• 1 hr ago

Tough new regulations are pushing investors out of the housing market and allowing first-home buyers to creep back in, figures show.

Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett has unloaded on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, describing him as a failed leader.

"In the real world, the Australian public isn't all that ideologically pure - they want good government."

Malcolm Turnbull has hit back at internal critics of his government's policy direction, declaring the political centre ground is the "place to be".

"Australians want their team on the field, beating the Poms," said Turnbull.

Officials won't reveal who signed Justin Jedlica into Parliament House for privacy reasons.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has welcomed Malcolm Turnbull to Downing Street, with the two leaders reflecting on the June 3 terror attack at Borough Markets.

The super-ministry could be modelled on the Home Office in the United Kingdom.

Electronic security systems are being added alongside new steel fencing.

"The plebiscite is a failed policy; it doesn't enjoy public support any more."

• EXCLUSIVE

Fewer than a quarter of federal politicians have agreed to commit to new ethical standards devised by legendary corruption fighter Tony Fitzgerald - and there is not a single Turnbull government MP among them.

• ANALYSIS

If Coalition marginal seat MPs were beef cows, they'd be smelling the abattoirs about now.

"We've obviously got quite a bit more work to do to put ourselves in a position where we will be competitive for the next election."

Malcolm Turnbull, an avowed republican, will also meet the Queen during his first visit to Britain as PM.

"Price reduced for quick sale". The suburban post office that has sparked a High Court challenge against a federal minister and threatens to topple the Turnbull government is on the market.

Philip Morris to pay Australian government millions of dollars in costs after failed bid to kill off plain packaging laws.

A Liberal senator has publicly confirmed he is drafting a bill to legalise same-sex marriage, declaring the "time is now" for the historic reform.

France will do "everything necessary" to keep its end of the bargain and deliver Australia 12 new submarines at a cost of $50 billion, French President Emmanuel Macron has said.

• EXCLUSIVE

There are no hills in Tea Gardens, barely a single two-storey house and only 67 babies.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says Australia is looking to bolster its missile defence systems, following North Korea's recent successful test of a ballistic missile.

The president and his wife took the Australians for a spin in the eight tonne "beast".

Australia is set to become the world's largest exporter of gas but its level of resource tax transparency falls behind Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Mongolia, a new global report has found, as the country forfeits billions of dollars in tax to multinational mining giants.

Fractured by conflicting agendas and rogue actors, what will the G20 hold for global security?

• EXCLUSIVE

Australia needs to consider deploying a missile defence system to defend against attack from nuclear-armed North Korea, according to former prime minister Kevin Rudd.

Five men have nominated to fill the West Australian Senate vacancy, including two former state MPs, official nomination papers leaked to Fairfax Media reveal.

South Australia will attempt to ease pressure on its crisis-prone electricity grid with a world-leading battery station more than three times the size of its nearest rival, to be built by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.

The prospect of the first three-way race since 1993 has caught party insiders' attention.

The nation's most respected constitutional law experts won't dare predict how the High Court is likely to rule on Labor's high stakes challenge against a sitting Turnbull government minister but believe it has a chance of succeeding.

South Australia has announced Elon Musk's Tesla as the principal builder of the world's largest battery.