The godson of former prime minister Kevin Rudd is allegedly assaulted in Brisbane by a man who was tearing down rainbow flags put up in support of same-sex marriage.

As many as four of Australia's most traditionally-minded electorates may be ignored by their MPs in a same-sex marriage vote in Parliament, despite the results of the postal survey.

A Labor frontbencher demands the resignation of Employment Minister Michaelia Cash after it was revealed she knew the head of the building watchdog breached the Fair Work Act almost a year ago.

The nerves are there, but so is the confidence for Penrith's young brigade as they get set for a big semi-final clash with the Broncos.

Laws to safeguard against hate speech during the same-sex marriage postal survey campaign are set to pass federal Parliament this week.

These Australians did not think twice before putting themselves in danger and saving others from flames, sharks and a hoax collar-bomb.

Dustin Martin's amazing year continues, as the Richmond star wins the AFL Players' Association's Most Valuable Player award.

Surfing culture runs deep in Australia, but the clothing empires built around the sport are being dumped by consumers and investors.

With a packed, emotional Shute Shield final and the Wallabies nearly sneaking a win over the All Blacks in Dunedin, Australian rugby fans have reasons to be positive all of a sudden.

Still pining for the weekend of sporting action just gone? Go one better and relive the entirety of the past sporting week in our fiendishly challenging sport quiz.

Australian Christian Lobby boss Lyle Shelton accuses same-sex marriage advocates of "bullying" behaviour after packages containing white powder and addressed to the ACL caused a mailing centre to be evacuated.

Papua New Guinea's new Government tells Australia it can't shut down the Manus Island detention centre and leave "international fugitives" in the country at the end of October.

Australia could be directly threatened by Islamic State's operations in the Philippines, Malcolm Turnbull warns, as the terrorist group releases a propaganda video describing Australia as the "regional guard dog" of the US.

The NRL minor premiership secured, Melbourne Storm are on target to replicate their 2007 achievement of 44 competition points in a season.

Reports that Crown Prince Frederik was turned away from Brisbane nightclub Jade Buddha on Friday night are "not correct", Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart says.

Leah Jeffries is one of a growing number of young women pursuing the sport, which will feature for the first time at the 2020 Olympics.

One Nation senator Pauline Hanson causes controversy by wearing a burka to Question Time in the Upper House, and receives an emotional dressing down from Attorney-General George Brandis.

Wayne Ball says he needed to have his leg amputated after a botched knee replacement by a specialist left him with a severe infection and other complications.

You can believe whatever you want. But the instant you take that belief into the public arena, your idea will be rightfully tested, writes Peter Ellerton.

Some same-sex marriage supporters are boycotting the upcoming postal vote altogether, while key lobby group Australian Marriage Equality hasn't clarified its own position. These are some of the reasons why.