With producers across the state looking far and wide for hay at a time of below-average rainfall, the mining giant's sudden drop in production comes as a blow to the livestock industry. 

The local council in Robe, in South Australia's south-east, has decided to not spend ratepayers' money to investigate saving the town's famous obelisk from falling into the sea.

Hopetoun locals had to travel up to 100kms to get crutches, wheelchairs and commodes before its Men in Sheds Containers for Change program raised $100,000 for the community.  

Transperth hands out hundreds of fines to school students for travelling without tickets, at the same time as offering them free public transport.

Mining is set to return to the Northern Territory's former centre of gold production, as prices for the precious metal hit record highs this year.