Prisoners being transported in Tasmania Police vans have no restraints and are forced to crouch of lie down when they're inside, according to the state's police union, which warns it is only a matter of time before someone dies.

A woman who claims she was sexually abused by former police minister Rene Hidding says she has been told he will not be charged over her claims.

They're some of the most senior figures in the country and are elected to represent the people, but are our politicians earning too much?

More than 170 little penguins have been mauled to death by dogs in Tasmania in the past year. Experts say the attacks are leaving the state's population in a "tenuous" position.

DAILY BRIEFING: Controversial Speaker Sue Hickey wanted a pay rise when she was Lord Mayor, and the Opposition accuses the Government of sending in a health budget razor.

The family of a woman violently stabbed to death by a man with schizophrenia has slammed the prison system which released him in the grip of psychotic delusions, saying prison authorities had blood on their hands.

Australians love and will pay top prices for proper coffee, stinky cheese, and top-of-the-range wines and olive oils. Now butter has joined that list.

New coal mining exploration is getting support from the Tasmanian Government, but some farmers say they are not being adequately informed about potential developments on their land.

Tourists flock to this tulip farm to see the flowers, but it is under the ground where the serious farming is happening.

Authorities downgrade the alert for a fire in Tasmania's Central Highlands which has destroyed more than 100 hectares.

Tourism operators on one of Tasmania's breathtaking islands are riding a wave of untapped beauty and are reeling in visitors with locally grown produce.

Staff working in a government building in Tasmania thought they struck gold when they found an artwork by Pierre-Auguste Renoir on the office walls, but museum curators were able to confirm it was a reproduction when they magnified the image and saw there were pixels.

Hindmarsh Shire mayor Ron Ismay comes under criticism for using sexist language when introducing the Nationals MP Emma Kealy at an event in Nhill in western Victoria, later saying it "was not that big of a deal".

A man who claims he can make it rain is building a following in the Victorian grain belt, where a group of farmers have paid for rainfall between May and October.

Director Garry Marshall and a host of famous faces throw out some bland and predictable confetti to usher in the new year.

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly.

This lacklustre threequel should be called Men in Bland.

If you like your French movies hyper-sweet, archetypal and a clear invitation to join a tour group at once, this is for you!

The popular pregnancy advice book becomes an all-star movie, but unfortunately with too many characters and situations, the stretch marks are visible.

Police investigate two fires in North Adelaide early this morning, including one which spread through the state branch office of the national doctors' union, causing up to $2 million damage.

There are now only two active cases in the state, the State Government announces, but border restrictions will stay in place although travel to regional areas may be reopened.

A self-declared "free spirit man" who contested a parking fine in court loses his year-long battle, with a judge saying the case involved "legal nonsense" and was "an unnecessary waste" of resources.

Native plant sales jump 70 per cent for South Australian nursery as rain and physical distancing provide boost for local nurseries.

Christopher is 10, blind, and has his own ABC Grandstand segment.

Demand for the Chinese medicine 'ejiao' is having humanitarian repercussions in Africa due to donkey poaching.

Emily Bissland explains how she made a hilarious video about an accidental artwork that's been viewed by millions.

To many people, they're known simply as 'mothers' groups' and that can mean new fathers like Jeremy Piert don't feel comfortable going along.

From Ireland's heartland to coastal Victoria, Australian convicts brought with them magic and superstition. Their symbols are still being uncovered today.

A group of farm workers claiming they were underpaid are hit with a rent bill in the lead-up to a Federal Court hearing.

The world of Raj Manikam and his family came crashing down when a test found a hidden disease that could see them deported due to "significant costs to the community".

The meat industry says a Melbourne council's decision to take meat off its menu on Mondays could damage regional economies for little environmental gain.

Wind farm developments in Victoria will now have to have noise levels checked by an independent auditor, before and after construction.

Conservationists are struggling in the fight against many introduced species in the Otways, but they hope a new program will limit the number of feral pigs before they cause too much damage.

ANZ customers can no longer utilise banking services at their local post offices after the bank failed to reach an agreement with Australia Post on their Bank@Post service.

Almost two years after millions of microplastics spilled onto pristine beaches in Victoria and sparked an emergency response from authorities, the plastic's origin remains a mystery.

Tula's last day before retirement

Feral pigs capable of leaving behind industrial-looking trails of destruction are posing a threat to one of the world's most significant archaeological sites.

Industry figures say unstable weather, a lack of infrastructure investment and poor international prices are hampering sugar sector confidence as mills open for crushing.

Calculating the road toll is "extraordinarily complicated", according to Queensland police as loved ones say the confusion is compounding their grief following a horror few weeks on the state's roads.

Eyewear giant Specsavers has admitted that the personal information of some clients in Queensland is missing and may have been stolen.

An Australian medicinal cannabis company is working to address a global shortage of pharmaceutical-grade product, reducing cost and improving access at the same time.