Government News

Australia will buy dozens of fighter jets at a cost of more than $12 billion, despite a raft of concerns about their design and abilities.

The state-owned company responsible for 70 kilometres of Queensland toll roads, bridges and infrastructure has been sold to private interests.

A native title agreement has been signed to allow deepwater port to go-ahead in WA.

Primary school students will be encouraged to assess their place in the universe, the nature of existence and the morality of human behaviour, when some Victorian school introduce ethics classes this year.

Analysts have ranked Australia poorly in terms of internet access, affordability and investment.

The Federal Treasurer says further increases to the pension age are inevitable, and that people should “work as long as they can”.

The United Nations refugee agency says it continues to get no response from the Australian government for its questions over the asylum seeker ‘turn back’ policy.

A shake-up in the wake of former NSW premier Barry O’Farrell’s resignation last week has left the state with a new Local Government Minister, and stimulated concern as to how he will manage broad council reforms.

Anti-gas protestors have been allowed temporary camping privileges at the site of their stand-off with Metgasco drills in New South Wales, but the local council says their time is up.

Shire of Halls Creek says its liquor restrictions are not working and has urged the Parliament to think about a change.

A Victorian council and a workers’ union have come to an agreement which will keep them both from wasting time and money on a legal dispute.

Studies have suggested that false economies are being created to argue in favour of Perth’s local government amalgamation.

The Australian Labor Party is set to take on a new form with less union involvement and backroom dealings, if leader Bill Shorten has his way.

There is speculation this week that the Federal Government will look to axe a major water policy advisory body in the effort to cut costs.

The New South Wales State Water department has embarked on an overhaul of its IT systems, bringing cohesion to improve services for its 6300 licensed water users.

Adelaide’s water bills are officially “the highest of all comparable Australian water utilities”, and a new report blames the SA government.

One US city has dumped millions of litres of drinking water after a local teenager was spotted urinating in the supply.

Reports today say some Medicare Local executives have been warned that the Federal Government plans to shut down the current system.

A plan to sell one state’s power poles and cables has already prompted parties to claim a share of the hypothetical profits.

As the government’s ‘razor gang’ sought out more budget cuts over the weekend, Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews said tightening up checks on claims for the Disability Support Pension (DSP) would be a good start.