Sydney news

Melbourne's Arts Centre spire is cordoned off as police negotiate with two women who climbed the tower as part of a campaign to stop a group of asylum seekers being sent back to Nauru.

A Maitland kelpie breeder shares an insight into training working dogs.

An all-girls Melbourne high school is on its way to becoming the first Victorian school to go carbon neutral.

There are concerns New South Wales mining communities could lose their voice under proposed changes to consultative committees.

Kenilworth residents will today assess the damage from a wild storm that hit the Sunshine Coast hinterland yesterday afternoon.

Fires at three Perth homes overnight cause $750,000 in damage, with two of the blazes being treated by police as suspicious.

The homicide squad are investigating the suspicious death of a woman whose body was found in Melbourne's outer west.

While much has been written of the attacks on Darwin by the Japanese 74 years ago, less known are the deeds of two American pilots - one of whom lies in a watery grave to the north, the other who went on to be hailed a hero, albeit disputed.

Police may call off the search for a swimmer who was believed to be missing after being seen in "serious distress" in the water off Sydney's northern beaches.

One of Australia's most famous tourist towns, Byron Bay, is set to get a facelift.

Search efforts to continue for a swimmer believed to be missing off Sydney's northern beaches.

There is a call for planning laws to be overhauled to give New South Wales councils more power to consider animal welfare in development applications for intensive farming.

Ticket sales for the Adelaide Festival of Arts smash the $2-million mark ahead of opening night.

A piece of Bob Hawke's childhood history is up for sale in Bordertown.

The discovery of two severed legs at a Newcastle rubbish tip is described as a wake-up call for waste regulators to approve a second medical waste facility to cope with demand.

The West Australian Government intends to proceed with controversial changes to Aboriginal heritage legislation, despite progress on the bill stalling for so long that it dropped off the list Parliament was due to consider.

Toys and flowers are left at a candle-lit vigil in Jacka for a boy who died this week. (19 February 2016)

A 10-year-old girl has fought off two men who tried to kidnap her as she was walking along a road in Sydney's south-west, police say.

People attend a candle-lit vigil for a boy who died in Jacka. (19 February 2016)

The death of a boy in Canberra's north earlier this week has prompted the ACT Government to establish an urgent review of child protection systems.

The shadow Attorney General says more investigation is needed before New South Wales follows Victoria in forcing farmers to install crush protection devices on quad bikes.

A 19-year-old man has been charged after allegedly assaulting a woman while she slept in her bed in Brisbane's east, police say.

The New South Wales chief scientist says pressure is on the Defence Department to meet a mid-year reporting deadline on contamination from RAAF Base Williamtown.

The jury in the trial of Queensland criminologist Paul Wilson, who was charged with four counts of indecent treatment of a girl under 12, is discharged after failing to reach a verdict.

The general manager of Japan's bullet train briefs Newcastle's business community on the benefits high speed rail could have for the Hunter.

A Top End pilot recovering from injuries sustained in a helicopter accident hopes to return home soon.

The year's first live export shipment of buffalo will leave the Darwin Port today bound for Vietnam.

Police are negotiating with two women who climbed up the Arts Centre spire in Melbourne.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull should guarantee the future of the Whyalla steelworks in South Australia by using more Australian steel in public projects, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says.

Australian scientists may soon be called on to help tackle the zika virus with virus-resistant mosquitoes. The mosquitoes have been developed over the last decade to stop the spread of dengue fever but the scientists believe the same technique can be used against zika.

Police charge a man with the murder of another man who walked into a Melbourne medical centre with life-threatening injuries before dying.

A replica of the centuries-old vessel Captain James Cook sailed heads into Port Adelaide for a week-long stay.

Approval for an international-standard golf course on Kangaroo Island prompts concerns the SA island could run short of water and power.

A 10-year-old girl has fought off two men who tried to kidnap her as she was walking along a road in Sydney's south-west, police say.

A man is arrested after an alleged attempted car-jacking in Perth's eastern suburbs.

Melbourne United will have to win in New Zealand to have a chance of reaching the NBL grand final after losing 91-82 in the first game of the semi-final series against the Breakers.

After some early hope, Carlton reverts to form and slumps to a 21-point loss to Hawthorn in the opening match of the AFL preseason.

Police have called off a search for a swimmer who was believed to be missing after being seen in "serious distress" in the water off Sydney's northern beaches.

A young German shorthair pointer dog is all set to start her new life as an assistance dog at Hobart's Southern Support School.

Education is now one of Queensland's top five exports with state schools playing a big role in the industry's growth.

Residents with a Tasmanian aged care provider are being left in bed and served cold food due to a lack of staff, the Health and Community Services Union claims.

Wendy Meeks with students and dog

Hero the dog with Wendy Meeks

Hero meeting Ellen and Josie from Southern Support School

Dog licking a boys face

Swimming great Ian Thorpe reveals in a blog post that he has struggled with mental health issues since he was a teenager.

Lockyer Valley Mayor Steve Jones is believed to be in a critical condition after collapsing at a meeting.

Up to 70 cancer patients being treated at Sydney's prestigious St Vincent's Hospital have received significantly less than the recommended dose of a chemotherapy drug.

Local hope Karrie Webb is in the running for her sixth Women's Australian Open title after finishing the first round in Adelaide four strokes behind surprise leader Soo-Bin Kim.

West Australian Rural Woman of the Year finalists share project ideas on farm safety, employment, community and farming.