Sydney news

A body found in scrubland at Second Valley on Friday is confirmed to be that of missing South Australian man Dale McCauley, last seen at his Adelaide west home in 1998.

Chinese investors are keen to buy up multimillion dollar macadamia orchards in Australia, to protect their supply.

Country music songwriter Phil Barton scores inclusion in Oscar nominated drug thriller.

Court-ordered domestic violence counselling for men, which is available in major cities, is launched in Mount Gambier, in south-east South Australia.

Police investigate after a man is killed and a woman seriously injured in a disturbance at a home in the Canberra suburb of Kambah in the early hours of this morning.

The coal industry downturn continues to bite in the Hunter region, with rail freight operator Pacific National announcing plans it will cut 46 jobs from its Newcastle train crew.

Authorities search for two missing prawn fishermen on the New South Wales Central Coast.

The price of unleaded petrol dips below $1 per litre at two petrol stations at Blacktown in Sydney's West, and there are also reports of fuel below a dollar in Adelaide.

The Australian Workers Union reveals nine Townsville port workers were among the 237 people sacked from Queensland Nickel, as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk prepares to hold a crisis meeting in the city.

A man dies after falling from a cliff in Morialta Conservation Park in the Adelaide foothills.

South Australia's new Employment Minister is yet to set a jobs creation target for the state and concedes more jobs will be lost.

A hydrologist warns the current of the Brisbane River is "deceptive", as police continue their search for a British tourist who jumped off the William Jolly Bridge earlier this week.

A mayor from northern New South Wales questions the expansion of the New South Wales Government's Resources for Regions program, saying there's not enough money available for the local government areas that could be included.

The Member for Riverina admits it will be a challenge to visit constituents across the entirety of his new electorate.

Police investigate after a man is killed and a woman seriously injured after a disturbance at a Kambah home in the early hours of this morning.

A whale carcass buried in a sand dune will be dug up amid speculation it could attract sharks.

Port Stephens MP Kate Washington says Williamtown residents, impacted by water contamination, need mental health support now.

Major Australian professional sporting codes are calling for uniform laws to quash match fixing. It comes after a BBC-Buzzfeed investigation with claims some players have been offered large sums of money. A senate inquiry into foreign bribery is considering the request. Tennis fans at the Australian Open seem indifferent to the match fixing saga.

Police in the New South Wales Riverina fear a disaster could follow from vandals tampering with gas cylinders in public places.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten believes that while the fundamentals of the Australian economy are sound, the Liberal Government has not done enough to protect it. He says the nation's suffering because of the government's decision 2.5 years ago to make 'savage cuts' to the economy. Mr Shorten says education should be put first and foremost in the nation's economic strategy.

Police conduct investigations at a house believed to be connected with a man shot dead by police during a confrontation yesterday in Quakers Hill.

An Australian missionary agency, supporting merchant seafarers staying in Newcastle, has grave concerns about alleged suicides and accidental deaths on so-called flag of convenience vessels.

Strike action by tugboat engineers delays 15 ships at Port Adelaide, with one only being able to move on a high tide, Flinders Ports boss says.

A NSW council vows to fight to the end against a state government proposal for it to merge with a neighbouring city council.

The NSW environmental watchdog says test results indicate drastically reduced oxygen levels in Hunter region waterways are responsible for a large number of fish deaths.

A two-year-old boy is fighting for life in hospital after a brick wall collapsed on him at a property in Darling Downs.

Butcher Dale Goodwin has been fattening cross-bred lambs with spent grain used in the beer-making process.

James Duckworth pays tribute to Lleyton Hewitt, admitting he found it tough to be pitted against his hero in the opening round of the Australian Open.

Police charge six people and seize cash, drugs and a car in raids targeting the supply of the drug ice in Sydney.

Wild weather continues to wreak havoc in Western Australia's south-west, with damaging heavy rain and flash floods hitting the region after bushfires, sparking fears of economic loss for many farmers.

Bernard Tomic feared for a spectator's life after his Australian Open match with Denis Istomin was delayed for more than 20 minutes because of a medical issue.

Lleyton Hewitt's decorated career remains alive after he defeated countryman James Duckworth in straight sets in the first round of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park.

Second seed Simona Halep lost in the first round of the Australian Open, going down to Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai 6-4, 6-3 at Melbourne Park.

Lleyton Hewitt, in his last-ever Australian Open campaign, defeats James Duckworth 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, 6-4 in the first round at Melbourne Park.

Bernard Tomic dropped the opening set but held his nerve to down Denis Istomin to reach the second round of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park.

A naked man has been dramatically taken into custody on the NT's main highway after a police search lasting hours for the suspect in a theft of a family's trailer.

One home is lost after a fast-moving grassfire sweeps through Edgecombe in central Victoria.

A trailer belonging to a "heartbroken" Darwin family which was allegedly stolen has been found and a man is in police custody after a public plea for help on social media.

Follow all the action as Lleyton Hewitt, in his last-ever Australian Open campaign, takes on compatriot James Duckworth in the first round at Melbourne Park.

Former world number one Rafael Nadal has exited the Australian Open in the first round after losing to fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in five sets on Rod Laver Arena.

Pouring resources and government funding into a national athletic talent search across multiple sports could see Australia increase its performance on a national stage, Olympic cycling champion Brett Aitken says.

One home is lost and a watch and act alert is in place after a fast-moving grassfire sweeps through Edgecombe in central Victoria.

A festival in Victoria where men can enjoy a range of activities including yoga and jelly wrestling while nude is billed as a men's shed without clothes.

As emergency crews sort through the debris of Yarloop, billionaire mining magnate Andrew Forrest has emerged as a powerful advocate for locals eager to rebuild their devastated WA town.

For someone who is about to captain a yacht full of amateur sailors across the Pacific Ocean, Wendy Tuck looks surprisingly at ease.

The elite rugby league squad of Marsden State High, south of Brisbane, is working to break the strong, silent stigma of their sport in a bid to improve youth mental health.

Plans to fluoridate water in the northern West Australian towns of Newman and Kununurra are raising concerns for some residents.

Wild weather continues to wreak havoc in the south-west of Western Australia as flash floods follow bushfires.

A lack of wind creates a minor hiccup, but the Lancelin Ocean Classic finishes on a high note.

The billionaire mining magnate Andrew Forrest has pledged to support the reconstruction of the WA town of Yarloop. It's been 11 days since 161 homes in the community were razed by fire, but at a community meeting residents have backed efforts to rebuild the town.