A class action seeking compensation for almost 2-thousand Manus Island detainees may be settled before Australia's largest trial concerning immigration detention begins.
The trial is due to begin in Victoria's Supreme Court on Wednesday (june 14), but there is speculation a settlement may be reached.
This could lead to the withdrawal of a separate legal action in Papua New Guinea that could be worth 150-million-dollars.
The detainees want compensation from the Australian government and the detention centre managers for physical and psychological injuries they say they suffered as a result of the conditions in which they were held.
Any settlement in the Manus Island class action would be confidential and would have to first be approved by the court.
The federal government is rejecting claims it tried to embarrass suburbs by relasing information on concentrations of people receiving welfare, but who consistently miss appointments and job interviews.
The figures show Queensland's Caboolture, Blacktown in Sydney's west and Mildura in Victoria were some of the highest ranking suburbs.
Human Services Minister Alan Tudge says the results show why the government's proposal for a demerit point system is needed, and says penalties would include losing part of their fortnightly payments without a reasonable excuse.
A Sydney Uber driver has been sentenced to six years jail, after being found guilty of rape.
41-year-old Muhammad Naveed picked up the 22-year-old victim from Kings Cross in 2015.
The woman, who was heavily intoxicated, believed she was in a taxi and gave Naveed her address.
He instead drove to a side street where he raped her.
