Sydney news

The rain refuses to relent in Sydney, with Australia's third Test against the West Indies in serious doubt as the weather threatens to wipe out day four. Follow our live blog for updates.

Reporter Mel McLaughlin says she accepts Chris Gayle's apology, while the Renegades say they are unaware of reports the cricketer exposed himself to a woman at last year's World Cup.

A man is shot in the face outside a South Melbourne strip club, the second incident at the venue in six weeks.

A farmer in the Brewarrina district says the far and north west of the region would benefit from updated weather radars to improve the accuracy of forecasts.

Search and rescue aircraft take to the sky to join the hunt for two men whose ultralight plane went missing during a sightseeing flight over Lake Eyre in the South Australian outback.

The cause of her sore wrist may still be a mystery but Sam Stosur is certain of one thing - her Australian Open preparation will not be interrupted.

Minor stormwater run-off at a Santos-run site near Narrabri, in northern New South Wales, has been cleaned up, according to the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority.

The state's water minister says far west locals have the right to explore their legal options as campaigners discuss taking action over the region's water shortage.

A squatters' candle has started a fire in part of a former Indian restaurant in Launceston, injuring two people.

Police say a man in his 20s is lucky to be alive after being thrown from his car during a high-speed crash in the Perth suburb of Malaga.

A developer is proposing building a 12-storey building at the Curtin shops in Canberra's inner south, double the height allowed under the ACT Government's draft master plan.

The New South Wales energy watchdog says she is satisfied meter readings are occurring regularly in Wagga Wagga by Essential Energy.

Police in Mudgee are urging people to support family and friends who may have had a tough Christmas.

Regional Express (REX) has agreed to buy the former Douglas Aerospace hangar from Wagga Wagga City Council (WWCC) for $2.8m.

The Great Ocean Road will be fully reopened today, after being closed because of the bushfires around Lorne on Christmas Day.

Nathan Brown says he's still keeping his eye out for a couple of extra players to join his squad.

The union representing the Hunter's retail workers says Dick Smith jobs should be saved.

A resident living next to a planned tile warehouse in Bathurst says she's yet to be convinced it will have little impact on the neighbourhood.

Waterbirds are expected to begin flocking to Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre now that it is filling with water, researchers say.

More women are seeking help to leave abusive relationships as greater awareness about the issue grows, the boss of South Australia's Domestic Violence Gateway Service says.

A man is shot in the face outside a South Melbourne strip club, the second incident at the venue in six weeks.

Flooding in NSW's Hunter region leads to evacuations, rescues and hundreds of calls for help as forecasters warn of more heavy rain and the prospect of flash flooding in Sydney.

It's still too early to know whether Denman's Memorial Hall will need to be totally rebuilt.

Police are seeking witnesses to a fatal collision in Newcastle which has left a 20-year-old man dead and injured two other men.

Bernard Tomic beats Nicolas Mahut to become last remaining Australian singles contender at the Brisbane International.

ACT police are looking to identify three people shown breaking into a bottle shop at Gold Creek, one of whom revealed her face to security cameras.

Veteran Lleyton Hewitt said he is going to miss playing in front of big Australian crowds after showing his famous fighting qualities to give Australia Gold a Hopman Cup tie win over USA in Perth on Tuesday night.

The country's water polo community has been "shattered" by the one-punch death of 18-year-old Cole Miller, a rising star who hoped to compete at the highest level, the head of the sport's peak body in Australia says.

A two-year-old girl dies after an accident involving a car driven by her father in the driveway of a Perth home.

A team of Australian researchers is about to set sail for one of the most remote islands on Earth in a bid to release robots for climate research.

Sri Lanka great Mahela Jayawardene powers the Adelaide Strikers to the top of the Big Bash League ladder with a 36-run win over the Perth Scorchers.

Serena Williams' bid for a seventh Australian Open crown is in doubt after her knee injury forced her to retire from her Hopman Cup match against Australia's Jarmila Wolfe.

Samantha Stosur shows some fight before losing to Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1, 6-7, 6-4 to bow out of the Brisbane International.

Cricket Australia pays out refunds for the second successive day as Australia and West Indies Test series set to end with an SCG draw.

A two-year-old girl is taken to hospital in a serious condition after an accident involving a car in the driveway of a Perth home.

Authorities rescue people from submerged cars as a deluge in the New South Wales Hunter region causes flash flooding and a dam to spill, with the unseasonal rain set to continue.

The Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister announces he will investigate a Northern Territory-based Aboriginal corporation that paid nearly $200,000 in time-off-in-lieu payments to the CEO and HR manager.

A 65-year-old man is been charged with the 1998 murder of Willunga man Dale McCauley.

Reporter Kerri Ritchie talks to some of the people affected by the other Victorian bushfire, at Scotsburn.

Fox Sports reporter Neroli Meadows says embattled cricketer Chris Gayle is a "repeat offender" when it comes to inappropriate comments meant "to humiliate" female journalists.

A Perth woman is remanded in custody on charges of setting a unit on fire in Belmont and killing two dogs inside.

Parliament House boasts about $85 million worth of art, spread across some 6,500 pieces hidden from the public along secure corridors and the office walls of politicians.

A fatal one punch assault on an 18 year old man has sent shockwaves across the country and sparked debate around Queensland's liquor laws.

A prominent female journalist has described West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle a 'creep' following his comments to Network Ten reporter Mel McLaughlin during Monday's Big Bash League (BBL) broadcast.

Authorities rescue people from submerged cars as a deluge in the New South Wales Hunter region causes minor flooding, with the unseasonal rain set to continue.

The Great Ocean Road will be fully reopened on Wednesday morning, after being closed because of the bushfires around Lorne on Christmas Day.

James Duckworth and Oliver Anderson have become the latest Australian men to bow out of the Brisbane International on a rain-soaked third day of competition.

ACT police are look to identify three people shown breaking into a bottle shop at Gold Creek, one of whom revealed her face to security cameras.

Wellington Phoenix defender Manny Muscat receives a two-game ban for his forearm strike on Central Coast forward Roy O'Donovan.

Estimates suggest a hail storm on Christmas Eve damaged $6 million worth of cotton in southern Queensland.