For residents in the Upper Hunter, keeping an eye on air quality alerts from the Office of Environment and Heritage is a daily ritual.

A dairying heritage in northern NSW, dating back to 1863, is coming to an end as farmer Bert Bradford hangs up the cups.

A food technology company has patented a process it claims can keep 100 per cent natural milk fresh for at least 60 days without additives or preservatives.

A French agriculture student wants her family to consider introducing buffalo on their Charolais operation after a stint on a NSW dairy.

Boutique dairies may be tiny, but there is nothing small about their thinking. Farms across New South Wales are choosing on-site processing in an effort to create more sustainable farming practices.

Coastal dairy farms are culling their herds because they can not afford to feed them while they and their communities feel the flow-on effect of drought.

The 1-tonne Cessna was lifted nearly 100km by the helicopter.

Some Broome tourism businesses hope a parliamentary inquiry will lead to a crackdown on accommodation websites, while others say 'the sharing economy' needs support.

A power company is remotely turning home air conditioners off in a trial to manage peak electricity demand, but will consumers hand over the remote control?

Voting rights based on owning property were last seen in many democracies in the late 19th century, but they live on in most Australian local government elections.

For many families in remote parts of Australia, virtual classrooms provide a vital education but low enrolment numbers in some parts could spell trouble for schools of the air.

Australia is home to some of the best dairy operations in the world, but an analyst has warned that without a drastic increase in production the country could soon become an "import nation".

There are only a handful of sheep dairies in Australia, but it is a popular alternative to traditional dairy products.

Formula Three driver Alex Peroni walks off a plane in his hometown of Hobart just one week after a horror race day crash in Italy.

Tasmanian-based infant formula company Bellamy's tells shareholders to vote in favour of a $1.5 billion takeover by Chinese company Mengniu.

DAILY BRIEFING: Inmates involved in an escape from prison allegedly tried to get out earlier the same morning, and the Tasmanian Mayor defends renting a short-stay property to staff.

DAILY BRIEFING: The majority shareholders of Hobart Airport have sold a 70 per cent stake in the facility, and concerns surround the rejection of the Constitution Dock extension.

As Tasmania heads towards its busy summer tourist season, residents in popular locations are bracing themselves to share the road with tourists.

DAILY BRIEFING: A Launceston woman is rescued from a house fire, and a Tasmanian judge describes the actions of a man caught with ecstasy in his underwear at Hobart Airport as "immature".

A woman resigned from her job after her employer "expressed disgust and made comments" about her facial hair and another was suspended for shaving her hair to support her cancer patient mother, an anti-discrimination report says.

A high school PE teacher cuts his long hair in honour of his mum, as donations of human hair for medical wigs increases.

High speeds, low altitudes, and "crazy" games of chicken meet two of Australia's most elite pilots, including the first woman to become the national aerobatics champion in more than 20 years.

A South Australian MP is calling for an increase in travel subsidies, coverage of services like Airbnb and Uber, and more flexibility for patients to see their own medical specialists under the state's Patient Assisted Transport Scheme (PATS).

Two Korean men who organised a cross-country road trip to transport 10 kilograms of ice across Australia are jailed for up to 12 years each, with a judge saying their crime had the potential to "massively harm the community".

Regional Express Airlines says a video of what is claimed to be a rusty propeller shaft on one of its planes does not actually show corrosion, with CASA saying it had "no current issues" with the safety of Rex aircraft.

Beach wheelchairs and special matting are finally out of mothballs after two years, thanks to the Whyalla City Council's decision to cover public liability insurance.

Some people collect cars, mugs or sports memorabilia. Hayden Peters collects jewellery made from the hair of dead people.

Former Fairfax Media executive Antony 'The Cat' Catalano strikes a $115 million deal to buy his old employer's regional newspaper group.

After 25 years without a hairdressing salon the locals of Wedderburn in central Victoria finally open their own community enterprise.

Industry experts say consumers are often misguided about what is healthier between alternative and dairy milks, and some say branding is the issue.

Diana Gibson has been her husband's "eyes" for many years, but now her own health is failing with Parkinson's disease. But despite everything, Harry still tends the cows.

The supermarket giant announces it will bypass processors and contract milk directly from dairy farmers in New South Wales and Victoria from July 1.

Costs are eroding Australian dairy farmers profit and hitting confidence, with the number of farmers positive about the industry the lowest in 15 years. Poor seasonal conditions are mostly to blame, with high feed and irrigation water costs.

Aviation authorities ground an Australian-made aircraft that Swedish investigators believe may have broken up mid-flight in Sweden, leading to the deaths of nine people.

For the first time, dairy farmers in the Bega Valley could have the opportunity to supply the fresh milk market as Lactalis and Saputo look to secure new suppliers.

After receiving her master's degree at the age of 90, Lorna Prendergast hopes her story encourages people to recognise that age is no barrier to learning.