The civil aviation watchdog has ordered Qantas to improve aircraft maintenance and will rigorously inspect some of its fleet amid signs of "emerging problems".

Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson has urged the Reserve Bank to slash interest rates by half a percentage point on Tuesday, but admits he wouldn't give the same directive if he was prime minister.

Perth defender Dino Djulbic is facing a possible 18-month ban after being sensationally sent off in the Glory's 5-2 defeat against Sydney FC.

(AAP) - New Zealand Warriors fullback Wade McKinnon is in hot water over an alleged spitting incident after his NRL team terminated Penrith's post-season plans at Mt Smart Stadium.

(AAP) - Melbourne coach Dean Bailey has slammed his team's attitude after they ended a disastrous AFL season with two massive losses.

(AAP) - Treasurer Wayne Swan would like the banks to bring down their mortgage rates over and above a predicted cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) this week.

(AAP) - The federal government is heading for a showdown in the Senate this week as it pushes ahead with laws to raise the tax on luxury cars and change the threshold for the Medicare levy surcharg

(AAP) - Veteran Brisbane mentor Wayne Bennett claims premiers Melbourne are more vulnerable than they have been in years after a weekend which left just nine sides in the race for the NRL top eight

(AAP) - St Kilda claimed an AFL finals double chance in dramatic style, knocking Adelaide out of fourth spot with a percentage-boosting 21.21 (147) to 5.9 (39) win over Essendon at Telstra Dome.

(AAP) - Striking Fairfax Media journalists in Victoria and NSW will return to work on Monday morning after threats to lock staff out were withdrawn.