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Samoan farm worker sentenced to eight years' jail for rape of teenage girl

Samoan national Agaalofa Agaalofa, 27, is jailed for raping a 17-year-old girl on a beach on the NSW mid north coast in 2023.

A picture of the sign welcoming locals to Arrawarra Headland

Published: 18 Dec 2025Thu 18 Dec 2025 at 7:25amSource: ABC Coffs CoastTopic: Courtsby Claire Simmonds

Nimbin farmer warns magic mushrooms sprayed with poison

A farmer is concerned for the safety of people foraging for magic mushrooms, which he has sprayed with herbicide, as a toxicologist warns about the dangers of fungi.

Four golden mushrooms growing in the grass of a cattle paddock.

Published: 15 Dec 2025Mon 15 Dec 2025 at 7:31pmSource: ABC North CoastTopic: Drugsby Elloise Farrow-Smith

NSW inquest told how exploding lithium-ion batteries turned deadly

A NSW inquest has been told exploding lithium-ion batteries caused volatile fires killing three people in separate blazes within minutes.

Image of an incinerated bedroom, including a bed, in Guildford.

Published: 15 Dec 2025Mon 15 Dec 2025 at 4:44amSource: ABC NewcastleTopic: Lithiumby Giselle Wakatama

Electricity price blowout between city and country a 'dire situation'

Regional ratepayers are shouldering higher energy bills than their city counterparts, and their councils have had enough.

The sun sets on the horizon and against a pale blue sky you see endless rows of power lines and towers.

Published: 12 Dec 2025Fri 12 Dec 2025 at 12:44amSource: ABC RiverinaTopic: Cost of Livingby Nicola Ceccato

Man found guilty of raping 76yo woman at aged care facility

Judge Michael McHugh finds Hayden Carl Skinner guilty of sexually assaulting a woman after breaking into a Coffs Harbour aged care facility.

A dark-haired, bearded man wears a hoodie as he takes a selfie at night while standing on a street.

Published: 10 Dec 2025Wed 10 Dec 2025 at 7:39amSource: ABC Coffs CoastTopic: Courtsby Claire Simmonds

Ban on sale of northern NSW green prawns a 'death knell' for industry

White spot disease in prawns has led the NSW government to issue a new, five-year control order which will ban the sale of green prawns caught in affected waters.

A green prawn in someone's gloved hand with white spots on its skin.

Published: 10 Dec 2025Wed 10 Dec 2025 at 7:24amSource: ABC RuralTopic: Fishing and Aquaculture Industryby Kim Honan and Melinda Hayter

Shark feeding frenzy at Byron Bay 'spectacular' but dangerous

A marine scientist warns against getting in the ocean with sharks after footage emerges of swimmers at Byron Bay next to a huge school of bait fish and hundreds of the predators.

Duration: 19 seconds

Published: 9 Dec 2025Tue 9 Dec 2025 at 6:45amSource: ABC North CoastTopic: Marine Biologyby Hannah Ross

Listen back

ABC North Coast Local News

Local news, updated weekdays at 6:30am

Duration: 4 minutes 58 seconds

Source: Listen

Country Hour celebrates 80 years of continuous broadcasting

Listen to how the Country Hour reported on agriculture over 80 years.

Illustration of 80 with the 0 in the shape of a windmill. Below: The Country Hour; celebrating 80 years of telling rural stories

Duration: 50 minutes 56 seconds

Source: ListenTopic: Agricultureby Michael Condon

Blueberry concerns

If you're wondering whether to buy blueberries for your kids to eat, you're probably not alone.

Duration: 9 minutes 28 seconds

Source: ABC Ruralby David Claughton

How would you feel if your school introduced facial recognition?

In Neo Sora's film Happyend, unrest is bubbling in a not-too-distant future Tokyo where a mega earthquake threatens the city. He spoke with Bridie Tanner on ABC North Coast.

