• EXCLUSIVE

Australia is facing renewed international pressure to explain what it is doing to tackle climate change, with a United Nations review finding its emissions continue to soar and several countries calling no clarity about what it will do after 2020.

"This is a message coming to the community, to the families, to the clans."

• EXCLUSIVE

WhatsApp groups used by cabinet ministers and senior staff are not on the list of platforms approved by Australia's cyber security agency.

• EXCLUSIVE

A move by Attorney-General George Brandis to restrict access to the government's chief legal adviser is unlawful and akin to keeping a "dog on a lead", a top adviser to the Howard government has said.

The Liberal government of Western Australia has questioned whether the nascent boom in liquefied natural gas is delivering "sufficient return" to the public.

A High Court ruling on post-Parliament perks has paved the way for government action on the controversial Life Gold Pass.

The men claimed the changes constituted an unlawful acquisition of their property, the same argument the Kerrigan family used in The Castle.

Gay marriage opponents thank Labor leader for knocking back same-sex marriage plebiscite: "We now have more time to continue building our campaign."

The advice is contained in a new report by the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) to be released on Wednesday.

• EXCLUSIVE

Education Minister says it's "not fair" students facing similar disadvantage get $1500 more or $1500 less depending on where they live.

Oil giant BP has dumped controversial plans to drill in the Great Australia Bight, ending a proposal which raised fears of an environmental disaster.

One Nation senator Brian Burston has called for a new "Patriotic Broadcasting Corporation" and restrictions on Islamic immigration.

The decision casts marriage equality off into the never-never, with the Turnbull government adamant a plebiscite is the only way to achieving reform.

Six months ago the business-backed Committee for the Economic Development of Australia presented the Turnbull government with what it said was a clear and practical plan to return the budget to surplus. There were 5 of them in fact, including different mixes of proposals such as better taxing superannuation contributions, halving the tax discount for capital gains, ending negative gearing, boosting taxes on luxury cars, alcohol and tobacco, and taxing the private health insurance rebate.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has slammed Labor's public call to carry out naval and air challenges to China over its artificial islands, saying it shows "immaturity and unreadiness" to take responsibility for national security.

• ANALYSIS

In a bizarre circumstance where major party leaders all back same-sex marriage, the nation's political machinery cannot deliver.

This smells, says the Greens.

The Turnbull government struck a blow against unions and scored a key tactical victory when its reforms targeted at the Victorian Country Fire Authority passed the Senate late Monday night.

Attorney-General George Brandis has released the draft same-sex marriage bill that would be passed in the event of a successful plebiscite.

Bill Shorten is set to reinstall South Australian right-wing powerbroker Don Farrell to the Labor frontbench to fill the positions vacated by Mr Shorten's former Victorian factional ally Stephen Conroy. 

A senior ministerial adviser who quit over his part in the "budgie nine" scandal was initially hired to answer phones and do some diary work, Peta Credlin says.

• EXCLUSIVE

Just five per cent of oil and gas projects operating in Australia are paying anything towards the Federal Government's royalty-like scheme designed to share the wealth generated by the nation's resources with the public that owns them.

Liberal senator Eric Abetz has blamed media bias for not celebrating or honouring people who "come out" and switch from a homosexual to a heterosexual lifestyle.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has renewed attacks on Donald Trump, breaking with diplomatic tradition to call the Republic presidential nominee "entirely unsuitable" to be leader of the free world.

• EXCLUSIVE

A refugee who has been helping disabled people on Manus Island has pleaded to be flown off the island for medical treatment after being the victim of a vicious, unprovoked attack over the weekend.

Prime minister Malcolm Turnbull's most senior advisor has lashed out at Australian managers, saying they are failing to pursue opportunities and holding back national income.

• COMMENT

Conservative credibility has been spent on a circus of partisan amateurism authored by people who not only should have known better but actually did.

One Nation will deliver Malcolm Turnbull a key win in the Senate this week.

Attorney-General George Brandis and the government's chief legal adviser are set for a public showdown over claims Senator Brandis misled Parliament.