Brittany Higgins’ former boyfriend says she told him in a phone call the morning after her alleged rape that “we brought the party back to Parliament House”, the Federal Court was told yesterday. 

Sweltering heat and dry conditions predicted for this summer could see Victoria’s most bushfire prone areas spend more than $140bn in rebuilding costs. 

A second top private school in South Australia will charge parents tuition fees of more than $30,000 for its senior students next year. 

Police have not hired any of the 114 new specialist domestic violence officers budgeted for, a year on from a damning inquiry which recommended they increase the number of cops in their vulnerable persons unit.