A tax imposed on West Australian ratepayers 16 years ago to support the state's emergency services has raised more than $3 billion, but just $256 million of that has gone to bush fire brigades, and they say this is forcing them to rattle the tin for some essential equipment.

There are only a handful of sheep dairies in Australia, but it is a popular alternative to traditional dairy products.

Authorities in Western Australia investigate a large mussel die-off that covered a 1km stretch of beach on the south coast last week.

A master wine producer whose riesling is the reigning Australian wine of the year bows out of the industry, citing age and the desire to hand over to a new generation for the decision.

Among the old-growth gums and wildlife of Milford Forest are two critically endangered orchids that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. But their habitat could be at risk due to a planned highway upgrade.

A meteor possibly as small as a tennis ball bursts into the Earth's atmosphere causing a flash of light and a sound "like thunder" over Tasmania and Victoria, causing some to fear the worst.

With just 34 return boat journeys made over a year, politicians are debating whether $200 million should be spent to build a taller bridge in Tasmania's south.

DAILY BRIEFING: Police allege a motorcyclist was doing more than 200km/h, and Tasmania's Basslink interconnector will be back up and running by Monday.

Karen Cranfield has moved to a Hobart suburb where people on modest incomes should be able to "afford living" but with rental prices increasing, that's no longer the case.

With the September deadline for practical completion of the Royal Hobart Hospital's new K-block redevelopment expired, the Government "needs to be upfront with Tasmanians" as to when it will be operational, Labor says.

The Liberals' plan to open up World Heritage Area and national parks to more tourism developments has been contentious from day one now, it has attracted the attention of Tasmania's auditor-general.

A Tasmanian great-grandmother-to-be was shocked to discover she was forking out for private health services she didn't ask for and didn't need. But her insurer said it was simply a case of 'buyer beware'.

International student associations call for more regulation of overseas migration agents as they reveal cheating on English tests required for Australian universities can be common practice.

Regional airports are deemed essential gateways between the city and country, but questions have been raised about how secure they are.

Make-up course organiser Larissa Jones says parents can't ignore the pressure their children feel to wear make-up and it is better to coach them and let them talk about their insecurities.

Hot temperatures and low rainfall take their toll on South Australian wine grape growers, but many are happy with the quality of the wines in spite of, or perhaps even because of, the tough conditions.

Plans to relaunch a South Australian ferry service hit a snag with the vessel the Aurora V caught up in political turmoil in South America.

Foster carers have historically been able to apply for house and car upgrades to enable them to care for extra children, but the ABC can reveal the category of support was suspended in September 2018.

A report finds Adelaide's drinking water could be under risk of contamination, leading to outbreaks of gastro, because of the State Government's plan to open up reservoirs to recreational activities.

A decades-old message in a bottle is found by a young boy during a fishing trip with his dad on a remote South Australian beach. Now, the search is on for its author.

Champion jockey Kerrin McEvoy's hometown of Streaky Bay is fundraising to install a life-sized bronze statue of their hero on the town's foreshore.

This year's Budget reflects a horrific summer of natural disasters, with increased support for natural disasters and drought relief.

We're so bad at controlling our dogs that researchers are calling for no-dog zones to replace on-leash areas in close proximity to native animals.

Farmers struggling in the driest parts of Victoria will have access to an extra $31m in relief funds, days after the Federal Government announced an extension in drought support.

Melbourne underworld figure Mick Gatto was retained by at least one investor to help recover money from the messy collapse of a major property developer that left investors owed millions of dollars, according to court documents.

The Australian Dancing Institute is encouraging more boys to take up dancing, to break down the stigma attached to male dancers.

A report on the workplace culture at a major hospital in Victoria uncovers limited supervision of junior mental health staff, as well as allegations of bullying and sexual harassment.

An unlikely partnership involving scientists and the fishing industry is at the centre of efforts to restore seagrass stocks in Corner Inlet.

Jun Aizaki, the founder of New York-based design studio Crème Design, and his team created HyO, a completely organic, biodegradable cup made from a gourd grown inside a 3D printed mould to take their functional shape.

German conglomerate thyssenkrupp will build an Additive Manufacturing TechCenter Hub in Singapore in 2019.

To keep rockets from getting too hot during the extreme temperatures of launch, insulation is essential — but it's not always easy to fit it into a spacecraft's cramped machinery.

Emotions were high at Sydney's Martin Place, as some of the homeless people living there packed up their belongings. The tent-dwellers have been camped in the heart of Sydney's financial district for several months and last week their presence led to a stoush between the City of Sydney and the New South Wales Government. Yesterday the State Parliament voted to give police new powers to shut down the settlement. Faced with the prospect of the police moving in, many living there have decided to head elsewhere.

Artist and performer Anne Norman is taking a more literal spin on the phrase 'underground music', guiding people into Darwin's old World War Two tunnels for a series of unconventional performances.

Consumer demand for coconuts is booming and world supply is struggling to keep up, so an industry awaits as Australia imports nearly all the coconut it consumes.

A major work by influential German avant-garde artist Joseph Beuys is back on display at the National Gallery, and is taking the space usually occupied by Jackson Pollock's Blue Poles.