While capital cities struggle to handle their swelling populations, country towns are still crying out for more people.

The widow of a keen Indian cyclist killed on an Australian highway said her husband had been happy to settle here because he felt more confident about road safety.

Sue Prince turned to house-sitting when her home was repossessed but advocates say the trend could be hiding the true picture of homelessness in Australia.

Imagine navigating a 1,000km journey across the vast Mongolian wilderness atop a feisty horse, racing 40 others to finish first.

Child protection authorities were tipped off about the mistreatment of baby Anastasia Hand 16 days before her mother violently and fatally shook the infant at the family's home south of Perth, a court is told.

A judge has ruled a young West Australian mother who violently shook her baby daughter to death must serve a life jail term, with at least 13 years behind bars before she can be released.

One year on, 2018's most unlikely internet sensation, Knickers the giant steer, has put his big hoof forward for a good cause, raising more than $14,000 in the process.

A WA university has removed an activity from a camp for high schoolers after a mother complained that teenagers were told to change out of wet clothing behind a bush.

In Jennifer Kent's award-winning follow-up to the Babadook, a young convict woman teams up with a young Aboriginal man for revenge in 19th century Tasmania.

DAILY BRIEFING: The search is on for a thief who stole a "large quantity" of citrus trees, while the Launceston City Council "sincerely apologises" to a homeless man

DAILY BRIEFING: More than 30 little penguins are found dead near Wynyard, a family raises money for their three-year-old daughter's cancer treatment and a coroner hands down his findings into four boating deaths.

Tasmania's east coast is experiencing some of its driest conditions on record, but in the west there has been record high winter rainfall. How can the weather vary so much in such a small state?

Joan Webb has already been approved for a government-subsidised home-care package. At 93 years of age, she's now facing an 18-month wait. She's not alone.

Opposition Leader Rebecca White vows to ditch the Greens as party faithful meet in Burnie for Labor's first Tasmanian gathering since suffering a bruising federal election defeat.

Aurora chasers around Tasmania are treated to a spectacular display of the southern lights in conditions described as "just perfect".

DAILY BRIEFING: Police are still looking for escapee Jake Mark Pearce, the Greens want an end to wildlife culls after six permits were issued to kill platypus.

Prisoners being transported in Tasmania Police vans have no restraints and are forced to crouch of lie down when they're inside, according to the state's police union, which warns it is only a matter of time before someone dies.

DAILY BRIEFING: A trial gets underway for the alleged murder of Dwayne Davies who was shot more than two years ago, 300 jobs at Temco are at risk and the cause of penguin deaths is identified.

When Jane Rankin-Reid moved her mum Shirlee into an aged care home in Hobart, she hoped she'd live out her twilight years in comfort and dignity. But the elderly woman's life soon became a nightmare.

More than 170 little penguins have been mauled to death by dogs in Tasmania in the past year. Experts say the attacks are leaving the state's population in a "tenuous" position.

DAILY BRIEFING: Tasmania's Speaker pauses parliament as tensions run high over her bid for a pay rise, and a police officer charged over the strip search of an 11-year-old boy indicates she'll plead guilty.

Controversial new laws allowing people to amend the gender on their birth certificate without reassignment surgery have come into effect, allowing people like Francene Jacques to be "buried an old woman".

DAILY BRIEFING: Controversial Speaker Sue Hickey wanted a pay rise when she was Lord Mayor, and the Opposition accuses the Government of sending in a health budget razor.

The 77-year-old, who was only five days into his overseas trip, died while on a commercial river trip on the Grand Canyon's Colorado River.

DAILY BRIEFING: A Launceston man who posed as a television producer is jailed for fraud, and heavy rain falls across the state.

Politicians bearing promises have disappointed many miners in Tasmania's wild west in recent times, but increasing demand for metals for electric cars, wind turbines and solar panels is now driving more exploration.

Spencer Connelly, 11, was supposed to have his third round of skin graft surgery within 90 days. But he's been waiting 15 months as Tasmania's elective surgery waiting list blows out.

New coal mining exploration is getting support from the Tasmanian Government, but some farmers say they are not being adequately informed about potential developments on their land.

Tourists flock to this tulip farm to see the flowers, but it is under the ground where the serious farming is happening.

When Carol Westmore bought a farm near Launceston 15 years ago, she inadvertently embarked on a mammoth heritage-restoration project.

Llama Hiking in Tasmania, for therapy, for charity and because llamas are lovely creatures.

The accused Claremont serial killer, Bradley Edwards, has pleaded guilty to attacks on two women in the years leading up to the disappearance of Sarah Spiers.

Authorities downgrade the alert for a fire in Tasmania's Central Highlands which has destroyed more than 100 hectares.

Hindmarsh Shire mayor Ron Ismay comes under criticism for using sexist language when introducing the Nationals MP Emma Kealy at an event in Nhill in western Victoria, later saying it "was not that big of a deal".

Eucalyptus oil production sounds like a distinctly Australian industry. While we once where the dominant player in the market, we've long been outpriced by cheap imports. Laura Poole reports that families, with a long history in this old art, are trying to keep up local production.

Everyone has a ball, for The Rum Diary is one of the truly great psychedelic movies of the modern era, a tribute to all involved.

This fun and energetic visit to Dracula's castle pays tribute to some great movie monsters while creating some laughs of its own.

Police investigate two fires in North Adelaide early this morning, including one which spread through the state branch office of the national doctors' union, causing up to $2 million damage.

Time is running out for businesses and home-owners to vacate their land in Adelaide's inner east ahead of demolition works, despite accusations the State Government has effectively blocked landowners from accessing the equity of their own homes.