Amid growing concerns the Great Barrier Reef is reaching an environmental tipping point beyond repair, there is hope two sections of the natural wonder could persist even on a warming planet. And there are recommendations that both sections be given greater protection from pressures like fishing and shipping. New modelling shows the outlying reefs in the Eastern Torres Strait and the Whitsundays …

Global social media giants are resisting the Australian government’s proposed youth social media ban. Labor is pushing for the controversial legislation to be passed by the end of the year and, if made law, it could see teenagers aged under 16 banned from signing up to Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok and even LinkedIn. Thousands of submissions were made to the one-day parliamentary …

The Greens will back Labor’s Help to Buy and Build to Rent bills after a months-long stalemate on housing. The Help to Buy scheme would see the federal government contribute up to 40 per cent of the cost of a new home, while Build to Rent would incentivise the development of tens of thousands of new rental properties. The bills …

Australian farmers and some of the nation’s biggest companies could face the burden of significant tariffs on goods exported to the United States from next year. US president-elect Donald Trump successfully campaigned on a promise to introduce an across-the-board tariff of either 10 or 20 per cent, which would represent a dramatic shake-up of current trade arrangements. Andy Stoeckel, an …

Chris Little has mastered the art of packing up his life. For the 49-year-old father of two, folding away clothes has become a familiar ritual — not just because of his young daughters but because of the constant moves. “This is the fifth house I’ve lived in in this area in the last 10 years,” he said. “It’s a pain …

A popular Christmas lights display in Melbourne’s south that raises money for charity will be scrapped this year, as organisers blame excessive red tape from the local council. The Grange Road Lights show in Sandringham attracts hundreds of people each year, with proceeds from donations going towards the National Breast Cancer Foundation. But the organiser Michael said this year’s event …

Six months ago, Ben Quilty tried to hang his Archibald Prize-winning portrait of Margaret Olley on his kitchen wall, but it was making for some awkward conversations. “I wanted it back, just to feel her back in our house,” the painter said. “But every time people walked in it was very awkward having to talk about the painting again. “It …

Thousands of teens are about to celebrate the end of their schooling years — a traditionally scary prospect for some parents. Schoolies, which takes place on the Gold Coast and other local and international destinations, kicks off on November 16. While most partygoers will come home unscathed and with fond memories, the event has a reputation for sometimes being unsafe. …

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the government knows there is still a lot of ground to make up when it comes to cost of living relief for Australians despite having released a raft of packages to ease the burden of inflation. Despite the measures, opinion polls show the government is under pressure to do more. Mr Chalmers’s admission on 7.30 came …

This week, one politician compared the government’s proposed misinformation laws to those imposed by the totalitarian government in George Orwell’s dystopian classic 1984. A bill attempting to tackle misinformation online has stirred widespread controversy, with critics from across the political spectrum claiming it will infringe on freedom of speech. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has said the bill — which passed …