Millions of taxpayers are among the major winners in this year’s budget as the Morrison government hands out $16.4 billion in tax breaks and one-off payments in a bid to woo voters before the election. Temporary cuts to fuel taxes and an increase in the low-and-middle-income tax offset (LMITO) are major parts of the budget package, which Treasurer Josh Frydenberg …

When Jen Martin tested positive for COVID-19 in early February, she was surprised by just how unwell she felt. “I didn’t have a fever but I had very serious aches and pains, crazy lethargy, and a hacking cough,” she says. “I certainly felt worse than I had expected to, having heard all of the stories about it being mild.” Six …

The nation’s top vaccine advisory group is set to recommend a “winter” COVID-19 jab for some of the most vulnerable Australians on Friday. Ahead of a feared surge in cases during the coming colder months, people over the age of 65 and those who are immunocompromised will be eligible for an extra dose. Indigenous Australians aged 50 and over, as well as …

This might be a familiar scene. You pop into your local pharmacy to fill a script and you’re told your regular medicine is out of stock. When will it be in? Sorry, we don’t have a date. But I’ll ring up your GP to see if she can authorise an alternative. This is a common conversation more than two years …

Rafael Nadal has defeated new men’s world number one Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-3 in a rematch of their Australian Open final to storm into the decider of the ATP 500 event in Acapulco. Nadal had to fight back from two sets down in their previous meeting in Melbourne last month to clinch a men’s record 21st major singles title. But in Mexico, it was …

Tens of thousands of tiny transactions as little as one cent were made during a three-month period tracked by the Commonwealth Bank. But the unusually small transfers weren’t what horrified staff and executives at the bank, it was the abusive messages that accompanied them. That abuse was experienced by an estimated 600,000 people in the past year, costing victims $5.7 …

NATO has announced it will take additional steps to strengthen the alliance’s deterrence and defence after Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine. The defence alliance will also hold an emergency summit of its 30 member nations on Friday. Russian forces invaded Ukraine by land, air and sea on Thursday, confirming the worst fears of the West with the biggest attack by …

The Socceroos’ hopes of gaining direct entry into the World Cup have been dealt a blow following a dramatic 2-2 draw with Oman. The draw will most probably force Graham Arnold’s men to qualify via intercontinental play-off route. Australia got off to a strong start, going up 1-0 through a first-half Jamie Maclaren penalty but Oman pulled one back via an Abdullah Fawaz screamer from …

In less than three months’ time, the Prime Minister will head to the Governor General and start the firing gun on a federal election campaign. Already, MP’s and candidates have begun hitting the hustings to win voter support, but in more than a dozen New South Wales seats, the Liberals are yet to settle on candidates. Insiders admit different factions within the party are bickering …

Freshly crowned Australian Open champion Ash Barty says she chose to have a low-key celebration following her victory in the women’s singles final, admitting she felt “pretty wrecked”. Barty won her first Australian Open championship with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) triumph over American Danielle Collins on Saturday night. It is her third major singles title, following her successes at the 2019 …