ABC News: Top Stories

More than 1,200 pets have been starved of food and water since October in Queensland, with the RSPCA pleading with owners to take more responsibility in sweltering heat.

A Queensland mother who had three premature babies within three years celebrates the seven-month milestone of her youngest child, Hudson, who was born at just 23 weeks.

Defending A-League champions Sydney FC pile more misery on the battling Brisbane Roar with a comfortable 3-0 victory at Lang Park.

An investigation is underway after a man is filmed kicking a dog by the side of a road on the Gold Coast, with the video viewed more than 125,000 times on social media.

A North Queensland farmer has cleared a section of land without approval required under Federal Law, the Commonwealth Environment Department confirms.

A woman who works as an Uber driver says she was lucky she was not killed or raped when she was carjacked at knifepoint by a masked man on Queensland's Gold Coast.

Australian selectors face pressure to name Glenn Maxwell as a short-form replacement for Chris Lynn, with the Queensland batsman ruled out of the one-day series against England with a calf injury.

Australian number one Nick Kyrgios hoses down expectations his Brisbane International success will tame his temper at the Australian Open beginning next week.

Earnings from Australia's resources and energy exports are expected to hit a record high in the current financial year, before lower commodity prices begin to bite.

Winning a Davis Cup is on the agenda this year for Nick Kyrgios, who says the team-tennis format will also act as a motivator for him on the ATP tour.

After so many men were killed in the frontier wars, a burgeoning Australian pastoral industry turned to Aboriginal stockwomen.

Bakers across the country are losing out on dough with high prices of flour and butter causing concern for business owners.

Nick Kyrgios claims the men's Brisbane International title with a comprehensive victory over Ryan Harrison in the final, boosting his hopes for a successful Australian Open campaign.

Cancer victim Holly Butcher's public plea for people to donate blood gets the backing of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, who is encouraging donors to roll up their sleeves more often.

A training guide for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games that advises volunteers to use gender neutral language when addressing visitors is labelled as "political correctness gone mad" by the state opposition.

Police are searching for a man who handcuffed and robbed a woman at knifepoint after climbing into her Uber at Biggera Waters on Saturday night.

Running coach and podiatrist Steve Manning shares his secrets on how to go from couch potato to marathon runner in three months or less.

New world number four Elina Svitolina cruises to her 10th career title by sweeping aside qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 6-1 in the Brisbane International final.

Nick Kyrgios dispatches top seed Grigor Dimitrov to storm into the Brisbane International final, while the fairy tale run of his teenage Australian countryman Alex De Minaur comes to an end in the semi-finals.