SOUTH Australian broadcast news veteran Jane Doyle signed off for the last time on Thursday night after three decades of dominating television ratings.

Australians are about to spend up a storm on Christmas feasts, with tonnes of holiday food to be purchased amid warnings to get in early, with particular products already selling fast.

Snake sightings are on the rise in flood-affected river communities, as experts warn highly-venomous reptiles are abandoning their habitats and seeking shelter in residential areas.

The Department for Child Protection was aware a 15-year-old mother was the victim of statutory rape as she was trying for a baby with her 17-year-old boyfriend, but did nothing.