Transport Minister Andrew Constance admits it will be impossible to find alternatives to move more than 1 million passengers on Sydney's train strike day.

In what's being described as an "extraordinary" move, train workers in New South Wales plan to strike for 24 hours later in the month, potentially plunging the struggling Sydney rail network into further chaos.

The tone of talks may have improved, but a pay deal is yet to be thrashed out ahead of a planned rail strike that will cause commuter chaos later this month.

Tamworth's population doubles as country music lovers move in at festival time.

Central Coast Mariners midfielder Wout Brama faces a nervous wait for the A-League match review panel to ponder his horrible tackle which left Brisbane Roar forward Corey Gameiro in tears.

For Edward Daly, who was at a rehab centre on the NSW Central Coast to get over his ice, alcohol and gambling addictions, having his partner involved in his recovery made all the difference.

Commuters can expect long delays heading north from Sydney on the M1, with two lanes closed and traffic stretching back 21 kilometres after a man died in a crash between a ute and semi-trailer at Mt White, north of Sydney.

The sizzle of a steak on a barbecue may soon sound a little different as Australia's $16.8 billion beef industry prepares to adapt to demands from 'locavores' and technological change.

The growing demand for transparency and ethically, socially and environmentally sustainable food is one of the hot topics at Beef Australia 2018.

Brendan Russell's body modification work includes tongue splitting and scarification, but court documents allege he used a branding iron to burn a woman's genitals, who later complained to police.

Penrith brings down competition leaders St George Illawarra to the tune of 28-2, while the Sydney Roosters and Rabbitohs both record convincing wins.

The union between a struggling football club and one of the world's greatest Olympic athletes comes from way outside the box, but each party brings to the table what the other desperately desires, writes Tracey Holmes.

Eve van Grafhorst was almost three when she was diagnosed with HIV in 1985. Then she was banned from childcare, and eventually her family was hounded to New Zealand where they started a new life.

A NSW woman has started an anti-discrimination campaign demanding changes to the way people in wheelchairs can buy tickets to major events and access good seating.

While many find them majestic, the pride of the township of Ourimbah is often seen in trees, atop cars, feeding on bird seed on porches, and more recently as roadkill.

A blue-tongue lizard with two functioning mouths is found on the NSW Central Coast, intriguing reptile experts who say his life expectancy in the wild would not be great.

Almost two years after the death of a five-year-old schoolgirl, who was hit and killed by a passing truck on the NSW Central Coast, an investigator fights to make sure it never happens again.

Low pay, long hours and a cashless society threaten the viability of making music, as musicians are forced to look for new ways of marketing their bands.

Dissatisfaction with the major parties and the Murray-Darling fish kill could tip the scales in favour of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party at the state election.

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

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

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.

Families are increasingly taking caravan and camping holidays, enjoying a sense of community and a temporary return to a more carefree parenting style and a childhood freedom reminiscent of decades gone by.

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.

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.

Felicity Urquhart was meant to be celebrating her first solo album Frozen Rabbit with her husband Glen Hannah, but a month after its release, he took his own life.

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 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.

Freezing temperatures across New South Wales bring heavy frosts, sapping moisture from crops as farmers struggle with water shortages, but are good news for some growers

When speculation grew that a reigning British monarch would step down from the throne, it jeopardised the publication of a cookbook organised by one of Australia's largest community associations.

Little remains at Sheet Of Bark, but this colonial-era horse stopover played a vital role in the settlement of inland New South Wales.

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 largest study of country newspapers ever undertaken in Australia is hoping to develop sustainable models that can help the declining regional media landscape survive into the future.

Industry groups estimate a majority of sheep farmers are using pain relief when mulesing stock, but Victoria looks set to become the first state to make the practice mandatory.

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.

With just seconds to go before running out of fuel and unknown alarms going off, Neil Armstrong's heartrate began to skyrocket.

Music, dance, art and poetry are keeping prisoners connected to their culture and, in some cases, reducing their chances of reoffending.

Since Maurice Henry began working as a mechanic in 1949, he has helped deliver two babies, rescued countless stranded drivers and become the heart and soul of his tiny town.