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TRANSCRIPT:
- Lidia Thorpe publicly responds to a threatening neo-Nazi video;
- Australia rejoining a crucial climate fund five years after Scott Morrison pulled out;
- Hayley Raso becomes the first Australian to score for Spanish club Real Madrid.
Senator Lidia Thorpe says she will not be intimidated after being sent a threatening video by a neo-Nazi.
The senator says she has been in exile already for four months, unable to be in her own home because of opposition to what she has had to say.
Ms Thorpe says the abuse experienced by MPs like herself has only been increasing, but she does not intend to be in exile any longer.
"So I am not hiding for the next nine days (before the referendum). You are going to hear from me, and you are going to see me. And I'm not scared. I am ready to fight for exactly what I went into parliament for."
You can find comprehensive information about the referendum by visiting the SBS Voice Referendum portal at < www.sbs.com.au/voicereferendum >
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Australia has announced it's rejoining the United Nations’ Green Climate Fund, which helps developing nations with the impact of climate change.
The decision reverses the withdrawal ordered under Scott Morrison in 2018.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong says the federal government will announce a modest contribution to the fund before the end of the year.
A spokesperson for the minister says the decision to rejoin was made after taking on board feedback from Pacific nations, who environmental groups say are bearing the brunt of the climate crisis with more severe storms, sea level rise and loss of agricultural land.
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The Albanese government says it intends to crack down on false asylum claims in Australia by boosting the resources of the agencies that process refugee applications.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil says the Nixon report into the immigration system has identified bad actors abusing the system and taking resources away from genuine asylum seekers.
Immigration Minister Andrew Giles now says the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Federal Circuit, and Family Court of Australia will receive $57 million for more judges to decide claims, with another $48 million for legal services.
He's also earmarked $54 million for the Department of Home Affairs to process protection visa applications, and to clear a backlog of an estimated one million claims.
"Every claim of course should be assessed on its merits. It is not for me to decide who is a refugee. So this is a process is about recognising both - that we need that individual assessment, and it should be quick and fair, which has not been the case for a very long period of time. And in doing so, by enabling quick assessment, we are removing the incentive which has driven the exploitation."
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Queensland's Health Minister has announced another review into D-N-A testing at the state's beleaguered forensic laboratory.
Shannon Fentiman says a second inquiry is necessary because another 7000 cases have now been discovered to be compromised, bringing the total number of affected matters to almost 40,000.
The Minister says the six-week review will be led by Annabelle Bennet.
"Doctor Annabelle Bennett is very well placed, given she is a scientist and a former Federal Court judge to really get to the bottom of what happened. And she can call whomever she thinks she needs."
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Experts say at least another 70,000 additional properties are needed to bring Australia's rental market into a healthy balance, as record low vacancy rates allow landlords to keep increasing rents.
Amid the persistent shortage of listings, the average weekly asking rent for houses is now at a record high of $600 a week nationwide, an increase of 13 percent since last year.
Chief of research and economics at Domain Nicola Powell says this is the longest stretch of continuous growth they've recorded.
"Across our combined capitals, house rents have now risen for ten quarters in a row and unit rents have risen for nine quarters in a row."
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New figures suggest there's been a steady worsening of mental health among young people.
Data just released from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that nearly 40 per cent - or more than a million - Australians aged between 16 to 24 experienced a mental health condition in the last 12 months, compared with a prevalence of 26 percent in 2007.
That's an increase of 47 percent over 15 years.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concern, affecting 29 per cent of those surveyed for the ABS' national study of mental health and wellbeing.
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Hayley Raso has become the first Australian to score a goal for Spanish club Real Madrid, helping to secure the team's 5-1 victory over Real Betis.
This is how the moment was called on streaming service D-A-Z-N.
"(Athenea) del Castillo. Raso waiting for it. It is Hayley Raso - yes! She has got it! Off and running for Real Madrid. Hayley Razo. There is that second goal they have been craving. And Hayley Raso, big time now has announced her arrival."
