Sydney news

A rare giant flower known for its scent of rotting flesh is expected to bloom for just two days in the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden near Adelaide.

Extra emergency personnel and resources may be sent to areas likely to be most affected by a potential cyclone in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Emergency crews will spend the day mopping up and monitoring several bushfires in Perth's south-east and foothills areas after a blaze destroyed a house and a shed yesterday.

There's set to be more industrial action at Essential Water this week, with local members of the United Services Union planning to stop work on Christmas Eve.

A 21-year-old woman is charged after the discovery of drugs, stolen goods and a baby crocodile at a Stratford house, in Victoria's east.

Emergency crews will spend the day mopping up and monitoring several bushfires in Perth's south-east and foothills areas after a blaze destroyed a house and a shed yesterday.

ETU critical of Essential Energy executive wages and bonuses

Four men are arrested in raids across Sydney over identity crime offences during a joint agency investigation by NSW Police, AFP and the Australian Border Force.

A citrus farming family in north western Victoria opens its family home to backpacker workers at Christmas.

Police arrest a boy over an incident in the Perth CBD last week in which a motorcyclist was knocked off his bike by a rope strung across Wellington Street.

A Broken Hill man who damaged his girlfriend's house and repeatedly attacked his mother and brother has been handed a jail sentence.

It is hoped recent rain will protect newborn deer from black ants searching for moisture in fawns' eyes.

A North Queensland farmer sets his sights on new markets, including hay exports.

As the case for irrigated agriculture in the north gains momentum, a western Queensland grazier calls for better water security and lower pricing.

A young family has a lucky escape after a neighbour alerts them to an early morning fire in their home in Pascoe Vale, in Melbourne's north.

A number of roads in South Australia's outback are closed due to heavy rain, just days after the state broke its December hot weather record.

Drivers warned to expect delays on the Pacific Highway over summer.

Detectives have charged a man with murder following the disappearance of Tamworth woman Johann Morgan.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service has described the fuel loads in redgum national parks in the south-west of New South Wales as 'moderate'.

Investigations begin into the causes of three separate house fires in Sydney overnight.

Documents tendered in a Hong Kong court allege conman Peter Foster forged a Justice of the Peace's signature on an affidavit filed as part of a civil case over a multi-million-dollar sports trading scam.

A community boxing gym is set to be established in Wellington to help deter young people from crime.

Firefighters are continuing work to bring two bushfires burning in George Town in northern Tasmania under control.

A growing number of rural parents across Australia are making the difficult decision to spilt up to give their children a better education.

A Scotsburn resident was lucky to get out alive after returning to his burning property at the peak of a fire that destroyed 12 homes near Ballarat over the weekend.

Liverpool City Council in south-west Sydney says the concept approval of a freight terminal in Moorebank will "wreak havoc on residents' way of life".

The Walgett Shire is seeking clarity from the Federal Government about the future of the Rural Financial Counselling Service.

Investigations begin into the cause of three separate house fires in Sydney overnight.

The owner of Canberra's Green Shed recycling shop, Tiny, is building an amusement park for needy children in his homeland.

The record-breaking heatwave across South Australia has had little impact on the state's cherry crop, with the Cherry Growers Association expecting an above average yield.

Nathan Coulter-Nile is likely to be unavailable for the Boxing Day Test after dislocating his shoulder during the Perth Scorchers' BBL loss to Adelaide.

Victorian local council rate increases will be capped at the inflation rate of 2.5 per cent, starting in mid-2016.

Canberra's small and independent retailers are celebrating an upswing in sales in the lead up to Christmas, with many attributing the trend to the change in Prime Minister.

Firefighters have managed to bring two blazes in the Hunter under control.

Unlicensed builders in the Hunter have been prosecuted as part of a crackdown by New South Wales Fair Trading.

The Newcastle Commercial Fisherman's Co-op has received record orders for Christmas, despite restrictions on local seafood due to the Williamtown Air Force base contamination scandal.

Environmental experts will address a Senate hearing today into the chemical contamination at Williamtown.

Hunter commuters will pay more to travel to Sydney under proposed fare changes.

Hunter Water says it has made test results from Grahamstown Dam publicly available.

The Strikers cruise to a win over the Scorchers in Perth, chasing down a target of 151 with five balls to spare.

A rescue operation is launched by authorities to save marron from parts of the rapidly drying Collie River in Western Australia's South West.

A bushfire burning in Perth's south-east destroys one derelict house and a shed, but is no longer threatening lives and homes.

A Jetstar flight heading from Melbourne to Singapore has turned around while above the Timor Sea and landed in Darwin, after the pilot noticed one of the flight instruments was faulty.

A bushfire burning in Perth's south-east destroys one derelict house and a shed, and is continuing to threaten lives and homes.

A simple but ingenious invention by Lance Corporal William Scurry saved thousands of lives as Allied troops were evacuated from the Gallipoli Peninsula 100 years ago.

Caroline Muldoon, part owner of Bike Culture at O'Connor. (21 December 2015)

Rachel Evagelou, part owner of Shop Handmade Canberra in Civic. (21 December 2015)

Zac Hayward from Beyond Q in Curtin. (21 December 2015)

Peter Strong, the CEO of The Council of Small Business of Australia. (21 December 2015)

They are worthy of a spot on the living room wall, but stunning images of sharks off the WA coastline also serve as a subtle reminder of what is lurking below.