Newcastle chief executive John Tsatismas has painted a bleak picture for his club, admitting it could fold this week if it can't secure financial assistance.

Several All Blacks have spoken of their harrowing experiences during the earthquake that wrought havoc in Christchurch and surrounding areas.

Hundreds of homes are under water after Victoria's worst floods in more than a decade, while parts of NSW, SA and the ACT have been lashed by strong winds.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry was full of praise for the Wallabies' attack in their 41-39 win over the Springboks.

While the season was one to forget for the Storm who were caught rorting the NRL salary cap, Ryan Hoffman's last NRL match will be a memory he treasures.

It wasn't the lap of honour the Storm had imagined when they kicked off the NRL season, but the fans didn't seem to mind after a 34-4 win over Newcastle.

An injured man has been rescued from his yacht by a police launch crew in wild weather off NSW's southern coast.

Sydney have advanced to Saturday night's AFL semi-final against the Western Bulldogs with a five-point win over Carlton at ANZ Stadium.

Warriors frontrower Sam Rapira faced a difficult challenge this season without mentor Steve Price alongside him.

THE Victorian towns of Shepparton and Horsham are on high alert today as emergency authorities warned floodwaters would hit them next.

NEW Zealand police are seeking the family of an Australian tourist who is among nine people killed when a light plane crashed in the South Island today.

THE workplace watchdog has backed away from legal action against a business owner who feared the company was facing a $700,000 wage bill.

KEVIN Neander had warned his sister Janet to steer clear of Des Campbell.

The risk of regulation hangs over the industry following a wave of complaints

INDONESIAN fishermen jailed for people-smuggling are in a legal "limbo".

THE Greens will use their alliance with Labor to prosecute their push for same-sex marriage and liberalising the treatment of refugees.

MORE voters want the three rural independents to back a Labor minority government than the Coalition

AOC president John Coates yesterday called on the federal government to pass legislation to give all sporting bodies the right to a share of the profits from betting.

A SENIOR police officer caught swimming in the Brisbane River during Riverfire celebrations at the weekend is now under investigation.

THE powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck Christchurch has  ripped a new 3.5 metre wide fault line in the earth's surface, officials say.

THE nine skydivers and tourists who died when their small plane crashed in New Zealand included visitors from Ireland, Australia, Germany and England

TONY Abbott has launched a last-ditch pro-country plea to the three kingmaker Independents who will decide today who to back into The Lodge.

CONTROVERSIAL athlete Nick D'Arcy has been caught up in a drug-testing bungle that has cast a cloud over Australian swimming and the international anti-doping regime.

WHETHER Australian dads wake up this morning to burnt toast or expensive gifts, they are by and large happy with their lot.

A PREMATURE baby has been delivered by a flight paramedic during a rescue helicopter flight from Hamilton Island to Mackay.

FLOODS continue to threaten towns throughout Victoria despite easing rain as wild weather sweeps across Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales.

THE Queensland government has bought an additional 127 hectares of property to expand a koala habitat south of Brisbane by almost one-third.

Newcastle chief executive John Tsatismas has painted a bleak picture for his club, admitting it could fold this week if it can't secure financial assistance.

Several All Blacks have spoken of their harrowing experiences during the earthquake that wrought havoc in Christchurch and surrounding areas.

Hundreds of homes are under water after Victoria's worst floods in more than a decade, while parts of NSW, SA and the ACT have been lashed by strong winds.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry was full of praise for the Wallabies' attack in their 41-39 win over the Springboks.

While the season was one to forget for the Storm who were caught rorting the NRL salary cap, Ryan Hoffman's last NRL match will be a memory he treasures.

It wasn't the lap of honour the Storm had imagined when they kicked off the NRL season, but the fans didn't seem to mind after a 34-4 win over Newcastle.

An injured man has been rescued from his yacht by a police launch crew in wild weather off NSW's southern coast.

Sydney have advanced to Saturday night's AFL semi-final against the Western Bulldogs with a five-point win over Carlton at ANZ Stadium.

Warriors frontrower Sam Rapira faced a difficult challenge this season without mentor Steve Price alongside him.

UPDATE 10:26am: AUSTRALIAN survivors of the Christchurch quake have told how hotels swayed precariously as the earth shook.

UPDATE 1:23pm: INDEPENDENT MP Bob Katter looks unlikely to announce today who he will back to form government.

A DECISION to kick a convicted sexual predator out of Australia has been overturned because the pervert loves footy.

A DECISION on who forms government could be delayed with a squabble breaking out over parliamentary reform.

A MASSIVE brawl involving hundreds of spectators has erupted at a junior Australian Rules grand final in Alice Springs.

ATTITUDES need to be changed to realise that protecting children from abuse is everyone's responsibility, the New South Wales Government says.

HUNDREDS of homes have been inundated as Victoria faces its worst floods in 15 years.

TEENAGER who pleaded guilty to downloading 220 images of pornography walks free.

POLICE are being used as escorts for litter patrols as council rakes in  thousands in fines.