Copyright 2026 Nine Entertainment Co. Pty LimitedThe top News headlines from The Sydney Morning Herald. For all the news,visit https://www.smh.com.auhttps://www.smh.com.au/rss/national.xmlSydney Morning Herald - Nationalhttps://www.smh.com.au/assets/icons/rss/smh.pngen-AUTue,14 Jul 2026 20:18:49 +1000https://www.smh.com.au/rss/national.xmlTue,14 Jul 2026 20:18:49 +1000Sydney Morning Herald - NationalNational/ WARachael CliffordNew details have emerged of the harrowing ordeal German backpacker Carolina Wilga endured in WA’s outback,a year on from her remarkable rescue.6d70483b-48c4-4f1b-86c5-14e0786eaeafhttps://www.smh.com.au/national/western-australia/station-owner-relives-miracle-in-wa-outback-a-year-on-from-backpacker-s-rescue-20260714-p60fbp.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_nationalTue,14 Jul 2026 20:00:00 +1000Station owner relives miracle in WA outback a year on from backpacker’s rescueNationalAngus DaltonThere are plenty of disaster stories when it comes to invasive species. Here’s how the humble dung beetle flipped the script.54e26277-f495-40d0-b134-daadfb17465ehttps://www.smh.com.au/national/invasive-species-are-a-nightmare-why-did-csiro-just-introduce-three-more-20260713-p60eus.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_nationalTue,14 Jul 2026 19:45:00 +1000Invasive species are a nightmare. Why did CSIRO just introduce three more?NationalSally Rawsthorne,Emily KowalA government body will deliver its verdict on the cost of university education in mid-2027. Meanwhile,students continue to pay up to $50,000 for an arts degree.72721e21-b2a1-420f-974b-c20391a756f2https://www.smh.com.au/national/not-fair-at-all-hundreds-of-thousands-more-students-to-be-slugged-with-high-fees-20260708-p60dj5.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_nationalTue,14 Jul 2026 19:30:00 +1000‘Not fair at all’:Hundreds of thousands more students to be slugged with high feesNationalKate McClymontFormer assistant tax commissioner Nick Petroulias and his partner,lawyer Despina Bakis,have been hit with a series of fraud charges.44b9eae9-f4eb-4c4c-983a-5b24e3478469https://www.smh.com.au/national/sham-sale-and-a-dead-director-the-1m-fraud-case-against-ex-tax-official-nick-petroulias-20260714-p60fa2.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_nationalTue,14 Jul 2026 19:30:00 +1000Sham sale and a dead director:The $1m fraud case against ex-tax official Nick PetrouliasNational/ QueenslandCourtney Kruk,Dominique Tassell,Andrew StaffordThe sick northern giant petrel found over the weekend sparked fears the deadly bird flu virus had reached Queensland.b51ed922-e4c4-4448-a9e1-5b1f75e0eccdhttps://www.smh.com.au/national/queensland/results-in-for-sick-bird-found-on-noosa-beach-20260714-p60fb6.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_nationalTue,14 Jul 2026 19:21:59 +1000Results in for sick bird found on Noosa beachNational/ VictoriaWendy TuohyThe mother and grandfather of teenager Isla Bell,whose body was driven around Melbourne for days in a plastic-covered refrigerator,says the watering-down of charges is stripping Victorian crime victims of humanity.f8093189-d272-4c5b-b130-721d6b725219https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/office-of-perpetrator-protection-isla-bell-s-mum-says-prosecutors-have-failed-victims-of-crime-20260714-p60f8l.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_nationalTue,14 Jul 2026 19:12:45 +1000‘Office of Perpetrator Protection’:Isla Bell’s mum says prosecutors have failed victims of crimeNationalLoved ones and supporters of Isla Bell have rallied outside the Supreme Court,as the man charged over dumping her body tries to have his case dismissed.ef4c1d2a-5c94-4f68-8b16-336e22ca6942https://www.smh.com.au/national/loved-ones-of-isla-bell-rally-outside-of-supreme-court-20260714-p60fbm.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_nationalTue,14 Jul 2026 19:06:05 +1000Loved ones of Isla Bell rally outside of Supreme CourtNationalTwo police officers could face decades in jail after being charged with the negligent manslaughter of a builder during an arrest in Hoppers Crossing.fabf3e22-e844-4e83-8658-ce307c4fde94https://www.smh.com.au/national/two-men-could-face-decades-in-jail-charged-with-negligent-manslaughter-of-builder-20260714-p60fbn.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_nationalTue,14 Jul 2026 19:05:59 +1000Two men could face decades in jail charged with negligent manslaughter of builderNationalUK police are investigating whether the murder of an outspoken former Conservative politician was an act of terrorism.8b15e765-4009-44bc-9821-49786f6af5d7https://www.smh.com.au/national/uk-police-investigating-terrorism-ties-to-murder-of-former-politician-20260714-p60fbo.