Latest National news

Whooping cough cases quadruple in NSW

Harriet Alexander 1:09 PM   More than 12,000 notifications as vaccine stocks in the private market run dry.

Joyce moves public servants from Canberra

Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce says decentralisation is "a real priority for this government".

Phillip Thomson 12:48 PM   Agriculture minister moves ahead with controversial decentralisation plan for three organisations.

Potential measles outbreak in Brunswick

The measles rash on the face of a child.

Liam Mannix, Marissa Calligeros 11:51 AM   Four people living in the Brunswick area have contracted the disease.

Australian bushfires on the rise, new research finds

The number of bushfires are on the rise in Australia according to new research.

Tom Arup 11:47 AM   The number of bushfires in Australia is on the rise - up 40 per cent since 2007 - local scientists have found as part of research to try develop a system for firefighters to help them forecast where they might breakout.

Why sex matters in science

The under-representation of female mice in animal trials could have dramatic implications.

Bridie Smith 11:47 AM   Female participation in scientific research needs to increase dramatically, if discoveries are to benefit all of humanity. It's a familiar theme. But this time, there's a twist.

Australia needs 'highly effective' climate research: chief scientist

Dr Alan Finkel made his first appearance before Senate estimates as Australia's Chief Scientist on Wednesday.

Peter Hannam 11:20 AM   Australia's new chief scientist Alan Finkel has had "significant conversations" with leading researchers to ensure planned deep cuts to climate science programs by the CSIRO would not undermine the country's ability to deal with global warming.

Job losses loom in Canberra

Katy Gallagher says cutting $3m by June is an "impossible ask"

Phillip Thomson 10:49 AM   Galleries and museums in Canberra will have another round of cuts to staff numbers as they face an "impossible ask".

'I'd be in trouble if either girl wanted to screw me': Roosh's deleted blog post

Daryush "Roosh" Valizadeh, the American founder of the Return of Kings group.

9:20 AM   Daryush 'Roosh' Valizadeh has admitted to committing what "could be considered rape", by having sex with two girls he had to hold down after they repeatedly said 'no'.

Scientists uncover the brain mechanism that makes you sigh

Sighing: It's a life-saver.

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.

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.

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.

National Museum acquires Peter Norman Olympic singlet

Peter Norman's Australian running uniform from the 1968 Mexico Olympics.

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.

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.

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..

Noel Towell 7:54 PM    APS departments hope persistence will pay off in wage offers.

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Malek Fahd's government funding axed

Australia's largest Islamic school has lost up to $19 million in Commonwealth funding.

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.

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

The accused man was escorted from the gaming floor of Crown Casino.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Phillip Thomson   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.

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 ...

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.

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.

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'.

Bridie Smith   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.

Noel Towell   "Operation Tetris" making progress, but taxpayers still pay for vast swathes of empty offices.

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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 ...

Australians have very little ability to move beyond their family's socioeconomic status unless one key investment is made.

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Our baby joy after a decade of heartache

Norbert Herrmann and Suzanne Pattison with their 21-month-old daughter Elke.

Suzanne Pattison would often see women playing with their kids in the park and long for that kind of love in her life.

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