The Age National Headlines

Distributor's threat on drug deliveries

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

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.

Hart admits 'awful blight'

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

Paedophile priests in Melbourne were moved from parish to parish in a culture of secrecy and cover-up in which the Catholic Church was slow to act, Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart said on Thursday.

Police arrest Iranian 'people smuggler'

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

Indonesian police arrest another alleged people smuggler as part of the most concerted effort in years to catch and lock up those who transport refugees by boat to Australia.

Being 13: Who we are and what we think

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

No longer kids but not yet adults. Hyperconnected but wary of giving away too much. They want to be independent but need their parents, too. What's it like being 13 in 2013?

Manly, Storm draw 10-10 in golden point

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:05:11 GMT

Golden point has failed to split the Storm and Manly who finished with a 10-10 draw in their NRL clash at AAMI Park.

Lions duo face AFL suspensions

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:53:10 GMT

Brisbane AFL coach Michael Voss says he wants his team to play more aggressively, even though they are likely to lose two players to suspension.

Rudd endorses gay marriage

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:28:05 GMT

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

Dubai case length is indefensible: Carr

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:56:10 GMT

Foreign Minister Bob Carr says a four-year court case involving two Australian businessmen in Dubai has taken an "indefensible amount of time".

Suns' Smith is latest AFL knee victim

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:22:10 GMT

Gold Coast ruckman Zac Smith has become the 16th player over the summer or this AFL season to be sidelined with a serious knee injury.

Melbourne's Hart apologises for abuse

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:20:10 GMT

Melbourne's Catholic archbishop has apologised to abuse victims over what he says is one of the darkest periods in the church's history.

Focus on community, not markets: Sheldon

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:10:10 GMT

A senior member of the Australian Labor Party says the ALP should focus more on communities and less on promoting market power ahead of the September poll.

Thurston says Leichhardt wanker chant ok

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:07:10 GMT

Johnathan Thurston says he's not upset by a 'wanker' chant from Wests Tigers NRL fans when he plays at Leichhardt Oval.

Beware of becoming like USA, says Pell

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:57:14 GMT

Cardinal George Pell says it is unfortunate the country is becoming more like the US with a smaller middle class and more super-rich.

Qld oil well leaks 240,000 litres

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:57:13 GMT

A Santos well near the Queensland-South Australian border has been plugged, after leaking nearly a quarter of a million litres of oil.

Vic govt waters down its construction code

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:57:13 GMT

After a ruling last week by the Federal Court, the Victorian government has watered down its code that cracked down on building unions.

Fantastic downgrades profit guidance

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:57:12 GMT

Although the results were lower than previously expected, the company said it continued to be supported by a strong balance sheet.

Abuse was covered up: Melbourne archbishop

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:54:10 GMT

Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart has admitted the church covered up child sexual abuse and was slow to act against offenders.

Swans focus on momentum not AFL hoodoos

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:35:10 GMT

Coach John Longmire says the Swans' 2012 preliminary final win over Collingwood to break a seven-year drought doesn't matter heading into Friday's clash.

Eagle Wellingham to miss 5-7 weeks of AFL

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:08:10 GMT

West Coast recruit Sharrod Wellingham has seriously damaged both of his ankles this AFL season in a nightmare start to his Eagles career.

`I've a lot of money': accused NSW rapist

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:58:10 GMT

Gregory Charles Cox told his alleged victim "over and over again" he had a lot of money after he forced her to give him oral sex, a Sydney court has heard.

Panthers thrive in NRL under Cleary

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:42:10 GMT

A rejuvenated Penrith are thriving in the NRL under the coaching of Ivan Cleary, says centre Lewis Brown.

Tigers bank on bonding to fix NRL season

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:41:10 GMT

Braith Anasta says some much-needed team bonding at the Wests Tigers can help the NRL club turn their disastrous season around.

Govt backs 'appropriate' minimum wage rise

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:31:10 GMT

The Labor government has called on Fair Work to take note of the cost of living and economic conditions in setting the new minimum wage.

Qld boy remains critical after ride fall

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:28:10 GMT

Five-year-old Patrick O'Sullivan remains in a coma after he was flung from a show ride at a school fete on Sunday afternoon.

AFL says umpire right in Eagles-Roos clash

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:24:10 GMT

The AFL says the umpire who paid a controversial late free kick that helped West Coast beat North Melbourne on Friday night was correct.