Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has had a busy morning in Manhattan ahead of his meeting with US President Donald Trump.

In the leaders' first meeting Malcolm Turnbull will be carrying a box from the Bungendore Wood Works Gallery, near Canberra.

Tony Abbott has predicted Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull could dump a controversial education funding reform, telling a group of private school children south of Perth the government would be "on a loser" if it looked like disadvantaging Catholic schools.

Labor has not settled on a figure for schools funding despite attacking the Turnbull government over its new deal.

Simon Birmingham has brushed off a protest against the government's education changes.

A key target in overseas foreign aid was missed last financial year.

Students have tried students to occupy the Prime Minister's electoral office in protest at proposed higher education cuts.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop believes Donald Trump and Malcolm Turnbull don't have to become best friends, but she expects they will find a lot in common.

Tony Abbott has called accused political leaders of not doing enough to promote "Australian values".

A remarkable deal between the Coalition and the Greens has emerged as the most achievable and likely way for the Turnbull government to pass its new school funding model into law by next year.

ATO makes historic concession while signs of a truce emerge in Human Services' long war.

Unprecedented investment in wind and solar power puts Australia on track to meet its 2020 renewable energy target, the sector's regulator believes.

Fairfax Media has obtained the review of the crash near Goulburn involving Australian Defence Force Academy recruits.

The government has declined to publicly confirm the schools, but Fairfax Media has identified which will lose federal money.

• ANALYSIS

The PM has pulled off a surprising pirouette, wrong-footing his critics, and charting a course to middle-Australian households.

Prime Minister declares he will 'bring the school funding wars to an end' in stunning policy turnaround.

The policies outlined by Labor on Wednesday follow the government's package of measures.

Minister said 'average' waiting time to talk to Centrelink was 12 minutes. It was actually 27.

• EXCLUSIVE

A Taiwanese delegation was ejected from an international meeting hosted by Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop in Perth at the behest of Chinese delegates.

The firebrand Queensland MP said he would make the most of his second chance at health.

• ANALYSIS

A remarkable but largely unheralded shift on the US alliance has taken place in the ranks of the Opposition

Yassmin Abdel-Magied knew what she was doing when she linked Anzac Day to Australia's treatment of Muslims in what were "pretty despicable" comments, says the Assistant Minister for Social Services and Multicultural Affairs Zed Seselja.

The Turnbull government is prepared to further intervene in the housing market, Treasurer Scott Morrison says, if the federal budget's housing package fails to calm rising house prices.

Government briefing documents acknowledge it will spend $22 billion less on schools than Labor promised.

On first glance, it doesn't seem logical: triple the price of something, and more people will sign up.

Which schools will benefit? Which will lose out? Why is David Gonski back?

• Live

Cabinet has signed off on a new funding deal for the nation's schools.

The Turnbull government is also calling on Labor senator Sam Dastyari to apologise for "threatening" the electoral commissioner.

University leaders have lashed out at the Turnbull government's proposed cuts to higher education funding.