Labor’s proposal to overhaul negative gearing and capital gains tax has some design flaws but is better than the current system, according to leading economists who appeared before a parliamentary inquiry today. The first day of hearings was shaped by warring contributions from elated progressive groups, who argued the tax package would improve generational fairness, and furious business groups who …

It’s five long days between now and the proposed time for signing a deal between the United States and Iran which, from what we know at the moment, falls somewhere between a ceasefire and a peace deal. That’s a long time in the universe of this conflict — and in the sleep cycle of US President Donald Trump. It illustrates …

Irankunda’s wonderful run and finish gave Australia a lead at half-time, before Metcalfe matched him with a fine solo effort to confirm the result as the Socceroos’ defence held firm. The 20-year-old Irankunda was named the Player of the Match for his tremendous World Cup debut. Nestory Irankunda (right) was named the Player of the Match after giving the Socceroos …

Prosecutors have argued that a so-called “ISIS bride” actively participated in the mistreatment of a woman her family enslaved in Syria, as they fought to prevent her from being released on bail. Warning: Details of sexual assault in this story may distress some readers. Zeinab Ahmad, 31, was among the women arrested when a cohort of women and children returned …

Its recommendations include amending the Child Protection Act to entrench adoption as the third permanency option for all children, regardless of cultural background. The commission also recommended the government start a feasibility study within six months to assess how to deliver “simple open adoption” for appropriate children in out-of-home care. The report notes contemporary adoption operates in a “fundamentally different …

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has told a parliamentary hearing she believes the allegations of Australian activists, who say they were sexually assaulted while detained by Israeli forces. Warning: This story contains content that may be distressing. Eleven Australians were detained while trying to reach Gaza as part of a humanitarian flotilla in May. The Global Sumud Flotilla has since lodged a …

Bondi Beach terror attack hero Ahmed Al Ahmed has been charged with assault. The ABC understands Mr Ahmed, 44, is accused of assaulting his father during an incident at a home in Bankstown in Sydney’s south-west in March. “On Wednesday 3 June 2026 a 44-year-old man was served with a Court Attendance Notice for common assault (DV) and stalk/intimidate intend …

The wealth of Australia’s billionaires increased by $25.67bn in the past year, equivalent to almost $50,000 a minute, according to new Oxfam Australia analysis of the 2026 Australian Financial Review Rich List. The anti-poverty organisation said the total wealth of Australian billionaires in 2026 has reached more than $686bn, while Acoss figures show 3,706,000 people live in poverty, including 757,000 children under …

Australia’s population has reached 28 million, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) estimates. Its population clock forecast the nation had reached the milestone at 6am on Tuesday, based on the growth rate set on 1 July 2025. The growth rate assumes that every minute and 15 seconds, another person is added to the Australian population. Australia’s population growth in …

When it comes to reading political polling, it is worth taking a leaf out of Pauline Hanson’s book. The One Nation leader, whose popularity has soared in the past 12 months, would be the first to say she doesn’t put too much stock in the numbers. That’s not to suggest the results aren’t to be taken seriously, only that a …