Latest National news
Scientists uncover the brain mechanism that makes you sigh
Rachel Feltman 10:04 PM You probably haven't given them much thought, but it's actually a life-saving reflex.
Melbourne school accused of 'whitewashing' black history
![A scene from Hairspray
the musical.](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/p/n/i/u/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmp7ej.png/1455014000873.jpg)
Beau Donelly 9:33 PM A Melbourne student has accused her school of "whitewashing" history after its music department was given the go-ahead to adapt the American musical Hairspray for its annual show.
It's a 'crisis' in environmental science, scientists say
![Environmental science at CSIRO is under attack, one scientist facing the axe says.](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/o/4/8/t/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmpdq8.png/1455014774884.jpg)
Peter Hannam 9:27 PM CSIRO scientists say deep staffing cuts facing key divisions constitute "a real crisis for all environmental science" in the organisation, amid mounting international criticism.
Potential measles outbreak in Brunswick
![Four cases of measles have been confirmed in Brunswick and East Brunswick in the past week.](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/p/u/3/d/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmp9ba.png/1455011950459.jpg)
Marissa Calligeros 8:59 PM Four people living in the Brunswick area have contracted the disease.
National Museum acquires Peter Norman Olympic singlet
![Peter Norman, Tommie Smith and John Carlos. Smith and Carlos give a Black Power salute on the medal podium at the 1968 ...](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/p/e/k/u/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmp3id.png/1455011926395.jpg)
Meghan Corcoran 8:58 PM The world could not ignore the gloved salute of Black Power on the Podium at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico.
Islamic School of Canberra distances itself from Sydney school funding cut
![Islamic Council of Canberra chairman Mohammed Berjaoui.](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/p/s/7/4/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmp8oy.png/1455010611121.jpg)
Emma Macdonald 8:36 PM Islamic School of Canberra distances itself from the financial problems plaguing Sydney's largest Islamic school Malek Fahd.
Why you should think twice about Thermomix and Nutribullet
![NutriBullet.](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/p/0/j/z/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmohao.png/1455008880618.jpg)
Esther Han 7:56 PM Fifty-six major electronics companies have been graded based on their supply chains. None received an A.
APS bosses to try, try again on wages
![CPSU national secretary Nadine Flood predicts the vote will end in defeat for the wage proposal..](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/9/f/b/8/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmo8ep.png/1455008082441.jpg)
Noel Towell 7:54 PM APS departments hope persistence will pay off in wage offers.
Malek Fahd's government funding axed
![Australia's largest Islamic school has lost up to $19 million in Commonwealth funding.](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/9/h/1/3/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmoxzk.png/1455003301261.jpg)
Eryk Bagshaw 6:35 PM The Commonwealth government has cut funding to Australia's largest Islamic School after an investigation found evidence of financial mismanagement and governance failures.
Crackdown to ensure students are "uni-ready"
![Education Minister Simon Birmingham.](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/l/3/i/v/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmp1s2.png/1455003029961.jpg)
Eryk Bagshaw 12:01 AM Universities will have to become more transparent on their admissions standards in the wake of an ATAR controversy.
Crown croupier charged with $100,000 fraud over paying out losing mates
![The accused man was escorted from the gaming floor of Crown Casino.](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/p/m/a/n/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmplv0.png/1455004170146.jpg)
Cameron Houston, Chris Vedelago 6:00 PM A croupier at Crown Casino has been charged with serious deception charges over allegations he rigged a dice game and paid out more than $100,000 to five friends.
Former PM&C; secretary urges public servants to be frank and fearless
![Professor Peter Shergold believes the Australian public service must learn from its mistakes.](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/m/i/6/z/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmpe9s.png/1454997343958.jpg)
Henry Belot 4:55 PM Former Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary Peter Shergold has blamed major policy failings on the public service's inability to provide frank and fearless advice to ministers.
Chief of Australian online firm resigns amid allegations of corporate misconduct
![The Australian Securities and Investments Commission is expanding its investigation into Uglii.](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/t/k/b/6/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmp2bn.png/1455001867314.jpg)
Nick McKenzie, Richard Baker, Philip Wen 4:51 PM Chief executive of Australian Internet firm Uglii resigns as the corporate watchdog ramps up its investigation into allegations the firm engaged in serious corporate misconduct.
'Anti-adoption sentiment' must change: minister
![Forced adoptions and the Stolen Generations have influenced sentiment, says Brad Hazzard.](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/x/i/f/f/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmp30o.png/1454993886854.jpg)
Rachel Browne 3:58 PM As the number of children in care nears 20,000, advocates are pushing a "family for life" model.
Secretary's nasty Estimates surprise
![The Communications and the Arts Department has been tardy with its QoNs.](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/r/8/2/m/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmp50x.png/1454981371103.jpg)
Phillip Thomson 12:29 PM Frustrated senators quiz new department secretary on lateness of responses to questions on notice.
