A magnitude-6.9 earthquake in the Banda Sea is felt in Darwin but there have been no reports of damage, the quake is also felt in Indonesia.

When the coronavirus pandemic began, London-based events planner Ali Lord decided the best place to be was at her parents' cattle station, so she packed up her laptop and reconnected it 17 days later, after an epic commute.

Up to five members of the same household will be allowed to visit another household this Sunday as the Queensland Government moves to further ease COVID-19 contact restrictions.

Two of the state's most powerful unions, which represent professions at the forefront of the coronavirus pandemic in Queensland, are fighting the Labor State Government's plans to freeze all public servant pay rises in the coming financial year.

Queenslanders can enjoy a gradual easing of coronavirus restrictions ahead of Mother's Day, but we're not out of the virus crisis yet, so what can you do and what can't you do?

Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania are the first states to announce the easing of coronavirus restrictions under the National Cabinet's plan to reopen Australia, but Victorians will have to wait until Monday to learn what rules will change for them. As it happened.

Will you light up the sky with a 10/10 score? Pop on your personal protective equipment (or not) and take a tour of the news this week.

Sydney silk Bret Walker SC, who is leading the special commission of inquiry into the Ruby Princess, says he did not take Scott Morrison's criticisms of his "aggressive" questioning of a teary witness as an attempt to interfere with the probe's independence.

The parents of young children in Queensland will be fighting back the urge to jump for joy this weekend, but the little ones might be feeling a bit anxious about returning to school.

Queen Elizabeth has led tributes to veterans of World War Two, recalling the "never give up, never despair" message of Victory in Europe Day 75 years ago, as coronavirus dampened VE Day commemorations.

A trial is underway to determine if two former senior staff from the Shire of Exmouth in WA falsified records in relation to a $1 million aquarium purchase.

Polluting heavy metals may be leaking into an outback river system in WA's Pilbara and the problem has been made worse by the massive deluge that accompanied Tropical Cyclone Veronica in March.

Critics say that the proliferation of modern, wafer-thin skyscrapers are symbols of rising urban inequality. Also: Are levels of density in our cities making us ill? And what's the impact of short-term letting on urban affordability? 

Queenslander launches campaign to get grey nomads and truckies on the same page, and bring down the road toll.

NSW makes a massive seven changes for the must-win Origin II in Perth on Sunday, led by the return of James Maloney to the halves while injury forces two changes for Queensland.

Coroner Barry King warns police of probable adverse findings against them for their incompetence during the initial investigation into the 1975 killing of Perth brothel madam Shirley Finn, as he closes an inquest into her murder which he says will likely remain unsolved.

The AFL's supporter crackdown is being felt by those in the stands, but without confirmation one way or another from the AFL, the supporters are filling the void with questions of their own.

A proposed $2 billion Indigenous-led coal-fired power station in Collinsville in North Queensland developed by Brisbane-based Indigenous company Shine Energy and headed by traditional Biri man Ashley Dodd is set to revive one of the country's oldest coal towns.

A Queensland primary school teacher has shocked his students and jumped into a wrestling ring to live out a lifelong dream.

It's the system they have in London and Chicago, it's being trialled in New York, and soon it will allow people in Cairns, Mackay and Townsville to pay for trains and buses with their credit cards and mobile phones.

Queensland Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch's comments at an Indigenous festival reveal Labor is divided on the Adani mine's recent approval, the State Opposition says.

A new video shows Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch telling a room full of people she has shed tears over the approval of Adani's Carmichael coal mine, while also saying current environmental legislation is flawed.

A high school teacher who had sex with a 16-year-old student from a North Queensland school is found not guilty of procuring a young person for carnal knowledge.

The Queensland Supreme Court will decide whether to allow a widow to use her dead husband's sperm to give her young son a sibling, as they were planning to do so before he died.

Canberra Grammar students discover the unexpected benefits of rebuilding damaged classrooms in Nepal, as they form special bonds with school hosts in the heart of the Himalayas.

Kelly says the way police handled the investigation into her alleged assault "has been the most devastating part of it" after she was told her rape kit was destroyed and then never existed at all.

The aviation safety regulator is being urged to relax maintenance requirements for Angel Flight and other charity flight services, after a Senate inquiry slammed an earlier ATSB report into the charity's fatal crash rate.

A sixth man wanted over the alleged 2012 shooting murder of Adelaide panelbeater Jason De Ieso is arrested in Queensland, with SA Police saying they will seek to extradite Kyle Pryde from Brisbane.

An inquest into the deaths of two young vets who took a drug linked to almost 20 suicides per year within the industry urges better mental health support for veterinary professionals.

Federal Minister Bridget McKenzie rejected advice in choosing grants for the scheme made famous by Georgina Downer's novelty cheque.

Pat Fuidge has been trying to coax her galah Squawkie from a tree since Saturday, a bird that became too scared to come back down.

South Australia's Chief Justice accuses the Attorney-General of undermining the administration of justice by failing to appoint two replacement judges to the Supreme Court.

Two years before his body was discovered in an air duct, young Adelaide man Dylan Bartlett lost a friend to circumstances which also were baffling and tragic.

The Member for Grayndler is the only declared candidate currently contesting the opposition leadership position.

Snow falls overnight near Eukey in the Queensland Southern Downs region.

Authorities continue to search for a 2-year-old boy missing in remote western Queensland, near Kowanyama.