A screngrab from the film Happyend showing high schoolers identidfied through the lens of facial recognition technology

Duration: 12 minutes 17 seconds

Source: ListenTopic: Movieswith Bridie Tanner

ABC Radio NORTH COAST

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with Michael Pavlich

2:00am to6:00am

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Watch

People have been filmed swimming with sharks at Byron Bay.

Some brave or unaware people entered the water.

Drone vision of people swimming near feeding sharks

Duration: 19 seconds

Source: ABC North Coast

Sharks have been feasting on bait fish around Cape Byron.

Aerials vision of sharks feeding on bait fish around Cape Byron

Duration: 49 seconds

Source: ABC North Coast

Koala Park: Finding a balance between timber and koalas

A Great Koala National Park is being established on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. The timber industry is reeling as trees within the proposed boundary are now off limits.

Duration: 12 minutes 33 seconds

Source: ABC News

Do cats like 'catios'?

This cat owners says his seven cats live indoors and love the life he's created.

Two cats in an enclosure that resembles an aviary with a man looking in from the background.

Duration: 1 minute 8 seconds

Source: ABC News

Features

War detectives try to solve mystery of Australia's missing soldiers

The final resting place of more than 30,000 Australian soldiers from World War I and II is unknown. With DNA breakthroughs, more families are trying to find their ancestors' graves.

The battered back of a watch bearing a name and other details

Source: ABC North CoastTopic: War Victimsby Elloise Farrow-Smith and Julie Ray

Kathleen Folbigg on her wrongful conviction and how the truth — and science — freed her

After being exonerated for the deaths of her four infant children, Kathleen Folbigg is adjusting to life after 20 years wrongfully imprisoned — thanks to the enduring support of her lifelong friend and biggest advocate, Tracy Chapman.

A woman in a red shirt and brown curly hair standing in a garden setting and looks into the distance

Source: ABC ListenTopic: Prisonsby Fiona Purcell

Fears a few 'selfish individuals' could lose Australia's fire ant war

As fire ants continue their relentless march across south-east Queensland, a biological control expert from the United States warns Australia's eradication plan is under threat.

A pile of bright coloured ants pile together to create a raft on water. the photo is so close you can see a reflection

Source: StatelineTopic: Invasive Speciesby Dominic Cansdale and Chris Kimball

Barn owls a hit in farm anti-poisons pilot project

With the imminent release of a review into the risks of rodent bait in Australia, an award-winning initiative uses barn owls as a natural alternative to controlling rats and mice on farms.

Five owlets inside a nesting box with white fluffy feathers.

Duration: 58 seconds

Source: ABC RuralTopic: Pests, Diseases and Control Methodsby Jennifer Nichols

What's happening

Here are your 2024 Takeover Lismore winners

Meet the 34 winners of Takeover Lismore 2024 and see what it took for them to stand out from the pack.

Published: 19 May 2024Sun 19 May 2024 at 5:13amSource: Takeover

Local news direct to your inbox

ABC North Coast's newsletter delivers local news and stories from your community every Friday. Sign up to stay connected.

Published: 14 Jun 2021Mon 14 Jun 2021 at 1:31amSource: ABC North Coast

Download our free ABC listen app

The ABC listen app connects you to the best podcasts and live radio from the presenters you know and love. Download it today and hear the world differently.

Published: 27 Aug 2024Tue 27 Aug 2024 at 4:23amSource: ABC BRISBANE

Know your ABCs in an emergency

This summer know your ABCs; action plan, be safe, connect with us. The ABC has a host of useful resources and tips on how to best prepare yourself for emergency weather so you can keep you and your household safe.

Letters A, B and C in pink, yellow and blue with small infographics of people completing emergency safety tasks

Published: 17 Dec 2025Wed 17 Dec 2025 at 5:08amSource: ABC EmergencyTopic: Bushfires

NSW Sport

'We push it to the max': She ready to add to Sydney to Hobart history

A fellowship of sailors will embark on She's 23rd Sydney to Hobart campaign. As they do they will honour one of the most resilient boats in the race's history and remember late owner Peter Rodgers.

