Federal inquiry into regional bank closures begin NSW hearings

Victoria Police have charged a 22-year-old man with the murder of missing Ballarat East woman Samantha Murphy.

Victoria's first waste-to-energy plant will be built in the Latrobe Valley at Opal Australia's Maryvale Paper Mill, and will burn rubbish to power the mill.

National allergy bodies made submissions to a Senate inquiry into fire ants, saying the pests pose a major health risk if not brought under control.

Businesses and farms devastated by months of floods and storms say they're not eligible for financial relief, and are calling for a major overhaul of disaster assessment procedures.

Mould-related sickness is on the rise, a Gold Coast doctor is urging people to check their homes for the fungus

Two years after the flooding, the Lismore community is still working to rebuild and recover from the costliest natural disaster on record.

Gillnet fishing in the Great Barrier Reef will begin phasing out this year, drawing concern over the future of the industry from seafood businesses.

Increasing access to university education for regional and remote students is key to the University Accord's vision for the future of Australia's tertiary sector.

For bush kids living in remote Australia, schooling is a virtual experience. Governesses are employed to assist in facilitating the School of the Air program. 

Encore: Life on Cocos Islands, what locals love about living thousands of Ks from anywhere, and what troubles them about their future.