As Lunar New Year celebrations begin, we discover the meaning behind the Chinese zodiac's Year of the Horse — or more specifically, the Fire Horse.

Australia's facing a big spike in whooping cough cases as childhood vaccination rates fall. 

New South Wales police has decided not to extend restrictions on protests in Sydney, a week after officers and protesters clashed in the city centre.

The controversial laws grant police the power to refuse public protests for up to 90 days after a terrorist incident and have been in place since the Bondi attack.

The restrictions do not outright ban protests but remove certain legal protections for protesters, particularly those marching through the streets.

They've been widely criticised by civil liberty groups and activists.

Meanwhile police in Sydney say they're looking for a driver and offender after a former NRL player was seriously injured in a drive-by shooting.

Matt Utai's recovering in hospital after the shooting in the suburb of Greenacre.

Police say they don't believe he's involved in organised crime, but are still investigating if he was meant to be the target of the shooting.

Utai played for Wests Tigers and the Canterbury Bulldogs during his career which included premiership.

Highly sensitive Australian court files have been accessed by foreign actors in breach of the law and contract obligations, prompting fears of a national security risk.

An ABC investigation found court files have been accessed by contractors based in India, without the knowledge of the courts.

Federal Greens senator David Shoebridge says the information in the wrong hands could do incredible damage.

The federal court says it's looking into the matter.

The prime minister's confirmed the government will not help repatriate a group of Australian families with links to Islamic state fighters.

They've been forced to return to a detention camp in Syria, after trying to journey home.

Anthony Albanese's responded to that development, saying "if you make your bed, you lie in it".

The issue is a thorny one because the camps are apparently dangerous for families and children, so there's been pressure on the government to help them get out of there.

But there are concerns about the risk the group poses to Australia if they return, given their connection to the brutal Islamic State ideology.

Former NRL winger Matt Utai is in a serious condition in hospital, after being shot twice in a drive-by shooting in the Sydney suburb of Greenacre.

Police say a car was located on fire a short time later on a nearby street, and detectives believe it's linked to the shooting.

Utai played 167 games, for the Wests Tigers and Canterbury Bulldogs and was part of the Bulldogs' premiership winning team in 2004.

Bree Walker has missed out on the medals in the Women's monobob at the Winter Olympics.

Walker was highly favoured heading into the games after five podium finishes this World Cup season but couldn't find the speed required on the track to challenge for a medal.

More broadly Australia's in the midst of its greatest Winter Olympics campaign and has been especially successful in moguls skiing. 

Victoria's bracing for extreme fire weather today, as hot, dry, and windy conditions are forecast across the state.

Total fire bans have been declared in several districts.

Fire chiefs say they're particularly concerned about dry grass in paddocks catching fire in urban fringe areas.

Authorities say the state is a tinderbox especially after a very dry January.

The opposition is putting pressure on the Albanese Government to block Australian citizens returning home if they've subscribed to the ideology of the Islamic State group.

A group of Australian woman who've been stuck in a refugee camp in Syria with their children are trying to come home, raising concerns about whether they pose a threat in Australia.

They were married to Islamic State fighters who were captured and killed.

The Federal Government isn't going to help them return and if they do they'll face close scrutiny from intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

The ABC understands the victim of a drive-by shooting in Sydney's west is former NRL winger Matt Utai.

Utai played for the Wests Tigers and Canterbury Bulldogs and is now in a serious condition in hospital.

Police say an car was found on fire a short time after the shooting on a nearby street in Greenacre, and detectives believe it's linked to the incident.

Utai played 167 games and was part of the premiership winning Bulldogs team in 2004.

A renewed search for missing boy Gus Lamont will continue today and it comes as his grandmother, Josie Murray, faces firearms charges unrelated to his disappearance from a South Australian property in September.

Detectives returned to Oak Park Station near Yunta yesterday to search for the four-year-old.

Gus's grandparents say the family has fully cooperated with police and they're devastated the case has been declared a major crime.

New Liberal leader Angus Taylor has distanced himself from a leaked draft immigration policy that proposes banning people coming to Australia from terror-declared areas.

The proposal was developed under former leader Sussan Ley but never discussed in full with shadow cabinet.

The opposition leader's still pushing for stronger security checks for migrants, as he prepares to unveil his new shadow cabinet.

Legendary Hollywood actor Robert Duvall is being remembered as a versatile performer who was dedicated to his craft.

He captured the haunting reality of war in Vietnam, in Apocalypse Now, giving one of cinema's most unforgettable lines, "I love the smell of napalm in the morning".

He also starred in the Godfather films and won the Oscar for best actor in 1983 for Tender Mercies.

His wife says he gave everything to his characters.

The family of an elderly Sydney man who detectives believe was mistakenly kidnapped five days ago say they're worried about the 85-year-old's welfare.

Police believe up to three people kidnapped Chris Baghsarian and are adamant the suspects have taken the wrong person and were actually looking for someone from a crime family.

In a post on Facebook, his cousin said the victim grew up in in Israel, before emigrating to Australia.

The cousin added he asked police if he could deliver medication to his relative's captors, but was warned it was too dangerous.

Australian families with links to Islamic State fighters are assessing their options after being turned around by Syrian authorities.

The ABC understands they were heading for Damascus, with plans to travel to Australia.

Among the cohort are the wives of Islamic State fighters who were either captured or killed.

The Australian government says it's not repatriating people from Syria, and security agencies will monitor those who return.

Hollywood actor Robert Duvall, who was known for his roles in Apocalypse Now and The Godfather movies has died, aged 95.

He also won an Oscar for best actor for his performance as an alcoholic former country music star in the 1983 film Tender Mercies.

He's being remembered as an actor who was versatile, technically proficient, and convincing. 

The family of an 85-year-old man, who detectives believe was mistakenly kidnapped in Sydney five days ago, has paid tribute to him and appealed for his safe release.

Police are adamant the abduction of Chris Baghsarian by up to three people is a case of mistaken identity and his kidnappers were actually looking for someone with links to a crime family.

In a post on Facebook, the 85-year-old's cousin said the victim grew up in Israel before emigrating to Australia, and appealed for his immediate release.

Police are worried about his welfare after becoming aware of a hostage video.

A group of Australian families linked to Islamic State fighters have been forced to return to a detention camp in Syria.

The ABC's been told there are 34 people in the group who were trying to journey home to Australia.

But they were stopped by Syrian authorities.

The federal government says it won't repatriate people from Syria and those who've committed a crime will meet the full force of the law if they do return.

Police investigating the disappearance of four-year-old Gus Lamont on a remote South Australian station say they've charged a person with unrelated offences.

It's understood Gus Lamont's grandmother, Josie Murray, was arrested and charged with firearms offences, as police conducted another search of the Oak Park station.

The whereabouts of Gus is still not known.

One of Hollywood's greatest icons, Robert Duvall, has died aged 95.

Some of his biggest roles came in the Godfather films and Apocalypse Now.

His wife announced his death on social media, saying he passed away peacefully, addingher husband gave everything to his characters, leaving something lasting and unforgettable.

New federal opposition leader Angus Taylor says he hasn't seen a leaked Coalition policy proposal which suggests a ban on migrants from declared terrorist areas.

The policy reportedly proposes banning migrants from a list of regions including in Somalia and Gaza.

The new Liberal leader says the document has "no validity" and it hasn't gone through shadow cabinet. 

Listen to the latest updates from ABC News

Listen to the latest updates from ABC News