Household transmission remains a concern in Sydney, experts debate the usefulness of Melbourne’s curfew and Taliban officials have fronted the world’s media for the first time since consolidating power in Afghanistan.

About 14 per cent of NSW’s public intensive care beds are occupied by people with COVID-19, as private hospitals are told to reduce their elective surgery intake to free up resources.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Afghans who try to get to Australia by boat will not be accepted, as the government works on a larger refugee intake for Afghanistan.

Two days after playgrounds were closed as part of Melbourne’s extended lockdown, Premier Daniel Andrews is coming under pressure to find a more balanced approach.

On Wednesday, the third case to be recorded in Bourke was within an Aboriginal community of about 14 houses on an old mission a few kilometres out the back of Bourke.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says health authorities are working on a plan to vaccinate Australian children, potentially at school.

It is not possible to do your job properly and care for a toddler at the same time.

State schemes are beset by red tape and complex eligibility rules, accountants say.

Scott Morrison’s pledge to take 3000 refugees looks puny compared to the past and is only a small start in what will take years of effort to meet Australia’s obligation.

The back-rower is off-contract at the end of 2022 and has been linked with St George Illawarra this week.

The two sides have also indicated a desire to assist in the campaign to increase vaccination rates across NSW and have agreed to make a series of videos encouraging their supporters to get vaccinated. 

Differing approaches to online classes is causing tension within school communities, with an 11-year-old banned from Google Classroom for asking her peers if they wanted more.

New Zealand have already wrapped up a series victory but there is doubt surrounding the third match at Optus Stadium.

Braydon Preuss was supposed to be the solution to GWS’ ruck problems, but still hasn’t played a game for the club. It could be a case of better late than never.

Aboriginal groups are urging the NSW government to open more vaccine clinics in Sydney’s west as Blacktown’s mayor reveals he offered space for one last month.

The NSW government’s stay at home rules leave plenty of room for interpretation.

Police attended an address in Ipswich on Wednesday morning and the man fled, falling to his death.

Woodside investors are querying big clean-up bills for BHP’s ageing fields and the merits of increasing oil exposure as the world retreats from fossil fuels.

Everything you need to know to find a winner on Rowley Mile day.

Bazooka is a dual group 3 placegetter so clearly has the ability but has strung together a frustrating run of four placings on end this time in.

The letter calls for an increase in Australia’s humanitarian intake and action to resettle interpreters, guides and other personnel involved in Australia’s mission in Afghanistan.

The consumer watchdog’s role in the long-running ANZ criminal cartel case has come under fire after the federal prosecutor dropped two-thirds of its charges and cleared one investment banker of wrongdoing.

NSW, Melbourne and New Zealand are all in lockdown. This is how their restrictions compare.

Mining giant BHP would pay a bidder about $275 million to take the biggest coal mine in NSW off its hands even as prices of the fossil fuel soar to levels not seen since 2008.

Tom Eisenhuth knows exactly what the Sharks forward is going through after his own life-threatening injury. He says there is a way back.

Mo’unga is showing signs that he has matured and furnished into a weight-for-age horse heading into the Winx Stakes.

Toutai Kefu, who was released from hospital on Wednesday, said it was “humbling to see the outpouring of love” he and his family had received.

As a Herald health reporter, I am often asked if I’m vaccinated. The fact that I wasn’t was starting to get embarrassing.

Joe Root will be tired, he knows he made glaring errors and will be doubting himself. There are signs this series against India could get messy for England.

Police will meet with hospitality industry representatives next week to discuss the problem, which has prompted fears of coronavirus infections spreading from Melbourne.

Two weeks in quarantine hasn’t cleared up the future for the star sisters. But they know major decisions lie ahead.

A charge of driving without due care and attention against councillor Jenny Hill was dismissed in court on Wednesday.

Three more cases have been added since this afternoon to a total of 10 cases in the community.

Southern Cross Media Group Chief executive Grant Blackley is hopeful radio listeners with COVID-19 news fatigue will return to entertainment-based channels.

Despite the Western Bulldogs’ key position concerns, coach Luke Beveridge says ruckman Stefan Martin is no certainty to return for this week’s crucial clash with Port Adelaide.

Nearly 200 passengers have boarded a flight towards Darwin from Indonesia, where there have been more than 1000 COVID deaths per day for the past month.

The Townsville student, who attended school for three days this week, has been forced into home quarantine after returning from Sydney on Friday without isolating.

Doctors who visited the Melbourne aged care home amid the country’s deadliest coronavirus outbreak said they feared that those left behind when staff were removed would starve to death.

Jake Carlisle will not be offered a new contract at St Kilda and is expected to retire having fought significant back issues in his final three years at the club.

Restrictions including mask wearing and capacity limits will ease in parts of Queensland from 4pm on Friday. Here’s how.

Qantas’ decision will stand as a template for other big firms from mining to hospitality feeling compelled by health and safety rules to require jabs for their workers.

The head of the NSW corruption watchdog has warned that it remains under the control and influence of the state government due to unresolved funding issues, which they described as both inappropriate and unlawful.

Much as it goes against the grain to plug anything I didn’t write, two recent sports books are such standouts that I must.

Parliamentary secretary for regional Victoria Danielle Green says she will take a period of personal leave to take care of her and her husband’s health.

The extension of lockdown restrictions makes it impossible to hold about 150 live events.

In an ordinary sitcom, Annie Murphy’s housewife Allison would be the punchline. But in Kevin Can F**k Himself, comedy tropes are turned on their head.

TV tends to be myopic and formulaic when it comes to picking celebrity hosts; but as the AC/DC screamer Brian Johnson shows, it pays to think outside the box.

Melbourne doubles for Oakland, California, in a drama that’s all about people pretending to be something they are not.

The new panel show Question Everything is about fact-checking, but in a humorous way.

Ken Burns’ deceptively simple yet distinctive style is put to good use in the three-part documentary that examines the troubled life of writer Ernest Hemingway.