Couple pulled from Perth house fire

An elderly couple and their son have been taken to hospital after a house fire in north Perth.

Man glassed leaving Qld fast food shop

A 21-year-old man will face court charged with glassing a man outside a fast food outlet on the Gold Coast.

Fisherman stabbed in Nowra robbery

A man has been stabbed while fishing on a bridge on the NSW south coast.

Man bashed during Gold Coast burglary

Police are searching for four men, including one who has a face tattoo, after a man was assaulted at his Gold Coast home during a burglary.

Woman's body found in Sydney bushland

Police are retrieving the body of a woman found in the Georges River National Park in Sydney.

Man assaulted with pool cue at Sydney pub

A man has been taken to hospital with a head wound after he was allegedly assaulted by a man armed with a pool cue at a western Sydney hotel.

Sydney man fatally shot in targeted attack

A man has been arrested after a 20-year-old man died from a gunshot wound to the neck in northwest Sydney.

Meares does lap of honour at Qld velodrome

Queensland cycling star Anna Meares has competed a celebration lap at the opening of a velodrome named in her honour.

New poll calls for fairness for East Timor

A poll calls for re-setting Australia's boundary with East Timor to give the fledgling nation a greater share of oil and gas revenues.

Car crashes into Vic home, injuring two

A child has been injured when a car crashed into a Victorian home, causing significant damage.

Qld meningococcal spread played down

A 20-month-old boy is in a stable condition at the Prince Charles Hospital after contracting meningococcal disease.

Qld govt urged to act on gay panic defence

A Catholic priest is renewing calls for Queensland to abolish the so-called '"gay panic" defence to murder, arguing the government is taking too long to act.

Cabbies targeted in NT robbery rampage

Three cab drivers have been targeted in alleged armed robberies in the Northern Territory overnight.

2 charged in theft of car with baby inside

Two men have been arrested and charged in Melbourne over stealing a car that had a six-month-old baby inside.

Aust-Indo relations in great shape: summit

The Indonesia president might not be here but ambassadors for both countries have told a Perth conference the friendship with Australia has never been better.

Remembrance Day as 'relevant' as ever

Queensland's RSL president says Remembrance Day remains as relevant as it has ever been.

WA euthanised greyhound figures revealed

It has been revealed in WA Parliament that 371 greyhounds were euthanised in the past year, prompting the industry regulator to note the need for improvement.

RSL NSW 'ruined' if charity status revoked

RSL NSW would be "devastated" if it lost its charity status after an investigation into its senior members and their handling of funds, chief John Haines says.

Rain, hail, thunder lashes South Australia

Heavy rain, hail and thunder has hit South Australia with the temperature plummeting on Friday afternoon.

Unions will walk out of ALP conference

Victorian unions will walk out of the state Labor conference, but Premier Daniel Andrews has avoided the embarrassment of having them do so during his speech.

Lead us to Louise's body: judge to Pfennig

A Supreme Court judge has urged Dieter Pfennig to reveal the location of Louise Bell's body after finding him guilty of her murder.

SA cops raid houses to find Vic escapee

South Australian police have raided six houses and found guns and drugs but still can't locate Victorian juvenile jail escapee Lachlan Mitchell.

I'm not asking to be promoted: Abbott

Former prime minister Tony Abbott insists he's not asking to be promoted to cabinet, despite one his close friend suggesting otherwise.

Full review announced into detention riot

A full review will be held into a riot at a Townsville youth detention centre which seriously injured a guard.

Byrne 'wasn't demoted' in reshuffle

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has rejected suggestions her minor cabinet reshuffle has seen a demotion for former police minister Bill Byrne.

Aurukun mayor supports new school head

The Aurukun Shire Council has welcomed the Queensland government retaking control of the troubled school previously led by Noel Pearson.

Judge told of grief over 'contract' murder

The fiancee of a man gunned down in front of her has yelled at his killer in court saying she forever sees his evil eyes and gun.

Melb councillor's eligibility investigated

Melbourne City councillor Brooke Wandin's election will be investigated after questions about her eligibility arose.

Yarloop school to re-open next year

Yarloop Primary School will re-open next year, with 29 students already enrolled, following a bushfire that destroyed most of the town.

Melbourne waterside pub on fire

Two people have been treated for minor smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in a Melbourne waterside pub.

Tas award for inmate literacy volunteer

For three years Rosalie Martin has been using her expertise as a speech pathologist to help convicted criminals learn to read.

US-Australia refugee deal under wraps

There are reports Australia and the United States will soon ink a deal to resettle people from the Nauru and Manus Island detention facilities.

Assault charges after Hobart attack

A man has been charged with two counts of assault after a 'prolonged' attack left a man in hospital.

