News

Former Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack condemned a display in Wagga Wagga depicting Coalition politicians and billionaires as Nazis, calling it "hate speech" and requesting a police investigation. The artist, Michael Agzarian, defended his work as provocative political art intended to make viewers think.

The NSW government has taken over managerial responsibilities of Junee Correctional Centre, ending over 30 years of private operation by the US-based GEO Group. Community members express concerns over potential loss of local benefits and changes to minimum-security prisoner programs, while state officials assure the continuity of key services.

Australian house prices surged to new heights in March following a modest pick-up after several months of slight declines, bolstered by a boost in market sentiment post the Reserve Bank’s mid-February rate cut. Despite the upward trend, economists warn that significant challenges such as affordability issues and slowing population growth may keep future price increases contained.

Brian Mier’s experience highlights the growing frustrations of patients facing prolonged wait times for elective surgery in Victoria, where administrative delays and systemic issues extend treatment even for benign conditions. Broader data reveals increasing waitlists across states, and experts are calling for greater transparency and efficiency in managing both visible and hidden surgical demand.

The United States has published a list of grievances with Australia over its strict biosecurity laws, pharmaceutical regulations, and a law requiring social media platforms to pay for news, prompting a strong rebuttal from Australia. Prime Minister Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have both reaffirmed that these issues are non-negotiable despite ongoing tariff threats from the Trump administration.