Sydney news

Sunshine Coast pineapple farmers are concerned their fruit will burn and become unsaleable in extreme heat.

Victoria's biggest exporter, Alcoa's Portland aluminium smelter, has been saved by a rescue package of about $230 million from the Victorian and Commonwealth governments. The smelter was crippled by a power outage last December, which left it operating at a third of its capacity.

A man is killed by a 3.5-metre crocodile at the notorious Cahill's Crossing in the Northern Territory, after trying to walk across the East Alligator River in actions police have described as "foolish".

The New South Wales Government has declared January 20 the state's inaugural Corrections Day to pay tribute to the work of Corrective Services staff.

WA child protection department Director General Emma White says staff shortages identified by the inquest into the death of 21-month-old "Baby D" have been addressed.

The big guns are on show on day five at the Australian Open, including top seeds Angelique Kerber and Andy Murray and the likes of Roger Federer.

Batsman Peter Handscomb wants to prove he is more than just a one-trick pony, but he knows he faces a stiff battle to retain his spot in Australia's ODI side for the long term.

The building union is fined more than $50,000 by the Federal Court after threatening "Armageddon" and national industrial action in a dispute at the Royal Adelaide Hospital site in 2013.

The Indonesian beef industry meets with representatives of South American countries to discuss biosecurity trade protocols.

Prawn researchers in WA are hoping good wet season rains will boost the 2017 catch.

A picture posted on social media showing a pile of decapitated goannas prompts claims of cruelty and calls for Indigenous hunters to respect native animals.

Proposed industrial action by nurses at two of Adelaide's major public hospitals could lead to patients waiting in ambulances outside emergency departments, the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine says.

The future of Alcoa's Portland aluminium smelter in Victoria looks set to be secured, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews expected to announce a $240 million rescue package this morning.

About 33,000 properties are without power in South Australia, with Adelaide being the hardest hit, after a storm front crosses the state last night.

Rafael Nadal raises hopes of filling the vacuum left by Novak Djokovic's loss after demolishing Marcos Baghdatis 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 to reach the third round.

Novak Djokovic says he wants to spend time with his family and will not confirm a return to Melbourne Park in 2018 after his shock Australian Open loss to Denis Istomin.

Easing conditions reduce the threat of a bushfire burning since yesterday afternoon at Coolum on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, as authorities reopen the Sunshine Motorway but warn smoke haze may impact visibility for motorists.

An early 20th century garage will take centre stage and give Hobart's new $90 million arts precinct its name, the developers have revealed.

The 86-year-old entertainer is on trial accused of indecently assaulting six complainants between 1971 and 2002 when they were aged between 12 and 27.

Nadal dispatches Baghdatis to set up a tantalising clash against German teen sensation Alexander Zverev.

Jordan Thompson fought it out against the world No. 8.

Rescue officials say "many" people have died after an avalanche hit a hotel in central Italy, partially collapsing the roof.

Rescue teams were searching on Thursday for at least 25 trapped firefighters and medics treated dozens of casualties after a blazing high-rise building collapsed in downtown Tehran, the city's mayor said.

Two police officers have allegedly been splashed with a drug after they pulled over a car in the inner Sydney suburb of Redfern on Thursday.

Gavrilova's 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 means she has a chance to match or better her fourth-round appearance in last year's Open.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle is set to propose a new bylaw that outlaws sleeping on the city's streets.

The cards continue to fall beautifully at the Australian Open for local star Ashleigh Barty as she looks to extend her best singles run at a major.

The first large-scale solar plant to be built in Victoria will soon power Melbourne's tram network.

Firefighters are battling to contain a large a fire near Coolum Beach on Queensland's Sunshine Coast but say the blaze is no longer posing a threat to properties at this time.

As the son of a politician, Mike Baird has always known the complicated manner in which a political career can bear upon a political family.

Serena Williams had her hands full on Thursday night but the six-time Australian Open champion had an ace up her sleeve - she's Serena.

Mike Baird and Gladys Berejiklian had a coffee on Thursday morning. About two years and 283 days ago they had breakfast.

Greg Roebuck is resigning as chief executive and managing director of Carsales.com.au, a company he co-founded in 1997, after nine years in the top job. 

It was the win they had to have - only their second in seven weeks - but Melbourne City lacked the killer touch in a 2-1 victory over a Central Coast Mariners side that played for well over an hour with ten men following the sending off of striker Roy O'Donovan.

The multibillion Melbourne Metro rail project will boost the Australian economy the nation's top infrastructure advisers have declared, placing pressure on the Turnbull government to boost funding to Victorian major projects.

The owners of the soon-to-be closed Hazelwood power station have conceded the bill to rehabilitate the mine and demolish the ageing plant will run to almost three-quarters of a billion dollars.

Local favourite Daria Gavrilova is into the third round of the Australian Open after a tough three-set win over Ana Konjuh.

Queensland governments sold land set for "education" to developers in 2013 to build thousands of apartments in West End and South Brisbane without considering the impact on local schools in 2017.

Steve Smith responded to the challenge laid by coach Darren Lehmann by creaming a match-winning century as he and Peter Handscomb mastered Pakistan's spinners to propel Australia to a commanding seven-wicket victory in Perth.

A fire has closed the motorway at Coolum on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

Residents of some of Canberra's oldest suburbs have called for a long-awaited conservation management plan to be implemented to protect Manuka pool and other heritage-listed assets across the inner south.

Tim Cahill's double and Roy O'Donovan's red card set Melbourne City on their way to a comfortable 2-1 A-League win over Central Coast.

By setting himself apart from the machine of career politics so unpopular with voters, the cleanskin with the "dad-next-door" image was able to pursue bold policies eschewed by others.

Everything you need to know about the 45th President of the United States inauguration.

While emojis look odd in formal writing - think important emails, and online articles like this one - they are used by almost everyone in text messages and on social media.

Serena Williams charges into the third round of the Australian Open on Thursday with an emphatic win over Czech Lucie Safarova after third seed Agnieszka Radwanska was knocked out early.

Business chiefs are urging the next NSW premier to continue driving the state's infrastructure boom, crediting Mike Baird's support for big projects with helping to resurrect the state economy to a position of national leadership.

Iraq's government forces said Wednesday that they had gained control of the eastern half of Mosul, three months after they began an assault to retake the city.

An Australian man and a British former war correspondent arrested for possessing hashish in Bali last October are drug abusers who should be treated at a narcotics prison, the Denpasar District Court has been told.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Premier Daniel Andrews are expected to join Alcoa executives in Portland Friday morning to announce the aluminium giant's continued operation in Victoria.