The Government is set to ramp up criminal and civil penalties against dodgy bankers and other corporate criminals, coinciding with astonishing admissions at the banking royal commission that the Commonwealth Bank charged fees to dead clients.

A woman who stopped using the services of a children's party entertainer after learning she publicly supported the No side of the same-sex marriage debate is cleared by the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Advisers at a Commonwealth Bank financial planning business continued charging fees to customers they knew had died, including one instance where fees were charged for more than a decade after a customer's death, the banking royal commission hears.

Australians are spending millions to create Peter Dutton's new Home Affairs Department, including $1.8 million for an "executive headquarters" a short drive from existing buildings, and $9,000 on new bookmarks.

The Work For The Dole program is a "sham", putting young job seekers in unsafe and potentially deadly situations, say unions, lawyers and the family of a teenager who was killed on a Queensland worksite two years ago.

The head of the banking royal commission loses patience with a Commonwealth Bank executive after she fails at least three times to answer questions about the bank's practice of charging customers fees but not providing financial advice.

Sydney artist Steve Lopes wins the prestigious Gallipoli Art Prize with what judges described as a "fitting tribute" to one of Australia's most important battles — the taking of Mont St Quentin

Revelations that investment house AMP regularly lied to the corporate regulator about charging customers fees for financial services they did not receive are "deeply disturbing", Scott Morrison says.

The inability to say "no" to needy co-workers and to stand up to bosses can cost you in terms of income and career success. But your agreeableness in the workplace can also be used to your advantage, writes Peter O'Connor.

A Canberra public servant fired for expressing her views on asylum seeker policy wins her case for compensation, with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal of Australia finding she was wrongfully dismissed and likening efforts to restrict her comments to an Orwellian "thoughtcrime".

The live export industry is considering a major retreat on animal welfare policy, by canvassing an idea put forward by Labor for an independent inspector to oversee the treatment of livestock.

The live export industry is considering a major retreat on animal welfare policy, by canvassing an idea put forward by Labor for an independent inspector to oversee the treatment of livestock.

Cannabis is a popular drug in Australia, so we must be cautious and evidence-based in deciding how to manage its use, which is not without medical risk. The first response of doctors must be to do no harm, writes AMA vice-president Tony Bartone.

Cannabis is a popular drug in Australia, so we must be cautious and evidence-based in deciding how to manage its use, which is not without medical risk. The first response of doctors must be to do no harm, writes AMA vice-president Tony Bartone.

After a plane crash in Indonesia left her with shocking injuries and killed 21 others, Australian journalist Cynthia Banham says it took her years to confront the tragedy in order to write her book and rebuild her life.

After a plane crash in Indonesia left her with shocking injuries and killed 21 others, Australian journalist Cynthia Banham says it took her years to confront the tragedy in order to write her book and rebuild her life.

Australians need to pay more taxes to "fund the health, education and transport services we need", says an open letter on tax reform addressed to PM Malcolm Turnbull.

Australians need to pay more taxes to "fund the health, education and transport services we need", says an open letter on tax reform addressed to PM Malcolm Turnbull.

Acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack has foreshadowed a budget full of goodies next month, but Scott Morrison says he is not Santa.

An Australian nun is arrested in the Philippines for engaging in "illegal political activities", after she took part in a human rights fact-finding mission in the country's south, a leader of a left-wing group says.