A lewd sticker on a police body camera lands a Victoria Police officer in hot water, with the force launching an investigation into the "extremely disappointing" incident.

Whips will likely be banned from horseracing in the next 10 to 15 years, the CEO of Racing Victoria says, as rain and animal activists dampen the annual Melbourne Cup parade.

Are you feeling torn about celebrating the Melbourne Cup today? We asked our ABC Messenger audience how they felt about the race that stops the nation and what they loved (and hated) about it.

Gippsland residents are enjoying conceptual and abstract art from Melbourne and revelling in local artist contributions along the way, in the exhibition Synthetica.

After a trip to Venice, West Gippsland artist Anita George was inspired to turn off her computer and write and draw with brush, pen and paper once again. Her passion has resulted in the exhibition Ink Talks, dissecting words, language and intent.

One year ago, Jai Balmer was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. With help from Make-A-Wish Australia, Jai's dream of becoming an aviation photographer is more determined than ever.

Being a mum for the first time can be scary and overwhelming, but local mums and bubs groups can help ease the process. And being an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander mother, getting culturally sensitive support is even more important, which is why Orbost's Koori mums and bubs program has been growing in popularity since it started in 2008.

For the first time in 10 years, the annual Queensland Variety Bash has departed from Cairns.

Teams from Nambour hip hop school House of Sole have competed in the Hip Hop Internationals in San Diego, known as the Olympics of hip hop.

When John Spunner bought his first rusted horse-led dray 35 years ago, he didn't know he was beginning what would become a hobby, or what could be called an obsession.

The shearers' quarters on Barenya Station, between Hughenden and Muttaburra in north west Queensland, was filled with talk and laughter recently, when local grazing families took some time out to have health checks, de-stress and socialise for a Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) field day.

The sound of soft chatter and the occasional clink as a ball is hit across the short green turf is what fills the air at the St Leonards Croquet Club in Launceston for part of the national championships of the sport.

The Mallee Park Peckers have taken out the 2015 A Grade football premiership in Port Lincoln, getting up over the Boston Tigers by 7 goals at Centenary oval.

For a week, knights, elves and fairies made the rolling hills of Gippsland their home as they battled for glory. Meanwhile, a dragon-decorated castle is becoming a popular choice for weddings.

Pyramid Hill is home to a growing Filipino community, with many working at the nearby piggeries.

The ANU study has found that two-thirds of Australians feel anxious or worried about their own and others' safety, and a substantial number believe they'll contract the virus in the next six months.

The Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire Council in central Queensland gives its government-owned supermarket contractor the flick after years of battling inflated prices.

This used to be the quiet time of year on Victoria's famous stretch of coastline, but locals say that's changing.

Hundreds of abuse survivors could benefit from reforms that will allow them to sue their abusers, even if they signed "unfair" agreements not to take legal action.

School principal Michelle Wilson spent a stressful two hours on the phone, convinced she owed $8,000 and could soon be arrested if she didn't pay up. Then she realised the whole thing was an elaborate hoax.

Marion von Adlerstein

Paralysed from the neck down after a football tackle 26 years ago, Brett Morris finishes the Gold Coast Marathon Fun Run in a wheelchair in under an hour, and he's "very happy it's done".

The dishevelled older man on a city street is no longer accurate as a homeless stereotype with women, youth and regional families falling below the poverty line.

The Panthers thrash the Dragons 40-18 to stretch their winning streak to seven matches, while the Warriors enjoy a 19-18 victory over the Sharks in Wellington as the race for the NRL finals heats up.

Triple murderer Matthew De Gruchy has been driven away from Sydney's Long Bay jail after serving 23 years of his 28-year sentence for bludgeoning to death his mother and younger brother and sister.

Mining company South32 removes hundreds of workers from its two Illawarra underground coal mines as it investigates an issue with an emergency breathing mask.

The principal of a WA public school who was stood down for urging parents to keep students at home against Education Department advice is reinstated.

Hundreds of thousands of schoolchildren visit the national capital each year to study history and democracy — except, of course, this year.

NSW Police rule Deputy Premier John Barilaro did not breach coronavirus travel restrictions by travelling to his farm in the Southern Tablelands where he undertook property maintenance.

Erika Freingruber was stuck on the floor of her Beaudesert home, south of Brisbane, for up to five days with a broken hip before police rescue her after a tip-off from the state's newly-formed coronavirus Care Army.

Zookeepers in Adelaide are farewelling one of their star attractions — the much-loved hippopotamus Brutus, who was euthanased this morning at the ripe old age of 54.

SA legal reforms that will allow alleged sex offenders to be named earlier in proceedings are being hailed as an important safety measure, but the Law Society is concerned about vigilantism.

The peak bodies representing Western Australia's school principals call for a compulsory return to face-to-face classes from week four.

After years of failed self-regulation, the Federal Government has imposed a watchdog on the financial planning sector. But will FASEA be able to stop conflicted payments and poor advice where many others have tried and failed?

MORNING BRIEFING: The NSW Transport Minister will no longer serve as Leader of the House, the latest episode in a tumultuous week for Mr Constance in which he announced his bid for the federal seat of Eden-Monaro before withdrawing from the race 24 hours later.

A clay pipe depicting a Tasmanian tiger has the archaeology community in a buzz.

The NSW Police watchdog finds the strip searches of four teenagers at two separate music festivals were unlawful, but stops short of findings of misconduct against the officers involved.

The January deadline is looming for the shipping industry to clean up its act on reducing air pollution as vessels across the world will be required to use low-sulphur fuel oil.

Our emotions are being manipulated, hacked and shared like never before. So what does this mean for their future, our relationships and the technology that's reading them?

A software upgrade to more than 500 Myki ticket machines fixes an issue that has baffled Victorians for years and also caused littering problems and security concerns.

In a shock announcement, former minister Philip Dalidakis resigns from the Victorian Parliament, effective immediately, to take a senior position at Australia Post.

A chemical used to control pests in agricultural crops and termites in buildings has been blamed for the death of up to 10 million bees in southern New South Wales.

A south-east Queensland council with more than 700 memorabilia items the bulk of which is believed to have been bought with ratepayers' money is asking the community what should be done with the haul.