The Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, tells a royal commission the response by Catholic Church leaders to allegations of child sexual abuse amounted to "criminal negligence".

Australia's batsmen are under the pump as the first Test against India gets underway in Pune. Follow the action in our live blog.

Electricity retailers ERM Power and Alinta Energy opt to pay more than $130 million in penalties, rather than meeting their renewable energy obligations, raising fresh questions about the Renewable Energy Target.

Australia Post director Ahmed Fahour resigns just weeks after his $5.6 million was revealed by a Senate committee, which dismissed calls for it to be concealed from the public.

Former federal treasury head Ken Henry lashes out at the political and media dysfunction that he says has led to reform paralysis, saying over the last decade almost every major infrastructure project had turned into a fight.

Allison Baden-Clay's former husband Gerard Baden-Clay will not get any of her money and her father Geoff Dickie has been made executor of her estate, the Supreme Court rules.

A portable helmet being trialled by Australian paramedics that uses microwave technology to quickly diagnose a suspected stroke could help doctors save lives and intervene before major brain damage occurs.

Workers in the hospitality, retail and fast-food industries will be paid less for working on Sundays and on public holidays after the Fair Work Commission decided to cut penalty rates today.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton backtracks on his comments on the refugee resettlement deals between Australia and the US, saying he has "been clear that it's not a people swap".

Former prime minister Tony Abbott lashes out at the Turnbull Government, saying conservatives see it as "Labor lite" and its base will desert it for One Nation unless it shunts to the right.

Matt Renshaw's half-century gives Australia reason to smile, but day one of the first Test against India in Pune goes largely as expected.

Australia's consumer watchdog plans to take legal action against more private health insurers this year, saying many patients are being slugged with unexpected hefty bills after hospital visits.

Attorney-General George Brandis was personally involved in the Bell Group matter one month earlier than he says he was, it has been claimed.

Iraqi forces capture Mosul airport hours after launching a major offensive against Islamic State militants, who control the western half of the city, state television reports.

One of the imams behind a call for Muslims not to vote for the Liberal Party says the current political climate has forced them to take a stand.