Across the country, things are happening at a local level that have an impact nationally. Here are the stories you might not hear about in the traditional media.

On the New South Wales Mid North Coast Police have found suspected human remains near South West Rocks, five days after an 18-year-old went missing at the same beach.

Ellie Chamberlain reports the remains were discovered by a member of the public on Friday morning and have been taken for forensic testing.

The earlier search was called off last week after days of difficult conditions.

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In Victoria’s Dandenong Ranges, locals say Superb Lyrebirds are mimicking chainsaws and even swearing, raising questions about whether human noise is reshaping their famous songs.

As Justine de Jonge writes for the Eastern Melburnian, experts say true song changes take generations, and most human sounds are likely improvisation, not part of their core calls.

Researchers warn that bigger threats remain like fire, feral deer and climate change.

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Western Victoria is heading into an elevated fire season, with authorities warning spring rain will not be enough to offset the heat ahead.

As Zara Cuthbertson reports for the West Vic Brolga, the Fire Danger Period begins at 1am on December 8 across six local government areas, restricting when open-air fires can be lit.

Emergency services say vegetation is expected to dry out quickly as temperatures rise, lifting the risk of fast-moving bushfires.

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Barnaby Joyce has finally announced he will be joining One Nation, after long speculation and a steak dinner cooked for him on a sandwich press by party leader Pauline Hanson.

The New England MP officially left the National Party two weeks ago following a falling out with party leadership.

In his Facebook post today Joyce said:

“It is unfortunate, but my professional relationship within the Nationals between myself and the Leadership had become incongruous with me giving my best.

In the last two months no one has said to me that this breakdown in the relationship was not the case.”

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson said Joyce will remain in parliament until the 2028 federal election. He will then lead the party's NSW Senate ticket, adding she swayed him with their regressive energy policy.

“We'll dismantle Net Zero, get out of the Paris Agreement and lower Australians' power bills - and this has been an important factor in Mr Joyce's decision" Hanson said.

Polling from the Armidale-based New England Times, released on November 21, has revealed nearly 60 percent of voters in Joyce’s electorate of New England wouldn’t want him to recontest his seat.

The polling found voters overall believe Joyce has served the electorate well, but now believe it’s time to move on.

Just 10 percent of the New England voters polled said Joyce should recontest the election in the Senate.