Boys nabbed after Hobart house fire

A fire which destroyed a derelict Hobart house was started by three boys, police say.

Labor stands by Mediscare campaign

The way in which election material is authorised could be overhauled in the wake of Labor's so-called Mediscare campaign.

Qld scientist up for Australia Day Award

A scientist whose research played a key role in the world's first successful restoration of mobility in a quadriplegic could be named Australian of the Year.

Mum allegedly starves baby, raises $15k

A Brisbane mum has been charged with allowing her baby to become so malnourished she nearly died, then using her condition to start an online fundraiser.

Matthew Leveson's disappearance: key dates

Matthew Leveson disappeared in September 2007. More than nine years later, police looking for his body in remote bushland south of Sydney have found a shoe.

Dead fish coming to SA end of the Murray

Black and smelly water will flow in the South Australian part of the Murray River over the coming weeks because of recent heavy rain.

Grieving mother speaks of sisters' love

Two young sisters who drowned in a backyard pool south of Brisbane last week hugged each other before they died, their mother has told mourners at a memorial.

Handcuffed man on loose in NSW

A man who escaped police custody in country NSW remains on the run

Reassure kids about Trump: psychologist

It would be naive to believe that Australian children haven't been affected by the intensely negative US election campaign, a psychologist says.

Historic ANZAC flag returned to WA

The flag recorded as the first flown by the Red Cross at Gallipoli has returned to WA from Canada after a community-led funding campaign.

Diver survives hours stranded in WA ocean

The torch lights of a WA scuba diver's family members as they searched the beach for the missing 46-year-old guided the stranded man back to shore overnight.

Why Trump became The Donald

Trump became The Donald because of eccentric English, not cricketers or ducks.

Risk factors key to catching melanoma

People at high risk of melanoma are more likely to develop the skin cancer younger and on specific areas of their body, new Australian research has found.

Scammers faking being SA credit service

Vulnerable South Australians and Victorians are being targeted by scammers pretending to be from a credit repair service, police say.

Ex-Catholic priest on Vic sex charges

A former Catholic priest has appeared in a Melbourne court accused of child sex offences.

Man killed in country NSW crash

A man has been killed in a three-car crash in country NSW.

Molotov cocktail thrown at Vic cops

A Molotov cocktail allegedly thrown from a car hit a Victorian police officer, sparking a pursuit across southeast Melbourne.

Asbestos found on Sydney Harbour Bridge

Asbestos has been unearthed on the Sydney Harbour Bridge during road works, the road minister says.

SA govt to still consider nuke dump views

The SA government will keep considering community views on a nuclear waste dump in the state despite the opposition leader withdrawing his support for it.

WA researchers discover virus in lizards

WA scientists have discovered a new virus in bobtail lizards after examining sick animals in rehabilitation centres.

Vic puppy bashed, burned, killed

The RSPCA has had to put down an eight-week-old puppy that was bashed, burned and left for dead.

Man charged with sex assault of 15yo girl

A man has been charged with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl, who was known to him, during the early hours of Thursday, West Pilbara detectives say.

Call to recognise councils in constitution

Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese says constitutional recognition of local government is essential.

Abbott seeks to trump Turnbull

A debate about trust in politics on the back of the US election has Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull offering advice and thoughts to the other.

Cambodia deal $3.5m for one refugee

The immigration department has spent $3.5 million on operating a failed resettlement program for only one refugee in Cambodia.

Paris climate deal not dead: minister

Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg says it would take four years for the US to pull out of the Paris climate change agreement.

Don't be afraid, Abbott says on Trump win

Former prime minister Tony Abbott says people should not be afraid of democracy just because America has elected Donald Trump as its next president.

Truck rollover causes chaos on Qld highway

Northbound lanes of the Bruce Highway near the Sunshine Coast have reopened after a truck rollover on Friday morning.

Wigged thief wanted over Vic watch heist

Police want to find two men, one who was wearing an orange wig, over the smash and grab theft of Versace watches worth $50,000 from a Melbourne jewellery store.

Immigration under fire over contracts

The immigration department has been criticised over Nauru and Manus Island detention centre contracts during a Senate hearing in Canberra.

Checkup Medical Column for Nov 11

New research shows high-intensity statins save lives and scientists are working to reduce the incidence of food poisoning in Australia by targeting chickens.

Christmas shoppers to spend $48.1 billion

Australians are expected to fork out $48.1 billion at the shops this silly season, according to the latest forecast from the Australian Retailers Association.

Socceroos charity motorbike stolen in Melb

One of two motorcycles decked out in Socceroos livery and auctioned for charity in 2006 has been stolen from a home in Melbourne.

No other plan to legalise gay marriage: PM

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has confirmed the government has no alternative plans to legalise same-sex marriage.