A crew of eight sailors seated or crouching on board a boat, posing before the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Sailing

Sydney to Hobart set for strong starting winds, but nothing like 2024

The Sydney to Hobart fleet is in for milder conditions this year than in 2024, when two people died on the first night of racing, although sailors have been warned to expect strong winds.

Master Lock Comanche, LawConnect and Celestial V70 with Sydney in the background.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Sailing

feel good

Why 83-year-old Nancy is training to run her next marathon at 90

Nancy Dickman has run marathons in London, New York, Rome and Sydney, and at 83 shows no signs of slowing down.

A smiling Nancy Dickmann in a hat and glasses, fluro top smiling with her thumb up.

Source: ABC NewcastleTopic: Ageing

Re-Spin: Mark Schwarzer on Australian football's past glories and future challenges

The Socceroos' 2005 World Cup qualifier win over Uruguay is arguably Australia's greatest sports moment. Mark Schwarzer was at the centre of it and has just been named to Sports Australia's Hall of Fame.

Mark Schwarzer lifts his arms in the air wearing a grey goalkeeper's outfit with several Australian soccer players behind.

Duration: 14 minutes

Source: ListenTopic: Sport

NSW News

Charity, church services and cheer as Australians give back on Christmas Day

Australians have marked another Christmas Day with solemnity and celebration, with churches full and beaches packed.

A man dressed as Santa giving out presents

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Christmas

Public assemblies banned for 14 days across Sydney as police enact new laws

The NSW Police Commissioner, Mal Lanyon, has activated new powers prescribed under changes to NSW protest laws sparked by the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on December 14.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Policeby Jamie McKinnell

White Christmas in Tasmania as heat climbs in other states

Snow has arrived in the island state on Christmas morning, but hotter conditions are expected around the country, including a scorcher in the west.

Source: ABC NewsTopic: Weatherby Gian De Poloni, Scout Wallen, Rebecca Trigger and Kelsey Reid

How a nursing home tackled racism by celebrating culture

In 2024 a nurse reported racist abuse from some residents and family members. A year later, instances of abuse have plummeted and staff say it is because of a new program promoting respect.

Source: ABC IllawarraTopic: Aged Careby Penny Burfitt

National News

King pays homage to acts of 'spontaneous bravery' in Christmas message

King Charles III pays homage to those who confronted terror at the Bondi Beach massacre, acknowledging their "spontaneous acts of bravery" in his annual Christmas message.

Britain's King Charles III during the recording of his Christmas message

Published: 1h agoThu 25 Dec 2025 at 3:02pmSource: ABC NewsTopic: Royalty

Pope Leo asks people to think about Gaza during Christmas Day speech

During his Urbi et Orbi (city and world) speech on Christmas Day, Pope Leo XIV has called for an end to all wars and for people to think about the conditions in Gaza.

Pope Leo stands on a balcony flanked by two cardinals.

Published: 2h agoThu 25 Dec 2025 at 1:06pmSource: ABC NewsTopic: Christmas

Crane collapse, thousands without power after Christmas Day storms in SEQ

Storms hit south-east Queensland on Christmas Day afternoon, knocking out power to thousands of homes.

Duration: 14 seconds

Published: 7h agoThu 25 Dec 2025 at 8:51amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Construction (Assembling)by Lottie Twyford

Boddington locals urged to 'leave immediately' as bushfire fast approaching

Several bushfires burning north and south of Perth have caused major power blackouts, including the entire town of Margaret River.

Duration: 10 seconds

Published: 5h agoThu 25 Dec 2025 at 10:21amSource: ABC NewsTopic: Bushfiresby Bridget McArthur, Madigan Landry and Gian De Poloni

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