Sydney news

Tasmania's winter festival Dark Mofo is entering its final days but the most-anticipated performance remains shrouded in secrecy.

Hairdressers in Melbourne will be offered a program to spot signs of domestic abuse from July, and three stylists in western Victoria believe their supportive role is just the right fit.

Homeowners can renovate to make their homes more comfortable in winter, but what if you're among Australia's growing number of long-term renters?

An Australian farmer's invention, which destroys weed seeds during harvest, has the potential to reduce the need for herbicides in grain farming and is gaining interest from around the world.

Australia's oldest Catholic boys' boarding school has officially apologised for historic sexual abuse by former staff and priests.

St Kilda proves far too good for a sloppy and disappointing North Melbourne, winning by 17 points to keep its finals hopes well and truly alive.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs dominate the second half to come from behind and beat the Gold Coast Titans 36-20.

A witness tells a third inquest into the death of Scott Johnson off North Head in Sydney that a group called the Narrabeen Skinheads bragged about assaulting an "American faggot" in December 1988.

A fourth man is charged with firearms offences for allegedly supplying a weapon used in the deadly Brighton siege in Melbourne.

The consumer watchdog is suing the Australian distributor of the Thermomix cooking appliances for allegedly failing to report a number of serious burns by the required deadline.

A siege at a property at Epping, in Melbourne's north, is over, with Victoria Police arresting a 26-year-old man.

The operator of a bus that almost collided with a truck on Sydney's M5 has two buses grounded due to defects.

Friday night footy sees North Melbourne face off against St Kilda at Docklands. Follow all the action and tune in to our live commentary via our AFL ScoreCentre.

NRL round 15 gets underway as South Sydney takes on the Gold Coast Titans at Sydney's Olympic stadium. Follow all the action in our live NRL ScoreCentre.

The first VFL gay Pride match is being played in south-west Victoria this weekend. A man who grew up in the town of Hamilton organised the event in support of his gay twin brother. The town has embraced the theme of supporting the LGBTQI community.

While many have criticised Nathan Lovett-Murray's plan to sue Essendon over its 2012 doping scandal, one expert believes it could be a hugely positive move for other athletes.

Western Australian scallops may be making a comeback after an island fishery destroyed by a heatwave produces tonnes of meat.

Standing ovations at Cannes Film Festival and the Hollywood Reporter calling her "the next big thing" are just some of the signs Australian actor Danielle Macdonald is one to watch.

The consumer watchdog is suing the maker of the Thermomix cooking appliance for allegedly failing to report a number of serious burns by the required deadline.

Police at Epping, in Melbourne's north, are negotiating with a man believed to be armed with a handgun who is holed up in a house with others police say are not being held against their will.

The penalty handed to a teenage car thief responsible for killing Adelaide woman Nicole Tucker in a fiery crash on the Southern Expressway last October justifies the need for tougher sentencing laws, South Australia's Attorney-General says.

A 26-year-old man has died after losing control of his car while driving out of the Inpex site in Darwin on Friday afternoon.

Adelaide buildings are to be audited for fire risks associated to cladding in the wake of the Grenfell Tower apartment fire in London, which killed at least 17 people and sparked questions about the dangers of some external cladding materials.

The RSPCA says it has rescued 24 "dehydrated, emaciated, weak," cats trapped in a car at Lauderdale in Tasmania's south.

Patrons have been asked if they want to buy drugs before they are even able to order a beer at some Perth venues, police say, amid a wave of raids on sellers across the city.

Scientist Graham Farquhar's work improving water-efficient crops and analysing climate change sees him become the first Australian to receive the Kyoto Prize, the highest honour for scientists working in fields not covered by the Nobel Prize.

Landholders in far west New South Wales say if there are not more incentives for professionals to hunt kangaroos their numbers will become unsustainable.

A man wanted over an alleged robbery with violence has been taken into custody in Toogoolawah, north west of Brisbane, after a seven-hour stand-off involving police.

A 21-year-old man is facing grievous bodily harm charges over the stabbing of two alleged intruders at the Burnie Dogs Home last year.

A growing number of wild camels from central Australia are being turned into dairy cows, as interest in the camel milk industry builds and diversifies into cheese and beauty products.

Tony has been shot twice, Derek is a church elder, Erika just talks a lot.

A world-first trial finds patients with a common type of skin cancer can be spared the effects of chemotherapy and treated using surgery and post-operative radiotherapy instead.

Three Coalition Government ministers withdraw some statements but refuse to apologise to the Victorian Court of Appeal for criticising the state's judiciary over terrorism sentences.

A Canberra man denies laundering almost $400,000 and insists he won at least half the cash counting cards at casinos in Melbourne and Sydney using a method he used when he was younger.

A silent vigil has been held for victims of sexual abuse at St Stanislaus ahead of its formal apology.

Graeme Reeves admitted his failures led to the death of 28-year-old Sydney mother Kerry Ann McAllister from a severe infection, but is found not guilty of manslaughter.

Self-proclaimed Hutt River Provence sovereign Prince Leonard Casley and his son lose a Supreme Court battle against the Australian Tax Office and are ordered to pay millions in owed taxes after filing submissions described as "merely irrelevant to the bizarre".

Around 15 years ago, South Australian lettuce farmer Graeme Pitchford took a gamble on an emerging hybrid vegetable.

After a year of uncertainty for Whyalla created by its largest employer going into administration, the city's residents can see a light at the end of the tunnel following yesterday's announcement of a preferred bidder for steelmaker Arrium.

Dane Waites is running 4,000 kilometres across the country to raise funds for autism and and mental health charities.

Pictures of an epic effort to rescue thousands of animals including cattle, wallabies, skinks and even snakes during the historic damming of a river have emerged.

Queensland's police union is investigating some officers in the Wide Bay Burnett Police District with concerns proactive police work is being hindered.

Tourism and community leaders in north-west Victoria are hopeful MasterChef episodes shot in Mildura, Swan Hill and Brim will prompt food lovers to visit the region.

Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan confirms skipper Paul Gallen will play on in the 2018 NRL season.

An emergency situation is declared in Toogoolawah, north-west of Brisbane, where police are trying to negotiate with a man inside a house following a failed carjacking earlier in the day.

Super Netball debutants Sunshine Coast Lightning are just one win away from fulfilling a pre-season prediction that they would win Australia's premier competition.

A man is dead after a four-seater aircraft crashed into bushland on the NSW north coast, amid speculation the pilot may have became disoriented in poor weather conditions.

The winning design for a new treehouse gazebo at the National Botanic Gardens is unveiled in Canberra.

With studies showing the veterinary industry has serious mental health risk factors, the industry is becoming more proactive in protecting and supporting staff.

A plan is underway to extract residual minerals from a deserted central Queensland mine site in a bid to bring back some of Mount Morgan's former shine.