Plans to extend a cut to the fuel excise tax are being examined by the Albanese government ahead of the federal budget. The fuel excise was halved for six months by the previous Coalition government in March, in response to soaring fuel prices, with the cut slicing 22 cents off a litre of petrol. It was expected to cost the …

A telco which pledges to stand up for its customers is facing nearly $300,000 in penalties and compensation after exposing consumers to identity fraud. Digital telco Circles.Life has been fined $199,800 by the communications watchdog for failing to conduct proper identity checks when transferring mobile phone numbers to its services. The company, established in 2019, has also offered to pay more than …

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare’s government has said it wants to extend parliament until after it hosts the Pacific Games in November 2023, for which China has donated a stadium and other sporting venues that are being built by Chinese companies. Australia will be the second largest contributor to the games, after Pacific Minister Pat Conroy announced in Solomon Islands that …

The national vacancy rate has fallen to its lowest level on record, and the rental market sits firmly in favour of landlords. According to Domain, tenants will be facing more increases in asking rent, and competition will intensify between families who are trying to find a place to live. So, if you’re renting, or trying to find a place to rent, should you expect any sympathy? Rental …

An emotional Nick Kyrgios has spoken of his struggles to discover his best form after ending a three-year title drought with victory in the Citi Open final in Washington. Kyrgios took just 81 minutes to defeat Japanese giant-killer Yoshihito Nishioka 6-4 6-3 in Sunday’s final to claim his first ATP Tour title since winning at the same event in 2019. …

Nick Kyrgios is “super excited” after continuing his career-best season by powering into the final of the Citi Open in Washington. Backing up from his gruelling workload a day earlier, when he finished off Reilly Opelka then saved five match points in an epic quarter-final win over Frances Tiafoe, Kyrgios dealt with Michael Ymer in straight sets. Kyrgios produced another …

The head of Resilience NSW says it would be “inappropriate” for him to comment on reports the disaster agency will be scrapped after its response to Lismore’s devastating floods earlier this year Resilience NSW was heavily criticised for its response to the floods in the Northern Rivers during February and March and was under review as part of a recent independent …

A Russian billionaire suing Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister claims sanctions imposed over the invasion of the Ukraine have caused him severe reputational damage. Steel mogul Alexander Abramov launched legal action against senator Penny Wong after the former government’s April sanctioning of 67 Russian elites and oligarchs over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. His lawyer Ron Merkel QC told the Federal Court …

The relationship with Indonesia won’t suffer as Australia pursues the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says. Indonesia is concerned about the use of nuclear technology and Australia’s plan to get nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS security pact. Jakarta is taking the issue to a conference in New York which is reviewing the UN nuclear non-proliferation treaty. When asked …

The Reserve Bank has increased interest rates for the fourth month in a row, raising its cash rate target by half a percentage point. The RBA has now lifted its benchmark interest rate by 1.75 percentage points since its first rate rise in May, with the cash rate target sitting at 1.85 per cent. In his post-meeting statement, Reserve Bank …