Australian universities are not doing enough to combat the influence of China’s ruling Communist Party, a group of Federal Government backbenchers has warned. The comments follow recent pro-Beijing rallies staged in several Australian cities against Hong Kong’s democracy movement — rallies which were praised by Chinese Government-controlled media— and come just days after Liberal MP Andrew Hastie warned about China’s activities. Fellow Liberal MP …

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has revealed an “implementation road map” around the 54 recommendations from the financial services royal commission that called for Government action. The final report from commissioner Kenneth Hayne made 76 recommendations, 54 of which were directed at the Government, which has been accused of dragging its feet in response to the commission. In what is described as …

Chinese Government-controlled media has publicly congratulated pro-Beijing protesters who gathered in Melbourne on Friday, while the nation’s ambassador to Australia has warned foreigners not to support pro-democracy activists. An estimated 600 people from rival pro-Hong Kong democracy and pro-China groups took part in demonstrations outside the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne. Several scuffles broke out, forcing police to separate the groups. …

The man accused of going on a deadly stabbing rampage in central Sydney on Tuesday will defend the charges laid against him on the grounds of mental illness, his lawyer says. Mert Ney, 20, appeared briefly at Parramatta Bail Court via video link from Surry Hills Police Station where he was charged last night. His lawyer Zemarai Khatiz told the …

Scott Morrison has emphatically ruled out lifting the $40-a-day rate of Newstart, warning campaigners including Barnaby Joyce they are out of touch with what voters want. The Prime Minister, who credits “the quiet Australians” with his election victory, said voters want the welfare system to work for taxpayers too. “I’m not going to lead people on about this. You ask …

Former foreign minister Julie Bishop is to become the next chancellor of the Australian National University. The retired Liberal politician will replace former Labor politician Gareth Evans, and will be the first woman to hold the role. Ms Bishop – who left federal parliament at the election in May after more than 20 years – will begin a three-year term …

The sixth wife of the ruler of Dubai has emerged at a London court after weeks of hiding to ask for a forced marriage protection order, claiming she fears for her life. Princess Haya Bint al-Hussein, 45, is the third woman to try to escape the court of her 70-year-old billionaire husband Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum. The sheikh owns Godolphin …

Challenges have been lodged against two sitting Victorian MPs in the High Court, claiming dirty tricks during the May 2019 federal election campaign. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and newbie member for Chisholm, Gladys Liu, are both facing allegations of misleading and deceptive conduct, over Chinese language posters displayed in their electorates on polling day. Meanwhile, Frydenberg is also facing a second …

Owners of units in Sydney’s Opal Tower are seeking millions of dollars in compensation from the State Government in a class-action lawsuit. In documents lodged with the NSW Supreme Court late on Friday, owners of the western Sydney apartment tower are suing the Sydney Olympic Park Authority (SOPA), the owner of the land on which the Opal Tower sits. The …

Three convicted terrorists will spend more than a decade each behind bars for firebombing a Melbourne mosque in an attack motivated by hate, intolerance and malevolence. Ahmed Mohamed and Abdullah Chaarani attempted once to burn the Imam Ali Islamic Centre at Fawkner in November 2016, before succeeding in a second attempt a month later, helped by Hatim Moukhaiber. Mohamed and …