If you're watching your pet at home and wondering if they're acting a little bit strange, no, you're not going crazy — but they might be.

Australian Medical Association of Queensland warns its members against signing new contracts to perform elective surgeries under the public-private partnership model.

Some of Queensland's coronavirus restrictions ease from this morning, allowing you to head outside your homes for "recreation" — but before you grab your blanket and some brie here's a list of what you can and can't do.

Queenslanders hit the waterways and public spaces on the first day of relaxed restrictions, with residents able to picnic or visit national parks for the first time in weeks.

While farmers are keeping the nation fed during the coronavirus lockdown, many struggle to put food on their own tables. The ABC joined a charity travelling around hard-hit rural areas helping farmers through the tough times.

A dog breeder on Queensland's Sunshine Coast accused of selling puppies with genetic conditions says dogs are living creatures and don't come with guarantees — and she's backed by the RSPCA.

As the global death toll from coronavirus continues to climb, a sizeable minority remains intent on downplaying the seriousness of the threat — with potentially dangerous consequences.

Removalist John Siaki specialises in helping women in abusive relationships flee to safety and says the demand for his service has increased by 60 per cent since coronavirus restrictions were introduced.

It was once a holiday destination favoured by US presidents and Hollywood starlets, but Port Douglas in Far North Queensland has turned into a ghost town due to coronavirus travel restrictions.

The five men suffered upper torso and airway burns in the explosion.

Hundreds of thousands of "coffee table"-sized units will help power a renewable gas plant being built on the Western Downs.

Sunshine Coast Council estimates that parts of the region are facing a mosquito population double the size of previous years.

The following reviews are from winners of our Best Seats in the City competition.

NSW's social-distancing shutdown will remain unchanged for the foreseeable future, despite just two new coronavirus infections being recorded yesterday and some other states relaxing their laws.

Melbourne Storm winger Josh Addo-Carr and the South Sydney Rabbitoh's fullback Latrell Mitchell post an apology on their social media accounts after footage emerged of the NRL players on a camping holiday with around 10 other men. The trip prompted a NSW Police investigation.

A Mid North Coast school is bucking the state trend planning to have all its students on campus by May 11 and says a previous COVID-19 case has adequately prepared it for any future outbreaks.

Metadata has not provided any evidence the allegedly falsified annual report was downloaded from the City of Sydney website by anyone in Energy Minister Angus Taylor's office, NSW police confirm.

Farmers are finally starting to pick up the pieces from a devastating drought, but now those on the land say they have an even bigger issue as the wild dog problem strengthens.

The Holmes family will continue staying home even after COVID-19 lockdown rules are relaxed — with good reason.

A family warns that compassionate exemptions to the coronavirus ban on interstate travel are unclear after dad was turned back at the border.

On March 31, the Premier enacted stricter social-distancing measures "for our own good" — here's how people in Australia's worst-affected coronavirus state survived, and thrived amid the lockdown.

The Australian Red Cross and Salvation Army have so far paid out fewer than half the donations they received to help Black Summer bushfire victims — with one charity claiming it's had to sift through more than 1,000 fraudulent claims.

Three girls accused of attacking another teen near Wollongong face a maximum 25 years behind bars if found guilty of the shopping centre assault.

Sick of isolation? It might be time to explore the slow TV genre. From the comfort of your lounge room you can cruise down the Manning River as video producers live stream their tranquil journey.

MORNING BRIEFING: An aged care operator at the centre of Australia's second biggest coronavirus cluster has requested a worker be stood down after alleged breaches of infection control.

People with Tourette syndrome appeal for compassion as pandemic panic exacerbates their neurological condition, causing their anxieties and tics to worsen.

NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance abandons his bid to enter federal Parliament less than 24 hours after announcing he would seek Liberal pre-selection at the Eden-Monaro by-election.

A drop in the number of domestic violence incidents reported in the NSW Central West in recent months sparks concern at a local support service.

The marketing body representing businesses in Surfers Paradise says clubs could "reinvent themselves"' to stay competitive after coronavirus restrictions ease.

As part of Ausmusic Month, ABC Ballarat takes you through 30 CDs from local artists in 30 days...

One of the world's biggest bands delivers one of history's most ambitious stadium concerts.

CRIME NIGHT

With a summer this year that has either been super-hot or super-wet, the region's art galleries have offered the perfect air-conditioned cultural afternoon escape.

New York cabaret artist, Taylor Mac has a few theories. One is that what he does isn't art, it's performance art. Therefore - he can't lose. If you like his show, he wins. If you don't like it, he wins. After all, the point of performance art is to provoke and move you.

Over the years as I've trawled through annual Archibald Prize for portraiture at the Art Gallery of NSW, I have always taken the time to also peruse two of the other exhibitions shown simultaneously: the Wynne Prize for sculpture and landscape painting and the Dobell Prize for drawing, named after Australian artist Sir William Dobell.

The Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) has cleared New South Wales irrigators who were accused of illegal pumping during an embargo that was put in place after recent rain.

Swimming in icy water is not something everyone aspires to do but it should be, according to an outdoor swimming enthusiast.

Matt Clifton grew up with a passion for music, but his small-town upbringing meant live music events were few and far between, so he brought one home.

Indigenous skydiver Marley Nolan-Duncan makes history by jumping out of a plane and into Gamilaraay country, the home of his ancestors.

Russ French's highly detailed military models have helped secure billion-dollar contracts, with one even landing at the Pentagon. These are no toys.

Weather conditions start to ease in northern New South Wales where firefighters continue to battle two fires that have burnt through nearly 60,000 hectares of bushland.

A bushfire threatening homes at Drake, near Tenterfield, is downgraded as the threat to houses eases.

Residents in the regional city of Armidale are using their own water to save trees in their heritage-listed park, as the drought continues to deplete the district's water supply.

As Australians start to set up their home offices and practice social distancing, we've assembled 10 simple steps every Australian can take to keep safe amid the COVID-19 panic.

Gaming business Federal Group says it will not have jobs for about 1,500 of its 1,930 Tasmanian workers because of restrictions on the operation of hotels and casinos introduced to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Gambling giant Federal Group is demanding Tasmanian pub owners continue paying rent on leased poker machines, even while hoteliers have been forced to close due to coronavirus — a move blasted by Senator Jacqui Lambie as "trying to make a quid" during a "wartime scenario".