Children aged 3 to 5 don't need to do formal academic assignments in early childhood education to hit their milestones, writes Wendy Boyd.

Australians are being gouged by under-regulated monopolistic airports abusing their market power, according to former competition watchdog boss Graeme Samuel.

Despite the vastness of Australia, a fascination with something much bigger inspires thousands of people across the country to look to the stars as part the ABC's Stargazing Live event.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott signs petition saying the Federal Government should lobby Cambodia to release James Ricketson, who has been in prison on charges of espionage for almost a year.

Ann Sudmalis was facing a pre-selection challenge in her marginal New South Wales seat of Gilmore but the ABC understands Treasurer Scott Morrison and MPs Alex Hawke and Trent Zimmermann have worked behind the scenes to shore up her support.

Bill Shorten pledged to set up a federal anti-corruption body if elected, but the Coalition argues there has not been enough detail provided by Labor.

The National Union of Workers says workers from Vanuatu were paid as little as $8 an hour and experienced "bleeding episodes" after breathing in chemicals on a farm in Victoria.

Schools are warning parents about the dark content of a new series of popular Netflix series 13 Reasons Why and looking at ways to support kids who want to talk about the graphic content it features, including sexual violence and suicide.

Schools are warning parents about the dark content of a new series of popular Netflix series 13 Reasons Why and looking at ways to support kids who want to talk about the graphic content it features, including sexual violence and suicide.

The Australian Federal Police have asked for the extra powers, but the penalty for non-compliance is still being "worked through".

The Australian Federal Police have asked for the extra powers, but the penalty for non-compliance is still being "worked through".

Influential Liberal backbencher Andrew Hastie says it was his duty to use parliamentary privilege to claim Chinese-Australian businessman Chau Chak Wing (pictured) "co-conspired to bribe" a senior United Nations official.

Influential Liberal backbencher Andrew Hastie says it was his duty to use parliamentary privilege to claim Chinese-Australian businessman Chau Chak Wing (pictured) "co-conspired to bribe" a senior United Nations official.

China's Foreign Minister tells Julie Bishop that Australia needs to remove its "tinted glasses" and "translate its words into concrete actions" to improve ties after tensions over Beijing's anger with recent political moves by Canberra.

China's Foreign Minister tells Julie Bishop that Australia needs to remove its "tinted glasses" and "translate its words into concrete actions" to improve ties after tensions over Beijing's anger with recent political moves by Canberra.

A Chinese-Australian real estate developer "co-conspired to bribe" a senior United Nations official, according to claims made in federal parliament.

Sydney Kings star recruit Andrew Bogut, who signed with the club last month after a decorated 13 seasons in the NBA, believes the NBL can become the world's second-best league.

Electronic ankle bracelets used to track criminals in the Northern Territory stopped working for up to four days when Telstra's network was hit by a major outage earlier this month.

Mile Jedinak co-signs a letter telling FIFA it would be "plainly wrong" to stop Paolo Guerrero from playing in the World Cup next month on the basis of findings the Peru captain did not intend to cheat.

Foster carers are calling for state care to be extended from 18 to 21, saying hundreds of kids are being left homeless and jobless each year under the current system.