Driven out of society by the cost of living and life-changing events, a growing number of people are going bush on the NSW coast but their presence is drawing the ire of traditional owners and authorities.

An estimated 75,000 backpackers working, or that have worked in Australia, could be back-paid hundreds of millions of dollars after the Federal Court ruled the so-called backpacker tax invalid.

Andrew Grover's addiction to the dizzying thrills of theme park rides began in the US when he was seven. Now 34, he's heading back for the ultimate adrenaline spree.

A Queensland couple have climbed the biggest sand dune in the Simpson Desert to get married at the world's most remote music festival.

The Lions' resurgence continues as they edge out North and Freo pip the Swans after the Tigers beat the Power, the Giants thump the Pies and the Blues get the better of the Suns.

Despite warnings it could undermine the impact of the Queensland Government's policy to curb alcohol-fuelled violence, casinos will remain exempt from ID scanning and reduced hours. The move comes as the Government scales back the scheme in parts of Brisbane and Ipswich.

A Daly Cherry-Evans field goal late in extra time gives the Sea Eagles a pulsating 11-10 win over the Storm, after the Broncos beat the Titans 34-12 and the Eels get home 24-22 against the Warriors.

Gold Coast woman Theresa Dalton is sentenced to six years in jail for hiring a hitman to kill her husband during their divorce battle, telling a Brisbane court it is a "catastrophic miscarriage of justice" because she is innocent.

Massive wins for Geelong and Brisbane over North Melbourne and Gold Coast respectively have them closing in on a top two finish, while the Bombers are completely dismantled by the Bulldogs.

The Broncos get the job done at Lang Park with a four tries to two win over Penrith, after the Eels crush the Titans at Robina.

Fire crews contain a blaze west of Kalbar on Queensland's Scenic Rim, as well as battling bushfires on multiple fronts near Canungra in the Gold Coast hinterland, with the Rural Fire Service saying resources are "stretched to the limit".

South-East Queensland's bat population is in crisis as the species faces a mass starvation event which is seeing rescue groups inundated with as many as 50 calls a day reporting deaths and injuries in public spaces and backyards.

A Gold Coast couple who funded a "lavish lifestyle" peddling MDMA and cannabis on the dark web is jailed after pleading guilty to drug trafficking.

A man and woman have been charged after the Burleigh Waters branch of Suncorp Bank was robbed by two people cloaked in leather jackets and helmets who allegedly pulled out guns to threaten the tellers.

Concerned about a spike in drownings on Queensland's beaches most of which occur outside the flags lifesavers have come up with a unique way to get people where they want them.

It was all over quickly, but a short, sharp storm has brought hail and a little bit of rain to parts of Brisbane, Toowoomba and the Gold Coast.

Marine scientists are calling for new speed limits in waters off the Gold Coast in response to an increasing number of humpback whales calving in the area.

The dramatic crash of Scott McLaughlin's Supercar in Surfers Paradise sent a shock absorber flying onto a nearby balcony, wiping out a table but missing two spectators.

Queensland's central schoolies booking agency ditches its brief dalliance with the dating app Tinder after it sparked outrage from parents and the State Tourism Minister.

Residents of a suburban Gold Coast development site say they are about to start digging for cash, days after a stash of old bank notes was found in their neighbourhood.

They often clog up footpaths taking selfies, but as frustrating as tourists can be, they're the lifeblood of Australia's Glitter Strip.

After increasing pressure on the Queensland Government, all children held in the maximum security police watch house in Brisbane have now been removed and placed into youth detention centres.

Some of Australia's best baton twirlers will be heading to the world championships in France next week and for some the journey hasn't been without considerable pain.

William Barton, a Kalkadunga man who grew up in Mount Isa, performs on stages all over the world, from Carnegie Hall to Finland, and even for the likes of the Royal family.

Researchers say there used to be an expectation that there was an urban/country divide in racist attitudes in Australia, but a recent study has challenged the assumption.

As Maryanne Dalglish's Maremma sheepdog convulsed on the floor, there was nothing she could do but watch. Two hours later, he finally died. WARNING: This story contains an image that may cause distress.

Before the ambulance existed, if outback Queensland locals had an emergency, they had to drive to themselves to hospital.

Underwater statues and submerged hotels are some of the latest attractions on the Great Barrier Reef, concerning an old-school dive operator.

Fire-weary residents at Sarabah in Queensland's Scenic Rim get a reprieve as authorities downgrade the bushfire warning level in the area, but conditions are expected to worsen in southern Queensland on Saturday.

The NSW Swifts claim the Super Netball title with a perfectly executed 64-47 victory over the Sunshine Coast Lightning in Brisbane.

The Queensland Government is expected to pass a bill today to introduce new mandatory farm run-off regulations to protect the reef, despite opposition from agricultural groups.

Sixty per cent of all barramundi consumed in Australia comes from overseas and half the fish-eating population, according to new research, has no idea.

As the school year wraps up, staff, students, alumni, and rural industries are saying a final farewell to agricultural colleges in central Queensland.

A group of primary students are turning to a traditional skill that they hope will help them, and their families, rely less on throwaway fashion.

A 24-year-old man covered in fake tattoos drawn on with a black marker who robbed a service station with a replica gun in Rockhampton in central Queensland is sentenced to nearly four years in jail.

Despite a fortnight of hot, dry weather, Jack Walker's property in Theodore still has hailstones covered by a thin layer of dirt and debris.