Federal and state politics, policy, and governance
The UK government has reversed its controversial plan to let AI companies train on copyrighted works with only an opt-out clause for creators, after sustained opposition from artists and media groups.
Sophia Vargas 
A Victorian aged care service housing dementia patients was finally closed after regulators took three years to complete an investigation, despite warnings about conditions having been raised in March 2023.
Priya Narayanan 
Residents across rural Ohio have launched a constitutional amendment campaign to ban large datacentres, joining a nationwide groundswell of local opposition to AI infrastructure projects.
Aisha Khoury 
An independent journalist has gained rare access to ICE agents willing to speak anonymously about their work, raising questions about federal secrecy and institutional accountability.
Zara Mitchell 
The Pentagon is planning to have OpenAI and xAI train specialised AI models directly on classified military data, a significant escalation that experts warn could cause sensitive information to leak between defence departments
Tanya Birch 
One Nation's surging campaign in South Australia exposes fracturing on the right of politics while raising questions about the evidence supporting its immigration platform.
Priya Narayanan 
Victoria's planning reforms will allow buildings up to 20 storeys near train stations across 25 Melbourne suburbs, aiming to unlock 300,000 new homes by 2051. But community concerns about infrastructure, safety and democratic process are mounting.
Andrew Marsh 
Japan will allow its Self-Defense Force to conduct offensive cyber operations from October 1st, marking a historic shift from its post-war pacifist framework.
Kate Morrison 
Victoria's Premier has dismissed claims that CFMEU industrial action contributed to the North East Link's massive cost blowout, despite a 2023 contractor complaint about tunnelling delays.
Tanya Birch 
From January 2026, Australian households stopped receiving government energy rebates worth $300 annually. As bills reflect the full cost, practical strategies can ease the hit.
Kate Morrison 
The Trump administration is defending its unprecedented supply chain risk designation against Anthropic, arguing the company cannot be trusted with warfighting systems.
Victoria Crawford 
Two weeks into military operations against Iran, the Pentagon has tightly controlled information flow. Defence reporters say Pentagon briefings lack the detail and follow-up scrutiny once considered standard in wartime coverage.
Daniel Kovac Australia's record-breaking social media crackdown just expanded beyond TikTok and Instagram to email and gaming. But early evidence reveals the age verification technology has serious flaws.
Jake Nguyen 
Queensland Rail's plan to remove station staff after 1pm on weekdays and all day on weekends has drawn sharp criticism from unions concerned about passenger safety and accessibility.
Fatima Al-Rashid 
Australia's new Division 296 tax on high superannuation balances takes effect from July 2026, compelling families with large nest eggs to reconsider wealth transfer strategies.
Sophia Vargas 
Completed wharves at La Perouse and Kurnell in Botany Bay remain without ferry services after costs ballooned from $18 million to $78 million. Transport NSW is now exploring whether private operators might eventually revive the connection.
Zara Mitchell The Australia-EU free trade agreement is in its final stretch, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen telling EU leaders the deal could be signed within weeks. Australian and EU negotiators signal they are narrowing remaining gaps on agricultural access and geographic indicators.
Oliver Pemberton 
Brisbane City Council is dividing over proposals to allow taller residential buildings near major shopping centres to boost housing supply, with residents split between wanting more homes and protecting suburban character.
Meg Hadley 
In Perth's most affluent electorate, voters who are among the biggest beneficiaries of negative gearing tax breaks are backing substantial reform. The result challenges political assumptions about what wealthy Australians want from tax policy.
Fatima Al-Rashid 
The federal government has abandoned plans to expand SBS operations to Western Sydney, citing fiscal pressures. The broadcaster says the decision is disappointing.
Priya Narayanan