Officials say a result in the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum may not be known tonight; More Australians evacuated safely from Israel; The Matildas' Sam Kerr in line for top honours at the Asian Football Confederation awards.
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TRANSCRIPT:
- Officials say a result in the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum may not be known tonight;
- More Australians evacuated safely from Israel;
- The Matildas' Sam Kerr in line for top honours at the Asian Football Confederation awards.
Officials say voting is proceeding as anticipated in today's Indigenous voice to Parliament referendum.
The head of Australian Electoral Commission, Tom Rogers, says they're expecting around eight million voters to cast their ballot today.
He says it's been relatively orderly, but not entirely problem free.
"That is running really smoothly, but there are always issues. We've had some disappointing activities particularly outside the polling place between some of the campaigners. Some of our voters being hassled by some of the campaigners. I stress: very minor - but it's nevertheless unfortunate."
The Commissioner says he cannot say for sure when a result will be known.
"The answer is we don't know. If there is a very large margin we'll know the results of that this evening. If there's not, we've had something like two million postal vote applications. Those votes have to come back before we can count them. So if it's a close result, we may not know tonight."
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The full scale of the voting logistics have also been confirmed by the A-E-C.
They say nearly six million early votes were cast before today's referendum.
50,000 voters have had their say overseas, 120,000 in mobile vote centres across Australia, and another 128,000 through remote voting service teams.
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It's been revealed that eyewitnesses to the fatal stabbing of a teacher in northern France tried to stop the attack.
The suspected attacker has been identified as a 20 year old former student who was believed to be on a state watchlist of people known as a potential security risk.
Eyewitness video shows several people trying to keep the man at bay at the school in Arras, one using a chair to deflect his attacks and later falling to the ground and being repeatedly struck.
16 year old former student, Remy Gregorie, says everyone is in shock.
"I think it's unfair to do that. This world is really cruel, especially right now, with everything going on in the world. Why do this to these gentlemen who didn't do anything, who are just there to do their job, earn a living, for their families and help children grow? I don't understand. Why end the life of this teacher, Mr. Bernard, or even hurt other people. I do not really understand."
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A flight organised by the federal government to evacuate people from the escalating conflict in Israel and the Gaza strip has landed in London, with 238 Australians aboard.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the arrival.
This woman says she is relieved to have gotten out.
"Very happy to be here and we're very grateful to the government for what they've done and to Qantas. The Qantas flight was terrific. They were absolutely fantastic, couldn't have done more for us. We were so grateful to them. And it's lovely to be here. Just glad to be going home."
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A new survey has confirmed that many Australians in their twilight years are jumping out of retirement and back into the workforce.
The survey of Australians aged 60 years and above by online marketplace Fiverr has found one in 10 has returned to some kind of work after retirement and another 13 per cent were considering it.
Some of the respondents [[more than 70 per cent of the 1011 sample group]] say the extra income from casual or part-time work to supplement their superannuation is helping to cover higher living costs, but others say they appreciate having a sense of purpose or accomplishment, or forging new social connections.
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NASA has launched a new spacecraft mission from its base in Florida as it seeks insights into the origins of Planet Earth.
This spacecraft, roughly the size of a small van, is looking for an asteroid known as Psyche, which scientists believe to be the remnant core of an ancient protoplanet that can offer clues about Earth's formation.
The launch attracted a keen crowd of onlookers, among them Roger Jackson from Ontario, Canada.
"I remember sitting down with my dad. My mum wasn't so interested, but my dad - and we'd sit down. We were watching all of the Apollo launches on a black and white TV. That's how long ago it was in central Newfoundland, Canada. And it's just, it's been on - I hate the expression 'bucket list,' but it's been on my bucket list to come here and to see a space launch. I've been waiting for 50 years."
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After kicking goals at the Women's World Cup on home soil, Sam Kerr and protege Mary Fowler are now in line to take out the continent's top football honours.
They've been nominated as the Asian Football Confederation's best women's and youth player respectively, Kerr headlining a three-player list that also includes Zhang Linyan from China
and Japan's Saki Kumagai.
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold, who lost his voice in Australia's 1-0 defeat by England, can take some consolation in his nomination for best coach.
Match official Chris Beathe has also gained a mention in the referee's category.