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_nationalTue,14 Jul 2026 19:05:59 +1000UK police investigating terrorism-ties to murder of former politicianNational/ QueenslandRex MartinichFive people were killed when two aircraft from Sea World Helicopters collided midair in 2023.92522fa7-9964-405e-9c57-bfd57cc0c1ffhttps://www.smh.com.au/national/queensland/joy-flight-company-boss-denies-helicopters-blocked-pilot-view-20260714-p60fbg.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_nationalTue,14 Jul 2026 19:02:22 +1000Joy flight company boss denies helicopters blocked pilot viewNationalA young man has been charged with orchestrating firebombings from his parents'Essendon home in a major breakthrough in Melbourne's hospitality war.d7c5ffe1-ad54-4e28-8f61-bd4dddb5126chttps://www.smh.com.au/national/major-breakthrough-in-melbourne-s-hospitality-war-20260714-p60fbk.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_nationalTue,14 Jul 2026 19:02:20 +1000Major breakthrough in Melbourne’s hospitality warNationalAn official report into the fatal 2023 Sea World Helicopter crash has been called into question at an inquest.cbc8a142-5289-4eb6-a45b-cfad34987058https://www.smh.com.au/national/report-into-helicopter-crash-called-into-question-20260714-p60fbc.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_nationalTue,14 Jul 2026 18:41:28 +1000Report into helicopter crash called into questionNationalA teenager has been arrested and another is fighting for life after an alleged stabbing at a school in Brisbane’s south.d337a3ca-6b92-4274-9c08-df041fecc2eahttps://www.smh.com.au/national/teenager-arrested-another-critical-after-alleged-high-school-stabbing-20260714-p60fa1.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_nationalTue,14 Jul 2026 18:40:47 +1000Teenager arrested,another critical after alleged high school stabbingNational/ VictoriaAlex CroweSchool staff have voted to walk off the job as ongoing negotiations with government fail to reach an agreement.54cdd71f-4e16-4c8c-b7e9-0359edeed243https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/state-school-teachers-to-strike-for-24-hours-over-pay-dispute-20260713-p60exz.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_nationalTue,14 Jul 2026 18:39:56 +1000State school teachers to strike for 24 hours over pay disputeNationalThe identity of a former childcare worker charged with hundreds of child abuse offences has been revealed.f69983a5-625b-43cf-866c-afcac95f1498https://www.smh.com.au/national/childcare-worker-charged-with-hundreds-of-child-abuse-offences-identified-20260714-p60fa8.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_nationalTue,14 Jul 2026 18:31:46 +1000Childcare worker charged with hundreds of child abuse offences identifiedNationalA new poll has revealed a massive majority of Australians want property prices to drop,as the government gains ground on its controversial tax reforms.cbede814-41bb-4744-9d08-b225af4e388dhttps://www.smh.com.au/national/new-poll-reveals-majority-of-australians-want-house-prices-to-drop-20260714-p60fa4.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_nationalTue,14 Jul 2026 18:31:28 +1000New poll reveals majority of Australians want house prices to dropNational/ NSWWe should be deeply concerned by the creeping Americanisation of Australian politics.49ce4322-cfdd-4872-a5ac-5ab9fcb50d8chttps://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/power-of-money-threatens-to-undermine-our-democracy-20260714-p60f41.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_nationalTue,14 Jul 2026 18:30:00 +1000Power of money threatens to undermine our democracyNationalA man has been charged after he was accused of being the ringleader behind the alleged kidnapping and murder of Sydney grandfather Chris Baghsarian.cdb3df2a-4146-4561-8116-b7013dbb9de0https://www.smh.com.au/national/alleged-ringleader-of-fatal-kidnapping-of-sydney-grandfather-charged-20260714-p60fa9.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_nationalTue,14 Jul 2026 18:27:26 +1000Alleged ringleader of fatal kidnapping of Sydney grandfather chargedNationalThe US and Iran are a step closer to reigniting an"all-out war"with escalating strikes across the Middle East.be0fd627-fd5a-46c5-ac44-fce364b5c2b7https://www.smh.com.au/national/us-and-iran-war-escalates-with-more-strikes-20260714-p60fa5.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_nationalTue,14 Jul 2026 18:27:10 +1000US and Iran war escalates with more strikesNational/ WAMichael PhilippsThe move by a coalition of unions,comprising members from the Electrical Trades Union,the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union and the Western Mine Workers Alliance,will see members stop work for an eight-hour period.7bbc01c9-ff7c-4e5b-b816-1f08cf3cf2afhttps://www.smh.com.au/national/western-australia/strike-confirmed-bhp-s-port-hedland-workers-to-down-tools-for-first-time-this-century-20260714-p60fa6.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_nationalTue,14 Jul 2026 16:49:22 +1000Strike confirmed:BHP’s Port Hedland workers to down tools after five-hour peace talks fall flat