'I do wonder what your job is': Wong's spray
![Senator Penny Wong grilled John Lloyd in an estimates hearing.](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/0/0/g/b/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmovg2.png/1454968221120.jpg)
Penny Wong grills John Lloyd over his concern for welfare of public servant in Jamie Briggs saga.
Public servant steps over the line
![Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection Michael Pezzullo and Senator Michaelia Cash in ...](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/o/t/k/1/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmopye.png/1454993887887.jpg)
More evidence on Monday, courtesy of an extraordinary overreach by secretary of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, Mike Pezzullo, that Australia's harsh and secretive border protection system is straining at the seams - that its moral and administrative fabric is threadbare.
Benign weather in store for Sydney as big heat builds in the west
![Swimmers rejoice: Great weather forecast for Sydney this week.](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/n/m/n/r/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmo46s.png/1454931580206.jpg)
Peter Hannam Sydney could get its best weather for the year, with a week of gently warming days, lots of sunshine and little rain.
The prostate wars: Patients charged more than $30,000 for treatment
![Treatment options differ: Patients face a confusing array of choices when diagnosed with prostate cancer.](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/m/p/z/l/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmm5ol.png/1454931225984.jpg)
Harriet Alexander Men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer face a confusing array of treatment choices, each with its own price tag and idiosyncratic side effects.
Human trials for Australian-made bionic spine to start next year
![Biomedical engineer Nick Opie is part of the team working on the 'bionic spine'.](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/o/7/u/1/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmjqdj.png/1454978520258.jpg)
Bridie Smith 3:00 AM Patients left paralysed by injury or illness could be back on their feet again, thanks to a breakthrough by Melbourne researchers who have designed a revolutionary bionic spine.
The public service's 34,000 empty desks
![The Commonwealth has 34,000 empty desks in more than 500 buildings around Australia, including Canberra.](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/o/i/l/1/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmo3wr.png/1454927503257.jpg)
Noel Towell "Operation Tetris" making progress, but taxpayers still pay for vast swathes of empty offices.
Australia is not the lucky country, report finds
![SMH News story by Erik Bagshaw, Australia is far more unequal than we thought. A new study from the department of ...](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/o/t/u/a/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmnkmi.png/1454929029987.jpg)
Australians have very little ability to move beyond their family's socioeconomic status unless one key investment is made.
Our baby joy after a decade of heartache
![Norbert Herrmann and Suzanne Pattison with their 21-month-old daughter Elke.](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/o/g/v/u/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmmvyi.png/1454965370552.jpg)
Suzanne Pattison would often see women playing with their kids in the park and long for that kind of love in her life.
George Pell will not return to Australia to testify
![George Pell.](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/t/9/t/9/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmodum.png/1454918645939.jpg)
Cardinal George Pell will not return to Australia after the child abuse royal commission granted him permission to testify via video link from Rome because of his poor health.
South African egg donors fly to Australia
![South African egg donor Genevieve Uys is running an agency that brings egg donors to Australia.](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/o/n/7/m/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmo8qn.png/1454957014966.jpg)
Young South African women are due to arrive in Australia this month to serve as egg donors for local IVF patients who are desperate for babies.
AFP resources 'stretched' to cope with terror threat
![Australian Federal Police and NSW Police carry out a joint counter-terrorism operation.](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/3/5/u/0/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmohbz.png/1454972219736.jpg)
The Australian Federal Police says its resources are "stretched" to respond to a growing terror threat.
Investor says he was not permitted to take away whisky barrels from Nant distillery
![Nant Whisky with awards given to its product in the China Liquor awards in January 2016.](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/o/i/9/2/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmoi11.png/1454915766685.jpg)
One of the investors in Nant, David Kavanagh, says Nant Distillery refused to allow him to take his whisky to another bond store, even though he had the correct paperwork from the the Australian Tax Office, and had organised placement in another secure facility.
CSIRO head defends climate research cuts as angry scientists protest
![Scientists rally in Melbourne against cuts to climate change research at the CSIRO.](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/o/h/g/o/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmo81n.png/1454914592095.jpg)
CSIRO head Larry Marshall has sought to defend deep cuts to climate science programs after days of sustained criticism, saying global warming research was "one piece of a much larger puzzle" in solving Australia's biggest challenges.
Immigration boss warns additional job losses 'unavoidable'
![Michael Pezzullo, secretary of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, said the department was trying to ...](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/m/i/t/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmo4c2.png/1454956926789.jpg)
Henry Belot The Department of Immigration and Border Protection secretary Michael Pezzullo says additional job losses are "an unavoidable reality".
'Too many inquiries', department head says
![Clerk of the Senate Dr Rosemary Laing and Usher of the Black Rod Rachel Callinan, last year.](/web/20160209134716im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/8/u/0/v/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gmo4pj.png/1454911037727.jpg)
Wasting public servants' time? Hunt is on for politicians who call for inquiries and don't show up.