Some Muslim religious leaders in Victoria are condoning rape within marriage, domestic violence, polygamy, welfare fraud and exploitation of women, says explosive report.

The global financial crisis has obliterated riches and reputations, but few implosions have been as spectacular as the plummeting fortune of mining entrepreneur Andrew Forrest.

David Hicks will get his wish for a normal life after the Australian Federal Police say it would not seek a new anti-terrorist control order against him.

Labor retains a thumping opinion poll lead over Ted Baillieu's Liberals despite the departure of Steve Bracks, the economic downturn and community unrest about several policies.

The Labor Party is a joke in NSW, was thrown out of office in Western Australia, and got a huge scare in the Northern Territory election. In Victoria, Labor is defying the trend.

Mass job losses loom in Australian car industry, with manufacturers forced to slash production and dealerships facing closure.

Two prominent Australian artists take legal action against two Melbourne art dealers to stop them selling allegedly fake works.

Australian mining company has paid millions of dollars in controversial fees to Somali rebels responsible for a surge in international piracy, including the hijacking this week of an oil supertanker.

Australia may be unable to avoid heading towards recession, Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens concedes.

John Brumby's long-overdue manufacturing statement receives mixed response from unions and industry groups despite big boost for local suppliers.

Victorian manufacturers will be favoured over foreign rivals for billions of dollars worth of State Government contracts under controversial plan to tackle economic slump.

Lord mayoral candidate Catherine Ng got a rude surprise late on Saturday when she typed her name into Google.

Crisis in child-care sector deepens after second chain falls into the hands of administrators, succumbing to similar problems as those of ABC Learning Centres.

Monash University's new vice-chancellor quick to raise concerns about the lack of funding for Australian universities.

Leading Melbourne QC Robert Richter launches savage attack on Director of Public Prosecutions Jeremy Rapke, QC, saying that he should resign "if this is the best he can do".

LABOR has called on the Federal Government to review the aged care system in the wake of the rape of a 98-year-old woman in Victoria.

FRIENDS and family reeling from the deaths of six Victorian teenagers killed in a horror road smash are not looking to apportion blame, a psychologist said.

FORMER Australian beauty queen and controversial London socialite Michele Renouf has caused a stir at historian David Irving's holocaust-denial trial in Vienna, protesting on his behalf.

A PRIEST used boys under his care for his own comfort and sexual gratification, a Hobart court was told yesterday.

TWO teenage victims of the Mildura hit-run accident have been remembered as a "loving daughter" and a "great mate".