NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the state is in "a serious situation" as it records 124 new cases of the highly infectious Delta strain, and an increasing number of young people are admitted to hospital.

Some people have been forced to sleep in their cars, while cars ran out of petrol as the wait for a COVID test extends more than half a day for some. Follow live.

The Prime Minister apologises for early challenges rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine, as he announces more pharmacies will part of the rollout from next week. 

Victoria records 26 new local COVID-19 cases, the highest daily figure this year, but authorities say there are clear signs the lockdown is working.

AOC boss John Coates says he and and Annastacia Palaszcuk have a "long standing and successful relationship", and that the Queensland Premier was not offended by his comments "in any way".

South Australia records two new cases connected to its latest COVID–19 outbreak. More exposure sites have been released including Seppeltsfield Winery.

Queensland will close its border to all of NSW for a month, from 1:00am tomorrow, as Acting Premier Steven Miles extends mask-wearing restrictions for another week in the state's south-east.

Preliminary evidence suggests Lambda has an easier time infecting our cells and is a bit better at dodging our immune systems. But vaccines should still do a good job against it, writes Adam Taylor.

In a nation where tens of thousands have been disappeared, family members are being forced to dig for their own dead.

States and territories are once again tightening their borders, as SA, NSW and Victoria grapple with separate outbreaks.

It's reported the Pegasus spyware can capture a user's keystrokes, intercept communications, track their device and tap into their camera and microphone, write Paul Haskell-Dowland and Robert Musotto.

Speculating about Australia's Olympic medal chances in this unprecedented Games might be folly, but the team's hopes surely come down to resilience, writes Andrew McGarry.

Trevor Andrews says he'll fight the charges after allegedly breaching Victoria's lockdown rules by allowing patrons to dine inside his hotel.

A West Australian man remains behind bars after flying to Canberra to "flog" Treasurer Josh Frydenberg.

The Kangaroos and Kiwis will not play at the Rugby League World Cup set to be held in England after the NRL season ends in October.

Australia and Italy will face off in the softball, while the Olyroos take on Argentina at Sapporo Dome. Here are the Olympic events to watch on Thursday, July 22.

New mother Melissa Leese, who was suffering from undiagnosed post-natal depression when she stabbed her partner in the neck as he bent down to kiss their baby son, is sentenced to almost four years' jail.

A 44-year-old Tasmanian man and a 48-year-old Victorian woman have died after receiving the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, the Therapeutic Goods Administration says.

As outbreaks driven by the Delta variant take hold across the globe, a number of countries are changing their approach to vaccinations in a bid to improve effectiveness. 

An Alice Springs court convicts and fines the directors of a hot air balloon company over the death of Sydney woman Stephanie Bernoth, whose scarf was sucked into a fan while she boarded an outback hot air balloon.

The NSW Police Assistant Commissioner says no excuse will wash with officers as they enforce a ring of compliance to try to stop the virus from spreading to COVID-free areas.

Sean Turnell's wife begs the ruling military junta to release the Australian, who is being detained in a prison where there has been a reported death from an outbreak of the Delta strain of COVID-19.

More than 85 staff and residents in a disability group home at the centre of a COVID outbreak in Sydney's north-west are isolating — so far, five cases have been identified.

NAB boss Ross McEwan says a "double dip" recession is unlikely, but warns some of the bank's unemployed customers may need to consider selling their homes.

Darren Chester took to Facebook to say he was sorry that some people had "lost confidence" in the government and the country's "world-class health system".