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Queensland News

'Exhausted' councils sign joint plea for urgent federal help to cover natural disaster clean-up costs

Seventeen mayors and councillors say clean-up bills for storms, floods and fires are unsustainable and urge the Federal Government to focus more on climate change to protect communities.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 11:58:02 +1000
Teenage boy dies from box jellyfish sting in Cape York — the first death from the animal in 15 years

A 17-year-old boy dies after being stung by a box jellyfish near Bamaga — the same place the last person was killed by the animal in 2006.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 10:37:36 +1000
Here's what we know about the Russian variant of COVID-19

Concerns have been raised after a new strain of COVID-19 was detected in Queensland this week. Known as the Russian variant, health authorities are still working through the details. Here's what we know so far.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 10:24:27 +1000
Former Defence chief wants MDMA, psilocybin reclassified to treat mental illness, PTSD

A retired admiral says psychedelic drugs can treat mental illness more effectively than commonly prescribed pills, but health authorities disagree.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 09:06:42 +1000
Brisbane City Council development applications flooded with public submissions that may not be properly made

Development applications lodged with Brisbane City Council are being flooded with proforma submissions in a bid to sway the council's decision to approve or reject applications, but submitters may be wasting their time.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 08:06:20 +1000

New South Wales News

'Exhausted' councils sign joint plea for urgent federal help to cover natural disaster clean-up costs

Seventeen mayors and councillors say clean-up bills for storms, floods and fires are unsustainable and urge the Federal Government to focus more on climate change to protect communities.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 12:58:02 +1100
NSW tenants will have six months to pay off rental arrears

Amid warnings of a looming wave of rental stress, the NSW government confirms tenants in arrears will not have to pay them down straight away when an evictions moratorium expires at the end of March.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 12:39:00 +1100
Jannali homes saved as NSW government backs down on demolition threat

Residents in the south Sydney suburb of Jannali celebrate a "victory for common sense" as the state government drops plans to demolish their homes to make way for a new car park.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 12:26:48 +1100
Ex-Victorian MP says sexual harassment culture has not changed in 40 years

A former Victorian Liberal MP, now living on the New South Wales north coast, says little has changed in the past 40 years in regard to workplace harassment in politics.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 11:52:32 +1100
Ninety scientists, doctors call for convicted child killer Kathleen Folbigg's release

Experts sign a petition which aims to "bring to light this new scientific evidence" that at least two of Folbigg's children may have died of natural causes, namely a genetic mutation that can cause a cardiac arrhythmia.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 10:55:26 +1100

Victoria News

The major Victorian town where you can hardly get a coffee after 2pm

There's growing momentum to bolster Horsham's hospitality scene, but what comes first, supply or demand?
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 13:10:44 +1100
Consumers can't avoid it: We will pay up to a third more for fruit and veg as labour shortage continues

A new report by ABARES predicts consumers will be paying for the shortfall of harvest workers this season, with prices for fruit and veg expected to spike.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 12:28:05 +1100
Force developers to include social housing in new projects, homelessness inquiry urges

A Victorian parliamentary inquiry says the state will still fall behind the rest of the nation when it comes to public housing, even when a massive $5.3 billion build is finished.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 12:22:27 +1100
Ex-Victorian MP says sexual harassment culture has not changed in 40 years

A former Victorian Liberal MP, now living on the New South Wales north coast, says little has changed in the past 40 years in regard to workplace harassment in politics.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 11:52:32 +1100
After suffering in silence for years, Dianne's compensation claim will be life changing

Lawyers win compensation for a woman diagnosed with a chronic autoimmune condition, developed after 20 years of working in a mineral-processing factory where she was exposed to toxic dust.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 11:03:07 +1100

Western Australia News

Missing bird colony not the only mystery on remote island

On a wild and unforgiving island a colony, of birds has disappeared. But that's not the only questions left in the aftermath of a bushfire that burned off the WA coastline more than a year ago.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 08:12:53 +0800
Petroleum industry environmental fund loses favour with WA government

The West Australian government backs away from establishing a petroleum industry environmental fund despite previously saying it accepted all the recommendations from the independent fracking inquiry.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 08:10:41 +0800
Perth restaurant owner accused of attacking six female staff

Police charge a 48-year-old Perth restaurant owner and manager with sexually assaulting six female employees aged in their 20s and 30s, with the man due to face court later today.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 07:49:18 +0800
Two people dead in microlight aircraft crash in north-west WA

WA Police say two people have died in a microlight aircraft crash near Exmouth in Western Australia's north-west, with the wreckage found south of the town last night.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 06:16:29 +0800
What would WA politics look like if the Liberals lost — not just the election, but Opposition status too?

