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Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Donald Trump discussed lifting US sanctions in May. (AP PHOTO)

PoliticsPremiumTrump signs order lifting US sanctions on Syria

The US is lifting sanctions on Syria, while maintaining sanctions on former president Bashar al-Assad, with the move expected to boost foreign investment.

Andrea Shalal, Daphne Psaledakis and Humeyra Pamuk

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan.

live
live
Federal PoliticsComments
live
PAY HIKE: Premier becomes second highest paid behind Albo

LIVE UPDATES: One Australian Premier is set to rake in a hefty half a million dollar salary, securing their position as Australia’s second-highest paid politician.

Peta Rasdien

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says he expects "a flurry" of trade deals ahead of a deadline. (AP PHOTO)

PoliticsTrump says Japan will receive trade letter

An economic adviser to US President Donald Trump says tariff talks will resume with Canada but the president has criticised Japan on trade.

Staff Writers

Jacinta Allan is set to get a pay bump taking her salary to an eye-watering $512,972. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

PoliticsPremiumNice work if you can get it: premier pockets plenty

Parliamentarians in one state have been granted a pay rise, propelling the premier to the position of Australia's second highest-paid politician.

Allanah Sciberras and Callum Godde

Western Australia is the engine room of our nation, an inexhaustible source of iron ore, natural gas, gold, and other critical minerals that fuel our economy and boost the Federal Government’s bottom line., writes Matt O’Sullivan.

opinion
opinion
Matt O’SullivanComments
opinion
WA is Samwise to the Prime Minister’s Frodo

Western Australia is the engine room of our nation, an inexhaustible source of iron ore, natural gas, gold, and other critical minerals that fuel our economy and boost the Federal Government’s bottom line.

Matt O’Sullivan

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers speaks during a press conference regarding the latest inflation figures.

analysis
analysis
Federal PoliticsComments
analysis
Thickets of red tape holding back Abundance

The ‘abundance agenda’ is colouring the government’s thinking as it approaches its second-term agenda but the hot new book from the US isn’t the only influence on the thinking of ministers.

Katina Curtis

Jennifer McRae.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
state politicsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Forced adoption co-chair quits amid ‘silencing’ claims

A new reference group set up to address the impact of WA’s history of forced adoptions has had a shaky start, with a co-chair quitting and accusing the State Government of attempting to ‘silence’ victims.

Jessica Page

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong speaks to the media during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING

opinion
opinion
EditorialComments
opinion
Wong the wrong person to win American’s favour

Australia’s relationship with its No.1 security ally is at its lowest ebb in memory. And into this fray we are sending . . . Penny Wong. 

Editorial

Amy Wensley (left) was found dead in her Serpentine home 11 years ago. Amy's step father Rick Kirk and mother Nancy Kirk outside Dumas House (right).

state politicsPremiumGrieving family hopeful new search will solve cold case

The grieving parents of Perth mother Amy Wensley are hopeful a new search for answers will finally solve the case after meeting with Attorney-General Tony Buti. 

Jessica Page

Education Minister Sabine Winton with students from John Tonkin College in Mandurah.

state politicsCommentsLast chance to claim budget relief: Education minister

With only a few days left to claim the student assistance payment, the Education Minister wouldn’t commit to using any leftover funds to boost KidSport vouchers that were reduced in the recent Budget. 

Jessica Page

The City of Rockingham will increase rates by 3.5 per cent.

Rockingham ratesModest rate rise leaves Rockingham with budget shortfall

The City of Rockingham council has gone against a proposal to increase rates by 3.9 per cent next financial year and voted for a more modest increase of 3.5 per cent. 

Rachel Fenner

Auditor General Caroline Spencer said the weaknesses in the system ‘put the confidentiality and integrity’ of drug, cancer and infection tests at risk of ‘unauthorised and inappropriate’ access.

state politicsPremiumReport slams ‘unauthorised’ access to WA medical records

Thousands of West Australians’ sensitive medical information collected by PathWest was put at significant risk of ‘unauthorised and inappropriate’ access, an alarming new report has revealed. 

