Is Victoria really the 'car theft capital' of Australia? And if so, why?

Victoria has recently been labelled Australia's "car theft capital".vAccording to the Insurance Council of Australia, more than A$243 million was paid out in Victoria last year in 12,500 claims involving stolen vehicles and thefts from motor vehicles. Between 2024 and 2025, the state recorded a 25% increase in motor vehicle theft claims.

Is it worth getting the pension to avoid Labor's new capital gains tax?

Recent news articles have floated the idea some retirees might try to sidestep the government's new minimum capital gains tax (CGT) by qualifying for as little as A$1 of the age pension. That's because under the government's proposed tax reforms, people on certain income support payments, including the age pension, would be exempt from the new 30% minimum tax on capital gains.

Australian unis have dropped again in global rankings. We can't just shrug it off

More than half of Australia's universities dropped in global rankings this week. Individual results always bounce around. But this drop, via the Centre for World University Rankings, suggests the decline of Australia's standing in many global rankings systems is more than a blip.

Australia wants social media to be 'safe by design'

Australia is world-leading in taking active measures to keep people safe online - home to the world's first dedicated online safety regulator, the eSafety Commissioner, and the first country to introduce enforceable industry codes requiring platforms to tackle harmful content at scale.

Pope meets with 6 clergy abuse survivors in Spain

MADRID (AP) – Pope Leo XIV met Monday with six survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Madrid and vowed to consider their suggestions for how the Catholic Church can improve its response to the crisis, the Vatican said. The meeting, which followed in the tradition of popes meeting with abuse survivors during their foreign trips, lasted about an hour.

Why is Australia buying used submarines? A naval expert answers key AUKUS questions

Following the recent announcement that Australia would acquire three submarines already in US service rather than two used submarines and one new one, AUKUS has again dominated headlines. AUKUS is a defence capability agreement between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. Since it was announced in 2021, it's rarely been out of the news.

 

Australia is facing a new 12.5% US tariff over anti‑slavery claims. Are they right?

The United States is threatening to impose trade tariffs of up to 12.5% on 60 countries, including Australia, over their inaction on forced and slave labour worldwide.  On Wednesday, US trade representative Jamieson Greer said: The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labor is unacceptable.

Hanson prepares to take the big stage as Husic hits out at straitjacket on caucus

When One Nation leader Pauline Hanson addresses the National Press Club on June 17, there will be landmines everywhere. It's her first formal speech to the club in her 30-year (on and off) parliamentary career. How times have changed.

Australia now has access to Anthropic's Claude Mythos. It may improve cyber safety

Artificial intelligence (AI) giant Anthropic has expanded access to a highly advanced model deemed too dangerous for public release, including Australia in the select handful of users. The large language model, known as Claude Mythos, is now being rolled out to an additional 150 organisations across 15 countries, including the Australian government and several local businesses, as part of Project Glasswing.