• EXCLUSIVE

The anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd says it has very little chance of success against Japan's economic and military might.

A defiant Malcolm Turnbull has insisted he will win the next election, while setting out a laundry list of his government's achievements during the nearly two years he has occupied the nation's top political job.

"Bizarre" deals see public servants cost more but paid less.

A coalition of refugee advocates, unions and charities have joined forces to resist the Turnbull government's dramatic crackdown on asylum seekers.

Electricity generators have rebuked the Turnbull government for delaying the introduction of a Clean Energy Target.

Convicted drug trafficker and gangland widow Roberta Williams could appear on ballot papers at the next federal election, despite being bankrupt and ineligible to run.

The Immigration Minister says lawyers are frustrating the government's constitutional responsibilities to asylum seekers.

It represents a major new investment from the federal government, which has only committed $500,000 so far to the project.

Labor leader Bill Shorten says some of the anger over Australia's historical monuments could be redressed – by adding additional plaques.

Canberra's vacant West Block will be listed for sale along with three other parliamentary triangle buildings.

• EXCLUSIVE

Like most children born in Australia, Samuel is a happy and healthy toddler. But a federal government decision to cut almost all support for dozens of Australian-based asylum seekers may change his future.

Australia produced enough renewable energy to power more than 70 per cent of households last financial year, new data shows, but advocates warn the booming industry will flounder unless the Turnbull government commits to a clean energy target.

The Prime Minister distances himself from the cost of renovations at his official Canberra residence.

High-profile Coalition MPs are set to launch a campaign to persuade Australians to say "yes" to same-sex marriage.

The government has defended the move, saying the asylum seekers won't receive any further taxpayer support.

Theatregoers attending a gay drama on Sydney's north shore have had their tyres slashed in what police are treating as a potential hate crime.

"This is what Stalin did. When he fell out with his henchmen he didn't just execute them ... they became non-persons."

• EXCLUSIVE

Two thirds of Catholics said they would support same-sex marriage if they voted in the postal ballot, the same proportion as the general population.

The former PM said he was "sober in the morning" but lamented that taxpayer money "is being blown on booze and that's not a good thing for anyone".

A computer algorithm has replaced humans to assess the security risk of asylum seekers, criminals and visa overstayers in Australian immigration detention centres.

• EXCLUSIVE

The chief medical officer at PNG's health department described the situation as "worrying".

Papua New Guinea has reportedly told Australia it won't be allowed to walk away Manus Island.

Can good ideas come from central public service agencies or do they focus too much on dollars?

An Australia Post mail centre in Canberra was evacuated in the early hours of Friday morning after a package containing white powder, addressed to the Australian Christian Lobby, was discovered.

• EXCLUSIVE

Labor will keep its foot on the Turnbull government's throat when Parliament returns in September, while Mr Shorten will dangle a $1.6 billion dollar carrot before Western Australian voters aggrieved over their GST share.

A last minute surge has seen a record number of Australians enrolled to vote ahead of the upcoming postal survey.

• EXCLUSIVE

The Chief of the Defence Force Mark Binskin has sent a strong signal that Australia is pulling its weight in the global fight against Islamist terrorism as Washington hunts for more international military help in Afghanistan.

Pauline Hanson is a "hate preacher" seeking to divide the Australian community for her own political gain, Greens leader Richard Di Natale said, as debate over One Nation's proposed burqa ban continues to swirl.

Labor MP Terri Butler says it's "hard to overstate" the impact a full-time political career has on families.