It is an offence in Queensland to carry an unconcealed gel blaster in public from February 1, with police urging owners of the toy guns to be fully aware of their responsibilities or face harsher penalties including jail time.

THE notorious US anti-communism campaigner Joe McCarthy would be proud of the Australian Senate.

THE focus on high test scores is masking the failure of schools to improve their students’ learning.

The sacking of the ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie has brought her often challenging, sometimes tumultuous, two-year tenure at the top of the national broadcaster to an end.

THIRTY-FOUR schools in remote locations will from next year roll out the “old-school” ­literacy program trialled on ­Cape York.