Two dead in separate Darwin shootings - with a woman in critical condition; Criminal syndicates using Australia's visa system to exploit and abuse migrants; Key Adelaide defender Tom Doedee set to join the Brisbane Lions.
Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.
TRANSCRIPT:
- Two dead in separate Darwin shootings - with a woman in critical condition;
- Criminal syndicates using Australia's visa system to exploit and abuse migrants;
- Key Adelaide defender Tom Doedee set to join the Brisbane Lions.
Two men are dead and a woman is fighting for life after two separate shooting incidents in the Northern Territory.
One 63 year old man was found dead at an address in Darwin, while a man and woman were found with gunshot wounds at a home in Millner, in Darwin's northern suburbs.
Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Paul Morrisey says the pair were in a domestic relationship.
But he says it's too early to say if that shooting is a case of domestic violence.
"A crime scene was established and an investigation has commenced regarding the circumstances. While the investigations in regards to both incidents are in their infancies, they do not appear to be related. Firearms have been located at each scene, and there does not appear to be any danger to the public."
.
A review into Australia's visa system has found that it's being used to exploit migrants and fuel the criminal underworld.
The report has concluded that temporary migrant workers are at such an elevated risk of being abused by their employers, it is almost a design feature of the immigration system, while bad actors and criminal syndicates are using the system to facilitate human trafficking, modern slavery, illegal sex work, drug importation, and money laundering.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil says the government received the Nixon report in March, but chose not to declassify it until today when they could respond to its findings.
She says Labor will fix the gaps and weaknesses that the report identifies.
"For the first time, in addition to investing $50 million in resourcing that came through the last Budget, we will integrate all the pieces of the puzzle that are involved in making sure that criminals cannot exploit this system. They will all be brought together under one function, into a permanent strike force which will move around the immigration system to address the problems that we see, and make sure the people responsible are held accountable."
.
There have been hundreds of calls for help in Victoria as rivers continue to rise and damaging winds lash eastern Victoria just days after bushfire threats.
Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes says there have been more than 300 requests for assistance to the State Emergency Service thus far, mostly connected to flooding near Eildon.
Authorities have renewed their pleas for residents NOT to drive through any floodwater after a farmer had to be rescued near Alexandra this week.
.
The Prime Minister will visit the south coast of New South Wales this afternoon with the state's premier, amid reports that multiple homes have been lost in a massive bushfire.
Anthony Albanese says his heart goes out to the community with everything they have experienced.
"They went through such a difficult time in 2019/2020 over that black summer. And many of the areas that were impacted by fires then are burning again."
Premier Chris Minns says local firefighting teams have been through a tough 24 hours as they worked to protect towns, many of which were full of holidaymakers for the school holidays.
.
Thousands of travellers have had their plans thrown into disarray by a pilot strike in Western Australia.
Dozens of flights into regional towns and mine sites have been cancelled after pilots for Qantas subsidiary Network Aviation walked off the job for 24 hours in Perth, following the breakdown of pay negotiations.
Qantas has offered a 25 percent bump in salary, but the pilots want 50 - and they say half of that increase would only bring them up to the legal minimum under the award.
They want their pay to be comparable to other Qantas pilots flying similar routes around the country.
.
The New South Wales government says it does not plan to follow Victoria's lead and introduce a vacant property tax, despite an unprecedented crisis in housing affordability.
Victoria has announced the broadening of a little-known tax to cover properties left empty for more than six months, as well as empty land in Melbourne left undeveloped for more than five years.
But Premier Chris Minns says his government is focused on bringing more supply into the housing market as the best solution to the crisis.
"About ten years ago, the housing crisis was characterised by people wondering whether they'd ever be able to afford to buy a place in Sydney in particular. Now many people are asking can I even afford to rent a place. Now that circumstance and situation is intolerable, and the state government working with the Commonwealth government will make a major difference, bringing on more housing, bringing on more social housing, doing as much as we can to clear the backlog and working in cooperation for the people of this state."
.
Out of contract defender Tom Doedee wants to exercise his free agency options to move from Adelaide to Brisbane.
Doedee has been in the Crows' leadership group for the past four years and was at one stage considered a future club captain, but is on the move after a season cut short by injury.
Brisbane's confirmed the defender has signalled his desire to join the club.
But his status as a restricted free agent means Adelaide have the option to match the Lions' contract offer, potentially forcing them into a trade.
