Government news headlines

The federal opposition and housing industry bodies have hit out at a draft policy that would see yoga and martial arts instructors rushed into Australia ahead of some tradies.

The South Australian government has put $715 million on the table over the next five years to fund preschool for three-year-olds.

Australia needs to "immediately" increase funding for the defence force to quickly improve the military's capabilities, according to a new report.

The federal government plans to use drones to track former immigration detainees with criminal records, while they wait for court approval to bring them back into custody. 

Red paint and pro-Palestine slogans were sprayed on the buildings, which include the offices of Mark Dreyfus and Bill Shorten.

Australia's hopes of hitting its housing targets to address skyrocketing rents and property prices appear to be fading before they've even begun.

The federal government will overrule a much-criticised ministerial decision after immigrants with serious criminal records had their visas restored.

The newly elected mayor of Townsville has been referred to Queensland's corruption watchdog amid growing controversy over his military history.

China is doubling down on its plan to dominate advanced technologies of the future by setting up its largest-ever semiconductor state investment fund, according to information posted by a government-run agency.

Police are yet to make any arrests over the matter, and have called for public assistance as their investigation continues.

This image has sparked anger online, with numerous individuals questioning whether it's legal for a child to ride on Victorian roads.

It's a historic move that has drawn condemnation from Israel and jubilation from the Palestinians.

Verifying your identity is something we all have to do fairly regularly, but it soon could look very different under a new, voluntary national digital ID.

Bill Shorten said hiring thousands of new staff had helped the agency clear 700,000 overdue claims – and 823,000 total – in the last 13 weeks.

"I think it's a giant global unregulated experiment on children and we have to change."

Beverley Attard was just 11 when she watched her father destroy their family.

NSW state government analysis has suggested about 58,000 people with severe mental health needs are missing out on care each year.

The investigation into the incident is still in its early stages, National Cyber Security Coordinator Lieutenant-General Michelle McGuinness, said in an update this morning.

Australians' personal health information may be at risk as federal police investigate the serious cyber incident.

The two forecasts don't seem to make a lot of sense, but there's one key reason why it all adds up.

Everyone in the country is going to benefit from the $3.5 billion package – and it's going to have a big impact on inflation.

The federal budget is being touted by Treasurer Jim Chalmers as being for "every Australian". But as ever, some are better off than others.

The millions of homeowners banking on a cash rate cut won't be happy with one sentence hidden deep in the budget papers.

Super on paid parental leave and anti-domestic violence measures are at the heart of the federal budget's investment into women, but it doesn't end there.

From tax cuts to debt relief, there are a range of cost-of-living measures that'll be announced by Jim Chalmers.

Wildlife authorities have captured a large crocodile in Queensland after the reptile lunged at the resident of a houseboat and displayed aggressive behaviour around boats.

The state's gun buyback program has achieved a major milestone as the new gun reform laws face scrutiny in the upper house.

The Queensland government is assuring residents the Sunshine Coast Rail network will be operational in time for Brisbane 2032.

The prediction, if accurate, would likely have a very welcome impact on interest rates.

The changes could see bail refused for the most violent domestic abusers and the use of electronic monitoring expanded.

The painful condition affects one in nine Aussie women and takes an average of seven years to diagnose.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the new future gas strategy is compatible with cutting emissions, but climate bodies have slammed the move.

The six-month inquiry has led to 14 recommendations, including outlawing "the charging of excess prices (otherwise known as price gouging)".

A possible $121-a-week increase is on the cards following comments by Treasurer Jim Chalmers today.

The Victorian State Budget 2024-25 has been labelled by Treasurer Tim Pallas as a budget led by making "sensible decisions", with only a handful of winners coming out on top.

Government Services Minister Bill Shorten announced $314 million in funding over two years which will beef up security at 318 service centres.

The NSW cabinet meeting came on the same day federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus met with state and territory police ministers.

In 97 per cent of domestic violence homicides between 2000 and 2018, coercive control had been used by the perpetrator on the victim before their death.

There's $925 million to help people flee abusive relationships, as well as a suite of measures to combat the spread of toxic attitudes towards women online.

Commuters will be impacted for 12 months as the train line between Bankstown and Sydenham is shut for conversion works.

Major reforms are being urged in the wake of last year's outage that impacted 10 million Australians.

Ratepayers in the City of Yarra say they've been "caught in the middle" of a funding stoush between the council and the state government over who should maintain roads in the area.

Defence Minister Richard Marles has visited Ukraine where he announced further military assistance for the war-torn country.

Makeshift campsites and tent cities are expanding across South East Queensland as the state's housing crisis escalates.

Parliamentary modelling has found housing supply would improve and prices drop as a result of overhauling negative gearing and capital gains.

Planned surgery wait times in public hospitals are the longest they've ever been, an Australian Medical Association (AMA) report has found.

The changes were made following a surge in complaints against the problematic sale tactics.

Polls opened Friday for the first and largest phase of India's marathon general election, kicking off a vote in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking to win a rare third consecutive term.

On June 1, one of the most common forms of debt is going have its second-biggest increase on record.

The funding boost comes following last year's Defence Strategic Review, which argued Australia needed to modernise its current military structure it said was designed for a "bygone era".