SYDNEY (AAP) - Oct 13 - Richmond are hopeful of finalising an AFL trade to land Adelaide ruckman Ivan Maric on Friday.

SYDNEY (AAP) - Oct 13 - Qantas Airways chief executive Alan Joyce says the current round of industrial disputes has had an impact on bookings and damaged the brand.

SYDNEY (AAP) - Oct 13 - The Victorian government has backtracked on claims it would directly brief the new phone bugging and surveillance watchdog.

SYDNEY (AAP) - Oct 13 - The first official fire refuge will be built in Victoria almost three years after the Black Saturday bushfires, which prompted an overhaul of community safety measures.

SYDNEY (AAP) - Oct 13 - NSW upper house MPs have voted against sacking a Sydney magistrate suffering from bipolar disorder.

SYDNEY (AAP) - Oct 13 - Qantas is grounding planes and cutting flights in what could turn into a 12-month war of attrition between the airline and unions.

SYDNEY (AAP) - Oct 13 - Prime Minister Julia Gillard says her government will continue to press Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to support its bid to resurrect its controversial Malaysian people swap

SYDNEY (AAP) - Oct 12 - SBS has a diverse range of local television shows planned for summer and autumn, from a documentary series on the Vietnamese community in Australia to a retro action comedy

SYDNEY (AAP) - Oct 12 - Greater Western Sydney shelved thoughts of legal action against the AFL on Wednesday as they celebrated securing the top five picks in next month's national draft.

SYDNEY (AAP) - Oct 12 - Australia coach Tim Sheens says the foundations have been laid for a physical encounter to rival a State of Origin atmosphere in Sunday's rugby league Test with New Zealand.