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.

The federal government has given the green light to a fourth offshore wind zone, located off the Illawarra coast, with a reduced size, following community concerns.

Some farmers and scientists say the removal of a restriction banning aerial crop spraying near farm dams and salt lakes poses a risk to both businesses and the environment.

In north-eastern New South Wales lies the small town of Baryulgil, where the remnants of an asbestos mine have drilled deep into the core of the community.

Travelling to Perth for medical treatment is becoming more costly for country West Australians, who receive the lowest fuel rebate in the nation and an accommodation allowance that would not cover half the price of the average hotel room. 

A stargazing tourism operation says it has "legalled up" in response to a billion-dollar renewable energy project set to be located down the road from the business that relies on dark skies.