Australia has declared Turkey alone is responsible for the escape of Islamic State fighters from custody in Syria.

Benign small cane toads are being released ahead of the toxic bigger ones at the frontline of the invasion in Western Australia's Kimberley region, in a bid to teach native predators not to eat them.

The plight of Australians subsisting on Newstart is in the spotlight again during Anti-Poverty Week, but the Morrison government isn't budging in the face of widespread calls to lift the dole payment.

A central Queensland town is still braced to run out of water by Christmas despite a welcome 95mm weekend downpour.

More than 1300 animals died in a six-month period of live exports from Australia, a figure representing less than 0.15 per cent of the total shipped offshore.

Incarcerated Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has found an unlikely ally in coalition maverick Barnaby Joyce who is calling on the federal government to stop the Australian being extradited from the United Kingdom to America.

Pauline Hanson's One Nation will abstain from voting on "non-critical" legislation in the Senate until the Morrison government steps in to save dairy farmers.

The big banks will be compelled to explain to the competition watchdog why they're not passing on interest rate cuts, as customers are urged to shop around for better deals.

North Queensland have landed Kiwis centre Esan Marsters on a three-year deal as they bolster their NRL backline for 2020.

Fewer cyclones are likely to hit Queensland this summer but a "dangerous cocktail" of hot and dry weather will bring more extreme bushfires.