Authorities say there have been "improvements" to the emergency severe weather response in the aftermath of Lismore's catastrophic flooding in 2022.

A tribunal orders a landlord to pay a New South Wales tenant for causing stress, frustration and intimidation. As new rental laws come into effect, tenants' advocates say they don't go far enough.

The project is big enough to power a quarter of the homes in the NSW Northern Rivers, and it could be the first of three for the rural area where it will be based.

Rural residents and small businesses are lodging complaints about their mobile phones dropping out and poor internet services, figures from the Telecommunications Ombudsman show. 

Australia Post will expand its distribution sites across regional and rural communities in NSW to meet the growing demand from online shopping.

The case of a child sex offender who was on the run for three decades has led to revelations of links between paedophiles who worked at a Queensland Catholic school.

Hogan on Nationals split: Page MP and deputy Nationals leader Kevin Hogan says he didn't want to let his constituents down by breaking election promises. The National Party announced on Tuesday it would not re-enter a coalition with the Liberal Party. The two parties could not agree on key policies, including nuclear energy, the Regional Australia Future Fund and divestiture powers for supermarkets. Mr Hogan says he wasn't prepared to walk away from those promises.
 

Pictured left to right: Kevin Hogan, leader of the Nationals David Littleproud, and Senator Bridget McKenzie leave the room on Tuesday after making their annoucement. Image credit: ABC News/Matt Roberts
 

Squatters lose court proceedings: A NSW Supreme Court judge has ruled against the squatters in buyback homes in Lismore and Mullumbimby. On Monday Justice Tim Faulkner gave possession of a series of buyback houses to the Reconstruction Authority. It included properties in Pine Street in North Lismore, where a group of squatters has been protesting against the demolition of flood-damaged houses. The orders also included other properties in Lismore. The  judge struck out a defence by one defendant, Mani Picano, and gave her leave to withdraw. The other defendant, Chelsea Hood Withey, was directed to provide possession of a Mullumbimby house back to the RA.
 

More buyback houses for sale: The Reconstruction Authority says it is has offered an additional 20 buyback homes available for sale online. The authority says the decision to sell more of the houses follows a strong community response to its first expression of interest process for 31 houses in December. It says there will continue to be a rolling release of homes available for auction and relocation, including a further 30 houses up for sale from next week.
 

Woodburn house raising: Houses in Woodburn are getting higher, with Richmond Valley Council now allowing several homes to be raised above the town's height limits. On Tuesday the council approved a house in Cedar Street to be raised so its roofline will be more than a metre above the maximum building height. General manager Vaughan MacDonald says the council may review building height limits in the future.
 

Tweed lawyer's promotion: Tweed Heads barrister and Kamilaroi man Lucas Swan has been sworn in as one of seven newly appointed NSW magistrates. Mr Swan was admitted as a lawyer in 2012 and has been the principal of Tweed Heads-based legal firm Swan and Associates. He will begin his time on the bench in the Sydney, including a stint with both the children's and coroner's courts, before being appointed to a regional circuit.
 

Clarence mining: The Clarence Valley mayor says he is concerned mining and exploration in the Clarence catchment could contaminate local drinking water. The council has agreed to ask the Environment Protection Authority for a briefing about the extent of mining activity near the Nymboida headwaters and its potential ris