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
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
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
Marissa Calligeros 8:59 PM Four people living in the Brunswick area have contracted the disease.
National Museum acquires Peter Norman Olympic singlet
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
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
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
Noel Towell 7:54 PM APS departments hope persistence will pay off in wage offers.
Malek Fahd's government funding axed
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"
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
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
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
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
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
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
Penny Wong grills John Lloyd over his concern for welfare of public servant in Jamie Briggs saga.
Public servant steps over the line
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
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
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
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
Noel Towell "Operation Tetris" making progress, but taxpayers still pay for vast swathes of empty offices.
Australia is not the lucky country, report finds
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
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
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
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
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
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
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'
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
Wasting public servants' time? Hunt is on for politicians who call for inquiries and don't show up.