According to political analysts, it's a highly unlikely but plausible scenario — the West Australian Liberal Party could be facing not only the loss of the election, but Opposition status itself. But what would that mean for the Liberals, and the state?
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 05:20:04 +0800

South Australia News

Butcher escapes jail after laundering man's superannuation funds to pay business debts

A South Australian butcher who could not secure a bank loan to repay a large business debt escapes jail for money laundering a man's superannuation funds "in desperation".
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 12:54:21 +1030
AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to begin national rollout in SA tomorrow
The Prime Minister has confirmed the first AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine will be administered in South Australia tomorrow. - Thu, 04 Mar 2021 11:38:28 +1030
AstraZeneca vaccine to begin national rollout in South Australia tomorrow

The Prime Minister confirms the first AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine will be administered in South Australia on Friday.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 10:17:49 +1030
'Full-blown sexual harassment': Former staffer speaks of harassment in SA Parliament

A former South Australian political staffer has spoken out about the sexual harassment she suffered at the hands of a man working in a senior party political role, and has echoed calls for change made in a damning report into the culture of SA's Parliament.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 08:58:27 +1030
WOMADelaide 2021 to kick off as arts festivals 'peek' from under the COVID-19 shadow

A year since WOMADelaide's director warned that large crowds may not be seen again for some time due to the emerging pandemic, the festival is about to begin.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 08:09:19 +1030

Tasmania News

Tasmanian Aboriginal community leaders hurt over lack of memorial, despite announcement of Holocaust centre

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg announced plans for a Holocaust education centre in Hobart on Tuesday. But Tasmanian Aboriginal leaders say their history is being ignored.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 11:50:11 +1100
Missing bird colony not the only mystery on remote island

On a wild and unforgiving island a colony, of birds has disappeared. But that's not the only questions left in the aftermath of a bushfire that burned off the WA coastline more than a year ago.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 11:12:53 +1100
Susan Neill-Fraser appeal provides yet another twist in tangled story

Sue Neill-Fraser's fate is still up in the air. Three Supreme Court judges must now deliver a verdict on whether there is enough fresh and compelling evidence to warrant a retrial.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 08:00:08 +1100
Live: No date for a return of international flights into Melbourne, Premier says

Premier Daniel Andrews says he is not in a position to confirm when international flights will begin arriving again in Melbourne. The flights were "paused" during a five-day lockdown last month. Follow live.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 07:39:56 +1100
Don't you open that trapdoor, it could be a funnel-web spider down there

A lot of people think they have dangerous funnel-webs in their homes when they don't and online searches can be misleading, according to one spider expert.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 06:00:00 +1100

Australian Capital Territory News

National Gallery of Australia opens its doors to European masterpieces
The National Gallery of Australia is unveiling a major new exhibition titled Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London. Isaac Nowroozi reports. - Thu, 04 Mar 2021 13:11:51 +1100
Live: No date for a return of international flights into Melbourne, Premier says

Premier Daniel Andrews says he is not in a position to confirm when international flights will begin arriving again in Melbourne. The flights were "paused" during a five-day lockdown last month. Follow live.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 07:39:56 +1100
Acknowledgement of culture a 'big, big step forward' for Indigenous athletes

A national softballer and three-time Paralympic track-and-field athlete are among 14 athletes to become the Australian Institute of Sport's 2021 Share a Yarn ambassadors.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 06:04:11 +1100
Don't you open that trapdoor, it could be a funnel-web spider down there

A lot of people think they have dangerous funnel-webs in their homes when they don't and online searches can be misleading, according to one spider expert.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 06:00:00 +1100
Linda Reynolds does not deny reports she referred to Brittany Higgins as a 'lying cow'

The Australian reports Senator Reynolds made the remarks in front of staff members after Ms Higgins went public about an alleged rape inside the ministerial wing of Parliament House in 2019.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 00:00:23 +1100

Northern Territory News

Crazy chicken frog actually two crazy chicken frogs, scientists declare

A rocket frog that sounds like a "chicken pushing a lawnmower" has just been resurrected as an official species, 53 years after it was technically croaked.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 10:27:11 +0930
Teenager stabbed with 38cm blade overnight in Darwin now in surgery

Northern Territory Police find a teenager with a 38-centimetre blade still lodged in his back upon arriving at a domestic disturbance in the Darwin suburb of Karama.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 08:54:52 +0930
A year after its first COVID case, the NT has dodged community transmission. Was it luck?

The jurisdiction has the nation's lowest caseload, no community transmission and no deaths. Experts weigh in on the NT's success so far — and the challenges ahead.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 06:51:04 +0930
Live: No date for a return of international flights into Melbourne, Premier says

Premier Daniel Andrews says he is not in a position to confirm when international flights will begin arriving again in Melbourne. The flights were "paused" during a five-day lockdown last month. Follow live.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 06:09:56 +0930
Don't you open that trapdoor, it could be a funnel-web spider down there

A lot of people think they have dangerous funnel-webs in their homes when they don't and online searches can be misleading, according to one spider expert.
- Thu, 04 Mar 2021 04:30:00 +0930