A Victorian court is told Samantha Fraser, who was allegedly murdered by her husband at Phillip Island last year, was disowned by her extended family when she left their religious cult.

Adrian Basham has been committed to stand trial over the death of his wife and mother of their three children, Samantha Fraser, found dead in her Phillip Island garage.

The Broncos beat the Cowboys 18-14 thanks to a last-minute Jake Turpin try, but don't let the scoreline fool you, this was not one of those classic Queensland derbies.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs hold off Brisbane's late charge in a spiteful clash at Lang Park, while the North Queensland Cowboys comfortably account for Penrith.

Questions are being asked about what will be done to keep visitor numbers up once the option of ascending the ancient monolith is axed.

More payday lending practice stories are coming out of the woodwork as ASIC says it is "building a casebook" for a possible ban.

Wangaratta Council has issued the pig's owner with a cease and desist notice, stating he has broken a local law by walking Grunt the pig in public and will be fined $806 if he continues.

Police have confirmed the body of a man found in missing NSW woman Ruth Ridley's car in Victoria is that of her estranged husband.

A jury finds a former Canberra police officer who improperly used police data to impersonate his neighbour, in order to call authorities about a suburban dispute, acted reasonably and did not commit a crime.

The 21-year-old Canberra Raiders player will still be banned from play when a new NRL season kicks off next year, after he was handed an eight-match ban for a dangerous contact charge.

The Nationals look set to lobby the Federal Government to ban the terms 'milk', 'meat' and 'seafood' from being used for alternative and plant-based products such as soy milk and so-called 'fake' meat.

Both Mr Albanese and Prime Minister Scott Morrison's speech were recorded this year, in a break from previous years.

Canberra star Josh Papalii avoids suspension to be cleared for the NRL season decider, as the Raiders look to win their first premiership since their glory days 25 years ago.

The ACCC has been asked to look into mortgage pricing and obstacles customers face in switching banks.

The ACCC has been asked to look into mortgage pricing and obstacles customers face in switching banks.

A fossil sabre-toothed bandicoot skull from Riversleigh

There are concerns, and equally hopes, that an extension to a ban on live sheep exports and cruelty charges against a live exporter are eroding the livestock exporting industry.

State and territory leaders have agreed to establish a timetable to work towards a waste export ban.

A 10-year-old boy writes to Queensland's Environment Minister pleading with authorities not to remove a giant crocodile that has been sunning itself on a creek bank.

The family of the man who died while zip-lining in Far North Queensland has described him as a "loving husband, father, son, brother and friend to all".

Robyn Hausler continued paying her mortgage and rates for six years, not realising the house she'd lived in for 20 years wasn't hers anymore. Now a court has ruled she can have her property back.

Four crocodiles one nicknamed Pugly by locals are killed in abandoned fishing nets in Queensland's Cape York, infuriating locals.

The Lions' resurgence continues as they edge out North and Freo pip the Swans after the Tigers beat the Power, the Giants thump the Pies and the Blues get the better of the Suns.

Despite warnings it could undermine the impact of the Queensland Government's policy to curb alcohol-fuelled violence, casinos will remain exempt from ID scanning and reduced hours. The move comes as the Government scales back the scheme in parts of Brisbane and Ipswich.

A Daly Cherry-Evans field goal late in extra time gives the Sea Eagles a pulsating 11-10 win over the Storm, after the Broncos beat the Titans 34-12 and the Eels get home 24-22 against the Warriors.

Gold Coast woman Theresa Dalton is sentenced to six years in jail for hiring a hitman to kill her husband during their divorce battle, telling a Brisbane court it is a "catastrophic miscarriage of justice" because she is innocent.

The Broncos get the job done at Lang Park with a four tries to two win over Penrith, after the Eels crush the Titans at Robina.

A Gold Coast couple who funded a "lavish lifestyle" peddling MDMA and cannabis on the dark web is jailed after pleading guilty to drug trafficking.

A man and woman have been charged after the Burleigh Waters branch of Suncorp Bank was robbed by two people cloaked in leather jackets and helmets who allegedly pulled out guns to threaten the tellers.

It was all over quickly, but a short, sharp storm has brought hail and a little bit of rain to parts of Brisbane, Toowoomba and the Gold Coast.

Queensland's central schoolies booking agency ditches its brief dalliance with the dating app Tinder after it sparked outrage from parents and the State Tourism Minister.

After increasing pressure on the Queensland Government, all children held in the maximum security police watch house in Brisbane have now been removed and placed into youth detention centres.

Researchers say there used to be an expectation that there was an urban/country divide in racist attitudes in Australia, but a recent study has challenged the assumption.

A 24-year-old man covered in fake tattoos drawn on with a black marker who robbed a service station with a replica gun in Rockhampton in central Queensland is sentenced to nearly four years in jail.

An abandoned southern Great Barrier Reef island off the coast of central Queensland, has seen guests visit for the first time in five years.

Perth Glory get their first win of the season against the Mariners after Newcastle Jets beat Brisbane in a controversial game at Lang Park.

The Brisbane Roar and Central Coast Mariners are still waiting for their first A-League wins this season after playing out an unremarkable 0-0 draw.

Sydney FC go back on top of the ladder with a 3-1 win over Brisbane, after the Mariners surprise the Phoenix in Wellington.

Central Coast Mariners midfielder Wout Brama is let off with a two-match ban for his tackle that left Brisbane Roar forward Corey Gameiro in tears.

The Social Services Minister has indicated a short-term lifeline may be thrown to a charity that provides 67 million meals for hungry Australians each year after Government moves to split food charity funding between three agencies.

The Prime Minister says the Government will maintain Foodbank's funding following community anger over plans to slash its budget in half.

In 2009 we were promised a fast National Broadband Network with optical fibre cables direct to most homes and businesses. Instead, we've ended up with a mix of technologies including optical fibre, copper wires, Hybrid Fibre Coaxial, fixed wireless and satellite.