Vladimir Putin's carefully fostered network of operatives in the West has been depleted by the mass expulsion of "diplomats" from Russian posts. Many countries post spies in their embassies and some say Australia is no exception. Here's why.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann tells the Upper House the Government does not yet have enough support to cut the company tax rate to 25 per cent.

Pill testing should be introduced at music festivals to help emergency workers treat patients suffering adverse reactions like overdoses, according to an inquiry into Victorian drug law reform.

The former Liberal minister did not notify the Parliament's register of interests he had begun receiving a $75,000 salary from his new employer, months before he was due to retire from his seat

Julie Bishop mentions the World Cup in possible further actions against Russia, following the announcement that two spies will be expelled from Australia over the attempted murder of a double agent in the UK.

Instead of eating chocolate eggs on Sunday, Andrew McKinnon will be surrounded by a bunch of armour-clad "knights" readying themselves for a jousting battle of royal proportions.

She doesn't know which jumper she will pull on, or who her teammates will be, but Australian Jillaroos centre Isabelle Kelly says the chance to play in the NRL women's competition is a bit surreal.

Bill Shorten is set to announce Labor will retreat from the full force of its policy to end cash refunds for some shareholders, sparing all pensioners from the crackdown.

A political philosophy professor tells Q&A our private information is under threat as social media and data companies manage to avoid regulation, and a big debate needs to be had about how to rein in their "unaccountable power".

US-owned superannuation business Mercer is charging excessive fees and trying to keep members in high-fee accounts when it is against their best interests, documents show.

Sponsorships of the cricket body and the national team's sidelined captain and vice-captain are under a cloud as the ball-tampering scandal engulfing the sport puts their lucrative deals at risk.

We have seen you stand like a warrior at the crease, leading the team from the front and holding out your chest like you could take on the world. Well, here's your chance to do it again, but for something more significant, writes Tracey Holmes.

A high-ranking government bureaucrat was moments away from posting a job advertisement when her HR department told her it had failed a "gender decoder" test. So what makes a job ad masculine or feminine?

Research into cricket deaths prompted by the Phillip Hughes tragedy reveals dozens of historic fatal incidents, including in backyards, and urges authorities to consider further improvements to neck and chest safety equipment.

Victims of crime could be allowed to access their perpetrators' superannuation as part of compensation, under proposed changes to legislation that Financial Services Minister Kelly O'Dwyer says has been a long time coming.

The Grattan Institute says over-investment in the poles and wires of the power grid has left consumers paying "too much for something they neither want nor need".

More than 30 celebrity ambassadors, led by journalist Tracey Spicer, launch a not-for-profit organisation to end industrial and systemic sexual harassment in the workplace.

The ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town results in Steve Smith suspended for one Test by the ICC and Cameron Bancroft copping demerit points, while Smith and David Warner are stood down from leadership duties for the rest of the third Test.

Australian cricket fans are ashamed of their team and articulate in their criticism. Many are calling for Steve Smith to be sacked and some are threatening to boycott matches until it happens.

Australian cricket fans are ashamed of their team and articulate in their criticism. Many are calling for Steve Smith to be sacked and some are threatening to boycott matches until it happens.