COVID testing requirements are slashed by national cabinet in an effort to ease pressure on the strained testing regime.

The northern NSW-based artist, who won the Archibald Prize for his drawing of David Gulpilil in 2004, tested positive for the virus a few weeks ago.

Scott Morrison says RATs will be provided at testing centres, which should take some pressure off pathology labs, but there was no agreement in national cabinet about free RATs for everyone. Follow live.

Australians are being warned to expect to see long COVID-19 testing queues and wait times for at least several more weeks, as pathology labs continue to be hit by huge demand and staff shortages around the country. 

Victorians are being told to brace for wild weather, with a warning for intense rainfall, large hailstones and damaging winds across most of the state.

The NT nurses' union warns rising COVID-19 case numbers in the Territory, combined with worsening staff pressures, could lead to the health system crashing unless more restrictions are brought in.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says a "sharp escalation" in COVID cases and hospitalisations is expected in coming weeks, followed by a "sharp decline", as the state records 35,054 new infections and eight deaths.

Health officials believe there are many more unconfirmed infections in the community that are not picked up by government figures because testing clinics are being swamped by those seeking a PCR test for the virus.

Test cricket's inflexibility frustrates as much as the familiar Sydney rain on day one at the SCG, writes Dean Bilton.

The pandemic has caused a lot of heartache and distress, and it now appears to be creating more problems for first home buyers. 

The Acting Australian Border Force Commissioner is examining an "issue" that has arisen with Novak Djokovic's Australian Travel Declaration for the Australian Open.

While the concerns from Australians are genuine, Novak Djokovic's impending arrival brings with it a complicated relationship with fans, writes Tracey Holmes.

Labor says the Prime Minister must abandon a reported plan to offer direct payments to vulnerable Australians to buy rapid antigen tests from stores, saying the kits should be free and available to all.

A Victorian man who allegedly lit a fire at Old Parliament House and was caught breaching his bail conditions just 15 minutes after leaving jail is granted bail for a second time.

Seventeen-year-old lifeguard Lillian Bee Young's first rescue mission involved saving a kangaroo caught in rough surf at a beach in Iluka, NSW.

Three beaked whales have washed up on a Port Macquarie beach. They are rarely seen and it's thought heavy seas may have played a role in them coming so close to shore. 

The Northern Territory sees a new daily record of 117 cases of COVID-19, including a "seriously unwell" baby, says NT Health Minister Natasha Fyles. 

SA Health and the Premier say the decision to isolate rough sleepers in tents on a Port Augusta oval was made after consulting the community.

South Australia has set another daily coronavirus case record, with SA Premier Steven Marshall announcing 3,493 new infections at today's COVID update that concluded dramatically when a man was tackled to the ground.

The new cases see the state upgrade border restrictions to the ACT and TAS to "extreme" risk, meaning WA's borders will be closed to every state and territory except the Northern Territory.

US President Joe Biden plans to honour law enforcement at an address to mark one year since the deadly January 6 insurrection, while former president Donald Trump pulls the pin on his anniversary press conference.

Leader Carrie Lam says the travel ban, which also affects Britain, the United States, Canada, Pakistan, Philippines, France and India, will start on Saturday and stay in place for two weeks.

A decision by the Indonesian government to suspend some thermal coal exports to guarantee domestic supply could have a flow-on effect for Australian miners locked out of the China market.

A judge says he will decide "pretty soon" whether a civil sexual assault case against Prince Andrew can continue. Here’s everything we learned from the latest hearing in New York.  

Three men will face court after authorities allegedly intercept 99kg of methamphetamine stuffed into a 550kg shipment of latex pillows at Fremantle's port.