Sydney news

Local club member Matt Jones charges to the lead early in the second round of the Australian Open golf in Sydney.

Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy defends Liberal MP Graham Watt, who remained seated as the State Parliament gave family violence campaigner Rosie Batty a standing ovation on Thursday.

There's good availability of mental heatlhcare in Broken Hill despite gaps in services for older people, according to an Australian-first study of the far west.

The Rural Fire Service is rallying after a volunteer firefighter died during efforts to contain a blaze near Cessnock yesterday.

Students at the private training provider Vocation will be assured places in Victorian TAFEs if it is shut down after going into voluntary administration, the Victorian Training Minister says.

Carnarvon grape growers are experimenting with new varieties this harvest season.

You're more likely to get a good price for your farm if you've kept native vegetation.

A contamination crisis surrounding Newcastle's Williamtown air force base deepens, with local prawn trawlers agreeing to an indefinite ban on fishing the entire Hunter River.

It's that time of the year when many people's thoughts turn to lycra and camping, yes, it's time for the Great Victorian Bike Ride.

Wagga Wagga City Council's General Manager says he cannot rule out job losses as the result of a review into the council's Infrastructure Services department.

A pregnant woman has been assaulted during an attempted home invasion at Seven Hills in Sydney's west.

At least 35 homes have been destroyed and another 42 "impacted" in a massive bushfire that has killed two people in South Australia's Mid North, authorities confirm.

One of Australia's top transport experts says the ACT Government's light rail plans will likely fail unless the route is changed or extended.

Long-term domestic violence survivor Sandra Wolfe says it took a stranger to point out to others that she was being abused.

An 18-year-old man has been taken to hospital in a critical condition after a fight in the schoolies precinct at Surfers Paradise on Queensland's Gold Coast.

The NRL will not register Sam Burgess' big money deal until South Sydney can confirm its 2016 playing roster is within the salary cap, according to reports.

A Ballina councillor says the big four banks could lose up to $40 million in investments under a new policy adopted at yesterday's meeting.

The Esperance farming community in Western Australia is slowly returning to normality, a week after devastating bushfires ripped through the region.

The NRL has confirmed it will announce a new broadcast rights deal this morning in conjunction with the Nine Network and Fox Sports.

A group of Canberra women learn they are not too old to learn a new discipline, taking on the pentathlon at a veterans athletics meet at the Woden Park athletics track.

Security requirements for flights operating between Perth and Albany should be downgraded to save passengers money, WA Transport Minister Dean Nalder says.

Graham Arnold was so furious with refereeing decisions in his side's goalless draw with Wellington he did not show up to his post-match press conference

An agricultural health and safety expert has welcomed recommendations that attempt to make quad bikes safer.

The Hunter's Devil Ark facility has described the deaths of two devils released in Tasmania as a serious blow to the breeding program.

Mine safety officials have found several protocols were ignored, before a massive dump truck rolled on to a utility.

A contamination crisis surrounding Newcastle's Williamtown air force base has deepened, with local prawn trawlers agreeing to an indefinite ban on fishing the entire Hunter River.

Legislation preventing protesters from coming within 150 metres of abortion clinics passes the Victorian Parliament's Upper House.

The Hunter Institute of Mental Health says a shake-up of the sector will ensure the region gets y what it needs.

Upper Hunter farmers are taking part in a research program which uses bees to assess the success of mine rehabilitation efforts.

It is a year today since Brisbane was smashed by the worst hail storm in 30 years, leaving a damage bill of more than $1.3 billion.

The Western Local Health District says there are no plans to expand Bourke's birthing services because the hospital does not have enough patients each year.

The death of a nine year old Riverina boy in a quad bike accident three years ago, has helped form recommendations from a coroner about what can be done to prevent further accidents.

There's a call for more water sources to be secured if the Tomago Sandbeds can't be remediated.

Fire crews continue to mop-up after a blaze tore through remote bushland at Currarong, on the New South Wales South Coast.

Locals say they must appeal to the Planning Minister to stop a controversial marina development.

A decision to provide relief for Walgett's drought-affected farmers and businesses is expected to affect the council's ability to be 'fit for the future'.

Cessnock Council expects the Richmond Vale Rail Trail to prove popular with visitors.

Tenants living on the site of a state-owned coal project at Dunedoo say their community will be ripped apart again if they are forced to move.

Emily Seebohm sets a new Commonwealth and national record in the 200m backstroke at Australia's Short Course Championships in Sydney.

The Upper Lachlan Shire says plans to fix a dangerous bend on a regional road could pave the way for a vital freight corridor.

A deadly bushfire burning north of Adelaide that has destroyed dozens of buildings is downgraded overnight as fire crews gain the upper hand. Follow our live blog for updates.

The Federal Government's proposal to store nuclear waste near Bathurst has sparked fears it could tarnish the region's reputation.

The State Government is being accused of ignoring the concerns of women at Bourke who are having to travel several hours to give birth.

Wednesday's devastating bushfire north of Adelaide moved so quickly through Roseworthy that Kassy Tapp says had no choice but to stay and defend her home.

A powerful performance by hall of fame inductee Tina Arena proves the show-stopper of the ARIA awards, which were dominated by rockers Tame Impala and also honoured songstress Courtney Barnett.

A fire that fanned flames in the direction of a small village near Nowra, in the Shoalhaven region of New South Wales, started on a nearby Defence training range.

The former chairwoman of NT Crime Stoppers, Alexandra 'Xana' Kamitsis, has been "ingratiating herself" with senior police officers at the expense of Northern Territory taxpayers, a court is told.

A man on trial for killing his former housemate was guarded and uncomfortable during a consultation in the weeks after the offence, a psychiatric registrar says.

Sydney FC will be ruing a host of missed chances as their A-League clash with Wellington petered out to a 0-0 draw.

Ride-sharing service Uber began operating in defiance of the law and the West Australian Government did nothing to stop it, the WA Supreme Court is told.