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.

Residents on the NSW Central Coast say common sense has prevailed after police withdrew hundreds of $263 fines on residents parking outside their own homes.

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.

Music festival organisers and the NSW Police lock horns over the reason for the sudden cancellation of a Central Coast event, with organisers denying it was plagued by "mismanagement".

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.

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

In the wake of the Christchurch tragedy and days out from the NSW election, what is the firearm policy of the party that could hold the bargaining power in forming government?

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Quaker religion was founded on political protest. Today its followers are keeping that tradition alive from nannas knitting against gas to American farmers saving refugees.

A one-woman campaign to rehome egg-laying chickens at the end of their lay cycle gains momentum.

The daughter of former NSW premier Neville Wran avoids jail after pleading guilty to carrying ice in early April, two years after she was released for her role in the murder of a Sydney drug dealer.

MORNING BRIEFING: Police charge a man in Parramatta after finding tools to make a homemade bomb in his backpack, while Sydney residents can soon expect formal water restrictions as dry conditions continue.

The former operators of three sushi outlets in regional New South Wales are fined more than $380,000 for ripping off workers including junior employees and vulnerable visa holders.

A New South Wales community has a new plan for addressing the region's skyrocketing homelessness especially for vulnerable women.

After two serious assaults in the past two days, one in which an officer was punched eight times by an offender, staff from most NSW juvenile justice centres stop work to demand action for their safety.

The dismantling of Big Kev, Darwin's resident brachiosaurus, has become the latest example of the lengths communities will go to to protect a local icon.

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.

Police storm Kariong's Frank Baxter Centre, bringing all offenders off the rooftop to end a riot at the facility that lasted for almost 24 hours.

MORNING BRIEFING: A pair of boys are "met by their parents and spoken to by police" after climbing a 111-metre communications tower, and 21 people are charged after a violent riot and police siege at a youth detention centre.

MORNING BRIEFING: A bushfire that threatened homes near Newcastle last night is brought under control, and nine detainees at a juvenile detention centre are charged over a June riot.

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.

A Gosford judge describes Troy Johnson, a father of three who stalked and sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl as she walked to school, as "hideous" and "depraved" before jailing him for almost 30 years.

MORNING BRIEFING: The average petrol price in Sydney is expected to jump to $1.66 by Thursday the highest level in more than a decade while a man dies in a house fire in Sydney's west.

A young boy at 2019 Koori Knockout

George Blackwood of Adelaide (right) celebrates scoring a second half goal with Ryan Strain during the FFA Cup Semi Final match between Central Coast Mariners and Adelaide United at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford, Wednesday, October 2, 2019.

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.

MORNING BRIEFING: Dozens of firefighters from South Australia head to New South Wales as back-up for weary RFS workers, and two people are fined after a banner is hung from the Harbour Bridge.

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.

A-League newcomers Western United draws its first home game, 1-1 against Perth, as the The F3 Derby between the Central Coast Mariners and Newcastle Jets ends in the same scoreline.

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.

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.