister Kevin Rudd to become the next chief of the United Nations.

One school's stunning HSC result

The top 20 tends to be dominated by selective schools and high-fee independent schools.

Inga Ting 7:40 PM   In the contest for overall rankings, one school rocketed up the chart - but it wasn't the only big improver.

HSC Results 2015: Top 20 HSC schools revealed

Students who came first in their HSC subjects at Australian Technology Park on Tuesday.

Inga Ting and Eryk Bagshaw 7:39 PM   Selective schools and high-fee-paying, all-girls schools have dominated the 2015 HSC results.

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Culture shock as Canberra's institutions take Hollywood hit

The National Library of Australia, having recorded a $10 million deficit in the last financial year,  will have to trim $1.5 million from each year's funding.

Noel Towell, Clare Colley and Alexandra Back 6:23 PM   Cash stripped from Canberra's cultural attractions will go to pay for Hollywood blockbusters.

Selective and private girls' schools dominate HSC

Private girls' schools have shone in the 2015 HSC results.

Inga Ting and Eryk Bagshaw 6:19 PM   Selective and all-girls schools dominated the 2015 HSC, but one learning centre stood above the rest.

HSC results 2015: Honour Roll high achievers

Students who were unable to make the rescheduled exam can apply for special consideration.

6:19 PM   Search the names of those who achieved Band 6.

The school where being a nerd is cool

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Alexandra Smith 6:14 PM   At Menai High School this year's HSC students were encouraged to embrace their inner nerd. In fact, the more nerdy they were, the better.

Priest accused of lying to Royal Commission to 'save' Cardinal George Pell

Cardinal George Pell's lawyers say the bribery claim arose out of a 'misunderstanding'.

Jane Lee 6:05 PM   Former housemate has been accused of fabricating evidence about accusations that cardinal tried to bribe a survivor to keep quiet.

Whooping cough outbreak prompts rush on vaccines

A baby cries as it receives a vaccine.

Harriet Alexander 5:16 PM   A shortage of stock means only two types of patients will be given access to vaccines.

HSC Results 2015: The wait is over for 70,000 NSW High School students

Samantha MacKay, came first in one of her HSC subjects

Eryk Bagshaw 5:02 PM   HSC Results 2015: The wait is over for 70,000 NSW High School students

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Median explained

Illustration : artwork by Matt Davidson for Education opinion page 9-10-2002.
Shows a group of students trying to shift the V of VCE with a lever

8:00 PM   Here is a simple explanation of how median scores are derived.

Victorian Coroner blames missile for blowing MH17 out of the sky

MH17's wreckage was reconstructed  at the Gilze-Rijen Military Base.

Liam Mannix 1:47 PM   Coroner Ian West agrees with Dutch inquest into air tragedy, assures relatives that Australians' bodies were treated with dignity.

Patients to pay up to $62 more for medical tests

Doctors are concerned that medical imaging like CT scans may be unaffordable for the most vulnerable people.

Marika Dobbin 1:27 PM   The Australian Diagnostic Imaging Association warns the most ill people will be hit hard by the Turnbull government's $650 million healthcare cut.

Only in year 10 but already top of the state

"It was like all my hard work paid off, it's like a boyhood dream": Parunithan Ranganathan topped the state for his course.

Samuel Roberts 12:51 PM   Parunithan Ranganathan moved to Australia less than three years ago but is already top of the state.  

The Parliament House parking lottery

Bracket creep will slash up to $4500 from high income workers' pay packets, says a new report

Phillip Thomson 11:55 AM   Just how hard is it to get a park at Parliament House? Very.

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Girl power reigns supreme in HSC

Mala Rigby, Grace Parker, and Claudia Nielsen came first in HSC subjects and received their awards at Australian Technology Park in Sydney.

Alexandra Smith 10:53 AM   Girls have topped the state in agriculture, primary industries and automotive studies as well as English and history.

Pay offer as good as it gets: Cash

Public Service Minister Michaelia Cash: Her Employment Department has rejected a pay offer for a second time.

Noel Towell 10:47 AM   Four thousand public servants at Employment and Environment Departments vote no.

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Just some of the dumb things people said and did in 2015

Shut it down: Mark Latham's Twitter account attacking women was one of many stupid things that happened in 2015.

Tom Cowie 10:38 AM   What a dumb year it has been. Has it been the dumbest ever? There's plenty to suggest that's the case. Let's take a look at some of the evidence for the prosecution.

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Centrelink apologises for web welfare shutdown

A public servant has won compensation for changing duties within Centrelink.

Noel Towell 9:29 AM   Centrelink clients around Australia are furious over missing payments.

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High achievers: 40-plus VCE students

Illustration: The Age

8:43 AM   These are Victoria's top students; those who received 40-plus study scores in VCE subjects in 2015. Some received only one 40-plus score in their favourite subject; others received four or five, accumulating a perfect ATAR in the process. Search on schools or students.

'When the shots rang out I knew Tori's life had ended'

Tori Johnson.

Ken Johnson 7:35 AM   On the first anniversary of my son Tori's passing my feelings of great loss have been amplified.

APS cops MYEFO punishment

Treasurer Scott Morrison

Noel Towell 7:09 AM   More public service cuts and less funding for cultural institutions is on the economic agenda.

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Turnbull introduces 'co-payment by stealth': doctors

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Julia Medew 5:45 AM   Many Australians will face a new "co-payment by stealth" for pathology and diagnostic imaging tests because the Turnbull government is slashing its health budget by more than $650 million, doctors say.

Mexico confirms burnt remains are missing Australian surfers

Dean Lucas and Adam Coleman were from Golden Bay in Western Australia.

1:22 AM   A Mexican official on Monday identified charred bodies found in a camper van as two Australian surfers missing since last month in a state infamous for narcotics gangs.

'Poorly' Cardinal George Pell weighed down with worry over questioning

Cardinal Pell's appearance at the child abuse royal commission has been deferred.

Jane Lee 11:39 PM   Cardinal's fears about appearing before the royal commission may be contributing to his ill health, his former housemate says.

Students may pay tens of thousands as Phoenix goes to court

ACN chief executve Ivan Brown.

Michael Bachelard   Ivan Brown, the chief executive of Melbourne's Phoenix Institute, has taken the Turnbull government to the Federal Court in the first legal challenge to its attempts to rein in the scandal-plagued industry.

Want to know if you'll live to be 100? The answer may be in your genes

Illustration: Simon Letch

Marlene Cimons   Scientists say exceptional longevity probably has a genetic component - but a healthy lifestyle helps.

Public schools, independents share honours

Sophia Berlyn came first in Music and Luke Glendenning came first in Environmental Science.

Eryk Bagshaw   Public and independent school students have shared the honours at the HSC First in Course awards.

Girl in suitcase: Man charged with murder of Khandalyce Pearce

Daniel James Holdom

Ava Benny-Morrison   Homicide detectives have charged a man with the murder of a two-year-old girl.