australian press

Scientists want to help Australia tap into a $90 billion global "circular economy" by finding new ways to recycle and reuse plastics.CSIRO aims to reduce plastic waste in Australia by 80% by 2030 and create an industry of alternatives to…

Most of Australia's endangered species are not monitored and no effort is made to determine if rescue plans are working, according to a new audit.Australia's National Audit Office has offered a scathing assessment of the federal…

The winner of the next federal election must consider a different approach to ensuring long-term fiscal sustainability.Australia's Committee for Economic Development is calling for comprehensive fiscal reform in the face of future…

Buy local vodka - not bulk Russian brands - and get quality, say Australian craft distillers.Russian products are on the nose after the invasion of Ukraine, which comes as no surprise to Australian craft alcohol makers.“Companies stocking…

Former South Sydney star Sam Burgess has been handed a huge punishment for a series of incidents during his time at the club.And the Rabbitohs were also fined $20,000 for failing to promptly notify the NRL of an allegation made against…

Australia's economy rebounded from the impact of last year's delta closures, driven by a surge in household consumption.National accounts for the December quarter released on Wednesday showed the economy grew 3.4%, rebounding from a 1.9%…

Labor has pledged to increase the size of Adelaide's proposed new women's and children's hospital as the party continued to focus on health during the South Australian election campaign.After Prime Minister Steven Marshall announced tax…

South Australia's election campaign is on and Prime Minister Steven Marshall has said it's all about trust and Labor leader Peter Malinauskas has asked voters to look to the future.Governor Frances Adamson released the election writs on…

Victoria is set to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games after the state government entered into exclusive negotiations with the games' governing body.Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed the state's bid to host on Wednesday, saying the…

Politicians making last-minute offers were plentiful, but few as voters headed to the polls in four NSW by-elections.Four months after the sudden resignation of former prime minister Gladys Berejiklian prompted three other MPs to follow…

Tourism Minister Dan Tehan called on states and territories to implement a unified approach to admitting international travelers on their return later this month.International tourists will be allowed to enter the country from February 21,…

A rapid transition to renewable energy should be an election priority, according to a group of clean energy brokers.The Clean Energy Council released a policy roadmap on Tuesday and called for a short-term target of 2030 to spur immediate…

The Reserve Bank of Australia says the economy has rebounded strongly from last year's delta lockdowns and early signs indicate the effect of the Omicron variant on spending has been relatively small.In its quarterly monetary policy…

The impact of Northern Territory Senator Sam McMahon walking away from her Nationals ties so close to a federal election has been played down by party leader Barnaby Joyce.Senator McMahon is a member of the nation's Liberal Party, but she…

After a childhood spent ignoring many potential heroes, Tyler Wright is just glad no one misses Ash Barty.The two-time world surfing champion will start her season at Hawaii's Billabong Pro Pipeline on Sunday (AEST), buoyed by compatriot…

Investors can avoid companies that exploit or harm animals and still make money, says a vegan investing leader."It's getting quite a hot zone, and rightly so because the size of the markets is huge," Beyond Animal co-founder Claire Smith…

Dylan Alcott's farewell party was ruined by the wheelchair tennis legend who retired from the sport with a loss in the Australian Open final.After a whirlwind 48 hours, the 2022 Australian of the Year was upset by Dutch second seed Sam…

Business confidence has been hit hard by the emergence of the Omicron variant, which threatens to dampen Australia's economic recovery from the lockdown.The National Australia Bank's Monthly Business Survey for December showed confidence…

Ellie Robertson has a simple question.The 53-year-old Sydney woman lives with spinal muscular atrophy and relies on four daily shifts of support workers to get out of bed, shower and dress, go to the toilet and get back into bed.But as the…

The latest inflation figures this week are expected to fuel speculation that the Reserve Bank of Australia will raise interest rates this year, just days after an unexpectedly rapid drop in the jobless rate.The Australian Bureau of…

Australia's unemployment rate unexpectedly fell to 4.2% in December, its lowest level since August 2008 and sparking speculation that the official exchange rate will rise later this year.Economists had predicted that the unemployment rate…

Bankers have been accused of 'industrial-scale greenwashing' by funding a massive new gas field.But National Australia Bank and Westpac insist they agree with the global push for net-zero emissions.Woodside and BHP signed a $16.5 billion…

