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TRANSCRIPT:
- International condemnation as Israel expands its use of the death penalty;
- Aunty Rhoda Roberts farewelled on Bundjalung country in northern New South Wales;
- North Melbourne's Tristan Xerri cops a three-game ban for smearing blood.
Human Rights Watch has criticised new Israeli legislation expanding the use of the death penalty for people convicted by a military court of fatal acts of terrorism who are found to deny the existence of Israel.
Deputy Middle East Director Adam Coogle says the law entrenches a two-tiered justice system that discriminates against Palestinians and has the hallmarks of apartheid.
Australia has also joined in the criticism in a joint statement with France, Germany, Italy and the U-K which expresses deep concern.
Israel's ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, has told the National Press Club those criticisms are being taken seriously.
"When I hear such a statement, whether it be from the leadership of this country, of this wonderful country, we transfer it to Israel, and it's taken seriously by Israel, but in the end, the cabinet of Israel has to make its decisions according to the strategic understanding of the needs of the people of Israel and the state of Israel. Sometimes who people are far away, in different far away countries, can't also understand the threat. They can't understand the situation. We're in a difficult neighbourhood."
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Iran has attacked and set ablaze a fully loaded crude oil tanker off the coast of Dubai.
The apparent strike on the Kuwait-flagged Al-Salmi is the latest in a string of assaults on merchant vessels by missiles or explosive air and sea drones in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz since the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28.
The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation says work is underway to assess damage to the vessel.
Earlier, President Donald Trump warned the US would obliterate Iran's energy plants and oil wells if it does not open the Strait.
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Australians will need to wait for weeks before fuel-price relief flows through to the bowser under a cut to the fuel excise.
Australia's energy minister has told drivers not to expect to prices drop until at least the weekend, after the government cut the fuel excise in half for the next three months.
Chris Bowen has told Channel Seven authorities will monitor the situation closely to ensure the tax cuts are passed on once that stock is sold.
"The A triple C will be watching very very closely, we've increased the penalties very substantially for people who are profiteering in this crisis. I think the vast, vast monitor of people are just trying to do their best to get petrol to their customers."
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A new report has found that voluntary assisted dying laws in Australia are largely working as intended, but issues remain around access.
The report has been released by advocacy organisation Go Gentle Australia, who says seven thousand assisted deaths have been completed since the laws were first introduced.
Go Gentle says the laws are largely effective in reducing the suffering of terminally ill people and allowing them choice over their death.
But CEO Dr Linda Swan says there is a lack of financial compensation for practitioners, and faith-based facilities and hospitals are continuing to obstruct people.
"We need these to change in order to ensure that everybody who is eligible, who is dying and suffering and would like to choose voluntary assisted dying can do so. There's challenges for participants, but there's also challenges for healthcare practitioners. There are unnecessary complexities in the process."
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Surcharge fees on debit and credit card transactions will be scrapped from October, despite strong opposition from businesses.
The change is being imposed as a measure to ease cost of living pressures on households and is expected to save consumers an estimated $1.6 billion a year in surcharges.
Business groups have argued removing the surcharge would simply drive up prices and reduce transparency - but Treasurer Jim Chalmers says it will have the opposite effect.
"We know that the current rules are difficult to follow and so this will simplify the arrangements as well. Obviously, the RBA and ACCC will monitor the implementation and the progress of the package as well."
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'Elder, leader and cultural storyteller' Aunty Rhoda Roberts has been mourned in a moving funeral service celebrating her life and many achievements.
A smoking ceremony greeted mourners entering the cathedral, with the pews of St Carthages in Lismore filled long before the service honouring her life began, the cathedral's 900-person capacity insufficient for accommodating the many who came to honour her passing.
Roberts' children, Jack and Sarah Roberts-Field, shared personal memories of their mother, who had touched so many.
"Her kindness was unmatched, and her generosity so deep. If you lost a leg, she would have broken hers to give it to you. Her kindness came from within her spirit. It wasn't a performance or something given to try and make you like her. Her compassion, empathy, and warmth was innate, and she would give it freely and deeply because of her ability to truly see your soul and activate your power."
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To sport now and in AFL,
North Melbourne star Tristan Xerri will miss the next three games after pleading guilty to a serious misconduct charge.
He'd been brought to the tribunal for smearing blood on the face of Essendon captain Andrew McGrath.
Tribunal chairman Jeff Gleeson KC has called the act "disgraceful behaviour".
The player himself has described the incident as a "brain fade".
