Sydney's Matt Kearns is one of more than one million university students in Australia. The 23-year-old has 10 contact hours a week for his arts/law degree at the University of New South Wales, which he fits in around 20 hours of hospitality work and an unpaid legal internship at a not-for-profit organisation. 

Sweeping changes to the university sector could see student fees rise by 1.8 per cent from next January, and by as much as 7.5 per cent by 2021.

• EXCLUSIVE

More MPs tell Fairfax Media they will vote for "voluntary assisted dying" legislation.

Fairfax Media has spoken with a number of MPs who voted for the fence but are alarmed by the scale of the project now they've seen it.

China's suspension of exports from Australian beef processors will be raised in meetings in Beijing.

Fair Work inspectors were ordered to withhold information about new provisions for unions.

• ANALYSIS

Brain-eating amoeba might be the only way to explain the government's energy policy.

• EXCLUSIVE

The Turnbull government wants "dramatic reductions" in private health insurance price rises over the next three years, with a major new reform package set to make deep cuts to the medical device sector and entice more young people into cover.

• EXCLUSIVE

The nation's most powerful doctors' group is ramping up its campaign for same-sex marriage despite an internal conservative backlash, with seven former Australian Medical Association bosses joining the cause and urging a "yes" vote on health grounds.

"The pressure's on at the moment, we'd really like to see some rain in the next few weeks."

It was the first day of summer in 1983, the beginning of the end of the career of then High Court justice Lionel Keith Murphy.

Tony Abbott's daughter Frances has thrown her support behind the campaign for marriage equality.

Government data has also revealed an increase in the number of dolphins and whales, as well as seabirds such as albatrosses, ensnared by commercial fishers.

A bride and groom had their wedding plans torn up by their local church after the bride posted a Facebook status defending gay marriage.

Once best known for his daring comedic antics as part of the Doug Anthony Allstars, this radio personality now hosts one of Australia's most popular podcasts and is using what he has learned from his guests to write books.

• COMMENT

If only Kim Jong-un could be strapped to a chair and forced to listen to Yoshiko Kajimoto's story.

Just months after announcing changes to the skilled migration visa system to "put Australian jobs first", the federal government faces criticism for creating a new three-year pathway to low-skilled migration.

A man accused of punching the godson of former prime minister Kevin Rudd during a dispute over same-sex marriage reform has been charged with assault.

Pressure is mounting on Employment Minister Michaelia Cash to explain why Nigel Hadgkiss was appointed to head the building industry watchdog months after it emerged that he was facing allegations of breaking the Fair Work laws he was meant to enforce.

• EXCLUSIVE

Presbyterian minister told the bride her support for same-sex marriage meant she could not hold her wedding at his church.

The Greens have called on the $60 million media reform fund to be extended to the New York Times, The Guardian and Buzzfeed.

The 1986 parliamentary commission of inquiry was held to determine Murphy's fitness to sit as a judge on the nation's highest court.

Tony Abbott says Australia's power system is becoming "unstable", which is "a real issue".

• EXCLUSIVE

Alan Robert said he was unaware that he had been appointed director and company secretary until informed by Fairfax Media.

One of the public service's longest running pay negotiation deadlocks has been broken.

Unresolved concerns from crossbench senators have all but ensured the government's $2.8 billion university funding cut will not pass the Senate before Parliament rises this week.

Anna Burke had barely got into the swing of her speech at the unveiling of her portrait at Canberra's Parliament House when the ringing of bells caused half her audience to hurry away.

The Turnbull government is being urged to move swiftly to implement stronger protections for whistleblowers after a parliamentary inquiry suggested bounty-style rewards.

But right-to-life campaigners dismiss horror movie tactic as dishonest trickery.