Sydney news

Faced with one of the driest beginnings to winter in living memory, young Sanderston farmer Alex McGorman has done what he says is the only logical thing to do: he's put in a crop.

Tennis great John McEnroe's brief offer of coaching Nick Kyrgios on a part-time basis is given short shrift from the world number 20, as the Canberran prepares for the Queen's Club tournament.

Take a drive down one of Canberra's wide boulevards and you'll see parks, trees and distant mountains but not a billboard in sight.

Despite years of rising house prices in Sydney, confidential documents reveal the market may be headed for a "soft-landing" rather than the crash many first-home buyers have been hoping for.

Land clearing in Queensland is the highest it has been in the last 10 years, researchers say, with the issue set to be a major battleground in the state election.

How does someone who failed Year 12 miserably become Australia's first in-house school lawyer? Once a defiant teenager, Vincent Shin and his teachers never expected he would become a lawyer. But Mr Shin managed to overcome a childhood marred by family violence.

Mark McGowan refuses to rule out means testing the WA Seniors Card and warns of "pain across the community" in the lead up to his Government's first budget.

Parramatta takes advantage of the Dragons' lack of State Of Origin stars to win 24-10 at the Olympic stadium.

The Melbourne Demons add to the Bulldogs' woes with a 57-point demolition of the premiers.

Detectives would not say how many people were in four cars that were shot at on Saturday morning but confirmed no-one was injured.

Round 15 concludes with the Parramatta Eels taking on St George Illawarra. Follow all the action and tune in to our live commentary in our NRL ScoreCentre.

One of the triplet baby bilbies born near Brisbane earlier this year is introduced to renowned UK primatologist Dr Jane Goodall, after whom it was named.

People on land join with those in a variety of water craft to demand an end to salmon farming along Tasmanian eastern coast at a protest rally in Hobart.

The AFL's round 13 concludes with the Sunday afternoon clash between the defending champion Western Bulldogs and the Melbourne Demons. Catch all the action in our live AFL ScoreCentre.

It was not their usual Sunday church service in Canberra.

The inaugural Super Netball grand final was won by the competition's only regional team, with the Sunshine Coast Mayor now wanting the State Government to expand the stadium for more fans.

Local boxers packed a punch at Alice Springs' annual fight night, with coaches convinced the next Lionel Rose will hail from the Red Centre.

A bushfire mitigation forum being held next week is unlikely to achieve anything significant given no agenda has been set, says the head of WA's volunteer bush firefighters.

Nhulunbuy businesses pay a Rio Tinto-owned corporation rates almost triple that of Darwin, and say the cost of living has "gone through the roof".

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says he is willing to curb the rights of a few individuals to protect the state from the threat of terrorism as he announces a report into how anti-terrorism laws should be strengthened in the state.

Cold cases into the unrelated deaths of two South Australian childrenincluding one in which marker pen was used to try to disguise injuriesare under review, with two $1 million rewards offered.

Australia's first Super Netball title was won by the competition's only regional team, but the Sunshine Coast Mayor says more investment is needed for the team to stay competitive.

A free basic vet service for the dogs of Canberra's homeless is helping keep man's best friend happy and healthy.

A Brisbane cancer survivor says medicinal cannabis helped heal a large ulcerating tumour eating into his neck as doctors prepare to meet in Melbourne to learn more about prescribing the newly available drug.

The nation's first comprehensive unit to care for veterans and their families will be built at Sydney's Concord Hospital, the NSW Government announces.

An acting program in Tasmania is giving disabled teenagers the confidence to come out of their shells and, with luck, the tools to go on to a career in performance arts.

Police could be given the power to search patrons for drugs at dance festivals without reason, under changes being discussed with the Victorian Government.

In the world of seed dating you can expect to get down and dirty with a partner within the first six minutes, including at the Landcare for Singles tree planting event.

When Mike and Joan Gourley adopted an old cattle dog with cancer, they didn't know how much longer either they or their new family member would have, but they're planning on spending retirement together.

Sunshine Coast Lightning coach Noeline Taurua describes her defensive star Karla Mostert as a "Trojan" following the crushing victory over the Giants in the inaugural Super Netball grand final.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital will retain its cardiac services after a backdown from the South Australian Government ahead of this week's state budget.

Australia captain Michael Hooper concedes he overestimated the Wallabies and showed too much faith in his team-mates in their upset loss to Scotland.

As work begins on turning an old Sydney car wash into a homeless aged care centre, a woman who lost everything after being pushed in front of a train warns that without such services people could "go off the deep end".

Police are searching for a person who shot at cars yesterday in an eastern Perth suburb; it is believed some of the cars were being driven at the time.

Tired? Stressed? The Japanese art of forest bathing or "shinrin yoku", which involves slow and tranquil walks through pristine wilderness, may be the cure for the ills of your urban life.

When Craig Cannane was paralysed in an accident aged 18 he thought he'd never play rugby league again, but 25 years later he's heading to his second Wheelchair World Cup.