The locals hung back, not quite believing the prime minister was in town, mostly unsure of what to say.

• EXCLUSIVE

"He's earning the praise of Pauline Hanson - I hope he's proud of that".

"Also, all the jihadists here! Surely, this crap must stop! Shut the door NOW! Do we NEED these people??????"

David Leyonhjelm calls Derryn Hinch "a dumb heap of parrot droppings". 

Laws would prevent a refugee who was on Manus Island or Nauru and subsequently resettled in a country like New Zealand from being able to fly to Australia.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says a cashless welfare card could be rolled out to more communities across the country.

Mr Robb has been urged to explain his 'cosy' appointment.

Refugees who sought asylum by boat will be banned from ever setting foot in Australia, even for the purposes of tourism or business, in a dramatic escalation of Australia's hard-line immigration policy.

Immigration Department's 13,500 public servants prepare for a high-stakes ballot beginning Monday morning.

The government's proposal to wind back paid parental leave is doomed after Senate crossbench powerbrokers the Nick Xenophon Team were forced to rule out support because of an election commitment.

Asylum seekers who seek to reach Australia by boat will never be allowed to enter the country, even if they are genuine refugees and seek to come as tourists decades later, under legislation to be introduced to Parliament this week by Immigration Minister Peter Dutton.

Family First senator Bob Day wrote a book about sales in which he emphasised the importance of keeping promises.

They say true leaders are born not made - but the immigration department hopes millions of dollars of taxpayer cash can change that.

Welfare experts have ridiculed a government claim that thousands of parents on government benefits earn more than if they had a job, saying it is built around a mathematical mistake.

Last review led to the level of alcohol intake considered "low risk" being cut in half and triggered accusations of nanny statism.

• EXCLUSIVE

Last review led to the level of alcohol intake considered "low risk" being cut in half and triggered accusations of nanny statism.

A member of Barnaby Joyce's frontbench team has publicly voiced concerns about the Nationals' continued acceptance of tobacco company donations.

The High Court may be set for its first woman chief justice as sitting judge Susan Kiefel firms as the favourite to take over.

The personal information of more than half a million Australian blood donors has been accessed by an unauthorised person in what could be one of the country's largest ever data breaches.

The ABC has axed the Friday broadcast of the 7.30 program just under two years after it replaced the eight state-based editions of the show.

Government ministers unhappy ABC management for going soft on new staff pay deal.

Liberal MPs hail Malcolm Turnbull's suggestion that debate about change to section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act was "reasonable".

Family First senator Bob Day has confirmed he will return to the Senate next month to support the government on industrial relations and the same-sex marriage plebiscite, despite announcing his resignation.

New judicial robes for the High Court have been unveiled, created by noted Australian costume designer Bill Haycock.

Malcolm Turnbull has backed down from total opposition to renewed examination of Australia's race hate laws.

Life-expectancy has hit a fresh all-time high with typical newborn girls now expected to live 84.5 years and a typical boys 80.4 years, up from 83.3 and 78.5 years a decade ago.

The Turnbull government will release new details of a $100 million domestic violence package in Brisbane on Friday.

The NSW government has signalled it will "move away" from lengthy confinements of children in detention centres after Fairfax Media revealed teenage boys are being locked up alone for 23 hours per day.

'A remarkable and unique individual. We will never forget him.'