Winter 2026: first came the rain, then came the memes
Australia's ski resorts are suffering the worst start to a season in years but operators say they're doing their best to provide visitors a decent experience.
lifestyle and leisure
Out of juice: theatre on tiny margins as costs soar
The theatre industry wants help to cope with soaring costs that have meant curtains even for certified hits such as Beetlejuice the Musical.
Up sticks: great escape to the country at record high
For every four people moving from the capital cities to the regions, there are only three going in the other direction, new migration figures show.
Tree-changers seeking smaller communities for new lives
City-dwellers are increasingly moving to smaller communities rather than regional cities to escape housing and transport costs, a report has found.
Four minutes a day: Aussie adults fail to break a sweat
Australia may be a nation of walkers rather than runners, as a national study finds adults complete less strenuous exercise than many would expect.
Why an Australian city has been ranked world’s best
Known for its eateries and vibrant culture, an Australian city has been crowned the world's best while two local capitals were knocked off the top 50.
Regions beckon as young Aussies rethink city life
Almost half of Australians aged 18 to 29 are considering leaving cities for the regions, driven by the cost of living, work opportunities and lifestyle factors.
Powered by women, Wuthering Heights film debuts on top
Emerald Fennell's bold reimagining of Wuthering Heights brought crowds of women to US movie theatres over the weekend.
Great escape to the country squeezing communities
Housing, planning and jobs remain key challenges as country Australia continues to grow six years after the population shift to the regions began.
arts, culture and entertainment
economy, business and finance
indigenous people
lifestyle and leisure
tourism
Uluru’s Ayers Rock Resort to be sold to US company
A unique deal will return large parcels of land to Traditional Owners, with more than $500 million tipped to flow to First Nations communities.
Skydivers to stay grounded with pay deal up in the air
Parachutes will stay furled as skydivers walk off the job over a pay proposal by a major employer, with their union insisting the deal will not fly.
Talking and tinkering townsfolk make for more wellbeing
Small communities are the key to a good life, according to a national survey that shows Australians are reporting greater overall wellbeing.
Outback music festival built for comfort, not for greed
Organisers of Australia's biggest outback music festival have ruled out building on the event's sold-out crowd of 15,000.
Bricks and mortar thrive as beauty retailer expands
The expansion of a major beauty retailer's flagship is in line with trends of specialty stores moving into physical retail at the expense of department stores.
Howdy partner: dating app blooms new look B&S ball
Love is in the country air, as a dating app helps connect Australian farmers and a new in-person singles event looks to break the rural romance drought.
The $45,000 golden prescription to heal rural health
A country town is offering $45,000 and a "concierge" service to lure city doctors to the bush, as strategies to train rural GPs show early signs of success.
arts, culture and entertainment
festive event (including carnival)
human interest
lifestyle and leisure
‘Betoota’s got no talent’: festival revives ghost town
The population of Betoota is set to go from zero to 500 when the tiny outpost hosts its first music festival at its storied outback watering hole.
Firework row ignites as seizure threatens cracker night
A large shipment of fireworks bound for a region's famed cracker night celebrations has been seized, potentially putting a dampener on a 47-year tradition.
agriculture
animal
arts, culture and entertainment
festive event (including carnival)
lifestyle and leisure
Car-drawn horse, footy field of bison: farm hits city
AFL footballers have been bumped from their regular home by 35 bison as one entertainer gets ready to show 800,000 people "what's possible with horses".
Collation of quirky collections a compelling exhibition
From tiny architectural models to purses, shoehorns and axes, some rather quirky collections are celebrated together in an exhibition at a city museum.
Movers muster into Gympie and other towns off the track
Australians continue to escape to the country, but growing regional towns are calling for better funding to support their changing populations.
No more excuses in bid to boost beach access for all
A funding boost for all-terrain wheelchairs and inclusive spaces is set to help enable more people with disabilities to enjoy the outdoors.
Are you having trouble controlling the way you eat?
Many people have resorted to desperate measures to control their weight and the way they relate to food. They’ve tried expensive diets, surgery, medications, excessive exercise, purging, extreme food restriction—all to no avail.
Climate wipeout looms for top surf spots without action
Top surf spots are under threat from sea level rise, wild coastal storms and other consequences of a warming climate.
Sony PlayStation Network outage angers gamers worldwide
Sony's PlayStation Network has experienced a major outage across the world, leaving tens of thousands of gamers unable to access online services.
computing and information technology
consumers
international law
internet
lifestyle and leisure
litigation and regulation
online
regulatory policy and organisation
social issues (general)
software
technology (general)
Aussie TikTok users brace as clock ticks down to US ban
An exodus to other Chinese apps, a jump in prominence but a dive in content: speculation is raging over what a US TikTok ban will mean for its Aussie users.
Labour of love in the Dayboro Valley
It’s mid-morning and Farm Animal Rescue volunteer Nicolette Moore is coming to the end of her shift. She’s been hard at work since 5.30 am, feeding, cleaning, grooming and carrying out basic health checks on the free-roaming pigs, sheep, cattle, goats and chooks who call this tranquil sanctuary in the beautiful Dayboro Valley home.
crime, law and justice
drug trafficking
festive event (including carnival)
health
healthcare policy
lifestyle and leisure
medical procedure/test
medical service
social issue
teen-agers
Calls for permanent pill testing after festival success
The first festival pill-testing trial in Victoria has been hailed a success after 40 per cent of patrons indicated they would use smaller doses of their drugs.
Through dagwood dogs or hot wings, country shows unite
The man behind one of the biggest agricultural fairs in the US is set to visit Australia, sharing wisdom on everything from Pluto pups, to pigs and parking.
Five ways to make your daily walks even more beneficial
Physical activity doesn’t need to be complicated. Even just a brisk, ten-minute daily walk can deliver a host of health benefits – lowering the risk of several diseases, including heart disease, stroke and several cancers.
How much do you need to retire? It’s probably a lot less than you think
How much do you need to save for a comfortable retirement? It’s a big question, and you’ll often hear dire warnings you don’t have enough. But for most Australians, it’s a lot less than you might think.