Australia’s incoming conservative government promised to reboot a stalled mining boom and revive an appetite for investment yesterday after leader Tony Abbott swept into office on a platform to scrap a mining tax and run a stable administration.

Obese women are more likely to be discriminated against when applying for jobs and receive lower starting salaries than non-overweight colleagues, according to a study.

A MEDICAL study claims protective skull caps do nothing to protect against concussion.

Two Australian doctors think nuns should be offered the contraceptive pill on health grounds.

MORE than 200 delegates from a number of countries will attend a special three-day conference in UCC next week which will focus on Ireland’s future energy and transport needs.

CLIMATE change has likely intensified the monsoon rains that have triggered record floods in Australia’s Queensland state, scientists said yesterday, with several months of heavy rain and storms still to come.

Australians go to the polls tonight in what is predicted to be one of the closest battles in decades and offering a stark choice between two very different leaders.

Santa is a public health hazard – promoting obesity and drink-driving, experts said today.

A pall of red dust blown in from the Outback clogged the skies over Sydney today, diverting international flights, disrupting public transport and prompting a spike in emergency calls from people suffering breathing difficulties.

AN ant colony measuring 100 kilometres (62 miles) across has been found under the southern Australian city of Melbourne, scientists said.

A talented student, known as a loner who struggled with the English language, gunned down two fellow students at a Australian university today -- the day he was due to make his final presentation.