Latest National News

Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott are back on par as preferred prime minister, the latest Fairfax-Nielsen poll shows.

At least 3000 homes will be under the flight path when the proposed third runway at Melbourne Airport is completed, according to the draft master plan.

Victoria Police want to see the perpetrators of hate crimes dealt with more severely when they are brought before courts.

If Labor was expecting a boost from its budget, hopes have been dashed with the latest Newspoll showing nothing has changed.

A 12-year-old girl who went missing on Saturday night has been reunited with her family.

HMAS Leeuwin intercepted a boat on Saturday believed to have 83 asylum seekers and two crew on board.

A five-year-old boy is critical after falling 10 metres from an amusement park ride set up at a school fete in southern Queensland.

Police will resume their search on Monday for a paraglider who went missing in Victoria's southwest. The body of another paraglider was found on Sunday.

Federal transport minister Anthony Albanese says it is time for WA Premier Colin Barnett to find the funds to keep his election promises.

An inquiry will identify who is responsible for the deaths of 46 cows at a Queensland government research station, the state's agriculture minister says.