When Garth Camac found out a former soldier was threatening to kill himself, he hit the phones, summoned the cavalry and saved his life.

The government's hopes overhauling school funding have received a boost.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's proposed $7.8 billion Medicare levy rise looks set to stall in the Senate, with Labor, the Greens and the crossbench all flagging concerns about the hit to low-income earners.

A permanent tax rate of almost 50 per cent for top earning Australians is on the cards as the government looks to negotiate with Labor and the Senate cross bench to fill fund the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

In one instance, $1.1m in provisions for a military exercise was paid for with a credit card, resulting in more than $18k in interest.

Kim Beazley says the Turnbull government should grant a request for more troops to be sent to war-torn Afghanistan.

Outgoing defence boss Dennis Richardson warns of first signs of extremist influence in Indonesian politics.

The first serous poll since the big-spending budget reveals the Coalition still trails the Labor opposition.

Nearly two years since his election, Tony Smith is widely judged to run a relatively fair-handed and effective regime.

"We have been asked to consider additional resources, and we are actively considering that".

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has called on Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to rein in his 'public posturing' over federal infrastructure funding to the state, and has offered to meet to resolve the dispute.

Australia's most infamous Islamic State fighter Neil Prakash, who helped plot a series of foiled terror attacks, could be extradited to face a Melbourne court within months.

Federal opposition remains determined to try to win political argument about budget fairness.

The Turnbull government's signature company tax cut will cost $15 billion more than the initial $50 billion estimate.

• Obituary

Celebrated ABC broadcaster debated with family and friends what his final message to the world should be.

This man sacrificed his health in service to his country. Now he says he's about to be repaid with a tax raid on his invalidity benefits.

But Auditor-General finds education minister broke no rules by not using competitive tendering.

Australia's five biggest banks may launch mining tax-style campaign against 'fast and loose' tax.

University fee repayment changes and rise in Medicare levy to hit below-average wage earners.

• ANALYSIS

The federal budget is a rare opportunity to introduce big, bold decisions. Here are 9 ideas the Turnbull government missed.

Minister says public didn't miss Fairfax's 'left-leaning' journalists during protest over cuts.

Labor will put higher education at the centre of its response to this year's budget by announcing it will oppose all the government's major university changes, including the proposed rise in fees and slashing of the HECS repayment threshold.

Taking a redundancy could see workers forced to live on minimum wage for at least six months, with the government increasing the waiting period for welfare for people with savings. 

Questions are emerging over the economic justification for the Nationals' pet infrastructure project.

Government appoints Leonie McGregor as interim CEO of entitlements authority.

Middle-income Australians to bear brunt of budget's failure on income tax rates and thresholds.

Two of Canberra's most popular national institutions will put a budget funding boost towards big programs.

The federal government and Australia's five largest banks are on a collision course.

Victoria will spend any cash raised from the potential sale of its share in Snowy Hydro on what it sees fit and will not be dictated to by the Turnbull government, it has declared.