As millions of Australians struggle to make ends meet during the COVID-19 pandemic, the country's billionaires have pocketed $205 million a day.Anti-poverty charity Oxfam crunched the numbers and found that Australia's 47 billionaires had…

More than 92,264 new COVID-19 infections have been reported in New South Wales after residents rushed to release positive results from rapid antigen tests since the start of the year.The dramatic increase in the number of cases comes on top…

Retail sales soared 7.3% in November after last year's easing of COVID-19 restrictions, but there are signs that the subsequent emergence of the Omicron variant has since cut spending,The Australian Bureau of Statistics said retail growth…

The Morrison government will introduce legislation this week to crack down on social media abuse and bullying.Under the laws, platforms will be required to reveal the identity of people who anonymously post defamatory or harmful…

A lawyer who spoke out against COVID-19 restrictions and sought to challenge them in court has been suspended from his legal practice.Nathan Buckley of Sydney law firm G&B Lawyers was suspended for at least six months on Friday.The Bar…

The lawyer who helped the Kibosh Rugby League's first attempt to introduce a draft 30 years ago has said any similar attempt by the NRL to equalize playing skills will be doomed to failure.NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said last week that the game…

A Victorian man who repeatedly raped his wife in such a brutal and degrading manner that a sentencing judge was "deprived of adequate words" has been jailed for more than a decade.Jon Seccull faced court in Victoria County on Monday, where…

NSW is expected to emerge from a lockdown in a fortnight after nearly four months of stay-at-home orders for much of the state.Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Monday announced the start of the "COVID-normal" era, almost certainly ending…

Life in NSW will return to near normal levels in December for the vaccinated and unvaccinated as part of the state's roadmap to end COVID-19 restrictions.However, the unvaccinated will have almost no freedom until then, while the fully…

Tasmania has two internationally renowned 'iconic' hikes, but the proposed location for a third has aroused the ire of some walkers and environmentalists.A 197-page feasibility study released earlier this month supported the case of a…

Four years after pouring out uncontrollable anger on his roommate, Troy Burns was jailed for killing the man.Donald Brandenburg, 65, suffered at least 10 separate blows to the head and chest, dealt by Burns in August 2017.The pair were…

The Royal Adelaide Show has been canceled for the second year in a row due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.The show's organizers say the latest advice from SA Health has capped the number of daily attendees at 10,000."This figure is not…

While putting the world on hold, COVID-19 has not been able to lock in love, according to the latest relationship research.A study commissioned by online dating site eharmony and relationship service provider Interrelate found Australian…

Cybercriminals and foreign adversaries have had billions of opportunities to do harm as everyday life goes digital during the pandemic.Telstra boss Andy Penn is leading the efforts of the federal government's cybersecurity industry…

A new app will use artificial intelligence to help Australians determine if their waste can be recycled.Recycle Mate is designed to end the widespread confusion about what goes into which color bin.“A lot of things that…

Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe is adamant about interest rate hikes before 2024.But wage pressures are already emerging in parts of the economy as companies scramble to find the right staff.The official cash rate remained at 0.1%…

Australian taxpayers are apparently not so inclined to splurge on their returns this year. According to the latest research, up to 35% of them, or 6.8 million, plan to increase their savings instead.If the average repayment is $ 2,600,…

The amount of outstanding mortgages in Australia has grown at the fastest monthly rate in four years.But economists doubt that financial regulators are too concerned at this point about still relatively low lending to investors.New…

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is due to hand over the intergenerational report, a guide to how Australia will perform over the next 40 years and its impact on the budget.Mr Frydenberg will present the report at an Australian Economic…

Federal Labor is not promising carbon prices as part of its political roadmap to net zero emissions by 2050.Instead, opposition climate change spokesperson Chris Bowen is working on a plan that includes community batteries, policies to…

South Australia has ruled out increasing its number of repatriated Australians, a requirement to attract federal funds for a dedicated quarantine facility.Prime Minister Steven Marshall has said that in order to receive financial…

KEY POINTS OF THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BUDGET:* The budget deficit will remain high next year at $ 1.39 billion* A modest surplus forecast for 2022/2023 of $ 48 million before rising to $ 498 million the following year* Total government debt…

Australia is not doing enough to cut carbon emissions and risks being left behind as other countries rush to embrace renewables.These are the striking findings of a new report examining the performance of countries around the world.The…

