Latest National news
Defence reveals concerns about drug linked to depression, anxiety, nightmares
Henry Belot 12:00 AM Previously classified documents show the Australian Defence Force kept giving soldiers a harmful drug for at least 14 years after first becoming concerned about its serious side effects.
Dying Pakistani student denied final visit from family by immigration department
Kate Aubusson 10:50 PM A terminally ill student who wanted to see his family one last time has had his request rejected by Australia's immigration department.
Penalty rate row stirs strife at pharmacies
Nick Toscano 7:08 PM Pharmacists in Australia have voted to launch industrial action for the first time, starting on Christmas Eve, as a national outlet chain moves to slash their penalty rates.
8000 students in limbo as college's registration cancelled
Eryk Bagshaw 7:03 PM A college that cost taxpayers more than $1 million per graduate last year has had its registration cancelled by the federal government.
Jackson ordered to pay HSU a further $900,000
Nick Toscano 6:03 PM Disgraced former union secretary Kathy Jackson has been ordered to pay the Health Services Union another $900,000, bringing the amount owed to about $2.4 million.
Australian actress Eliza Szonert held in custody after snatching back her child from former partner
Rory Callinan 12:38 PM Australian actress Eliza Szonert who snatched her son from her former partner was being held in police custody in Malaysia last night but had not been officially arrested, her mother Kay confirmed.
Acquire Learning casts 'a very dark shadow' over its clients
Michael Bachelard 11:14 AM The desperate and jobless are sold hope, but all they are buying is debt
Play me a memory
Peter Munro 11:01 AM John Watson has played piano at a Sydney bar every weekend since 1983. Musical tastes have changed little over that time, he says.
Australia lowers official travel warning for Iran
Daniel Flitton 10:39 AM Australia has just lowered its travel warning for Iran - potentially putting a trip to the Islamic Republic on a holiday bucket list for keen travellers.
Centrelink's IT meltdown hits disability pension
Noel Towell 9:08 AM Centrelink's tech woes disrupts Disability Pension medical crackdown.
'Fat but fit' counts for nothing scientists say – obesity is what drives early death
Laura Donnelly 10:45 PM Obese people who regularly exercise are far more likely to die early, compared with slim people who are unfit, research suggests.
New ABC head commits to editorial independence but open to advertising
Heath Aston, political correspondent 5:06 AM Incoming ABC boss, Michelle Guthrie, has pledged to protect the tradition of editorial independence at the national broadcaster but has also left the door open to advertising and digital paywalls.
What were they smoking? The five worst anti-drug campaigns of all time
Liam Mannix Drugs are bad, m'kay?
'Cowering and weak': APS Commissioner hits back
Noel Towell APS commissioner John Lloyd hits back at claim that the public service has become 'weak' and 'lacking self-confidence'.
More APS pay offers voted down
Noel Towell Thousands more public servants vote no as ABS boss orders investigation.
Doctors say raising legal age for smoking 'won't work'
Jane Lee Australia's two biggest states are not following Tasmania's plan to raise the legal smoking age to 21, and doctors warn it will not lower the number of smokers.
Stoner Sloth: It's now a joint attack on campaign
Rachel Browne The owner of the US medical marijuana website stonersloth.com has slammed the Australian campaign of the same name, describing it as "over dramatic".
Diabetes drug breakthrough for killer of pregnant women
Julia Medew 12:15 AM Australian scientists are confident they have discovered a treatment for pre-eclampsia, a condition that kills 60,000 pregnant women each year.
The science of overeating at Christmas
Bridie Smith How much can you eat before that stomach-straining, nausea-inducing feeling strikes?
Car dealer investigated over wombat deaths
Kate McClymont Multimillionaire car dealer Tony Azzi is being investigated over allegations that he used a high-powered rifle and semi-automatic pistols to kill wombats and other native fauna.
Royal Flying Doctors soar in Charity Reputation Index
Rachel Browne City-dwelling Australians may never need to call on the Royal Flying Doctor Service for help but they have shown their support for the group which provides health care for almost 300,000 people a year.
US bans microbeads
Francesca Wallace The push for an Australian ban on microbeads in cosmetics has been taken to a new level, as the United States recently introduced laws which outlaw the use of the tiny plastic beads.
Hundreds more jobs face axe at Immigration Department
Noel Towell New wage offer for Border Force and Immigration officials comes with a big catch.
The real star performers of the HSC
Inga Ting 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 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 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
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 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.
