Wildlife carer Kevin Clapson says his scorched property on NSW's south coast used to look like a scene from a David Attenborough documentary.

Despite high rainfalls across the state, NSW emergency services have reported a "relatively quiet period" with only a smattering of call-outs for flash flooding and leaking roofs.

An award-winning Queensland milk company has accused the state government of "hogwash" after a lucrative contract to supply hospitals went to foreign-owned companies.

Sonny Bill Williams is poised to make his first appearance for Toronto at Castleford after being named in a 21-man squad for a trial match.

Rainfall of up to 80mm in some parts of Queensland are a welcome sight but the weather bureau says they're well short of breaking the drought ravaging the state.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has been denied access to evidence and even basic items like paper and pens by British prison officials, putting his US extradition case on the brink of judicial review, his lawyer has warned.

The search for a 60-year-old man missing off the Queensland coast has been scaled back as his family thanked emergency crews.

An internal Liberal showdown will decide who becomes Tasmania's next premier, with two senior ministers gunning to lead the party and the state.

Allowing logging in national parks would increase the intensity of bushfires by boosting the amount of flammable fuel and creating additional "kindling", experts have warned.

A federal minister has refused to apologise despite the auditor-general finding she awarded grants from a $100 million fund based on electorates the coalition wanted to win, rather than merit.