A reward of $50,000 is re-offered after firefighters battle more than 700 suspicious fires this season.

Farmers in some of the driest parts of Western Australia are concerned they will miss out on funds from the Federal Government's drought assistance package because they will not meet the criteria.

Graham Morrison, 55, is given a three-and-a-half-year jail sentence after hitting a family car on the Newell Highway near the end of an 11-hour trip.

Parched parts of NSW received a welcome dump of rain over the weekend.

Paul Robeson was an African American singer, film star, scholar, athlete, civil rights champion and radical political activist. What is his legacy today?

As southern parts of Australia look set for a wet winter, the northern part of the NT is grappling with its second poor wet season in as many years.

A veteran discovers 72 unmarked war graves at a cemetery west of Brisbane, working tirelessly to identify the lost servicemen who died in a mental asylum with most having no next of kin, to get plaques placed on their final resting place.

The bashing was so violent, a nurse at the hospital couldn't do a blood test when the 79-year-old was first admitted because he'd "lost that much blood". His grandson was later convicted of assault.

By the end of April there has normally been regular fire crew training, inductions, and planning, but social distancing has made that near-impossible.

The situation in Woodford Correctional Centre, north of Brisbane, becomes "quite volatile" since coronavirus measures prevent prisoners from seeing family and friends, cutting off the illegal drug supply.

Falling temperatures on the Sunshine Coast may be leading to an increase in false fire alarms, experts say.

A 14-week coronavirus drug trial involving volunteer military personnel has resumed despite previous concerns from doctors and veterans about its ethics.

Queensland's Corrective Services Investigation Unit is examining the deaths of three prisoners over the past five days — two of which occurred at the same facility in 24 hours.

Sunshine Coast Council estimates that parts of the region are facing a mosquito population double the size of previous years.

A family warns that compassionate exemptions to the coronavirus ban on interstate travel are unclear after dad was turned back at the border.

While no Australian state or territory has made the call to release inmates early because of the coronavirus, COVID-19 is being considered in bail applications, including in the case of Chantelle Baker.

Elizabeth Lane says her mother, a Newmarch House resident, is a 'sitting duck' as the new COVID-19 cases continue to rise at the Western Sydney aged care home.

A 76-year-old woman died in Nepean hospital yesterday after contracting the virus.

We're all trying to keep our distance but as more people itch to get out of the house, could more drive-in theatres be the answer?

So, wine as a subject is all about heritage, soil and the climate (roughly, 'terroir'), about family and honour. Oh, and wine critics and huge amounts of money. What a great setting for drama -every theme known to Greek tragedy is here in this complex, sadly elegiac movie.

From Nashville to Paris, two concerts bring the summer cultural drought to an end.

Side Effects is many things, and finally becomes a full throttle thriller moving ahead at great pace and no little intricacy.

The Idea of North

Kate Miller-Heidke at Star Court Theatre, and Martha Wainwright at Byron Community Centre

There's nothing like a singalong and plenty in the audience did just that at last Friday night's performance of a local production that has been circulating around the North Coast for a year now.

Fabrice Luchini, Ernst Umhauer, Kristin Scott Thomas, Emmanuelle Seigner, Denis Menochet, Bastien Ughetto, Jean-Francois Balmer, Yolande Moreau, Catherine Davenier, Vincent Schmitt, Jacques Bosc

NORPA's 2013 season opened with the captivating gothic classic, Frankenstein, and what a pick that was to see in the renovations at Lismore City Hall.

It's dark and its subject matter is unpleasant, but solid direction and powerhouse performances make this crime thriller memorable.

Abner Bradley, Alirio Zavarce, Ben Wishart, Damien Turbin, Duncan Luke, Kym Mackenzie, Ryan Rowland, Richard Samai

Black Swan Theatre's latest offering Midsummer (a play with songs) directed by Damon Lockwood is a breath of fresh air.

I really love the small wooden halls that dot each village in our north coast region. The halls have been social hubs for our rural communities for decades. They have seen bush dances, card nights, trivia fundraisers, 21st birthday parties, garage sales, weekly yoga classes and many other social events.

Last Friday, NORPA unveiled its 2014 season to a packed house at Lismore City Hall. The company's Artistic Director Julian Louis has stuck to a programming formula he's had success with over the years. The mix is one NORPA hopes will represent another year of strong houses. There are a couple of reinvented classics, some edgy new material, some drama, comedy, dance, circus, Indigenous and kid-friendly productions along with something homemade. Several shows use video technology extensively, while others ask you to just bring your imagination. In essence, there's something for everyone.

NORPA's 2015 season was announced earlier this month with the aim of drawing a broader audience to the performing arts.

Australia won't run out of things to eat and drink, and shoppers have no reason to panic about any shortages as a result of coronavirus, food growers and manufacturers say.

Health authorities say a person in their 20s is among the latest positive cases of coronavirus detected in Tasmania taking the state tally to 42.

Allison Davies says when she uploaded a cheerful ditty about wellness on her Instagram page she had no idea it would strike a chord with families worldwide.

The two-person rule will come into effect from midnight on Monday and certain states will use police to deal out hefty on-the-spot fines.

A Victorian teenager learning to drive was hit with a coronavirus-related fine, sparking this question from parents: Can I take my child for a lesson? Here's where each state stands on learner drivers.

A fourth person dies of coronavirus in Tasmania on a day when 11 more cases are confirmed, bringing the state's total to 122, health authorities say.

The Prime Minister says north-west Tasmania is a classic example of the need for the Federal Government's coronavirus-tracking app, after he accuses a north-west aged care worker of not telling the truth about their movements and contacts.

As we assess the damage from Wagga Wagga City Council's tensions with China over a sister-city relationship, there's a lesson for our broader relationship with one of our biggest trading partners, writes Jieh-Yung Lo.

In 2000, Virgin Australia first entered the Australian aviation market with one route, two aircraft and 200 employees. Last month, it was flying to 56 destinations around the world.

With the olive harvest starting in some parts of South Australia, some farmers are now seeing fruit that has not developed or has shrivelled due to a lack of water.