A 57-YEAR-OLD woman has been located in rugged mountain country in Victoria's central highlands, but will be stuck there until daylight.

POLICE are investigating photos of naked children held by the National Gallery of Victoria as the controversy over photographer Bill Henson widens.

POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a crash south of Brisbane that killed a 17-year-old man and left six others in hospital.

A MAN will appear in a Gold Coast court today charged over a road rage incident in which he allegedly bashed a man in the head with a hammer.

QUEENSLAND'S coalition parties could merge within months, after the federal Liberal and National parties cleared the way for a vote of Liberal members.

A SIXTH man has been charged with the theft of 50 kilograms of explosives from a home at Ipswich, west of Brisbane, almost a week ago.

INTERNATIONAL media interest in the story of a couple who spent 19 hours drifting in seas off Queensland's coast could boost tourism in the region, a tourism body says.

A COUPLE who spent 19 hours drifting at sea off Queensland and sold their survival story for up to a reported $1.1 million have agreed to help cover the cost of the rescue.

ADULTS are to be banned from smoking in cars carrying children under new laws announced by the Queensland Government.

AFTER selling their story the divers saved from shark-infested seas after 19 hours adrift have offered to help cover rescue expenses.

QUEENSLAND prisoners could again be issued with condoms despite a failed trial in which inmates were found to be using flavoured condoms to sweeten their milk.

CANCER patients are waiting up to almost three times longer for life-saving treatment than they should be at some of Queensland's biggest hospitals.

TASMANIAN Premier Paul Lennon is expected to quit politics today.

TASMANIA Premier Paul Lennon has formally announced that he is quitting politics.

DAVID Bartlett has been sworn in as Tasmania's premier at a brief ceremony at Government House in Hobart.

TASMANIA'S Premier Paul Lennon will leave an important legacy of Aboriginal reconciliation, a Tasmanian indigenous leader says.

TASMANIA Premier Paul Lennon says his shock resignation from politics has not been influenced by scandal or bad polls.

NEW Tasmanian premier David Bartlett will be put to the test on his first day on the job today when state parliament resumes.

TASMANIA'S new premier, David Bartlett, says his main aim is to make the state both clever and kind.

ST GEORGE will recommend to its shareholders Westpac's $19bn takeover after the lenders signed an implementation plan today.