Sydney news

People planning to holiday on Victoria's Surf Coast are urged to go ahead with their plans following a devastating bushfire in the area.

Steve Smith and Adam Voges will look to continue Australia's run-scoring to start day two against West Indies after the hosts made all the running on Boxing Day. Follow our live blog.

Emergency crews resume searching for a man missing after a boat capsized at Beachport in South Australia on Boxing Day.

Two people are dead and three others in hospital after their car veered off the road and hit a tree near Narrabri in northern New South Wales.

Firefighters rescue two people trapped on a balcony during a unit fire in Adelaide's inner-north overnight.

A woman who was pulled over for a random breath test on Christmas Day had five unrestrained children in her car, Tasmanian police say.

Two boys, aged nine and 11, were travelling with their parents when their car lost control and hit a tree on the Hume Highway, just south of Goulburn.

North America correspondent Zoe Daniel on the frantic 24 hours she spent monitoring the Surf Coast bushfiresand her little blue beach shackfrom afar.

A "southerly buster" hits the Sydney to Hobart fleet, forcing multiple retirements including defending line honours champion Wild Oats XI.

Residents of bushfire-affected areas along Victoria's Great Ocean Road are going home to inspect the devastation after a Christmas Day fire destroyed 116 homes.

Tim Brunero speaks to Andrew Smith, a fourth generation fruit grower from Huonville, Tasmania for this week's Spot on the Map.

A volunteer firefighter breaks down as he tells how his mate saved his Separation Creek home after leaving to protect his family.

The Perth Scorchers beat the Brisbane Heat by nine wickets with 4.5 overs remaining in an impressive first win of their Big Bash League campaign.

Sydney FC hammers the Central Coast Mariners 4-1 to add more misery to the Gosford outfit's horror season.

The skipper of Sydney to Hobart leader Comanche says he is desperate to push right through the oncoming storm that threatens to steal his thunder.

Residents of Wye River and Separation Creek are waiting to find out if their homes are still standing after fire destroyed 116 in the two communities on Christmas Day.

The body of a snorkeller who was swimming in a creek at Noosa, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, is found.

Adelaide United's recent resurgence has continued with a 3-0 home win over Wellington Phoenix.

Australia batters the West Indies bowling attack at the MCG to head to stumps on 3 for 345 on Boxing Day as the visitors' horror tour continued.

Centuries to Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja have led Australia to 3 for 345 at stumps on day one against the West Indies at the MCG. Relive the action as it happened.

Retired Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke spends his Boxing Day taking on a new challengesailing in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race aboard the Perpetual Loyal.

The number of properties destroyed in the devastating Christmas Day bushfire along Victoria's Great Ocean Road rises to 116, as fire authorities warn the number could grow even higher.

Firefighters remain focused on battling the blaze that tore a path of destruction along southern Victoria's Great Ocean Road, as crews begin conducting damage assessments.

A man has been charged after a man fell from a sixth-floor balcony on the Gold Coast.

Tens of thousands of shoppers descend on Perth's CBD and major shopping centres in a bid to find a bargain at the Boxing Day sales, with West Australian retailers tipped to rake in $190 million.

The body of a woman has been found at the bottom of Murray Falls in north Queensland.

The total number of properties lost in the Christmas Day bushfire along Victoria's Great Ocean Road rises to 103.

Queensland's Gulf Country has been saturated by a line of thunderstorms, stranding 16 motorists near Harris Creek.

Firefighters remain focused on battling the blaze that tore a path of destruction along southern Victoria's Great Ocean Road, as crews begin conducting damage assessments.

A 26-year-old woman is killed in a car crash involving three vehicles on Lachlan Valley Way, north of Yass in New South Wales.

Aerial vision taken over Wye River and Separation Creek revealsled the extent of damage to land and properties caused by bushfires that tore through the region on Christmas Day.

A man who lost his Lorne home in the deadly Ash Wednesday bushfires in 1983 says improved warnings made residents better prepared for a fire that devastated Wye River and Separation Creek on Christmas Day.

Steve Smith speaks of his rise to the top of the international game, his chat to Adam Goodes about captaincy and the time he forgot how to hold the bat mid-innings in Perth.

If reports the total cost of Australia's new fleet of submarines will be $5 billion less than expected are accurate, the vessels should be fully built in Australia and the fleet increased to 12, the SA Government says.

The fleet is under way in the 71st Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race, as 108 boats set sail for Constitution Dock.

A man is in a critical condition after falling from a sixth-floor balcony on the Gold Coast, in an incident Queensland Police describe as suspicious.

Bargain hunters are expected to spend $368 million in Queensland's Boxing Day sales, the National Retail Association predicts.

Dashcam footage that shows a driver coming dangerously close to causing two head-on collisions on the Kings Highway in New South Wales is being investigated by police.

A man is charged after allegedly setting a car alight while his partner was inside the vehicle in Perth's eastern suburbs.

Indigenous high school students in Brisbane are graduating at the same rate as non-Indigenous students, making the Queensland capital the first to close the gap in Australia, according to the State Government.

Victoria should "stand proud" that no one died and communities heeded warnings to evacuate as an out-of-control bushfire burns along the Great Ocean Road, authorities say.

A nine-year-old girl dies in a car rollover in Western Australia's Goldfields on Christmas Day, bringing the national holiday road toll to nine.

An earthquake has struck off Queensland's Fraser Coast, with no reports of injuries.

A snorkeller who was swimming in a creek at Noosa, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, is missing.

A search is underway at Beachport, in South Australia's south east, after a boat capsized with two men on board.

Thousands of shoppers are expected to join the hunt for a bargain at the Boxing Day sales in Adelaide's CBD after a sleep in.

A nine-year-old girl dies in a car rollover in Western Australia's Goldfields on Christmas Day, and the driver is treated for serious injuries after being cut from the wreckage.

Sleepy by name and sleepy by nature, but there is more to the lifestyle of the native lizard than you might credit at first glance.

A southerly buster is expected to run rampant on opening night of this year's Sydney to Hobart.