Convicted Bali Nine drug smuggler, Renae Lawrence, has avoided a prison sentence for stealing a car and leading police on a high-speed car chase in 2005.

Thousands of homes are still without power this morning as a series of severe thunderstorms dumped heavy rain across parts of Sydney, the central coast and Wollongong last night.

A disease that could potentially wipe out Australia's multi-billion-dollar livestock industry has been detected at Australian airports.

Police are describing a deceased baby boy's injuries as 'horrific' and 'horrendous' following his death on Sunday. A 28-year-old man has been charged with murder and reckless grievous bodily harm.

Two regional Australian doctors are at the forefront of an international effort to eliminate a horrendous childbirth injury, and say they could succeed within a decade.

Coal ash is commonly mixed with wastewater and collected at an ash dam near the power station.

The Central Coast Mariners have won one game from 21 starts and sacked their coach. The days of Usain Bolt's ill-fated trial with the team seem a lifetime ago, but are we still seeing the effects?

Alen Stajcic vows to leave the baggage from his controversial Matildas axing at the door, as he takes on the role of caretaker coach at A-League strugglers Central Coast Mariners.

A far-right activist who restrained a teenager after he egged Senator Fraser Anning is wanted by police on charges of disturbing a place of religious worship.

ABC Rural asks a group of industry leaders at this year's NT Cattlemen's Association conference to share their views on challenges and opportunities in 2019.

A man in his 40s is in a critical condition, and four people are on the run, after a "horrific" stabbing in a convenience store on the NSW Central Coast.

He dominated the world on the track and now Usain Bolt is determined to prove his worth on the football field as he begins life with the A-League's Central Coast Mariners.

A woman receives 28 demerit points enough to have a driver's licence suspended twice over during a single police stop north of Sydney at the weekend, after officers issue her with four separate infringement notices.

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.

Bill Shorten draws a rockstar welcome in enemy territory, Scott Morrison argues with Labor over its support for a Coalition policy and Clive Palmer is personally, yet noticeably, absent from the campaign trail.

The Raiders outclass the Dragons in Wollongong, as the Eels beat the Tigers to spoil Benji Marshall's 300th NRL match, and the Cowboys enjoy a narrow triumph over the Roosters.

MORNING BRIEFING: A woman is charged after allegedly driving while almost nine times over the legal blood alcohol limit, and the NSW Government introduces fines of up to $440,000 for animal rights activists trespassing on farms.

The father of murder victim Danielle Easey says he is waiting to come face-to-face with the man accused of the violent death of his daughter whose body was found wrapped in plastic and dumped in a Newcastle creek.

A man and a woman are arrested in connection with the murder of Danielle Easey, whose body was found last month, wrapped in plastic and dumped in a creek near Newcastle.

MORNING BRIEFING: The serial sex offender who raped and killed Sydney woman Janine Balding will not be released for another two years, while the North Ryde RSL club cancels a conservative event on abortion over security fears.

As a place to glimpse the next generation of stars and one of the biggest events on the Indigenous calendar, the Koori Knockout features some of the fastest, most exciting rugby league in the country.

The A-League is back, with a brand new team and a whole host of new players. Check out our comprehensive preview ahead of the season kick-off.

The Melbourne derby ends in a scoreless draw as the Victory host City at Docklands in the opening round of the A-League, while the Wanderers celebrate a 2-1 triumph over the Mariners at their new home ground.

The sudden closure of two aged care facilities on the New South Wales Central Coast has renewed concerns about the financial viability of Australias private aged care sector.

NSW Police says officers were called to a house in Erina last night in response to a domestic dispute between neighbours and found flames coming from the window.

A ride-share driver is charged with dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm after he allegedly ran down a group of teenagers while under the influence of alcohol on the central coast in the early hours of the morning.

Although the State Government is investigating the pollution as an issue of "grave concern", Terrigal Beach will not be fixed before summer.

A judge denies bail to an 18-year-old ride-share driver accused of getting into an argument with a group of passengers before ramming his car into two of them.

Taxis and the rideshare industry warn of the dangers of underground "lifts for cash" advertised on social media.

For most drivers, hitting a kangaroo can be a terrifying experience. But if the animal is still alive, the next steps you take can be the most important.

Private collectors snap up dozens of artefacts from the Third Reich at an auction, showing the popularity and value of Nazi military memorabilia is on the rise.

Water allocations for farmers and communities in western NSW are reduced in new plans released today.

AFL great Neale Daniher is named the 2019 Victorian of the Year in recognition of his advocacy to find a cure for the fatal motor neurone disease he was diagnosed with six years ago.

A Victorian dairy lobby group calls for the New South Wales Government to stop subsidising the cost of transporting fodder.

When is a lamb a lamb and what difference can it make to the price and the flavour?

A pilot killed in a plane crash that also claimed the life of his passenger in South Australia's outback is a south Queensland businessman and horse stud owner.

The world number one and French Open champion lost 3-6 6-2 6-3 in a ferocious battle with 55th-ranked American Alison Riske.

The Australian called the loss 'tough' but says she has no regrets in her preparation after she crashed out of Wimbledon.

About 600 million people were glued to the television in awe of the first moon landing, but for Ben Lam and David Cooke it was just another day at the office.

John Burrows died at his mother's garage in Portland near Lithgow in 2015, with a bomb expert telling his murder trial he had never seen a device like the one used to kill the 58-year-old.

When Kevin Gallegos carpooled to work one cold Canberra morning the day ahead wouldn't be typical he and the rest of the team at the Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station would be instrumental in bringing live footage of Neil Armstrong's first steps on the Moon back to Earth.

For the first time two overall winners have won the prestigious David Malin Awards which honours the best in Australian astrophotography.