American accused of importing cocaine

An American man will face court in Sydney charged with importing five kilograms of cocaine from South America.

Passport crackdown on pedophiles

Crossbench senator Derryn Hinch has won federal government support for a crackdown on child sex offenders travelling overseas.

Qld bikie found with gun between buttocks

Brisbane police have charged a Queensland bikie after an inner city raid uncovered a stash of weapons and drugs.

Brace for Trump-style politics in Aust

Australia's major parties are being warned a home-grown Donald Trump could be leading Australia within a decade unless they lift their game.

I'm not an ideological leader, PM says

Malcolm Turnbull has spurned suggestions he should change his leadership style to accommodate disgruntled conservative voters.

Trump admires Aust economy: PM

US president-elect Donald Trump has spoken admiringly about the Australian economy, Malcolm Turnbull has revealed.

Sydney shop explosion pair sought

Police are searching for two men over an explosion and blaze which ripped through a shop in a beachside Sydney suburb.

Aussie firies with PTSD 'should get compo'

A Canadian fire chief who rallied to have PTSD made a workplace illness and therefore give firefighters compensation is calling for Australia to do the same.

Vic to benefit from bushfire funding

The Victorian government will receive $850,000 federal funding to help with bushfire mitigation projects.

Vic duo pursued by SA police for hours

A Victorian man and woman have been arrested after their stolen car was pursued by police for two hours as it drove through rural South Australia.

Human Rights Commission 'crook': Abbott

Former prime minister Tony Abbott has again hit out at the Human Rights Commission, describing the organisation as "pretty crook".

Man stabbed in car on Adelaide backstreet

A man has been stabbed in the stomach in Adelaide late at night.

Hunt for mystery caller after fatal crash

A search is on for a mystery triple-0 caller who may be able to shed light on how a male pedestrian died.

Kidnapping charge after Sydney car crash

A man will be hauled before court on a kidnapping charge after a Sydney car crash left a woman, whom he knew, seriously injured.

Aust should rethink PNG aid: Labor senator

A Labor senator says Australia spends "inordinate" amounts of money on aid to PNG but there's no evidence it's money well spent.

Keating says time to break away from US

Former Labor prime minister Paul Keating says Australia has maintained a tag-along foreign policy with the US and it's now time to be more independent.

Leveson family arrives at bushland site

The family of missing man Matthew Leveson has turned up at a bushland crime scene south of Sydney where police have been searching for his body.

WA racetrack bans motorbikes after deaths

Motorcycle riding at Barbagallo Raceway in Perth has been suspended indefinitely following several fatalities.

Vic youth jail escapee's ute spotted in SA

A young man who escaped a Victorian juvenile jail two days ago might be in South Australia after his getaway car was linked to a carjacking in the state.

Melbourne woman murdered in Mozambique

The grieving father of a young Melbourne woman who was murdered while travelling in Africa hopes her "bastard" killers are caught.

Aust more than pays alliance bills: Payne

Defence Minister Marise Payne says Australia had an almost unique position of engagement with the US and that would be respected by the new US administration

WA disabled care homes to shut, funds axed

WA's Disability Services Commission has cut funding to a care service after receiving complaints from a former employee, leaving clients demanding answers.

CEDA report critical of 457 working visas

Migration has been crucial to Australia's economic development but the working visa system is flawed and must be fixed to tackle community fears, CEDA says.

Senior Qld racing steward stood down

A Queensland Racing Integrity Commission steward has been stood down from official duty on full pay.

NSW man charged with child porn offences

A 26-year-old man has been charged over alleged child pornography offences after a raid on a home in Sydney's west.

Witness details McCulkins' grisly deaths

A witness has told a jury that a man accused of the 1974 McCulkin murders in Brisbane admitted involvement in their deaths days after they vanished.

Man charged over siege north of Brisbane

A man has been charged and will face court after he earlier barricaded himself inside a house north of Brisbane.

WA police seek clues over woman's death

WA Police say Tanya Leah Beattie, 41, was the woman who was found dead in a Bunbury house on Saturday in what may have been a homicide.

NSW man charged over threatening letters

A man has been accused of sending threatening letters to high-profile individuals and organisations since the 1990s.

LNP argues to 'keep foot on bikie throats'

The LNP has defended its controversial anti-bikie laws as Queensland's hung parliament debates new Labor laws that would largely override them.

Court date set for Day, Culleton challenge

The question of whether Bob Day and One Nation's Rod Culleton were eligible to be elected will come before the High Court this month.

Drug dealer's jail term almost doubled

A major drug supplier has had his minimum jail term almost doubled to 21-and-a-half years after a crown appeal.

Govt crack down on illegal online gambling

Draft laws introduced to parliament will make it harder for offshore online gambling providers to offer products to Australians.