News Corp to cut jobs in restructure towards digital-only community and regional newspapersShareNews Corp has announced a massive shakeup of its publishing businesses, moving almost all its community and regional newspaper titles to a digital-only format.More than 100 mastheads will become totally digital publications, and 13 papers will merge with other titles in the News Corp brand.Today's announcement is the latest in a string of newsroom closures across the country and follows Buzzfeed shutting down its Australian operations and Network 10's decision to close its website 10Daily.The...…News Corp to cut jobs in restructure towards digital-only community and regional newspapersShareNews Corp has announced a massive shakeup of its publishing businesses, moving almost all its community and regional newspaper titles to a digital-only format.More than 100 mastheads will become totally digital publications, and 13 papers will merge with other titles in the News Corp brand.Today's announcement is the latest in a string of newsroom closures across the country and follows Buzzfeed shutting down its Australian operations and Network 10's decision to close its website 10Daily.The...WW…

Government to pay back $721m as it scraps Robodebt for Centrelink welfare recipientsShareThe Federal Government will refund $721 million worth of debts it clawed back through its controversial Robodebt scheme.The scheme saw hundreds of thousands of people issued with computer-generated debt notices, some of which made demands for payment from people who did not owe the Government any money.Services Australia said in a statement that 470,000 debts would be waived, with refunds to be rolled out from July.More than 370,000 people were affected, with some having been issued multiple...…Government to pay back $721m as it scraps Robodebt for Centrelink welfare recipientsShareThe Federal Government will refund $721 million worth of debts it clawed back through its controversial Robodebt scheme.The scheme saw hundreds of thousands of people issued with computer-generated debt notices, some of which made demands for payment from people who did not owe the Government any money.Services Australia said in a statement that 470,000 debts would be waived, with refunds to be rolled out from July.More than 370,000 people were affected, with some having been issued multiple...WW…

ShareThe Chinese embassy in Canberra has accused Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton of being a mouthpiece for the United States, in a withering criticism describing calls by Australian politicians for greater scrutiny of China's handling of the coronavirus crisis as "pitiful".In an interview last week, Mr Dutton cited US State Department comments it had "documentation" showing how the virus had spread — but noted he had not seen the documents referred to by officials.The Home Affairs Minister joined the chorus of officials demanding China be more "transparent" about the COVID-19 pandemic,...…ShareThe Chinese embassy in Canberra has accused Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton of being a mouthpiece for the United States, in a withering criticism describing calls by Australian politicians for greater scrutiny of China's handling of the coronavirus crisis as "pitiful".In an interview last week, Mr Dutton cited US State Department comments it had "documentation" showing how the virus had spread — but noted he had not seen the documents referred to by officials.The Home Affairs Minister joined the chorus of officials demanding China be more "transparent" about the COVID-19 pandemic,...WW…

Crossbench SA senator Rex Patrick quits Centre Alliance party to sit as an independentShareSouth Australian crossbench Senator Rex Patrick has quit his Centre Alliance party and will sit in Federal Parliament as an independent.The former submariner took , as Mr Xenophon unsuccessfully tried to pick up a lower house seat in the 2018 South Australian state election.Senator Patrick, a former staffer for Mr Xenophon, has been an outspoken critic of the next-generation — seeking to emulate the high profile of his predecessor."I was honoured to replace Nick Xenophon as a Senator for...…Crossbench SA senator Rex Patrick quits Centre Alliance party to sit as an independentShareSouth Australian crossbench Senator Rex Patrick has quit his Centre Alliance party and will sit in Federal Parliament as an independent.The former submariner took , as Mr Xenophon unsuccessfully tried to pick up a lower house seat in the 2018 South Australian state election.Senator Patrick, a former staffer for Mr Xenophon, has been an outspoken critic of the next-generation — seeking to emulate the high profile of his predecessor."I was honoured to replace Nick Xenophon as a Senator for...WW…

High Court statement reveals investigation findings of sexual harassment, denied by former High Court judge Dyson HeydonShareThe High Court has revealed an independent investigation it commissioned has found six former associates were sexually harassed by former Justice Dyson Heydon.In a statement, the court said it was advised of the allegations last year.The investigation was undertaken by Dr Vivienne Thom, who used to serve as the Federal Government's Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security.High Court Chief Justice Susan Kiefel said the findings were of "extreme concern" to all of...…High Court statement reveals investigation findings of sexual harassment, denied by former High Court judge Dyson HeydonShareThe High Court has revealed an independent investigation it commissioned has found six former associates were sexually harassed by former Justice Dyson Heydon.In a statement, the court said it was advised of the allegations last year.The investigation was undertaken by Dr Vivienne Thom, who used to serve as the Federal Government's Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security.High Court Chief Justice Susan Kiefel said the findings were of "extreme concern" to all of...WW…

