Former foreign minister Julie Bishop has announced she will retire from federal politics, in a surprise statement after Question Time. Ms Bishop has been on the backbench since the leadership spill last year. She has held the Perth electorate of Curtin since 1998 and was Australia’s first female foreign minister. The Liberal luminary had said she would contest the 2019 …

The future of the Coalition’s hold on power is at risk with the Federal Government becoming the first to lose a vote on its own legislation in almost 80 years. The majority of the crossbench and Labor joined forces in the House of Representatives to pass amendments to give doctors a greater say on refugee medical evacuations. But Prime Minister …

Officials have signed off on an agreement for the construction of the Australian Navy’s $50 billion project to deliver a fleet of new submarines. After several years of negotiations, officials have signed an agreement for the construction of the Australian Navy’s fleet of new submarines. On Monday the federal government announced the signing of the Attack class submarine Strategic Partnering …

Australian footballer Hakeem al-Araibi will return to Australia within the next 24 hours, after an extradition case against him in Thailand was dropped. The director-general of international affairs for the Thai Government confirmed to the ABC that the Attorney-General requested the case for Mr al-Araibi’s extradition to Bahrain be dropped. About 9:00pm AEDT on Monday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed …

A Chinese billionaire who has been prevented from returning to Australia has asked political parties to return the millions of dollars in donations he’s made. Huang Xiangmo quickly rose to become a leading pro-China lobbyist, courting politicians and donating at least $2 million to Australian political parties directly and through his companies. But a decision from the Home Affairs Department to …

As Hakeem Al-Arabi’s teammates at Pascoe Vale Football Club in Melbourne prepare to start a new season, their star defender is about to mark two-and-a-half months in a Bangkok jail. The Bahraini refugee and Australian permanent resident was arrested in November last year, on an invalid Interpol red notice from the country he fled as he entered Thailand for his …

A crisis is unfolding in western Queensland where graziers are discovering the full scale of damage caused by floodwaters, with their losses expected to worsen. Floodwaters have killed up to 300,000 head of cattle in western Queensland, with losses so far put at a staggering $300 million. But the number is expected to rise as the floodwaters reach the big …

Mike Baird won’t talk about running for the top job at NAB, but UBS analyst Jon Mott says the former NSW premier is a real contender. Former NSW premier Mike Baird won’t talk about running for the top job at NAB, but plenty of others are linking him with the role. Mr Baird on Friday refused to be drawn on …

In a place where weasel words often pass muster, the most powerful intelligence officials in the world delivered a message to the United States Congress in clear, concise terms — China is a threat to America. Instances of military aggression, cyberattacks, bullying of smaller neighbours and attempts to interfere in western politics were referenced. Director of National Security Dan Coats …

The gates of Townsville’s dam have opened to their full setting, with the city council warning several suburbs should prepare for imminent flooding from a rapidly rising Ross River. The Ross River Dam will release approximately 1,900 cubic metres of water per second. The council says dangerous and high-velocity flows will occur and residents in the suburbs of Rosslea, Hermit …