• EXCLUSIVE

A visa designed to parachute highly qualified international specialists into short-term roles has become the "new frontier for unscrupulous employers" looking to exploit cheap foreign labour, in many cases locking Australian workers out of jobs.

The body that represents commercial TV networks has emphatically denied it blocked the broadcast of a Father's Day commercial on the grounds that it was a political intervention in Australia's same-sex marriage debate.

Crossbench senator Derryn Hinch will not be referred to the High Court over concerns he was ineligible to sit as a parliamentarian.

Experts say so-called "demand management" could deliver far more capacity than the Turnbull government's proposed $2 billion Snowy Hydro expansion.

The rise sees Australia's drinking habits edge closer to the decade high of 10.8 litres in 2007, when you could still get an average schooner of beer for less than $5.

Hardline industrial relations tactics are now being used in the public sector.

Law firm bosses allegedly tried to silence Army abuse campaigner, then they sacked him.

The specialist trauma counselling service contracted by national sexual assault hotline 1800 RESPECT has withdrawn from the service over concerns that private contractor Medibank Health Solutions could not guarantee confidentiality or quality of care.

Charities fear they will be lumped in with other "political actors" and banned from accepting donations from overseas.

• ANALYSIS

It is tempting to explain America's mixed messaging towards North Korea as calculated - the old "good cop, bad cop" routine. If only it were that complicated.

Leading religious scholar says increasing prevalence of same-sex couples with children was an argument in favour of marriage equality, not an argument against.

The military watchdog has made a rare public plea for soldiers and veterans to come forward with any information they have about possible war crimes committed by Australian troops in Afghanistan.

• EXCLUSIVE

A senior official says one major Australian asset owner had inadvertently given an offshore supplier's staff full access to their system without realising it.

The government will push ahead with a third trial site for its cashless welfare card, despite opposition, after a final evaluation of the policy found it had "considerable positive impact" in its original trials.

The number of Aboriginal Australians living in NSW and Victoria has doubled since 2001.

The fluffy golden flowers are being floated as a settling of the growing national argument over the date of Australia Day.

• EXCLUSIVE

Australia should develop a nuclear power industry to reduce its emissions, the Minerals Council says.

The shadow treasurer has labelled his counterpart's attack on "red" Bill Shorten embarrassing.

In a bizarre twist to the constitutional crisis, not even his biggest opponents think he has a case to answer.

The Turnbull government says it is against Australia's national interest to give a visa to anti-vaccination advocate.

Crossbencher Derryn Hinch has become the latest potential victim of a worsening citizenship saga after admitting he has links to the United States which could disqualify him from the Senate.

Keep calm and let the constitutional citizenship fiasco run its course, former prime minister John Howard has advised, saying it was "silly" to for politicians to try to make the issue a partisan one.

The 'yes' campaign has dedicated its first salvo in the same-sex marriage debate, arguing the only people who will be affected by changing the Marriage Act, are those who are gay.

The Philippines has accepted Australia's offer to provide "technical assistance", including sharing counter intelligence.

• ANALYSIS

The Prime Minister dialled it up to 11 but the resting face of Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg presaged the modest scale of the government's energy package.

The motion is part of the fall-out over the long-running sore of GST distribution.

Treasurer Scott Morrison has labelled Bill Shorten the leader of a new "red" Labor party, and accused the opposition of "economic time travel" by leading the most left-wing labour movement Australia has seen in generations.

NSW has the most large-scale renewable energy projects under way in Australia, and lifted its share of clean energy markedly in the past year.

Looming electoral changes could cost Malcolm Turnbull three seats before the next election.