Michael West Media

July 11, 2026 06:00 | News First-time homebuyers are missing out on thousands of dollars by not using a little-known scheme that helps save them money for the deposit. The First Home Super Saver Scheme lets them take advantage of their superannuation account’s favourable tax status. “The scheme has been around since July 2017 but it’s not that well known out there,” says Sydney-based Bridges Financial Services financial planner Dominic Sgro. “People probably don’t use it so much.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit has left many in awe of the popularity he commands among Indian-Australians and what the relationship with “modern India” means for Australia. The at times controversial political figure has proven himself capable of steering the world’s fastest-growing economy to greater heights during his more than a decade in office.

July 11, 2026 03:30 | News Australia’s childcare sector is facing strong headwinds amid falling birthrates, the cost-of-living crunch, increased regulation and compliance requirements and rising wages. Mayfield Childcare – which operates 45 long daycare centres in Victoria, Queensland and South Australia – has withdrawn earning guidance delivered in March, becoming the third ASX-listed chain to cite tough trading conditions in 2026.

July 11, 2026 03:30 | News Trust in Telstra is in tatters after a widespread outage hit transport, businesses, health and emergency services, leaving millions of customers in the lurch. It is the third major national outage in less than a year for the $56 billion giant, which powers about 25 million Australian mobile services. Communications Minister Anika Wells has pledged to “hold Telstra’s feet to the fire”, saying the telco’s response was not good enough.

As Jillian Segal denied the undeniable at the Bondi Royal Commission this week, not much is changing in Gaza, and Trump’s Board of Peace stands by idly. Cathy Peters with the latest. In a move that’s been largely unreported here, Hamas announced earlier this week that it would dissolve its governing Emergency Committee with the resignation of its acting leader.

A federal court judge has backed an employer’s right to sack outspoken workers as long as it’s done to protect an organisation’s reputation or business interests, an expert says. Judge Graeme Hill on Friday threw out concert pianist Jayson Lloyd Gillham’s case against the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, finding he was not unfairly dismissed.

July 10, 2026 13:11 | News Home batteries and solar panels are slashing energy bills but the consumer watchdog warns the benefits could be blunted if complaints go neglected. Complaints have surged 107 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same time period in 2025, coinciding with the uber-successful federal home battery scheme.

Come to our 10 year anniversary on the 18th of July! https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1588972 Michael West speaks with Palestinian-Australian surgeon Dr Mohamed Mustafa about AHPRA’s adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, the anonymous complaints threatening medical careers, and the growing fear among doctors who criticise Israel. Dr Mo also recounts his family’s displacement and the bombing of the Gaza hospital where he was working.

The Liberals have ruled out working with One Nation, but they’re taking on a menace of their own making. Andrew Gardiner reports. Liberal leader Angus Taylor has spurned Pauline Hanson’s call for a united front against Labor, ruling out working with a One Nation party the Liberals belatedly see as an existential threat.

July 10, 2026 15:05 | News A deadly bird flu strain has been confirmed in a native seabird for the first time, sparking fears of a wildlife emergency. Testing detected the H5N1 strain in a greater crested tern discovered in South Australia. It marked the nation’s first known infection in a native bird rather than a migratory species. Two further birds in SA and another in Western Australia have also been confirmed as carrying H5, bringing the total to 12 detections.