Labor loses vote over minimum milk price

Labor has lost a bid in federal parliament to set a mandatory minimum price for milk, which the agriculture minister labelled as a "cruel hoax" on Australia's dairy farmers.

Toll road extension bill set for Vic parly

Victorian drivers will be hit with road tolls until 2045 under a proposed Labor government extension bill to help pay for the $6.7 billion West Gate Tunnel.

GM ban cost SA farmers $33m: review

South Australia's ban on genetically modified crops has cost the state's farmers up to $33 million since 2004, a review has found.

Some would ‘rather die’ than enter care

Some Australians would rather die or "poke their eye with a pencil" than go into residential care, the royal commission into aged care has been told.

Opt-in superannuation insurance premiums

The Morrison government is trying again to make opt-in insurance premiums on superannuation accounts with low balances and young new members, after teaming up with the Greens to remove the measure from an earlier bill.

Indigenous member for Murray authority

Draft laws have been introduced to federal parliament to ensure an indigenous expert is appointed to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.

Australia mulls Saudi Arabia arms sales

Australia is still considering whether to ban arms exports to Saudi Arabia, which has been accused of war crimes in Yemen and the brazen murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Democrats seek return to federal politics

The party that once pledged to "keep the bastards honest" is seeking registration ahead of the federal election.

Intern program falls well short of target

A coalition government youth internship program has fallen well short of its target of 30,000 placements a year, with a little more than 5000 people successfully completing it.

‘Hot choc’ rapist died of natural causes

The man dubbed Melbourne's "hot chocolate rapist" died in jail due to heart disease, a coroner has found.