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 …

Protesters have marched, stopped traffic and in some cases lashed out violently at law enforcement, while Louisville police have apologised for firing pepper bullets at a news crew as protests erupted in dozens of US cities following the death of unarmed African-American man George Floyd in Minnesota. Footage of Mr Floyd’s death on Monday (local time) went viral. It showed …

The federal government has revealed what local and community sport will return to Australia when COVID restrictions are slowly relaxed around the country. Following a national cabinet meeting with state premiers on Friday, Scott Morrison and the Australian government revealed a three-step plan for the country and sport to return to post-coronavirus normality. The return of sport featured heavily in …

WARNING: This story contains graphic content that some readers may find upsetting A Brisbane man has been sentenced to life in prison for what prosecutors called the “sadistic” torture of a woman that left her with broken facial bones and burns to almost half her body. Nicholas John Crilley, 34, pleaded guilty in the District Court in Brisbane to more …

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says National Cabinet will bring forward a key meeting to discuss when to relax Australia’s coronavirus restrictions. Mr Morrison said Australians had “earned an early mark” and leaders would meet next Friday — a week earlier than scheduled — to consider easing the rules that have been put in place. “Australians have earned an early mark …

Since the very early days of coronavirus in the US, President Donald Trump has been quick to point fingers. He blamed the World Health Organization. He blamed the governors. He blamed the media. But he didn’t blame China. He even praised President Xi Jinping on several occasions, saying he was doing “a very good job with a very, very tough …

Four police officers have been tragically killed after a horror crash sparked chaos and blocked all lanes of a busy Melbourne freeway on Wednesday night. Dozens of emergency crews remain at the scene of the collision on the Eastern Freeway near Burke Road in the inner-city suburb of Kew. Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton confirmed a female senior constable and three male …

In 1911, a deadly epidemic spread through China and threatened to become a pandemic. Its origins appeared to be related to the trade in wild animals, but at the time no one was sure. Lockdowns, quarantine measures, the wearing of masks, travel restrictions, the mass cremation of victims, and border controls were deployed to try to lower the infection rate. …

Scott Morrison has announced an easing of restrictions on elective surgery after Anzac Day, while revealing that more JobSeeker claims have been processed since March 16 than would normally be processed in a whole year.