National weather forecast for Thursday December 12.

Scott Reef is, in the words of author Tim Winton, the last “unspoiled” clear-water coral reef in Australia. It’s also near the site of a major gas-drilling proposal.

Ellen Waugh loved her home so much she wanted others to enjoy the nearby coast and views, but she was determined to keep on living there until the end.

National weather forecast for Friday December 13.

The Coalition’s nuclear costings put it at odds with the government as well as a global effort to reduce emissions by electrifying economies and building renewable energy infrastructure.

National weather forecast for Saturday December 14.

National weather forecast for Sunday December 15.

Heatwave conditions are forecast to intensify with most states to hit the mid 30s to 40s.

Residents of Clarkes Hill, Wattle Flat and Dean were told shortly before 7pm to leave immediately, after a bushfire started near Creswick, but that advice has since been downgraded.

Victoria is facing searing heat and severe bushfire danger with the temperature to climb into the 40s.

National weather forecast for Monday December 16.

Though temperature records were not broken across the state on Monday as feared, scientists are finding that even a standard summer day presents real dangers in Sydney.

They’re the native bird we love to loathe, with disparaging nicknames – and the occasional council cull.

The mercury hit 32 degrees in Sydney’s CBD and climbed to more than 40 degrees out west.

Firefighters are getting the upper hand over a bushfire burning near Ballarat, with the Creswick blaze downgraded to "advice level".

Plastic is great until you need to get rid of it. Why has it taken over the world, how big a problem is it – and what can we do about it?

Octopus Group has announced a plan to invest £26 billion ($49.15 billion) over the next 10 years in Desert Springs Octopus, a company which it says will be majority Indigenous-owned and led.

Recycling bins across the country would be “harmonised” to have standard rules about what can and cannot be included under a push by federal environment minister Sussan Ley, who has secured agreement from state ministers to address the issue.

In the heat of emotional upheaval, a shark cull for some might feel good today, tomorrow or next week, but it won’t achieve the ultimate goal of what we all want - improving people’s safety.

Sharks are not human-seeking missiles and the death of Simon Nellist was a tragic example of a case of mistaken identity.