Jessica Page

Gas has an important role to play as Australia transitions to renewables, the government says. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

PoliticsPremiumBlowtorch on gas market as report pumps for investment

Regulations on how Australia's gas market is run will be placed under review as the federal government looks to shore up the domestic market.

Andrew Brown

The Australian share market has posted its best return since the pandemic. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

MarketsCommentsPremiumResurgent Aussie shares bounce back with post-COVID best

The Australian share market has posted its best return since the pandemic, recovering from the meltdown triggered by Donald Trump’s tariffs four months ago to deliver nearly double-digit gains.

Sean Smith

A treasurer says a GST carve-up sold his state down the river to keep another afloat. (Sam Mooy/AAP PHOTOS)

PoliticsPremiumWar of words over GST carve-up as states butt heads

Two states are going head to head over the GST carve-up after one claimed it was given an unfair shortfall to cover COVID-19 failures.

Savannah Meacham

Education Minister Sabine Winton.

EducationPremiumLatin on offer in WA schools to ‘sharpen the intellect’

Sabine Winton says students will be able to ‘appreciate Harry Potter a bit better’ after it was revealed Latin would be offered as a subject for senior secondary students for the first time in almost 20 years.

Jessica Evensen

Victoria may establish an elected body to provide advice on policies related to Aboriginal people. (Justin McManus/AAP PHOTOS)

PoliticsPremiumSecond state set for own Indigenous voice to parliament

Another Australian state is preparing to establish a legislated Indigenous voice to parliament as part of treaty negotiations.

Callum Godde

State PoliticsThousands of regional families to pocket $500 travel bonus

Regional parents will be able to pocket up to $500 to help cover the travel cost for their kids to compete in Country Week, which kicked off on Monday.

Jessica Evensen

If the US Senate passes the bill, it will add $5.1 trillion to the public debt within 10 years. (AP PHOTO)

PoliticsPremiumUS Senate extends vote on Trump's 'big beautiful bill'

US senators are scheduled to start voting on a long list of amendments to Donald Trump's budget bill which will add more than $5 trillion to public debt.

Staff Writers

Nurses and midwives will ramp up industrial action if a demand for higher pay is ignored. (Savannah Meacham/AAP PHOTOS)

PoliticsPremiumNurses in a pink fit, set to strike over wage offer

Industrial action from nurses and midwives could escalate if a state government and union are unable to broker a new wage deal.

Savannah Meacham and Fraser Barton

Nepotism and cronyism are frequent forms of corruption in Australia, the national watchdog says. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

PoliticsPremium'Nepotism and cronyism': senior official found corrupt

A public servant who hid her familial relationship and helped her sister's fiance get a job in her department has earned the ire of a corruption watchdog.

Kat Wong

Tuvalu has experienced a sea-level rise of 15cm over the past three decades. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

PoliticsPremiumPeople on sinking Tuvalu seek Australia's climate visas

Thousands of people on Tuvalu have applied to move to Australia as climate migrants, amid predictions the tiny Pacific nation will be submerged by rising seas.

Kirsty Needham

NACC commissioner Paul Brereton. NewsWire / Martin Ollman

FEDERAL POLITICSCorruption watchdog finds Home Affairs exec misused title

The public sector corruption watchdog has found a Home Affairs senior executive misused her position to benefit her sister and her sister’s fiancé. 

Caitlyn Rintoul

The Prime Minister says his government is engaging ‘with everyone in the United States’ in its bid to keep the AUKUS defence pact on track amid a snap review by the Pentagon.

Federal PoliticsCommentsAlbanese pushing case for AUKUS with ‘everyone’ in US

The Prime Minister says his government is engaging ‘with everyone in the United States’ in its bid to keep the AUKUS defence pact on track amid a snap review by the Pentagon.

Katina Curtis