May 21, 2013 Attorney General Mark Dreyfus has defended the federal government's funding of Legal Aid, saying increased budget spending for the beleaguered service is evidence of Labor's Martin Luther King-esque quest for justice.

May 21, 2013 Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has admitted he has thought about the victory speech he'd give if he wins the September election.

May 21, 2013 B-vitamins could prevent Alzheimer's disease by reducing the loss of grey matter in vulnerable regions of the brain, researchers have found.

May 21, 2013 An Australian executive has been sentenced to 10 years jail in Dubai but his junior colleague acquitted in a spectacular climax to their four-year battle against property fraud charges.

May 21, 2013 The pay-off from helping developing countries to dig up their minerals could ''dwarf'' anything that aid might deliver, the government told international mining experts on Monday.

May 21, 2013 An Abbott government would dump the baby bonus entirely - even the reduced, means-tested payments proposed by Labor, shadow treasurer Joe Hockey has said.

May 21, 2013 Another people smuggler has been arrested by Indonesian police in the most concerted effort in years to catch and lock up those who transport refugees by boat to Australia.

May 21, 2013 Former PM changes his mind on same-sex marriage and now believes the federal parliament should legalise it.

May 21, 2013 Victoria has rated its chances of signing up to the Gonski school funding reforms as 50/50 and denied facing pressure from Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to shun a deal.

May 21, 2013 One of Australia's largest drug providers is threatening to slow down delivery times of vital medicines if it doesn't receive more money from the government.