Hailstorm pounds Australia's capital

Cars were dented and windows were smashed as over 1,000 homes lost power across the suburbs in the Australian Capital Territory as southeast Australia has been battered by storms and damaging winds.

Canberra: Ferocious storms swept across Australia's capital Canberra on Monday with hail the size of golf balls pounding the nation's parliament building.

Reportedly, cars were dented and windows were smashed as over 1,000 homes lost power across the suburbs in the Australian Capital Territory.

Large parts of southeast Australia have been battered by storms and damaging winds, with more forecast for later on Monday.

Dust storms also blanketed outback towns in the New South Wales state.