Sydney news

Curious Canberra answers questions sent in by you, the audience. This one is from Deb Guster of Braddon who asked 'Why is it so hard to make friends in Canberra?'

John Hopoate is set to begin action against the NRL in the Supreme Court in an effort to revive his coaching career.

Domestic violence and car theft have spiked in Perth, as the latest figures reveal that crime continues to surge in the city.

Cardinal George Pell comes face-to-face with survivors of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, as he gives evidence to the royal commission in Rome.

A group of child sex abuse survivors has gathered in Rome to watch Cardinal Pell confront allegations of abuse by Catholic Clergy when he was a Priest in the Victorian city of Ballarat, and during his time as the Archbishop of Melbourne. It's Cardinal Pell's third appearance before the Commission.

A drought-stricken football field in outback Queensland begins its transformation.

Ex-nasho says young people would benefit from National Service.

ABC Newcastle presenter Jill Emberson has shared her story of fighting cancer, and is hoping to raise awareness.

After all the off-season talk, the 2016 Super Rugby season finally kicked off in equally classy, crazy and scary fashion, clearing up a few questions in the process.

Artist Casey Jenkins is turning the online abuse she's received into performance art, knitting hateful comments with wool from her vagina.

A number of elite athletes, including swimmer Ian Thorpe, speak at a Mardi Gras event about their experiences coming out and call for more support for LGBTI athletes.

A photograph of two young people is found with a bottle of perfume in a wall cavity in Gold Coast house set for demolition, prompting a search on Facebook to identify them.

Australian Federal Police are helping Indonesian authorities investigate the country's highest-profile murder casethe alleged poisoning by cyanide of a young woman in a Jakarta cafe.

The Canberra show engages chaplains in a bid to offer on-site support for exhibitors and visitors doing it tough.

An Aboriginal employment service on the New South Wales south coast says it's not deterred by the widening gap in Indigenous unemployment. At this rate, the Closing the Gap target to half the gap in Indigenous unemployment won't be met by 2018. The service in Nowra is working hard to collaborate with local employers.

Sexual abuse survivors will get their chance to see Cardinal George Pell appear before the Sex Abuse Royal Commission by videolink from Rome today. A group of survivors have travelled to Rome to watch Cardinal Pell respond to questions about his handling of child sex abuse by Catholic Clergy when he was a Priest in the Victorian city of Ballarat. It's Cardinal Pell's third appearance before the Commission.

Sydney Roosters half-back Mitchell Pearce should never play in the NRL again, says the game's women's adviser Catherine Lumby.

The partner of Hobart woman Sarah Paino, whose unborn child was delivered after she died in a car crash, thanks the medical professionals who saved his son's life.

World number three Sally Fitzgibbons has taken out the women's final of Surfest at Merewether Beach.

A toddler drowns and three other children are hospitalised in separate incidents involving pools in south-east Queensland.

Four adults escape uninjured after a shooting at a home in Smithfield overnight.

A Snowy Mountains man is charged with the sexual assault of a young boy in the 1990s.

Curious Canberra answers questions sent in by you, the audience. This one is from Deb Guster of Braddon who asked 'Why is it so hard to make friends in Canberra?'

Our Spot on the Map this week is Penguin, Tasmania. Aileen Jones from the Historical Society has all the details on the little town with the most popular Big Thing in Australia.

Cardinal George Pell will today testify via video link from Rome about the Catholic Church's response to allegations of child sexual abuse.

MICK FANNING, PRESENTER: Hi. I'm pro-surfer Mick Fanning. Tonight's program continues the story of one of my heroes, Wallabies star David Pocock. In this episode, Dave and his family reveal the inside story of his obsession to become one of the best rugby union players in the world. Now he's using his international profile to take a stand on issues that are close to his heart. But first: a recap from last week:

In the concluding episode of this television exclusive, David Pocock, his partner Emma and his family reveal the inside story of one of Australia's most remarkable contemporary sports stars.

A baby has been released from hospital in good health after his heavily pregnant mother was killed in a Hobart car crash just before he was born.

South Sydney owners Russell Crowe and James Packer waive a $7 million debt to the club, caused by a huge investor loan.

A four-year-old boy is in hospital after having his hand stuck inside a vending machine for more than five hours in Melbourne's CBD.

Our first cast this morning on The Big Fish is with ice fisherman Charlie Parr. Charlie regales us with great yarns about fishing on a frozen Lake Superior and plays the Catfish Blues.

The Newcastle Jets beat the Central Coast Mariners 1-0 in a heated, if somewhat dour, A-League showdown in Gosford.

Swedish golfer Camilla Lennarth makes a strong start to the final round of the Ladies Masters, closing to within one shot of leader Jiyai Shin after eight holes at Royal Pines.

Grass is back at the famous Kooyong Tennis club in time for Australia's Davis Cup tie with the United States.

Hundreds of people gather in the West Australian town of Grass Patch for the biannual Yabby Classic, a unique event that has taken on special significance in the wake of last year's deadly bushfires.

Essendon starts its year of great uncertainty with a solid 10-goal win over rivals Carlton in the AFL preseason.

Premier Mike Baird rules out ever supporting a move by a team of doctors to conduct pill testing at music festivals.

A 15-year-old boy is suing Victoria's Education Department over claims ongoing bullying about his sexuality left him suicidal.

The 11 crew who died when a RAAF Catalina crashed off north Queensland during World War II are honoured at a memorial service, three years after the wreckage is found.

A friend pays tribute to an experienced pilot who was found dead inside the wreckage of his light plane, which went missing in the Blue Mountains yesterday.

Health authorities will reveal quarterly on a website how many SA Health staff are disciplined for inappropriately accessing patient records, South Australian Health Minister Jack Snelling says.

Emergency services tackle an offshore yacht fire, just north of Adelaide, as the crew of other boats in the area rescue up to eight people from the stricken vessel.

Former Queensland attorney-general Jarrod Bleijie rules out running for federal politics in Mal Brough's seat.

Swedish golfer Camilla Lennarth makes a strong start to the final round of the Ladies Masters, closing to within one shot of leader Jiyai Shin after eight holes at Royal Pines.

Queensland patients could be given access to medicinal marijuana before the end of the year, under a plan to be put before State Parliament.

Sideshow alley and show bags are not the only attractions at the Royal Canberra Show this year, with the event going back to its country roots, encouraging city dwellers to get a taste of agricultural Australia.

Stunt workers on the Australian film Mad Max: Fury Road, which has been nominated in 10 categories at the Academy Awards, want their craft recognised at the Oscars.

A gnome village that is the West Australian town of Dardanup's most popular tourist attraction is threatening the privacy of local residents.

South Australia's Premier has faced the humiliation of having Labor's federal leader visit the state and announce a national taskforce is needed to tackle unemployment, State Opposition Leader Steven Marshall claims.

Police are searching for a man who spat in the face of a four-month-old baby girl being pushed in a pram on a Sydney street, in what officers described as a "despicable act".