Twitter removes 30,000 Chinese, Russian and Turkish accounts linked to government propagandaShareTwitter is disclosing the details of more than 32,000 accounts it has suspended and removed from its platform after investigations found ties to state-run propaganda and disinformation operations in China, Russia and Turkey.The tech giant has been investigating suspicious users which have been flooding social media feeds with pro-government rhetoric in a bid to manipulate public debate.Twitter has shared the data with researchers at the US-based Stanford Internet Observatory and the Australian...…Twitter removes 30,000 Chinese, Russian and Turkish accounts linked to government propagandaShareTwitter is disclosing the details of more than 32,000 accounts it has suspended and removed from its platform after investigations found ties to state-run propaganda and disinformation operations in China, Russia and Turkey.The tech giant has been investigating suspicious users which have been flooding social media feeds with pro-government rhetoric in a bid to manipulate public debate.Twitter has shared the data with researchers at the US-based Stanford Internet Observatory and the Australian...WW…

'Sports rorts' inquiry says federal government tried to avoid handing over evidenceShareThe federal government has been described as being obstructive in avoiding handing over key evidence to an inquiry into the controversial so-called "sports rorts" program, with the inquiry finding significant flaws in the management of what it argued had become a "pre-election slush fund".A Senate inquiry, dominated by Labor and the Greens, tabled its final report into the Community Sports Infrastructure Grants program (CSIG) on Thursday evening, taking another opportunity to rip into the government over...…'Sports rorts' inquiry says federal government tried to avoid handing over evidenceShareThe federal government has been described as being obstructive in avoiding handing over key evidence to an inquiry into the controversial so-called "sports rorts" program, with the inquiry finding significant flaws in the management of what it argued had become a "pre-election slush fund".A Senate inquiry, dominated by Labor and the Greens, tabled its final report into the Community Sports Infrastructure Grants program (CSIG) on Thursday evening, taking another opportunity to rip into the government over...WW…

Second woman comes forward alleging she was sexually assaulted by same perpetrator as Brittany HigginsSharePrime Minister Scott Morrison says he is "upset" to read reports that a second woman was allegedly raped by the same man accused of sexually assaulting former Liberals staffer Brittany Higgins.Mr Morrison did not comment directly on that assertion on Saturday, but welcomed the AFP's investigation into Ms Higgins's complaint."We at all times, the ministers who had knowledge of this matter and those who were in a senior position, the staff that had knowledge of those matters in those...…Second woman comes forward alleging she was sexually assaulted by same perpetrator as Brittany HigginsSharePrime Minister Scott Morrison says he is "upset" to read reports that a second woman was allegedly raped by the same man accused of sexually assaulting former Liberals staffer Brittany Higgins.Mr Morrison did not comment directly on that assertion on Saturday, but welcomed the AFP's investigation into Ms Higgins's complaint."We at all times, the ministers who had knowledge of this matter and those who were in a senior position, the staff that had knowledge of those matters in those...WW…

Donald Trump may be the one on trial, but impeachment has also become a televised group therapy session for AmericansShare"I'm an impartial juror."It was a declaration of good intention that should have been a statement of the obvious.But in the tribal world of US politics, the comment stuck out like a mask wearer at a QAnon rally.It was Louisiana Republican senator Bill Cassidy who delivered the remarks, having just broken ranks with his party to vote to continue the impeachment trial of a Donald J Trump — resident of Mar-a-Lago, Florida.He dismissed arguments the Senate had no power to...…Donald Trump may be the one on trial, but impeachment has also become a televised group therapy session for AmericansShare"I'm an impartial juror."It was a declaration of good intention that should have been a statement of the obvious.But in the tribal world of US politics, the comment stuck out like a mask wearer at a QAnon rally.It was Louisiana Republican senator Bill Cassidy who delivered the remarks, having just broken ranks with his party to vote to continue the impeachment trial of a Donald J Trump — resident of Mar-a-Lago, Florida.He dismissed arguments the Senate had no power to...WW…

Government names institutions that did not sign up to National Redress Scheme for child sexual abuse victimsShareSix institutions, including the Jehovah's Witnesses, have been publicly named by the Federal Government for failing to sign up to the National Redress Scheme for victims of institutional child sexual abuse.But within hours of the Government following through with its threat to name recalcitrant organisations, the Australian Air League changed course and announced it would join the scheme.Organisations had until last night to join the program, with the Commonwealth promising to...…Government names institutions that did not sign up to National Redress Scheme for child sexual abuse victimsShareSix institutions, including the Jehovah's Witnesses, have been publicly named by the Federal Government for failing to sign up to the National Redress Scheme for victims of institutional child sexual abuse.But within hours of the Government following through with its threat to name recalcitrant organisations, the Australian Air League changed course and announced it would join the scheme.Organisations had until last night to join the program, with the Commonwealth promising to...WW…