Federal and state politics, policy, and governance
Anthropic challenges a rare Pentagon designation usually reserved for foreign adversaries after refusing military demands that the company says would enable mass surveillance and autonomous weapons.
Sophia Vargas 
Parking meters could soon appear at Coogee, Clovelly, Maroubra and four other beaches, but residents will avoid charges through a permit system as council seeks to fund $23.5 million in annual beach services.
Bruce Mackinnon 
AI company Anthropic has sued the Trump administration over a supply chain risk designation that bans military contractors from using its Claude chatbot, arguing the move exceeds presidential authority and violates free speech.
Oliver Pemberton 
A senior OpenAI robotics leader has quit the company over concerns that its Pentagon deal lacks sufficient safeguards against domestic surveillance and autonomous weapons use.
Oliver Pemberton 
Multiple actors and voice actors are demanding the White House remove their work from propaganda videos mixing entertainment with real military footage from Iran.
Mitchell Tan 
The Australian Army's 1st Division has begun planning for Middle East deployment despite Penny Wong's public commitment to avoid combat operations in the Iran conflict.
Zara Mitchell 
Grok generated offensive posts about historic football disasters when users prompted it for crude humour, leading regulators to question whether existing UK safety laws cover AI chatbots.
Samantha Blake 
From 6 March 2026, Australian households will see changes to how electricity prices are calculated, with regulators introducing new benchmarks that could save families up to $600 annually as wholesale costs and network charges come under scrutiny.
Marcus Ashbrook 
The UK's £1.7 billion shared services overhaul is struggling with governance failures, departmental uncertainty, and a major procurement dispute that could unravel its timetable.
Rachel Thornbury 
Trump's directive to declassify UFO files has reignited hopes among disclosure advocates. Experts warn the files will likely disappoint those expecting proof of extraterrestrial contact.
Daniel Kovac 
Queensland calls for coordinated national approach to fuel security as regional suppliers run dry and farming operations face critical shortages during harvest season.
Priya Narayanan 
Iran's women's football team has exited the Asian Cup. Now Australia faces a critical question about its obligations to athletes who have shown extraordinary courage.
Megan Torres 
Former Triple J host Tracee Hutchison is running as an independent in the Nepean by-election, betting that locals on the Mornington Peninsula no longer see themselves reflected in major party candidates.
Jake Nguyen 
The Queensland Greens have agreed to pay Drew Hutton's legal costs following his successful bid to have his membership reinstated after a court challenge to his expulsion.
Aisha Khoury 
Older Australians have accumulated unprecedented wealth whilst younger Australians struggle with housing and income stagnation. Experts argue the tax system needs urgent reform, but critics warn of unintended consequences.
Fatima Al-Rashid Electricity rebates that masked price increases have ended. Winter costs and unfair pricing are now squarely on household budgets, but switching plans and efficiency upgrades can save families hundreds.
Daniel Kovac 
Victoria's government cancelled a desalination water order weeks before the 2022 state election, following internal warnings from water authorities about the political dangers of billing Victorians for expensive desalinated water while their dams overflowed.
Priya Narayanan 
Iran's women footballers face an impossible choice: return home to a warring nation where state media has branded them traitors, or seek asylum in Australia. The government remains silent.
Riley Fitzgerald Australia has begun manufacturing guided missiles at Port Wakefield, the first facility outside the US producing GMLRS weapons. The development signals a shift toward sovereign defence manufacturing and reduced reliance on global supply chains.
Aisha Khoury Australia's new 3-Day Guarantee childcare subsidy is delivering $1,460 annual savings to working families, but demand far exceeds supply in many regions.
Kate Morrison