The wrong man was brought to court for sentencing in a high-profile murder case in Melbourne, after a mix-up with a man with the same name.

Peter Brown, convicted of murdering Simone Fraser, was due to appear in the Supreme Court of Victoria, but another Peter Brown was initially brought before the judge.

The correct Mr Brown was eventually produced after a delay and sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Santa will be returning early to Noosa again this year as Hastings Street locals prepare to light up their Christmas tree. 

With what has become a popular event amongst families, Noosa will be filled with festive cheer and entertainment tonight. 

President of the Hastings St organisation, Shane Harvey, said “it is a good time for everyone to kick of the festive cheer in Noosa". 

The film Gurrumul, about an indigenous artist, has won Best Documentary Feature Film at the star-studded Asia Pacific Screen Awards held in Brisbane last night.

Director Paul Damien Williams and producer Shannon Swan accepted the award which marks the first Australian film to win this category in 12 years. 

Moreover, the documentary tribute to the life and music of Gurrumul was nominated for four ARIA Awards on Wednesday night. 

The Great Barrier Reef is in danger of its 3rd mass coral bleaching in four years due to the recent heatwave in North Queensland. 

Chief scientist of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park authority said that the amazing temperatures above land were contributing to water temperatures running above normal in the region. 

Cooktown hit 40 degrees yesterday for the fourth consecutive day, adding to the many records the current heatwave has produced. 
 

A new report from RMIT University reveals that Brisbane has Australia’s worst capital city public transport. 

61% of Brisbane homes have public transport within 400 meters which is well below the state target of 90 metres. 

Only 12% of homes have access to a bus or train stop with a service running at least every 30 minutes which is the worst of all Australian capital cities.
 

The number of dolphins in Darwin Harbour has almost halved since the construction of a huge Inpex liquid gas natural plant and shipping channel began in 2011.

Northern Territory Government scientists who have recorded the drop say they aren’t able to find out why numbers have decreased so rapidly, but suspect several causes.

Researchers say that potentially increasing underwater sound, prey availability, and a number of issues to do with climate change may be causing it. 

A Canberra woman has been killed by her dog after she was trying to protect a visitor that the dog was attacking. 

The attack began when the dog behaved aggressively towards the visitor and took a bite out of his leg. 

The woman pulled the dog away and directed the man to lock himself in her laundry before the dog turned on her inflicting fatal injuries. 

Georgia has elected its first female president, Salome Zurabishvili.

With nearly all the votes counted, the French-born ex-diplomat has gained 59% of the vote.

This marks the last direct election of a Georgian president, as the country is switching to a parliamentary system, following constitutional reforms adopted last year.

The British Member of Parliament, Lloyd Russell-Moyle reveals HIV positive status during a House of Commons debate on public health. 

Russell-Moyle says “[he] finally wanted to be able to stand in this place and tell all those out there living with HIV, that their status does not define them.”

His revelation marks the first time a British MP has revealed that they are HIV positive and is a momentous step in breaking down the taboo.