Sydney news

After decades of concern about the health effects of lead pollution, scientists have found the toxic pollutant no longer poses a threat to the air quality in our major cities but more backyard animals, mainly chickens, are being treated for lead poisoning.

The Glory lock away an A-League finals berth with a 3-1 victory over Brisbane Roar at Perth Oval.

The Liberal party claims victory in both of the NSW seats it was fighting to retain, marking the end of an anxious month of by-election campaigning.

A 10-man Melbourne Victory holds Western Sydney to a 0-0 draw at Sydney's Olympic stadium, locking in a top-two A-League finish and subsequent home semi-final.

The Liberal Party claims victory in the NSW seats of Manly and North Shore despite swings against it, while Labor takes Gosford, where by-elections were held on Saturday.

The Brumbies extend their unprecedented winning streak against Australian Super Rugby opposition to 10, with a 43-10 thrashing of Queensland at Canberra Stadium.

A jockey is killed and two others seriously injured in a racing accident at a race meet at Warialda in northern New South Wales.

Will Davison is taken to hospital after being injured in a 12-car pile-up in the latest Supercars Championship round at Symmons Plains in Tasmania.

Labor claims victory in the New South Wales seat of Gosford, one of three electorates where by-elections were held on Saturday, while the Sydney seats of North Shore and Manly remain contested.

The WA Government steps up pressure on Perth's Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi to resign over allegations she failed to disclose travel-related gifts and contributions.

Sally Fitzgibbons defeats fellow Australian and current world champion Tyler Wright in the final of the World Surf League Margaret River Pro.

Winx just keeps on trucking, winning her 17th-straight racethe Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.

The Sea Eagles suffer one of the worst brain fades you are likely to see this NRL season en route to a 35-10 drubbing at the hands of the Dragons.

Thought to be extinct, the discovery of the night parrot on a remote Queensland cattle station was thrilling for the science world ... but not so for the grazier.Kathy McLeish went bush to find out what happens when the world's most endangered species turns up on your property.

On the 30th anniversary of the Where's Wally? book series, Sydney fans of the elusive red-and-white clad character turn out to see if they can find the man himself.

A group of former refugees, along with local volunteers, are helping migrants to ease into their new life in country Victoria. The project involves farming and food, and participants say it's helping to make them feel part of the community.

Australia misses the chance to wrap up its Davis Cup quarter-final tie against United States following a loss in Saturday's doubles rubber at Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane.

The body of one of three men who went missing during Cyclone Debbie and the following floods is found.

Melbourne's Queer Formal provides hundreds of LGBTI teenagers a safe space to bring a same-sex partner or dress according to their chosen gender identity and dance the night away.

A Perth woman with cerebral palsy and a 36-year blemish-free diving record faces losing her licence and her "lifeline to the community" after being ordered to undergo additional testing.

The world's best mountain bikers are aiming to stay rubber side down as they head to Tasmania's north-east for the second round of the Enduro World Series.

The clean-up of Rockhampton kicks into gear as the Fitzroy River slowly recedes, with Mayor Margaret Strelow warning of the lasting economic impact on the region.

The PM knocks back calls to halt funds flowing overseas in the wake of natural disasters in Queensland and New South Wales, saying Australia's foreign aid budget is important to international diplomacy efforts.

Big bottoms are in fashion, and at this year's Sydney Easter Show and young ram Pococknamed after rugby union player David Pocockhas taken out first prize, with a signature rotund rump.

The Liberal Party is bracing for huge swings against it in by-elections today prompted by the retirement of three sitting MPs including former premier Mike Baird and minister Jillian Skinner.

A dolphin calf is stranded in ankle-deep water in the Mandurah Estuary, south of Perth, with volunteers concerned it will not survive if its mother cannot be located.

NT police were led on a dangerous pursuit of two vehicles driven by youths who broke out of the Don Dale detention centre, carjacked a woman and clipped a motorist, leaving a 19-year-old with serious injuries and in need of a CareFlight airlift.

Three people sustain third-degree burns and others are treated for smoke inhalation in an electrical explosion at JBS's processing plant at Riverview in Ipswich.

The man accused of killing Cairns woman China Crawford had been a friend of hers for months with their relationship getting more serious in recent weeks, police say.

A pair of Queensland geologists think they have struck brown gold in unearthing a naturally occurring mineral capable of growing pristine grass in the middle of the Arabian desert, with hopes it will land them a massive turf deal for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

A high-rise proposal that could impact a heritage-listed convent in Canterbury, Sydney linked to Australia's first saint, Mary MacKillop, and "still as good as the day it was put up" is raising concerns.

A more focused Nick Kyrgios is having a career year, and his Davis Cup performance for Australia against the United States is the latest evidence.

Cody Robinson is up before dawn, surfing twice a day and training five days a week to chase his childhood dream of one day ringing the bell at his local break, Bells Beach.

A South Australian woman who admits to supplying cannabis oil to terminally ill people free of charge, says she'll be an even more vocal advocate for medicinal cannabis after she was charged with drug offences.

A firefighting foam phased out nearly a decade ago because of health concerns is still being used by the Department of Defence at their bases in Darwin and Townsville.

A Perth academic produces an illustrated and annotated guide to understand what women have worn over the past 400 years and why.

A 57-year-old man drowns while surfing at a beach on Tasmania's north-east.

Authorities complete investigations into three matches at this year's Australian Open, and find no evidence of corrupt activity.

Two teenagers who allegedly murdered a Queanbeyan service station attendant, stabbed a second man and bashed a third with a tyre iron are extradited by an ACT magistrate to face court in New South Wales.

NT police were led on a dangerous pursuit of two vehicles driven by youths who broke out of the Don Dale detention centre, carjacked a woman and collided with a motorist, leaving him with serious injuries and in need of a CareFlight airlift.

Three people are shot in the legs near a bikie gang clubhouse in Melbourne's north, the same place former Bandidos enforcer Toby Mitchell was shot.

A man, 26, is charged with the murder of 32-year-old Cairns woman China Crawford, who was found dead in her unit by concerned colleagues.