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The real star performers of the HSC

Inga Ting 11:13 AM Three years ago, Jasmine Kumar's academic results were among the lowest in the state for reading, writing and numeracy. This week 17-year-old was awarded First in Course for Business Services, finishing her HSC with an ATAR of 91.

Early deaths a 'truly shocking' situation

Catherine Armitage 12:55 AM In an unusual public mea culpa, psychiatrists have accepted that a "tendency to protect our professional turf without a good understanding of the consequences" is partly to blame for the "appalling" lower life expectancy of people with mental illness.

Climate research body fights for survival

Adam Morton 12:27 AM A leading think tank and lobby group on climate change is fighting for survival after the multi-million dollar support of its primary benefactor ran out.

Bush tucker trend: Aboriginal people call for greater share of the pie

Nicole Hasham Advocates are calling for proper recognition and financial rewards for the original custodians of bush foods as the industry expands and its export potential grows.

Einstein's space, time and relativity

12:15 AM One hundred years ago, Albert Einstein set down the equation that now rules the universe.

Sorry, wrong number: Australia's spy bungles revealed

Natalie O'Brien 12:15 AM Australians were spied on without permission.

Church in controversial legal tactic to block lawsuits

Chris Vedelago, Cameron Houston The Catholic Church attempted to conceal incriminating documents about child sex abuse using a legal tactic that has also been employed by tobacco companies to block victim compensation lawsuits.

'If I don't get this new stuff, hep C will end up taking me'

Stephanie Wood 12:15 AM Hepatitis C sufferer Martin Pearce is looking forward to making an appointment with his doctor to find out when he can go on to breakthrough drugs.

Tuggeranong DHS offices sell for $75m

Matthew Raggatt 11:30 PM A trio of buildings leased to the federal government in Tuggeranong have fetched $75 million.

Conman Peter Foster obtains false passport

Chris Vedelago, Cameron Houston Notorious conman Peter Foster has obtained a false Irish passport as part of an apparent plan to flee the country and collect millions of dollars he has stashed overseas.

Leading autism service to be investigated over restraint policy

Nick Toscano and Beau Donelly The Andrews government will order an independent review into the use of restraints by one of Australia's leading disability services in the aftermath of a scandal involving a large wooden box built to lock up people with autism.

Santa's big trip - how magic mushrooms explain Christmas

John Elder 12:15 AM We always accepted that Santa Claus was a house-breaker - but a stoner too?

Australian Aboriginal Lucky Dolls on sale at Brisbane Airport

Kieran Gair The sale of 'Australian Aboriginal Lucky Doll' souvenirs at Brisbane International Airport has sparked outrage on social media.

Ella beats insurance giant over mental illness claim

Melissa Singer A Melbourne university student has had a landmark win against insurance giant QBE after it initially refused a reimbursement due to mental illness.

Apology over gay sex convictions in Tasmania

Andrew Darby In a move expected to aid scores of people, Tasmania will be the first state in Australia to formally apologise over past convictions for consenting gay sex, as it expunges criminal records.

Watchdog moves on Henry Kaye-linked scheme

Royce Millar, Ben Schneiders, Simon Johanson A massive land banking scam linked to notorious property spruiker Henry Kaye is in tatters after the corporate regulator moved to wind up housing projects in Melbourne's outer west and Bendigo.

Is a Hong Kong high rise coming to a suburb near you?

Melanie Kembrey The operator of Hong Kong's envied metro system wants to strengthen its grip on Australia's rail network, eyeing opportunities to build and run new lines in Sydney and Melbourne.

Can we truly forgive?

Barney Zwartz No gift so enriches the giver as forgiveness. Yet, especially among Christians, the expectation, even demand, that one must forgive can also be crippling.

Surf school a splash with refugees

Bellinda Kontominas The men participating in this learn to surf school at Bondi Beach have every reason to fear the ocean but saltwater heals all manner of wounds.

A father's desperate plea: Send my son to rehab or he could kill this Christmas

Eamonn Duff 12:15 AM They are the words of a broken father who fears his ice addicted teenage son could either kill – or be killed – this Christmas.

Slow decline of maths in schools worse for public school students

Inga Ting Public schools have been hit hardest by the decline of school science and maths, researchers say.

A captured audience

Melanie Kembrey Hong Kong's 'value capture' model is attracting plenty of attention as governments grapple with how to fund expensive rail projects.

Tirade against public service perks

Phillip Thomson Extra paid leave, allowances and flex time under attack.

Audiences could pay under new ABC boss

Tom Allard With the ABC soon to be under new management, the question of paying to watch some content is back on the agenda.

We need to talk about Islam, says former radical

Andrew Masterson 12:15 AM People in the West are reluctant to discuss Islamism because they are frightened of being portrayed as racist, according to Maajid Nawaz, a British politician who once spent time in an Egyptian jail, convicted of belonging to an extremist organisation.

Hundreds of ATO bosses get 3% pay rise

Noel Towell ATO's Leeper says the whole workforce could have 3 per cent - if it had just voted yes.

Police question GP over "lethal dose" to help patient die

Richard Baker, Nick McKenzie Nagambie doctor Alan Kosky did not want to his elderly patients to suffer. But police, the coroner and now federal health officials are probing his provision of end of life care amid concern some patients were not terminal.