Former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith offered explanations over several agreed facts put to him during Wednesday’s proceedings.

The former special forces soldier denied that a private investigator he hired helped to “set up” a police raid on the home of one of his enemies.

Out-of-contract midfielder Quinton Narkle has been dropped for the second time this month as Geelong regained key defender Lachie Henderson for Thursday night’s clash with Brisbane.

Former Richmond captain and highly regarded Hawthorn assistant Chris Newman has emerged as a target for Carlton.

All the ins and outs for round 15, plus how the experts tipped.

The NRL has moved swiftly to counter the Queensland border closure, but it has a big headache looming with Stadium Australia due to host Origin III next month.

A report commissioned by 12 NRL clubs has found that the addition of a 17th NRL franchise will do more harm than good to the competition.

Victoria eased restrictions and has declared areas of NSW red zones, Greater Sydney will be subject to new restrictions after it recorded 16 new cases, and the AstraZeneca vaccine will be phased out of Australia’s rollout after October.

The scale of De Grey Mining’s Mallina Gold Project has exceeded the expectations of analysts and the company itself for what has become one of WA’s largest gold finds in a decade.

The newspaper had been raided twice by hundreds of Hong Kong police in the past 12 months, at least seven editors and executives have been arrested.

The Liberal Party has delivered its first slapdown to its junior Coalition partner since Barnaby Joyce deposed Michael McCormack as Nationals leader.

The man is the second person to be bitten by a shark in Western Australia this month after a 10-year-old boy was bitten on the foot near Coral Bay last week.

The national rollout will rely on millions of doses of Pfizer to immunise the population against COVID-19, with most over-60s expected to be vaccinated before October.

Police believe there are gaps in the law when it comes to “grab and drag” offending, following public outrage about the sentence for man who pulled a nurse into an alleyway.

The new restrictions will affect Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour, effective from 4pm Wednesday for one week.

A Melbourne man who provided medical support to Chechen militants fighting the Assad regime is eligible to apply for parole after almost six years in a Victorian prison.

Eastern Australia, already soaked by big rain events and storms this year, could be in for more flooding as conditions in the Indian Ocean and Pacific tilt to favour increased rainfall.

Trainer Edward Cummings hopes to reboot Sunborn in the Bruce Compton Handicap (1000m), if the track doesn’t deteriorate overnight.

Everything you need to know to pick a winner on a six-race card.

A cast of colourful characters packed the High Court to support Peter Ridd, a physicist whose firing from a university has become a test case for academic freedom.

Frontline healthcare worker Jessica Green is repeatedly reminded it’s important to take a break by employer. She’s finding it difficult when her holiday plans keep being cancelled due to resurgences of COVID-19

The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) has recently stung big banks with huge fines. But it is facing criticism that it is too reactive.

Three members of the Biloela family that had been detained on Christmas Island have been granted three-month bridging visas.

A “passionate” Essendon supporter who unleashed a tirade of abuse and threats against Richmond player Dylan Grimes following a contentious 2020 game has been banned from attending similar matches.

The alarm was raised on Wednesday morning after a man in his 20s failed to resurface from a dive.

Police were a highly visible presence at the funeral at Lakemba Mosque amid concerns about gangland conflict and the safety of senior family members.

Restrictions will ease on Thursday night, including changes to rules that will allow more people in homes and significantly increase the number of people allowed at weddings and funerals. However, the indoor mask mandate will remain.

Stephanie Bryan was granted an exemption by the federal government to travel to Australia but is stuck in Sydney in a battle with Queensland Health.

Bondi Junction have reported a drastic drop in foot traffic and plunging sales

A crime scene has been established near the shopping centre after the body was found at a park about midday. 

Retailers at the busy Westfield shopping centre in Sydney’s eastern suburbs have reported a drastic drop in foot traffic and plunge in sales in recent days.

The Andrews government is ripping up plans to duplicate hundreds of metres of train tracks in Melbourne’s north-east, in order to save an endangered butterfly.

The number of people joining the millionaires club in Australia is so high it has almost taken the cache out of what was once a financial status symbol.

Home buyers taking on huge loans to get into Australia’s property market could face higher mortgage repayments as early as November next year.

The best photos from the international wire agencies as chosen by our picture editors

Restrictions imposed during the state’s latest lockdown are expected to be loosened again today, with up to 50 people likely to be allowed at outdoor gatherings and workplace limits upped to 75 per cent of staff.

A deal put in place by then-treasurer Scott Morrison to appease angry West Australians is inflating the federal deficit, the NSW government says.

Australia’s outgoing top diplomat Frances Adamson has warned China’s “siege mentality” and resistance to scrutiny is in no-one’s interests.

Halfback Nic White has been ruled out of the series with a knee injury, while two other veteran Wallabies are under injury clouds.

A drawing found in the private albums of the Spanish master records his outrage at the treatment of a woman who dared defy the Church.

NSW halfback Nathan Cleary thinks Reece Walsh’s unconvincing performance under the high ball against the Knights was a one off. But he intends to find out on Sunday.

A dozen former staff members are considering legal action after the music company launched an investigation into its workplace culture.

A small town takes on big tech in the actor’s new series, The Republic of Sarah.

The ABC’s streaming service is late to the party when it comes to asking for a login and offer recommendations and watchlists; that’s all about to change.

The former Top Gear presenter keeps pranks to a minimum in this enjoyable series, which was filmed on his farm in the gorgeous Cotswolds countryside.

Bri Lee’s new memoir sees her questioning her belief in an education system she has previously revered.

That NSW is allowing businesses to stay open and people to leave their homes should give hope to lockdown-weary Victorians that there may be another way.

Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said she expected to announce further cases related to the party, which had roughly 30 attendees.

Frederick Schaaf’s barrister Ian McLachlan said his client’s back teeth were already missing and he needed “urgent ... treatment” which Justice Health would not be able to provide.

But over the last year Apple and Spotify have increased their focus on podcasts.