Second seed Roger Federer has survived a tense five set Australian Open fourth round match against Tomas Berdych, keeping alive his chances of a record-equalling 14th grand slam.

Queensland's Allan Davis scored his first stage race victory, taking out the six-day Tour Down Under in Adelaide on Sunday.

New Australian of the Year Mick Dodson says the date of Australia Day needs to be changed because January 26 "isolates" indigenous people.

The future of two fishermen found floating in an oversized esky in Torres Strait a week ago remains unknown.

Australian cyclist Allan Davis is on the verge of winning the Tour Down Under after taking out the decisive fifth stage at Willunga, south of Adelaide.

A special Pacific Island Forum meeting to be held in Papua New Guinea will go ahead as planned, after Niue, the forum's chair, overruled Port Moresby's decision to postpone it.

Lance Armstrong will leave a permanent mark in Adelaide. The State Government has announced a new cancer research centre will be called
Livestrong in his honour.

Wild weather across NSW has not exacerbated a bushfire that has torched 1,200 hectares on the state's south coast and continues to burn out of control.

Opposition frontbencher Tony Abbott has sparked outrage by comparing John Howard's US Presidential Medal of Freedom with Trooper Mark Donaldson's Victoria Cross.

Property developers have welcomed the government's latest move to rescue the economy and keep Australian jobs.