Willie Mason's future with the Sydney Roosters looks increasingly bleak after the
NRL club extended the former NSW and Test prop's leave until training resumes in
January.

Tennis great John Alexander is trying again to win Liberal party preselection, this
time in former Prime Minister John Howard's old seat of Bennelong.

Coastal NSW looks set to get a dose of the record-breaking hot temperatures seen
throughout the state's inland, as lightning storms and winds spark numerous
bushfires.

Eye doctors say they were "summonsed" to Canberra by Health Minister Nicola Roxon
simply to be told the government wasn't going to back down on its cuts to the

Australia's $8 billion beef industry has welcomed research that shows it is almost
carbon neutral.
The industry has been subjected to advertising campaigns and allegations that it

Australia's longest-serving politician Michael Hodgman rates his opposition to
Indonesia's "bloody, brutal invasion" of East Timor as the highlight of his time as
a federal MP.

Liberal powerbroker Nick Minchin is hardening his opposition to the proposed
emissions trading scheme and won't rule out flouting the decision of shadow cabinet.

Within hours of waking up from a medically induced coma after ground-breaking brain
surgery to separate her from her twin sister, Trishna was talking and cuddling her
guardian.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has concerns about Scientology but says the government
will exercise caution in examining allegations of abuse levelled against the church.

Education will continue to be the engine room of prosperity and training will be the
driving force behind Australia's economic recovery, Treasurer Wayne Swan says.