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Cheaper Australian-made ventilator offers greater ICU capability option amid coronavirus pandemic

An Australian-made ventilator that costs a tenth of the price of existing models is brought to life in just four weeks, which could revolutionise intensive care capability in the fight against COVID-19.




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'Sad for everyone': Coronavirus may bankrupt Kokoda tour operators

For Papua New Guineans and tour operators who get their income from the Kokoda track, April is usually their busiest time of year — but coronavirus might be putting a stop to that.





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ASX rises, US markets fall from highs after coronavirus treatment trial results

The Australian share market ends higher, despite Wall Street giving up most of its gains after leaked test results of a potential COVID-19 treatment prove disappointing.




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Cars, excavator used to impound Virgin planes at Perth Airport amid stand-off over 'significant' debt

Perth Airport is using heavy machinery and company vehicles to block a number of Virgin Australia aircraft from taking off over what it says are $16 million in unpaid debts.




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NT Government suspends debate as emergency coronavirus legislation rushed through Parliament

Renters in the NT will be protected from eviction for up to four months after more coronavirus emergency legislation passes parliament. But the Opposition and independents say Labor is avoiding scrutiny of its measures, following the suspension of Question Time.




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Coronavirus relief loans offered via SMS prompt call to ban payday lenders

Consumer advocates call for a ban on short-term loans because of concerns loan sharks are using text messages to target vulnerable people affected by the coronavirus pandemic.




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'It takes a village': Tourist town turns to good grub for coronavirus solace

With 100 per cent of the bookings cancelled at his boutique business, a country chef decides to use his culinary skills to help others through the pandemic.




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What does Tasmania's economy face post-coronavirus?

CommSec's State of the States latest report reveals Tasmania's economy performing stronger than it had for more than 10 years. But that was before the coronavirus crisis hit. What's ahead?




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Right next to the airport, but for this couple it's a dream home

Rod Peters is a real-life Darryl Kerrigan from movie The Castle — he has even extended his house to include uninterrupted views of the runway. And the noise? No problem at all.




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'It's been hectic': Flour production soars as coronavirus causes record demand

Australia's largest flour mill will produce an extra 50 million kilograms by the middle of the year as consumer demand goes through the roof.




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The 'reset' it needed — how coronavirus is changing the fashion industry forever

Almost a quarter of Australia's fashion labels believe they will never recover from the coronavirus hit — but some are adapting and finding new ways to make money, and a new way of doing business.




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Workers are due their superannuation today but many employers are struggling to pay

Today is the deadline for employers to pay superannuation they owe workers for the first quarter, but many may struggle to do so amid the COVID-19 economic shutdown.




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Superannuation early withdrawal risks collapsing retirement system

Super funds and prominent professional investors warn that the mass withdrawal of funds from superannuation during the COVID-19 crisis risks undermining the whole retirement income system.




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Coles, Woolworths ease coronavirus restrictions on toilet paper

Customers will be able to buy multiple packets of toilet paper at the supermarket giants, although a number of other items remain restricted.




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'Relax the rhetoric': Businesses open, but coronavirus crackdown has customers 'nervous'

Small businesses in Tasmania struggling to survive amid the coronavirus crisis call for clearer messaging from authorities, saying there is no point trading if customers are too nervous to leave home.




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Coronavirus shutdowns leave expats unable to sell their homes in time to avoid hefty tax bills

Thousands of Australian expats fear they could be hit with large capital gains tax bills because they've been unable to return home due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, before a June 30 deadline that would have allowed them to sell their property to avoid liabilities.




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'Coffee, then NAFI': Future of 'crucial' fire-tracking website in doubt

It is one of the most popular and important websites for cattle producers, rangers and carbon farmers in northern Australia, but its funding is about to run out.




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Coles gets coronavirus boost, Melco abandons Crown, ASX jumps

Panic buying, unsurprisingly, has led to a surge in Coles' sales, while the Crown Casino has picked up some new owners and Australian shares are having another volatile day.




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Surging grocery costs blamed on fires, droughts and COVID-19

Australians have seen a rare rise in inflation, as a series of crises conspired to push up the cost of essential groceries, but economists say consumers should see cheaper prices again now that panic buying has subsided.




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Renters could find themselves in paradise as a wave of Airbnb homes hit the market

The major online platforms say rental listings are up 8-10 per cent compared to last year, as thousands of Airbnbs and other short-term rentals are expected to move to the long-term market as coronavirus halts travel.




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Businessman's dairy proposal puts pressure on Government to help struggling farmers

A Victorian businessman has given the Federal Government a detailed plan to help the struggling dairy industry get back on track — and give more money to farmers.




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Authorities investigate aged care coronavirus cluster as Victoria records seven new cases

Victoria's total of COVID-19 cases rises to 1,361, as Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton reveals authorities are investigating three cases linked to a Melbourne aged care facility.




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Metro West plan revealed: Rydalmere station scrapped, 150 properties to be acquired

The NSW Government releases the blueprint for the promised Metro West, revealing it will acquire 154 properties to accommodate the multi-billion dollar project.




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Coronavirus update: China's Hubei province lowers emergency response level

The initial epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak will lower its emergency response level from tomorrow. These are the key coronavirus developments from Friday.