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said Australia will continue with its aggressive COVID-19 suppression strategy.He told reporters in the UK, where he is attending the G7 summit as an observer, that he "would rather live in the…

Food deliverers with platforms like UberEats and Deliveroo will be fined for dangerous driving and will be given identification numbers under new laws reported by the NSW government.The biker union denounced the measures, saying they…

A hard and early lockdown is the right strategy for dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks in terms of health and employment, according to a new study.Research published on Saturday in the international journal PLOS One found that an early…

The average mortgage loan amount increased 7.1 percent during the year to a record high of $ 563,550.The nearly 6% rise in the month came as the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that new home loans rose 3.7% in April to a record…

New construction figures show that home construction remains at a breakneck pace, although the sector could face challenges with high demand putting pressure on the supply of shops and materials.Housing Industry Association economist Tom…

As western New South Wales faces a devastating mouse plague, the government is investing in groundbreaking genetic biocontrol research that could transform pest management in Australia.Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall said the NSW…

Tasmania will examine the use of airplanes in the state's vast World Heritage wilderness area and seek to engage indigenous peoples more effectively in the future of the region.The state government has released its long-awaited Tourism…

Australia's economy can grow at a solid pace with confidence at multi-year highs, but there is little sign that people are ready to take out a loan other than housing.Australia's booming real estate market has seen the amount of home…

Victorian businesses forced to close in the state's fourth lockdown will be offered a lifeline of $ 250 million, although there is no support for direct workers.The Victorian government on Sunday announced its much-anticipated support…

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has accused the government of trying to get out of a crisis and deflect the blame for Victoria's fourth lockdown.Five new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the state on Friday, bringing the outbreak -…

Victoria has recorded five new locally acquired COVID-19 cases as the state enters day two of its fourth lockdown.Five new cases of COVID-19 were recorded by the Victoria Department of Health on Friday from more than 56,000 tests - a…

Western Australian Prime Minister Mark McGowan has defended the imposition of an instant coronavirus lockdown that would cost the local economy around $ 70 million.No new locally acquired cases were reported on Tuesday as Perth and the…

Just two weeks before Josh Frydenberg hands over the budget, there is a growing wishlist for what it should contain.But at this point, much of the treasurer's own priorities would have been met.A budget webinar hosted by the Australian…

NSW MP John Sidoti has been accused of inventing evidence and failing to answer questions in a fiery end to his time on the witness stand during a corruption investigation.The Drummoyne MP was excused Tuesday after testifying for five…

Australia must resist bullying from China and denounce the superpower's widespread use of Uyghur forced labor, according to a parliamentary inquiry.All Uyghurs in Australia have suffered from the anguish of having loved ones imprisoned…

Western Australian Prime Minister Mark McGowan urged the federal government to halt flights from India, describing the South Asian nation as "the epicenter of death and destruction."Mr McGowan said on Tuesday that WA had emerged from its…

Brisbane could know as early as July whether it has secured the rights to host the 2032 Olympics, the Queensland premier has said.The state government on Monday reached a 50-50 infrastructure funding deal with the federal government for…

The Western Force took a heavy blow with strike center Tevita Kuridrani erased from their historic UA Super Rugby preliminary final against the Brumbies on Saturday night.Kuridrani was suspended for three games for a dangerous tackle…

Hundreds of Australians, including Graeme Samuel, Ita Buttrose and The Veronicas, have come together in a letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison calling for funding for dementia care in next month's budget.Professor Samuel, president of…

Tasmanian Labor opposition leader Rebecca White picked up a points victory in the final debate ahead of Saturday's state election.Health, economic management and coronavirus recovery were among the top topics at the forum hosted by Sky…

Tasmanian Prime Minister Peter Gutwein has something to shout about when his state goes to the polls this weekend.For the fifth quarter in a row, the island state topped the State of the States report from Commonwealth Securities as…

Medicare-subsidized telehealth sessions will be extended until the end of the year, with plans underway to make it a permanent part of the Australian healthcare system.Health Minister Greg Hunt on Monday confirmed the six-month extension…

The Morrison government is under pressure to revamp the child care system in next month's budget to make it easier for women to return to work.Big business, unions and the early childhood education industry say childcare should be a top…

Scott Morrison continues to champion Australia's progress on climate action as the nation's greatest allies step up their commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.The Prime Minister joined other world leaders in the early hours of…