Optus has been ordered to hand over the details of a customer accused of defaming a Melbourne dentist through a Google review, which he says has had a profound impact on his teeth-whitening business. The telco’s Australian office has been served with a subpoena to produce documents which could unmask the writer of the negative review, published on Google’s platform …

Australian scientists hope to produce up to 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of 2021 as Queensland researchers sign a major partnership with pharmaceutical giant CSL. A deal between the University of Queensland, CSL and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations comes after promising early results in the laboratory and aims to fast-track the development of …

Australian Federal Police have released details of a major investigation into an alleged child sex abuse network that operated across three states. Police said 40 charges had been laid and nine men arrested in relation to child abuse that was filmed, photographed and shared online. The operation began in February after a tip-off from US authorities. At least 14 children …

NSW Police is trying to outlaw a proposed Black Lives Matter protest in Sydney after a chorus of criticism from federal and state frontbenchers. The challenge will be heard in the Supreme Court on Friday afternoon, with NSW Police seeking to an injunction to halt Saturday’s protest. “All of us have given up so much and worked so hard to …

NSW has recorded no new cases of COVID-19 for the first time in almost three weeks as the easing of restrictions around the state nears. However health authorities warn it is likely people may have the virus and not be aware they have it. “While there have been no cases recorded in the past 24 hours, the virus is likely …

NSW Police are treating the deaths of two 22-year-olds at a Western Sydney home on Saturday afternoon as a murder-suicide. Just before 12:45pm, emergency services were called to a home in Tongariro Terrace in Bidwill after reports of a stabbing. NSW Police found the woman outside the house with stab wounds from a knife to her chest, sides and back. …

It has taken the greatest threat to our health and economic wellbeing to make it happen, but Friday’s decision to make the National Cabinet a permanent feature of the way Australia is governed is potentially one of the most significant outcomes of the crisis. Of course, that national leaders talking sensibly to each other about issues in which they have a mutual …

Victoria’s Opposition Leader says he will dump the State Government’s controversial involvement in China’s Belt and Road Initiative if he is elected leader at the next state election. In a statement issued on Saturday morning, Michael O’Brien said the decision was not made lightly but the deal was “not in Victoria’s interests”. “It doesn’t support our sovereignty, our security or …

Australians who have beaten COVID-19 are being asked to donate their plasma to help patients who are seriously ill with the virus. Recovered donors’ plasma is thought to contain high levels of protective antibodies that could be harnessed to fight the disease. Biotech giant CSL will purify and concentrate the plasma to make COVID-19 immunoglobulin, which will be distributed to …

A Kimberley man suffered bites to his hand during a desperate battle with a 2.5 metre python that tried to eat one of his kittens last week. Nick Kearns, from Kununurra, in Western Australia’s far north, said he did not hesitate when he heard his partner Karyn screaming in the early hours of the morning. The python was in the …