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Company buys coal mine for $1 and receives $35 million environmental refund. Here's how

A company linked to Labor figures that bought a mine for just $1 enjoyed multi-million-dollar refunds from its environmental bond after concessions from the Palaszczuk Government, documents show.




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Coronavirus update: New York City nursing home reports 98 deaths as FDA approves experimental drug

US President Donald Trump seemingly increases his estimate of possible deaths from coronavirus to 100,000, up from 70,000 earlier in the week, as South Africa, Spain and some American states loosen their restrictions. These are the key coronavirus developments from today.




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Flight Centre stops charging cancellation fees for trips affected by coronavirus

The travel agent chain backs down from charging hundreds of dollars in cancellation fees for trips cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, following pressure from customers and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.




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In what's left of the Australian TV industry after coronavirus, will the next Secret Life be made?

Some are warning Australia's television industry is facing a crisis that could affect how much viewers pay for entertainment in the future, and whether the kinds of shows that have been hits in the past will continue to be made.




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Coronavirus update: Italy sends millions back to work after two months at home

After two months in almost total lockdown, 4.5 million Italians are allowed to return to work today as the country with the second-highest coronavirus death toll begins to wind back some restrictions.




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In the blink of an eye coronavirus has turned the property market upside down

Within the space of a month, the coronavirus pandemic has upended the property market for buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords.




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Fine-dining restaurants turn to takeaway to keep staff employed during virus lockdown

With dine-in service off the table many restaurants struggle to retain staff who are ineligible for JobKeeper payments.




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Trump takes swipe at China, bickers with journalists during virtual town hall meeting

The US President said China tried to cover up the coronavirus outbreak before trying to blame other countries for the ensuing health pandemic.




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WA shut itself off from the country and the world to prevent coronavirus. The impact is hitting home

The fallout from harsh border closures means many WA tourism businesses will struggle to stay afloat for longer than six months given a huge drop in revenue.




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Corporate giants warn coronavirus exodus means Sydney's CBD will never be the same again

As the Government begins easing social-distancing restrictions, there are doubts once-bustling workplaces in Sydney's CBD will ever return to the way they were.




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The US meat industry has been crippled by coronavirus. Here's why that won't happen here

US meatworks have been epicentres for coronavirus outbreaks and shutting them down has disrupted the supply chain. But Australia is set up differently.




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Virgin Atlantic lays off thousands of staff as more trouble hits Richard Branson's brand

Just weeks after Virgin Australia goes into voluntary administration, UK-based Virgin Atlantic is forced to lay off thousands of workers as the coronavirus pandemic takes a heavy toll.




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'A rip-off and a rort': Residents have their say as ACCC questions ‘higher than expected’ NT fuel price

Michael Gunner issues his "first and final warning" to petrol companies to take action as the ACCC puts in its two cents on the NT's comparatively high fuel prices.




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Tom Cruise to star in movie shot in space, NASA confirms

Fewer than 250 people have been on the International Space Station but Mission Impossible actor Tom Cruise looks set to become one of them, in part to "inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists".




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A day of fasting, the evening meal, then the entire building went up like a bonfire

Huge flames are filmed shooting up the side of a Middle Eastern residential tower shortly after residents finish their nightly Ramadan meal.




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Hemp smoothies, muesli among creative uses of first edible organic crop

Australia's largest organic edible hemp crop is being harvested in Victoria's north west with agronomists talking up its food and fibre potential.




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Coronavirus has delivered some scary numbers for Europe, and more are ahead — the financial cost

The collective European economy will contract by 7.7 per cent this year and debt will skyrocket, with Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal among the hardest hit by the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.




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ASX falls, miners rise as iron ore drives record trade surplus

The Australian share market falls but iron ore mining stocks make gains after Australia posted a $10.6 billion trade surplus in March and iron ore exports rose.




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Mother's Day visits off the table as Victorian Premier defends coronavirus contact tracing efforts

Premier Daniel Andrews defends the work of contact tracers as 13 more coronavirus cases are linked to a cluster at Cedar Meats in Melbourne's west.




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Commonwealth Bank temporarily closes 114 branches due to coronavirus impacts

CBA says today's closure of 114 branches nationwide is temporary and due to a massive increase in online and telephone banking.





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SunRice looks to environmental water, subsidies, government intervention as solutions for harvest

SunRice says it will guarantee Australian-grown rice returns to supermarkets in April if the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is changed so environmental water can be used to grow rice.




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Is your steak safe to eat? Abattoir coronavirus outbreak leaves consumers wondering

A coronavirus outbreak at a Melbourne abattoir has left consumers wondering about food safety — but experts say meat is still very safe to eat, and any risk is "ridiculously small".




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Environmental hit as bins fill to the brim with disposable coffee cups

Disposable cups are currently the only option for most cafe owners to provide takeaway coffee to customers, but environmentalists are worried about the consequences.




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One third of NT budget repair plans in place, one year after warnings of debt crisis

One year after releasing its plan to drag the NT budget out of structural deficit, the Labor Government says a third of its promises have been implemented in full. But some key measures are still in the works and the Opposition is demanding a better look at the books.