City's drinking water diluted after elevated PFAS levels detected
ABC News Australiaby Melinda Hayter23 Aug 2026
In short: Elevated levels of PFAS have been detected in bores that provide Wagga Wagga's drinking water.
ABC News Australia
abc.net.auadded August 2026
top 94%Penguin bird flu vaccination drive passes 1,000-dose milestone
ABC News Australia23 Aug 2026
In short: About 1,000 little penguins on Phillip Island have now received a dose of the H5N1 bird flu vaccine. Authorities are planning to vaccinate 5,000 of the island's 40,000-bird population.
Parents of kids with disability more likely to be burnt out, study finds
ABC News Australiaby Nas Campanella and Mary Lloyd23 Aug 2026
Parents of children with disability more likely to experience psychological distress, survey finds A major Australian study has found parents caring for young children with disability are twice as...
Stores selling illegal cigarettes continue to reopen despite repeated shutdowns
ABC News Australia23 Aug 2026
In short: Last month, a dozen convenience stores in the Adelaide CBD were ordered to close, but some continue to reopen when orders expire after 28 days.
'Nervous' residents on edge as vandals target vacant government homes
ABC News Australiaby Josh Dye23 Aug 2026
In short: Residents in a waterfront pocket on the Sunshine Coast are living on edge after a spate of vandalism and trespassing incidents at vacant houses.
Three Queensland police officers convicted of DV offences escape discipline
ABC News Australiaby Alex Brewster23 Aug 2026
In short: Queensland's corruption watchdog is challenging three disciplinary decisions from the Queensland Police Service (QPS), after taking issue with its interpretation of a recent court ruling.
Police did not attend near-drowning until two hours after first Triple Zero call
ABC News Australiaby Sandy Powell23 Aug 2026
In short: David Mason almost drowned off Tasmania's north-west coast in January. A passer-by called Triple Zero when they saw Mr Mason in trouble, and another man made three calls, but two hours...
AFL wildcard matches and times confirmed
ABC News Australia23 Aug 2026
In short: The Western Bulldogs will face Collingwood on Friday night. Melbourne and Carlton meet in the second wildcard round match on Saturday evening.
Australia's bowling attack can't disguise batting failings forever
ABC News Australiaby Simon Smale23 Aug 2026
It would be very easy to look at the bare numbers of Australia's two-day, innings victory over Bangladesh in Mackay and see them as a sign that normal service has resumed.
Indonesian police arrest 72 people as fires blanket region in smoke
ABC News Australia23 Aug 2026
In short: Indonesian authorities have arrested 72 people over alleged fire-lighting in parts of the country, as massive plumes of smoke choke vast swathes of the country and its neighbours.
Council wants reimbursment for removing graffiti on state-owned property
ABC News Australiaby Costa Haritos23 Aug 2026
In short: A council in Melbourne’s south-east says it wants the government to refund the costs of removing graffiti on state-owned infrastructure.
Former The OC actor on crusade to take down 'stupid' cryptocurrency
ABC News Australiaby Emilia Terzon23 Aug 2026
For many millennials, Ben McKenzie is still best known for his role as a troubled teen from the wrong side of the tracks who was adopted by the wealthy Cohen family.
'I shouldn't be here': Australian murder suspect speaks from Thai prison
ABC News Australiaby Karishma Vyas, Leonie Thorne, and Supattra Vimonsuknopparat23 Aug 2026
Accused murderer Simon Carman says he fought Thai teenager in self-defence In short: The Perth man accused of murdering a 17-year-old girl in Thailand after picking her up in Pattaya says he is...
The AI sleeper issue that could sway Australian elections
ABC News Australiaby Patricia Karvelas23 Aug 2026
At the last federal election, Tim Wilson won back the seat of Goldstein by 175 votes. The LNP held Longman by 269 votes and in Bradfield, 26 votes determined who went to Canberra.
Climate change and corruption are also driving up interest rates
ABC News Australiaby Alan Kohler23 Aug 2026
As Paul Keating would say, the pet shop galahs are talking about the reason long-term interest rates are surging: the competing demands for money from big-spending governments and AI companies.
'Exceptional' summer heatwaves in Europe hurting economy
ABC News Australiaby Alison Xiao23 Aug 2026
Across Europe, extreme weather is drying up rivers. From the Rhine to the Danube to the Po, critical waterways are falling to record lows.
Albanese to override Queensland to settle AI data centre energy rules
ABC News Australiaby Jake Evans23 Aug 2026
In short: The federal government expects to settle new rules for how data centres use energy in Australia at Wednesday's national cabinet, despite Queensland confirming it will remain opposed to...
Dozens of defence insiders now lobbying for the industry, analysis shows
ABC News Australiaby Samantha Dick23 Aug 2026
Dozens of former defence officials, including ministers, high-ranking officers and senior staffers, have jumped from government roles into lucrative lobbying firms or the defence sector, Four...
A Hindu deity is the starting point of this mind-expanding new exhibition
ABC News Australiaby Bhakthi Puvanenthiran23 Aug 2026
Why would Sydney's biggest art gallery design a show about Vishnu, the blue-skinned Hindu god of order and cosmic balance? In the words of the show's co-curator: to shake us out of our complacency.
The dos and don’ts of job hunting while still employed
ABC News Australiaby Amy Sheehan23 Aug 2026
Have you flirted with the idea of a potential job or career change? It can be tricky looking for a new job while you're still employed, especially while trying to keep your plans private or if...